This class includes and is limited to devices that relate to
and have for their object means other than sails for moving a vessel
through the water. Included are all types of propellers acting
or reacting upon the water or atmosphere and all inventions for
moving tows not otherwise classified.
To be proper for this class there must be significantly claimed
vessel structure or a claimed modification to the vessel structure
to accommodate the propulsion device. If no more vessel structure
is claimed than is necessary to mount the propulsion device, the
device should be classified in the proper motive power class. This
class, however, takes outboard motor types of propulsion devices
regardless of claimed structure.
(1)
Note. The term "vessel" in the definition may
include a person or animal. Mere aquatic devices secured to or
held by a person or animal to increase the effective contact between
the user and the liquid and thereby cause faster or farther propulsion through
the liquid by the user"s swimming strokes are not included.
For such devices, see References to Other Classes, below.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
Inventions pertaining to the structure or details of boats and
skimming or walking devices (e.g., toboggans, water skis, etc.),
are classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below.
Ships,
subclasses 312+ for those inventions claiming features to cause
boats or other devices to submerge and resurface at will. Inventions
pertinent to structure or details of ships are classified in Class
114.
Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers), for the combination of an impeller and a marine vessel
wherein the impeller is arranged to propel the vessel and no more
structure of the vessel is claimed than is necessary to mount the impeller
inclusive of any impeller motor or drive means. Any additional
recitation of vessel structure or any modification of the vessel will
require classification in Class 440. See Class 416, Lines With
Other Classes and Within This Class, for a detailed statement of the
class line.
Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices, appropriate subclasses for inventions pertaining to the structure
or details of boats and skimming or walking devices (e.g., toboggans,
water skis, etc.), unless features are claimed to cause such boats
or other devices to submerge and resurface at will;
subclasses 55+ for aquatic devices secured to or held by a person
or animal to increase the effective contact between the user and
the liquid and thereby cause faster or farther propulsion through
the liquid by the user"s swimming strokes.
MEANS TO CONTROL THE SUPPLY OF ENERGY RESPONSIVE TO A SENSED CONDITION:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device having means to regulate the supply of energy or
power used to operate the device or an element thereof, the operation
of the regulating means in turn being affected by a means which
detects a characteristic or a change in a characteristic of the
device or an element thereof or of the surrounding environment.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device having means to actuate a signalling means such as
a gauge, dial, meter, etc., which reports the status of a propulsion
unit.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein one propelling means is driven by interconnected
diverse power means which can power the propelling means selectively
or simultaneously.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein multiple engine power means of similar type
provide the motive force for a propelling means.
(1)
Note. Turbine sets which make up the power means for a propelling
means are considered single engines.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein a liquid under pressure drives an impeller
which rotates a drive shaft to supply the motive force to a propelling
means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 6. Device wherein the electrically powered motor is regulated
by a means operated by the foot of an occupant of the vessel.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein the motive force for a propelling means is
derived from a motor which reacts to the undulations on the water surface
or the motion imparted to the vessel by those undulations.
This subclass is indented under subclass 9. Device wherein the motor to drive the propelling means consists
of a weight which oscillates due to the undulation of the water
surface.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device comprising a watercraft structure provided with propelling
means and supporting a ground traversing vehicle thereon; the propelling
means being directly driven by a drive connection with the motive
means of the ground traversing vehicle.
SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE HAVING LAND AND WATER PROPULSION MEANS
(E.G., AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein a device which is in contact with
a supporting surface (a) is designed for carrying a passenger, or
a load over a distance (i.e., vehicle), and (b) has means for moving
it under its own power over the supporting surface which is both
on terra firma (i.e., land) and through a body of water.
Motor Vehicles, appropriate subclasses for propelling means for land vehicles,
especially
subclasses 116+ for ground effect vehicles usable over any supporting
surface.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.5. Subject matter wherein (a) the vehicle has a distinct means
for moving it under its own power on land and a distinct means for
moving it under its own power through a body of water, (b) the distinct
means for moving it on land and the distinct means for moving it
through the body of water being spaced apart from each other.
(1)
Note. The distinct means may be connected to a common axle,
such as a wheel and a set of paddles driven by a common axle, however,
the paddles may not contact the ground when the ground engaging
wheel propels the vehicle.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.51. Subject matter wherein either the means for moving (a)the
vehicle over land, or (b)through the water is shiftable to a storage
position from an in use position.
(1)
Note. To be proper for this and the indented subclasses the
means for imparting a motive force to the vehicle must be moveable
between a stowed and a use position, a wheel or pontoon which supports
the vehicle with respect to a surface, but is not directly driven
is not considered proper and will be found elsewhere.
Land Vehicles,
subclasses 43+ for a land vehicle having vertically adjustable
wheels, subclasses 414.1+ for trailers of the boat carrying
type, and subclasses 414.5+ for a trailer having a vertically
adjustable wheel.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.52. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
through the water is shiftable to a storage position from an in
use position.
Marine Propulsion,
subclasses 53+ , for means for effecting or facilitating movement
of a screw propulsion unit or a segment of the propulsion unit, and
91, for means to reposition a paddle wheel assembly.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.53. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
on land is also shiftable to a storage position from an in use position.
Land Vehicles,
subclasses 43+ for a land vehicle having vertically adjustable
wheels, subclasses 414.1+ for trailers of the boat carrying
type, and subclasses 414.5+, for a trailer having a vertically
adjustable wheel.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.51. Subject matter wherein the motive force for the means for
moving the vehicle under its own power is derived from the physical
effort exerted by an occupant of the vehicle and is transmitted
to the moving means by some intermediate means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.51. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
under its own power includes (a) an annular band made either of
a single piece of flexible material or of a plurality of individual treads
or sections movably connected together, (b) the annular band contacting
the land or the body of water and applying a force thereto.
Motor Vehicles, especially
subclasses 6.2+ for steering by driving of a motor propelled land
vehicle, subclass 6.7 for steering by driving of a motor propelled
land vehicle having an endless flexible track, and subclasses 9.1+,
for a motor propelled land vehicle having a flexible endless track
for propulsion.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.51. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
under its own power includes (a) a device which converts either
nonmechanical (e.g., electrical) or stored energy (e.g., fuels) into
mechanical energy (i.e., motor), and (b) wherein the mechanical
energy rotates a long generally cylindrical slender element having connected
to it a number of blades so inclined that upon rotation the blades
tend to follow a helical path through the water and thereby drive
the vehicle in a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the blades.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.57. Subject matter wherein the long generally cylindrical slender
element is rotated about its longitudinal axis by an annular band
made either of (a) a single piece of flexible material or (b) a
plurality of individual sections movably connected together.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.57. Subject matter wherein the long generally cylindrical slender
element is rotated about its longitudinal axis by (a) a toothed
wheel, cylinder or other machine element that meshes with (b) another
toothed wheel, cylinder or other machine element to transmit motion
or to change speed or direction.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.59. Subject matter wherein the toothed wheel, cylinder, or other
machine element has teeth cut into a conical surface located at
an angle to the rotational axis of the wheel, cylinder, or other machine
element that mesh with the another toothed wheel, cylinder, or machine
element.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.59. Subject matter wherein the toothed wheel, cylinder, or other
machine element has radially projecting teeth located parallel to
the rotational axis of the wheel, cylinder, or other machine element
that mesh with the another toothed wheel, cylinder, or machine element.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.5. Subject matter wherein the motive force for the means for
moving the vehicle under its own power is derived from the physical
effort exerted by an occupant of the vehicle and is transmitted
to the moving means by some intermediate means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.5. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
under its own power includes (a) an annular band made either of
a single piece of flexible material, or of a plurality of individual treads
or sections movably connected together and (b) the annular band
contacting the land or the body of water and applying a force thereto.
Motor Vehicles, especially
subclasses 6.2+ for steering by driving of a motor propelled land
vehicle, subclass 6.7 for steering by driving of a motor propelled
land vehicle having an endless flexible track, subclasses 9.1+ for
a motor propelled land vehicle having a flexible endless track for propulsion,
and subclasses 190+ for a motor propelled land vehicle
including a ski-like runner or member and a flexible endless track
for propulsion.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.63. Subject matter wherein the means for supplying motive power
to the annular band includes a cylindrical element having teeth
projecting radially from its circumference.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.5. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
under its own power includes blades which encircle a hub and form
a spiral along the length of the rotational axis of the hub (e.g.,
Archimedes screw).
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.5. Subject matter wherein the means for moving the vehicle
under its own power includes (a) either a solid disk, or a rigid
circular rim connected by a plurality of rods to a hub, (b) the solid
disk or rim designed to turn around an axle passed through the center
of the disk or rim, and (c) the disk or rim directly contacts the land
or the body of water.
Motor Vehicles, appropriate subclasses for a motor propelled, wheeled,
land vehicle, per se, and
subclasses 7.1+ for a special driving device therefor.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.66. Subject matter wherein the disk or rim is (1) spaced from,
(2) connected to, and (3) rotatable with another disk or rim by
a right circular cylindrical member extending along the axle.
(1)
Note. Many of the drums have reacting surfaces integral with
their cylindrical perimeter surfaces which enhance the transfer
of force from the propulsion means to the water.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.66. Subject matter wherein the propelling means includes a broad
fairly flat or moderately curved surface that is dipped into the
water and is integral with the rod which connects the hub and the
rim.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.66. Subject matter wherein the propelling means includes a broad
fairly flat or moderately curved surface which projects parallel
to the axle from a lateral extent of the disk or rim.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.66. Subject matter wherein the propelling means includes a blade
projecting from or forming part of a radial peripheral extent of
the disk or rim.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein the motive force for the vessel is produced
by a back and forth movement of the propelling means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 13. Device wherein the propelling means moves through the water
with a side-to-side or whipping motion, generally imitating the
motion of the tail of a fish.
This subclass is indented under subclass 13. Device wherein the propelling means comprises a structure
which undulates in the manner of a traveling wave.
This subclass is indented under subclass 13. Device wherein the propelling means supplies no motive force
on one portion of its back and forth movement.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17. Device wherein the propelling means is a fluid motor, the
return stroke normally being the nonpropelling cycle portion.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17. Device wherein a means is provided to shift the propelling
element from its working position to its nonworking position.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17. Device wherein a means is provided to invert the propelling
means in such a manner that the portion of the back and forth motion
which supplies no motive force and the portion of the back and forth
motion which supplies motive force can be interchanged.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein the motive force for the propelling means
is derived from the physical effort exerted by the occupant of the
vessel and transmitted to the propelling means by some intermediate
means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Device wherein the motive force of a propelling means is
obtained by a to-and-fro motion of the vessel imparted thereto by
the occupant of the vessel.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Device wherein the motive force is produced by hydraulic
pressure acting directly or indirectly on the surrounding water,
which pressure is produced by an operator powered hydraulic impelling
means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted to a propelling
means by means of a strandlike member moved alternately backward
and forward.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted to a propelling
means by means of a lever operated by either the hand or foot of
the occupant wherein the lever is moving within a guide means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted to a propelling
means by means of a revolving arm or lever.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted to a propelling
means by means of the rotation of multiple offset segments of a
revolving rod.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted from an actuator
to a propelling means through bendable rotating elongated means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted from an actuator
to a propelling means through a continuous band entrained about
wheellike guides.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted from the
rotary crank to the propelling means by means of interengaged toothed
members.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Device wherein the motive force is transmitted to a propelling
means by means of a bar that oscillates about a pivot to transmit
the force to a propelling means through an intermediate connecting
rod.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein the propulsion means is a means provided
to haul or pull a vessel in a canal or river or upon the sea or
other bodies of water.
This subclass is indented under subclass 33. Device wherein the propulsion means includes the use of
a strong strandlike member or a strandlike member is engaged by
a device on the vessel to pull the vessel through the water.
(1)
Note. The strandlike member may be either fixed or movable.
If movable, the vessel is provided with means for securing the
cable thereto, and if fixed, the vessel has traction means for hauling
the cable in and paying it out.
This subclass is indented under subclass 33. Device wherein the propulsion means comprises traction wheels
which are used to traverse the bed or bottom of the canal or a long
cylindrical piece of wood or metal attached to the vessel contacts
or digs into the bed or bottom of the canal.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein the propelling means is a fan or bladed member
mounted entirely above the waterline which reacts with the air to
produce the motive force.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Device wherein the motive force is produced by a stream
of fluid forcefully issuing from an outlet of the propulsion means
which reacts with the fluid surrounding the propelling means thereby
causing the vessel to move.
Power Plants,
subclasses 221+ for reaction propulsion devices wherein no more
structure of the vessel is claimed than is necessary to mount the
device.
Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing,
subclasses 127.1+ and 265.11+ for a reaction motor discharge
nozzle, per se, as defined and limited in (1) Note and (2) Note
under subclass 265.11.
This subclass is indented under subclass 38. Device wherein a portion of the fluid stream may be diverted
for a subsidiary use other than propulsion, e.g., firefighting.
This subclass is indented under subclass 40. Device wherein the means to guide the fluid stream is a
scoop mounted exteriorly of the hull and selectively movable to
intercept and redirect the flow of the jet.
This subclass is indented under subclass 40. Device wherein the means to guide the fluid stream into
different directions is a projecting discharge pipe which can be
rotated or pivoted.
This subclass is indented under subclass 40. Device wherein the means to guide the fluid stream into
different directions is a surface across which the fluid moves which
can be pivoted to deflect the fluid stream.
This subclass is indented under subclass 38. Device wherein a means is provided to inhibit the obstruction
of the fluid passageway by foreign material.
This subclass is indented under subclass 38. Device wherein the discharge pipe can have means to improve
the fluid flow or the flow passage has additional means to improve
flow.
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