ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC

Description

D07 encompasses the manufacture, structure, and treatment of ropes and non-electrical cables made from textile fibers, natural or synthetic materials, and wire. This class covers rope-making machinery, twisting and braiding processes, cable construction methods, and finishing treatments such as waterproofing and coating. It includes cordage products ranging from small diameter twines and cordage to large-diameter industrial cables, as well as their reinforcement, splicing, and joining techniques. Electric power cables and telecommunications cables are explicitly excluded, being covered by Class H05K and related electrical classifications.

Filing statistics

IPC D07 recorded 13,156 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 1 subclasses. Annual filings declined from 1,096 in 2013 to 946 in 2023 (-14%), peaking at 1,444 applications in 2019. The most active applicants in class D07 are COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN (375 applications), BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION (198 applications) and BEKAERT (187 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings