US PATENT SUBCLASS 172 / 133
DIVERSE TOOLS

Current as of: June, 1999
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172 /   HD   EARTH WORKING

133DIVERSE TOOLS {29}
134  DF  .~> One located in path of implement wheel
135  DF  .~> One implement surrounds another
136  DF  .~> Tools usable alternately only
137  DF  .~> With means to vary spacing of tools upon turning
138  DF  .~> With interconnected vertical adjustment {1}
140  DF  .~> With independent means for vertical movement
141  DF  .~> Interconnected adjustment of horizontal angle of rolling and position of diverse tool
142  DF  .~> Including spring formed tool or standard
143  DF  .~> Including intermittently rolling tool
144  DF  .~> Colter, jointer and plow
145  DF  .~> Three or more diverse implements following same path (A, B, C, or A, B, A,) {3}
152  DF  .~> At least four alternately diverse laterally spaced tools (A, B, A, B) {2}
155  DF  .~> Laterally spaced like tools with intermediate diverse tool (A, B, A) {5}
161  DF  .~> Including implement alternating for right or left hand operation {1}
163  DF  .~> Jointer and plow {1}
165  DF  .~> Including colter {1}
167  DF  .~> Fixed point or share with rotary moldboard
168  DF  .~> Rotating tool with fixed moldboard
169  DF  .~> Including tool rotatable about vertical axis
170  DF  .~> Including smooth levelling roller {3}
174  DF  .~> Rolling and non-rolling {2}
184  DF  .~> Diverse rolling {3}
188  DF  .~> Runner attached
189  DF  .~> Including fabric or flexible tool
190  DF  .~> Including vertical, longitudinally oriented disc or blade (e.g., as stabilizer) {1}
192  DF  .~> Including horizontal knife or cutter
193  DF  .~> First tool with spaced trailing sweep {1}
195  DF  .~> Second implement follows path of first {4}
201  DF  .~> Laterally spaced {1}

DEFINITION

Classification: 172/133

(under the class definition) Apparatus comprising the combination of earth working elements of different size or shape each working the earth at the same time or adjustable into earth working position.

(1) Note. The diverse earth working elements must each be present in the apparatus at the same time, though one may be removable leaving another.

(2) Note. The diverse earth working elements must be distinct entities as distinguished from a single unit having portions of different shape to perform different functions. For such unitary elements see for example, subclasses 540+. A single disk is considered a unit. Where one tool or soil working element (e.g., sweep) is directly mounted upon another tool or soil contacting element (e.g., cultivator shovel) or on a common support or frame and for any given adjusted position (if the two are adjustably connected) could be made integral and the second element in effect forms a continuation of the first, for continuous soil contact, this is considered to be a single tool and is excluded from this definition.

(3) Note. The combination of a plow and an element for merely cutting or breaking a furrow slice raised by the plow is not classified under this definition. For subject matter of this type see subclass 758.

(4) Note. Where one implement is claimed so broadly that it can be considered merely a named support for the other, not distinguishable from a general utility support such as a vehicle, the device is classified on the basis of the other implement. See (2) Note in the definition of subclass 452 and

(5) Note in the definition of subclass 669.

(5) Note. Earth working elements which differ merely by being for right or left hand operation or being mirror images of one another are not included. See subclasses 204+, 642, and 686 for such apparatus. (6) Note. A device comprising an earth working element mounted on a frame which frame may incidentally contact the earth and act as an earth leveling member and so be considered a diverse earth working element is not included under this definition unless the frame is specifically shaped or modified to perform said function.

(7) Note. The combination of an implement or implements having a part rotated by engagement with the soil and a nonrotating part are included under this definition even though the parts may be contiguous or form a continuation of one another if both of said parts perform a substantial earth working, cutting, or turning function. A plow having a moldboard which includes rollers or a belt to reduce friction is not included since the rollers or belts are not considered to have any substantial earth working function. (See subclasses 717 and 718). However, a plow having a disk moldboard is included. (See subclass 167). Also a rotating tool having a mere scraping element for removing earth from the tool is not included while a rotating tool having an adjacent moldboard for turning a slice raised by the tool is included. (See subclasses 168 and 558+).

(8) Note. A runner or landside directly connected to or forming a direct rearward continuation of a tool is considered to be a part of the tool. Thus, if an earth working blade, sweep, or the like is connected to such a runner or landside the resultant device is considered to be a single tool having multiple earth working portions and is not classified under this definition. See subclasses 728 and 746, for example. However, if a runner or landside is spaced rearwardly from a tool and does not form a direct continuation thereof and has an earth working blade, sweep, or the like mounted thereon, this is considered to be two separate tools and classification under this definition results.

(9) Note. A runner which is not attached to the rear of or does not form a rearward continuation of a tool and has a plurality of different type or shape blades or earth working portions attached thereto rearwardly of its forward end is considered to be a mere common support for diverse tools and the resultant apparatus is classified under this definition. (See subclass 188).

(10) Note. A pair of laterally spaced runners or landsides with unlike tools mounted thereon and spanning the same is included under this definition.

(11) Note. Where a nonearth working mounting member for one

tool is directly connected to or carried by the earth working portion of a diverse tool, patents will be classified under this definition even if the claims do not recite the tool by which the member is carried.

(12) Note. This definition includes those devices in which one of the tools may be solely disclosed as cutting a vertical slit in the earth merely to prevent side sway or counterbalance side thrust. (See subclasses 190+).

(13) Note. Where there is combined with an earth working implement, such as a plow, a separate and distinct member which receives soil elevated by the implement and acts to deflect the soil to the side, invert it, etc., the member in this combination will be considered an earth working tool and be classified under this definition.

(14) Note. Hand held tools having diverse earth working portions or elements are not included. See subclasses 371+, especially subclasses 375 and 378+ for such devices.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

16, for a lawn edger with a rolling or driven cutter and a fixed cutter or furrower. 20, for a sod cutter with a means for transverse cutting while moving.

34, for an earth working apparatus adapted for use upside down.

50+, for plural driven diverse tools.

63+, for a driven tool combined with a nondriven tool.

126+, for an earth working device combined with an earth marking means.

204+, for alternating tools which differ merely by being for right or left hand operation.

245+, for apparatus comprising a tool convertible or changeable to a diverse tool, and specially subclasses 251+ for a tool changeable to a diverse tool by assembly or disassembly.

452+, for a broadly claimed implement with an actuator adapted to lift a tool on said implement for transport.

540+, for a rolling tool with circumferentially spaced tines, blades or the like of different shape or size.

558+, for a disk with disk cleaning means. See (7) Note.

642, for a pair of relatively movable tools cooperating to move earth to and from a plant row, the tools differing

merely by being for right or left hand operation. 669+, for a broadly claimed implement supporting an earth working element.

684.5, and 799.5, for implements comprising plural scraping blades which are of different size or shape, or mounted in different angular relationship with respect to a reference line.

686, for right and left hand tools.

714+, for plural earth-engaging parts of an earth working element, the parts being movable during operation. See (7) Note.

728, for a symmetrical-type tool with an attached runner and additional blades attached to the runner. See (8) Note.

746, for an earth working tool with a portion extended beyond the landside.

758, for a moldboard-type earth working element with a furrow slice cutter or breaker.

777+, for a scraper supporting a narrow depending tool.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

30, Cutlery, especially

123+, for knives and cutters of general application combined with other devices.

37, Excavating, 403+, for a scraper combined with a scoop, shovel, or the like.

56, Harvesters,

400.04+, for hand rakes combined with other tools.

171, Unearthing Plants or Buried Objects,

4, for unearthing devices with additional earth or plant rolling implement, subclass 6 for unearthing devices with additional earth marker or earth conditioner, subclass 10 for unearthing devices having preliminary removal of earth.