Skip to content
Search Classifications
Search for IPC and CPC classification codes or keywords
CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
F16B

DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

Description

F16B encompasses mechanical fastening devices and joining methods used to permanently or temporarily secure structural and machine components. This includes threaded fasteners (bolts, screws, studs), non-threaded fasteners (nails, rivets, pins), and mechanical locking devices (circlips, retaining rings, wedges). The classification also covers clamping and holding mechanisms (clamps, clips, brackets) and joint designs that enable assembly and disassembly of machine parts and structures. Adjacent classes such as F16D (seals and packings) and F16G (springs) are excluded, as are specialized fastening methods covered under welding or adhesive bonding in other sections.

28 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open

  • F16B 27/00 Bolts, screws, or nuts formed in integral series but easily separable, particularly for use in automatic machines
  • F16B 29/00 Screwed connection with deformation of nut or auxiliary member while fastening (; members deformed for locking screws, bolts or nuts F16B39/22)

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F16, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 22,817
  2. ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 10,523
  3. HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 7,933
  4. ROBERT BOSCH DE 7,059
  5. KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 4,867
  6. SKF SE 4,729
  7. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 4,111
  8. FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 3,838
  9. GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS US 3,575
  10. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 3,499