What Is Nice Class 7?
Nice Class 7 is the trademark classification for machines, motors, and power-driven tools. It covers industrial and manufacturing machinery, machine tools, engines and motors (other than for land vehicles), power tools, agricultural and construction machinery, and motorized appliances. If a device is powered and does work — cutting, drilling, mixing, lifting, pumping — Class 7 is usually its home.
It is one of the broadest goods classes, spanning everything from a handheld power drill to a factory production line. The defining principle is power: Class 7 is the engine-and-motor class, separate from the non-powered hand tools of Class 8 and the vehicles of Class 12.
What Class 7 Covers
- Industrial and manufacturing machinery and machine tools
- Motors and engines (except for land vehicles)
- Power tools: drills, saws, sanders, grinders, and nail guns
- Agricultural machinery: tractors (as machines), harvesters, and implements
- Construction machinery: excavators, cranes, and earthmoving equipment
- Motorized household appliances: blenders, food processors, mixers, vacuum cleaners
- Pumps, compressors, and generators
- Robotic and automated machinery
The exclusions are crucial. Non-powered hand tools — manual screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches — are Class 8. Engines for land vehicles and the vehicles themselves are Class 12. Cooking and refrigeration appliances are Class 11. The motorized-versus-manual and vehicle-versus-machine lines are the most common sources of misfiling.
Boundary note: A cordless drill is Class 7 (a power tool), but the manual screwdriver beside it is Class 8. A vacuum cleaner is Class 7 (a motorized appliance), but the broom is Class 21. Tool and appliance brands that span powered and manual lines need multiple classes.
The Power Tool and Appliance Split
Brands in tools and appliances frequently straddle classes. A power-tool company files in Class 7, but if it also sells manual hand tools, it needs Class 8 as well. A small-appliance maker files in Class 7 for motorized blenders and mixers, but cooking appliances move to Class 11 and non-powered kitchenware to Class 21. Mapping the product line against these boundaries is the core filing decision. For automotive and vehicle engines specifically, the home is Class 12 — see our Class 12 guide.
Notable Brands in Class 7
- Bosch — power tools and industrial machinery across a deep Class 7 portfolio
- DeWalt — the power-tool brand name and distinctive yellow-and-black trade dress
- Caterpillar — construction and earthmoving machinery, a category-defining industrial brand
- Dyson — vacuum cleaners and motor-driven appliances, with strong design protection
Filing Strategy in Industrial Categories
Class 7 names face fewer descriptiveness problems than consumer classes — industrial buyers and B2B markets tend to use coined or arbitrary brand names — but clearance can be complex because the same name may appear across overlapping machinery categories. Distinctive brand names still register most easily, and where a brand has a recognizable product color or design (DeWalt's yellow, for instance), trade-dress protection can complement the wordmark. Early filing matters in fast-moving categories like robotics and automation where new entrants crowd in quickly.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing hand tools in Class 7: non-powered tools are Class 8.
- Filing vehicle engines in Class 7: land-vehicle engines and vehicles are Class 12.
- Filing cooking appliances in Class 7: ovens and refrigerators are Class 11.
- Overlooking trade dress: distinctive tool colors and designs can be protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Class 7 and Class 8?
Class 7 covers powered machines and tools — anything with a motor or engine, like drills, saws, and industrial machinery. Class 8 covers non-powered hand tools — manual screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, and cutlery. The dividing line is power: a cordless drill is Class 7; a manual screwdriver is Class 8.
Are blenders and mixers in Class 7 or Class 11?
Motorized small appliances like blenders, food processors, and mixers are in Class 7 as machines. Class 11 covers cooking and refrigeration apparatus — ovens, ranges, and refrigerators. So a kitchen-appliance brand can span Class 7 (motorized gadgets) and Class 11 (large cooking appliances).
Where do vehicle engines go?
Engines and motors for land vehicles are in Class 12 with the vehicles, not Class 7. Class 7 covers motors and engines that are not for land vehicles — industrial, marine, and stationary engines. A maker of automotive engines files in Class 12.
Can I protect a power tool's color or design?
Potentially, as trade dress, if it is non-functional and has acquired distinctiveness. DeWalt's yellow-and-black scheme is a well-known example of color-and-design recognition in tools. The brand name is registered in Class 7, while distinctive color or design elements may warrant additional trade-dress protection.
Search Class 7 Before You File
Machinery and power-tool names overlap across categories and adjacent classes, so clearance is worthwhile even in B2B markets. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 7 trademarks, see which names are taken, and search the broader registry before you commit. Map the Class 7 / Class 8 / Class 11 / Class 12 boundaries for your product line up front.