(under subclass 592) Process comprising mechanically modifying or altering an existing structure, apparatus, or article of manufacture to produce a structure, an apparatus, or an article of manufacture of substantially different capacity, size, function, or type of operation.
(1) Note. Since this concept was not specially provided for
before this subclass was established in 1979 and since most of this class was not screened at that time, the art of this subclass is incomplete in that it does not include all the patents issued before that date.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
402.01+, for a process of repair (see the definition of "repair" in Class 29 class definition, Glossary).
403.1+, for a process of scrap recovery or utilization.
411, for mechanical manufacture including the process of obtaining plural pieces from a preassembled blank.
412+, for a process including separating a plurality of parts from a single part, e.g., cutting. 426.1, for a process including disassembly (see the definition of "disassembly" in Class 29, class definition, Glossary).
428+, for a process including assembling two or more self-sustaining parts (see the definition of "assembly" in Class 29 class definition, Glossary).
560, for a convertible metal working machine, generally.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
92, Expansible Chamber Devices,
59, for a device under that class that is convertible or changeable by assembly or disassembly.
144, Woodworking,
330+, for a process of reconstructing an article of wood.
285, Pipe Joints or Couplings,
12, for a device of that class that is convertible.
432, Heating,
3, for a process wherein converting or assembling is an integral part of a heating procedure.
