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IPC Main Group
B42F 21/00

Indexing means; Indexing tabs or protectors therefor

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 2006

Classification Context

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

Filing statistics

IPC B42F 21/00 belongs to the parent subclass B42F, which 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

INDEXES in document filing applianceindexing LEAF(-VES) of paperloose LEAF(-VES) of paper for indexingindexing TAB(S)

4 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • B42F 21/02 Tabs integral with sheets, papers, cards, or suspension files
  • B42F 21/04 Tabs permanently fastened to sheets, papers, cards, or suspension files
  • B42F 21/12 Sheets, papers, or cards having edges cut away to facilitate indexing, e.g. thumb cuts on books

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B42, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY DE 898
  2. BUNDESDRUCKEREI DE 865
  3. DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL GB 810
  4. SICPA HOLDING CH 784
  5. DNP (DAINIPPON PRINTING COMPANY) 634
  6. TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY 486
  7. TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY JP 411
  8. G&D (GIESECKE & DEVRIENT) DE 398
  9. CCL SECURE AU 334
  10. NATIONAL PRINTING BUREAU 313