F16 ENGINEERING ELEMENTS OR UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- ENGINEERING ELEMENTS OR UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
Description
F16 encompasses fundamental mechanical engineering components and systems essential for machine operation and maintenance across all industrial applications. This class covers mechanical elements such as bearings, seals, gears, couplings, fasteners, and structural frameworks, along with general measures for controlling vibration, noise, and thermal effects in machinery. Also included are thermal insulation technologies, mechanical power transmission devices, and systems designed to enhance machine reliability and performance regardless of the specific industry context. The class excludes specialized components integrated into particular machines or processes, which are typically classified in their respective technical fields.
Filing statistics
IPC F16 recorded 2,369,955 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 14 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 133,004 in 2013 to 271,296 in 2023 (+104%), peaking at 320,378 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F16 are SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY (21,545 applications), ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (9,446 applications) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (7,215 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
14 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- F16B DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16C SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; MECHANICAL MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOVEMENT IN A FLEXIBLE SHEATHING; ELEMENTS OF CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; PIVOTS; PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS; ROTARY ENGINEERING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN GEARING, COUPLING, CLUTCH OR BRAKE ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16D COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16F SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- F16G BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
- F16H GEARING
- F16J PISTONS; CYLINDERS; PRESSURE VESSELS IN GENERAL; SEALINGS
- F16K VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16L PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16M FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- F16N LUBRICATING
- F16P SAFETY DEVICES IN GENERAL
- F16S CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS IN GENERAL; STRUCTURES BUILT-UP FROM SUCH ELEMENTS, IN GENERAL
- F16T STEAM TRAPS OR LIKE APPARATUS FOR DRAINING-OFF LIQUIDS FROM ENCLOSURES PREDOMINANTLY CONTAINING GASES OR VAPOURS
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 21,545
- ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 9,446
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 7,215
- HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 6,846
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 6,106
- NTN CORPORATION 5,305
- SKF SE 4,219
- KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 3,852
- NSK 3,850
- HONDA MOTOR COMPANY 3,639