B64G COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- Subclass:
- COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
Description
B64G covers spacecraft, launch vehicles, orbital systems, and associated equipment for space exploration and operations beyond Earth's atmosphere. This includes satellites, space stations, propulsion systems for space vehicles, life support systems, docking mechanisms, and cargo handling equipment in space environments. The classification encompasses both crewed and uncrewed space vehicles, as well as ground support equipment and facilities directly related to spaceflight operations. Adjacent aircraft and aviation technologies are classified separately in B64 sister classes.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B64G recorded 24,175 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,254 in 2013 to 2,841 in 2023 (+127%). The most active applicants in class B64 are BOEING COMPANY (8,583 applications), AIRBUS OPERATIONS (3,430 applications) and AIRBUS OPERATIONS (2,757 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
B64G ranks 4th of 6 subclasses with filings in B64, with 24,175 applications between 2013 and 2023, 6.4% of the class. Annual filings grew 127% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+172%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B64C, Aeroplanes; Helicopters | Aeroplanes; Helicopters | 147,606 | 38.9% |
| 2 | B64D, Equipment for Fitting in or to Aircraft; Flight Suits; Parachutes; Arrangement or Mounting of Power Plants or Propulsion Transmissions in Aircraft | Equipment for Fitting in or to Aircraft; Flight Suits; Parachutes; Arrangement or Mounting of Power Plants or Propulsion Transmissions in Aircraft | 136,419 | 36.0% |
| 3 | B64F, Ground or Aircraft-Carrier-Deck Installations Specially Adapted for Use in Connection With Aircraft; Designing, Manufacturing, Assembling, Cleaning, Maintaining or Repairing Aircraft, Not Otherwise Provided for; Handling, Transporting, Testing or Inspecting Aircraft Components, Not Otherwise Provided for | Ground or Aircraft-Carrier-Deck Installations Specially Adapted for Use in Connection With Aircraft; Designing, Manufacturing, Assembling, Cleaning, Maintaining or Repairing Aircraft, Not Otherwise Provided for; Handling, Transporting, Testing or Inspecting Aircraft Components, Not Otherwise Provided for | 44,596 | 11.8% |
| 4 | B64G | Cosmonautics; Vehicles or Equipment Therefor | 24,175 | 6.4% |
| 5 | B64U, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAV]; Equipment Therefor | Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAV]; Equipment Therefor | 21,438 | 5.7% |
| 6 | B64B, Lighter-Than-Air Aircraft | Lighter-Than-Air Aircraft | 5,162 | 1.4% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
7 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B64G 1/00 Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G 3/00 Observing or tracking cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G 4/00 Tools specially adapted for use in space
- B64G 5/00 Ground equipment for vehicles, e.g. starting towers, fuelling arrangements
- B64G 6/00 Space suits
- B64G 7/00 Simulating cosmonautic conditions, e.g. for conditioning crews
- B64G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B64, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- BOEING COMPANY US 8,583
- AIRBUS OPERATIONS DE 3,430
- AIRBUS OPERATIONS FR 2,757
- HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND US 2,332
- SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY COMPANY CN 2,109
- AIRBUS OPERATIONS GB 2,084
- GOODRICH CORPORATION US 2,053
- XI'AN AIRCRAFT DESIGN INSTITUTE OF AVIATION INDUSTRY CORPORATION OF CHINA 1,938
- BOEING COMPANY 1,816
- NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS 1,589