Definition

The main class definition is divided into the following sections:

General statement of class subject matter.

Chemical compounds, compositions, foods and beverages.

Suspensions and colloids

Coating or shaping of material

Fibrous and laminated material

Heating, cooling, or drying material

Operators for comminutors

Separation of material

Material handling, excavating, distributing, harvesting

Grain, flour and starch

Comminutor, or comminutor element, supports and mounting means

GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTER

A. This is the generic class for (1) the comminution and disintegration of solid material, and (2) the comminution and disintegration of solids combined with other treatment of the material where such combinations are not provided for in other classes and are not specifically excluded by the following notes and definitions.

B. As used in this classification, the terms "comminution" or "disintegration" necessarily include the following elements: (1) There must be a division of a solid mass into a number of smaller solid masses. (2) The treatment must include no operation which is directed toward imparting a desired shape to the initial solid mass or the resulting smaller solid masses.

The term "comminution" has been considered to be generic to all the terms ordinarily applied to the subject matter of this class (e.g., grinding, milling, disintegration, trituration, pulverization, etc.). Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the term "comminution" alone has been used in the notes and definitions below to denote the treatment which forms the basis of this class.

C. This class is limited to the treatment of solid material i.e., material in a self-sustaining, more or less rigid state, capable of resisting deformation to a certain extent. However, materials which normally may be considered "plastic", but which, in the course of the comminution, perform substantially as do normal solids, in that smaller nonshaped particles are formed from a larger mass, have been looked upon as being solids for purposes of this classification. (See COATING OR SHAPING OF MATERIAL below). Treatment of solids in fluid suspension is included. (See SUSPENSION AND COLLOIDS below).

D. This class provides for both processes and apparatus for carrying out the comminuting treatment but not products thereof. Since product claims were considered controlling, patents having such claims were classified in classes appropriate thereto, whether or not a claim to a comminuting process or apparatus was included.

E. Where a patent includes claims to a comminutor or a comminutor part and a method of making the comminutor or part, the claim to the article is deemed to be controlling and classification of the patent in Class 241 is proper, unless the article is provided for elsewhere.

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS, COMPOSITIONS, FOODS AND BEVERAGES

In general, the compound, compositions, and food classes are superior to this class as to the production, reclamation or recovery of the materials provided for in those classes, and see GRAIN, FLOUR AND STARCH, below, for a special statement on grain, flour and starch.

A. The compound, composition, food and beverages classes will take:

(1) All patents, any claim of which is directed to a product provided for in those classes.

(2) Processes in which any step effects a chemical change in, dissolves, or forms a stable colloidal dispersion of all, or part, of the material (except where an added comminuting aid is removed from the material by chemical reaction or dissolution).

(3) Processes involving the formation of a composition by combining distinct ingredients which are sufficiently identified as to form a basis of classification, whether the process involves a chemical reaction or is merely physical (as by compounding by comminution, per se). However, where the larger mass, before comminution, is made up of a plurality of dissimilar materials, and following comminution and separation, the constituent parts of the same mass are recombined, or partly so, such processes were not considered to involve the formation of a composition and have been classified in class 241.

(B) This class (241) will take:

(1) Processes and apparatus having the sole function of comminuting solid material.

(2) Processes and apparatus in which a comminuting step or means is combined with a physical step or means which has the sole function of facilitating the comminution.

(3) Processes and apparatus in which a comminuting step or means is combined with such additional steps or means as have been provided for in this class, such as: (a) separation or classification of the material into grades or sizes, including the recombination of separated ingredients of a single starting material; (b) separation of fluids from the material involving no chemical change in the material, as by filtering or drying operations; (c) heating the material; (d) cooling the material; (e) separation of comminuting aids from the material, which operation may include dissolution or a chemical reaction; (f) apparatus combinations of a comminutor with means for applying a fluid to the material for any disclosed purpose, including performing or initiating a chemical reaction. See subclass 38.

SUSPENSION AND COLLOIDS

This class (241) provides for the generic subject matter of comminuting solid material in a fluid to form or improve a suspension. See subclasses 21 and 38+. For exceptions to this and for related subject matter, see the Refernces to Other Classes referring to this section (Suspension and Colloids).

COATING OR SHAPING OF MATERIAL.

(A) This class (241) does not include the shaping or coating of material, per se, (see the general statement of class subject matter in the class definition), but does provide for coating or shaping steps or means in combination with comminuting processes or apparatus in the following instances:

(1) Where the shaping is followed by a comminution which destroys the shape, as distinguished from causing a large shaped mass to be made into a plurality of smaller masses which retain one of the original dimensions of the large mass (e.g., flaking, where a formed sheet is broken up into flakes which retain the original sheet thickness dimension).

(2) Where a comminuting operation on a heterogeneous mass or mixture of material results in the simultaneous formation of shaped masses of a portion only of the material and the comminution of the remainder (e.g., the metallic constituents of an ore are formed into balls simultaneously with the comminution of gangue).

(3) Where the shaping is for the sole purpose of facilitating the subsequent separation of the material into grades. See Class 209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids, subclass 7, for this type of treatment, per se.

(4) Where the coating treatment is for the sole purpose of facilitating the comminution.

(B) The material shaping classes provide for shaping or forming, per se, and shaping processes and apparatus combined with preliminary comminuting steps or means.

FIBROUS AND LAMINATED MATERIAL.

Class 241 provides for processes and apparatus for comminuting fibrous and laminated material, and other treatments combined with comminution when such combinations are not of the type specifically provided for in other classes. See the References to Other Classes section for specific references to this section.

HEATING, COOLING, OR DRYING MATERIAL.

Class 241 provides for process and apparatus combinations in which comminution is combined with heating and/or cooling steps or means. See subclasses 8, 15+, 23, 38+, 65+. It does not include such combinations when the temperature modification of the material effects a change in the chemical nature of the material (e.g., removing water of hydration, etc), except those apparatus combinations in which the temperature change is effected by means which applies a fluid to the material, which may have the disclosed function of carrying out a chemical reaction. See the pertinent chemical classes for such combinations as are excluded above.

In general, Class 241 is superior to the following classes, or such parts, thereof that relate to the heating, cooling, or drying of solid material and takes combinations of the subject matter there provided for with comminution, unless a specific exception is noted: Class 34, Class 62, Class 110, Class 126, Class 148, Class 219, Class 266, Class 373, Class 432. See References to Other Classes, below, for an explanation of the lines between these classes and Class 241.

OPERATORS FOR COMMINUTORS.

Class 241 provides for the combination of a comminutor with means to move the comminuting members thereof. Organizations, per se, for effecting the movement of comminuting members are classified in the pertinent machine element, motor, or power plant class if no significant combination with the comminutor or comminutor element is claimed. Claims which include in addition to the specific operator (1) the manner of supporting the comminuting element relative to other parts of the comminutor, (2) mention of a plurality of cooperating elements, or (3) structural characteristics of the element itself, are considered to be claims to a significant comminutor combination for classification in Class 241. Mere naming of the comminuting element or its type is not deemed as significant inclusion thereof in the combination. Operators, per se, for comminuting elements are found in the classes listed below unless specifically excluded and the line stated above applies to each. See the References to Other Classes, below, for class references to this section.

SEPARATION OF MATERIAL

Class 241 is superior to the material separation classes and, therefore, provides for a process or apparatus in which comminution is combined with a step or means to separate the material into classes according to the physical characteristics of its components, before, during, or after the comminuting operation. See subclasses 9+, 24.1+ and 68+, or if the separation involves applying a fluid to the material, subclasses 19, 20 and 38+. As noted in CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS, COMPOSITIONS, FOODS AND BEVERAGES of this class definition, comminuting processes which include the separation of a comminuting aid from the material by dissolution or a chemical reaction are included in Class 241. The separating classes to which the above stated general line applies are: Class 95, Class 96, Class 209, Class 210, and Class 494. See References to other Classes, below, for specific references to this section.

MATERIAL HANDLING, EXCAVATING, DISTRIBUTING, HARVESTING.

In general, Class 241 provides for processes and apparatus in which comminution is combined with steps and means to move and handle the material prior to or subsequent to the comminuting operation. Means to feed material to the comminuting zone for treatment and to discharge it therefrom are classified in the various feeding and discharging subclasses in the class. Material handling combinations other than those limited to mere feeding to and discharging from the comminutor are classified in the subclasses 25 and 101.01+, unless more specifically provided for.

Certain types of material handling have, on the other hand, been considered so specialized that classes including such subject matter have been considered superior to Class 241. For a list of such classes and a statement of the line with each, see (B) of this section below.

(A) The following are examples of those classes which deal with types of material handling to which Class 241 has been considered superior in accordance with the above stated general line and any patent having claims to a significant combination of the type of material handling treated in these classes with a comminutor is properly classifiable in class 241: Class 141, Class 193, Class 198, Class 212, Class 221, Class 222, Class 312, Class 406, Class 414. See References to Other Classes, below.

(B) The following classes deal with special types of material handling or moving which are considered superior to Class 241 and patents claiming significant combinations of such handling with comminuting steps or means are classified with the particular type of handling involved: Class 37, Class 56, Class 171, Class 172, Class 175, Class 239, Class 299, Class 404. See References to Other Classes, below.

GRAIN, FLOUR AND STARCH

The comminution of cereal or other seeds or seed parts and combinations of other treatments of the type provided for in the class, to form flour or other grain products, are provided for in Class 241, and see the above section on COMPOSITIONS, COMPOUNDS, FOODS AND BEVERAGES in general. For related subject matter, see the References to Other Classes, belows referring to this section.

COMMINUTOR OR COMMINUTOR ELEMENT SUPPORTS AND MOUNTING MEANS

Combinations of a comminutor and a support or mounting therefor are provided for in Class 241. Combinations including means to stationarily support the comminutor are in subclasses 46.014+ and 285.1. Other mounting means (e.g., vehicular) are treated as combinations for subclasses 101.01+. See this class (241), subclasses 291+ for comminutor element-shaft combinations. For comminutor mounting means, per se, see the References to Other Classes, belows referring to this section.

Lines with other classes and within this class

Class 15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning. provides for processes and apparatus for cleaning comminuting members by the operations there provided for. Class 241 takes the combination of a significantly claimed comminuting member with a cleaning means therefore but mere identification of the member cleaned as a type of comminuting member was not deemed significant and such patents were assigned on the basis of the cleaner. In this class (241), see subclasses 166+. For processes and apparatus for removing accretions from containers which may result in the comminution of a portion of the material, see subclasses 104.05+ in Class 15 and (2) Note to the definition of subclass 105.05.

Class 30, Cutlery, subclasses 136+ for hand manipulated scrapers which may act to retain the material for use and subclasses 164.5+ for hand manipulated ice picks and chippers. Ice crushers and shavers which are not hand manipulated relative to the material are provided for in Class 241.

Class 62 takes (1) processes in which comminution of a solid refrigerant medium (e.g., ice), is combined with a step of utilizing the medium in cooling a material or article, (2) apparatus in which means for comminuting a solid refrigerant is combined with means to utilize the refrigerant (e.g., ice car, ice cream freezer or other refrigerating receptacle), and (3) processes and apparatus in which steps or means for manufacturing a solid refrigerant are combined with steps or means for comminuting the material. Class 241 takes processes and apparatus for cooling the material undergoing treatment combined with comminution thereof.

Class 69, Leather Manufactures, is for processes and apparatus for treating leather not elsewhere provided for. Class 241 includes leather comminution but excludes organizations in which only a portion of the hide is removed, such combinations being classified in Class 69.

Class 73, Measuring and Testing, provides for testing processes and apparatus including comminuting steps or means for operating on material to determine certain of its characteristics; e.g., subclasses 7+. Class 241 takes material treatment processes and apparatus which includes steps or means to test the material in combination with comminution.

Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, for miscellaneous metallurgical processes including comminution only in combination with treatment of a type not provided for in Class 241. Class 75 includes alloys disclosed for use in forming comminutor parts when claims to the alloy, per se, are included. Claims to a comminutor element formed of a specific alloy are not controlling over claims to the alloy, per se, and classification of patents having both types of claims in Class 75 is proper. See (2) Note to the definition of subclass 213 of Class 75.

Class 99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus, appropriate subclasses and the notes thereto for the preservation and production of foods and beverages. Cooking, adding ingredients, and bleaching are examples of steps which so change the nature of the final food product as to cause classification in Class 99. Search subclasses 510+ for comminution in combination with liquid recovery and 537+ for apparatus separating one portion of food from another, similar to the apparatus of Class 241.

Class 100, Presses, takes (1) processes and apparatus for expressing which apply comminuting pressure to the material where there is provided means for separating the expressed liquid from the solid. The paths of flow of the expressed material may be provided by the pressure elements themselves, (2) processes and apparatus for expressing combined with steps or means for comminuting the material prior to the expressing operation, and (3) convertible apparatus adapted to function either as an expresser or a comminutor. Class 241 takes processes and apparatus for comminuting material combined with steps or means to apply an expressing operation on the material prior to the comminuting operation, see subclasses 2, 25 and 101.01+.

Class 110 takes (1) processes and apparatus in which a solid fuel burning step or means is combined with a step or means for comminuting the fuel before burning, or the residue after burning, (2) processes and apparatus in which comminuting of a fuel is combined with a step or means for adding air or other gas subsequent to the comminuting zone for the disclosed purpose of supporting combustion of fuel in a burner (see particularly subclass 106), and (3) fuel burning apparatus or parts thereof which may act to comminute material as a secondary or incidental function thereof (e.g., grates). Class 241 takes comminution combined with steps or means for applying heat to the material from a significantly claimed burner.

Class 134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, is the generic class for cleaning and/or applying liquids to solids. Processes including such steps in combination with comminuting steps are classified in Class 241. Mere agitation of particulate material in the presence of liquid to separate dirt or other impurities therefrom is not considered to be comminution. Such processes are classified in Class 134 or other appropriate class, depending on the line between those classes. Class 241 provides for the separation of adhering impurities from solids by comminution, as distinguished from mere agitation or tumbling, either with or without the application of a liquid to the material. See the definitions and Notes to the definitions of subclasses 16+ in Class 134.

Class 162, Paper Making and Fiber Liberation, provides for the combination of a chemical digestion and comminution. Class 241 provides for the comminution of fibrous materials even when in liquid suspension for the preparation of a paper pulp. For the purpose of determining a line between this class (241) and Class 162, hot water shall be considered to be a chemical agent classifiable in Class 162. The comminution of fibrous material in suspension, even when disclosed for the purpose of making a paper pulp is provided for in Class 241 where no chemical treatment is claimed.

Class 209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids, for a process and apparatus relating to the separation of solids into grades or classes. A screen or the like, which could operate as a mere separator, but is disclosed as being adapted to function as a comminuting element, is classified in Class 241. See particularly subclass 83. An agitator for facilitating the flow of material through a screen may incidentally effect the comminution or a portion of the material. Such a device is classified on the basis of its essential function and is found in Class 209 unless the agitator is modified to further the comminuting effect. The classification of a patent relating to the presentation of a mass of plastic material to a series of openings will depend upon the disclosed purpose of the process or apparatus: if the purpose is to remove foreign particles from the material, classification is in Class 209; if to comminute into discrete particles, it is found in Class 241; if to form into a desired shape or shapes, it is in the proper shaping class, for which see the Coating or Shapring of Material section of this class (241).

Class 222, Dispensing, takes processes and apparatus for dispensing material. Mere agitators for loosening lumps within a holder are not considered comminutors for Class 241. Most of the patents classified in the feeding subclasses of Class 241 show dispensers as subcombinations of the comminutor-feeder combination and a number of patents which disclose such combinations but in which the claims are limited to the dispenser, per se, have been classified in the appropriate subclasses of Class 222.

Class 266, Metallurgical Apparatus, for apparatus for heat treating metal. Note that heat treatment to effect a chemical reaction is excluded from Class 241 and such combinations are classified in appropriate classes taking such subject matter, as Class 266.

Class 366, Agitating, takes (1) processes which, by disclosure, are limited to mixing or agitating the material, and (2) apparatus which, by disclosure, functions solely to mix or agitate the material. Class 241 takes processes and apparatus in which agitating steps or means are combined with comminuting steps or means, and apparatus which, by disclosure, will function to comminute the material even though a mixing function is also disclosed. As to apparatus, the following exception is made to the foregoing line: Where the apparatus is disclosed as treating particulate material even though in admixture with liquids (e.g., wet or dry clay, sand, etc.); and the apparatus is of the type in which a plurality of surfaces cooperate with each other to apply pressure to a layer of material there-between, it is properly classifiable in Class 241 whether or not the disclosure is limited to mere agitation and subcombinations of such apparatus are also included in Class 241.

Class 404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus, for in situ comminution of earth or road surfaces in combination with other road building means. Comminution, per se, of road or earth surface is classifiable in Class 241.

Class 417, Pumps, takes pumps including structural features which both facilitate the impelling of the fluid and produce incidental concurrent comminution of solids suspended in the fluid. Class 241 provides for (1) comminutors with means for pumping primary disclosed purpose of comminuting the material, but which may have the additional incidental function of impelling the fluid.

Class 451, Abrading, takes (1) processes and apparatus in which the function of the claimed steps or means is disclosed as that of imparting a shape to or removing unwanted surface portions from an article by abrasion, and (2) processes and apparatus in which such an abrading step or means is combined with a prior comminution. Class 241, takes (1) abrading processes and apparatus, the disclosed purpose of which is to effect a comminution of the material (as defined in GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTER of this class definition), and (2) processes and apparatus in which the comminution is combined with steps or means which act to impart a shape to or remove unwanted surface portions from the article or material prior to the comminution operation.

The following sections may also contain information relating to the lines between Class 241 and other classes.