Central Pocket Loop

Within the whorl group, the subclassification type central pocket

loop is used for extension purposes only. In general classification

it is designated by the letter W. Figures 213 to 236 are central

pocket loops.



The central pocket loop type of whorl has two deltas and at least one

ridge making a complete circuit, which may be spiral, oval, circular,

or any variant of a circle. An imaginary line drawn bet een the two

deltas must not touch or cross any of the recurving ridges within the

inner pattern area. A recurving ridge, however, which has an appendage

connected with it in the line of flow and on the delta side cannot be

construed as a circuit. An appendage connected at that point is

considered to spoil the recurve on that side.



In lieu of a recurve in front of the delta in the inner pattern area,

an obstruction at right angles to the line of flow will suffice.



It is necessary that the inner line of flow be fixed artificially.

The inner line of flow is determined by drawing an imaginary line

between the inner delta and the center of the innermost recurve or

looping ridge.



In the central pocket loop, one or more of the simple recurves of the

plain loop type usually recurve a second time to form a pocket within

the loop. The second recurve, however, need not be a continuation

of--or even connected with--the first. It may be an independent ridge.



If no second recurve is present, an obstruction at right angles to the

inner line of flow is acceptable in lieu of it. An obstruction may be

either curved or straight. A dot, of course, may not be considered an

obstruction.



The definition does not require a recurve to cross the line of flow

at right angles. The angle test needs to be applied to obstructions

only.



The recurve or obstruction of the central pocket loop, as that of the

plain whorl, must be free of any appendage connected to it at the

point crossed by the line of flow and on the delta side. An appendage

at that point is considered to spoil the recurve or obstruction.

















Figures 237 and 238 are also central pocket loops despite the

appendages connected to the recurves, because they are not connected

at the point crossed by the line of flow.



Figure 239, although possessing a recurve, is classified as a loop

because the second delta is located on the only recurving ridge.















Figures 240 to 244, although possessing one delta and a delta

formation, are classified as loops because the obstructions do not

cross the line of flow at right angles.













Figures 245 to 254 have two deltas and one or more recurves, but they

are classified as loops because each recurve is spoiled by an

appendage connected to it at the point crossed by the line of flow.