US PATENT SUBCLASS 239 / 650
CONTAINER FOR NON-FLUID MATERIAL, AND SCATTERING MEANS

Current as of: June, 1999
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239 /   HD   FLUID SPRINKLING, SPRAYING, AND DIFFUSING

650CONTAINER FOR NON-FLUID MATERIAL, AND SCATTERING MEANS {21}
651  DF  .~> With loading or loading facilitating means
652  DF  .~> Scattering by direct manual movement
653  DF  .~> Body supported
654  DF  .~> With means generating or supplying gaseous mixing current {1}
656  DF  .~> Scatterer fed by plural containers
657  DF  .~> Container tilted for discharge (e.g., dump truck, etc.)
658  DF  .~> Scattering means is flail
659  DF  .~> Scattering means has to and fro movement (e.g., vibratory, etc.)
660  DF  .~> With overload release or relief
661  DF  .~> With means for mounting on tractor
662  DF  .~> With feature relating to liquid material
663  DF  .~> Convertible or combined
664  DF  .~> Ambulant container and laterally extending scatterer
665  DF  .~> Including means varying scatter pattern of rotating scatterer {1}
667  DF  .~> Plural, rotary scatterers, on intersecting axes or coaxial and counter rotating
668  DF  .~> Hopper and gravity discharge to scatterer receiving material peripherally {1}
670  DF  .~> Drive from vehicle motor power take off
671  DF  .~> Including raking type conveyor moving material toward scatterer
672  DF  .~> Including driven conveyor or follower feeding material horizontally towards scatterer {7}
681  DF  .~> Rotating scatterer {4}
689  DF  .~> Scatterer is tubular or in surrounding housing

DEFINITION

Classification: 239/650

(under the class definition) Apparatus comprising means for holding a supply of material, other than a fluid or a slurry, and means for strewing such material in the form of relatively small solid pieces over an extended area on a surface.

(1) Note. The phrase "extended area" means an area larger than that which would be covered if the material were merely dropped from the supply holder. An area caused by the motion of a supply holder traveling over the surface to be strewed and merely dropping material from the supply holder is not considered an extended area for purposes of this classification. See Class 414, Material or Article Handling, subclasses 467+ or Class 222, Dispensing, subclasses 608+ for such devices. This distinction becomes very tenuous in some cases since, for example, a conveyor operating at high speed and unloading a wagon will cause a strewing action over an extended area. The line between the definition of this subclass and the art in Classes 414 and 222 as to containers with unloading means is that where a discharge assistant or unloading device of a type found in such classes is claimed and the disclosure is not limited to, or a claim not directed to a strewing action, such as may be brought about by conveyor high speed operation, classification is in Class 414 or Class 222, but where the disclosure is clearly limited or a claim is directed to a substantial strewing action in such device additional to that caused merely by motion of the supply holder over the surface to be strewed classification under the definition of this subclass results from the claiming of some means for strewing comprising a moving device which is recognizable as additional to a dispenser with a discharge assistant or a vehicle with an unloading means. In some instances the strewing over an extended area is caused by a deflecting means or diverging nozzle arrangement or the like which causes material issuing from an opening in the supply holder to spread out over an area wiser than that of the opening. The extended area in some cases may be little more than a line in the absence of motion of the supply holder over the surface to be strewed.

(2) Note. In accordance with the line between the subject matter of subclass 650 and Class 222, as indicated in (1) Note, subclass 650 takes apparatus in which the particulate material is strewn in the ambient so that it falls in an area which is substantially more extensive than that covered by merely dropping the material from an opening of a stationary or ambulant dispenser. Where, however an opening is, or openings are, formed in a wall of the supply holder and

strewing is effected by movement of the supply holder classification is in Class 222. See Class 222, subclasses 160+ and 565, for examples of such strewing. Further, for classification under the definition of subclass 650 rather than in Class 222 the means for strewing must be positively claimed. When such means comprises a relatively moving element, such as a rotating distributor the reference to it in a claim may be in the broadest terms. When, however, the strewing means comprises a terminal outlet, such as a nozzle, a mere broad description of such nozzle will not serve to cause classification under the definition of subclass 650; the recitation of the nozzle in a claim must be specific and its strewing function must be clearly indicated by the disclosure as being due to the specifically recited structure of the nozzle, rather than due to ambient wind conditions or the nature of the material dispensed, such as fine powder. The subject matter of subclass 652 forms an exception to this line, however; that subclass constitutes an art collection of devices for strewing by direct hand manipulation. In close cases it is very difficult to determine just what constitutes the opening of the dispenser and also what constitutes an added feature of the dispenser for spreading material, so that placement of a patent as an original will depend on the judgement of the classifier and the placement of like art. Usually a discharge assistant which is in a container or extends from the container partially thru an opening is not considered to cause classification under the definition of subclass 650 unless the special circumstances mentioned in (1) Note are present.

(3) Note. Included in this definition of "strewing means" is a pipe having longitudinally spaced apertures or perforations.

(4) Note. Excluded under this definition is a flowable slurry of solids in liquid; this is considered a fluid and is classified in another section of the class. Included under this definition is material comprising solids with a small amount of liquid mixed therewith, but not sufficient to permit flow.

(5) Note. A disclosure of a device for strewing or scattering or particulate matter should not be found as an original in any subclass following this group unless combined with means for sprinkling, spraying or diffusing a fluid (e.g., subclass 336) or as a nozzle, per se, disclosed for discharging fluent solid, but also capable of use with a fluid. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

146+, for apparatus comprising mobile tank-type supply means for a fluid and means to distribute the fluid.

214+, for a fluid distributor comprising a slinger, splasher or a deflector rotated relative to an effluent fluid.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

83, Cutting, appropriate subclasses for a cutting means of the type therein defined, or the combination comprising such cutting means specifically recited, and a nominally recited strewing or scattering means. A combination which comprises a comminuting means and a scattering means, but in which the cutting means is so broadly recited as to preclude classification in Class 83, is classified in this or an indented subclass, regardless or how broadly recited is the scattering means. Also see the class definition of Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, reference to Class 83, for a statement of the line.

111, Planting,

130+, for apparatus adapted to strew or scatter nonfluid material on the ground combined with a device which mixes or covers the strewn material with the soil.

198, Conveyors: Power-Driven, appropriate subclasses, especially

638+, for a power driven conveyor which trajects material, which may be a fluent, a distance, there being no container for nonfluid material claimed.

222, Dispensing, appropriate subclasses for a container for nonfluid material, and a means for merely dispensing the material, especially

160+, and 608+ for a movably mounted or an ambulant supply holder, respectively, having dispensing features for merely discharging fluent material. See also (1) Note above. 241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, appropriate subclasses for a comminuting means, per se, or the combination comprising a comminuting means specifically recited and a nominally included strewing or scattering means. A combination which comprises a comminuting means and a scattering means, but in which the comminuting means is so broadly recited as to preclude classification in Class 241, is classified in this or an indented subclass, regardless of how broadly recited is the scattering means. Also see the class definition of Class 239, Lines With Other Classes, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, reference to Class 241, for a statement of the line.

291, Track Sanders, appropriate subclasses for apparatus disclosed as on a vehicle for distributing sand or like material to the vehicle wheel tread or to a surface on which the vehicle rides such as a road or rail, for the purpose of increasing the tractive effect between such wheel and road or rail. An apparatus on a vehicle, the sole purpose of which is the sanding of a surface for the use of other vehicles, is found in Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing,

650+,.

404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus,

101+, for an apparatus to distribute material on a road or roadway.

414, Material or Article Handling, appropriate subclasses for static structures, vehicles, etc., of a kind proper for the class, provided with means for discharging them.

416, Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers), appropriate subclasses for an impeller means, per se, disclosed for scattering a fluid.