1. This class is for inventions relating to the structure of electrical conductors and insulators and insulators and the apparatus specialized to mounting, supporting, encasing in conduits, and/or housing the same.
2. Conductors may be bare or be encased in insulation, may be single strand or plural strand, may be of single conductor form or there may be a plurality of conductors associated together to form a cable.
3. Since all materials that have the property of being conductors of electricity and all devices made therefrom may be termed electrical conductors, only those structures that are specially designed to conduct electricity as their proximate purpose are placed in this class.
4. Insulators are placed here when the structure thereof is claimed, which structure is specially designed for spacing two or more devices of different electrical potential from each other or for spacing one or more devices from ground.
5. Since all materials which are poor conductors of
electricity and devices made therefrom may be termed electrical insulators, only those structures whose proximate purpose is that stated in the preceding paragraph are placed in this class.
6. Conduits are placed in this class only when some characteristic is claimed which limits the same to the electrical use. For reasons above stated, the fact, claimed or unclaimed, that the conduit is made of electrically conductive and/or insulative material, will not cause classification in this class. Cable systems and components are classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
1. Housings (boxes, receptacles, containers, etc.) are placed in this class only when limited to electrical use. The mere fact, claimed or unclaimed, that the material of which the box or housing is composed is conductive, and/or insulative, will not cause classification in this class. See D, Housing, Boxes Or Receptacles, below. To be classified in this class, the claims must include some structure which limits the box or housings to electrical use. The recitation that the box or housings include an electrical device, recited by name only, is sufficient to cause classification in this class even though no other structure is recited which limits the box or housings to electrical use. This class includes as boxes, housings or envelopes such as are used for electric lamps, electric space discharge devices, and similar electrical devices which are enclosed in vitreous, ceramic, nonmetallic plastic or metallic housings or envelopes. Where such subject matter is otherwise properly within the scope of this class, the mere naming of the type of lamp or discharge device as being the device within the housing or envelope will not exclude the patent from this class. Neither will the recitation of an electrode broadly recited within the housing or envelope exclude the patent from this class although if the electrode is claimed as a filament, anode, grid or other specific electrode, the patent will be excluded. Also, the recitation of electrode supporting structure when broadly recited or when recited so as to be of general utility will not exclude the patent from this class. For example, means for supporting an electrode assembly, or lead-in wires supporting an electrode will not exclude the patent from Class 174. Where the supporting structure is limited to use with electric lamp or discharge device structure, the patent is excluded from Class 174 and will be found elsewhere. For such envelopes and housings in this class, where the envelope is provided with means peculiarly adapted for use in connection with a vacuum, gas or fluid (but not merely a hermetically sealed envelope designed for use with a vacuum or gas filling where no structure peculiarly adapted for use with a vacuum or fluid except the hermetic seals is claimed) see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. Where the structure includes a current conductive fluid (e.g., a liquid used as a part of the lead-in structure) or where a vacuum is used (e.g., as a space around the lead-in designed to be continuously evacuated to reduce leakage of air or gas), see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. Where the envelope or housing has combined therewith means for feeding, circulating or distributing a fluid including means to cool the fluid or has means to cool the box or housing or the device therein where the cooling means involves the use of a fluid, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous envelopes, boxes and housings, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous hermetically sealed envelopes and housing (including housings which are provided with an evacuating stem or opening or which use a liquid to form the hermetic seal) see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For structures which are bushings or other devices for insulating a conductor or object from a wall or plate through which the conductor or object passes, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For such envelopes and housings provided with an electric shield which wholly or partially surrounds the envelope and for such envelopes and housings which include means to shield the housing or a part there of from electromagnetic or electrostatic effects, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous such boxes and housings, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous hermetically sealed envelopes and housings in this class, including those provided with lead-in wires or other conductive means for conducting electricity to the device within the housing, see References to Other Classes, below. Note that this class provides for devices (e.g., bushings) for insulating a conductor from a wall or plate (such as a metallic envelope wall) through which the conductor extends, the bushing may be fluid tight and include a glass to metal seal. See Subclass References to the Current Class, below.
2. The main use of electrical conductors is to conduct electricity to an electric translator for using the same. Such electric translators are frequently positioned in the conductor conduit or housing. The mere inclusion of such translator broadly in the claim, without setting forth the characteristics thereof, will not exclude the same from this class but where particular characteristics of the electric translator are claimed, classification is in the class appropriate to such translator.
Whereas housings for electronic devices and components are also provided for elsewhere, Class 257 provides for housings (1) wherein the housing is for an active solid state device, details of which are positively recited in the claims, or (2) wherein the recited housing is necessary to make a usable active solid state device whether or not the active solid state device is recited nominally or in detail.
Claims that recite housings with only nominal recitation of active solid state devices of only one type should not be classified as originals (ORs) in either Class 257 or Class 361, but rather in Class 174.
3. Processes other than manufacturing processes, are classified in this class in the subclasses with the correlative structures.
A. MISCELLANEOUS
Compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture, are classified elsewhere. Ceramic compositions useful as electrical insulators are classified elsewhere. Compositions containing a synthetic resin having utility as a filling or flooding composition for cables or to processes of preparing said composition are also classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) The claimed combination of conductor, coated or covered with the dielectric, is in this class (174) when such combination includes some structure of the conductor other than a mere wire, cable, etc., coated with the dielectric. Fluid dielectrics and processes which cover merely the use of the fluid dielectric to insulate electrically conducting elements from each other or from ground are elsewhere. The combination of such fluid dielectrics with particular structure, or processes of use with particular structure or with conducting elements bearing particular relations to each other, are in this class (174) or in another appropriate electrical art class.
Processes and apparatus for making wire and filaments regardless of the material used are elsewhere. Processes for wire or filament making combined with a coating or covering operation for conductors which are no more than metal stock, even though claimed as being electric conductors are elsewhere. Process or an apparatus for making or reshaping a wire by a mere plastic metal working operation, e.g., die-drawing are elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
For apparatus for coating conductors, see References to Other Classes, below.
Class 57, Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining, takes processes and/or apparatus for making conductors by operations within the class definition and also takes patents to conductor structure where the apparatus and/or process is also claimed. Patents claiming only conductor structure are in this class (174). Class 57 takes patents to strands of twisted or twined form not limited by the claims to being conductors. This same line exists with the other textile classes, for which see References to Other Classes, below.
Coating Processes, per se, wherein an electrical product is produced are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Methods of making indefinite length electrical conductors are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
A residual mast or tower with an article support structure, having no claimed feature of electrical significance, is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
Metallurgical bonding, surface bonding by rod encasing, and surface bonding with mechanical shaping are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
B. CONDUCTORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Structures specially designed for transmitting electrical energy between relatively moving objects including the structure of conduits and conductors with the means for mounting or supporting the same, and electrical systems specialized to this use are elsewhere.
As stated in the class definition, this class (174) pertains to the structure of electric conductors. Substantially all art structures of either electrical or nonelectrical character are capable of having conductor structures associated therewith. The combination of art devices significantly claimed with conductors is with the appropriate art.
Electrical systems are with the appropriate art. Electrical systems for power, control, signaling or other purposes combined with nonelectrical art devices significantly claimed are, in general, classified with the nonelectrical art device. Electrical conductors in combination with particular electrical devices significantly claimed and classifiable in other classes are with such other classes. (See References To Other Classes, below.)
See the appropriate subclasses of this class for further notes relative to other classes.
C. CONDUITS
Conduit structures even though claimed as electrical conduits and/or claimed as made of electrically insulating and/or conductive materials are classified elsewhere. In addition to the conduit structure there must be claimed additional characteristics such as the contained electrical conductors, electrical apparatus, added insulators and/or other characteristics specialized to electrical use to cause classification in this class (174). (See References to Other Classes, below.)
A service duct within a barrier wherein a feature limited to electrical use is not claimed is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Hydraulic and Earth Engineering, for tunnels and subways not restricted solely to electrical use is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
Conduits combined with pavement, curb or gutter structure and not limited solely to electrical use are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
Railways are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
See appropriate subclasses of this class for further notes relative to other classes.
D. HOUSING, BOXES OR RECEPTACLES
When claimed in combination with the contained equipment significantly set forth (other than the conductors and/or insulators), they are with the class appropriate to the contained equipment.
For envelopes for electric lamps and electric space discharge devices which are included in this class, see this section, Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, above.
The mere structure of the housing, box or receptacle is in the class appropriate thereto. Housings and envelopes for electric lamps, electric space discharge devices and similar devices where no electrical structure is claimed, and for receptacles of the junction or outlet type are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
Underground installations, wall mounted, and other boxes and housings are located herein. (See Subclass References to the Current Class.)
This class provides for the structure of a housing, box or receptacle and electrical connector structure for making electrical contact between the lead-in conductors of the receptacle (i.e., the conductors which pass through the wall of the housing, box or receptacle) and an external circuit and for junction boxes, housings or receptacles with electrical connectors where significant structure of the housing, box or receptacle is recited in addition to the electrical connector structure. Class 439 provides for housing, boxes and receptacles with electrical connectors where no more structure is recited than is necessary to mount or support the electrical connectors. Also, Class 439 provides for electrical connectors in combination with the housing, box or receptacle for the connector (e.g., housed connectors) where significant connector structure is recited. E. INSULATORS
See A, Miscellaneous, above, and its associated search notes in References to Other Classes, below, for dielectric
compositions and compounds.
For a references to devices for electrically insulating one or more conductors or other articles or structures from one another or from a supporting structure or ground, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
8+, where the envelope is provided with means peculiarly adapted for use in connection with a vacuum, gas or fluid (but not merely a hermetically sealed envelope designed for use with a vacuum or gas filling where no structure peculiarly adapted for use with a vacuum or fluid except the hermetic seals is claimed.
9, where the structure includes a current conductive fluid (e.g., a liquid used as a part of the lead-in structure) or where a vacuum is used (e.g., as a space around the lead-in designed to be continuously evacuated to reduce leakage of air or gas).
15.1, where the envelope or housing has combined therewith means for feeding, circulating or distributing a fluid including means to cool the fluid or has means to cool the box or housing or the device therein where the cooling means involves the use of a fluid.
17+, for the miscellaneous envelopes, boxes and housings under subclass 8.
17.05+, for the miscellaneous hermetically sealed envelopes and housing within the definition of subclass 8 (including housings which are provided with an evacuating stem or opening or which use a liquid to form the hermetic seal).
31+, for structures under subclass 8 which are bushings or other devices for insulating a conductor or object from a wall or plate through which the conductor or object passes,
35, for such envelopes and housings provided with an electric shield which wholly or partially surrounds the envelope and for such envelopes and housings which include means to shield the housing or a part there of from electromagnetic or electrostatic effects. 37, and indented subclasses for underground installations.
48, and 49 for wall mounted housings.
50, and indented subclasses for other boxes and housings, and the notes thereunder.
50+, for miscellaneous boxes and housings.
50.5+, for the miscellaneous hermetically sealed envelopes and housings in this class, including those provided with
lead-in wires or other conductive means for conducting electricity to the device within the housing.
137, see the notes to this subclass, and the subclasses thereunder for devices for electrically insulating one or more conductors or other articles or structures from one another or from a supporting structure or ground.
151+, for devices (e.g., bushings) for insulating a conductor from a wall or plate (such as a metallic envelope wall) through which the conductor extends, the bushing may be fluid tight and include a glass to metal seal.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
19, Textiles: Fiber Preparation. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
26, Textiles: Cloth Finishing. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.) 28, Textiles: Manufacturing. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
29, Metal Working, for processes and apparatus for making wire and filaments regardless of the material used. Included are processes for wire or filament making combined with a coating or covering operation; see
400.1+, especially subclass 460 where conductor parts are assembled and then coated, subclass 461 where a stranded conductor is joined to another member by spreading the conductor strands, and subclasses 527.1+ where a coating operation is involved. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings),
40, for a residual mast or tower with an article support structure, having no claimed feature of electrical significance. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings),
220.1+, for a service duct within a barrier wherein a feature limited to electrical use is not claimed. (Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits")
57, Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining, takes processes and/or apparatus for making conductors by operations within the class definition and also takes patents to conductor structure where the apparatus and/or process is also claimed. Patents claiming only conductor structure are in this class (174), Class 57 taking in
200, and indented subclasses patents to strands of twisted or twined form not limited by the claims to being conductors. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
66, Textiles: Knitting. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
72, Metal Deforming, takes a process or an apparatus for making or reshaping a wire by a mere plastic metal working operation, e.g., die-drawing. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.) 87, Textiles: Braiding, Netting, and Lace Making. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
104, Railways,
140, and indented subclasses. (Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits").
106, Compositions: Coating or Plastic, appropriate subclasses for compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
118, Coating Apparatus, takes apparatus for coating conductors. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
136, Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
138, Pipes and Tubular Conduits, for conduit structures even though claimed as electrical conduits and/or claimed as made of electrically insulating and/or conductive materials. See Class 138 and the notes appended to the definitions. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits," above.)
139, Textiles: Weaving. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture,
47+, takes methods of making indefinite length electrical conductors not elsewhere provided for. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
178, Telegraphy,
45, for wave transmission systems having loaded cable structures. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems") 187, Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle,
277+, for an electrical control system for an elevator car
drive means and subclass 413 for a specific arrangement or connection of an electrical service line with other elevator structure. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
191, Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles,
23, and indented subclasses (Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits").
191, Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles, has structures specially designed for transmitting electrical energy between relatively moving objects including the structure of conduits and conductors with the means for mounting or supporting the same, and electrical systems specialized to this use. (Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems, " above.)
200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products, appropriate subclasses for compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
219, Electric Heating. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
220, Receptacles,
2.1, for housings and envelopes for electric lamps, electric space discharge devices and similar devices where no electrical structure is claimed, and subclasses 3.2+ for receptacles of the junction or outlet type. (Lines With Other Classes, "Housing, Boxes Or Receptacles") 228, Metal Fusion Bonding is the generic class for metallurgical bonding and includes (see
126+, ) surface bonding by rod encasing and includes (see subclasses 141.1+) surface bonding with mechanical shaping.
246, Railway Switches and Signals. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems, " above.)
250, Radiant Energy. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
252, Compositions, for fluid dielectrics and processes which cover merely the use of the fluid dielectric to insulate electrically conducting elements from each other or from ground. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous,'' above.)
260, Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, appropriate subclasses for compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture. See
2.01+,. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
290, Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems, appropriate subclasses for electrical distribution systems or systems for interconnecting two or more sources of electricity and/or two or more loads. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, for supporting structure limited to use with electric lamp or discharge device structure. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class)
315, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems") 318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
320, Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
322, Electricity: Single Generator Systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
338, Electrical Resistors, especially
209, for extensible resistors, subclasses 210+ for flexible or folding resistors, including subclass 214 for cable type resistors, subclasses 226+ for incased, embedded or housed resistors, subclass 321 for resistance element cores and frames which may be of insulating material, and subclass 322 for resistors with terminals. See Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits, Cables, and Conductors With Resistive Material" and "Resistance Components and Subcombinations" in the class definition under Class 338 for certain classification lines
relating to this subject matter. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
340, Communications: Electrical. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
343, Communications: Radio Wave Antennas,
700+, for antennas. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems") 361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
363, Electric Power Conversion Systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
373, Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
375, Pulse or Digital Communications,
36, for cable systems and components. (See Class Definition, above.)
375, Pulse or Digital Communications,
257, for cable systems and components. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
379, Telephonic Communications
90.01+, and indented subclasses having composite electrical systems and subclass 415 and indented subclasses having anti-inductive systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus,
3, 4+, and 17+ for conduits combined with pavement, curb or gutter structure and not limited solely to electrical use. (Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits")
405, Hydraulic and Earth Engineering, 132+, for tunnels and subways not restricted solely to electrical use. (Lines With Other Classes, "Conduits")
423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, appropriate subclasses for compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)
427, Coating Processes,
58+, for coating processes, per se, wherein an electrical
product is produced.
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, appropriate subclasses, for stock material, particularly in plural layer form, which may be disclosed as having the property of electrical conductivity or insulation. (Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles,
544+, for conductors which are no more than metal stock, even though claimed as being electric conductors. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product and Process. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
439, Electrical Connectors. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Conductors and Electrical Systems")
501, Compositions: Ceramic, appropriate subclasses for ceramic compositions useful as electrical insulator. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, appropriate subclasses. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous") 523, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers,
173, for a composition containing a synthetic resin having utility as a filling or flooding composition for cables or to processes of preparing said composition. (Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous")
585, Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds, appropriate subclasses for compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture. (See Lines With Other Classes, "Miscellaneous," above.)