This class is the generic class for devices, known as bearings,
designed for general use, where one element continuously bears the
weight of another, either suspended therefrom, or imposed thereon,
and wherein there is either linear motion (e.g., a cross head) rotary motion
(e.g., of a shaft or axle), or oscillating movement, (e.g., a lever)
between the two elements. The bearings may have either sliding,
or rolling contact with the supported member.
The class includes (a) supports for bearings where such supports
are specially formed to receive, and are placed in combination with,
bearings, and when not limited to any classified art; (b) antifriction
means, as balls, or rollers, designed to receive a rotating shaft,
or to be used in connection with a pivoted, sliding, or rotary element; and
(c) lubricating devices wherein any of the above bearings are modified
for receiving and supplying lubricant.
This class including methods pertaining to bearings, when
not otherwise provided for.
(1)
Note. Patents issued prior to 1950 have not in all instances
been classified by their claimed disclosure so that placement of these
older patents does not necessarily indicate lines of classification.
(2)
Note. Necessary but not particularly sufficient criteria
for inclusion in this class are that the "bearing" (1) have at least
two moving parts that slide or roll against one another and (2)
should be intended to reduce friction between significantly more massive
elements than the bearing itself.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
Where the bearing forms but an element of a structure, and
the claims are not limited to the bearing, or bearing support structure,
see the appropriate art class.
Claimed compositions of matter even though particularly adapted
for use as bearings, or composition, per se, claimed either alone,
or with other claims to a bearing element, are classified in the
appropriate composition class and cross-referenced here. Also where
a product is claimed as a stock material, that is, without sufficient structure
in the claims to limit the product to bearing use, it is classified
elsewhere.
Many objects, such as, auto wheels, conveyor rollers or etc.,
theoretically meet the criteria in set forth in the Class Definition,
General Statement of the Class Subject Matter, in the (2) Note,
under (1), but are nonetheless not bearings as commonly understood
and as such are not classified in this class, see search class for
placement.
Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions
for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose
Metal Particulate Mixtures,
subclasses 122+ for alloys.
Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, for a product claimed as a stock material, that
is, without sufficient structure in the claims to limit the product
to bearing use.
Solid Antifriction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant
and Separant Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous
Mineral Oil Compositions, for subject matter as explained in the class title.
VIBRATORY, (E.G., PIEZOELECTRIC, OR KINETIC BEARING):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein vibration e.g., brought about by
a piezoelectric effect, results in reduced friction, either through
creation of a fluid film or otherwise; or where motion in one direction
is used to reduce the friction coefficient in another direction.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein there is angular movement of the
axis of a supported element with respect to a supporting element
about a pivot point and where a ball or roller at the pivot point,
if present, does not move.
(1)
Note. "Flexural pivots" (flexible joints) is specifically
excluded both from Class 384, since they are actually a form of flexible
joint. Where there is any indication that a device function as
a flexible joint, it is classified in Class 403 subclass 291.
(2)
Note. This subclass does not include "pivot pin" type bearings,
where there is rotation about the axis of a shaft. Such a bearing
is considered a rotary bearing, even if it rotates through only
a small fraction of a circle.
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Subject matter wherein there are plural edges, one of which
points toward, and another of which points away, from the center
of the earth.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter in which a supported element has sliding
or line movement in a straight direction, on a supporting element.
(1)
Note. A race is the object upon which the raceway is formed.
A raceway is a bearing contact surface, that is, the surface upon
which another raceway slides or upon which a rolling element, such
as a ball or roller, rolls.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter including means for inspection or detection
of bearing element conditions, or magnetic features not functioning
as a magnetic bearing, or means for hydraulic support or damping
of a bearing element.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter including means for temperature control,
compensation, or insulation, or means for electrical functions,
or means providing for linear movement in at least two directions
at right angles to each other.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein means are provided to tension a bearing
contact surface element, or wherein a race or rolling element is
of a material that bounces or springs back to shape.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein fluid under pressure is used to support
an element in whole or in part during relative rectilinear movement.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter having means in the bearing for allowing
lubricant to reach a bearing surface and means for lubricating the
bearing.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter including means for shielding the exposed
parts of the bearing or for preventing matter form entering into,
passing through, or escaping therefrom.
Seal for a Joint or Juncture, for a generic sealing means or process,
subclasses 345+ for a seal between relatively movable parts (i.e.,
a dynamic seal).
Supports: Cabinet Structure,
subclasses 334.1+ for similar antifriction guides in combination
with or involving particulars of relation with a cabinet and a horizontally
slidable component.
Supports: Cabinet Structure,
subclasses 334.1+ , 349 and 350 for guides with antifriction bearings
in combination with or involving particulars or relation with a
cabinet and a horizontally slidable component.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein a bearing having sliding friction
contact is designed to support drawers for sliding movement.
Supports: Cabinet Structure,
subclass 312 , 330.1+, 349, and 350 for guides or slides
combined with structure of a cabinet and a rectilinearly movable
component thereof, or involving particulars of relationship with
a cabinet or its movable components.
This subclass is indented under subclass 20. Subject matter wherein means are specified to attach the
bearing to a drawer or cabinet structure, or to correctly position
the bearing, drawer and cabinet with respect to one another.
(1)
Note. The positioning may be done automatically, as for example,
by a resilient element.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter in which the supporting element comprises
relatively movable parts, said parts in one relative position permitting
the supported element to be moved into supported position in a direction
transverse to the direction sliding or line movement, and relatively movable
parts movable, to a second relative position to prevent movement
of the supported element in a direction transverse to the direction
of sliding or line movement, without interfering with said sliding
or line movement.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter where bearing support is provided partly
by a sliding friction bearing and partly by a separate rolling friction
bearing.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter in which the supported element is guided
in its sliding or line movement in a cylindrical bore means which
constitutes the outer member.
(1)
Note. Where the guiding action is secondary, as in a piston,
see the appropriate art class.
(2)
Note. Borehole or well casing contacting structure is classified
in Class 175 subclass 325 even though specific wear surface structure
is claimed.
Wells,
subclasses 241.1+ for centering or friction drag means for well devices,
the primary purpose of which is to center the device while stationary or
to act as a relatively stationary point of reference to enable manipulation
of a well device.
This subclass is indented under subclass 29. Subject matter wherein the bearing is for guiding means
such as a die set, stamp mill, battery stamp, or vulcanizing press.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter wherein the bearing is used for adjusting
a seat for linear translation, generally an auto vehicle seat.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter wherein at least a third bearing race moves
relative to two other relatively longitudinally translating races.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter wherein the bearing is used for permitting
small relative movement for large structures, such as bridge components.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter having means for automatically adjusting
a bearing surface orientation for optimum efficiency.
(1)
Note. Self-aligning linear bearings which empty resilient
material for self-alignment feature are found in subclass 37.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter comprising an element which is adjustable
for keeping a linear bearing race correctly aligned.
(1)
Note. The gib may also include adjustment means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Subject matter wherein a bearing and/or its related
support structure comprise structure for allowing assembly.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein roller or ball antifriction elements
circulate within an endless race track, e.g., raceway, part of the
time in a loaded, and part of the time in an unloaded state.
(1)
Note. The track usually has one loaded straightway, the one
unloaded straightway which are parallel, and circular endways connecting
the straightaways.
(2)
Note. A race is the object upon which the raceway is formed.
A raceway is a bearing contact surface, that is, the surface upon
which the other raceway slides or on which a rolling element, such
as a ball or roller, rolls.
This subclass is indented under subclass 432. Subject matter wherein the antifriction elements are rollers
e.g., cylindrical, tapered, barrel-shaped, needle-shaped, etc.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter comprising a pulley-type roller bearing for
a relatively long shaft such as that employed in railroad switch
pull-shafts, or pull-shafts for oil well stripper pumps.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein the bearing comprises (1) rollers
which alternate in the orientation of their axis of rotation; or
(2) a ball or roller bearing for linear adjustment of a automobile type
seat.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein both ball and roller bearings are
used separately but in the same bearing assembly.
(1)
Note. This subclass does not include bearings where one type
of bearing facilitates movement of another type of bearing of which
it is a part, as for example, when a roller bearing is journaled
on a shaft via ball bearings. Such bearings would classified as
roller bearings.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter wherein the linear antifriction element is
a ball.
(1)
Note. Roller antifriction elements in a linear antifriction
bearing often have their own radial bearing systems, which may include
ball bearings, but because the linear antifriction element is a
roller, these devices are classified in subclass 50 below, and not
in this subclass.
(2)
Note. Where different embodiments use balls in one embodiment
and rollers in another, they are included here.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Subject matter comprising a roller antifriction element
which has a particular shape e.g., cylindrical, tapered, barrel,
needle, etc.
This subclass is indented under subclass 50. Subject matter wherein: (a) spatial relationship of more
than two linear sets of rollers in specified; or (b) three or more
sets of races are nested now within the other, each movable relative
to the other two.
This subclass is indented under subclass 50. Subject matter wherein the shape of the raceway surface
is specified and is not a flat surface, unless the precise degree
of flatness is indicated.
This subclass is indented under subclass 50. Subject matter wherein roller structure is specified, other
than cases wherein a roller is journaled on a shaft.
This subclass is indented under subclass 50. Subject matter wherein a bearing is designed to facilitate
assembly either of the bearing itself or of the bearing on its support.
This subclass is indented under subclass 91. Subject matter for specified bearing structure for a rotary
bit in which a cutter element, or carrier for a fixed cutter is
rotatably mounted thereon so that the cutter element, or carrier may
roll, or tend to roll on a surface of a borehole as the bit is rotated.
(1)
Note. Patents have been classified in this and indented subclasses
which claim a portion of a bit which supports the specified bearing,
or a specified bearing disclosed for a roller drill bit.
(2)
Note. A drill bit with details of the bit is in Class 175.
Boring or Penetrating the Earth,
subclasses 227+ for storage means for bit lubricant carried by
bit, or shaft and subclasses 371+ for a bit earth cutter having
details of the bit and see search note for Class line.
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