Definition

In general terms, this is the generic class for:

(1) organic carbon compounds,

(2) processes for their preparation not otherwise provided for,

(3) the treatment and modification of organic carbon compounds (including mixtures of organic carbon compounds resulting from a synthesis or of natural origin)

(a) by chemical means,

(b) by both chemical and physical means, or

(c) by physical means,

and the products of such treatment and modification not otherwise provided for,

(4) compositions (not otherwise provided for) containing a synthetic resin, or ingredients which under the reaction conditions employed are known to form a synthetic resin,

(5) compositions (not otherwise provided for) containing vulcanizable natural hydrocarbon gum or derivatives, and

(6) hydrocarbon compositions (not otherwise provided for) (i.e., principally those that do not consist entirely of mineral oils.)

An organic carbon compound is defined as satisfying one of the following criteria:

(1) two carbon atoms bonded to each other,

(2) one carbon atom bonded to at least one hydrogen atom or halogen atom, or

(3) one carbon atom bonded to at least one nitrogen atom by a single or double bond.

Exceptions to the above criteria are: hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen, isocyanic acid, cyanamide, cyanogen halides, isothiocyanic acid, fulminic acid, and metal carbides; these exceptions are considered as inorganic compounds for classification purposes.

The expression "mixtures of organic carbon compounds resulting from a synthesis" is intended to encompass mixtures of compounds resulting from a chemical process wherein plural organic carbon compounds are unavoidably and simultaneously formed, as distinguished from mixtures produced by mere physical admixing of plural preformed compounds. The expression is, further, not intended to encompass mixtures resulting from a chemical process wherein reaction conditions (e.g., a mixture of starting materials, etc.) were purposely chosen to prepare a mixture of final products; such final product mixtures are classified in an appropriate composition class.

The expression "mixtures of organic compounds of natural origin" is intended to encompass mixtures of compounds (such as fats, oils, or proteins) obtained by extraction from a single plant or animal source. It should be noted that the product of, for example, hydrolyzing such extracts is also provided for by Class 260 and its integral classes.

This class also includes the admixture of an organic carbon compound of the class with a preserving agent whose sole function is to prevent physical or chemical change in the compound. If there is present an additional ingredient, and the resultant mixture has a function other than preservation of the compound, the mixture will then be classified in an appropriate composition class. "Preserving agent" is intended to include agents which inhibit chemical or physical change of, corrosion by, or caking of the organic carbon compounds to which they are added. Preserved organic carbon compounds classifiable in this class and its integral classes are classified on the basis of the organic carbon compound preserved, even if the preserving agent is itself an organic carbon compound classified higher in the Class 260 hierarchy.

Exceptions to the above general statements are pointed out below in II. LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES and III. REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES.

Class 260 was at one time the largest class in the United States Patent Classification System. Extensive reclassification work has been done on Class 260, and it has been almost entirely reclassified. Because of its great size, the reclassification was done in stages. Each stage was completed and published as a separate integral class, but the separate classes retained their place in the Class 260 hierarchy.

The present arrangement of Class 260 and its integral classes is shown below in II. LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES.

A. Rules of Classifying in Class 260 and Integral Classes.

1. Genus-species. The rule followed in classifying a patent containing several species which fall into different subclasses within Class 260 and its integral classes is that the original classification of the patent is placed in the first appearing subclass that provides for the claimed subject matter. Cross-reference classifications of the patent are placed in appropriate subclasses lower in the hierarchy, except where a compulsory search note between subclasses renders such cross-referencing unnecessary.

Where there are one or more indents to a generic subclass and a claimed species is not provided for specifically by the indents, the patent is placed as original in the generic subclass, since the generic subclass is the first subclass that provides for said claimed species.

2. Tautomeric forms. If a patent claims a single compound that has plural, separately classified tautomeric forms, the original classification is that providing for the highest appearing tautomeric form. The other tautomeric forms are classified as cross-references lower in the hierarchy.

3. Markush claims. In classifying a patent containing Markush type claims (i.e., a compound selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C), where no species claim is presented, the original classification of the patent is the first appearing subclass that provides for any species of the Markush group.

If, in addition to the Markush group claim, the patent contains species claims, the original classification will be the highest appearing subclass that provides for any of the species claims. Any remaining species claims and any species covered by the Markush claim but not claimed in a species claim will be cross-reference classifications.

4. Intermediate-final product. If a patent claims a final product compound and a compound used as an intermediate in the preparation of the final compound, the original classification of the patent will be determined by which compound is provided for highest in the Class 260 hierarchy.

5. The primary determinant of classification in Class 260 and its integral classes is the compound. Patents claiming both compound and a process therefor are classified with the compound, unless a process subclass has been provided. If a process subclass has been provided, the original classification of the patent is determined by whether the process subclass is higher or lower in the schedule than the compound subclass, with the highest appearing subclass being the original classification. If a compound subclass has process indents thereunder, a patent claiming both compound and process will be placed as an original in the compound subclass and cross-referenced to the appropriate indented process subclass.

6. Unknown structure. The structure of an organic carbon compound is "unknown" when not enough information about the structure is available to enable its unequivocal placement in a single subclass. In such a case, the compound is generally classified on the basis of the process involved in its synthesis, if such a process subclass exists and the nature of the process can be determined. If no such process subclass exists, the compound is classified on the basis of the highest appearing starting material used in its synthesis. If no structure is provided for the compound, but the structure can be deduced with confidence from a consideration of the starting materials and process used in its synthesis, a cross-reference should be placed in the subclass which provides for the structure deduced. These rules may be superceded by rules specifically set forth for particular integral classes of Class 260.

Lines with other classes and within this class

A. Hierarchy of Class 260 and its Integral Classes.

As a result of extensive reclassification, Class 260 has been subdivided as follows:

CLASS 260 HIERARCHY

CLASS 260/1 (Miscellaneous Organic Carbon Compounds)

. Class 518 (Fischer-Tropsch Processes)

. Class 520/1 (Synthetic Resins & Natural Rubbers)

. . Class 521 (Ion-Exchange Polymers, Cellular Products, Waste Polymer Recovery)

. . Class 522 (Wave Energy Polymer Chemistry)

. . Class 523/1 (Synthetic Resin Compositions with Nonreactant Material)

. . . Class 524

. . Class 525 (Chemically Treated Synthetic Resins, Compositions of Plural Synthetic Resins)

. . Class 526 (Miscellaneous Processes, Synthetic Resins from Only Ethylenically Unsaturated Monomers)

. . Class 527 (Synthetic Resins from Specified Natural Sources)

. . Class 528 (Synthetic Resins from Plant Material of Unknown Constitution or Specified Reactant)

. Class 530 (Natural Resins, Peptides, Proteins, Lignins)

. Class 532/1 (No Patents Here at Present; Intended Future Residual Subclass After Abolition of Class 260)

. . Class 534 (Radioactive or Rare Earth Metal Compounds, Azo and Diazo Compounds)

. . Class 536 (Carbohydrates)

. . Class 540/1 (Heterocyclic Carbon Compounds)

. . . Class 544 (Six-Membered Nitrogen Hetero Rings with Two or More Hetero Atoms)

. . . Class 546 (Six-Membered Hetero Rings with One Ring Nitrogen)

. . . Class 548 (Five-, Four- or Three-Membered Nitrogen Hetero Rings)

. . . Class 549 (Oxygen or Sulfur Hetero Rings)

. . Class 552 (Azides, Triphenylmethanes, Quinones, Hydroquinones, Steroids)

. . Class 554 (Fats, Fatty Derivatives)

. . Class 556 (Heavy Metal, Aluminum or Silicon Compounds)

. . Class 558 (Esters)

. . Class 560 (Esters)

. . Class 562 (Acids, Acid Halides, Acid Anhydrides, Selenium & Tellurium Compounds)

. . Class 564 (Amino Nitrogen Compounds)

. . Class 568 (Boron,Phosphorus, Sulfur, or Oxygen Compounds)

. . Class 260/665R (Carbon-Metal Compounds)

. . Class 570 (Halogen Compounds)

. Class 585 (Hydrocarbons)

The integral classes of Class 260 (i.e., Classes 518-585) retain the original hierarchy of Class 260. Each integral class should be regarded as a subclass within Class 260; note that different classes are at different indent levels, and that these indent and outdent classes bear the same relationship to each other that indent and outdent subclasses within a single class do.

All the integral classes are subject to the provisions of this Class 260 Class Definition. In addition, Class 518, each Class (520-528) in the Class 520 Series of Classes, Class 523 ( the parent class of the Class 532 series of classes) and Class 585 have their own Class Definitions.

B. Statements of General Class Lines.

Organic carbon compounds are classified in Class 260 and its integral classes, irrespective of the utility claimed or disclosed for the compound. For example, a new organic carbon compound disclosed to exhibit herbicidal properties is classified herein. To be classified in Class 504, Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions, the compound must be claimed as the active ingredient in a herbicidal composition claim or in a herbicidal method of use claim.

To qualify as a composition claim, a claim must contain positive recitation of at least two components. In other words, a claim that reads

-- A herbicidal composition comprising pyridine --

would be treated as a compound claim proper for the Class 260 area rather than as a composition claim. If the claim were presented as

-- A herbicidal composition comprising pyridine and a herbicidally acceptable carrier --

said claim would be considered a proper composition claim classifiable in Class 504, Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions, even though the positive recitation of the second component is functional and generic.

Physical treatments, per se, of organic carbon compounds are not provided for by Class 260 and its integral classes when they are specifically provided for elsewhere.

C. Statements of Specific Class Lines.

This section sets forth lines between the Class 260 area and individual classes.

(1) Class 106, Compositions, Coating or Plastic, provides for coating or plastic compositions not elsewhere provided for that contain organic carbon compounds; new organic carbon compounds, however, are provided for in Class 260 and its integral classes, even though they may have utility as plastic or coating materials. An exception to the above is that Classes 523 and 524, integral classes of Class 260, (each entitled Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers - Part of the Class 520 Series) provide for certain coating, plastic and other compositions containing synthetic resins or natural rubber.

Class 106 also includes compositions of materials or ingredients not in themselves coating or plastic compositions but which are limited to use in the preparation of coating or plastic compositions.

Lakes, being for the most part adsorption products of carbon dyes with insoluble metal hydroxides, carbonates, or sulfates, are not regarded as being carbon compounds when a preformed substratum is employed and are placed in Class 106, subclass 402. When, however, the substratum is simultaneously synthesized with the dye compound, it is classified in Class 260 and integral classes. For example, a lake formed by coupling a diazo and a coupling component in the presence of barium sulfate is classified in Class 106, whereas a lake formed by synthesizing the same dye in the presence of barium chloride and soluble sulfate would be classified in Class 260 and its integral classes. Metal salts of a definite organic carbon compound are classified in Class 260 and its integral classes.

(2) Class 127, Sugar, Starch and Carbohydrates, provides for the hydrolytic conversion of carbohydrates to starches, sugars and dextrin. Class 260 (most specifically in integral Class 536, Organic Compounds - Part of the Class 532-570 Series) provides generally for other syntheses of such compounds. Class 127 also includes subject matter which is wholly peculiar to processes of extracting, or purifying, natural starch, natural sucrose or other natural carbohydrates (except cellulose), processes of hydrolyzing carbohydrates or processes of separating or purifying the products of such hydrolysis.

(3) Class 204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy, subclasses 157.15-158.21, provide for wave energy synthetic methods for the production of organic carbon compounds (except for wave energy synthesis of synthetic resins and natural rubbers, which are classified in Class 522, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers - Part of the Class 520 Series, an integral Class of Class 260). Class 204, subclasses 165-172 provide for the synthesis of organic carbon compounds by electrostatic field or electrical discharge energy methods. Synthetic chemical reactions which result from merely the thermal effects of electrical or wave energy are classified in this Class 260 and its integral classes. Chemical processes which recite both a Class 260 synthetic step and a Class 204 synthetic step are classified in (a) Class 260 or its integral classes if the Class 204-type step precedes the Class 260-type step, and (b) in Class 204 if the Class 260-type step precedes the Class 204-type step. Branching processes wherein one branch comprises a Class 204-type process and another branch comprises a Class 260-type process will be classified in Class 260 or its integral Classes and cross-referenced to Class 204.

(4) Class 205, Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions, provides in subclasses 355-356 for electrolytic synthesis of organic carbon compounds from a fused bath, and in subclasses 413-463 for electrolytic synthesis of organic carbon compounds from an aqueous bath or a bath other than a fused bath. Class 205 is an integral class of Class 204, supra, and thus processes involving (1) combinations of Class 205-type steps and Class 260-type steps and (2) Class 205-Class 260 branching processes are treated in a manner parallel to that described in the discussion of Class 204, supra. Class 205 does not provide for synthetic reactions which result from the thermal effects of electrical energy; such reactions are classified in this Class 260 and its integral classes.

(5) Class 423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, provides for certain compounds which fall under the Class 260 class definition, i.e., hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen, isocyanic acid, cyanamide, cyanogen halide, isothiocyanic acid, fulminic acid, and metal carbide. For dicyanamide, dicyandiamide, and salts thereof, see Class 564, Organic Compounds - Part of the Class 532-570 Series (an integral class of Class 260), particularly subclasses 103-106. Processes directed to the production of both Class 423 and Class 260 area compounds are classified in Class 423 and cross-referenced to Class 260, unless the Class 423 compound is only incidentally produced and is not an objective of the process.

(6) Class 424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating C ompositions, and its integral Class 514 provide for compositions containing organic carbon compounds. A claim to the use of an organic carbon to treat an animal body or to kill, repel, etc. a pest is classified in these classes. An amimal or plant extract of undetermined constitution, from a single source and useful for body treating or pest control, etc., is classified in Class 424, particularly subclasses 195.15-195.17, 520-583, and 725-780.