Description
A. This is the generic class for:
(1) Devices in the form of one or more flexible panel units(see paragraph B of this section);
(2) Devices in the form of panel units made up for plural strips,slats, or panels interconnected for relative motion (see paragraphC of this section);
(3) Devices in the form of panel units or partitions, includingthose completely rigid and/or portable, having means combinedtherewith for facilitating the passage of insects therethrough inone direction and preventing or making their passage difficult inthe reverse direction (see subclass 12 and the notes thereunder);
(4) Devices in the form of portable partitioning panel units(see subclass 351 and the notes thereunder);
(5) Combinations of (1) through (5) with each other, withrigid panel units, including rigid closures, or with other structurenot elsewhere provided for (see subclass 127 and the notes thereunder).
B. Flexible panel units are considered to be all those in whicha flexible fabric or other flexible sheet material forms the panelportion, even though it may have a rigid frame, rigid enforcements,rigid support means for one or more edges thereof, or combinationsof these features.
C. Panel units made up of plural strips, slats or panels interconnectedfor relative motion include all units in which means are providedfor directly connecting adjacent elements together to provide forrelative motion therebetween. The individual strip, slat or panelelements may be rigid. The relative motion provided may be, forexample, one or more relative swinging or pivotal motions, relativesliding motions, or combinations of such motions.
Panel units made up of plural rigid strips, slats or panels arenot considered to be interconnected for relative motion and are,therefore, excluded (1) where a single strip, slat or panel is movablyconnected to a second strip, slat or panel which is immovably mountedor supported or (2) where the only connection therebetween is acommon operator and/or a common support.
Such common support may be a single frame having either orboth (1) rigid strips, slats or panels immovably mounted thereon,(2) rigid strips, slats or panels movably mounted thereon and connectedonly through the frame and/or by common operating means.
D. These devices are termed, for example, closure, partition,weather protective, ventilation, ornamentation and like devices,more specifically called awnings, curtains, shades, blinds, gates,doors, windows, shutters, screens, roll tops for desks, picturescreens, fire place screens, photographic backgrounds, vehicle storm fronts,shields, visors, robes or aprons, etc.
E. Since this is the generic class, it takes the subject matterspecified in paragraphs A to C only when of a character not providedfor in some other main class, for which see the notes below.
F. The devices classified in this class and detailed in paragraphsA - C, supra, have been generically termed flexible and portablepanels. Those closures and panels not of the flexible panel type,have been generically called rigid closures and rigid panels. SeeReferences to Other CLasses, below.