B29L INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS , RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
Introduced: January 1985
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- Subclass:
- INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS , RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
Description
B29L is an indexing scheme that organizes patent documents in subclass B29 according to the specific end-products or articles made from plastics or plastic-state materials. Rather than classifying by processing method, B29L directs users to relevant prior art based on the final article type being manufactured—such as containers, films, pipes, or automotive components. This scheme functions as a navigational tool to help patent professionals locate existing patents related to particular plastic articles across the broader B29 processing technology classifications. It complements method-based classifications by providing product-focused access points within plastic working technologies.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B29L recorded 133,081 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 4,253 in 2013 to 16,480 in 2023 (+287%), peaking at 21,263 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B29 are HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (3,802 applications), BOEING COMPANY (3,087 applications) and COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN (2,315 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
19 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- B29L 1/00 Articles provided with screw threads
- B29L 11/00 Optical elements, e.g. lenses, prisms
- B29L 12/00 Frames
- B29L 15/00 Gear wheels or similar articles with grooves or projections, e.g. control knobs
- B29L 16/00 Articles with corrugations
- B29L 17/00 Carriers of records containing fine grooves or impressions, e.g. disc records for needle playback, cylinder records
- B29L 19/00 Buttons or semi-finished parts of buttons
- B29L 21/00 Hair combs or similar toothed or slotted articles
- B29L 22/00 Hollow articles
- B29L 23/00 Tubular articles
- B29L 24/00 Articles with hollow walls
- B29L 25/00 Frameless domes
- B29L 28/00 Nets or the like
- B29L 29/00 Belts or bands
- B29L 30/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
- B29L 31/00 Other particular articles
- B29L 5/00 Elements of slide fasteners
- B29L 7/00 Flat articles, e.g. films or sheets
- B29L 9/00 Layered products
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B29, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY US 3,802
- BOEING COMPANY US 3,087
- COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN FR 2,315
- SUMITOMO RUBBER IND 1,784
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 1,663
- CANON 1,658
- 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY (MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY) US 1,587
- TORAY INDUSTRIES JP 1,555
- BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) DE 1,470
- LG CHEM KR 1,415