US PATENT CLASS 228
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 228/
This is a residual class for metal fusion bonding as defined in this definition.
For placement of a patent in this class, its claimed disclosure should meet the minimum requirements of the class definition, and should not extend beyond the boundaries indicated in Scope of the Class, below, and discussed in Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class.
Terms followed by an asterisk (*) in the definitions are defined in the Glossary, below.
This class provides for an apparatus for or a method of joining the meeting faces of juxtaposed or engaged metal work parts or of the same part originally in a form-sustaining state, by the direct application of heat and/or mechanical energy to either of: (a) such work parts, to such an extent as to effect a flowing or blending together of some of the metal in neighboring regions of said work parts into a
continuous metallic zone interconnecting said work parts, or (b) such work parts and a metallic filler, to such an extent as to effect a flowing or blending together of the filler and some of the metal of said work portions into a continuous metallic zone interconnecting said work portions with filler and thus with each other.
Additionally, this class provides for methods of joining a metal work part to a juxtaposed or engaged nonmetal work part wherein bonding there between is effected by intermingling of the molecules of the metal part with the nonmetal part; and for methods of joining juxtaposed or engaged nonmetal work parts when utilizing metallic cement.
SCOPE OF THE CLASS
Placement of an original patent into Class 228 may be made on the basis of a claim reciting means for or the step of applying to work portions energy in the form of: (1) heat; (2) pressure; and/or (3) vibratory energy, provided that there is a teaching that a metal fusion bonded product is produced by the applied energy.
Also see Class 420, Alloys or Metallic Compositions. LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
Class 228 includes patents disclosing and claiming certain steps or instrumentalities useful for a proper operation of fusion bonding which are partially listed as follows: (1) a metallic heat applicator (subclasses 51+); (2) seam back-up means (subclass 50 and subclass 216); (3) specialized solder pot (subclass 56); (4) solder form (subclass 56)
A patent claiming closing of a minute opening in a single workpiece (e.g., tipping) is proper subject matter for Class 228, in that the periphery of a single work opening is considered to constitute meeting faces of a single work part as required by the definition of this class. Coating of a work part which may, incidentally, cover small openings in the part is not considered to be proper subject matter for this class.
RELATIONSHIP TO CLASSES INVOLVING, PER SE, METAL FUSION BONDING
Classes Of Article Making
Generally a patent claiming making of a particular article will be found in the appropriate class directed to making of that article except that a patent claiming performing a single fusion bonding operation is placed in this class (228). Fusion bonding combined with additional operations which are considered to be ancillary to the bonding (e.g., preheating, positioning for bonding, or pretinning) will also be found in this class (228).
Examples of such classes providing for the manufacture of particular articles may be found in References to Other Classes, below.
Because of the technology in the making of semiconductor and related devices, certain art terms used to designate operations specially recognized in that discipline are listed below which, when combined with fusion bonding, will cause placement of a patent in Class 29, Metal Working, and Class 438, Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process, particularly subclasses 26+, 51, 55, 64+, and 106+ for methods of packaging a semiconductor device and subclasses 455+ for laminating or bonding plural semiconductor substrates; see the search notes thereunder.
(1) Diffusion (not diffusion bonding)
(2) Assembling two semiconductors for an electrical function (Note that each semiconductor may be, for example, a player, an n layer, a chain of p or n layers or a laminated article of p and n layers).
(3) Shaping a metal layer to form a conductor. (4) Cutting
(5) Assembling other than to bond (i.e., other than juxtapose)
(6) Bonding to create a junction
(7) Doping
Also see References to Other Classes, below, for specific search notes to the following:
The Class Of Wireworking
The Class Of Metal Casting
The Class Of Electric Fusion Bonding
RELATIONSHIP TO COMBINATION CLASSES
A patent claiming a combination of metal fusion bonding with a different operation, whether manufacturing or nonmanufacturing, is proper subject matter for Class 228, except as specifically noted in the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, relating to the following combination classes:
The Class Of Package Making
The Classes Including Post-fusion Treatment RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CLASSES
The Heating Classes:
Placement of a patent claiming heating is in the appropriate heating class, even though the sole disclosed application of the heat is in the production of a metal fusion-bonded product of this class (228). In this connection, the term "heating" includes the usually accepted auxiliary means or step such as supporting or holding material to be heated, or causing or permitting relative movement between the material and the heating means.
But if, in addition to the above recited heating structure or step, a claim recites a means to further metal fusion bonding, placement is in this class (228). Examples of such claimed limitations are: (a) moving or guiding one work part relative to another work part, into a position for mutual fusion bonding; (b) forcing or urging one work portion against another work portion at the immediate zone of fusion; or (c) moving or guiding flux or filler.
A claim to the combination of a Class 228 application (e.g., "soldering") with supplying of heat to such applicator is considered to define heating, proper for one of the heating classes (see paragraph 4, below), even though details of the applicator are also recited, such as: (a.) its alloy composition or its shape; or (b) adjusting such applicator relative to its support.
"Means for supplying heat" may be, for example, nothing more elaborate or detailed than a claimed pair of terminals for connection of the applicator to an electrical circuit. See References to Other Classes, below, for examples of classes providing for heating.
The Work Handling Or Product Handling Classes:
The placement of patents claiming handling work for, or product of, a metal fusion bonding operation, and also claiming fusion bonding is in this class (228) except where the fusion bonding is recited by name only, i.e., in terms that name but do not describe any characteristics of a metal fusion bonding operation. The so excepted patents are placed in appropriate classes related to material handling, per se. See References to Other Classes, below, for examples of classes providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation.
See References to Other Classes, below, for specific search notes to the following classes:
The Classes Of Coating
The Class Of Adhesive Bonding The Class Of Static Structures
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
29, Metal Working,
1.1, 25.42, 91+, 592.1 through 623.5 and 825 through 899.1 (class of article making)
29, Metal Working, particularly
33+, includes the combination of metal fusion bonding apparatus with another type of manufacturing apparatus, if the other operation occurs subsequent to the metal fusion bonding, or if the disclosure is silent as to whether such other type of manufacturing operation occurs before or after the bonding operation generally. (Note that the combination of metal fusion bonding apparatus with another type of manufacturing apparatus is found in Class 228 if the bonding occurs subsequent to the other operation.) Class 29, particularly subclasses 592+, includes a method of metal fusion bonding combined with another type of manufacturing operation, other than when it is clear that the metal fusion bonding occurs subsequent to the other operation. (Class Including Post-fusion Treatment)
52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), includes in situ construction of a static structure, even if claimed in combination with metal fusion bonding. (Class Of Static Structures)
53, Package Making, includes patents for the combination of fusion bonding to make or close a metal receptacle, with receptacle filling or contents material treating or for gas filling and/or evacuating, regardless of whether or not such additional operation occurs before, during or after the fusion bonding operation. (Class Of Package Making)
59, Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making (class of article making)
75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures (class providing for heating). 118, Coating Apparatus, includes patents to apparatus for coating metal upon a single, individual, form-sustaining metallic work part, or a plurality of discrete parts, even when the sole use of the coating lies in the subsequent fusion bonding of such individual work part(s) to another work part. (class of coating)
126, Stoves and Furnaces (class providing for heating).
140, Wireworking,
71+,. (class of article making)
140, Wireworking,
111+, for placement of a patent claiming apparatus for joining metal wire by a fusion bonding operation, generally. Methods of bonding wire are to be found in this class (228) unless combined with another operation peculiar to the making of wire material. (Class Of Wireworking)
148, Metal Treatment, particularly
127, includes metal treatment comprising changing of the crystalline structure of metal combined with metal fusion bonding. (Class Including Post-fusion Treatment)
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, includes fusion bonding wherein: (a) nonmetallic work parts are bonded directly together; (b) metallic and/or nonmetallic work parts are bonded together by non-metallic filler (adhesive); or (c) a metallic work part is bonded directly to nonmetallic work part by at least slightly melting the nonmetallic material (to effect a nonmetallurgical bond). This class (228) includes fusion bonding wherein: (a) metallic work parts are bonded directly together; (b) metallic and/or nonmetallic work parts are bonded together by metallic filler; or (c) a metallic work part is bonded directly to a nonmetallic work part where there is no melting of the nonmetal (and a metallurgical bond is effected). (class of adhesive bonding)
163, Needle and Pin Making. (class of article making)
164, Metal Founding, includes fusion bonding plural metallic work portions by metal casting involving the use of a "mold". In the apparatus portion of this class (228), in order to constitute a "mold" and thereby exclude a claim from this class, a device must confine molten metallic material in all directions against the force of gravity and at least a portion of such device must be readily removable from the product of the casting operation. On the other hand, in the process portion of this class (228) in order to constitute "molding" and exclude a patent from this class, significant shaping must be set forth. (Class of Metal Casting) 165, Heat Exchange (class providing for heating).
193, Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
198, Conveyors: Power-Driven (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
219, Electric Heating, includes patents for joining metallic
work parts provided that the work parts or the filler material constitute part of an electrical circuit that supplies the energy to produce the bond. For placement of a patent therein, there must be some indication in a claim that the fusion bonding apparatus is in fact an electrical apparatus or that the process includes electrical current through the work parts or the filler. Hence, placement of a patent will be in this class (228), if such claim recites only a "welding device", "welding", or "spot welding" regardless of the disclosure.
219, Electric Heating (class providing for heating).
242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
266, Metallurgical Apparatus (class providing for heating).
271, Sheet Feeding or Delivering (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
294, Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation). 414, Material or Article Handling (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
427, Coating Processes, includes the step of coating metal upon a single, individual, form-sustaining metallic work part or a plurality of discrete work parts, even when the sole use of the coating lies in the subsequent fusion bonding of such individual work part(s) to another work part. (class of coating)
432, Heating (class providing for heating).
901, Robots (class providing for handling the work or product of a fusion bonding operation).
GLOSSARY:
APPLICATOR
A device by or through which heat, pressure, vibratory energy, flux* and/or filler* may be applied directly to the work*.
FILLER
A metallic material to be applied to the work in order to join meeting face* together and become an integral part of the product*.
FLUX
A nonmetallic material to be applied to the work in order to: (1) shield the work from atmospheric oxygen or other harmful gases, (2) chemically remove oxides or other films, or (3) otherwise augment bonding. MEETING FACE
That portion of a work part* intended to abut and be fusion bonded to another similar portion of the same or another work part.
METAL
Material which may be subjected to an operation of the class type; an elemental metal or alloy of mixture of metals in self-shape-sustaining state (i.e., not molten, gaseous, or powdered).
PRODUCT
Solid material or article after an operation of the class type has been performed thereon.
(1) Note. The product of one operation may constitute work* for a subsequent operation.
ROLLER
A tangible instrumentality having a peripheral surface which is generated by a line revolving about an axis, said instrumentality being disclosed as revolving about said axis so that successive peripheral portions thereof cyclically move into and out of engagement with a generally planar surface of another member, with relative movement occurring between said axis and the planar surface along a direction parallel to the planar surface, thereby producing a relative rolling motion between the roller surface and the planar surface as contrasted with a sliding motion, (i.e., the surfaces move in the same direction at substantially the same linear speed so that there is no relative linear movement between the roller surface and the planar surface at point of engagement).
(1) Note. The generating line of the peripheral surface of the roller may have any continuous profile (e.g., straight, curved, or irregular), and the line may have any desired inclination, other than at right angles, relative to the axis. Thus, to be considered a ROLLER, any and all cross-sections taken at right angles to the axis must show a circular material engaging periphery.
ROLLER-LIKE MEMBER
A tangible rotating instrumentality having a peripheral surface with some, but not all, of the characteristics of a roller*.
(1) Note. (a) In a first type of roller-like member the surface is generated by a line revolving about an axis (thus the member looks like a roller), but there is relative movement between the surface of the roller-like member and another member to produce sliding action therebetween; or; (b) In a second type of roller-like member the relative movement of the roller-like member and another member and another member produces rolling engagement between their respective surfaces (thus the roller-like member acts like a roller), but the surface is not generated by a revolving line (e.g., the roller-like member is rough, gear-like, or recessed).
WORK
Material which is intended to be subjected to a treatment of the class type.
WORK PART
An article to be subjected to the class type operation.