(under the class definition) Apparatus or corresponding method for either: (a) regulating the longitudinal stress (tension) in an indefinite length of running material, or (b) retarding or selectively stopping rotation of a coiled material.
(1) Note. Stress regulation includes longitudinal tension added or subtracted by: (a) retardation or drag added to a supply, (b) adjusting supply and take-up rates to maintain tension within desired limits, or (c) temporarily storing material in a reserve formation during an abundance of supply or shortage of demand.
(2) Note. Stress regulation as used here excludes: (a) incidental tensioning created by contact of moving material with a static element such as a guide unless the element is explicitly provided to create tension (e.g., by special surface, tortuous course, etc.), (b) braking incidental to a
specified manufacturing or materials handling operation such as splicing, cutting, stamping, reciprocal feeding, etc., (c) a brake applied to the material for the purpose of completely halting movement, or (d) a device to create appreciable lasting tension in an article (e.g., prestressed concrete, pressure vessel, etc.).
(3) Note. This subclass is the locus for a positive brake applied to a spool or other coil holder of a winding or unwinding device not specifically provided for earlier in this schedule.
(4) Note. Where a tensioner is claimed with no significant structure but merely in terms of the composition of material of which it is composed, the tensioner will be classified as a brake subcombination or in the appropriate composition or material class.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
28, Textiles: Manufacturing, 194, for tensioning threads being wound onto a warp beam (elongated take-up).
29, Metal Working,
452, for tensioning material in a manufacturing operation.
66, Textiles: Knitting, particularly
126, 130, 146, 151, and 158 for a strand tensioner in a specified knitting process or apparatus.
74, Machine Element or Mechanism,
575+, for pawl and ratchet structure as a subcombination or in combination with generalized structure.
87, Textiles: Braiding, Netting, and Lace Making,
61, for a tension device combined with a braiding or related machine.
112, Sewing,
254, and 255 for a tensioner combined with a specific sewing process or apparatus.
118, Coating Apparatus, 33, for a tensioner combined with material coating means.
139, Textiles: Weaving,
200, 201, and 212+ for a tensioning means associated with a weft supply apparatus.
188, Brakes, appropriate subclasses for general purpose braking, particularly
64, 65.1 for strand brakes capable of halting strand movement.
192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control, for devices regulating the transfer of drive power in various applications.
200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers,
61.13+, for a circuit maker/breaker specially designed for operation by a running web or strand, spool, or guide.
226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, particularly
37+, and 195 for a tensioner combined with a feeder that may include a nominal material coil.
250, Radiant Energy, for a detail of a photoelectric device, per se, or in combination with generalized structure, particularly 200+, and 559.01.
254, Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force, particularly
267, 277 for a tension control in a winch or hoist.
303, Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake Systems, for general purpose retarding devices associated with a fluid pressure regulator.
318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems, appropriate subclasses, especially
6, 7, and 362+ for tensioning and brakes of various uses.
