CPC Definition - Subclass B27K

Last Updated Version: 2019.05
PROCESSES, APPARATUS OR SELECTION OF SUBSTANCES FOR IMPREGNATING, STAINING, DYEING, BLEACHING OF WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIALS, OR TREATING OF WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIALS WITH PERMEANT LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; coating wood or similar material B44D); CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL TREATMENT OF CORK, CANE, REED, STRAW OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
Definition statement

This place covers:

Methods and apparatus for the following treatments of wood:

  • Dampening;
  • Impregnating;
  • Staining;
  • Dyeing;
  • Bleaching;
  • Softening;
  • Hardening; and
  • other methods and apparatus for treating of wood with permeant liquids, unless provided for in other subclasses.

Methods and apparatus for bleaching or impregnating wood in combination with drying;

Methods and apparatus for chemical or physical treatment of cork;

Methods and apparatus for chemical or physical treatment of cane, reed, straw, bamboo or similar fibrous material of plant origin;

Selection (i.e. use) of chemical substances for the treatments covered by this subclass, unless provided for in other subclasses.

Relationships with other classification places

This subclass covers the selection of chemical substances, i.e. the use thereof, for the treatments covered by the subclass. Substances or compositions per-se are not covered by this subclass.

The structure or composition of the chemical substances selected is covered by pure chemistry classes C01, C07, or C08. Special activities or special properties of the chemical substances selected are covered in places for these activities or properties, for example in A01N (biocides), A62D 1/00 (fire extinguishing compositions), C09B (dyes), C09D (stains) or C09K (anti-oxidant compositions or fireproofing materials).

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Biocidal compositions

A01N

Fire-extinguishing compositions

A62D 1/00

Coating wood

B05D 7/06

Planing, drilling, milling, or turning wood

B27C

Mechanical working of veneer or plywood

B27D

Applying adhesives or glue to surfaces of wood to be joined

B27G 11/00

Bending wood

B27H 1/00

Mechanical working of cane, cork, or of tree or plant material not otherwise provided for

B27J

Debarking, splitting wood, manufacture of veneer, wooden sticks, wood shavings, chips, powder, or the like

B27L

Compressing, punching out, burning or charring wood

B27M 1/00

Manufacture or reconditioning of specific semi-finished or finished wood articles

B27M 3/00

Manufacture of articles made by dry processes from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material; after-treatment of these articles

B27N

Impregnation of stoppers for bottles, jars, or similar containers

B67B 1/03

Impregnation of matches

C06F

Water repellent compositions of oils, fats or waxes or of derivatives thereof

C08L 91/00

Woodstains

C09D 15/00

Drying-oils, siccatives

C09F

Fireproofing materials

C09K 21/00

Paper-pulp impregnation

D21H

Impregnation and after-treatment of fibreboard manufactured by wet processes

D21J

Protection of building elements, e.g. against pests or fire

E04B 1/62

Drying solid materials

F26B

Treatment of materials for manufacturing musical instruments

G10D

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Apparatus for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces

B05C

Multilayer materials (essentially comprising wood B32B 21/00; impregnation, colouring B32B 38/00)

B32B

Artistic painting or surface treatment

B44D

Compositions inhibiting chemical change, e.g. of antioxidants

C09K 15/00

Building materials, also made of wood

E04C 2/00

Roof coverings, also made of wood

E04D

Flooring made of wood

E04F 15/04

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Dampening

Treating wood for increasing its water content (e.g. by steaming)

Dyeing

Treating a material with a soluble colouring substance that has an affinity to the material to which it is applied (as opposed to colouring with a pigment, which is usually insoluble)

Impregnation

Incorporation of a substance into the pores of a material by absorption, adsorption or penetration

OSB

Oriented strand board

Staining

Treating a surface with a paint that is formulated to transport the pigment into the pores of the surface, rather than creating a film on top of the surface

Thermal treatment

Treatment of wood at temperatures well over 100°C allowing for the modification of its chemical structure

Wood

Natural whole wood, or wood-based products other than those made from fibres or particles, for example plywood or laminated veneer lumber

Damping wood
Definition statement

This place covers:

Methods and apparatus for increasing the water content of the wood. The main purpose of such treatments is to prevent cracking of wood by overdrying.

Relationships with other classification places

Steam drying wood is covered by F26B.

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Dampening or damping

Humidifying, moistening

Impregnating wood, {e.g. impregnation pretreatment, for example puncturing; Wood impregnation aids not directly involved in the impregnation process} (dyeing, staining B27K 5/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Methods and apparatus for impregnating wood and for pre- and after-treatments related to wood impregnation.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Biocides, Pest repellants

A01N

Fire-extinguishing compositions

A62D 1/00

Coating wood

B05D 7/06

Manufacture of articles made by dry processes from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material; after-treatment of these articles

B27N

Impregnation of stoppers for bottles, jars, or similar containers

B67B 1/03

Impregnation of matches

C06F

Water repellent compositions of oils, fats or waxes or of derivatives thereof

C08L 91/00

Woodstains

C09D 15/00

Drying-oils

C09F 5/00

Siccatives

C09F 9/00

Fireproofing materials

C09K 21/00

Paper-pulp impregnation

D21H

Impregnation and after-treatment of fibreboard manufactured by wet processes

D21J

Protection of building elements, e.g. against pests or fire

E04B 1/62

Treatment of materials for manufacturing musical instruments

G10D

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Active component

A component of an impregnation mixture which is essential for the purpose of the impregnation. Solvents, surfactants, thickeners, and the like are normally not falling within this definition

{employing compositions comprising microorganisms}
Relationships with other classification places

Compositions employing microorganisms are covered by C12N. Processes using microorganisms in general are covered by C12R, apparatus thereof by C12M, measuring and testing by C12Q.

{employing compositions comprising microparticles}
Relationships with other classification places

Biocidal compositions characterised by their form are covered by A01N 25/00.

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Microparticles

Particles with diameters between 0.1-100 microns

{employing compositions comprising nanoparticles}
Relationships with other classification places

Biocidal compositions characterised by their form are covered by A01N 25/00.

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Nanoparticles

particles with diameters between 1-100 nm

{Pore opening (B27K 3/0214 takes precedence)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Pre-treatments aimed to open the wood pores, excepting drying.

{using melt impregnation}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes employing melted solids.

{using staples or nails}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes employing staples or nails made of materials with biocidal properties.

{Vapour phase impregnation}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes employing biocides in vapour phase.

{for improving fixation (B27K 3/0285 takes precedence)}
Special rules of classification

Polymer impregnation for improving the fixation of an impregnation agent should be not classified here, but only in B27K 3/15 and/or its subgroups.

{along the fibers, i.e. longitudinal impregnation}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes employing a pressure gradient along the wood fibres.

Bandage methods
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes employing a bandage for storing and releasing the impregnation agent.

Impregnating involving polymerisation {including use of polymer-containing impregnating agents (macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials C08H; compositions of lignin-containing materials C08L 97/02)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes involving the use of polymerized or polycondensed substances.

Relationships with other classification places

Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials are covered by C08H. Compositions of lignocellulosic containing materials are covered by C08L 97/02.

Special rules of classification

The documents of this head group are classified additionally in C08L 101/16 and C08K for information regarding the chemical nature of the polymer composition employed in impregnation.

{Without in-situ polymerisation, condensation, or cross-linking reactions}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes involving substances polymerized or polycondensed before impregnation.

Special rules of classification

The documents of this subgroup are classified additionally in C08L 101/16 and C08K for information regarding the chemical nature of the polymer composition employed in impregnation.

{Combined with grafting onto wood fibres}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes involving the use of polymerized or polycondensed substances which react with the chemical structure of wood.

Special rules of classification

The documents of this subgroup are classified additionally in C08L 101/16 and C08K for information regarding the chemical nature of the polymer composition employed in impregnation.

Inorganic impregnating agents
Relationships with other classification places

Inorganic biocidal compositions are covered by A01N.

Special rules of classification

This head group covers impregnation processes involving the use of inorganic substances either not covered by the subgroups B27K 3/163 - B27K 3/32, or when their chemical nature is not especially relevant.

This head group and its subgroups B27K 3/163 - B27K 3/30 refer only to the active components of the impregnation mixtures.

Mixtures of different inorganic impregnating agents
Special rules of classification

This subgroup covers impregnation processes characterized by the presence of a synergistic effect caused by at least two active inorganic components. The active inorganic components should be classified in their specific subgroups B27K 3/163 - B27K 3/30, too.

Organic impregnating agents {(polymers B27K 3/15)}
Relationships with other classification places

Organic biocidal compositions are covered by A01N.

Special rules of classification

This head group covers impregnation processes involving the use of organic substances either not covered by the subgroups B27K 3/343 - B27K 3/48, or when their chemical nature is not especially relevant.

This head group and its subgroups B27K 3/343 - B27K 3/48 refer only to the active components of the impregnation mixtures.

{Grafting onto wood fibres (B27K 3/156 takes precedence; macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials C08H)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Impregnation processes involving the use of organic substances which react with the chemical structure of wood.

Mixtures of different organic impregnating agents
Special rules of classification

This subgroup covers impregnation processes characterized by the presence of a synergistic effect caused by at least two active organic components. The active organic components should be classified in their specific subgroups B27K 3/343 - B27K 3/48, too.

Impregnating agents containing mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds
Special rules of classification

This subgroup covers impregnation processes characterized by the presence of a synergistic effect caused by at least one inorganic and at least one organic component. The active components should be classified in their specific subgroups B27K 3/163 - B27K 3/30 and B27K 3/343 - B27K 3/48, respectively, too.

Treating of wood not provided for in groups B27K 1/00, B27K 3/00
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Coating wood

B05D 7/06

Planing, drilling, milling, or turning wood

B27C

Mechanical working of veneer or plywood

B27D

Applying adhesives or glue to surfaces of wood to be joined

B27G 11/00

Bending wood

B27H 1/00

Mechanical working of cane, cork, or of tree or plant material not otherwise provided for

B27J

Debarking, splitting wood, manufacture of veneer, wooden sticks, wood shavings, chips, powder, or the like

B27L

Compressing, punching out, burning or charring wood

B27M 1/00

Manufacture or reconditioning of specific semi-finished or finished wood articles

B27M 3/00

Manufacture of articles made by dry processes from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material; after-treatment of these articles

B27N

Woodstains

C09D 15/00

Drying solid materials

F26B

Treatment of materials for manufacturing musical instruments

G10D

Combined bleaching or impregnating and drying of wood
Special rules of classification

Pre-drying before impregnation is covered by B27K 3/0214. The polymerizing, condensation, or cross-linking of the impregnating compositions comprising monomers or polymers is normally not covered by this group.

Softening or hardening of wood
Special rules of classification

Processes inherently leading to softening or hardening, like dampening, polymer impregnation, or thermal treatment are classified here only in connection with a special effect.

Chemical or physical treatment of cork (mechanical working of cork B27J 5/00)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Mechanical working of cane, cork, or of tree or plant material not otherwise provided for

B27J

Impregnation of stoppers for bottles, jars, or similar containers

B67B 1/03

Drying solid materials

F26B

Special rules of classification

Documents of this head group may be classified in B27K 1/00-B27K 5/06 for additional information.

Chemical or physical treatment of reed, straw, or similar material (mechanical working of cane or the like B27J 1/00)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Mechanical working of cane, cork, or of tree or plant material not otherwise provided for

B27J

Protection of building elements, e.g. against pests or fire

E04B 1/62

Drying solid materials

F26B

Special rules of classification

Documents of this head group may be classified in B27K 1/00-B27K 5/06 for additional information.