This is the generic locus for patents for (1) sewing machines,
(2) methods of sewing, and (3) stock material products of a sewing
operation. This class is also residual for patents for sewn articles
which are not specifically provided for in any other class.
SCOPE OF THE CLASS
Sewing is the operation of uniting or ornamenting material
by means of a strand which is inserted (stitched) in the material
at spaced locations by a needle having an eye, or equivalent structure,
and enchained or otherwise locked in position.
With the addition of product subclasses, no change has been
made in the relationship of this class with other classes in regard
to patents for machines and processes. See Lines With Other Classes
and Within This Class, below, for the reference to product subclasses.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
PRODUCT SUBCLASSES
With the addition of product subclasses 400-441, inclusive,
no change has been made in the relationship of this class with other
classes in regard to patents for machines and processes.
Regarding patents for products, it is intended that only such
patents in which layers have been secured together, or a strand
has been affixed to a base, solely by a stitching operation shall
be placed in this class. However, patents for such products which
include structure which is the result of an operation which may
be considered ancillary to the stitching operation (e.g., manipulating, folding,
cutting) or which include merely a description of the sewn material
(e.g., woven, knitted, braided, carded, twisted) will not be excluded
from this class.
A patent for a stock material product resulting from a combined
operation (e.g., sewn and coated or bonded) will be placed in an
appropriate subclass in Class 428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous
Articles, and see the main definition of that class, (428), section
V1 A 1.
It is recognized that patents for sewn stock material may be
found in other classes. No attempt has been made at this time to
collect such patents in this class. It is expected that when such
other classes are reclassified, sewn stock material patents will
be transferred to this class (112).
Search notes to related classes will be found under the definition
of subclass 400 for products, subclass 2 for apparatus, and subclass
262.1 for methods.
Surgery,
subclasses 144+ , for mechanical sewing devices for sewing parts
of the animal body.
SECTION IV - GLOSSARY
BLIND STITCH
A stitch in which the sewing thread penetrates only one nonthickness
surface of a layer or component. See Figure 1.
COMPONENT
A distinct unitary element of a composite web or sheet which
is longitudinally coextensive therewith and which, if separated
from said multi-part web or sheet, would be recognized as a web
or sheet by itself.
A component may consist of plural layers as in the folded
component shown in Figure 2.
COMPOSITE SHEET
A sheet comprising a plurality of components.
COMPOSITE WEB
A web comprising a plurality of components.
CONCEALED STITCH
A stitch in which the sewing thread completely penetrates
one or more layers of material and is hidden from view on at least
one side of the assembly by a fold of material overlying the stitch.
See Figure 3.
FIBER
A relatively short, slender, flexible element of macroscopic
size and finite length and having a width and thickness of the same
order magnitude. A fiber is generally of staple length to facilitate
being spun, twisted, or otherwise secured together into a composite
strand but may be of shorter length requiring bonding, felting,
or matting to form a strand or layer. It may be of animal (e.g.,
wool, rabbit hair); vegetable (e.g., cotton, jute, hemp); or mineral
(e.g., asbestos, glass, metal) origin; and may be either natural,
modified, or synthetic.
LAYER
A single thickness of material or materials in the form
of a panel, web, or sheet, or a plurality of any of these in side-by-side
coplanar relation, or particulate material arranged in continuity
to constitute a distinct stratum.
A layer may include a plurality of components as in Figure
4.
NONTHICKNESS SURFACE
The surface of a web, sheet, layer, or component on which
both its length and width may be measured. See Figure 5.
OVEREDGE STITCH
A stitch wherein the sewing thread extends thickness-wise
across a marginal extremity of one or more layers of material without
penetrating side extremity. See Figure 6.
PANEL
A portion of material of finite perimeter having length and
width greater than thickness and (a) having a modification or embellishment
of or on the entire periphery thereof or at least two nonadjacent
corners, (b) being completely enclosed in an envelope which substantially conforms
thereto, or (c) having a boundary
shape which is other than rectangle.
SHEET
A rectangular portion of material of finite length and width
which are each greater than its thickness. A piece of material having
a peripheral shape other than rectangular will be considered a panel.
STRAND
A relatively slender and flexible element having a width and
thickness of the same order of magnitude and a length which is either
(a) indeterminate or (b) coextensive with the length or width of
a sheet or layer. A strand may be a monofilament or it may include
either a plurality of filaments or fibers disposed in parallelism
(e.g., tow) or constituent fibers and/or filaments knitted, plaited,
braided, twisted, interlaced, interlocked, or otherwise secured
together to form a unit such as roving, thread yarn, cord, rope
or cable.
STRAND PORTION
A strand of finite length; or an unsevered but determinate
part of a strand.
STRIP
A web or sheet of relatively narrow ribbon-like material. A
strip which is interwoven or intertangled with other strips or strands
in the same manner as a strand will be termed a "strand-like
strip".
WEB
A portion of material having length and width each greater
than its thickness and with at least its longitudinal dimension
undetermined.
A web may comprise (a) a single thickness of material, (b)
a plurality of portions of a single piece of material folded onto
each other longitudinally or transversely, or (c)
a plurality of individual web components joined together in longitudinally
coextensive face or edge contact to form a composite web.
Boot and Shoe Making, appropriate subclasses for a shoe making machine including
stitching means, and particularly
subclass 58.5 for a machine for inserting lacings in the eyelets
of shoe uppers.
Package Making,
subclass 138.5 for packaging apparatus which includes means for
joining portions of the cover material by sewing, and subclass 545
for an apparatus for forming packages by confining the contents within
a progressively seamed cover formed from a continuous web or webs.
Apparel Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for a machine not including stitching
means for making, repairing or treating articles of apparel and analogous
articles, and see notes thereunder.
Brush, Broom, and Mop Making, appropriate subclasses for a machine particularly
adapted to the manufacture of the articles set out in the title
of that class.
Abrading,
subclasses 432+ for an abrading device designed to be attached
to and driven by a sewing machine. A nominal recitation of a sewing
machine in combination with such an attachment will not exclude
a patent from Class 451.
This subclass is indented under subclass 2. Device wherein means are provided to fasten together, with
needle and thread, material which covers a pad or tick filled with
soft material.
(1)
Note. The pad or tick is generally used, as, or on a bed.
(2)
Note. The needle is used to fasten material together but is
not a part of the fastening means remaining at the end of the sewing
process.
Metal Working,
subclasses 91.2+ for an apparatus or process for compressing portions
of a furniture cushion or padded furniture component in accord with
a desired pattern.
This subclass is indented under subclass 2.1. Device wherein material on upper and lower sides of the
pad or tick is fastened together with needle and thread which needle
and thread passes through the material and the pad or tick at spaced
points over the upper and lower sides of the pad or tick.
Brush, Broom, and Mop Making, appropriate subclasses for a machine or method particularly
related to one or more of the operations necessary to the manufacture
of the articles set out in the title of that class.
This subclass is indented under subclass 2. For sewing straw braid, as in making hats.
(1)
Note. For machines for twisting straw into strands, combined
with sewing, see Class 57, Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining,
subclasses 4 and 6.
Boot and Shoe Making,
subclasses 32+ for machines which indent the edge of the sole,
particularly subclass 32.1, for those machines provided with means
to cause the indentations to occur at the stitch points.
Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus,
subclass 63 for apparatus for driving a member, e.g., tack,
combined with (or convertible to) apparatus for withdrawing the
same.
This subclass is indented under subclass 28. Stitches are held in place by friction, either of the threads
themselves, or of a plug inserted in the leather or other material.
This subclass is indented under subclass 28. Means to form a support or rest against which the upper
or a lasted shoe may be held to guide the shoe as it is presented
to the sole-sewing mechanism.
Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, appropriate subclasses for methods of, and apparatus
for, feeding material without utilizing the leading or trailing
ends to effect movement of the material.
This subclass is indented under subclass 54. Includes means to cast the previously-formed loop from the
needle as it pulls a new loop through the work.
for zigzag stitch forming mechanism wherein the
needle is shifted back and forth across the line of material feed, which
mechanism includes particular structure for sewing a pattern which encloses
a portion of the material within boundaries formed by the pattern
(e.g., buttonholes).
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CLASS 112,
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