Lines with other classes and within this class1. Housings (boxes, receptacles, containers, etc.) are placed in this class only when limited to electrical use. The mere fact, claimed or unclaimed, that the material of which the box or housing is composed is conductive, and/or insulative, will not cause classification in this class. See D, Housing, Boxes Or Receptacles, below. To be classified in this class, the claims must include some structure which limits the box or housings to electrical use. The recitation that the box or housings include an electrical device, recited by name only, is sufficient to cause classification in this class even though no other structure is recited which limits the box or housings to electrical use. This class includes as boxes, housings or envelopes such as are used for electric lamps, electric space discharge devices, and similar electrical devices which are enclosed in vitreous, ceramic, nonmetallic plastic or metallic housings or envelopes. Where such subject matter is otherwise properly within the scope of this class, the mere naming of the type of lamp or discharge device as being the device within the housing or envelope will not exclude the patent from this class. Neither will the recitation of an electrode broadly recited within the housing or envelope exclude the patent from this class although if the electrode is claimed as a filament, anode, grid or other specific electrode, the patent will be excluded. Also, the recitation of electrode supporting structure when broadly recited or when recited so as to be of general utility will not exclude the patent from this class. For example, means for supporting an electrode assembly, or lead-in wires supporting an electrode will not exclude the patent from Class 174. Where the supporting structure is limited to use with electric lamp or discharge device structure, the patent is excluded from Class 174 and will be found elsewhere. For such envelopes and housings in this class, where the envelope is provided with means peculiarly adapted for use in connection with a vacuum, gas or fluid (but not merely a hermetically sealed envelope designed for use with a vacuum or gas filling where no structure peculiarly adapted for use with a vacuum or fluid except the hermetic seals is claimed) see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. Where the structure includes a current conductive fluid (e.g., a liquid used as a part of the lead-in structure) or where a vacuum is used (e.g., as a space around the lead-in designed to be continuously evacuated to reduce leakage of air or gas), see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. Where the envelope or housing has combined therewith means for feeding, circulating or distributing a fluid including means to cool the fluid or has means to cool the box or housing or the device therein where the cooling means involves the use of a fluid, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous envelopes, boxes and housings, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous hermetically sealed envelopes and housing (including housings which are provided with an evacuating stem or opening or which use a liquid to form the hermetic seal) see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For structures which are bushings or other devices for insulating a conductor or object from a wall or plate through which the conductor or object passes, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For such envelopes and housings provided with an electric shield which wholly or partially surrounds the envelope and for such envelopes and housings which include means to shield the housing or a part there of from electromagnetic or electrostatic effects, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous such boxes and housings, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. For miscellaneous hermetically sealed envelopes and housings in this class, including those provided with lead-in wires or other conductive means for conducting electricity to the device within the housing, see References to Other Classes, below. Note that this class provides for devices (e.g., bushings) for insulating a conductor from a wall or plate (such as a metallic envelope wall) through which the conductor extends, the bushing may be fluid tight and include a glass to metal seal. See Subclass References to the Current Class, below. 2. The main use of electrical conductors is to conduct electricity to an electric translator for using the same. Such electric translators are frequently positioned in the conductor conduit or housing. The mere inclusion of such translator broadly in the claim, without setting forth the characteristics thereof, will not exclude the same from this class but where particular characteristics of the electric translator are claimed, classification is in the class appropriate to such translator. Whereas housings for electronic devices and components are also provided for elsewhere, Class 257 provides for housings (1) wherein the housing is for an active solid state device, details of which are positively recited in the claims, or (2) wherein the recited housing is necessary to make a usable active solid state device whether or not the active solid state device is recited nominally or in detail. Claims that recite housings with only nominal recitation of active solid state devices of only one type should not be classified as originals (ORs) in either Class 257 or Class 361, but rather in Class 174. 3. Processes other than manufacturing processes, are classified in this class in the subclasses with the correlative structures. A. MISCELLANEOUS Compounds and compositions which are dielectrics, and their manufacture, are classified elsewhere. Ceramic compositions useful as electrical insulators are classified elsewhere. Compositions containing a synthetic resin having utility as a filling or flooding composition for cables or to processes of preparing said composition are also classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) The claimed combination of conductor, coated or covered with the dielectric, is in this class (174) when such combination includes some structure of the conductor other than a mere wire, cable, etc., coated with the dielectric. Fluid dielectrics and processes which cover merely the use of the fluid dielectric to insulate electrically conducting elements from each other or from ground are elsewhere. The combination of such fluid dielectrics with particular structure, or processes of use with particular structure or with conducting elements bearing particular relations to each other, are in this class (174) or in another appropriate electrical art class. Processes and apparatus for making wire and filaments regardless of the material used are elsewhere. Processes for wire or filament making combined with a coating or covering operation for conductors which are no more than metal stock, even though claimed as being electric conductors are elsewhere. Process or an apparatus for making or reshaping a wire by a mere plastic metal working operation, e.g., die-drawing are elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) For apparatus for coating conductors, see References to Other Classes, below. Class 57, Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining, takes processes and/or apparatus for making conductors by operations within the class definition and also takes patents to conductor structure where the apparatus and/or process is also claimed. Patents claiming only conductor structure are in this class (174). Class 57 takes patents to strands of twisted or twined form not limited by the claims to being conductors. This same line exists with the other textile classes, for which see References to Other Classes, below. Coating Processes, per se, wherein an electrical product is produced are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Methods of making indefinite length electrical conductors are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) A residual mast or tower with an article support structure, having no claimed feature of electrical significance, is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Metallurgical bonding, surface bonding by rod encasing, and surface bonding with mechanical shaping are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) B. CONDUCTORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS Structures specially designed for transmitting electrical energy between relatively moving objects including the structure of conduits and conductors with the means for mounting or supporting the same, and electrical systems specialized to this use are elsewhere. As stated in the class definition, this class (174) pertains to the structure of electric conductors. Substantially all art structures of either electrical or nonelectrical character are capable of having conductor structures associated therewith. The combination of art devices significantly claimed with conductors is with the appropriate art. Electrical systems are with the appropriate art. Electrical systems for power, control, signaling or other purposes combined with nonelectrical art devices significantly claimed are, in general, classified with the nonelectrical art device. Electrical conductors in combination with particular electrical devices significantly claimed and classifiable in other classes are with such other classes. (See References To Other Classes, below.) See the appropriate subclasses of this class for further notes relative to other classes. C. CONDUITS Conduit structures even though claimed as electrical conduits and/or claimed as made of electrically insulating and/or conductive materials are classified elsewhere. In addition to the conduit structure there must be claimed additional characteristics such as the contained electrical conductors, electrical apparatus, added insulators and/or other characteristics specialized to electrical use to cause classification in this class (174). (See References to Other Classes, below.) A service duct within a barrier wherein a feature limited to electrical use is not claimed is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Hydraulic and Earth Engineering, for tunnels and subways not restricted solely to electrical use is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Conduits combined with pavement, curb or gutter structure and not limited solely to electrical use are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Railways are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles is classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) See appropriate subclasses of this class for further notes relative to other classes. D. HOUSING, BOXES OR RECEPTACLES When claimed in combination with the contained equipment significantly set forth (other than the conductors and/or insulators), they are with the class appropriate to the contained equipment. For envelopes for electric lamps and electric space discharge devices which are included in this class, see this section, Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, above. The mere structure of the housing, box or receptacle is in the class appropriate thereto. Housings and envelopes for electric lamps, electric space discharge devices and similar devices where no electrical structure is claimed, and for receptacles of the junction or outlet type are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) Underground installations, wall mounted, and other boxes and housings are located herein. (See Subclass References to the Current Class.) This class provides for the structure of a housing, box or receptacle and electrical connector structure for making electrical contact between the lead-in conductors of the receptacle (i.e., the conductors which pass through the wall of the housing, box or receptacle) and an external circuit and for junction boxes, housings or receptacles with electrical connectors where significant structure of the housing, box or receptacle is recited in addition to the electrical connector structure. Class 439 provides for housing, boxes and receptacles with electrical connectors where no more structure is recited than is necessary to mount or support the electrical connectors. Also, Class 439 provides for electrical connectors in combination with the housing, box or receptacle for the connector (e.g., housed connectors) where significant connector structure is recited. E. INSULATORS See A, Miscellaneous, above, and its associated search notes in References to Other Classes, below, for dielectric compositions and compounds. For a references to devices for electrically insulating one or more conductors or other articles or structures from one another or from a supporting structure or ground, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. |
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