ARTICLE OF INTERMEDIATE SHAPE (E.G., BLANK, PARISON, PREFORM,ETC.):
(under the class definition) Subject matter comprising a fully shaped article which is not suitable for functional use in the claimed condition, but must be subjected to one or more further significant shaping steps to do more than merely occupy space.
(1) Note. The following operations have been regarded as not involving a further significant shaping:
(a)
Assembling, or uniting the article with other parts.
(b)
Distorting the article during an assembly operation to cause the article to conform to discrepancies in the size, or shape of a coacting part.
(c) Bonding, or distorting those portions of the article which are to function as means for fastening the article to a coacting part, as, for example, the bending of ears, or tabs.
(d)
Completely destroying the identity of the article as by disintegrating, melting, etc.
(2) Note. See the main definitions of this class (428), section VI, A, 2, for a listing of classes of subject matter which provide for their own blanks.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
43+, and 571, for a series of blanks connected together by a weakened portion intrinsic to the material of which the blank is made.
81, for a sheet having a defined perimeter structure.
105, for a plural component web having grain elements in an angular relationship.
577+, for an intermediate article which is all metal or has adjacent metal layers.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
83, Cutting,
55, for a blanking process. 264, Plastic or Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating:
Processes, appropriate subclasses for methods of deforming nonmetal blanks.
359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements,
