Description
A. This is the generic class in the art of treating metalto modify or maintain the internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure)or chemical properties of metal. Most process subject matter underthis class relates to treating solid or semisolid metal with heat,without melting a substantial portion thereof, and also includesthe combination of significant heating and working not provided forin other metal working classes. However, casting or casting andworking of molten metal, if combined with significant heat treatmentto change the microstructure of the solid metal resulting therefromis acceptable in this class. Cooling of metal to produce microstructure changeis proper for this class.
B. This class includes processes of treating metal to intentionallydevelop, improve, modify, or preserve the magnetic properties ofa free metal or alloy, occurring alone or mixed with one or morecomponents.
C. This class includes processes of reactive coating of metalwherein an externally supplied carburizing or nitriding agent iscombined with the metal substrate to produce a carburized or nitridizedor carbonitrided coating thereon or a uniformly carburized, nitrided,or carbonitrided metal alloy containing a metal element from saidsubstrate.
D. This class includes processes of reactive coating of metalwherein an externally supplied agent combines with the metal substrateto produce a coating thereon which contains at least one elementfrom said metal substrate (e.g., oxidizing, boronizing, etc.).
E. This class includes processes of chemical-heat removing(e.g., flame cutting, etc.) or burning (i.e., oxidizing) to removea portion of a metal workpiece.
F. This class includes: (1) elemental metal, alloy or metalliccomposition which is a product of a process under section A, above;(2) elemental metal, alloy, or metallic composition or multi-layeredproducts under section B or C above; (3) elemental metal, alloy,or metallic composition which is the product of a significant Class164 metal founding step; (4) elemental metal, alloy, or metalliccomposition which is the product of the dispersion of particulatematter in molten metal which particulate matter retains its identificationin the final state; and (5) elemental metal, alloy, or metallic compositionwhich contains an amorphous or shape memory property.
G. This class includes compositions employed in the treatmentof solid metal and processes for preparing the same when not otherwiseclassifiable.
H. This class includes electrically conductive semiconductorstock which is essentially homogeneous and has at least two contiguouslayers differing in the number of unbound electrons and/ordiffering in energy gap levels which exhibit a junction betweenlayers (e.g., P-N type, etc.).
For amplification of A-H, see Subclass References to the CurrentClass, below.
RULES OF PATENT PLACEMENT
Patents have been placed in this class employing the so-called "genus-species" rule.Following this rule as between a generic subclass and its indents,a species unprovided in any indented subclass is specifically classifiedin the generic subclass. Thus, a patent containing claims to botha provided species and an unprovided species is placed as originalin the generic subclass as the first (i.e., highest) appearing subclassand cross-referenced to the indented subclass having the provided species.A patent containing claims only for species having provided subclassesis placed as original in the first (i.e., highest) appearing providedsubclass and cross-referenced to the other (i.e., lower) appearingsubclasses.
Following the "genus-species" rule, allmandatory original and cross-references only appear in the highestsubclasses providing therefor. The claims identify the mandatoryoriginal and cross-references. However, if the claims are all generic,the specification is used to determine mandatory placement of thedisclosed species, only if related to features in the claim language.