Description
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTER
This class provides for the transfer of fluent material, gaseous,liquid or flowable granular solids, through a flow confining system,the source and terminal or receiver parts of which are normallyseparable, i.e., one or both parts are portable or are otherwisecapable of or intended to have a utility in their separated condition. Suchutility ordinarily lies in portability of a separated part, eitherfor use of the contents material in another place, or for use ofone of the system parts with another complementary part. Each parttherefore must comprise an entity capable of use independent ofthe other, and together the parts provide a flow path from a sourceor dispenser to a terminal part or receiver, thereby comprisinga filling system.
This class takes a mere dispenser-receiver combination whereseparability is claimed or is inherent, and also takes means todeliver material to a receiver when there is claimed some systemcharacteristic which peculiarly relates the receiver to the dispenserto define a coaction of one with the other to complete the dispenser-receiver relationship;as for example, guiding or confining means for the receiver, relatedconveying means for either the receiver or dispenser or both, ora receiver support which is not merely a support for the dispenserbut is some member or modification beyond the structural requirementstherefor.
The scope of this class does not include method and apparatusfor handling fluent material except in a manner characteristic offluid flow. For the most part the material supply processes andapparatus involve discharge assistants and fluid flow guiding meansof the class of Dispensing (see References to Other Classes, below).
This class takes systems as above defined including receiverswhich close (i.e., self-closing) upon separation or uncoupling fromthe supply.
This class also includes processes of varying gaseous conditionsin a vessel or container, i.e., evacuating or maintaining a vacuumin a container, by sorption or gettering means incased in such containerwhere the claims are silent respecting any sealing off, or do notinclude steps of closing and additionally where the sorption or getteringis not of the kind provided for elsewhere.
This class also includes certain combinations and subcombinationswhich appear to fall short of the receiver coacting means requirementset out above, as in the last four "first line" subclassgroups of this class. Though they require no more than what mightbe considered to be Class 222 subject matter, the concept of a normally detached,readily connectable, dispenser-receiver relation (see I (2) above)is satisfied.