Description
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CLASS
(A) The purpose of this class is to provide a search for subjectmatter directed to means for driving a tool and also reciting somefeature relating to the tool, or reciting a combination of featurespeculiar to driving a tool which cause separate classification inthe specific motor classes, and in the specific machine elementand mechanism classes to be impractical, but which subject matter isof such general application in the tool arts that separate classificationin each specific tool class is also impractical.
(B) The term, tool, as used in this class means primarily awork contacting element which functions to effect some physicalalteration in the work, such as chipping or boring, but is alsoused to include other elements which are driven in the same manneras such a tool (e.g., a nail or post). It must be noted, however,as explained in the next paragraph, that a means which impacts atool is not in itself, regarded as a tool.
(C) The term, impacting device, as used in this class definesa means including a mass of material (i.e., hammer head) which isspecifically intended to deliver an impact or blow to a tool asdefined in paragraph B and is not itself a tool but is defined asa species of means for driving a tool.
(D) This class, in accordance with the purpose of paragraphA, provides for an impacting device, as defined in paragraph C,or a means to actuate the hammer head of an impacting device, saidimpacting device or means to actuate said hammer head being claimedin combination with at least one of the following features relatingto a tool as defined in paragraph B: (1) a nominally recited tool,(2) a means to retain or hold a tool to receive a blow, (3) a meansto align a tool with respect to the hammer head to receive a blow,or (4) a means (anvil) situated between the hammer head and a tooland which is intended to transmit a blow from the hammer head to thetool.
(E.) This class also provides for a motor and/ora machine element or mechanism for driving a tool claimed in combinationwith one or more of the following: (1) a means for causing, controlling,or selectively preventing the advancing movement of a driven tool,(2) a cleansing means, i.e., a means for cleaning the area of tooloperation or (3) a manipulating handle. In the absence of a separatedrive means, a means to cause, control or selectively prevent advanceclaimed in combination with a cleansing means will be classifiedin this class.
(F) This class also provides for processes of operating apparatusincluded under the class definition and not claiming any additionalfeature limiting the process to a particular art.
(G) This class also is intended to provide for subject matterin accordance with the purpose of paragraph A not specifically providedfor in paragraphs D, E and F or excluded by paragraphs H and J.Examples of such subject matter are means for driving a tool combinedwith (1) a vehicle support for the drive, (2) work engaging meanssupporting the drive or (3) means to adjust the position of theaxis of tool advance. This class also includes subcombinationsof impacting device structure which are not elsewhere classifiablesuch as a specific means to transmit an impact from a hammer headto a tool.
(H) This class is not intended to provide original classificationfor a claim having any specific recitation of (1) the work contactingportion of the tool, (2) plural, cooperating tools (e.g., angularlyrelated tools), (3) and underlying work support opposed to the tool,or (4) any other specifically recited feature pointing to classificationin a particular tool art and not provided for in this definition.An exception to (1) is that the recitation of the work contactingportion of the tool as being broadly provided with a cleansing fluidpassage or port is not considered to define the work contactingportion of the tool with sufficient specificity to preclude classification fromClass 173.
(J) Not all classes have been cleared of art such as definedherein. This class, therefore has only such art as is cleared fromother classes. Section III of the class definition indicates thoseclasses which have bodies of art in conflict with the definitionsof this class.