US PATENT CLASS 440
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 440/
This class includes and is limited to devices that relate to and have for their object means other than sails for moving a vessel through the water. Included are all types of propellers acting or reacting upon the water or atmosphere and all inventions for moving tows not otherwise classified.
To be proper for this class there must be significantly claimed vessel structure or a claimed modification to the vessel structure to accommodate the propulsion device. If no more vessel structure is claimed than is necessary to mount the propulsion device, the device should be classified in the proper motive power class. This class, however, takes outboard motor types of propulsion devices regardless of claimed structure.
(1) Note. The term "vessel" in the definition may include a person or animal. Mere aquatic devices secured to or held by a person or animal to increase the effective contact between the user and the liquid and thereby cause faster or farther propulsion through the liquid by the user's swimming strokes are not included. For such devices, see References to Other Classes, below.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
Inventions pertaining to the structure or details of boats and skimming or walking devices (e.g., toboggans, water skis,
etc.), are classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
60, Power Plants, for reaction motors per se not limited specifically to propelling a vessel in water. 74, Machine Element or Mechanism, for transmissions having no specific marine housing or no more than a nominal load.
114, Ships,
312+, for those inventions claiming features to cause boats or other devices to submerge and resurface at will. Inventions pertinent to structure or details of ships are classified in Class 114.
416, Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers), for the combination of an impeller and a marine vessel wherein the impeller is arranged to propel the vessel and no more structure of the vessel is claimed than is necessary to mount the impeller inclusive of any impeller motor or drive means. Any additional recitation of vessel structure or any modification of the vessel will require classification in Class 440. See Class 416, Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, for a detailed statement of the class line.
441, Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices, appropriate subclasses for inventions pertaining to the structure or details of boats and skimming or walking devices (e.g., toboggans, water skis, etc.), unless features are claimed to cause such boats or other devices to submerge and resurface at will;
55+, for aquatic devices secured to or held by a person or animal to increase the effective contact between the user and the liquid and thereby cause faster or farther propulsion through the liquid by the user's swimming strokes.
475, Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components, for planetary gear transmission having no more than a nominal load.
GLOSSARY:
The following terms or words, used throughout the titles and definitions are set forth with the meaning each is to have in this class.
ENGINE
A device which converts thermal energy into mechanical energy or power to produce force or motion. MOTOR
A device which receives and modifies electrical energy or energy from some natural source in order to produce force or motion.
MOTIVE FORCE
Any force used to impart motion.
PADDLE
A device used to propel a vessel in the water consisting of a broad fairly flat blade that is dipped vertically or near vertically into the water.
PROPELLING MEANS
The element of the propulsion unit which acts upon the surrounding fluid (air or water) to cause the vessel to move.
PROPULSION UNIT
The total combination of all elements including the engine, the propelling means, the casing, etc., involved in moving a vessel.
REACTING SURFACE
The area or face of the propelling means which directly displaces the surrounding fluid.