US PATENT CLASS 501
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
Click HD for Main Headings
Click for All Classes
DEFINITION
Classification: 501/
This is the generic class for:
Glass compositions and compositions for making glass, i.e., glass batch compositions, devitrified glass-ceramic compositions and processes for producing such compositions. These compositions may be regarded as thermoplastic compositions.
Refractory compositions comprising primarily earthy, inorganic materials, and/or elemental carbon.
Fired clay containing compositions in the nature of porcelain, earthenware, and similar materials. These
compositions may be regarded as thermosetting compositions.
See the Glossary for the definition of the term "ceramic".
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
Optional ingredients. Disclosures reciting an optional ingredient, such as a statement that a composition includes a range of concentration of the ingredient, including zero percent as the lower end of the range (i.e., containing or comprising 0 - X percent by weight of that ingredient) are classified in a more generic subclass and cross-referenced to an indented subclass which provides for the presence of that ingredient. As an example, a refractory composition which comprises 0 - 10 percent of silicon carbide might be classified as an original in subclass 87 and cross-referenced in subclass 88.
Mol percent and weight percent. When in a disclosure otherwise classifiable in subclasses 54, 55, 73, 121, or 131 recites the concentration of the material specified in the subclass title is in mol percent rather than weight percent, it may be necessary to calculate the equivalent weight percent to classify the disclosure properly. 1. A COMPOUND, PER SE, IS CLASSIFIED IN A COMPOUND CLASS REGARDLESS OF UTILITY.
See References to Other Classes, below, for compound classes.
2. COMPOSITION OR MATERIAL.
A. The rules for determining Class placement of the Original Reference (OR) for claimed chemical compositions are set forth in the Class Definition of Class 252 in the SECTION LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS, subsection COMPOSITION CLASS SUPERIORITY, which includes a hierarchical ORDER OF SUPERIORITY FOR COMPOSITION CLASSES.
It is the general rule of classification to classify a process of preparing a composition along with the composition. In those circumstances where only a process of preparing a composition is claimed and there is no claim to a composition, the claim would be classified identically as if it were a composition claim.
B. Lines With Article Or Product Classes.
1. As a general rule, a product (article) is classified with the class specifically providing for the same or a generic class which can take the same.
2. This class (501) provides for an article or product defined in terms of its compositions.
3. An article or product defined by B, 2 above, combined with
significant structure for another class will be classified in the class providing for the structure and crossed to Class 501.
4. Subject matter involving multiple claimed inventions--i.e., claims for both Class 501 and those classes in References to Other Classes below that are related to "Composition or Material," section A or section B--will be classified in said class and crossed to Class 501.
See References to Other Classes for article or product classes. C. PROCESS AND APPARATUS CLASSES
See References to Other Classes, below for process and apparatus classes.
D. SPECIAL CLASSES
See References to Other Classes, below for special classes.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
13, Electric Furnaces,
35, for furnace linings. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
23, Chemistry: Physical Processes,
230, for physical processes pertaining to ceramic material. (Process class)
29, Metal Working, appropriate subclasses for a process of making articles having ceramic material. (Process class)
30, Cutlery, 345, for structured cutlery articles defined in part in terms of the materials of its makeup. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids, for process and apparatus for drying ceramic material. (Process and apparatus class)
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), appropriate subclasses for structures of that class made of ceramic material. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material, " section B, above)
55, Gas Separation, appropriate subclasses for apparatus having ceramic filtering material, especially
522+, ; particularly subclass 523 for specific media material, ceramic or sintered. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
65, Glass Manufacturing, appropriate subclasses for glass working or treating. See the class definition of Class 65 for the line between Classes 65 and 501, especially the Glossary therein for the definitions of glass working and glass treating,
2+, for such process of making fibers or filaments; subclasses 19+ for processes employing slag; subclasses 21+ for bead making; subclass 22 for preforming; subclass 33 for devitrifying or vitrifying crystalline glass; subclasses 36+ for fusion bonding of glass to a preformed part, subclasses 60.1+ for a process involving glass working or treating, as well as coating; and subclasses 134+ for processes of purifying or homogenizing molten glass. (Process class)
71, Chemistry: Fertilizers, appropriate subclasses for fertilizers containing ceramic material. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material, " section B, above)
71, Chemistry: Fertilizers, appropriate subclasses for process of using ceramic materials in fertilizers. (Process class)
75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures,
228+, for consolidated metal powders which may contain a ceramic material in which the metal particles form a continuous phase, but the ceramic particles do not form a continuous phase. (Special Class) 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures,
201+, for pyrometallurgy process involving sintering a metal and nonmetal. (Process class)
106, Compositions: Coating or Plastic, appropriate subclasses for nonceramic coating or plastic compositions, especially
74+, for alkali metal silicate containing compositions; subclasses 85+ for inorganic settable compositions; particularly subclasses 100+ for Portland cement making; subclasses 109+ for making cementitious materials from gypsum; subclass 312 for opacifiers intended for inclusion in enamel compositions; and subclass 313 for fluxes intended to be used in ceramic compositions. (Process/apparatus class)
110, Furnaces,
323, for refractory type baffle or heat retainer structure of a furnace and subclasses 338+ for brick element. (apparatus class)
117, Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor, for processes and non-coating apparatus for growing therein-defined single-crystal of all types of materials, including ceramic. (Process/apparatus class)
126, Stoves and Furnaces, appropriate subclasses for stoves and furnaces which may contain a ceramic element, especially
400, for fireless cookers which are heat accumulators; subclasses 204+ for body warmers; and subclass 273.5 for ovens. (apparatus class)
200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers,
262+, for electrical contacts composed of named material. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above) 201, Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic,
18, for process of using apparatus of the class of particular composition. (Process/apparatus class)
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy,
280+, for electrolytic electrodes. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy, appropriate subclasses, especially
157.15+, for processes of preparing a specific compound utilizing a wave energy process. (Compound class)
210, Liquid Purification or Separation, appropriate subclasses for process and apparatus using ceramic material in a liquid separation operation. (Process/apparatus class)
216, Etching a Substrate: Processes, for methods of chemically etching ceramic materials. (Process class)
219, Electric Heating,
73+, for a slag composition being used as an environment for electric heating. (Process/apparatus class)
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, appropriate subclasses for process or apparatus for comminuting materials. See section 2 of the Class 241 definition for the class line. (Process/apparatus class)
249, Static Molds,
134, for molds having named material classifiable, per se, in this class (501). (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
252, Compositions,
62, for sound or heat insulators defined by their composition which is other than ceramic. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
257, Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes), appropriate subclasses for those devices which contain ceramic material, including
700, 701+, especially 703 and 705 for ceramic housing or package materials. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
261, Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus,
94+, and 100+ for porous contact devices in the form of a mass or sheet. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes, for processes of molding or shaping compositions of matter which include significant molding or shaping operation. The line between this class (501) and Class 264 is as follows: Class 501 takes processes of making compositions within the class definition even though including the step of molding, when such step is claimed broadly. Broad references to extruding, spinning into a setting medium (without naming the medium) or sheeting in a claim to the preparation of a composition of matter, are considered broad molding steps. Also the statement that heat and pressure are used during the molding, whether or not specific temperatures or specific pressures are recited, is not considered sufficient of itself to take a patent claiming a process of preparing a composition out of this class (501). See especially
239+, for shaping or molding a ceramic article; and digest 39 for processes of treating clay before and after molding. For a detailed discussion of the line between Class 264 and the composition classes, see the definitions of Class 264 and the notes to subclasses 603+ therein. (Process/apparatus class)
266, Metallurgical Apparatus,
280, for linings for metallurgical apparatus. (apparatus class) 338, Electrical Resistors, appropriate subclasses for electrical resistors having ceramic material. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material, " section B, above)
359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements, appropriate subclasses for articles of that class having ceramic materials, especially glass, which may be classified, per se, in this class (501). (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material, " section B, above)
361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
320, and 321.1+ for fixed capacitors having ceramic and glass materials. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
376, Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements,
409+, for nuclear fuels with significant structural features which may be made of a named ceramic composition. However, ceramic compositions, per se, which may be useful to construct nuclear fuel elements are classified in this class (501). (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus,
17+, for preparation of pavements; and subclasses 72+ for processes of preparing road structures which may involve a Class 501 composition. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus,
75+, for processes of treating earth or a roadway in situ including the application of a ceramic material thereto, and see the note to Class 501 in the main class definition of Class 404. (Process/apparatus class)
405, Hydraulic and Earth Engineering, 263+, for processes and apparatus for chemical treatment of earth formations in situ to condition the formation or to prevent undesired movement thereof. (Process/apparatus class)
422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing,
245.1+, for non-coating crystallization apparatus not including means for chemical reaction not provided for elsewhere and subclasses 129+ for non-coating crystallization apparatus including means for chemical reaction and not provided for elsewhere.(Process/apparatus class)
423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, appropriate subclasses for inorganic compound or nonmetallic element disclosed or claimed having a utility in a Class 501 composition. (Compound class)
425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for shaping or treating ceramic compositions other than glass. (apparatus class)
427, Coating Processes, appropriate subclasses for processes of coating with ceramic compositions. (Process class)
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles,
304.4+, for stock material containing one cellular or porous component which may comprise a ceramic composition; subclass 426 for nonstructural laminated stock material which includes a glass composition; subclasses 446+ for nonstructural laminated stock material which includes a composition including silicon or a compound of silicon; and 539.5, for stock material containing free metal particles and ceramic particles wherein there is a metal continuous phase interengaged with a nonmetal continuous phase as a result, e.g., of a sintering operation. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles,
38, for glass containing wire mesh reinforcement; subclasses 426+ for plural layer stock material in which at least one layer contains a glass; and subclass 539.5 for sintered compacts comprising both metal or alloy particles and ceramic particles in which there is present a metal continuous phase interengaged with a ceramic continuous phase. (Special Class)
429, Chemistry: Electric Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process, 247+, for battery separators which may comprise a ceramic material. (Process/apparatus class)
429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process, appropriate subclasses for chemical current producing structures which may comprise a ceramic component and for processes of producing electric current by chemical means utilizing or producing a ceramic composition. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material, " section B, above)
432, Heating,
1+, for a residual process of heating or calcining an object or material which is clearly distinct from the composition and for processes and apparatus for the firing of ceramic materials not involving the shaping thereof. (Process/apparatus class)
433, Dentistry, appropriate subclasses for ceramic dental articles. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or
Material, " section B, above)
442, Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, etc.), appropriate subclasses for glass fiber fabric. (Special Class)
451, Abrading,
28+, for an abrading process using ceramic materials. (Process class)
505, Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process,
100+, for high temperature (Tc 30 K) superconducting materials, per se, or subclasses 300+ for processes of producing same. (see Lines With Other Classes, "Composition or Material," section B, above)
520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, the series for synthetic resin, per se, even though such resin is disclosed or claimed as having a Class 501 utility. A resin, per se, is one containing no intentional additive to perfect it for a Class 501 purpose. See the remainder of the class (260) for an organic compound having a Class 501 utility not provided for elsewhere. This portion of Class 260 is being reclassified into the 530 to 570 series of classes. See the search notes thereunder. (Compound class) 526, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, for polymers of unsaturated monomers only, per se, even if disclosed or claimed as having a Class 501 utility. (Compound class)
588, Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment, appropriate subclasses for the containment and storage of hazardous or toxic waste which may involve vitrification. (Process/apparatus class)
GLOSSARY:
The meaning to be given to the various "art" terms appearing in this class, but which have not been included in the Glossary below, is the same as that generally accepted or in common usage. However, certain terms employed in this class, which are included below, have been assigned definitions tailored to meet the needs of this class and therefore those may be more restricted or less limited or even altogether different from those in common usage.
ALKALINE EARTH METAL
Alkaline Earth Metal is considered to be generic to calcium, strontium, and barium. In this class (501), magnesium is not considered to be an alkaline earth metal and compositions containing magnesium compounds are generally provided for apart from those of alkaline earth metals.
CERAMIC
Inorganic compositions which are heat treated to harden them during their manufacture or subsequent use by firing, calcining, sintering, or fusion of at least a portion of the inorganic material, including glass compositions, fired clay compositions which form, e.g., porcelain or brick, and refractories. Such materials typically, but not necessarily, include earthy materials, such as metal (and especially mixed metal) silicates.
CLAY
The naturally occurring earthy materials (or artificial compositions having generally equivalent chemical and physical properties) containing a substantial proportion (30 percent or more) of colloidal particles (under .002mm.), and which becomes plastic when mixed with water and which plastic material is capable of being hardened when fired and containing a major proportion of hydrated aluminum silicates which are derived by the weathering or decomposition of granite or other feldspathic rock.
(1) Note. Many natural materials are considered to be clays, e.g., kaolin, fire clays, ball clays, china clays, bentonite, fuller's earth, bauxite, montmorillonite, halloysite, and argillaceous earths. (2) Note. Typical clay containing ceramic compositions or articles are, e.g., common or face brick, structural blocks, porcelain bricks, pottery, china, terra cotta, tile, sewer pipe, and some coating and filling compositions.
EARTHENWARE, PORCELAIN
These terms designate fine grained or fully vitreous, high fired white or translucent ceramic materials, frequently, but not always containing clay or similar plastic components. Among many terms used to designate somewhat similar materials are stoneware, earthenware, porcelain, pottery, china, whiteware, tile, crockery, sanitaryware, terra cotta, bisque, rakuware, and slip cast ware. They are not intended for use in the high temperature or corrosive environments where materials referred to as refractories are typically employed.
FIBER
A slender, elongated structure of relatively small, uniform diameter having a much greater length, which may have a relatively short finite length or an indeterminate length.
FRIT
A glass composition in a powdered or granulated state prepared by fusing the glass and quenching it in a cold liquid. Frits form an important part of the batches used in
compounding glazes and enamels.
GLASS
Inorganic compositions which solidify from the molten state without crystallizing, to have that molecular disorder characteristic of the glass state, which have no definite melting point, are incapable in the solid state of permanent deformation, which fracture when subjected to deformation tension and include as components at least one "glass former" material.
(1) Note. Typical glass formers are, e.g., oxides of silicon, beryllium, boron, germanium, phosphorus, vanadium, lead, tin, zinc, zirconium, and titanium, as well as such nonoxide compounds as GeS, metal fluorides, or iodides, and some metallic selenides, tellurides, arsenides, and phosphides. These compositions may also include other oxides devoid of glass forming tendencies, e.g., oxides of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and magnesium.
(2) Note. Many ceramic compositions containing primarily slag, the by product of metal refining and smelting are considered to be glasses. (3) Note. Neither transparency to light nor the absence of color are necessary for a composition to be considered as a glass for the purpose of this class.
(4) Note. Water glass, Plexiglas, and isinglass are not considered to be glass for the purpose of classification in Class 501.
(5) Note. Organic, noncrystalline solid materials, such as synthetic resins which may be referred to as organic glasses, e.g., Plexiglas, are not considered to be glass for the purpose of classification in Class 501.
PORE FORMING (POROUS, MULTICELLULAR)
These terms embrace porous compositions, compositions intended to be further treated to make them porous or processes for effecting the porosity or multicellularity. A positive step for causing porosity must be recited and porosity which is the result of including a naturally porous material in the composition is not classified in the pore-forming subclasses of this class (501).
RARE EARTH ELEMENT
As used in this class (501), this term encompasses those elements having atomic numbers from 57 through 71 inclusive, and 89+. Thus, the following elements are herein treated as rare earth elements: lanthanum, cerium, praesodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolmium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutecium, actinium, thorium, protoactinium, uranium,
neptunium, and plutonium.
REFRACTORY
Compositions which are specifically formulated to be resistant to abrasion, corrosion and physical or chemical disintegration when subjected to high temperatures, chemically corrosive environments and/or rapid temperature changes.
(1) Note. Refractory materials are typically used to produce furnace and kiln linings, fire brick, kiln furniture and saggers, and pyroceramic cones.
(2) Note. Among naturally occurring materials widely used in making refractory products are, e.g., magnesite, dolomite, and chrome- magnesite. VITREOUS, VITRIFY
Vitrification is the progressive fusion of the particles in a ceramic body. As vitrification progresses, the proportion of glassy bond increases and the apparent porosity of the substance decreases. Glass in a massive form (rather than in a frit or powder) and porcelain are considered to be fully vitrified.