This class provides for devices for, and methods of, severing by manually forcing work against a fixed edge or by breaking or tearing, as more specifically defined below:
A. SEVERING BY MANUALLY FORCING WORK AGAINST A FIXED EDGE
This subject matter includes devices or processes accomplishing manual severing of indefinite length material such as strands or webs or of fixed length material such as sheets, cards, or tickets wherein a blade having a severing edge is provided and wherein the severing edge is fixed in position with respect to a portion of the work material during severance, the work itself is directly manually grasped on one side of the edge and forced against the edge to effect severance along that edge while at least some portion of the work on the opposite side of the edge is restrained from movement during severance to thereby prevent any portion of the work from being transported across the edge.
(1) Note. Although the severing blade is not moved to effect severance, such blade may be moved or adjusted for any other purpose.
(2) Note. This section of the class includes the combination of claimed means for performing an additional severing operation by a diverse type of severing instrumentality. For example, included is the combination of slitting a web longitudinally by moving the web past a relatively fixed cutting edge followed by severing the slit web laterally by means under the class definition (see subclass 7).
(3) Note. Excluded from this section of the class are those devices wherein the work is manually twisted or tensioned to rupture or break along a pre-determined weakened line which is not registered with and co-extensive with a fixed edge disclosed as functioning to cooperate with the weakened line to effect severance of the work. For excluded subject matter, see subclasses 93+ and the "SEARCH CLASS" notes below to Classes for Special Receptacle or Package; Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding,; and Supports: Cabinet Structure. See Search Notes below.
(4) Note. This section of the class does not include claimed means for accomplishing any work-treating operation other than severing or claimed means which are ancillary to a nonsevering work-treating operation, on the same or different work from that treated by the fixed severing edge. For example, the combination of a severing device under the class definition with a means to apply a coating to the work is classified in the class for Coating Apparatus.
(5) Note. This section of the class does not include claimed
combinations of a severing device under the class definition with an art device elsewhere classified, except for diverse type cutters, as in (2) Note above, and for subclasses in this class specifically providing for combinations with timers, web or strand feed means, indicators, housings for work supply, brakes, clamps and guides. For example, the combination of a dental floss holder with means to manually sever the floss is found in the class for Toilet; or a holder for sticky tape for cleaning lint, etc., from surfaces combined with a severing edge is found in the class for Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning. See Search Notes below. B. BREAKING OR TEARING
This subject matter includes devices or processes for breaking or tearing the work. For the purpose of this class breaking or tearing is defined as a failure by tension of the work at the point or line of separation, effected by moving one part of the work relative to another part or by causing internal stresses to be built up within the workpiece. The tension is applied by stretching, bending, twisting or applying thermal shock so as to stress and strain the work beyond its yield and failure point. This effectuation of the failure by means of the relative movement of the parts distinguishes breaking and tearing from other types of separating, e.g., where the separation is effected by moving a tool relative to the work (as e.g., through the work) which may incidentally move the severed parts relative to each other.
(1) Note. Where a breaking or tearing function is alleged or disclosed, the claimed structure must be such as to be capable of inducing in the work a force of tension. A structural limitation in the claim which precludes the induction of such force will direct classification of such claim on some more appropriate structural basis. For example, where a punch and die are claimed as having a close fit, or one tool of a pair is claimed in contact with the other tool or in closely spaced relation, such limitations would exclude the patent from this group of subclasses.
(2) Note. This section of the class does not include claimed means for accomplishing any work treating operation other than severing. Merely incidental shaping or deformation of the product produced solely by the severing instrumentality in its severing motion will not be excluded; however, where the severing instrumentality is specially designed or modified so as to impose a desired shape on the product the patent will be classified elsewhere. For example, a device for breaking and bending sheet metal to a desired configuration will be classified in the class for Metal Deforming.
(3) Note. Tension, as contemplated in this class, should extend over a substantial continuous area of the work, as contrasted with tension applied to extremely small, even if
contiguous, local areas as in sawing wood, for example, or crushing brittle cellular material such as that disclosed in Patent No. 2, 781, 838.
(4) Note. Where a work-contacting tool is utilized but there is no tension failure specifically alleged, the following guide lines should be applied to the disclosure:
a. If the work is tensioned across and against a fixed severing edge, whether sharp or dull, the patent will be placed in this class (225).
b. If a dull edged tool and supported work are moved relatively to one another to cause tensioning and rupture of the work the patent will be placed in this class (225).
c. If a sharp-edged tool is moved into the work with the work support or holder at a substantial distance from the plane in which the blade moves but there is no clear teaching of a "slicing" cut (i.e., into and through the work and also with a component of force or motion transverse thereto, as in a "draw cut" or "progressive" cut) the patent will be placed in this class (225).
d. Where relatively flaccid work material is held in two spaced zones and a tool, whether sharp or dull, is relatively moved so as to first tension the work between the zones of support and then to cause rupture of the work along the localized line of stress at the blade edge, the patent will be classified in this class (225).
e. Where relatively stiff work is held or supported at one or both ends and a dull tool moves to engage the work in a zone spaced substantially from the support zone or zones, the patent will be classified in this class (225). f. Where relatively stiff work is held or supported at an end zone or at two spaced zones and a sharp-edged tool is directed into the work in spaced relation to the zone or zones of support and the work is parted by movement of the tool therethrough rather than by stressing of the work beyond its yield point the patent will be classified in Class 83.
g. Where a severing tool has an edge which moves in contact with or in substantially close relation to the edge of a cooperating tool so as to sever the work therebetween, or where an edged tool is directed into work supported on a surface underlying the edge, the patent will be classified in Class 83 (or some other appropriate class).
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning,
104.002, for sticky tape lint or dust collectors with tape
severing means.
19, Textiles: Fiber Preparation,
.35+, for processes and apparatus for breaking or tearing combined with textile handling or textile treating.
30, Cutlery,
126, and 127 for strand cutters combined with means to hold or guide the strand to be cut and wherein use the strand is severed by manipulating the blade rather than by manually forcing the strand against the edge as required in this class (225).
65, Glass Manufacturing, 112+, for a process of severing or perforating and treating a glass preform, and subclass 174 for glassworking or treating apparatus combined with severing, scoring or scribing means; see the "Search Notes" under each of these subclasses.
73, Measuring and Testing,
835, for the tensile strength testing of materials by tearing.
83, Cutting, appropriate subclasses for processes or devices for severing material by penetrating the material with a solid tool or a fluid current operating against an edged tool.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus,
551, for removing a pit by a tongue, subclass 585 for skin removal by a pinching roller, subclass 587 for skin removal by pulling, subclasses 600+ for hulling or grain by tearing or abrading, subclasses 623+ for skin removal by abrading, and subclasses 637+ for a device that pulls or tears the stem from fruit.
112, Sewing,
252, for sewing machine elements which cut threads at end of seam; see subclass 83 in this class (225) for sewing machine presser foot attachments for cutting threads by manually forcing the thread against a severing edge.
125, Stone Working,
23.01+, for stone splitting apparatus, and subclasses 40+ for apparatus for severing stone by a breaking operation.
132, Toilet,
324+, for dental floss holders with floss-supply container and severing means.
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, appropriate subclasses for apparatus and methods pertaining to severing and/or laminating of delaminating.
206, Special Receptacle or Package,
39, for strip, ticket or stamp dispensing devices having no disclosed use of a severing edge, and see (3) Note above.
220, Receptacles,
277+, for rip strip can opening devices.
221, Article Dispensing,
25, for article dispensing involving a progressively destroyed cellular magazine supply source, and subclass 26 for article dispensers which clamp a portion of the articles so that the portion to be removed must be torn from the retained portion.
223, Apparel Apparatus,
106+, for spool and sewing-implement holders which may include a cutter.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, appropriate subclasses, for processes or devices for breaking material into smaller portions where there is no claimed provision for maintaining or determining the product shape or size, or where the material being worked upon is not disclosed as modified so as to determine a specific size or shape for the product.
242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding, 521, and 522+ for tearing or cutting combined with subsequent convolute winding, and subclasses 487.1+ for cutting a strand being wound, and subclass 911 for a cutter that may otherwise be appropriate for winding, tensioning, or guiding.
269, Work Holders, appropriate subclasses. Class 269 is the residual locus for patents to a device for clamping, supporting and/or holding an article (or articles) in position to be operated on or treated. See notes thereunder for other related loci.
281, Books, Strips, and Leaves,
6+, for strip holders providing a platen disclosed as a backing surface for writing and which may include a blade arranged for severing sheets from the strip by manually forcing the strip thereagainst.
312, Supports: Cabinet Structure,
34.1+, for continuous strip cabinet devices having no claimed severing edge against which the strip may be forced for severing purposes, and see (3) Note above.
452, Butchering,
49, for sausage delinkers and subclass 125 for skinning by tearing.
462, Books, Strips, and Leaves for Manifolding,
51, for device for feeding and severing strips utilized for manifolding.
GLOSSARY:BRAKE OR CLAMP
A means for applying friction directly or indirectly to the work, the means as disclosed being intended to slow, stop or prevent work motion.class 51 for device for feeding and severing strips utilized for manifolding.
WORK
A web, sheet, or strand (including tube, rod or bar) which is to be acted on.
WORK SUPPLY
A mass or quantity of work material in any regular or irregular arrangement.
WORK SUPPLY PACKAGE
Work supply in regular form such as a wound roll, a folded strip or a pack or stack of work material may include a core, a flanged core or other support to which the material is fixed