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Class 239 - Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing

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756 Subclasses


Subclasses list

Definition

A. SPRAYING AND SPRINKLING

This is the general class for claims pertaining to the spraying, sprinkling, or scattering of fluids or fluent solids either in the form of slurries or as dry material, over an extended area on a surface. The class includes processes and apparatus, not provided for in some more specialized class, for ejecting fluents and slurries by slinging, sloshing, centrifugally throwing, overflowing, and projecting such materials in the form of fog, mist, droplets, spray, sprinkle or a modified stream in a general haphazard or broadcasting manner upon the immediate vicinity of operation or environment, upon a surface to be treated. The surface may be of any shape or form and the sprinkling, spraying, or scattering may be for any purpose, for example, a street to be flushed or oiled, a field or lawn to be irrigated by a lawn sprinkler, hose, nozzle, or overhead irrigating system or to be fertilized or to be seeded, a tree or other plant to be sprayed or dusted for some plant husbandry reason or for destroying insects, etc.; however, any claim reciting a specialized relation between the sprinkling, spraying, or scattering means and the surface, work or environment being treated is excluded from this class. Some form of modified flow, either by way of discharge characteristic, (e.g., droplet size, or degree of atomization, etc.) is required.

B. WEATHER CONTROL OR MODIFICATION

This class also takes methods for causing or inhibiting changes in atmospheric moisture conditions not elsewhere classified as by precipitating, dissipating, or inhibiting atmospheric moisture (rain, fog, frost, or snow) or inducing fog or like, and apparatus for precipitating atmospheric moisture if not classifiable in some other class on the basis of the claimed proximate functions.

C. DIFFUSERS

This class also takes methods and apparatus for disposing or disseminating a liquid or solid into the ambient air by unhurried evaporation or sublimation, the material being supplied to or supported by a holder, with or without controlled dripping of the substance through the ambient air or being fed usually to an absorbent material from whose surface evaporation takes place.

D. FOUNTAINS

This class also provides the locus for patents including steps or means for ejecting liquids into the air as a stream or spray to serve an ornamental or decorative function or for directing a bubble or stream generally upwardly for drinking purposes especially where the fluid conducting or ejecting member is associated with a stand, pedestal, or catch basin for overflow or waste.

E. DRINKING TUBES AND STRAWS

This class also provides the generic repository for portable drinking tubes and straws, per se, including those which are sipped through by placing one end of the tube in the mouth while the other end thereof is in the fluid within a holder, and also for those which are held in a flowing stream, e.g., juxtaposed a faucet, and redirect the fluid to the mouth.

F. DRY PULVERULENT MATERIAL

This class provides for the combination of a container or similar receptacle for holding a supply of dry material and a means to strew or scatter such material in the dry form over an extended area on a surface; a nozzle, per se, disclosed for scattering or strewing a dry powder is properly classified in this class only if the claimed structure is capable of use with a fluid.

Except as provided in the above paragraph, this is also the class for discharging or scattering a fluent material only if there is fluid sprinkling, spraying, or diffusing of the type specified in A. Spraying and Sprinkling, above, no matter in which order the fluent is discharged in relation to the fluid and with no regard as to whether or not one material reaches the surface to be contacted after the other has already been deposited thereon.

G. TERMINAL FLUID HANDLING ELEMENTS AND ORIFICE SHAPES

This class also provides the residual home for fluid discharging or ejecting members, per se, claimed as terminal members, i.e., members which render the final influence or point of control upon a fluid during its projection from the fluid system to discharge into the atmosphere, or through the air to the environment and not having such additional features which restrict the use thereof to some special art or other classification. Such nozzle, distributor, apertured pipe, orifice shape, rose, etc., must serve to modify flow of the fluid as it leaves the element. Terminal fluid handling elements, orifice shapes, ejecting or egress means for this class include:

(1) Outlet means which effect modification of the emitted stream to cause lateral compression or expansion thereof, such as would not occur in a mere abruptly terminated flow means (e.g., a pipe cut off at its end);

(2) means within, proximate to, or at the end of the flow line to cause the emitted stream to become more turbulent, or to be reduced in turbulence tending to assume a smooth or laminar flow, or to be redirected and dispersed;

(3) means to control droplet size, to restrict flow to increase pressure, or to alter discharge coverage, of the emitted stream.

Examples of means to accomplish the above are orifice shapes, spray heads, and the like; weir or drip type discharge, and other outlet means with such added features as whirlers, deflectors, rotation controllers, interiorly placed guides and distributors and systems including aspirating nozzles.

In order to be properly classified in this class, a claim must include a distributor or nozzle means more specifically than by name only (except as hereinafter provided with respect to Class 137). A claim which recites an ejecting, egress, or distributor means by name only is properly classified in this class only if the claim also includes:

(a) a coupling means for adjustably securing such terminal means to a support, or an articulated coupling means mounted on a support, if the disclosed purpose of the coupling is to reorient the terminal means relative to the support;

(b) special mounting or support means for purposes of continuous motion during discharge or emission of the stream, or means for directing such terminal means along a path of traverse, where the means for moving and the means for directing are disclosed for sprinkling or spraying;

(c) two or more such nominally recited terminal means and some suggestion of arrangement relative to each other or to a support, e.g., along a pipe, at the ends of a support, etc.

(d) a fluid handling system disclosed for sprinkling or spraying, if no better basis exists for classification in either Class 137 or Class 222. See References to Other Classes, below;

(e) a fluid handling system disclosed for spraying and including an aspirating nozzle where discharge is by aspiration, or feedback control, e.g., flow regulation as a result of discharge or for control of discharge, or some other provision as otherwise defined hereinabove; or

(f) a container for nonfluid material and it is clear that the broadly recited ejecting, egress or distributor means is an element which moves relatively to a fixed support, such as a rotating scatterer. See (3) Note in subclass 650.

Certain structures, for example, unitary plural outlet means, are considered to be terminal members, per se; therefore the following or the like are considered to involve more than mere named or nominal terminal means, and if such or similar language is recited in a claim, affords basis for classification in this class, unless reason exists for exclusion in view of the class lines set out below:

A pipe with a restricted outlet; a flexible, rigid or elongated nozzle; a spray gun; a rose; a shower head.

Similarly, a cutting or welding torch, a burner, a fuel injector recited as such is classified in this class if it is clear that the terminal member or tip is included in such recitation, and not just the support for such terminal member or tip.

Lines with other classes and within this class

A. ART DEVICE COMBINATIONS AND SUPPORT

This class takes (1) means not provided for in any other class to support a distributor, terminal outlet member or a portion of the fluid supply system leading to the distributor or terminal outlet member on, in relation to, or from, a device which ordinarily performs a function other than that of mere support, provided the claimed relationship is no more than that required for support or normal operation of the fluid system or its terminal outlet member, (2) the subject matter of this class combined with an art device in which there in no special relationship claimed between the spray device and the art device.

Thus, a treating chamber nominally set forth as supporting a distributor or terminal outlet members therein is subject matter for this class as long as no special relationship to the walls thereof, for example, is required.

Accordingly, this Class 239 will take patents directed to the combination of a tank or treating chamber by name only and a distributor.

B. FLEXIBLE FLOW LINE STORAGE OR RETRIEVAL

This class provides for flexible flow line storage for nonuse housing or support including retrieval means except as provided hereinbelow:

Class 251, Valves and Valve Actuation, takes only the valve plus the actuator and support for the valve in a system disclosed for this purpose.

Class 285, Pipe Joints or Couplings, takes combinations of a pipe joint or coupling and a support therefor which support may be a reel or rack by name. Only so much flow line necessary for the coupling or joining modification may be included.

Class 242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding, takes only combinations of reel means or the like (storage on sheaves) and supporting means or reels, per se, with or without the flexible conduit or with or without retrieval means. Inclusion of a fluid handling element not necessary to the reeling, unreeling or reel support, is sufficient to exclude such patent from the class.

Class 248, Supports, is in the same relative position in this regard with the fluid handling classes as is Class 242 explained above, taking only support or storage means for the flexible conduit or named nozzle. If a fluid handling element is included, such element must be necessary for the support function.

Class 137, Fluid Handling, takes combinations involving fluid handling means too much for the above named classes and wherein nozzles or outlet means for spraying are not included and not otherwise including features of dispensing recognized by Class 222.

Class 92, Expansible Chamber Devices, takes combinations involving an expansible chamber device and storage or retrieval means for a conduit supply working fluid to or from the expansible chamber and wherein nozzle or outlet means for spraying are not included and not otherwise including features of dispensing recognized by Class 222.

Class 222, Dispensing, takes the combination with storage or nonuse support means for the function of this section of a dispensing outlet or nozzle, the supply tank and a control means for the flow or delivery of fluid; or a tank, discharge assistant and dispensing outlet. Systems including broadly recited nozzles for spraying having dispensing features recognized by Class 222 will not mitigate against classification in this class.

Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, takes combinations of the above named elements if there is included some detail of a spraying or sprinkling nozzle or outlet element. A nozzle in name only except as otherwise indicated (see Glossary) is classified as set forth above.

As a general rule, Class 239 provides a place for the entire combination of hose, hose storage and a specific spraying nozzle. For the subcombination of the hose, storage means and fluid handling, see Class 137; for the subcombination of a valve and support therefor, see Class 251; for the subcombination of a pipe joint or coupling and a support therefor, see Class 285; for a reel only and the hose (no additional flow conducting elements) see Class 242; for a hose support (no additional flow handling elements) see Class 248; for a tank, pump and broad outlet or nozzle, or for a supply tank, flow control and a broad outlet or nozzle, see Class 222.

C. FOG OR SMOKE, COLLOIDS, GENERATORS, AEROSOLS

Class 40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting, subclass 213 for smoke producing apparatus and systems limited to skywriting.

Class 43, Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying, for smoke or fog making apparatus where the sole disclosed use for the resulting fog or smoke is as an insecticide (except where a liquid is mechanically atomized), including such where vaporization of a liquid insecticide is involved.

Class 47, Plant Husbandry, subclass 2 for methods and devices for preventing the freezing of trees and plants and their fruit not elsewhere provided for (such as misting).

Class 102, Ammunition and Explosives, subclass 334 for apparatus for and methods of smoke generating (i.e., causing vapor, cloud, etc., to be formed by a burning), subclasses 335+ for pyrotechnics apparatus and corresponding methods designed to produce smoke, light, heat, and/or noise (e.g., fireworks display, amusement, flash photo, signal), subclasses 367+ for apparatus for or methods of using an explosion to cause a liquid, solid, or gas to be scattered or spread about in the form of a mist, vapor, particles, or gas (e.g., noxious or incapacitating, plant, insect, animal, foliage, biological warfare/chemical warfare).

Class 109, Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device, subclasses 29+ for devices of the Class combined with means for releasing, generating and/or distributing gas, smoke, vapors and/or liquids either manually, automatically upon attack, or automatically in case of fire, which fluent material is normally, but not necessarily, toxic, noncombustible, or incapacitating and may normally, but not necessarily, be used to repel attacks and/or put out, prevent, or impede the action of a fire, and this includes devices relating to jails, where the purposes of this subclass are also present.

Class 126, Stoves and Furnaces, subclass 59.5 for portable devices for generating heat or smoke for protecting orchards from frost (e.g., smudge pots).

Class 222, Dispensing, and 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, depending upon nozzle detail, when a specific container or supply holding means is claimed to define a package. Class 424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions, takes aerosol compositions there specifically provided. Classification is with appropriate class for compositions should a container or supply holding means be broadly included to define a package. Classification is with Classes 222, Dispensing, and 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, depending upon nozzle detail, when a specific container or supply holding means is claimed to define a package.

Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, provides for mere mechanical atomization, not provided for in some more specialized class. This class also takes methods for causing or inhibiting changes in atmospheric moisture conditions not elsewhere classified as by precipitating, dissipating, or inhibiting atmospheric moisture (rain, fog, frost, or snow) or inducing fog or like, and apparatus for precipitating atmospheric moisture if not classifiable in some other class on the basis of the claimed proximate functions, see subclasses 14.1+ for apparatus for weather control, such as snow making.

Class 261, Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus, subclasses 75+ for devices specially adapted to produce an intimate contact between gases and liquids (especially 78.1+ for atomizer).

Class 401, Coating Implements With Material Supply, subclass 190 for device including pressurized reservoir (e.g., aerosol device).

Class 424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions, subclass 1.13 for radionuclide containing composition containing aerosol, subclasses 40+ for combustible or chemically reactive compositions to produce a smoke, mist, or aerosol, subclasses 43+ for effervescent or pressurized fluid containing composition, subclasses 76.2+ for non-body deodorizing substances which are evaporable, sublimable or gas (e.g., deodorization of air, aerosol spray compositions, gels), Digest 1 for aerosol hair preparations.

Class 426, Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products, subclass 116 for packaged or wrapped product having utility for dispensing or serving an aerosol, subclass 235 for application of a gas, mist, smoke, or vapor to a food material under the influence of electrical or wave energy.

Class 446, Amusement Devices: Toys, subclasses 24+ for smoke producing toys.

Class 516, Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations Thereof; Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting, subclasses 1+ for continuous gas or vapor phase colloid system (e.g., smoke, fog, aerosol, cloud, mist) or agents for such systems or making or stabilizing such systems or agents, when generically claimed or when there is no hierarchically superior provision in the USPC for the specifically claimed art. See the Search Class notes therein for various locations of compositions, processes, and apparatus relating to colloid systems.

D. LATHER MAKERS

This subject matter involves the addition of air or gas to solution to produce lather.

Class 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, provides for holders for dissolving of solids (wherein the holder as disclosed is incapable of retaining a liquid) where the dissolving takes place in the holder and may thereafter be added to a stream, the handling of liquids being restricted to the purpose of dissolving.

Class 137, Fluid Handling, includes apparatus under the class definition for fluid handling plus means for holding a solid, flaky, or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained and also provides means for adding a liquid to a liquid and with respect to each such handling relationship is entirely residual.

Class 222, Dispensing, provides for a holder or supply means for material to be dissolved, mixed, or entrained, in a liquid, or already in solution with additional means to mix ambient air with the solution including a spray, nozzle or outlet by name only, a dispensing outlet, and Class 222 type discharge means (and not the mere production of lather and the swelling or overflowing discharge resulting therefrom for which see Class 261), or trap chamber or metering chamber type control, outlet guide or movable material outlet guide, but not including a clear disclosure relating to the projection or forcibly expelling the lather or foam for distribution.

Class 261, Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus, provides for specific gas and liquid contact apparatus, (and in this connection (dissolvers) makes no provision for contacting a liquid and solid means for purposes of obtaining a solution) to make lather with means to deliver the lather to a mere outlet pipe or line unmodified as to valving or other flow line characteristic recognized by Class 222 except to further effect the exchange of properties of the materials being contacted prior to discharge.

Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, provides for combinations of the above considered subject matter having a modified discharging nozzle or otherwise limited projecting means coming within the class definition of spraying.

E. MORTAR MIXING AND PROJECTING - PARGETING

Class 366, Agitating, subclasses 1+ for processes and apparatus for batch mixing of mortar, asphaltic and hydraulic cement, concrete and the like, including projection thereof by spattering or pargeting devices or projection nozzles, with or without specific nozzle structure or mixing by or with fluids of the ingredients downstream of the hopper or vessel, if the disclosure is specific to or includes mixing mortar, plaster, or concrete ingredients (which as a general rule comprise sand, gravel, lime, plaster or the like lapideous material, etc.).

(1) Note. Processes and apparatus for projection or spraying of resin type cements which require mixing just prior to or at discharge, usually with a catalyst to cause solidification or setting up, (e.g., epoxy resins), or comprising particular nozzle structure of the type defined in Class 239, combined with agitation or mixing of ingredients in the supply means, provided the ingredients are not those which make up plaster or concrete mixtures (as defined in the preceding paragraph), are classified in Class 239. Class 52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), subclass 749 for miscellaneous machines and implements used in the construction of buildings, and see the search notes for other classes and subclasses having related apparatus. F. PIPE COUPLINGS AND COUPLING TO SUPPORT Class 285, Pipe Joints or Couplings, provides for couplings adapted to be connected to a nozzle or in combination with a nominal nozzle having no recited nozzle features on the theory that a broadly recited nozzle constitutes no more than a conduit. However, the patents have been placed in this (239) class where the coupling is adjustably secured to a support or where an articulated coupling is mounted on a support and in each case, a nominal or specific nozzle is claimed if the disclosed purpose of the coupling adjustment is to re-orient the nozzle relative to the support. The patents have also been placed in this (239) class where the coupling, as claimed, is disposed between two serially arranged portions of a single nozzle, each positively recited as a nozzle portion, to form in effect an articulated nozzle. Coupling parts formed integrally with a nominally recited nozzle have been considered subject matter for Class 285 where the nozzle as claimed could be considered a mere pipe, flow line or coupling section. G. SLOW DIFFUSERS Except as otherwise provided, this class (239) takes apparatus for such purpose if more than a composition, poison, disinfectant or the like is claimed, see, for example, Classes 96, Gas Separation: Apparatus; 424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions; 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing. Class 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, subclass 305 illustrates how that class is related to this class (239) as combination to subcombination, respectively, e.g., vapor or fume generation including mere heating of a compound to drive off a fume to change a slow diffuser into one which is forced. With a disclosure of gas separation or humidity control (air conditioning) Class 239 will take, as a slow diffuser, a pad, filter or fibrous mass which is saturated or maintained saturated with a diffusible liquid (water or volative solvents) unless any of the following is included: (1) claimed gas contacting means within the meaning of Class 261 (e.g., special flow arrangements through conduits or the like), or (2) claimed gas movement effecting means (e.g., pump or fan). Class 261 will take patents having the (1) or (2) qualifications set out above if the filter, pad or mass is: (a) continuously supplied with liquid, or (b) cyclically or periodically moved through a liquid reservoir, or (c) maintained wet by liquid applying means, or (d) moistened by maintaining some part of a continuous wick type member immersed in liquid. Class 96 will take patents having the (1) or (2) qualifications as set out above if the liquid supply means described in the immediately preceding paragraph is not included. An absorbent mass with oil or viscous fluid therein or supplied thereto disclosed for gas separation, or a solid or nonabsorbent sheet disclosed in a gas separating environment is not classified in Class 239 under any circumstances but is classifiable in either Class 96 or Class 261 depending on the nature of the liquid source. See also Class 96, the class definition, under Search Class 261.

 
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