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DIFF 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)

Introduced: September 1968

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.

Title

Titles differ between systems:

IPC: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING

CPC: 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)

Full Title

Full titles differ between systems:

IPC:

DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING

CPC:

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)

Additional Content IPC

Horseshoe nails Nails for footwear Thumb-tacks Screws or bolts for railway sleepers For building constructions For hand railings For fencing

Of 28 combined children, 27 exist in both systems.

1 codes are CPC-only extensions.

Note: 1 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.

22 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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

Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Class F16,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 21,545
  2. ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 9,446
  3. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 7,215
  4. HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 6,846
  5. ROBERT BOSCH DE 6,106
  6. NTN CORPORATION 5,305
  7. SKF SE 4,219
  8. KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 3,852
  9. NSK 3,850
  10. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY 3,639

Top Applicants (CPC)

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