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Class 53 - Package making

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623 Subclasses


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Definition

This class is the generic class of apparatus for and methods of encompassing, encasing or completely surrounding goods or materials with a cover made from sheet material stock.

(1) Note. This class does not provide for methods of permanently encompassing, encasing, or immobilizing hazardous or toxic waste. Methods of packaging binding and immobilization of hazardous or toxic waste for the sole intent of permanently containing the waste are found elsewhere. Methods of packaging to move potentially hazardous or potentially toxic materials through commerce where the materials are removed from the container for subsequent use or treatment are proper for this class (53). This class is also the generic class of apparatus for and methods of partially encasing or surrounding goods and materials by a partial cover made from sheet material stock, which completely encircles and is in frictional contact with the goods or materials so as to be retained thereon. This class is also the generic class of apparatus for and methods of assembling and/or securing a separate closure (hood, cap, capsule, crown, seal, cork, disk, cot, etc.,) to the aperture of preformed receptacle so as to complete the encasement of contents. Assembling includes any manipulation or handling of the receptacle resulting in the sealing of a filling orifice by the closure. This class is also the generic class of apparatus for and methods of depositing articles and arranging fluent materials in preformed receptacles. See subclasses 235+. This class is the residual class of apparatus for and methods of subjecting the contents to a treatment before, during or after packaging combined with the packaging operation not otherwise provided for. Treatment includes plural diverse manufacturing provided for elsewhere (see References to Other Classes below) This class is also the generic class for apparatus for, and processes of, making match books. This class also includes apparatus for exposing the contents of a package by opening one or more folds of the cover. The apparatus and processes in this class include the shaping of the cover about the article, the partial or complete shaping of the cover followed by a filling operation, the filling of a preformed receptacle with articles and the filling of a preformed receptacle followed by a closing operation. The apparatus and processes in this class include the application of wrappers and encircling bands and labels, and the application of partial covers encircling the contents. The apparatus and processes in this class may include the making of the cover prior to packaging and/or the treatment of cover before, during or after packaging.. The apparatus and processes in this class include the printing and/or embossing of the contents and/or the cover, the coating of the package, the making and/or applying of cover opening adjuncts such as tear strips, and the application of a strand, handle, strip, stamp, and/or label to the package. The apparatus and processes in this class include the association of articles into groups for packaging, and also include the packaging of individual units followed by a grouping of such units for further packaging, whether or not the further packaging is claimed. The apparatus and processes in this class encase or encompass goods and materials with a cover, which serves for identifying, protecting or unit handling the goods or materials. The cover is usually removable from the contents when the latter is used. However, some exceptions are found to this removal including, e.g., match books, capsules and tea bags. EXPLANATORY NOTE ON SCOPE OF CLASS Class 53 was designed with the purpose of recognizing that the packaging of manufactured products so that they may pass through the channels of trade in a safe, convenient and attractive condition, is an art deserving of a separate status in the system of classifying inventions. Heretofore, for the most part, the packaging operation was treated either as an appendage to the manufacture of the product to be packaged or as a special instance of container manufacture. Neither was in accord with the activities of those who devise packaging machinery or processes, who are neither the manufacturers of the product nor of the packaging materials. Where patent claims include subject matter limiting the process or apparatus to use in manufacturing a particular article other than as specifically provided for in the definition below such patent is excluded from this class and will be found in the class best providing for making said article. If the claims merely recite, by name, the article being manufactured but the process or apparatus is of general utility, such recitation alone will not exclude the patent from this class. Since it is not desirable to withhold from use those portions of the reclassification which can be completed and handled as a unit, Class 53 was established even though numerous inventions pertaining to the art of packaging are as yet represented therein only by search notes to other classifications. The art relating to filling and closing and closing, per se, of preformed receptacles, and depositing articles in preformed receptacles, formerly classified in Class 226, Filling and Closing Portable Receptacles, is now classified in appropriate subclasses of this class (53) unless otherwise excluded by the notes to the various subclasses herein.

Lines with other classes and within this class

A. PACKAGING AND BINDING ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED

Banding apparatus is found in this class, subclass 582 and the corresponding processes are found in subclass 399. Banding machines and processes, either, per se, or combined with other machines or steps, are also found in many places; for which see the search notes below to Textiles: Presses; and Tobacco.

Combined packaging and binding apparatus is found in this class, subclasses 138.6+, and corresponding processes are found in subclasses 410+. Because the related arts have often treated banding and binding as equivalents, the references to the Binding art refer back to this section, rather than to the section on Other Covering, below. Binding machines and processes, either per se or combined with other machines or steps, are also found in many places, see the notes under Search Class to classes for textiles: manufacturing; harvesters; presses; manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturing from a sheet or web.

Since practically all packaging and binding elsewhere classified includes not only packaging and binding, per se, but the combination therewith of other devices or steps no attempt to distinguish between the references to packaging and binding, per se, and to combined packaging and binding, has been made.

Methods of packaging, binding, and immobilization of hazardous or toxic waste for the sole intent to permanently containing the waste are found in Class 588. Methods of packaging to move hazardous or toxic materials through commerce where the materials are removed from the container for subsequent use or treatment are proper for Class 53.

See References to Other Classes below that reference this section.

B. OTHER COVERING

Since covering is a form of assembly, reference is made to the notes to Class 29, Metal Working, See the Search Class note below referencing this section.

Because the related arts have often treated banding and binding as equivalents, references to the binding art have been placed in "Packaging And Binding Elsewhere Classified," above, rather than in this section. See References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section for other covering classes.

C. PACKAGES, AND PACKAGED AND BANDED ARTICLES

Capsules are found in several other classes. See References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

D. PACKAGING AND BINDING SUBCOMBINATIONS

See the article dispensing class for article dispensers (feeders) not otherwise provided for.

For cutting and/or scoring sheets for cover blanks, and for cutting combined with form-scoring; and for form-scoring generally of a sheet or web, see the Search Class references below.

 
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