B42F SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING (reading desks A47B19/00; book rests A47B23/00)
Description
B42F covers devices and methods for temporarily securing sheets of paper or similar materials together, along with associated filing and indexing systems. This includes mechanical fastening appliances such as clips, clamps, and temporary binding mechanisms that allow sheets to be assembled and disassembled without permanent alteration. The classification also encompasses file cards, card indexing systems, and organizational devices designed for information retrieval and document management, excluding permanent bookbinding methods covered under B42D.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass B42F recorded 4,174 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 457 in 2013 to 179 in 2023 (-61%), peaking at 502 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class B42 are SICPA HOLDING (1,317 applications), GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY (949 applications) and BUNDESDRUCKEREI (881 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
12 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B42F 1/00 Sheets temporarily attached together without perforating; Means therefor
- B42F 11/00 Filing appliances with separate intermediate holding means (B42F17/00 takes precedence; with adhesive strips for mounting papers or sheets B42D1/10)
- B42F 13/00 Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots (B42F17/00 takes precedence; indexing features B42F21/00)
- B42F 15/00 Suspended filing appliances (indexing features B42F21/00; hanging of books, newspapers or the like B42D17/00; )
- B42F 17/00 Card-filing arrangements, e.g. card indexes or catalogues or filing cabinets (indexing features B42F21/00; furniture features A47B, A47F)
- B42F 19/00 File cards (B42F21/00 takes precedence; punched cards for information retrieval, e.g. for manual use, G06K21/00)
- B42F 21/00 Indexing means; Indexing tabs or protectors therefor
- B42F 23/00 Filing appliances not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- B42F 3/00 Sheets temporarily attached together involving perforations; Means therefor; Sheet details therefor (staples, fasteners in general F16B)
- B42F 5/00 Sheets and objects temporarily attached together; Means therefor; Albums (bookbinding aspects of albums B42D1/08; advertising or display aspects G09)
- B42F 7/00 Filing appliances without fastening means (B42F17/00 takes precedence; suspension files B42F15/00; wallets, notecases, briefcases A45C, e.g. A45C1/00; furniture features A47B, A47F; envelopes B65D, e.g. B65D27/00)
- B42F 9/00 Filing appliances with devices clamping file edges; Covers with clamping backs (B42F13/00, B42F17/00 take precedence)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B42, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SICPA HOLDING CH 1,317
- GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY DE 949
- BUNDESDRUCKEREI DE 881
- DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL GB 870
- TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY JP 455
- G&D (GIESECKE & DEVRIENT) DE 421
- CCL SECURE AU 343
- OVD KINEGRAM CH 308
- OBERTHUR FIDUCIAIRE FR 251
- CRANE COMPANY US 204