US PATENT SUBCLASS 204 / 157.15
.~ Processes of treating materials by wave energy

Current as of: June, 1999
Click HD for Main Headings
Click for All Classes

Internet Version by PATENTEC © 1999      Terms of Use


204 /   HD   CHEMISTRY: ELECTRICAL AND WAVE ENERGY

*  DD  PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS {7}
157.15.~ Processes of treating materials by wave energy {6}
157.2  DF  .~.~> Isotope separation or enrichment {1}
157.3  DF  .~.~> Removing a component from normally gaseous mixture
157.4  DF  .~.~> Process of preparing desired inorganic material {11}
157.6  DF  .~.~> Process or preparing desired organic product containing at least one atom other than carbon and hydrogen {16}
158.14  DF  .~.~> At least one carbocyclic ring and only carbon and hydrogen atoms in product produced
158.2  DF  .~.~> Processes of purifying materials {1}

DEFINITION

Classification: 204/157.15

Processes of treating materials by wave energy:

(under the class definition) Subject matter involving chemical reactions brought about by wave energy.

(1) Note. Subclasses 157.15+ provides for the following subject matter: (a) provides for preparing a compound or element, involving a chemical reaction induced by wave energy; said chemical reaction resulting in either (1) an element or chemical compound (2) a purified product (wherein the chemical reaction has assisted in the removal of a contaminant) or (3) an element (wherein the chemical reaction consists of decomposing a compound to produce the elemental form). (b) provides for any process of treating waste or

unwanted material involving a chemical reaction induced by wave energy where there is no intent to recover a specified desired product. (c) provides for effecting optical rotation, i.e., d, 1 optical rotation for effecting a change in isomeric forms, e.g., cis to trans isomers by wave energy, etc. (d) provides for producing a photochromic material by using wave energy. (e) provides for effecting a chemical reaction by wave energy where the product produced is a composition not disclosed as having a desired use. Materials which are compositions to begin with such as tobacco, foods, etc., are not proper for this area unless a final desired product is isolated which is a compound or element. (f) provides for the degradation of a chemical compound or polymer by wave energy to produce a chemical compound or element.

(2) Note. The utilization of wave energy to effect a color change is presumed to be a chemical reaction for purposes of this class unless otherwise stated in the specification.

(3) Note. The utilization of wave energy to increase the viscosity of a chemical compound is considered to be a chemical reaction for purposes of this class unless otherwise stated in the specification. Also included herein is a process of removing an embrittlement causing material from a metallic substance to reduce the embrittlement condition of metal.

(4) Note. The term "wave energy" includes radiation as well as wave energies transmitted by various mediums and embraces electromagnetic waves or radiations, sonic supersonic, ultrasonic waves, neutrons, protons, deutron and other corpuscular radiations.

(5) Note. The term "electromagnetic waves'' as employed in the (4) Note above includes, e.g., X-ray and gamma-ray, ultraviolet, infra red, and visible light rays, and short electric and radio waves. Energy including wave energy processes which produces merely a thermal effect or heat waves, per se, even if a chemical reaction is induced is excluded under the provisions of the class definitions, see CLASS DEFINITIONS, REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES, and GLOSSARY in the main class definition.

(6) Note. Classification of documents into this area is on the basis of the wave energy step providing the final desired product and not necessarily on the first wave energy step recited if that product is not the ultimate desired product of the claim. An example of such a situation would be a wave energy step of preparing a nitrogen heterocyclic compound followed by a wave energy step of cleaving the heterocyclic ring whereby the final product is devoid of a heterocyclic ring but still contains a nitrogen atom. Classification in 157.81 rather than in 157.71 would be proper. (7) Note. In those subclasses which are identified in the classification schedule as "using," i.e., 157.22, 157.41,

157.42, 157.43, 157.44, 157.61, 157.62, 157.63 original placement has been on either specifically claimed subject matter or solely disclosed subject matter. Claims which are alternative but which specifically recite the subject matter of the above subclasses are considered as being claimed. An example of such a situation would be a claim reciting alternatively the use of a laser of X-ray to produce a desired nitrogen compound. Classification as an original in 157.61 would be proper. The rule to be followed is that if the claim does not meet the parameter of the "solely disclosed or claimed rule" it is classified below on some other aspect of the claim.

(8) Note. This area does not provide for products of a wave energy procedure nor does it provide for compositions or compounds which are to be exposed to wave energy. Patents with claims drawn to a process of preparing a compound in the presence of wave energy and the compound, per se, are originally classified in the appropriate product class (260, etc.). See Class 252, Compositions, in particular subclass 188.31 for compositions which are to be exposed to wave energy so as to produce a desired compound or element.

(9) Note. Processes of growing crystals, dissolving compounds, altering friability of particles, changing the structure in a crystal lattice or converting a substance into an amorphous state (e.g., Cg to Cd) are considered to be physical processes and thus are excluded from this class unless stated to be chemical reactions by the patentee.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

260, Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, 518, Chemistry: Fischer-Tropsch Processes; or Purification or Recovery of Products Thereof, 530 - 570, Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532 - 570 Series, AND 585, Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds, for (1) processes for purifying an organic compound wherein no chemical reaction induced by wave energy is involved and (2) for processes with subsequent chemical process steps when such latter steps modify the product of the wave energy method to produce a different compound and (3) organic products prepared in the presence of wave energy. A process of preparing an organic compound by a chemical reaction which reaction is generic so as to include or exclude a Class 204 wave energy step is classified with the nonwave energy step, i.e., 518, 530 - 570 or Class 585 and cross-reference to Class 204.

313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, appropriate subclasses for electric lamps and electric space discharge devices such as ultraviolet light generators, and cathode-ray tubes. See especially

112, for lamps and discharge devices having an envelope made of a material which will transmit invisible radiations and subclasses 364+ for cathode-ray tubes.

376, Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements, appropriate subclasses, especially

323+, for a chemical reaction carried out in a reactor.

378, X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices, 119+, for X-ray sources, etc.

422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing,

186+, for apparatus for carrying out the radiant energy chemical processes of this subclass, subclasses 127+ for apparatus having means to initiate or perfect a process using shock or sound wave, and subclasses 1+ for radiant or wave energy methods in general for preserving, disinfecting, and sterilizing.

423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, for (1) processes of purifying an inorganic compound or nonmetallic element wherein no chemical reaction induced by wave energy is involved (2) for processes with subsequent chemical process steps when such latter steps modify the product of the wave energy method to produce a nonmetallic element or different inorganic compound and (3) inorganic products prepared in the presence of wave energy. A process of preparing an inorganic compound or free nonmetallic element by a chemical reaction which reaction is generic so as to include or exclude a Class 204 wave energy step is classified with nonwave energy step, i.e., Class 423 and cross-reference to Class 204.

427, Coating Processes, for general coating processes; especially

457+, for direct application of electrical, magnetic, wave, or particulate energy (without effecting a chemical reaction) as part of a coating process (including pre- or post-treatment). Class 204 provides for processes involving combined coating operations in which at least one coated layer is applied by a Class 204 coating operation. However, a Class 427 coating step followed by curing (considered to be a mere perfecting step) of the 427 coating using electrical or wave energy is proper for Class 427.

430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof, appropriate subclasses for radiation sensitive compositions and elements and for processes of exposing said compositions or elements to wave energy in an imagewise exposure technique.

435, Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology,

173.1+, for electrical or wave energy treatment of micro-organisms or enzymes.

520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, in particular Class

522, for processes of preparing or treating a solid polymer utilizing wave energy and compositions to be polymerized or modified by wave energy wherein said composition contains a rate affecting material. Class 520,

1+, also provides for products which are the result of a chemical modification utilizing wave energy. Class 204 is superior to Class 520, subclasses 1+ therefore a patent claiming in the alternative a process of preparing an organic compound and a synthetic resin in the presence of wave energy is classified for original in purposes in Class 204 and cross-reference into Class 520. In the situation where an alternative claim is presented as well as a specific claim to the synthetic is synthetic resin species and there is no specific claims to nonresin species, e.g., the organic compound, etc., the same rule of original patent placement applies. Any step involving electrolysis, an electric, current electroosmosis, electrophoresis, electrostatic field, electrical discharge or magnetic field and also involving a synthetic resin or natural rubber will be proper in Class 204 even when a wave energy step is involved in any part of the process. 588, Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment, appropriate subclasses for the use of wave energy in the destruction of hazardous or toxic waste.