B66 HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
Description
B66 encompasses mechanical systems and devices for raising, lowering, or moving loads vertically or in combination with horizontal displacement. This class covers hoists, lifts, elevators, cranes, winches, tackle systems, and associated control mechanisms used in industrial, construction, and commercial applications. It includes both manually operated and powered equipment, as well as safety devices and load-handling attachments integral to these systems. Adjacent classes cover fixed or portable handling equipment with specialized functions (B65), vehicle-mounted lifting apparatus (B60), and automated warehousing systems (B65H).
Filing statistics
CPC B66 recorded 200,891 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 8,999 in 2013 to 18,793 in 2023 (+109%), peaking at 24,951 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B66 are INVENTIO (3,939 applications), OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY (3,810 applications) and KONE CORPORATION (3,008 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B66B ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ( ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00)
- B66C CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ( rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21)
- B66D CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B)
- B66F HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ( mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- INVENTIO CH 3,939
- OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY US 3,810
- KONE CORPORATION FI 3,008
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 2,333
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION 1,254
- HITACHI 1,195
- OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY 1,065
- SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 961
- INVENTIO 828
- CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION US 828