Description
This class is the generic class of apparatus for and methodsof encompassing, encasing or completely surrounding goods or materialswith a cover made from sheet material stock.
(1)Note. This class does not provide for methods of permanentlyencompassing, encasing, or immobilizing hazardous or toxic waste.Methods of packaging binding and immobilization of hazardous ortoxic waste for the sole intent of permanently containing the wasteare found elsewhere. Methods of packaging to move potentially hazardous orpotentially toxic materials through commerce where the materialsare removed from the container for subsequent use or treatment areproper for this class (53).This class is also the generic class of apparatus for andmethods of partially encasing or surrounding goods and materialsby a partial cover made from sheet material stock, which completelyencircles and is in frictional contact with the goods or materialsso as to be retained thereon.This class is also the generic class of apparatus for andmethods of assembling and/or securing a separate closure(hood, cap, capsule, crown, seal, cork, disk, cot, etc.,) to theaperture of preformed receptacle so as to complete the encasementof contents. Assembling includes any manipulation or handling ofthe receptacle resulting in the sealing of a filling orifice bythe closure.This class is also the generic class of apparatus for andmethods of depositing articles and arranging fluent materials inpreformed receptacles. See subclasses 235+.This class is the residual class of apparatus for and methodsof subjecting the contents to a treatment before, during or afterpackaging combined with the packaging operation not otherwise providedfor. Treatment includes plural diverse manufacturing provided forelsewhere (see References to Other Classes below)This class is also the generic class for apparatus for, andprocesses of, making match books.This class also includes apparatus for exposing the contentsof a package by opening one or more folds of the cover.The apparatus and processes in this class include the shapingof the cover about the article, the partial or complete shapingof the cover followed by a filling operation, the filling of a preformedreceptacle with articles and the filling of a preformed receptaclefollowed by a closing operation.The apparatus and processes in this class include the applicationof wrappers and encircling bands and labels, and the applicationof partial covers encircling the contents.The apparatus and processes in this class may include themaking of the cover prior to packaging and/or the treatmentof cover before, during or after packaging..The apparatus and processes in this class include the printingand/or embossing of the contents and/or the cover,the coating of the package, the making and/or applyingof cover opening adjuncts such as tear strips, and the applicationof a strand, handle, strip, stamp, and/or label to thepackage.The apparatus and processes in this class include the associationof articles into groups for packaging, and also include the packagingof individual units followed by a grouping of such units for furtherpackaging, whether or not the further packaging is claimed.The apparatus and processes in this class encase or encompassgoods and materials with a cover, which serves for identifying, protectingor unit handling the goods or materials. The cover is usually removable fromthe contents when the latter is used. However, some exceptions arefound to this removal including, e.g., match books, capsules andtea bags.EXPLANATORY NOTE ON SCOPE OF CLASSClass 53 was designed with the purpose of recognizing thatthe packaging of manufactured products so that they may pass throughthe channels of trade in a safe, convenient and attractive condition,is an art deserving of a separate status in the system of classifyinginventions.Heretofore, for the most part, the packaging operation wastreated either as an appendage to the manufacture of the productto be packaged or as a special instance of container manufacture.Neither was in accord with the activities of those who devise packagingmachinery or processes, who are neither the manufacturers of theproduct nor of the packaging materials.Where patent claims include subject matter limiting the processor apparatus to use in manufacturing a particular article other thanas specifically provided for in the definition below such patentis excluded from this class and will be found in the class best providingfor making said article. If the claims merely recite, by name, thearticle being manufactured but the process or apparatus is of generalutility, such recitation alone will not exclude the patent from thisclass.Since it is not desirable to withhold from use those portionsof the reclassification which can be completed and handled as a unit,Class 53 was established even though numerous inventions pertainingto the art of packaging are as yet represented therein only by searchnotes to other classifications.The art relating to filling and closing and closing, per se,of preformed receptacles, and depositing articles in preformed receptacles,formerly classified in Class 226, Filling and Closing Portable Receptacles,is now classified in appropriate subclasses of this class (53) unlessotherwise excluded by the notes to the various subclasses herein.