SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
Subclass:: SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING

Description

B42F covers devices and methods for temporarily securing sheets of paper or similar materials together, along with associated filing and indexing systems. This includes mechanical fastening appliances such as clips, clamps, and temporary binding mechanisms that allow sheets to be assembled and disassembled without permanent alteration. The classification also encompasses file cards, card indexing systems, and organizational devices designed for information retrieval and document management, excluding permanent bookbinding methods covered under B42D.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass B42F recorded 17,849 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,177 in 2013 to 1,295 in 2023 (+10%), peaking at 2,605 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

Related Keywords

ACCOUNT(S) books, forms or filesloose leaf BINDER(S)CASE(S) for filing papers, documents or cardsCATALOGUINGCLAMP(S) for filing papersDIARIESfiling DOCUMENTSfiling of suspended DRAWING(S)ENCYCLOPAEDIAS, ENCYCLOPEDIASETUIS for filing papers(2) FILE(S) for documents, sheets or cardsfiling LEAF(-VES) of paperloose LEAF(-VES) of paper for filingfiling LETTER(S)LOOSE-LEAF bindersfiling MANUSCRIPTSfiling MUSICfiling PAPERfiling paper SHEET(S)securing SHEET(S) together

12 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B42F 1/00 Sheets temporarily attached together without perforating; Means therefor
B42F 11/00 Filing appliances with separate intermediate holding means
B42F 13/00 Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots
B42F 15/00 Suspended filing appliances
B42F 17/00 Card-filing arrangements, e.g. card indexes or catalogues or filing cabinets
B42F 19/00 File cards
B42F 21/00 Indexing means; Indexing tabs or protectors therefor
B42F 23/00 Filing appliances not provided for in other groups of this subclass
B42F 3/00 Sheets temporarily attached together involving perforations; Means therefor; Sheet details therefor
B42F 5/00 Sheets and objects temporarily attached together; Means therefor; Albums
B42F 7/00 Filing appliances without fastening means
B42F 9/00 Filing appliances with devices clamping file edges; Covers with clamping backs

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B42, 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