This class is an integral part of Class 252, as shown by the position of the box identifying this class in the Class 252 schedule. As such, this class is subject to the Class Definition and Notes of Class 252.
A. GENERAL STATEMENT
Patents which contain a claim to a lubricant composition are placed in this Class as original patents, and are cross-referenced wherever necessary or desirable. Patents which disclose the use of claimed compositions as lubricants, and recite no claims to a use provided for elsewhere, are similarly classified in this Class. If no composition claims limited to a specific use are recited, and plural utilities are disclosed, or if composition claims to plural utilities are recited, reference should be made to the superiority
listing in the (5) note of the Class 252 Definition to determine the original classification of the patent.
This class provides for:
(1) compositions of matter which are solid antifriction devices or articles described in terms of their chemical composition,
(2) materials from which said solid antifriction devices or articles are fashioned,
(3) compositions which serve as lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces,
(4) compositions of mineral oils admixed with non-hydrocarbon materials and not limited to a function or utility provided for elsewhere in Class 252 or any other class. B. DETAILED STATEMENT
(1) The solid antifriction devices or articles described in terms of their chemical composition are characterized by having a lubricant material as a permanent part of the article or device. This permanence may be accomplished by permanent coating, impregnation into the interstices of the article or device, or by being part of the composition of matter from which the article or device is fashioned. The articles and devices are further characterized by retention of their shape during use.
The type of solid antifriction article or device provided for herein is exemplified by: bearings, rings, seals, journal boxes, bushings, brakes, clutches, gun wads, or liners for bearings, brakes or clutches.
Any processes of making such solid antifriction articles or devices, or peculiar to making such articles or devices, for which there is no provision elsewhere are provided for herein.
Mere or nominal use of such solid antifriction articles or devices as lubricating elements is provided for herein, if there is no provision elsewhere.
(2) The discussion of solid antifriction articles and devices in the Detailed Statement, paragraph 1, supra, is generally applicable also to the materials from which these articles and devices are fashioned.
The materials provided for herein from which said solid antifriction articles or devices are made are the aggregate materials, not individual components of the materials or anything less than the entirety of the material suitable to be fashioned into said article or device.
(3) The lubricant or separant compositions for moving solid
surfaces provided for herein may be liquid, plastic, or fluent compositions specialized and designed for use between two relatively moving surfaces and in contact therewith for reducing friction therebetween or preventing said surfaces from contacting each other. The compositions must include at least one component that is not a hydrocarbon (except if the hydrocarbon is a solid synthetic polymer).
Any process of making such compositions, or peculiar to making such compositions, for which there is no provision elsewhere is provided for herein.
(4) This class is the generic home for mineral oils admixed with non-hydrocarbon materials and not limited to a function or utility provided for elsewhere in Class 252 or any other class. Examples of such compositions are mineral oils mixed with antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, gum inhibitors, stabilizers, etc.
NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION (1) Note. Components of compositions, if described purely in functional terms such as "antioxidant," "VI improver," etc., will not be considered as determinative of classification. In other words, one should not classify a claim in a particular subclass of this class by referring to the specification for the chemical structure identity of a component described in the claims in purely functional language. If the claims of a patent are devoid of chemical structure for the components of a composition, the original classification of the patent will be subclass 200 or subclass 220, assuming that the patent claims are not provided for in another class or classes.
(2) Note. Mere or nominal methods of use of a chemical compound as a lubricant or separant within the meaning of the class definition are classified in this class.
(3) Note. When the term "hydrocarbon" is used in this class, it means an organic compound which consists exclusively of carbon and hydrogen.
(4) Note. When a component of a composition classified in this Class (508) is of indeterminate chemical structure, the following principles shall apply to the classification thereof:
(a)
a number of subclasses herein provide for components of a composition described in terms of their being reaction products of indeterminate structure derived from the reaction of a particular type compound of known structure.
(b)
a composition component of indeterminate structure that can not be classified as described in (a), supra, shall be
classified by considering two additional possible methods for classifying it and employing the one which results in the highest classification in the class. The two methods are: (1) Classify according to a partial structure known to be part of the component. (2) Classify based on a reactant utilized to make the component, and place in the highest reactant classification, with priority given to organic reactants. If no organic reactants are used, classify based on the highest inorganic reactant classification.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
(1) Note. When the expression "organic compound" is used in this class, it means a compound which meets the requirements of the Class 260 class definition, i.e., the molecule is characterized by two carbons bonded together, one atom of carbon bonded to at least one atom of hydrogen or halogen, or one atom of carbon bonded to at least one atom of nitrogen by a single or double bond. Certain compounds are exceptions to this rule, i.e., HCN, CN-CN, HNCO, HNCS, cyanogen halides, cyanamide, fulminic acid and metal carbides. Said exceptions and all other chemical compounds shall be regarded as inorganic.
(2) Note. The organic chemical structure terminology used in this class is consistent with that used in the Glossary for the Class 532 - Organic Compounds - part of the Class 532-570 Series (Published May 22, 1984 in Addendum No. 1-Order No. 946) except as otherwise noted. (3) Note. 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.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
29, Metal Working,
404, for a process of breaking in an engine using a break-in lubricant.
44, Fuel and Related Compositions,
300+, particularly (5) Note to subclass 300 for the line between Class 44 and this class (252).
75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, appropriate subclasses for a bearing containing a continuous phase of metal made by
consolidating metal particles, particularly
231, for such a bearing containing molybdenum disulfide or other solid or other solid lubricant. 102, Ammunition and Explosives, particularly
511, for such devices embodying lubricants wherein there is claimed the structure of the device which is more than a mere recitation of the composition or of a carrier including a lubricant.
106, Compositions: coating or Plastic,38.2, 38.9 for compositions used in preparing molds and in coating molds. These subclasses have not been exhaustively screened for patents which meet the definition of this Class 508; a search of these subclasses may thus be appropriate to ensure a complete search.
148, Metal Treatment,206, 238 for carburizing or nitriding metal substrates using externally supplied carbon or nitrogen, subclasses 240-287 for processes of reactive coating of a metal substrate, particularly subclass 246 wherein the reactive coating composition contains a lubricant, and subclasses 316-319 for carburized or nitrided metal stock. These subclassees have not been exhaustively screened for patents which meet the definition of this Class 508; a search of these subclasses, in particular subclasses 316-319, may thus be appropriate to ensure a complete search.
184, Lubrication, for lubricating processes or apparatus.
208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products,
14+, for compositions consisting of mineral oils or mixtures thereof, regardless of the use or function, as for example, fuels, lubricating oils, etc.
252, Compositions,
71+, for similar compositions which are heat exchange, low freezing or pour point or high boiling.
252, Compositions,
570+, for fluent dielectric compositions ("insulating oils") which contain a hydrocarbon and a nonhydrocarbon.
384, Bearings, appropriate subclasses for bearings that include lubricants and significant structure of the bearing. Bearings that include lubricants when claimed solely in terms of the composition of which they are composed are classified in this class (Class 252). 420, Alloys or Metallic Compositions, appropriate subclasses for a bearing distinguished solely by its alloy or metallic
composition.
516, Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations Thereof; Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting, appropriate subclasses for subject matter relating to: colloid systems (such as sols*, emulsions, dispersions, foams, aerosols, smokes, gels, or pastes) or wetting agents (such as leveling, penetrating, or spreading); subcombination compositions of colloid systems containing at least an agent specialized and designed for or peculiar to use in making or stabilizing colloid systems; compositions and subcombination compositions specialized and designed for or peculiar to use in breaking (resolving) or inhibiting colloid systems; processes of making the compositions or systems of the class; processes of breaking (resolving) or inhibiting colloid systems; in each instance, when generically claimed or when there is no hierarchically superior provision in the USPC for the specifically claimed art.
520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, appropriate subclasses, particularly Class 523,
149+, for a composition containing a synthetic resin or natural rubbers having utility as a friction element or to processes of preparing said composition.
585, Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds,
1+, for a composition consisting only of hydrocarbons, regardless of the use or function, as for example, fuels, lubricating oils, etc. Such hydrocarbons may not be solid synthetic polymers.