G04B MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08)
Description
G04B covers mechanical timepieces and their functional components, encompassing traditional clock and watch mechanisms driven by mechanical energy sources such as springs or weights. This includes escapement systems, gear trains, pendulums, balance wheels, and other mechanical regulating elements essential to timekeeping accuracy. The classification also extends to astronomical timepieces that determine time based on celestial positioning of the sun, moon, or stars. Related mechanical time measurement devices fall within this scope, while electronic or quartz-based timekeeping systems are excluded.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass G04B recorded 21,796 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,615 in 2013 to 1,692 in 2023 (+5%), peaking at 2,440 applications in 2016. The most active applicants in class G04 are THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (1,705 applications), ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE (1,443 applications) and SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (1,104 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
27 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- G04B 1/00 Driving mechanisms
- G04B 11/00 Click devices; Stop clicks; Clutches
- G04B 13/00 Gearwork
- G04B 15/00 Escapements ( electric or magnetic means for converting oscillatory to rotary motion in electromechanical time-pieces )
- G04B 17/00 Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
- G04B 18/00 Mechanisms for setting frequency
- G04B 19/00 Indicating the time by visual means ( by electric lamps G04C17/02; display arrangements in general G09F)
- G04B 21/00 Indicating the time by acoustic means (at preselected times G04B23/00; by electro-acoustic means G04C21/04; )
- G04B 23/00 Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
- G04B 25/00 Indicating the time by other means or by combined means (electric or electromechanical indicating G04C )
- G04B 27/00 Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
- G04B 29/00 Frameworks
- G04B 3/00 Normal winding of clockworks by hand or mechanically; Winding up several mainsprings or driving weights simultaneously
- G04B 31/00 Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor (bearings in general F16C )
- G04B 33/00 Calibers
- G04B 35/00 Adjusting the gear train, e.g. the backlash of the arbors, depth of meshing of the gears
- G04B 37/00 Cases
- G04B 39/00 Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses
- G04B 41/00 Locking or holding devices for pendulums, chimes, or the like, for use during transport
- G04B 43/00 Protecting clockworks by shields or other means against external influences, e.g. magnetic fields
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CH 1,705
- ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE CH 1,443
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 1,104
- APPLE US 1,038
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 875
- NIVAROX-FAR CH 781
- CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY 734
- MONTRES BREGUET CH 715
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 715
- OMEGA CH 555