A63B APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- Subclass:
- APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
Description
Covers mechanical devices, equipment, and apparatus designed for individual physical training, gymnastic exercise, aquatic sports, climbing activities, and fencing. Includes training aids, exercise machines, protective gear, and specialized equipment for ball games such as tennis, badminton, and golf. Excludes general-purpose furniture, sports venues or playing fields themselves, and clothing or footwear (covered under other classes).
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A63B recorded 247,624 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 13,650 in 2013 to 20,798 in 2023 (+52%), peaking at 29,897 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A63 are SANKYO (23,899 applications), SANYO PRODUCT COMPANY (23,718 applications) and DAIICHI SHOKAI COMPANY (13,338 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
A63B ranks 2nd of 8 subclasses with filings in A63, with 247,624 applications between 2013 and 2023, 40.3% of the class. Annual filings grew 52% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+40%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A63F, Card, Board or Roulette Games; Indoor Games Using Small Moving Playing Bodies; Video Games; Games Not Otherwise Provided for | Card, Board or Roulette Games; Indoor Games Using Small Moving Playing Bodies; Video Games; Games Not Otherwise Provided for | 258,711 | 42.1% |
| 2 | A63B | Apparatus for Physical Training, Gymnastics, Swimming, Climbing, or Fencing; Ball Games; Training Equipment | 247,624 | 40.3% |
| 3 | A63H, Toys, e.g. Tops, Dolls, Hoops or Building Blocks | Toys, e.g. Tops, Dolls, Hoops or Building Blocks | 61,908 | 10.1% |
| 4 | A63G, Merry-Go-Rounds; Swings; Rocking-Horses; Chutes; Switchbacks; Similar Devices for Public Amusement | Merry-Go-Rounds; Swings; Rocking-Horses; Chutes; Switchbacks; Similar Devices for Public Amusement | 18,660 | 3.0% |
| 5 | A63C, Skates; Skis; Roller Skates; Design or Layout of Courts, Rinks or the Like | Skates; Skis; Roller Skates; Design or Layout of Courts, Rinks or the Like | 15,231 | 2.5% |
| 6 | A63J, Devices for Theatres, Circuses, or the Like; Conjuring Appliances or the Like | Devices for Theatres, Circuses, or the Like; Conjuring Appliances or the Like | 7,424 | 1.2% |
| 7 | A63D, Bowling Games, e.g. Skittles, Bocce or Bowls; Installations Therefor; Bagatelle or Similar Games; Billiards | Bowling Games, e.g. Skittles, Bocce or Bowls; Installations Therefor; Bagatelle or Similar Games; Billiards | 2,873 | 0.5% |
| 8 | A63K, Racing; Riding Sports; Equipment or Accessories Therefor | Racing; Riding Sports; Equipment or Accessories Therefor | 2,000 | 0.3% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Protective equipment in the form of clothing or garments for sporting purposes in the form of caps or hats Helmets Apparatus for passive exercising or massage Unicycles Vessels or like floating structures for pleasure or sport , Life-saving in water Breathing aids for swimming, e.g. snorkels Divers' sleds or like craft Training of parachutists Archers' finger tabs Traps for clay-pigeon targets Devices for exercising or strengthening of fingers or arms in teaching music In relation to climbing or mountaineering equipment: . Non-skid devices or attachments for footwear, e.g. crampons Breathing masks or helmets for use at high altitudes Safety belts for climbers Picks Ladders attached to fixed structures
Related Keywords
41 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A63B 1/00 Horizontal bars for gymnastics
- A63B 102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity
- A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like
- A63B 17/00 Exercising apparatus combining several parts such as ladders, rods, beams, slides
- A63B 19/00 Hoop exercising apparatus
- A63B 21/00 Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
- A63B 23/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups
- A63B 25/00 Stilts or the like
- A63B 26/00 Exercising apparatus not covered by groups
- A63B 27/00 Apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like
- A63B 29/00 Apparatus for mountaineering
- A63B 3/00 Parallel bars or similar gymnastic apparatus
- A63B 31/00 Swimming aids
- A63B 33/00 Swimming equipment attachable to the head, e.g. swim caps or goggles
- A63B 35/00 Swimming framework with driving mechanisms operated by the swimmer or by a motor
- A63B 37/00 Solid balls; Marbles
- A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls
- A63B 4/00 Balance beams
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A63, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SANKYO 23,899
- SANYO PRODUCT COMPANY 23,718
- DAIICHI SHOKAI COMPANY 13,338
- KYORAKU SANGYO 10,447
- UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION 9,545
- SANEI R & D COMPANY 9,135
- SAMMY CORPORATION 7,126
- NEWGIN CORPORATION 5,651
- NETEASE 4,877
- HEIWA CORPORATION 3,938