WEAVING

Description

D03 covers looms and weaving processes for the production of woven fabrics. It encompasses the mechanical systems, components, and methods used to interlace two or more sets of yarns (warp and weft) at right angles to create cloth. This classification includes loom design, shuttle mechanisms, harness systems, fabric selvage formation, and process control technologies, but excludes non-woven fabric production and yarn preparation prior to weaving (covered in D01).

Filing statistics

IPC D03 recorded 70,863 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 3 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 5,757 in 2013 to 6,236 in 2023 (+8%), peaking at 7,877 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class D03 are TORAY INDUSTRIES (461 applications), TORAY INDUSTRIES (324 applications) and SHANDONG RIFA TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPANY (279 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings