STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H)

Description

G10D covers mechanical and structural designs for acoustic and traditional musical instruments, including stringed instruments (guitars, violins, pianos), wind instruments (flutes, saxophones, trumpets), reed instruments (accordions, concertinas), and percussion instruments (drums, bells, xylophones). This classification encompasses construction methods, sound-producing mechanisms, tuning devices, playing mechanisms, and material innovations specific to these instrument types. Inventions addressing acoustic properties, resonance chambers, vibration control, and traditional instrument modifications are included, while electronic sound generation and amplification systems are typically classified elsewhere under G10H.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass G10D recorded 8,878 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 709 in 2013 to 513 in 2023 (-28%), peaking at 1,126 applications in 2016. The most active applicants in class G10 are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (6,277 applications), GOOGLE (5,429 applications) and FRAUNHOFER (4,984 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings