STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Class:: BUILDING
Subclass:: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS

Description

E04C covers structural elements and building materials used in construction, including beams, columns, panels, frames, and other load-bearing or non-load-bearing components. This subclass encompasses both traditional materials (wood, stone, concrete, steel) and modern composite or prefabricated elements, as well as their manufacturing processes and assembly methods. Inventions relating to structural improvements, material compositions, reinforcement techniques, and connections between building components are classified here. Related specific construction technologies (such as roofing, insulation, or finishing) may fall under other E04 subclasses, while E04C focuses primarily on the primary structural framework and constituent materials.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass E04C recorded 124,823 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 6,510 in 2013 to 15,263 in 2023 (+134%), peaking at 15,370 applications in 2021. The most active applicants in class E04 are CHINA CONSTRUCTION EIGHTH ENGINEERING DIVISION (6,575 applications), ZHEJIANG YASHA DECORATION COMPANY (4,488 applications) and SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (4,427 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

building aspects of ABATTOIRSbuilding aspects of ARENASbuilding aspects of AUDITORIUM(S)BAR(S) as constructional elementsbuilding aspects of public BATHSbuilding aspects of BEACONSBEAM(S) as constructional elementsbuilding aspects of BINSbuilding aspects of BOXES or cubicles(3) building materialsbuilding aspects of CABINSbuilding aspects of CHAPELSbuilding aspects of CHURCH(ES)building aspects of CIRCUS(ES)building aspects of CONCERT HALLSelements used in CONSTRUCTIONbuilding aspects of CONTAINER(S)building aspects of CUBICLESbuilding aspects of FORTIFICATIONSbuilding aspects of picture GALLERIESbuilding aspects of GARAGE(S)building aspects of GRAIN silosbuilding aspects of GRANARIESbuilding features of GRAVESGRILLES as constructional elementsbuilding aspects of gymnasiumsbuilding aspects of HOSPITAL(S)building aspects of HOTELSbuilding aspects of INFIRMARIESbuilding aspects of JAILSbuilding aspects of LIBRARIESbuilding aspects of LIGHTHOUSESbuilding aspects of MARKET(S)building aspects of MOTELSbuilding aspects of MUSEUMSbuilding aspects of OFFICE(S)building aspects of PRISONSbuilding aspects of RESTAURANTSbuilding aspects of SANATORIUMSbuilding aspects of SCHOOL(S)construction of SERVICE stations for vehiclesbuilding aspects of SHOP(S)building aspects of STABLESbuilding aspects of THEATRESbuilding aspects of TOWER(S)TUBE(S) as constructional elementsbuilding aspects of WAREHOUSESbuilding aspects of WATER towers

4 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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E04C 1/00 Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
E04C 2/00 Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
E04C 3/00 Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
E04C 5/00 Reinforcing elements, e.g. for concrete; Auxiliary elements therefor

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class E04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

CHINA CONSTRUCTION EIGHTH ENGINEERING DIVISION 6,575
ZHEJIANG YASHA DECORATION COMPANY 4,488
SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 4,427
CHINA CONSTRUCTION SECOND ENGINEERING BUREAU 4,352
CHINA MCC17 GROUP COMPANY 3,122
GOLD MANTIS FINE DECORATION TECHNOLOGY (SUZHOU) COMPANY 2,605
SHENYANG JIANZHU UNIVERSITY 2,420
CHINA CONSTRUCTION SEVENTH ENGINEERING DIVISION COMPANY 2,284
CHINA CONSTRUCTION FIFTH ENGINEERING DIVISION CORPORATION 2,008
CHINA CONSTRUCTION FIRST BUILDING (GROUP) CORPORATION 1,967