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Class 204 :: CHEMISTRY: ELECTRICAL AND WAVE ENERGY

Definition

STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTERThis class includes, where not provided for elsewhere:A. Processes

(1) involving the use of electrolysis (as provided for in Class 205);

(2) of preparing or purifying compounds or elements involving chemical reaction brought about by electrical or wave energy in a magnetic field;

(3) of treating materials involving chemical reaction brought about by wave energy;

(4) of preparing or purifying compounds or elements involving chemical reaction brought about by an electrostatic field or electrical discharge;

(5) involving the use of electrophoresis or electro-osmosis;

(6) of treating a liquid

(a) to separate or purify the liquid using electric and magnetic fields simultaneously,

(b) to separate or purify the liquid using an electric field, or

(c) using a magnetic field to obtain some effect other than mere separation or purification of the liquid;

(7) involving coating, forming, or etching by the use of sputtering; and

(8) involving coating by the use of vacuum arc discharge. (See Subclass References to the Current Class, below.)B. Products solely disclosed as made by a process under

(A). For exceptions, see Lines With Other Classes and Wtihin This Class, Exceptions, below.

C. Apparatus for carrying out the processes set forth under

(A) except the apparatus used to carry out the wave energy treatment processes provided for in Class 204; such apparatus is provided for elsewhere. (See Lines With Other Classes, below.)D. Electrolyte compositions specialized for use in electrolytic processes or methods of preparing the compositions.

(1) Note. A list of superiority of several composition classes appears elsewhere. See Lines With Other Classes below.

(2) Note. Although the processes described above in

(A), items

(6),

(7), and

(8), do not involve strictly chemical changes, they are in some respects closely related to other portions of the class and so have been included here.

(3) Note. Processes involving purely thermal actions of electrical phenomena or wave energy are not included in this class.

(4) Note. Class 204 provides for the combination of electrical and wave energy processes as described in

(A) above with subsequent:

(1) conventional treatments such as filtering, distilling, washing, and other methods of separating or concentrating products from the previous Class 204 operation or

(2) mere admixing of products from the previous Class 204 operation to form a desired end product. Where a subsequent step significantly modifies a composition, product, or article made by the previous Class 204 operation, the combined process is generally provided for elsewhere and is cross-referenced in Class 204, where necessary.

(5) Note. The combination of an electrical or wave energy operation as described in

(A) above with a preceding method, such as treatment of material to prepare it for the electrical or wave energy operation, is provided for in Class 204. When a method preparatory to a Class 204 operation is claimed, per se, and is not provided for elsewhere, it may be classified in Class 204.

LINES WITH OTHER CLASSESFor apparatus for carrying out the wave energy treatment processes provided for in Class 204, subclasses 157.15+, see Class 250, Radiant Energy, particularly subclasses 492.1+, and Class 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, particularly subclasses 186+; the apparatus used to carry out the processes provided for in Class 204, subclasses 155+; such apparatus is provided for in Class 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, particularly subclasses 186.01+; the apparatus used to carry out the processes provided for in Class 204, subclasses 164; such apparatus is provided for in Class 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing particularly subclasses 186.04+; and the section References to Other Classes, herein, the entry to Class 118 for apparatus provided for in Class 118.

The rules for determining Class placement of the Original Reference (OR) for claimed chemical compositions are set forth in the Class Definition of Class 252 in the section LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS, subsection COMPOSITION CLASS SUPERIORITY, which includes a hierarachical ORDER OF SUPERIORITY FOR COMPOSITION CLASSES.

EXCEPTIONSThis class includes, where not provided for elsewhere products solely disclosed as made by a process under

(A) in Class Definition, above, with the following exceptions:

(1) products which comprise two or more contiguous metallic layers;

(2) products of processes classifiable in Class 204, subclasses 157.15+ and 450+, and Class 205, subclasses 640+. These products are properly classified in the appropriate product or stock material class (e.g., 260, 423, 428, etc.).

LINE BETWEEN CLASS 204 AND CLASS 75Combinations of metallurgical process steps falling within the definition of Class 75 and electrical or wave energy steps falling under the definition of Class 204 are classified in Class 204, when the metallurgical process steps are preparatory to the electrical or wave energy steps, and are placed in Class 75 when the electrical or wave energy methods are preparatory to the metallurgical process steps. The above applies even when such preparatory steps result in a desired by-product. Class 75, subclasses 228+, provides for a “nominal” element usable in a Class 204 process (i.e., an element claimed only in terms of the metal composition from which it is made). The order of superiority among various metal, alloy, and metal stock areas and methods of manufacture involving them is as follows:1. Class 419, Powder Metallurgy Processes.2. Class 148, Metal Treatment, subclasses 22+, compositions for treatment of solid metal.3. Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, subclasses 300, 301, and 303+, gaseous, liquid, or solid treating compositions for liquid metal or charges, and subclass 302, welding rods defined by composition.4. Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, subclasses 228+, consolidated metal powder compositions, and subclasses 255+, loose metal particulate mixtures.5. Class 420, Alloys or Metallic Compositions, alloys or metallic compositions claimed as products.6. Class 148, Metal Treatment, subclasses 95-122, 194-287, and 500-714, in class schedule order, certain processes of treating solid or semisolid metal by modifying or maintaining internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure) or chemical properties of metal, processes of reactive coating of metal, or processes of chemical heat-removing (e.g., flame-cutting, etc.) or burning of metal. However, if metal casting, fusion bonding, machining, or working is involved, there is a requirement of significant heat treatment as described in References To Other Classes in the Class 148 definition.7. Class 148, Metal Treatment, subclasses 33+, p-n type barrier layer stock material, and subclasses 400+, stock.8. Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, subclasses 331+, processes of making solid particulate alloys directly from liquid metal, and subclasses 343+, processes of producing or purifying alloys in powder form.9. Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, subclasses 10.1+ and 10.67, electrothermic, electromagnetic, or electrostatic processes of making alloys.10. Class 420, Alloys or Metallic Compositions, processes of manufacture.11. Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, subclasses 330+, processes of making metal, treating liquid metals and liquid alloys, and consolidating metalliferous material.12. Class 204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy, processes.13.

Class 164, Metal Founding, subclasses 1+, processes.14. Class 266, Metallurgical Apparatus, subclasses 44+, processes of operating metallurgical apparatus.

LINES BETWEEN CLASSES 156, 204, 205, AND 216In general, a class 156 operation (e.g., chemical etching of an electrical function semiconductor substrate, etc.) performed on a composition, product, or article made by a Class 204 process (e.g., an entire article previously etched by electrolysis, a product portion modified by electrolytic material treatment, etc.) is considered to provide a significant modification of the composition, product, or article made by the Class 204 process; therefore placing the combination of a Class 204 process followed by a Class 156 procedure in Class 156. However, the combination of a Class 204 electrolytic coating step followed by a Class 156 operation (other than a laminating process as described above) performed

(1) to allow at least a portion of the electrolytic coating to remain and

(2) to only significantly modify the electrolytic coating, per se, is considered to be an electrolytic coating process followed by a mere perfecting step for the electrolytic coating; therefore placing the combination in Class 204. The significant modification of only the electrolytic coating allows for mere incidental alterations to other portions of a coated article such as the substrate, provided that such changes are clearly unintentional (e.g., chemical etching through an electrolytic coating which may also progress into the substrate in some areas to allow complete penetration through all desired other areas of the electrolytic coating, etc.). Class 156, subclasses 625.1+, provide for the original classification of chemically etching an electrical function semiconductive precursor, substrate, or device when the claims are alternative (claims to a Class 156 etching process and claims to a Class 205 electrolytic etching, or when a generic claim is present and no species is specifically claimed). When, however, a generic claim is present (disclosure includes both Class 156 etching and Class 204 or Class 205 subject matter) and a Class 204 or Class 205 species is specifically claimed, and there is no specific claim to a Class 156 etching process, the original classification is in Class 204 or Class 205 and a mandatory cross-reference is placed into Class 156 etching based on the generic claim. Other combinations of Class 204 step

(s) with Class 156 step

(s) will follow the general class line for the combination of Class 204 step

(s) with those from other classes as stated at the beginning of Class 204. Also, see the search class note to Class 216 in this section, since Class 216 is an integral part of Class 156.

LINES BETWEEN CLASSES 216, 156, 204, AND 205Chemical etching performed on a composition, product, or article made by a Class 204 process (e.g., an entire article previously etched by electrolysis, a product portion modified by electrolytic material treatment, etc.) is considered to provide a significant modification of the composition, product, or article made by the Class 204 process; therefore placing the combination of a Class 204 process followed by Class 216 chemical etching in Class 216. However, the combination of a Class 205 electrolytic coating step followed by Class 216 chemical etching performed

(1) to allow at least a portion of the electrolytic coating to remain and

(2) to only significantly modify the electrolytic coating, per se, is considered to be an electrolytic coating process followed by a mere perfecting step for the electrolytic coating; therefore placing the combination in Class 205. The significant modification of only the electrolytic coating allows for mere incidental alterations to other portions of a coated article such as the substrate, provided that such changes are clearly unintentional (e.g., chemical etching through an electrolytic coating which may also progress into the substrate in some areas to allow complete penetration through all desired other areas of the electrolytic coating, etc.). Class 216 also provides for the original classification when the claims are alternative (claims to a Class 216 process and claims to a Class 205 electrolytic etching, or when a generic claim is present and no species is specifically claimed). When, however, a generic claim is present (disclosure includes both Class 216 and Class 204 or Class 205 subject matter) and a Class 204 or Class 205 species is specifically claimed, and there is no specific claim to a Class 216 etching process, the original classification is in Class 204 or Class 205 and a mandatory cross-reference is placed into Class 216 based on the generic claim. Other combinations of Class 204 step

(s) with Class 216 step

(s) will follow the general class line for the combination of Class 204 step

(s) with those from other classes as stated at the beginning of Class 204. Also, see the search class note to Class 156 in this section, since Class 216 is an integral part of Class 156.

LINE BETWEEN CLASS 250 AND CLASS 204Note the difference between the scope of “radiant energy” as set out for Class 250 and “wave energy” as defined in Class 204, subclass 157.15.

LINE BETWEEN CLASSES 260, 204, AND 520See Class 260, Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, for

(1) a chemical process, in general and for preparation and treatment of carbon compounds or a product formed by such a process;

(2) the combination of a Class 204 operation with a subsequent significant chemical process provided for in Class 260 when the subsequent Class 260 process modifies a product of the Class 204 operation to produce a different compound; and

(3) a branched process in which one branch is a Class 204 process and another branch falls within the class definition of Class 260. The combination of a Class 260 process and a subsequent Class 204 operation is classified in Class 204. The foregoing applies even when the preparatory process or operation results in a desired by-product. Also, see the search class note to Class 520 in References to Other Classes, since Class 520 is an integral part of Class 260.

LINES BETWEEN CLASSES 424, 204, AND 514See Class 424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions, for a drug, bio-affecting, or body treating composition which may be made by a Class 204 process; especially subclasses 1.11+ for a radionuclide or intended radionuclide containing, adjuvant or carrier, intermediate, or preparatory composition. Also, see the search class note to Class 514 in REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES, below, since Class 514 is an integral part of Class 424.

LINES BETWEEN CLASSES 520, 522, AND 204See Class 520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series, appropriate classes, especially Class 522, subclasses 1+, for a composition to be polymerized by wave energy wherein said composition contains a rate-affecting material; or a synthetic resin composition to be modified by wave energy wherein said composition contains a rate-affecting material; or a process of preparing or treating a solid polymer utilizing wave energy. Any process step involving electrolysis, electric current, electro-osmosis, electrophoresis, electrostatic field, electrical discharge, or magnetic field and also involving the treating of a synthetic resin or natural rubber is proper in Class 204 if a wave energy step is involved in any part of the process. The combination of a Class 520 chemical process not involving the use of wave energy with a Class 204 operation is classified

(1) in Class 204 when the Class 520 nonwave energy process is preparatory to the Class 204 operation and

(2) in Class 520 when the Class 204 operation is preparatory to the Class 520 nonwave energy process. A branching process in which the claims are alternative to producing or treating a polymer by a Class 204 process or by a Class 520 chemical process not involving the use of wave energy is classified in Class 520. See Class 204, subclass 157.15, for a further elaboration of the line between Class 204 and Class 520, subclasses 1+.

LINES BETWEEN CLASSES 585, 204, AND 260The line between Class 585 and Class 204 is analogous to that between Class 260 and Class 204. See the search class note to Class 260 in REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES, below.

Class 204 :: CHEMISTRY: ELECTRICAL AND WAVE ENERGY

Definition

Subclasses List