This is the residual class of closures, which are movable or removable, and of ancillary devices not elsewhere classifiable.
NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION
(1) Note. The terms "closure", "movable closure", and "removable closure", are defined in the glossary.
(2) Note. The schedule of this class was built on patents issued since 1930. Older patents were placed in the schedule mainly on the basis of disclosure and not necessarily on the basis of claimed subject matter.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
Class 49 is superior to Class 160 and will take a flexible closure panel under the following conditions:
(1) An impact absorbing flexible barricade as set forth in Class 49, subclass 9.
(2) A flexible movable closure combined with an animal blocker, repeller or chaser. See Class 49, subclasses 58+.
(3) Plural flexible movable closures on opposite sides of an independently movable or removable center post. See Class 49, subclass 365. (4) When the closure does not depend upon its flexibility for movement, e.g., a flexible panel within a rigid frame which is mounted for movement, and is not provided for in the Class 160 schedule.
See 445, for the line between the counterbalances in this
subclass and the counterbalances in the class for Miscellaneous Hardware
(A) Certain classes take closure combinations where only so much of the closure is claimed as pertains to the subject matter of the class noted. See Class 16, subclass 193, and Class 49, subclass 445, for the lines between the counterbalances in the two subclasses.. Also see References to Other Classes, below, for specific Class citations.
(B) Certain classes take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms. See References to Other Classes, below, for specific Class citations.
CLOSURES IN OTHER CLASSES
(A) Art devices having a closure as a part of the combination are classified for the most part with the particular art. The following notes mention some such art combinations, but no attempt has been made to mention all. An attempt has, however, been made to list all classes and subclasses for closures, per se.
(B) Dispensing
Closures constructed for dispensing, specially related to receptacles or containers to assist to promote dispensing, or combined with other dispensing structure have (for the most part) not been listed. In some instances, dispensing structures and/or closures having structure closely related to nondispensing closure structures, have been listed. For such devices, see the appropriate dispensing classification, Class 222, Dispensing, being the generic class, and see the notes in that class for the distribution of dispensing art.
(C) Valves
Valve type closures are not here listed; see References to Other Classes, below, for specific citations to the main classes for valves.
(D) Other categories of closures in References To Other Classes include: Firearms, Ordnance and Ammunition;
Furnace and Heating Classes;
Receptacle, Building Structure and Vehicle Body Classes; and
Miscellaneous classes, not above mentioned, that have closures combined with other things, closures, per se, devices used with closures and devices not used as closures but having analogous structure, considered worth noting.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
2, Apparel,
96, for front closures for coats; subclass 128 for shirt closures; subclass 141.1 for the combination of a collar and a collar closure; subclass 218 and 219 for placket and waist closures for skirts; subclasses 234 and 235 for trouser closures; subclass 252 for pocket closing attachments; and subclass 270 for sleeve or leg closures.
4, Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons, subclasses: 234+ for closet seats combined with covers; 242.1 for covers for closet seats; 246.1+, for operators for closet seats and covers; 253 for closet bowl closures; 256.1 for devices for closing openings in closet bowls; 267+ for spittoon covers and operators; 286+ for covers and stoppers and plugs for basins, sinks and tubs; 607 for movable closures which include means to drain, deflect, or repel shower spray water; and 694 for closures for bath or basin overflow fittings.
5, Beds,
171, for a bed carried by the door and shifted to position by movement of the door. 14, Bridges,
50+, for a movable closure combined with a bridge.
15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning,
257.6, for a debris receptacle with a movable closure.
16, Miscellaneous Hardware, for closure combinations where only so much of the closure is claimed as pertains to the subject matter of Class 16. Except see
193, of Class 16 for the line between the counterbalances of this subclass (193) and a subclass of Class 49. (Also see Lines With Other Classes of this class (49). )
27, Undertaking,
14+, for coffin lids.
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,
242, for a closure sealing an opening in a treating chamber against gas leakage, and having means to permit the introduction of objects through the closure without voiding the seal, e.g., air locks.
36, Boots, Shoes, and Leggings,
50.1+, for closures for shoe uppers.
37, Fluid Handling, for valves.
42, Firearms,
2+, for breech closures.
43, Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying,
58+, for trap closures.
48, Gas: Heating and Illuminating,
124, for retort lids, subclass 176 for tanks with bell type closures.
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), takes (1) a building or barrier having building features in addition to that of merely forming the opening or support for a movable closure, (2) means forming an opening through a barrier, (3) structure having features for removal of a panel section for purposes of repair or initial assembly or final disassembly, (4) a transparent panel (window) with means to treat the panel not elsewhere provided for, and (5) for panels, per se, even though defined as a closure. Also see other Class 52 references in this section for the subclass location of closures in Class 52.
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), for closures and related structure provided in that class (52), particularly:
19+, for manholes and roof entrance ways, subclass 37 for disparate articles on or adjacent a closure portal, subclasses 64+ for a barrier section mounted for repositioning, subclass 85 for a curved arch type doorway, subclass 107 for a window well and cover, subclasses 171.3+ for a window pane with treating means, subclass 186 for a closure related to a stair, subclass 199 for a roof vent, subclass 201 for a bay window, subclasses 204.1+ for a closure portal with a specified building feature, subclasses 302.1+ for a wall drain, subclasses 393+ for a window pane spaced from its frame by a yieldable separator, subclasses 455+ for a plural panel door, subclass 473 for a louvered panel with fixed slats, subclass 476 for a releasable, frame section which permits removal of a closure panel for repair, subclasses 764+ for a closure panel, e.g., pane, retained by a separable fastener and subclasses 782.1+ for a closure panel.
59, Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making, 89, for chain links having a pivoted closure.
62, Refrigeration,
265, for a closure on a cooled compartment, and means blocking the outflow of cooled air when the closure is opened.
63, Jewelry,
19, for lockets with hinged covers.
68, Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus,
196, for covers for fixed liquid receptacle textile treating machines.
60, Power Plants, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
70, Locks, for closure combinations where only so much of the closure is claimed as pertains to the subject matter of Class 70.
73, Measuring and Testing,
330+, and subclass 334 for transparent closure plate type sight glasses. 74, Machine Element or Mechanism, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
89, Ordnance,
17+, for breech closures and subclass 30 for touch-hole stoppers.
91, Motors: Expansible Chamber Type, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
92, Expansible Chamber Devices, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
92, Expansible Chamber Devices, appropriate subclasses for a closure limited for use as a closure for a working chamber of an expansible chamber device.
102, Ammunition and Explosives,
304, and 333 for plugs to be placed in blast holes to confine the blasting charge, and subclass 532 for gun or cartridge wads.
105, Railway Rolling Stock, for closures associated with both passenger and freight cars, particularly
239+, for dumping cars, subclasses 332+ for convertible open and closed passenger cars and subclasses 341+, 343, 348+, 350+, 353, 377, 378, 395, 398, 426+, 437+, 439+, and 450 for various other closures or closure combinations,.
109, Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device,
6+, for plural closures used as a trapping mechanism, subclasses 11+ for a protective shield movable from a retracted position to an operative position, and subclasses 64+ for a movable closure combined with a safe or like structure.
112, 116 and 158 for furnace doors in combination with other furnace structure; subclass 172 for furnace fronts with doors; subclasses 173+ for furnace doors; subclass 180 for doors and casings with cooling means and subclasses 181+ for casings and arches for furnace doors.
114, Ships,
27+, for dumping and unloading means for scows, particularly subclasses 35 and 36+ for those having side and bottom doors; subclass 47 for floating dry-docks with end gates; subclasses 116+ for bulkheads and bulkheads provided with doors; subclasses 173+ for ports; subclass 180 for Hawse pipe stoppers and covers; subclass 197 for boat plugs with valves; subclasses 201+ for hatches and covers and subclasses 227+ for leak stoppers.
116, Signals and Indicators, appropriate subclasses, for nonelectrical signals and indicators for closures.
119, Animal Husbandry,
11, for a movable partition closure in a stock car, and subclasses 15+ for a confining and housing device having a closure, especially subclass 15.2 for a race track starting stall having a movable gate.
122, Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers,
360+, for the structure of headers for water tube boilers; subclasses 497+ for water cooled boiler fronts, subclass 498 having water cooled furnace doors.
123, Internal-Combustion Engines, for a movable closure which directs the flow of a coolant, e.g., air, to an internal-combustion engine.
126, Stoves and Furnaces, particularly the following subclasses which occur in the class list in the order noted: 190+, for stove doors and windows; 201+, for stove and fireplace fenders; 211+, for stove lids and tops; 319, for flue stoppers; and 544+, for closures for fireplace openings. 131, Tobacco, particularly
176+, 206, 215.1+, 223, 228, and 242 for tobacco users' appliances having closures.
135, Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane,
117, for tent doors.
137, Fluid Handling,
247.41+, for U-seal traps which may include a closure.
138, Pipes and Tubular Conduits,
89, for closures and plugs, and subclasses 98+ for patches.
150, Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers, particularly the following subclasses which occur in the class list in the order noted. 118+ for purse closures.
152, Resilient Tires and Wheels,
514, for pneumatic tire casing closures and flaps, subclasses 367+ for patches; and subclasses 428 and 431 for inflating valve stem cap combinations. 160, Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel, for: (a) closures utilizing flexible material or fabrics in their panel portions; (b) closures made of plural strips, slats or panels interconnected with one another for relative motion; (c) closures of either or both types (a) and (b) combined with closures of other types. Note that
90+, of Class 160 provide for the combination of a Class 49 and a Class 160 closure. Class 160 will take a flexible panel of the type provided for where the sole disclosure is flexible, even though the claims are not limited thereto.
165, Heat Exchange,
72+, and 134.1+ for a heat exchanger with a removable closure; subclasses 98+ for a movable closure combined with a radiator, and subclass 158 for a heat exchanger with a head closure that forms a manifold.
166, Wells,
75.13, for well heads having some fluid handling or other feature peculiar to wells.
174, Electricity: Conductors and Insulators, for a shield or screen having anti-inductive properties, and
66+, for covers and face plates.
181, Acoustics,
287, for movable/foldable sound absorbing panels.
182, Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold,
21, for a window guard or shutter convertible to a ladder, and subclasses 77+ for a door combined with a ladder.
184, Lubrication, particularly
80, for lubricator cups with closure and valve, and 88.1+ for oil cup closures.
187, Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle,
313+, for a barrier in combination with other elevator structure which regulates access to or from an elevator car and subclasses 336+ for means for closing an elevator shaft opening through a landing.
192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control,
135+, for automatic guards for stop mechanism involving covers.
194, Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms, appropriate subclasses, and see the search note in
35, of this class (49) for the line.
198, Conveyors: Power-Driven,
704, for bucket conveying elements with discharging doors. 200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers,
61.62+, for switches actuated concurrently with the use or operation of closures, closure operators or accessories.
202, Distillation: Apparatus,
190, where a condenser forms a cap or closure for a still, and subclasses 242+ for retort and still closures.
209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids,
372, for closures for sifting bins and casings.
210, Liquid Purification or Separation,
163+, for grated inlet surface drains, subclasses 244+ for filters in a portable receptacle having a hood or closure, subclasses 435+ for filters in a closed casing, and subclass 541 for filter adjuncts, e.g., filter casings peculiar to that art.
211, Supports: Racks,
76, and 82-84 for receptacle racks having closures or closure
operators for the supported receptacles.
212, Traversing Hoists, 166, for door lifters.
215, Bottles and Jars,
50+, for bottle necks which are breakable and include a stopper, subclasses 54+ for bottle necks which are breakable and include a stopper and a stopper fastener and 200+ for bottle closures in general.
217, Wooden Receptacles, subclasses: 56+ for box closures; 76+for barrel closures; 98+ for barrel bungs; and 124 for basket closures.
220, Receptacles,
200+, for movable or removable closures for a receptacle.
221, Article Dispensing,
289+, for article dispensers having closures operated to effect the mechanical release or separation of articles from a source of supply.
222, Dispensing, appropriate subclasses, and see Lines With Other Classes, Closures in Other Classes, Note B, supra.
229, Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes
76+, for an envelope closure, 124+ for a box closure, and 92.5 and 92.7 for a letter sheet closure; 25+, 33, 36, 38+, and 124+ for folded blank box closures; 43+, for other box closures; 62+, for bag closures; 76+, for envelope closures; and 92.5 and 92.7 for letter sheet closures.
231, Whips and Whip Apparatus, 6, for caps analogous to closures.
232, Deposit and Collection Receptacles, particularly subclasses: 14 for change gates; 22, for letter boxes combined with door or window; 25+ for letter boxes combined with cooperative closures; 42 for milk receptacles combined with door or window; 43.1+ for deposit and collection receptacles having separate inlet and outlet openings and closures for said opening; and 44+ for closures and chutes.
238, Railways: Surface Track,
74, 75, 76 for ties in the form of rectangular tubes with separate top and/or bottom plates, and subclass 104 for end closures for tubular ties and tie casings.
246, Railway Switches and Signals, particularly subclasses:
(A) 125+ for closures automatically actuated or controlled from a moving train or vehicle by electrical means, and (B) or actuating means, many of which are for closures: 218+ for electric for electric actuating means; 257+ for fluid motor actuating means, particularly
261, ; 262+ for mechanical motor actuating means; 270+ for vehicle-energy actuating means, particularly subclasses 272 and 292+.
248, Supports,
134, for a receptacle, tiltably mounted on a stand, and wherein movement of the receptacle operates a closure.
249, Static Molds,
205, for stoppers for use in metal ingot and pig molds.
251, Valves and Valve Actuation, for valves.. 256, Fences,
1, for fences with gate closures.
266, Metallurgical Apparatus,
272, for devices for closing the tap hole or tuyere to stop flow of molten material.
277, Seal for a Joint or Juncture, for a generic sealing means or process, cross-reference art collection 921 for a closure or weather strip seal.
285, Pipe Joints or Couplings,
119, for a pipe end closure combined with a spaced pipe-to-plate joint, and subclasses 148.6+ for a pipe or cable and box coupling comprising pipe or cable clamping means having an attached closure flange.
292, Closure Fasteners, for closure combinations where only so much of the closure is claimed as pertains to the subject matter of Class 292. Except, see the search notes in this class (49),
414, for the line between the friction bearings of that subclass and the double acting bolts in subclasses 14+ and 70+ of Class 292, and see the note in subclass 356 for the line between the push rod actuators of this class (49) and the extension links in subclasses 262+ of Class 292.
296, Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops,
146.1+, for either (a) a plurality of access barriers or closures about a vehicle body or (b) an access barrier or closure combined with a feature or accessory of a vehicle
body (e.g., sill, side rail, windshield, seat armrest, visor, etc.); subclasses 210+ for an access barrier or closure combined with structure defining a vehicle top (roof) (e.g., sun roof and/or moon roof, etc.). Class 49, Movable and Removable Closures, is the controlling class for a single door and/or window for a single opening in either a vehicle body or top in the absence of a defining feature or accessory correlated to a vehicle body or top, respectively. 296, Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops, particularly subclasses: 50 for end gates; 77.1+ for storm fronts including windshields; and 146.1+ for doors and windows.
298, Land Vehicles: Dumping, particularly
6, 23, and 27+ for closures for dumping vehicles.
303, Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake Systems,
6.1, for a fluid pressure brake for controlling a fluid motor which operates a closure.
312, Supports: Cabinet Structure, for appropriate subclasses for closures which are components of cabinets.
318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
340, Communications: Electrical,
545.1+, for electrical signals automatically responsive to the condition of a closure.
359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements,
591+, for means to illuminate the interior of a building with exterior light.
362, Illumination, particularly 100, for door knob or keyhole illuminators, subclass 375 for casing closures for lanterns, subclasses 455+ for devices analogous to closures for dimming lanterns, subclass 127 for socket covers and for lens holders.
366, Agitating,
242+, for a stirrer mounted in a removable closure of a stationary mixing chamber, and subclass 347 for mixing chamber covers and shields.
368, Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices, particularly
294+, for bezels and crystals; and subclass 312 for spring covers.
383, Flexible Bags,
42+, for a bag closure.
384, Bearings,
189+, for a lid or closure plate for an exterior car journal box.
396, Photography,
452+, for camera shutters and subclasses 517+ for plateholders having closures. 400, Typewriting Machines,
713+, for resilient covers for typewriter keys analogous to closures.
404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus,
23, for a pavement with removable light admitting means and subclasses 25+ for a pavement with a vault-cover closure.
405, Hydraulic and Earth Engineering,
6, for dry dock gates; subclass 42 for an end cap on an irrigation conduit; subclasses 85+ for canal locks; subclass 87 for water gates; and subclass 107 for dams and levees.
406, Conveyors: Fluid Current,
147+, and 176+ for pneumatic dispatch transmission tube terminals, many of which have closures; and subclasses 186 and 188+ for carriers having side openings and end openings, respectively, with closures.
410, Freight Accommodation on Freight Carrier,
143+, for a brace panel or bulkhead movably or removably positioned wall-to-wall athwart a freight carrier.
418, Rotary Expansible Chambers Devices, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
414, Material or Article Handling, 164, 169+, 200+, 221, 328+, 369, 387+, 407, 414, 472, 519+, 545, 556+, 616, 644, and 657+ for structure in the nature of a closure.
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, appropriate subclasses, for a sheet with corner or perimeter structure, as in
81+, which may be usable as a closure.
429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process,
174, and 185 for battery having sealing means (material), and subclasses 175 and 177 for battery covers.
439, Electrical Connectors,
135+, for an electrical connector with a movable or removable closure therefore.
449, Bee Culture,
20+, for a passageway in a bee hive or into a bee hive.
454, Ventilation, for closures of various types having ventilating features, particularly
284+, for registers and specifically subclasses 309+ for louvers. 454, Ventilation, takes a plurality of spaced movable closures especially arranged to utilize natural laws or phenomena to effect ventilation, e.g., top and bottom ventilation for a window whereby fresh air enters at the bottom and stale air leaves at the top, and for a movable closure combined with ventilation means to supply, distribute, regulate, treat or direct air in a tortuous path or to change the direction of flow of the air. A mere through passage in a wall combined with a closure for the passage of air is classified in this class (49).
475, Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components, will take a closure claimed as the load by name only or in general terms.
GLOSSARY:
ACTUATOR
(See OPERATOR) The force input means to the closure for imparting movement thereto, e.g., an operator. The term is broader than "operator" since a handle which does not move relative to the closure is considered an actuator.
BARRIER
A construction forming an extended indefinite surface preventing or inhibiting the passage of persons or things, e.g., wall, ceiling, floor, roof or cover.
CABLE
A flexible connector such as a rope, chain or the like.
CLOSURE
A closure is an obstructive structure whose presence in or before a passage bars traffic through the passage. The character of passage varies depending on the thing or things the passage is intended to accommodate. For example, a single rod across a doorway prevents passage of a person but not a small animal; a letter slot permits passage of a letter but not a large package, a window sash permits passage of light but not air, a shutter permits passage of air but restricts the passage of light. LEVER
An elongated rigid arm which is pivoted at least one point along its length.
LINK
A type of lever which is pivoted at two or more points along its length, usually at its extremities.
MOTOR DRIVEN OR ACTUATED
A powered means such as a motor or engine utilized as the moving force or input of the operator. A mere spring is not a powered means, but a motor having a spring as the source of power is included within the meaning of the term defined.
MOVABLE CLOSURE
A closure mounted to move in a regular, repetitive, predetermined path with respect to a passage so as to alternately open or close the passage.
MULTIDIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT
Motion along two or more distinct lines of travel or about two or more axes of rotation or a combination thereof, in a single operation.
OPERATOR
A manipulatable mechanical means, movable relative to the closure, for imparting movement to the closure relative to its mounting means, in its opening or closing movement. A mere spring which effects the movement of the closure, for example, by utilizing the stored energy to return the closure to starting position, is not included within the meaning of this term. PANEL
A sheet-like member which is a section of a closure structure.
PORTAL
Structure defining an opening through a barrier for the
passage of persons or things, e.g., the framing of a door or window opening.
REMOVABLE CLOSURE
A closure which is mounted so as to be readily physically disassociated from its supporting structure to form a passage.
RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT OF CLOSURE
Straight line motion in opposite directions, such as up and down, right and left, to open or close a passage.
SLIDING MOVEMENT OF CLOSURE
Rectilinear motion which is constrained by stationary guides on the supporting member(s).
SLIDE-STILE An elongated member extending along the edge of a closure in opposition to a portal frame member, e.g., jamb, and connectable to the closure for sliding therewith.
SWINGING MOVEMENT OF CLOSURE:
A turning motion about a pivot to open or close a passage.