Special receptacle or package

SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

Class 206 is the residual locus for: (a) a container configured to hold a particular article or set of articles or material; (b) a mercantile unit - i.e., means in or by which goods (article or material) are displayed, protected, packaged or arranged in a particular manner, to facilitate sale, transportation in commerce, use or storage or (c) a packet, compact or case carried on the person of a user.

(1) Note. Containers of this class type must function, by disclosure, to hold contents which in turn are to be eventually removed from the container.

(2) Note. Generally, specific container (or retainer) structure as defined above, in combination with composition or stock material characteristics of said structure is considered classifiable in Class 206. However, mere "nominal" inclusion of a container (or retainer) in such combination is not considered "specific". For example: "A gas bag of synthetic polyester textile fiber mesh laminated between polyester films," is considered properly classified elsewhere. Similarly, "An acid tank with walls made of leak stopping composition x, y, z" and "A match safe with walls made of fireproof material x, y, z," are considered subject matter for the appropriate composition class. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class and References to Other Classes, below.

(3) Note. Included here is a bale, bundle, roll, pile, stack or nest of articles (or material) which arrangement must be destroyed for use of an individual component or its contents-e.g., a roll of severably connected fasteners, an article or receptacle configured to nest or stack with another article or receptacle, or the knockdown interfitted arrangement of a device or article.

(4) Note. Generally, unless provided for in some other class as partially indicated under "SEARCH CLASS" below, the combination of an article (or material) and its containment means is to be found in this (206) class. However, the claimed disclosure of content is ordinarily not a basis for intra class distinctions among the subclasses therein.

(5) Note. Included here is a package for (or with) a plurality of articles or material, or an arrangement of articles or material, which articles or materials are to be used together (successively or cooperatively) in any operation or to make a definite solution, mixture, composition or assemblage.

(6) Note. Included here is a container, package or packing element under the class definition having (a) means for displaying an article or material, (b) indicia, a sign, panel or simulation means or (c) an indicator relative to the container or contents.

(7) Note. Included here is a container wherein the content (article or material) included, or to be included therein, bears some relationship to the container other than mere containment.

(8) Note. Placement of patents within class schedule. Patents issued since 1940 have been classified, both for original and cross reference placement, in accord with the claimed disclosure. However, patents issued prior to 1940 have generally been evaluated as to total disclosure, and thus placement of these older patents does not necessarily indicate lines of classification.

(9) Note. The subclass schedule and definitions, as revised and published in late 1973, represent an initial effort toward a realignment of the several receptacle classes-both with respect to each other and to other related classes. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, below, for a further discussion of this topic.