US PATENT CLASS 29
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 29/
This is the generic class of metal working or shaping. It comprises processes, tools, machines, and apparatus not classifiable in the specific classes relating to the manufacture of articles from metal. It also includes means which comprise a plurality of operations which separately might be classified in the specific classes, but which by their joinder include more than is covered by the definitions of such specific classes.
This class has been made the generic class for the following subject matter, regardless of the composition of the blank, stock material, or article recited or worked upon: (a) process of electric condenser making; (b) a burnishing process; (c) a process of manufacture; (d) apparatus used to assemble or disassemble. See Subclass References to the Current Class, below, for specific subclass references.
NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION
(1) Note. Patents claiming both an article or product and a process of manufacturing that article or product which process is classifiable in this class are classified in a suitable article or product class and cross referenced to the appropriate subclass of this class.
(2) Note. Historically, the term "metal working" has included assembling. Therefore assembling is included within the scope of paragraph I, above, even though no metal parts are being assembled.
(3) Note. While this is the generic mechanical manufacturing class, it is noted that manufacturing by chemistry, electrochemistry, or the related arts is provided for in the chemical classes. See the classes listed on pages I-6 and I-7 in the front of the Manual of Classification under "I. Chemical and Related Arts". Also see the Search Notes below
(4) Note. The relation of other mechanical manufacturing classes to Class 29 is detailed on pages I-14 through I-16 in the front of the Manual of Classification under "III. Mechanical Manufacturing and Machine Element Arts, Manufacturing (Metal Working)". Also see the Search Notes below.
(5) Note. Measuring, testing, recording and conveying, per se, are not considered "manufacturing" operations for this class. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
25.41+, for a process of electric condenser making.
90.01+, for a burnishing process,
592+, for a process of manufacture,
700+, for apparatus used to assemble or disassemble.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings),
742.1+, for processes of filling cavities in situ erected structures and subclasses 749.1+ for machines and implements particularly adapted to in situ building construction not elsewhere provided for.
53, Package Making,
266.1+, for means for filling and closing a preformed receptacle and subclasses 285+ for means for closing a package or filled receptacle.
65, Glass Manufacturing, for processes of, or apparatus for glassworking and/or treating.
72, Metal Deforming, for shaping metal by stressing beyond its elastic limit, generally. Normally, the combination of a metal working process or apparatus with additional metal deforming or cutting or with any additional operation that is ancillary to the metal deforming will be found in Class 72. However, there is an exception to this guideline in regard to a process of making a "special article". A "special article" is one named by the title of one of the subclasses of Class 29 for making that particular article, which subclasses are physically located in the portion of the Class 29 schedule, between
1.1, and 179. A process of making a "special article" including plural, distinct metal deforming steps, if performed in the same die, or in the same processing line will be found in Class 72, whereas if not performed in the same die, or in the same processing line will be found in the "special article" making portion of Class 29. The metal deforming steps proper for the "special article" making portion of Class 29 may comprise different metal deforming types, e.g., rolling and drawing, or may comprise two steps of the same deforming type, e.g., a first and a second step of rolling. Note that the corresponding combination of apparatus for making a "special article" is to be found in Class 72 according to the general guideline not according to the exception.
86, Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making, for making ammunition and explosive charges.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus, for making and processing foods and beverages.
100, Presses, for press structure not elsewhere provided for where neither features of structure for holding work nor features of tool structure for performing the work of a type classifiable in Class 29 are claimed.
122, Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers, for apparatus for making steam.
132, Toilet,
201, for methods of and subclass 56 for apparatus for making hair structures.
148, Metal Treatment, for the combination of significant heat treatment for modifying or maintaining internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure) or chemical properties of metal with a metal working, machining, fusion bonding, casting, or assembly or disassembly operation proper for Class 29. Particularly, see section III, A, of the Class 148 definition for amplification of what constitutes significant heat treatment. Furthermore, the combination of reactive coating or chemical heat removing (e.g., flame-cutting, etc.)
or burning (i.e., oxidizing) to remove a portion of a metal workpiece, with a Class 29 metal working, machining, fusion bonding, or casting operation goes as an original to Class 148.
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, as the generic class for the adhesive joining of parts utilizing nonmetallic cements and as the generic class for manufacturing processes involving a chemical reaction. See the class definition of Class 156 for the line between that class and Class 29. 157, Wheelwright Machines,
13, for apparatus and processes for treating the outer periphery of a rubber tire casing by a slitting or machine operation which art (in the absence of this subclass) would ordinarily be classified in accord with the particular operation. (The treating of a rubber casing by abrading is classified in Class 451, Abrading).
160, Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel,
405, for making of shades, blinds, curtains, screens, and venetian blinds.
216, Etching a Substrate: Processes, for etching processes not otherwise provided for in which one of the manufacturing steps includes a chemical etching or physical solvation. See the class definition of class 216 for the line between that class and class 29.
219, Electric Heating, appropriate subclass for treating and joining by means of electrically heated instrumentalities.
231, Whips and Whip Apparatus,
1, for machines for making whips.
234, Selective Cutting (e.g., Punching), for method of or means for perforating a workpiece by one or more cutting tools chosen from a plurality of tools constantly available for actuation.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, for metal comminution, per se, and in combination with other treatment there provided for and see Class 241, section (4) of the class definition.
264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes, for a process of manufacturing nonmetallic articles by shaping and/or treating.
269, Work Holders, 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.
300, Brush, Broom, and Mop Making, for making brushes.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval, and see the notes thereto for manufacture of sound recordings.
396, Photography, appropriate subclasses for photos:graphic apparatus not otherwise provided for.
399, Electrophotography, appropriate subclasses for roller means to accomplish an operation of electrophotography.
404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus, for (1) highway, pathway, or walkway structure, per se, or (2) a process or apparatus for making, installing, repairing, or maintaining such structure where such structure, process, or apparatus is not otherwise classifiable as either (a) specifically provided for in other loci or (b) of such general utility as to be provided for on that basis. (See Class 404, Class Definition, for known collections of such nature and the particular lines of demarcation.) Note particularly
72+, for process and subclasses 83+ for apparatus.
425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus, for apparatus to manufacture by shaping or reshaping plastic materials (e.g., organic plastics, clay, cement, earthenware, powdered metal or glass, etc.) including product treating unless such treating is provided for elsewhere. The combination of Class 425 apparatus and Class 29 metal working apparatus is provided for in Class 29.
429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process,
49, for regeneration or repair of a battery.
430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof, for process of making radiation images involving chemistry.
433, Dentistry, for making dentures. 438, Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process, for methods of making certain electrical devices (e.g., barrier layer type, etc.) utilizing a semiconductor substrate.
483, Tool Changing,
1, for a process of transferring a tool to or from a material treating station or a tool storage means, generally, including a Class 29 process combined with transferring the tool used to or from the station at which the Class 29 process occurs; and subclasses 2-69 for means for transferring a tool to or from a material treating station or a tool storage means, generally, including a Class 29 tool combined with means to transfer the tool to or from the tool
station.
505, Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process,
300+, for processes of producing high temperature (Tc greater than 30 K) superconductors.
602, Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage,
900, for methods of making bandage structure.
901, Robots, appropriate subcollections for industrial robots used in metal working operations or in assembly.
GLOSSARY:
ASSEMBLING
The physical act of or means for juxtaposing, associating, integrating, joining and/or putting together, with or without securing, of machines, devices, and things (articles). BARRIER LAYER DEVICE
An electrical component consisting of two conductors placed either in contact with each other or separated by an interface layer to which contacts or terminals have been secured, which component has a nonlinear resistance characteristic, as a result of the electrical action of the interface between the two conductors rather than from the characteristic of the conductors.
DEFORMING
The physical act of or means for shaping without any substantial removal of material. This term includes forging, rolling, densifying, extruding, drawing and stretching.
DISASSEMBLY
The physical act of or means for dissociating, disengaging, and/or taking apart of machines, devices, and things (articles).
MACHINING
The physical act of or means for shaping by removing material by means of a cutting edge. This term includes milling, cutting, turning, boring, drilling, abrading, broaching, filing, sawing, punching, blanking, and planing.
MANUFACTURING
The physical act of or means for creating, constructing, fabricating, machining, working, shaping, assembling,
disassembling, and repairing of machines, devices, and things (articles).
REPAIR The physical act of or means for restoring inoperative machines, apparatus, static structures, and things (articles) when the operational limits of tolerance have become exceeded by wear, imperfections, destructive oxidation, electrolysis, or failure by (1) reshaping parts, (2) substituting a part and/or adding supplemental or additional parts or material, and/or (3) taking away sections of worn, torn, broken, distorted, eroded or otherwise unusable parts or material, and mending them by adding supplemental or additional parts or material.
SHAPING
The physical act of or means for permanently altering the form, configuration, dimensions, proportions, or contour of a part or stock, either with or without the removal of material. This term includes deforming, compacting, densifying, slitting, machining, and briquetting.
SLITTING
The physical act of or means for shaping solely by incising or severing the part or stock to form a partial separation along a plane or surface through the part or stock. When this separation is done by a true shearing operation, there is no material removed.