VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS

Description

B60P covers vehicles specifically designed or adapted to transport specialized cargo, including tankers, flatbeds, refrigerated vehicles, and carriers for hazardous materials, livestock, or oversized loads. This classification encompasses structural modifications, mounting systems, and specialized compartments that enable safe and efficient handling of particular load types. It includes both the vehicle platform design and integrated features such as securing mechanisms, temperature control, or containment systems tailored to specific cargo requirements. Adjacent classes B60D (vehicle suspension and shock-absorbers) and B60N (seats, vehicle fittings) address general vehicle components rather than load-specific adaptations.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass B60P recorded 87,420 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 4,385 in 2013 to 9,271 in 2023 (+111%), peaking at 11,252 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B60 are TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (28,052 applications), HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (27,773 applications) and FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (26,243 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings