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CLASS 222,	DISPENSING
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SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

This is the generic class for processes and apparatus for dispensing material, and takes all such subject matter that must be classified on such basis and not provided for in other main classes.

This class is not limited as to the character of the materials dispensed which may be in any physical state, i.e., it may be in a gas, vapor, liquid, viscous, paste-like or solid state and if in a self sustaining state may have any form or shape.

SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS

Dispensers are found in all classes dealing with the manufacture, treatment or handling of fluent materials, and particularly in classes having feeding or material handling subclasses. In general, the assignment of patents to the manufacturing and material treating classes has been on the basis of the non-dispensing operation, when the means or steps for performing the nondispensing operation are claimed. When the means or steps for performing the nondispensing operation are not claimed, assignment has been to the class taking the disclosed operation when material feeding subclasses occur in such art class and are designated and defined to receive such patents. Classes not having special subclasses of this type will not take devices falling in the scope of Class 222, when not claimed in combination with, or especially adapted for the machines or work of the art class, unless such class has a large body of art on dispensing, per se.

Patents having claims to a dispenser classifiable in this class, and also claims to a method of, or apparatus for, making such dispenser, are classified in this class, in the subclass appropriate to the dispenser claimed and cross-referenced to the appropriate manufacturing class.

GAS OR VAPOR DISPENSERS:

Dispensing of material in a gas or vapor state is provided for in subclasses 3+. These subclasses were formed on the basis of apparatus disclosed solely for dispensing a gas or vapor as the proximate purpose of the apparatus and have, in subclass 4, the combination of such dispensing means with means to additionally dispense materials other than gases or vapors.

Many devices in this class use gas, vapor, or liquid materials to contact other materials to cause dispensing of such other materials, or to operate motors or followers to cause dispensing of other materials, and some devices in this class utilize gas or vapor to agitate another material while the latter is being dispensed. Such combinations are not in subclasses 3+, but are in other following subclasses appropriate to the invention claimed. Since most of these devices involve the movement of gases or vapors from one place to another in the organization, significant gas dispensing apparatus is often disclosed and claimed as a part of the liquid or solid dispensing combination. Where the combination is claimed the gas dispensing subcombination is cross-referenced to subclasses 3+. It is classified as an original in subclasses 3+ when the gas or vapor dispensing subcombination only is claimed.

Most dispensers have vents for the chambers from which materials are dispensed, either to permit escape of gas or vapor as the chamber fills or to admit the same as the chamber empties. Vents were not classified in this class as dispensers.

For the various combinations within the class having a vent, or which utilize a gas, vapor, or liquid in various combinations as above set forth, see the notes to subclass 3.

For gas or vapor dispensers, per se, and for various combinations having such subject matter as a part thereof provided for in other classes see the Search Class notes in References to Other Classes, below, referencing this section.

ARTICLE DISPENSING:

Article dispensers are classified in Class 221, Article Dispensing and the definitions and Notes to that class should be consulted for the statements of the lines of that class with this class and with other related article dispensing and feeding classes, including strip feeding.

Dispensers capable of use with either articles or fluent material of granular, plastic or liquid nature, and claimed generically are classified in Class 222, that class being generic to the concept of the two classes (221 and 222).

VOLUME OR RATE OF FLOW METERS, RECORDERS, REGISTERS

This class has volume or rate of flow meters combined with means for predetermining the total quantity dispensed in subclasses 14+; volume or rate of flow meters combined with signals, indicators, registers or recorders specialized for use with repeated dispensing operations, as registers with zero-setting or price and volume indicating combinations in subclasses 23+; volume or rate of flow meters combined with structure (in addition to that necessary for an operative volume or rate of flow meter) limited to dispensing in subclasses 52-73.

The dispensing features, in addition to meter structure, which, in general, determine classification in Class 222, are (1) meters having predetermined or preset cut-offs, (2) meters of the expansible chamber type having ingress or egress valves which are manually thrown, (3) meters having manual flow termination, (4) meters combined with storage tank features where the stored material is dispensed through the meter, (5) meters with nozzles, spouts, or equivalent dispensing outlets, and (6) meters combined with a pump significantly claimed.

For related subject matter, see References to Other Classes below, that reference this section.

DRIP LEAKAGE OR WASTE CATCHERS

Devices auxiliary to dispensing organizations for catching drip or waste material are in this class, including receivers or supports for receivers to be placed to collect material overflowing or not received by the intended receiver and also other material escaping from the desired discharge path.

For such devices, see subclasses 108+, and for related art see References to Other Classes, referencing this section.

COMBINATIONS OF DISPENSER AND INDEPENDENT RECEIVER

Dispensers under the class definition claimed in combination with either (1) a container or other receiver which is independent of the dispenser organization, i.e., such receiver not being a part of the means necessary to the dispensing operation, or (2) means which perform their function only in connection with such independent receiver.

The combination defined above is common to all apparatus for performing any character of operation on material, from those combinations in which the independent receiver is a mere receptacle to which the dispenser delivers material for filling purposes, to those combinations in which the receiver is a complicated manufacturing or treating apparatus and the dispenser is a feeding device to deliver material to such manufacturing or treating apparatus for operation thereon. Therefore, the great bulk of the patents granted on such combinations will be found in other classes classified on the basis of particular adaptation to deliver to receivers of particular kinds, or on the basis of the particular receiver (including manufacturing or treating apparatus) claimed.

Where the receiver is defined in such broad terms as to fail as a basis of classification (i.e., in broad terms, cover receivers of two or more types separately classified), it is classified in this class, or other classification appropriate to the dispenser claimed.

Since the above subject matter occurs primarily in other classes, classification is in this class only when no other class provides for such subject matter. For notes on gas dispensing, see GAS OR VAPOR DISPENSERS above. The Search Class notes below that reference this section do not attempt to be exhaustive, specifying only those classes that are known to have apparatus closely resembling the apparatus in this class.

Relative to the cleaning of dispensers: Classes 15 and 134 take cleaning devices of the types provided for in those classes, per se, or in combination with dispensers or fluid flow systems which are so broadly recited as to appear to constitute parts of the cleaning means rather than the articles to be cleaned. Specific dispenser or fluent material handling structures, including such details as to give a basis for classification in Class 222 or in Class 137, combined with means for cleaning such dispensing or handling structures are classified in Class 222, in subclasses 148+, or in Class 137, in subclasses 237+. (Combinations of Dispenser and Independent Receiver)

Some liquid cleaning subcombinations involve no more than dispensing a cleaning fluid to the article to be cleaned (as a receiver). Class 137 and Class 222 take such devices as fluent material handling or dispensing inventions, but where a cleaning feature (as dissolving of a cleansing material, surging of the cleaning fluid, etc.) is present, classification is in Class 134, in appropriate subclass subclasses thereof. Also see the Search Class note below to Class 15 referencing this section.

PUMPS

This class has pumps in various combinations with dispensing features. Dispensing features combined with pumps are:

A. Selectively preset volume responsive cutoff means to control the quantity discharged (e.g., those which can be preset to operate through a desired number of cycles), see subclasses 14+.

B. Totalizing or other registering means, or recording means, the combination being specialized for repeated operations (as those provided with zero-setting means or combined price and volume devices) see subclasses 23+.

C. Position or extent of motion indicators, when other dispensing features are claimed (e.g., as set forth in (d), (e), and (f) see subclasses 41+.

D. Measuring means in addition to the pump, see subclasses 23+ and 71+.

E. The combination between a pump and a significantly claimed container which forms the source of supply for the pump. A supply container is considered to be significantly claimed when any one or any combination of the following are recited: (1) the structural features of the container; (2) the mounting of the pump on a container closure, (3) particular relationships between the pump or its controls and the container, see appropriate subclasses such as 252+ and 372+.

F. The provision of means in addition to pump structure and its operator to prevent the start of intake before the pump has reached the end of its discharge operation, see for example, subclass 34.

G. Discharge outlet (e.g., nozzle) features significantly claimed, see for example, subclasses 74, 320, 322, 330, 378, and 379.

For the most part, the notes on dispensers and combinations of dispensers with other things, in which a pump is part of the dispenser organization, are placed in Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, in this Class Definiton.

For pump structure, and for means to operate and control the same, including means to vary the pump capacity both with or without an indicator see the Search Class notes below in References to Other Classes. In particular, see Classes 137, 366, 406, 417, and 418.

DISCHARGE ASSISTANTS: (E.G., IMPELLERS, PUMPS, CONVEYORS, MOVABLE TRAP CHAMBERS, ETC.)

Devices combined with containers, or specially adapted for use with containers, and comprising means acting in addition to, or against, gravity for either removing material from a container, or which move, or tend to cause material to move, to or through a container outlet, have been herein designated generically "discharge assistants."

The discharge assistants as above comprise any means in either fluid or solid form, which moves or tends to urge material to move toward a discharge outlet or into or out of a trap chamber. Included are means to apply pressure fluids directly to the material to cause material motion, jarring, or vibrating means, pumps, pulsators, impellers, pushers, ejectors, vanes, rolls, screws, mechanical and fluid current conveyors of all kinds, followers (including followers moved only be atmospheric pressure), agitators functioning primarily to cause discharge, and devices for breaking material bridges or arches.

Movable trap chambers are devices which, when moved to one position, receive material from a supply and, when moved to another position, discharge the trapped material. These may act against or with gravity, sometimes offering no assistance to discharge except the physical separation of a portion of the material, and its confinement and control during downward movement, but they were found so closely related to nongravity discharge assistants as to cause it to be advisable to associate the two in the classification (e.g., many movable trap chambers were, in addition, mechanical conveyors).

The above character subject matter occur in numerous subclasses throughout the class, attention being particularly called to subclasses 92+ and 193 through 415, in which subclasses the discharge assistant constitutes the primary basis of classification.

Since, in most classes, dispensers and combinations thereof with other things are not separated on the basis of whether or not they have discharge assistants, notes on this type are not separately set out, and the notes to Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Pumps, should be consulted.

STATIONARY TRAPS:

Stationary material trapping devices auxiliary to a bulk supply are included in the class more particularly as follows: (1) containers having means for separating from the contained material a quantity less than the whole and maintaining the same in a position for access thereto by some removing agency; these may be barometric in type, or a mere wall or well to reduce the area of material exposed in the main container (e.g., dispensing inkwells); (2) containers having receptacles or funnels for receiving or guiding the container contents, which are carried by, or form part of, the container and must be separated therefrom before use; (3) containers having detachable auxiliary chambers which receive part of the container contents while in place on the container, but which must be separated for discharge; (4) containers having auxiliary chambers which receive part of the container contents and discharge the same through tilting of the entire organization and which are provided with passages and baffles arranged to prevent additional material from entering the trap while the container is tilted; (5) containers having serial alternately opened valves so related as to perform a measuring function, the so-called predetermined-bulk stationary trap, and subcombinations disclosed as continuously connected to a source of supply.

These devices are related to the movable trap chambers and other discharge assistants treated inthe section "Discharge Assistants" above.

Attention is particularly called to subclasses 424.5 through 457, and other subclasses, specified in the notes thereto, for this type of subject matter.

PATTERN OR SIFTER FORM OUTLET AND WITH MATERIAL SEPARATOR:

This class includes the combination of a dispenser with means to sift, strain, or filter the material dispensed as an incident to the dispensing operation (see subclasses 189.01, 189.02+ and 189.06+), and also dispensers having a pattern or sifter form of outlet (see subclasses 480, 564 and 565, and the notes thereto). Relative to sifters, strainers, or filters, combined with a dispenser, this class has this combination when the separating device is incidental to the dispenser, while the appropriate separating class has the separating means with means to deliver material thereto or therefrom. Relative to pattern or sifter forms of outlet, this class has the same where there is no structure specialized to, or intent of, separating, the foraminous nature of the outlet being for the purpose of holding back the bulk of the material while permitting the escape of limited quantities, or assisting to distribute the material delivered.

For related art, see the section "Hand Manipulable Shakers" below, and the Search Class notes referencing that section.

HAND MANIPULABLE SHAKERS:

Hand manipulable shaker type dispensers are those which are adapted to dispense nonfree flowing granular material when it is kept in motion within the container, which is held in the hand and moved to and fro to shift the material. In these dispensers, the outlet is restricted to such an extent that bridging of the material occurs immediately after the material is initially brought into contact with the outlet, usually as a result of tilting the container as for gravity flow. Dispensing occurs only as a result of repeated contacts or impacts of the bulk of the material against the outlet area, as in the use of the ordinary condiment holder or salt shaker. If a discharge assistant or agitator is present, it is inertia operated only, having no actuator connected thereto.

Special provision for this subject matter is made in this class under the title Hand Manipulable Shaker Type in the following instances; subclasses 142.1+, for those having plural sources of supply, e.g., combined salt and pepper shakers; 196.1+, for those having an inertia operated movable member which jars or has an impact effect, although it may also serve as a closure or discharge controller or as a discharge assistant; 457.5 for those having a generally U-shaped path through which material is shaken; and 480, for those having multiple diverse type outlet openings. Hand manipulable shakers having manually operated discharge assistants having been classified in the dispenser subclass appropriate to the type.

Where the outlet is of pattern form, distribution of the dispensed material is also effected. For pattern or sifter type dispensing outlets, see the section on "Pattern Or Sifter Form Outlet And With Material Separator" above, and the search notes below referencing that section.

For hand manipulable devices having material agitating or comminuting features see the References to Other Classes below, that reference this section.

DIPPING AND SAMPLING:

This class has dipping type dispensers and dispensers related to samplers, see subclasses 576+ and 356+ and the notes to other subclasses in Class 222 for such art. For related art in other classes, see the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

SHAPING MATERIAL BY EXTRUSION:

Where the outlet of a dispenser has a particular shape, so that the operation of the dispenser causes a plastic material to be delivered having a desired shape, classification is in the class appropriate to the plastic shaping involved.

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

FURNACE CHARGING AND DISCHARGING:

This class has dispensers, per se, for fuel and other materials which are intended for delivery to furnaces. Where features are claimed that specialize the apparatus to charging or discharging a furnace, classification is in some other class. See References to Other Classes, below, that references this section.

SANDING OR ABRADING

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

See also Pattern or Sifter Form Outlet and With Material Separator and Throwers, Sprayers, Scatterers, and Dusters, and the Search Class references thereto.

THROWERS, SPRAYERS, SCATTERERS, AND DUSTERS.

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

See also Pattern or Sifter Form Outlet and With Material Separator and Sanding or Abrading, and the Search Class notes thereto.

VEHICLE LOADING AND UNLOADING:

This class has some vehicular dispensers, see subclasses 176+, but has no other characters of vehicle loading and unloading.

PUNCTURING INJECTORS AND OTHER NOZZLES, SPOUTS, AND POURING DEVICES:

The class includes container structures in combination with one or more dispensing outlet structures; with or without other openings (as filling or vent openings), or dispensing outlet structures, per se, and such structures formed to cut or punch other things, or combined with a cutter or punch for forming openings in the receiver of the material dispensed.

Dispensing outlet structures comprise the following features or any combination therebetween: (1) material guide means (as nozzles, spouts, pouring lips, et cetera), i.e., any means specialized to guiding the material being discharged and located either on the interior or exterior of the container or both. Such structure must be in addition to mere container openings with or without surrounding flanges or necks to receive closures. Such guide means may be stationary relative to the container or movably related thereto; (2) nonguiding type outlets with flow controllers (e.g., valves).

Additional openings for nondispensing purposes, such as filling openings and vents, may be included, and also closures (as distinguished from flow controllers) for any opening, means for connecting the various elements together or means for mounting or operating movable parts. Cutter or punch combinations are in subclasses 80+.

Patents claiming only the container in combination with the features above outlined (excepting cutter or punch features) are in this class starting with subclass 476 and including all following subclasses. Such features in combination with other features are in the preceding subclasses, for example, the combination with a casing or support for the dispenser is in subclasses 173+, with discharge assistant in subclasses 251+, with container handle or handgrip in subclasses 465+.

Containers in combination with such features are found in substantially all classes which involve handling of material in bulk, and in substantially all classes which involve container structure, classified on special bases and features in addition to the dispensing features. For such devices for purposes other than dispensing, and for such devices that are for dispensing, but are specialized to particular uses, see below, Restricters, Pipe and Tubular Conduit Structures, and Valves and Valve Actuation, for restricters and valves.

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

CONTAINER OR RECEPTACLE STRUCTURE

This class does not have receptacle or container structure unless combined with dispensing features. Collapsibility, per se, is considered to be a dispensing feature, relative to structures disclosed as dispensing containers. For receptacles, containers and tubular conduit structures, not involving dispensing features:

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

CLOSURES

Mere closure structures for containers and other devices having openings, not claimed in combination with a nozzle, spout, pouring lip, discharge assistant, or other dispensing feature, and also closures for spouts where no features of spout structure are claimed other than those necessary for the mounting and operation of the closure, are not in Class 222, but in other appropriate classes.

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

RESTRICTERS, PIPE AND TUBULAR CONDUIT STRUCTURES

This class has neither flow restrictors except those in the interior of dispenser supply containers, provided for in subclasses 547 and 564, nor pipe and tubular conduit structures, per se. For such subject matter:

See the search notes in References to Other Classes, below, that reference this section.

VALVES AND VALVE ACTUATION:

This class has both single and plural valves and their actuating means (1) when claimed in combination with a dispenser, (2) when arranged to control inlet from a bulk supply into a trap chamber and discharge of the trapped material from such chamber, and (3) when claimed in combination with receptacle structure so as to control and regulate discharge of the container contents.

For valves and valve actuating means not involving such combinations, see the search notes in References to Other Classes, below.

SECTION III - REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: