This class is intended for the assembly of patents for apparatus (but not the process of use thereof, see (1) note) designed or adapted for cleaning - that is to say, for the removal of foreign matter - by any of the following means - viz., a draft or current of air, steam, or equivalent gaseous fluid, dry brushing along; brushing, and an applied liquid - i.e., scrubbing, beating, scraping, erasing, shaking, wiping, shotting, the use of squeegee, the application of an electrostatic field or any combination including one or more of these agencies - unless the inventions are so related or confined to or identified with some particular industrial art as to warrant classification therein, see the notes appended hereto.
Washing means, per se, i.e., not combined with one of the above noted means, are excluded, being provided for in other classes as set forth in the notes hereto. So also all jets, nozzles, or other means of liquid or coating material supply, per se, where these agencies are present, are generally treated as merely ancillary or subordinate to the mechanical cleaning instrument or agency whose presence as a part of the invention is necessary to the assignment of a patent to this class and whose character determines the subtitle under which it is placed.
Coating: many inventions in whose use cleaning or removal of foreign or extraneous material is or may be absent or merely incidental to a coating or polishing operation by brushing, rubbing, or wiping, combined or not with means for supplying a coating, cleaning, or polishing substance, are however, included in this class, because their structure and possible use are the same, whether intended for cleaning, polishing, or coating. This class provides for coating apparatus having a solid member for transferring coating material from a source of supply to the work where the coating device is (1) an implement as defined in the GLOSSARY below, or (2) a work traversing device the motion of which is determined by the
intelligence of the operator rather than by the law of the machine itself. See the class definition of Class 118 for the line between Class 15 and Class 118.
Inventions of the types above noted as properly belonging in this class are placed therein under four main heads - viz., Machines, Implements, Attachments and Accessories. See the GLOSSARY for definitions of these terms.
See Subclass References To This Class, below, for inventions relating to the commonly so-called vacuum cleaning art; those using brushes for cleaning receptacles; and for most brush and broom structures, per se.
NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION
(1) Note. Processes: Where both process and apparatus for its practice are claimed, the patent is classified as an original in the class appropriate to the process claimed and cross-referenced to this class (15) for the apparatus. (See References To Other Classes, below, for drying processes, processes for cleaning and liquid contact with solids, for processes for hulling and comminuting seeds with or without fluids, and for coating processes.)
(2) Note. Processes and apparatus which remove an integral portion of the object or material dealt with rather than of extraneous or foreign matter only are found in the appropriate manufacturing class. For related art, see References to Other Classes, below. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
246, 257, and 300 to 422, for inventions relating to the commonly so-called vacuum cleaning art.
56, -76, 164 and 165, for those inventions using brushes for cleaning receptacles.
159, -207, for most brush and broom structures, per se.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
19, Textiles: Fiber Preparation, appropriate subclasses for cleaning a mass of fibers or a drafting roll.
29, Metal Working,
81.01+, for processes and apparatus for removing scale from metal sheets and bars except by brushing or scouring with an abradant and removing the scale by chemical action, and subclasses 90.01+ for smoothing, compacting, or polishing the surface of metallic or nonmetallic articles by mere burnishing operations.
30, Cutlery, for hand manipulable cutting implements including scrapers with sharpened edges.
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids, (see also (1) Note) 85, for such apparatus combined with means for cleaning the same.
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids, for drying processes, per se, even though performed by brushing, et cetera, per se. (Also see the (1) Note above).
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), a residual class for a static structure,
171+, for a window treating means, 177+ for a specific wear or friction-type traffic carrying surface, 660+ for a fabric or lattice (e.g., indeterminate grating), 720+ for a shaft (i.e., an elongated rigid structure), or 749 for machine or implement having specialized use in assembly or manufacture of a building.
55, Gas Separation, appropriate subclasses, for the gas separator subcombination of gas blast or suction cleaners, particularly
361+, for collapsible bag type filters, and subclasses 282+ for separating media cleaning means particularly subclass 294 for pneumatic scanning nozzles.
56, Harvesters,
375, and 400.01+ for rakes, which have structure and operating means analogous to brushes and brooms.
68, Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus.
69, Leather Manufactures, appropriate subclasses, for scrapers, brushes, et cetera, for removing flesh, hairs, et cetera, from a hide during the leather manufacturing operation.
73, Measuring and Testing,
323, for liquid level or depth sight glasses combined with a cleaner. 74, Machine Element or Mechanism,
579+, for pitman and connecting rod where an intermediate connector having a bearing at each end for transmitting motion by a push and pull movement.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus, particularly
517+, and 599+ for apparatus for hulling grain.
101, Printing,
423, 425 for cleaning attachments.
104, Railways,
279+, for track clearers.
114, Ships,
222, for implements especially adapted to cleaning or scraping a ship's hull.
118, Coating Apparatus, appropriate subclass for coating apparatus, and see the class definition of Class 118 for the line between Class 15 and Class 118. 122, Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers,
379+, for cleaning combinations.
126, Stoves and Furnaces,
16, for cooking or heating stove, having a flue cleaner.
131, Tobacco,
315, and 324 for tobacco leaf cleaning, brushing, etc., subclasses 232 and 243 through 246 for implements for cleaning smoking devices.
132, Toilet,
73+, for manicuring devices, and subclasses 79+ for toilet kits having brushes or applicators and also some other part or device particularly useful for a toilet function (e.g., mirror, comb).
134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, is the generic class for apparatus for cleaning and for contact of solids with liquids for other purposes, where not involving the means specially provided for in Class 15. (see (1) Note, above)
137, Fluid Handling,
238+, for fluid handling apparatus combined with cleaning, particularly subclasses 242+ for mechanical cleaning.
164, Metal Founding, 344+, and 404 for apparatus for removing a sand mold or core from a flask or casting which may be by disintegration, except where abrading means (Class 451, Abrading) or an agitating screen (Class 209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids) is employed, and subclasses 131+ for
corresponding methods. See Class 15, subclass 94 for apparatus for freeing foundry flasks or castings of residual sand by shaking or other vibrating procedure.
165, Heat Exchange,
5, for cleaning a heat exchanger of the regenerative type, and subclasses 90+ for other types of heat exchangers having cleaning means.
166, Wells,
82.1+, for a cleaner on a well head for an inner member extending into the well, which is releasable by a tool carried on the inner member, and subclasses 170+ for a cleaner used inside a well.
172, Earth Working,
606+, and the subclasses there noted, for a cleaner attached to an earth working apparatus.
173, Tool Driving or Impacting, appropriate subclass for subject matter directed to driving or impacting a tool, when such subject matter includes combined features peculiar to tool driving, but which does not include features limiting the subject matter to a specific tool art, such as specific shape of the work contacting portion of a tool, related tools, or an opposed work support. Class 15 has not been cleared as to subject matter in conflict with this line.
196, Mineral Oils: Apparatus,
122, for apparatus for removing carbon from stills.
198, Conveyors: Power-Driven, 494+, for a conveyor having installed as part of its structure a means for cleaning a component of the conveyor.
199, Type Casting,
62, for cleaning attachments for integral line casting mechanism.
201, Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic,
2, for a process for cleaning or decarbonizing thermolytic distillation apparatus.
202, Distillation: Apparatus,
241, for apparatus for cleaning or decarbonizing distilling apparatus.
208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products,
48, for processes of removing carbon accumulations formed during mineral oil conversions.
209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids, the various liquid treatment and aqueous suspension machines, and other appropriate subclasses, particularly 379+ and 487 for devices for clearing or cleaning sifters and stratifiers as by brushing, wiping, jarring or scraping.
210, Liquid Purification or Separation, 106+, 158, 159, 269+, 298, 332+, 353, 354+, 391+, 407+, and 523+ for apparatus of that class (210) having cleaning means.
223, Apparel Apparatus,
43, for devices for turning articles of apparel, bags, or tubular articles by means of fluid pressure having no additional means for cleaning the articles.
228, Metal Fusion Bonding,
18, for fusion-bonding apparatus combined with a device for mechanically cleaning either the work or the fusion-bonding instrumentality, and subclasses 19+ for fusion-bonding apparatus combined with a device for removing excess solder or flux. Also subclass 125 for the method of bonding and removing excess filler material from the bonded joint, subclasses 201+ for the method of bonding and cleaning the product, and subclasses 205+ for the method of bonding after cleaning the work part(s).
239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, appropriate subclasses for fluid discharging apparatus which may be combined with specific cleaning structures, but not so claimed.
241, Solid Material Comminution, or Disintegration,
166+, for comminutors provided with cleaning means. See the line stated in the main class definition of Class 241.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration,
7, for processes and apparatus for hulling and comminuting or disintegrating seeds with or without the application of fluids. (Also see the (1) Note above).
252, Compositions,
88.1, 88.2, 175, and 364 for dust or particle adherent compositions, compositions with water-softening or purifying or scale-inhibiting agents, and solvents, respectively. 280, Land Vehicles,
855+, for wheel scrapers or cleaners.
296, Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops,
96.15+, for a windshield cleaner claimed in combination with a windshield or its supporting structure.
299, Mining or in Situ Disintegration of Hard Material, in general for a machine that disintegrates, in situ, purposely applied hard material (e.g., concrete, linoleum, roofing, etc.).
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval,
72+, for storage element cleaning combined with storage or retrieval.
399, Electrophotography,
34+, for cleaning diagnostics, subclass 71 for control of cleaning during the electrophotography process, subclass 123 for particular structure of cleaning unit, subclass 149 for combined development and cleaning by a single component, subclass 245 for self-cleaning with electrodes a liquid development application member, subclass 327 for cleaning of fixing member, and subclass 343 for cleaning of imaging surface (i.e., photoconductive member).
400, Typewriting Machines,
701+, for cleaners. 401, Coating Implements With Material Supply, appropriate subclass for a manually manipulated implement comprising a coating tool combined with coating material supply means (e.g., pencil, lipstick, fountain pen, fountain brush, etc.).
403, Joints and Connections, a generic class of connections between two or more rigid or semirigid members;
52+, for articulated members having relative movement about a bearing surface, especially subclasses 119+ for a pivot where two members are connected for angular motion in a plane transverse to the axis of at least one member.
427, Coating Processes, for processes of coating in general, especially
429, for processes of coating wherein a brush or absorbent applicator is utilized (Also see (1) Note above).
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, appropriate subclasses for a stock material product in the form of a single or plural layer web or sheet, and
364+, for a coated or structurally defined rod, strand, fiber
or filament.
430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product,
31+, for process of cleaning the radiation system medium used in electric and magnetic imagery combined with a step of radiation imagery.
451, Abrading, for a process of or apparatus for abrading, both in the strict sense and as a species of cleaning.
464, Rotary Shafts, Gudgeons, Housings, and Flexible Couplings for Rotary Shafts, 22, for a shaft or flexible shaft coupling having cleaning means associated therewith.
474, Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components,
92, for a belt and pulley drive system having cleaning means associated therewith.
510, Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions, appropriate subclasses for a chemical composition used for cleaning or removing foreign matter from solid surfaces, and including descaling agents (
247+, ), detergents, and sweeping compounds (subclasses 215, 216).
607, Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application,
79, for brushes and combs having means to apply light or electricity to the body.
GLOSSARY:
ACCESSORIES
Devices not classifiable elsewhere and which perform no cleaning function but which are merely ancillary to machines, implements and attachments classified in this class.
ATTACHMENTS
As an exception to the other GLOSSARY definitions, patents which recite that (1) a cleaning or coating means is attached to an object which is cleaned or coated thereby or (2) that any device is attached to a cleaning or coating agency, have been classified as attachments regardless of whether they are machines or not, disregarding the relative superiority of these subclasses in the classification schedule. IMPLEMENT
Defined in this class as a work contacting cleaning or coating agency subcombination which as disclosed, could be either (1) manipulated manually as a tool, (2) moved by a machine, as defined above and constituting a part thereof, or (3) held in place by support means for direct manual application of the work thereto. (Note: A hand held nozzle is not an implement as defined above and is classified elsewhere as a machine subcombination).
MACHINE
Defined in this class as an organization including a mechanism, which contains within itself its own guide for operation, to move either (1) a cleaning agency, or a coating agency of a type recognized in this class, relative to the work surface or (2) a means to constrain the work and said agency to some type of definite relative motion in response to manual or other actuation. (Note: A guide on a stripping brush aids in directing the brush but does not constrain it to any definite path other than that determined by the work itself).