B27H BENDING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COOPERAGE; MAKING WHEELS FROM WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- Subclass:
- BENDING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COOPERAGE; MAKING WHEELS FROM WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL
Description
B27H covers mechanical and thermal processes for bending wood and similar fibrous materials, encompassing techniques such as steaming, soaking, and pressing to achieve curved components for furniture, vehicle parts, and structural applications. This subclass includes cooperage operations—the manufacture and assembly of wooden barrels, casks, and similar staved containers—as well as the production of wooden wheels and related components. The classification encompasses both the machinery used for these operations and the resulting manufactured items, but excludes general wood shaping or sawing operations covered elsewhere in B27.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B27H recorded 1,078 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 22 in 2013 to 134 in 2023 (+509%), peaking at 161 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B27 are NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY (960 applications), ROBERT BOSCH (762 applications) and HOMAG (384 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
B27H ranks 11th of 11 subclasses with filings in B27, with 1,078 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.6% of the class.
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B27C, Planing, Drilling, Milling, Turning or Universal Machines for Wood or Similar Material | Planing, Drilling, Milling, Turning or Universal Machines for Wood or Similar Material | 30,601 | 17.5% |
| 2 | B27G, Accessory Machines or Apparatus for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Tools for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Safety Devices for Wood Working Machines or Tools | Accessory Machines or Apparatus for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Tools for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Safety Devices for Wood Working Machines or Tools | 27,470 | 15.7% |
| 3 | B27B, Saws for Wood or Similar Material; Components or Accessories Therefor | Saws for Wood or Similar Material; Components or Accessories Therefor | 22,308 | 12.8% |
| 4 | B27D, Working Veneer or Plywood | Working Veneer or Plywood | 19,260 | 11.0% |
| 5 | B27N, Manufacture by Dry Processes of Articles, With or Without Organic Binding Agents, Made From Particles or Fibres Consisting of Wood or Other Lignocellulosic or Like Organic Material | Manufacture by Dry Processes of Articles, With or Without Organic Binding Agents, Made From Particles or Fibres Consisting of Wood or Other Lignocellulosic or Like Organic Material | 17,739 | 10.1% |
| 6 | B27M, Working of Wood Not Provided for in Subclasses; Manufacture of Specific Wooden Articles | Working of Wood Not Provided for in Subclasses; Manufacture of Specific Wooden Articles | 17,572 | 10.0% |
| 7 | B27K, Processes, Apparatus or Selection of Substances for Impregnating, Staining, Dyeing or Bleaching of Wood, or for Treating of Wood With Permeant Liquids, Not Otherwise Provided for; Chemical or Physical Treatment of Cork, Cane, Reed, Straw or Similar Materials | Processes, Apparatus or Selection of Substances for Impregnating, Staining, Dyeing or Bleaching of Wood, or for Treating of Wood With Permeant Liquids, Not Otherwise Provided for; Chemical or Physical Treatment of Cork, Cane, Reed, Straw or Similar Materials | 15,050 | 8.6% |
| 8 | B27L, Removing Bark or Vestiges of Branches; Splitting Wood; Manufacture of Veneer, Wooden Sticks, Wood Shavings, Wood Fibres or Wood Powder | Removing Bark or Vestiges of Branches; Splitting Wood; Manufacture of Veneer, Wooden Sticks, Wood Shavings, Wood Fibres or Wood Powder | 9,518 | 5.4% |
| 9 | B27J, Mechanical Working of Cane, Cork, or Similar Materials | Mechanical Working of Cane, Cork, or Similar Materials | 7,997 | 4.6% |
| 10 | B27F, Dovetailed Work; Tenons; Slotting Machines for Wood or Similar Material; Nailing or Stapling Machines | Dovetailed Work; Tenons; Slotting Machines for Wood or Similar Material; Nailing or Stapling Machines | 6,332 | 3.6% |
| 11 | B27H | Bending Wood or Similar Material; Cooperage; Making Wheels From Wood or Similar Material | 1,078 | 0.6% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B27H 1/00 Bending wood, e.g. wood stock
- B27H 3/00 Manufacture of constructional elements of tubs, coops or barrels
- B27H 5/00 Manufacture of tubs, coops or barrels
- B27H 7/00 Manufacture of wheels wholly or predominantly made from wood, e.g. cart wheels; Manufacture of wood-rimmed wheels, e.g. steering wheels
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B27, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY 960
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 762
- HOMAG DE 384
- HARBIN ARTS AND CRAFTS COMPANY 350
- NORTHEAST FORESTRY UNIVERSITY 343
- SWISS KRONO TEC CH 304
- MAKITA CORPORATION 298
- DIEFFENBACHERMASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU DE 296
- VAELINGE INNOVATION SE 287
- HUSQVARNA SE 282