Definition

This class includes:

A. Subject matter, relating to the type of amusement, recreation, or play activity commonly known as a game, wherein one or more players or participants engage in a competition or contest involving skill, ability, strategy, or chance--against either another player or players or against a device which is intended to function as a competitive player or players--in order to achieve an objective defined by a rule or rules specified for a particular competition or contest; whereby the ultimate outcome of said objective in such a competition or contest can be determined or indicated according to said specified rule or rules; the exception being that a game which includes or utilizes a tangible projectile--other than a propelled racing game or a chance device, classified herein--is classified elsewhere;

B. A chance device, whether or not a projectile is included therein, and even if it is not a game or subcombination element of a game defined in (A), above, by reason of its similarity to chance devices normally combined with or defining such a game; and a method for using such a chance device for which there is no provision elsewhere;

C. Subject matter relating to the type of amusement, recreation, or play activity commonly known as a puzzle, wherein a participant"s mind is tested or otherwise challenged in an exercise of cleverness, ingenuity, or other mental skill or ability in an attempt to accomplish a solution to a complex or perplexing problem;

D. Subject matter relating to the type of amusement, recreation, or play activity commonly known as fortune telling, wherein an attempt is made to predict the future of one or more persons or events;

E. Subject matter relating to a type of device used by a person (often involved in law enforcement) to electrically shock or strike a human being so as to control said being, (e.g., a police club, night stick, black jack, brass knuckles, martial-art-type striking device, electric prod, etc.), or a method of using such a device; and

F. Subject matter which is either ancillary to, appurtenant thereto, or a subcombination of the subject matter described in any one of (A) through (E) above, for which there is no provision elsewhere.

(1) Note. Although a game that uses a tangible projectile is excluded from this class--except for a propelled racing game or a chance device, as set forth in (A), above--a game which simulates a tangible projectile game, without actually using or intending to use a tangible projectile (e.g., a video game with projectile image, light-ray gun, etc.), is classified herein. (2) Note. Included in this class is a game, chance device, or puzzle, etc., in which a player or participant competes against a means which simulates at least some of the mental processes of another player or participant as, for example, a computer or other gaming machine. However, a general purpose computer in which software is provided so that it is useable to both play a game and to perform a function outside of this class (e.g., word processing, etc.) is classified elsewhere. See the SEARCH CLASS notes in References to Other Classes, below. (3) Note. Although not generally used during play of a game included in this class, a method or device used by a player to practice or train for such a game is provided for in this class. Since such a practice or training device is designed to enable a player to improve or perfect his or her physical skill or ability (e.g., motor skills, coordination, etc.) in playing the game for which it is designed, it is included in this class on the basis that it is ancillary or appurtenant to a game for which this class provides. (4) Note. This class does not provide for game scoring or indicating, per se (e.g., register, accumulator, totalizer, etc.), unless it combined with subject matter provided for in this class. In such a case, classification is proper in the subclass providing for the subject matter in this class. See the SEARCH CLASS notes in References to Other Classes, below.

Lines with other classes and within this class

This class is the residual class for the subject matter of games, under which Class 473, Games Using Tangible Projectile, is specific; and which, together with Class 473, are specific under Class 472, Amusement Devices, the residual class for amusement devices.

Class 273, Amusement Devices: Games, is currently being reclassified through a series of stages. Upon completion of this reclassification, Class 273 will be abolished and replaced by either Class 463 or Class 473, Games Using Tangible Projectile. Until such reclassification is completed, portions of Class 273 which are relevant to this class (463) are to be considered an integral part of this class. That is, the portions of the Class 273 schedule of subclasses relating to a game which does not use a tangible projectile are to be considered as following in hierarchy after the last occurring subclass in the Class 463 schedule. Also, since Class 273 has not been completely screened for all patents properly classified in present subclasses of Class 463, appropriate subclass(es) in Class 273 should be considered for search purposes until such time that Class 273 is finally abolished.

The line between this class and Class 473 is that this class does not accept a game which includes or utilizes a tangible projectile, a subcombination thereof (e.g., bat, ball, etc.), or an accessory therefore (e.g., practice device, etc.), with the exception that a propelled racing game or a chance device is originally classified in this class despite a recitation of a projection or projectile, due to similarity of structure between games in which propelled objects are raced, and the similar function of various chance devices.