Class 206 is the residual locus for: (a) a container configured to hold a particular article or set of articles or material; (b) a mercantile unit - i.e., means in or by which goods (article or material) are displayed, protected, packaged or arranged in a particular manner, to facilitate sale, transportation in commerce, use or storage or (c) a packet, compact or case carried on the person of a user.
(1) Note. Containers of this class type must function, by disclosure, to hold contents which in turn are to be eventually removed from the container.
(2) Note. Generally, specific container (or retainer) structure as defined above, in combination with composition or stock material characteristics of said structure is considered classifiable in Class 206. However, mere "nominal" inclusion of a container (or retainer) in such combination is not considered "specific". For example: "A gas bag of dacron mesh laminated between mylar films," is considered properly classified elsewhere. Similarly, "An acid tank with walls made of leak stopping composition x, y, z" and "A match safe with walls made of fireproof material x, y, z," are considered subject matter for the appropriate composition class. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class and References to Other Classes, below.
(3) Note. Included here is a bale, bundle, roll, pile, stack or nest of articles (or material) which arrangement must be destroyed for use of an individual component or its contents-e.g., a roll of severably connected fasteners, an article or receptacle configured to nest or stack with another article or receptacle, or the knockdown interfitted arrangement of a device or article.
(4) Note. Generally, unless provided for in some other class as partially indicated under "SEARCH CLASS" below, the combination of an article (or material) and its containment means is to be found in this (206) class. However, the claimed disclosure of content is ordinarily not a basis for intra class distinctions among the subclasses therein.
(5) Note. Included here is a package for (or with) a plurality of articles or material, or an arrangement of articles or material, which articles or materials are to be used together (successively or cooperatively) in any operation or to make a definite solution, mixture, composition or assemblage.
(6) Note. Included here is a container, package or packing element under the class definition having (a) means for displaying an article or material, (b) indicia, a sign, panel or simulation means or (c) an indicator relative to the container or contents.
(7) Note. Included here is a container wherein the content (article or material) included, or to be included therein, bears some relationship to the container other than mere containment. (8) Note. Placement of patents within class schedule. Patents issued since 1940 have been classified, both for original and cross reference placement, in accord with the claimed disclosure. However, patents issued prior to 1940 have generally been evaluated as to total disclosure, and thus placement of these older patents does not necessarily indicate lines of classification.
(9) Note. The subclass schedule and definitions, as revised and published in late 1973, represent an initial effort toward a realignment of the several receptacle classes-both with respect to each other and to other related classes. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, below, for a further discussion of this topic.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
The subclass schedule and definitions, as revised and published in late 1973, represent an initial effort toward a realignment of the several receptacle classes-both with respect to each other and to other related classes. Thus, as of this time (1973) no significant inter-class changes have been effected except with respect to the transfer from Class 220 into this (206) class of (a) portable carriers for plural beverage receptacles (subclasses 139+) and (b) nesting or stacking features (subclasses 499 - 520). As subsequent changes are completed they will be annotated in this section for emphasis.
Special attention is directed to the major receptacle classes listed below which, except as noted above, have not been modified as a result of this particular reclassification in 1973.
150, Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers
190, Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage
215, Bottles and Jars
217, Wooden Receptacles
220, Receptacles
229, Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes
312, Supports: Cabinet Structure As between Class 206 and the other receptacle classes, above, claimed disclosure of (a) content (article or material) in combination with the container or retainer structure or (b) specific retainer structure, per se, is classified in Class
206. However, the following language is not considered as "claimed disclosure" for Class 206.
"A container for (a named article or material) ..."
"A container adapted to hold (a named article or material) ..."
"A (named article or material) container ..."
Similarly, a mere multi-compartmented or partitioned container, is not "special" or specific retainer structure for Class 206.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
8, Bleaching and Dyeing: Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers, particularly
524+, for compositions used in the processes named in the class title, which may be in the form of cakes, tablets, flakes, powders, etc.
30, Cutlery,
124+, and 535 for cutlery combined with receptacles. 40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting,
312+, for boxes having indicia thereon.
42, Firearms, particularly
49+, and 87+ for magazines and magazine chargers.
43, Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying,
26, for covers and containers to hold sections of jointed rods, subclasses 54.1+ for holders for bait, tackle and the catch, and subclasses 56+ for minnow buckets.
44, Fuel and Related Compositions,
540, and 541 for a bundled, covered or wrapped fuel product.
47, Plant Husbandry,
66.1+, for flower pots, and subclasses 50+ for sap buckets.
48, Gas: Heating and Illuminating,
59+, for carbide cartridges, and subclass 174 for gas holders. 51, Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition,
294, for an abradant-filled bag.
53, Package Making, particularly
394+, for matchbook making and subclasses 396+ for methods of package making.
62, Refrigeration,
457.1+, for a refrigerator specialized to a portable receptacle.
70, Locks,
456+, for key holders.
71, Chemistry: Fertilizers,
64.01+, and the notes thereunder for fertilizers in commercial forms.
73, Measuring and Testing, 426+, for measuring vessels.
102, Ammunition and Explosives, particularly
282, for bags adapted to contain explosive powder and subclasses 283+ for sticks or bars of explosive substance arranged to modify the rate or manner of burning or exploding.
112, Sewing,
400+, for a stock material product of a sewing operation. See notes thereunder for the locus of other sewn products.
116, Signals and Indicators,
72, for poison receptacles and alarms.
126, Stoves and Furnaces,
261+, for heated lunch receptacles.
131, Tobacco,
347+, particularly subclasses 349+ for packages of tobacco users' appliances combined with ash receptacles. The recitation of significant claimed tobacco product structure or composition-i.e., more than a named article such as a cigar or cigarette will effect classification in Class 131.
132, Toilet, particularly 79+, for toilet kits.
149, Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges.
150, Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers, appropriate subclasses for receptacles used to carry money, credit cards or items of identification on the person, and for flaccid protective article covers not provided for elsewhere.
219, Electric Heating,
385+, for an electric heating device combined with a container or enclosure.
220, Receptacles, and the notes appended to the class definition thereof for other receptacles.
221, Article Dispensing, appropriate subclasses for article dispensers not otherwise provided for. Class 221 is the residual article dispensing class and takes receptacles having means to eject or release articles therefrom where not otherwise provided for. As between Class 206 and Class 221, if a container, otherwise classifiable in Class 206, includes a dispensing feature recognized as indicative of classification in Class 221, as set forth in the class definition of Class 221, patents are classified therein.
222, Dispensing,
3+, for gas or vapor dispensing. See 20 in the class definition of Class 222 relative to collapsibility as a dispensing feature.
223, Apparel Apparatus,
106+, for spool and implement holders. 224, Package and Article Carriers, for animal worn or vehicle carried receptacles which are package or article carriers.
242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding,
159+, for a detail of a wound storage package, subclasses 588+ for a randomly oriented coil holder, and subclasses 137+ for a spool holding carrier in which material from a coil remains within in a reusable receptacle.
248, Supports,
200+, for a bracket type soap holder, subclasses 317+ for a suspended type soap holder and subclasses 683+ for a holder which supports the soap while in storage position and remains with the soap while in use.
250, Radiant Energy,
475.2+, for special ray photos:graphic cassettes.
252, Compositions, particularly
176, for packages of compositions of the type included in that class.
294, Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements, appropriate subclasses for package and article carriers which are not receptacles and which do not form a mercantile unit when holding the article.
312, Supports: Cabinet Structure, 351, for a soap dish provided with means to support the soap in spaced relation to the bottom wall of the structure.
378, X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices,
167+, for photos:graphic detector supports combined with X-ray devices.
396, Photography,
511+, for means which hold sensitized surfaces during exposure.
401, Coating Implements With Material Supply,
88+, for a holder or wrapper encasing a piece of self-sustaining coating material with an end of the piece exposed so as to apply to a surface by rubbing contact therewith; subclasses 118+, for the combination of a container for a supply of coating material and a removable hand-manipulable applicator for applying the material to a work surface; subclasses 196+, for a coating implement with material supply having a porous work-engaging portion, through which porous portion the material flows from the supply to the work surface (e.g., a mere porous pad with a pocket for soap, in subclass 201); and subclasses 268+ for a brush, broom or mop with means to retain a piece of soap in direct proximity to the filamentary tool elements.
422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing,
61, for chemical test package or kit; subclasses 99+ for laboratory receptacles; and other appropriate subclasses for containers for that class.
An alternative electronic search of U.S. patents based upon a modification of the European Patent Office Classification (ECLA) System for certain subject matter in this subclass may also be found in Class 422 Cross-Reference Art Collections 908-948. (There are no definitions associated with these Cross-Reference Art Collections. The most available disclosure as to the types of documents contained herein is given in any notes associated with the titles.)
424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions, 14+, for a medicine enclosed in an ingestible capsule, etc., and subclasses 16+ for a base (carrier or vehicle) coated or impregnated with a composition of that class (424).
426, Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products,
70+, for a food package. A food package for Class 426 must claim the content as a food either specifically or on the basis of sole disclosure. Recital of food and nonfood as alternative content will effect classification in this (206) class.
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, appropriate subclasses for structure falling within the Class 428 and further modified by the bare recital that such other structure is (a) in the form of a "roll", "reel", "drum", "coil", "stack", "pile", "bale", or (b) "packaged" or "within a container".
429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process,
163+, especially 176 for vessels designed specifically for battery elements.
435, Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology,
243+, for packages of products that contain ferments, that are living fungi.
446, Amusement Devices: Toys,
2+, for money boxes, and subclass 11 for toys in the form of containers or for containers which may be converted into toys.
449, Bee Culture,
17, for a container for marketing comb honey. 508, Solid Antifriction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant or Separant Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions, for packages of compositions of the type included in that class.
510, Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions, particularly
120, 140, 277, 293, 295+, 406, and 439 for packages of compositions of the type included in that class and subclass.
520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, appropriate
subclasses, particularly Class 523,
134, for a composition containing a synthetic resin or natural rubber having utility as a battery container or battery container cover or to processes of preparing said composition.
588, Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment, appropriate subclasses for containment or storage of hazardous or toxic waste.
600, Surgery,
1+, for radioactive substances applied to the body for therapy including radioactive seeds and holders.
604, Surgery,
403+, for a medicator constituting a container or holder for a solid, liquid, or gas.