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IPC Subgroup
D04B 9/2

with provision for narrowing or widening; with reciprocatory action, e.g. for knitting of flat portions

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 2006

Full Title

Circular weft knitting machines with independently-movable needles > with provision for narrowing or widening; with reciprocatory action, e.g. for knitting of flat portions

Classification Context

Section:
TEXTILES; PAPER
Class:
BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
Subclass:
KNITTING

Filing statistics

IPC D04B 9/2 belongs to the parent subclass D04B, which recorded 48,486 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 3,357 in 2013 to 4,578 in 2023 (+36%), peaking at 6,013 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class D04 are P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) (887 applications), KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION (727 applications) and TORAY INDUSTRIES (692 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class D04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 887
  2. KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION US 727
  3. TORAY INDUSTRIES JP 692
  4. NIKE US 633
  5. SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 537
  6. TORAY INDUSTRIES 528
  7. NIKE INNOVATE US 522
  8. 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY (MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY) US 479
  9. NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY 439
  10. NINGBO CIXING COMPANY 425