CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS IN GENERAL; STRUCTURES BUILT-UP FROM SUCH ELEMENTS, IN GENERAL

Introduced: September 1968

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
Subclass:: CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS IN GENERAL; STRUCTURES BUILT-UP FROM SUCH ELEMENTS, IN GENERAL

Description

F16S covers structural and constructional elements of general applicability used in mechanical engineering, including basic building blocks such as frames, supports, housings, and structural assemblies that are not specific to any particular machine type. This subclass encompasses generic structural solutions and combined structures built from fundamental mechanical components, excluding specialized elements classified in other F16 subclasses (such as bearings, seals, or fasteners) and machine-specific structural designs. The classification applies to structural principles and component combinations that serve a cross-cutting function across multiple mechanical systems and installations.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass F16S recorded 10,413 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 969 in 2013 to 747 in 2023 (-23%), peaking at 1,242 applications in 2018. 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

BAR(S) as constructional elementsBEAM(S) as constructional elementselements used in CONSTRUCTIONGRATING(S) as constructional elementsGRILLES as constructional elementsPANEL(S) as constructional or building elementsSTRUCTURES built-up from constructional elements of general useTUBE(S) as constructional elements

3 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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F16S 1/00 Sheets, panels, or other members of similar proportions; Constructions comprising assemblies of such members
F16S 3/00 Elongated members, e.g. profiled members; Assemblies thereof; Gratings or grilles
F16S 5/00 Other constructional members not restricted to an application fully provided for in a single class

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F16, 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