VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; VEHICLES CAPABLE OF TRAVELLING IN OR ON DIFFERENT MEDIA, e.g. AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES (air-cushion vehicles B60V)

Description

B60F covers dual-mode and multi-terrain vehicles engineered to operate across fundamentally different transportation environments. This includes rail-road vehicles (capable of running on both railway tracks and road surfaces), amphibious vehicles (designed for land and water travel), and other vehicles that traverse distinct media such as snow, swamps, or air-cushion surfaces. The classification encompasses structural modifications, conversion mechanisms, and control systems necessary to enable safe and functional operation in these diverse conditions. Excluded are single-purpose vehicles and those featuring only minor adaptations; specialized features for specific terrains are classified in their respective vehicle categories.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass B60F recorded 5,678 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 240 in 2013 to 602 in 2023 (+151%), peaking at 671 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B60 are HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (31,729 applications), FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (29,270 applications) and KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (23,892 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings