B42 BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
Description
Class B42 covers mechanical and manual processes for binding books and related document assemblies, including techniques for collating, folding, and securing sheets or signatures. It encompasses the manufacture of albums, filing systems, and bound documents, as well as specialized printed materials with particular structural or functional requirements. The classification includes equipment, machines, and methods for producing finished bound products, but excludes the underlying printing processes themselves (covered under B41) and general paper or material processing operations. Adjacent classes address paper manufacturing, printing technology, and unrelated document handling or storage systems.
Filing statistics
IPC B42 recorded 67,386 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings declined from 5,468 in 2013 to 4,320 in 2023 (-21%), peaking at 7,783 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B42 are GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY (898 applications), BUNDESDRUCKEREI (865 applications) and DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL (810 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
B42 comprises 4 subclasses with filings; the largest is B42D with 51.5% of the class's 67,386 applications between 2013 and 2023.
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B42D, Books; Book Covers; Loose Leaves; Printed Matter Characterised by Identification or Security Features; Printed Matter of Special Format or Style Not Otherwise Provided for; Devices for Use Therewith and Not Otherwise Provided for; Movable-Strip Writing or Reading Apparatus | Books; Book Covers; Loose Leaves; Printed Matter Characterised by Identification or Security Features; Printed Matter of Special Format or Style Not Otherwise Provided for; Devices for Use Therewith and Not Otherwise Provided for; Movable-Strip Writing or Reading Apparatus | 34,717 | 51.5% |
| 2 | B42F, Sheets Temporarily Attached Together; Filing Appliances; File Cards; Indexing | Sheets Temporarily Attached Together; Filing Appliances; File Cards; Indexing | 17,849 | 26.5% |
| 3 | B42C, Bookbinding | Bookbinding | 7,851 | 11.7% |
| 4 | B42B, Permanently Attaching Together Sheets, Quires, or Signatures, or Permanently Attaching Objects Thereto | Permanently Attaching Together Sheets, Quires, or Signatures, or Permanently Attaching Objects Thereto | 6,969 | 10.3% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- B42B PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES, OR SIGNATURES, OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO
- B42C BOOKBINDING
- B42D BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42F SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY DE 898
- BUNDESDRUCKEREI DE 865
- DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL GB 810
- SICPA HOLDING CH 784
- DNP (DAINIPPON PRINTING COMPANY) 634
- TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY 486
- TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY JP 411
- G&D (GIESECKE & DEVRIENT) DE 398
- CCL SECURE AU 334
- NATIONAL PRINTING BUREAU 313