US PATENT CLASS 451
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 451/
While theoretically all abrading (or grinding) may be said to involve a cutting action, the cutting instrument being a natural one, for example, the sharp edges of randomly oriented crystals, as opposed to the teeth of a file, milling tool, or the like, nevertheless there is a practical distinction between an abrading (or grinding) device on the one hand, and a cutting device on the other, as means of working various materials, which is sufficiently well understood throughout the industrial world to permit this distinction to be made in the classification of inventions relating to such devices. The present classification therefore excludes any and every form of cutting, milling, or filing if the abrading is done with materials of sufficiently fine grain to produce a light-reflecting surface or polish. The term "abrading" may include a polishing device that acts by removal of an integral portion of the material acted upon, but not such as depends upon the application of a coating capable of taking a polish by friction or upon a compression, consolidation, or swaging of the material, for which see Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, below.
Every invention relating to abrading must have to do either with an abrading element; a tool consisting of an abrading element or material and a holder by which it may be put to use; a machine embodying an abrading material or tool and means for moving it or the work, or an action equivalent to that of a tool; a holder for the work; a method or process of abrading; an attachment or accessory to a tool, machine, or process; or a plurality of these features. An abrasive tool distinguished solely by the abrasive material or composition will be found elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below.
Abrading machines are herein broadly classed under either of two headings, viz., an abrading machine using a tool or material of definite shape or character or an abrading machine having no such tool or material. The known types of tool are an endless band of abrasive material, a nonrotary block or pad, and a rotary cylinder or disk. Machines using a tool are differentiated from one another, first, by the character of the tool as to the motion given thereto or by the absence of such motion, its function being accomplished by movement of the work, and, second, by the manner of handling the work.
A moving tool has either a continuous longitudinal motion in one direction, a reciprocating motion, a rotary motion, or a combination of two or more of these motions. In the present classification, no patents are placed under the title "Machine, Reciprocating Tool" in which the tool has other
than a reciprocating movement, nor any under the title "Rotary Tool" in which it has other than a rotary motion. Those combining these motions are placed under the title "Machine, Rotary Reciprocating Tool." As to the second differentiation for machine, it is to be noted that there is scarcely a type of work-handling means which has not been applied to and used with each and every type of tool.
In the case of a machine using a rotary tool, a further differentiation is based upon whether the abrading is done by the peripheral or curved face or by the radial or diametrical plane face of the tool or by a combination of abrading surfaces (for example, a cup-shaped tool), and upon the pluralization of tools with opposed working faces, between which the work is treated.
In the case of a stationary tool machine, reciprocating tool machine, or tool, per se, differentiation is based upon the flexible or rigid characteristics of the tool.
An abrading machine is included which depends upon the use of an amorphous or loose granular mass of abrading material in which the work is immersed or through which it is passed or which is forcibly carried in contact with the work. This will be found under the title "By use of plural work holders, without tool" and the subclasses indented thereunder, and under the titles, "Machine"; "Machine, Rotary Tool"; "Sandblast"; or "Tumbling device" and the subclasses indented thereunder.
A machine which uses abrading instruments of more than one of the types recognized in this classification is placed under the title "Machine, combined"; and those in which an abrading means is inseparably organized with means for subjecting the material handled to other treatment are placed under the title "Machine, combined, with nonabrading operations." With two exceptions (for which see Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, below), apparatus in which the abrading operation is in the nature of cleaning by removal of foreign or extraneous material from the surface of the work rather than of an integral portion of the work itself is classified in this class.
A shot-peening machine and process for removing material from a workpiece, as opposed to that for deforming or burnishing a workpiece surface, are found in this class.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
The present classification of abrading excludes any and every form of cutting, milling, or filing if the abrading is done with materials of sufficiently fine grain to produce a light-reflecting surface or polish. Abrading may include a polishing device that acts by removal of an integral portion of the material acted upon, but not such as depends upon the application of a coating capable of taking a polish by
friction or upon a compression, consolidation, or swaging of the material, such as is involved in the method or a device classified in Class 29, Metal Working, subclasses 90.01+ and Class 144, Woodworking, subclass 49.
CLASS 15 EXCEPTIONS
Shotting apparatus for bottle cleaning is classified in Class 15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning and a machine or system for cleaning the inside of tubular work by passing a solid (sometimes abradant) cleaning instrumentality through such work in a fluid stream is also classified in Class 15. A device for cleaning by the use of brushes only, without an abradant and with or without a liquid, are excluded from this class (451) and will be found in Class 15.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
12, Boot and Shoe Making,
70+, for a shoe burnishing machine and subclass 104 for a shoe burnishing tool.
15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning, 3.5, for a machine or system for cleaning the inside of tubular work by passing a solid (sometimes abradant) cleaning instrumentality through such work in a fluid stream (and see also the search note under subclass 3.5 for a further statement of the line); subclass 95 for for shotting apparatus for bottle cleaning. (See Lines With Other Classes, above, above.)
26, Textiles: Cloth Finishing,
28, for a device for treating cloth by rubbing with a sand paperlike surface.
29, Metal Working,
28, for a lathe with a grinding attachment; subclass 89.5 for burning-in, wearing-in, and oil burnishing; and subclasses 90.01+ for a burnishing process or apparatus. (see Lines With Other Classes, above)
30, Cutlery,
35+, for a razor with a sharpening feature, subclasses 138+ for a knife with a sharpening feature, or subclasses 329+ for a holder for a detachable blade with a sharpening feature, which sharpening feature may be used during normal use of the knife or may be used during sharpening of the blade. See the line expressed in the (2) Note after the definition of Class 30, subclasses 451+, for a pencil-sharpening implement including a statically related tool and work holder or work
guide.
44, Fuel and Related Compositions,
643, for a match scratcher composition or structure.
51, Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition, for an abrasive tool distinguished solely by the abrasive material or composition is to be found in Class 51. A nominal recitation of an abrasive tool with a specific composition will be found in Class 51. (Also see the Class Definition, above.)
51, Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition, for the process or method of making an abrading tool or material to be used in the device or process of Class 451. 69, Leather Manufactures,
38, for a rotary tool machine having a tool grinder.
72, Metal Deforming,
53, for shot blasting (or peening) to deform the surface of a metallic member.
76, Metal Tools and Implements, Making,
82+, for a process or apparatus relating to tool sharpening by the removal of stock adjacent to the edge of same by a cutting or filing action as distinguished from an abrading action.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus, particularly
518+, 560+, and 623+ for apparatus for abrading vegetable material for the purpose of hulling or removing the peeling.
125, Stone Working, for a process of or apparatus for operating on stone other than by abrading a surface thereof (roughening, polishing).
132, Toilet,
75.6, and 76.4+ for a manicuring abrader.
137, Fluid Handling, 243+, for a reciprocating disk or plug valve with a regrinding feature.
144, Woodworking, (see the Class Definition for Woodworking),
38, for planing combined with polishing of wood; subclass 47 for turning combined with polishing; and subclasses 28.1+ for a pencil-sharpening machine which may include an abrasive
tool.
157, Wheelwright Machines,
13, for apparatus and process for treating the outer periphery of a rubber tire casing by a slitting, or another machine operation other than abrading, which (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 elsewhere.)
173, Tool Driving or Impacting, for subject matter directed to driving or impacting a tool, when such subject matter includes combined features peculiar to tool driving, but which does not include features limiting the subject matter to a specific tool art, such as specific shape of the work contacting portion of a tool, related tools, or an opposed work support.
205, Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions,
93, for electrolytic coating in which a solid material or member other than an electrode contacts the coating as it is formed, subclass 222 for electrolytic coating combined with subsequent contacting of a coated layer with a solid member or material (e.g., buffing, burnishing, polishing, etc.), and subclasses 640+ for electrolytic erosion to change the shape or surface configuration of an object, especially subclasses 661 and 662+ for electrolytic erosion combined with mechanical abrasion.
209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids,
67, and 191 for a mercury adhesion or gravity-type separator combined with means for rubbing the solids.
210, Liquid Purification or Separation, 353, for a filter combined with a loose-abrasive cleaning means.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, for a comminuting process or apparatus which may involve an abrading action. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class in Class 241 for the line.
335, Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets,
283, for a blade sharpening or conditioning-type magnet device.
366, Agitating, for an agitating apparatus and method where there is no abrading or surface-finishing use disclosed.
396, Photography,
658+, for photos:graphic burnishing.
409, Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing,
64+, for apparatus disclosed as useful with either a milling or an abrading tool.
426, Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products, particularly
483, for a process of removing the outer covering of plant material by abrading. 427, Coating Processes,
289+, for a coating process combined with abrading.
433, Dentistry,
125, 142, and 166 for dental abrading and polishing means.
451, Abrading, for treating of a rubber casing by abrading.
483, Tool Changing, for a transfer means for plural, separate tools between storage and a work station.
493, Manufacturing Container or Tube From Paper; or Other Manufacturing From a Sheet or Web,
271, for a tube-making machine which burnishes to minutely change the size of the tube.
523, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers,
149+, for a composition containing a synthetic resin having utility as a friction element or to a process of preparation thereof.
901, Robots, subcollection 41 for a tool on the end of a robot arm.