HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING

Description

B66 encompasses mechanical systems and devices for raising, lowering, or moving loads vertically or in combination with horizontal displacement. This class covers hoists, lifts, elevators, cranes, winches, tackle systems, and associated control mechanisms used in industrial, construction, and commercial applications. It includes both manually operated and powered equipment, as well as safety devices and load-handling attachments integral to these systems. Adjacent classes cover fixed or portable handling equipment with specialized functions (B65), vehicle-mounted lifting apparatus (B60), and automated warehousing systems (B65H).

Filing statistics

IPC B66 recorded 519,785 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 24,309 in 2013 to 63,594 in 2023 (+162%), peaking at 69,186 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B66 are INVENTIO (3,843 applications), OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY (3,709 applications) and SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (2,987 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

[= lifting]apparatus for LIFTING or loweringSNATCH blocks

4 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B66B ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
B66C CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
B66D CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
B66F HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING, OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

INVENTIO CH 3,843
OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY US 3,709
SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 2,987
KONE CORPORATION FI 2,922
TOSHIBA ELEVATOR COMPANY 2,922
HITACHI 2,321
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 2,287
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION 1,870
HITACHI BUILDING SYSTEMS COMPANY 1,700
ANHUI HELI COMPANY 1,325