(under the class definition) Device wherein the work holder comprises a surface which, when the work is being treated, is positioned beneath at least a part of the work and is in contact with said part of the work to support the work against the force of gravity, in at least one position of adjustment of the work holder.
(1) Note. A mere pin is not considered to be a work underlying support. A pin-type holder is found in subclasses 53+ of this class.
(2) Note. The mere disclosure of an underlying and work supporting surface, without terminology in the claim clearly defining said surface as either positioned or modified so as to hold work against the force of gravity, will not effect patent placement (as an original) into this and indented subclasses. Thus recital in a claim of a term such as "base", "support", "surface", "plane", "frame", "stand", "block", "cradle", "arm", "spider", "bar", etc., and which term encompasses a disclosed work underlying support, will not of itself form the basis of original patent placement.
The "hairline" distinction above is of particular importance with respect to work clamping or gripping devices which disclose a work underlying surface support or a surface obviously capable of such support or even a surface peculiarly limited to such support. Such disclosure is true of substantially all vises, clamps, chucks, and gripping devices including a plethora of claimed references thereto. The purposes of a restrictive search field are believed best served by not classifying primarily on this feature (work underlying support) unless specifically so limited in the claim.
Judicious cross-referencing of disclosed work underlying support features into this, and indented subclasses should assure a reasonably complete field of search for said features at this locus.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 257+, for patents to work holder characterized by the details of jaw and/or attachments.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
248, Supports, appropriate subclasses, for patents including article-underlying features, which article is not disclosed as being worked on while so supported. See search notes thereunder.
