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CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
B64B

LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT

Description

B64B covers design, construction, and operational systems of lighter-than-air aircraft, including balloons, airships, and dirigibles. This classification encompasses structural components such as envelopes, gas cells, ballonets, and mooring systems, as well as propulsion, control, and stability mechanisms specific to aerostatic lift principles. It also includes auxiliary equipment for inflation, deflation, and ballast management. Adjacent classifications B64C and B64D address heavier-than-air aircraft and general aircraft equipment respectively.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass B64B recorded 3,706 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 207 in 2013 to 252 in 2023 (+22%), peaking at 478 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class B64 are BOEING COMPANY (9,861 applications), AIRBUS OPERATIONS (3,766 applications) and AIRBUS OPERATIONS (3,112 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

2 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • B64B 2201/00 Hybrid airships, i.e. airships where lift is generated aerodynamically and statically

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B64, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. BOEING COMPANY US 9,861
  2. AIRBUS OPERATIONS DE 3,766
  3. AIRBUS OPERATIONS FR 3,112
  4. SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY COMPANY CN 2,840
  5. HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND US 2,753
  6. GOODRICH CORPORATION US 2,427
  7. AIRBUS OPERATIONS GB 2,356
  8. BOEING COMPANY 2,057
  9. SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES FR 1,815
  10. AIRBUS OPERATIONS 1,723