Description
Introductory Notes
(1)Note. This is a restricted class for the art of elongated-member-drivingapparatus as defined above. For original placement of a patentin this class, its claimed disclosure should meet the minimum requirementsof the class definition, and should fall within the boundaries expressedin the sections "Scope of the Class", "OtherClasses With Elongated Member Driving Means", "Relationshipto Combination Classes," "Relationship to SubcombinationClasses", and "Other Class Relationships" below.
(2)Note. The term "member", appearing throughoutthis class definition, is a defined term in this class (see Glossary),denoting an elongated object to be driven; usually, but not necessarilydisclosed as a nail, stud, staple, or the like.
(3)Note. Terms followed by an asterisk (*) will be founddefined in the Glossary. Throughout this class definition, certain veryfrequently appearing terms, such as work, product, member, and driver,are accompanied by the asterisk only where the exact meaning ofthe term is deemed particularly important.Main Class DefinitionThis class provides for a device comprising a pushing or drivingelement, disclosed as being guided for movement in a predeterminedpath and as being effective (1) to engage a member, or end portionof indeterminate length material, and (2) to impart translatorymotion to the same with respect to a workpiece, or to engage a workpiece andto translate the same or a portion thereof with respect to a member;said member or said end portion comprising a pointed and/orgenerally elongated rod-like or tubular projection substantiallyaligned with the direction of such translatory motion, said pushingor driving element serving, in either case, to initiate and/or increasea penetrating relationship between said workpiece and member (orworkpiece and end portion); and further comprising at least oneof the following: means to (a) modify, (b) position or (c) support,a workpiece or member.Scope of the ClassThe subject matter of this class relates to apparatus forapplying a member (having an elongated rod-like or tubular projection) toone or more workpieces by relative movement between the member andthe workpiece generally in the direction of a projection of themember.A patent claiming apparatus for driving a member may be excludedfrom the class because of additional claimed subject matter, notexpressly covered in the subclass titles and definitions. See LinesWith Other Classes, below