MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME-PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON, OR STARS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PHYSICS
Class:: HOROLOGY
Subclass:: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME-PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON, OR STARS

Description

G04B covers mechanical timepieces and their functional components, encompassing traditional clock and watch mechanisms driven by mechanical energy sources such as springs or weights. This includes escapement systems, gear trains, pendulums, balance wheels, and other mechanical regulating elements essential to timekeeping accuracy. The classification also extends to astronomical timepieces that determine time based on celestial positioning of the sun, moon, or stars. Related mechanical time measurement devices fall within this scope, while electronic or quartz-based timekeeping systems are excluded.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G04B recorded 30,807 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 2,751 in 2013 to 2,337 in 2023 (-15%), peaking at 3,317 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class G04 are THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (1,570 applications), ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE (1,409 applications) and CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY (1,172 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

BEZELS for watches or clocksmechanical CHRONOMETERSmechanical CLOCK(S)CLOCKWORK for clocks or watchesPENDULUM(S) in mechanical clocksmechanical SPRING(S) in clocksmeasuring TIME by mechanical clocksmechanical TIME -piecesmechanical WATCH(ES)

27 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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G04B 1/00 Driving mechanisms
G04B 11/00 Click devices, stop clicks or clutches for winding
G04B 13/00 Gearwork
G04B 15/00 Escapements
G04B 17/00 Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
G04B 18/00 Mechanisms for setting frequency
G04B 19/00 Indicating the time by visual means
G04B 21/00 Indicating the time by acoustic means
G04B 23/00 Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
G04B 25/00 Indicating the time by other means or by combined means
G04B 27/00 Mechanical devices for setting the time-indicating means
G04B 29/00 Frameworks
G04B 3/00 Normal winding of clockworks by hand or mechanically; Winding-up several mainsprings or driving weights simultaneously
G04B 31/00 Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor
G04B 33/00 Calibers
G04B 35/00 Adjusting the gear train, e.g. the backlash of the arbors, depth of meshing of the gears
G04B 37/00 Cases
G04B 39/00 Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing crystals; Clock glasses
G04B 41/00 Locking or holding devices for pendulums, chimes, or the like, for use during transport
G04B 43/00 Protecting clockworks by shields or other means against external influences, e.g. magnetic fields

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CH 1,570
ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE CH 1,409
CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY 1,172
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 1,100
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 768
NIVAROX-FAR CH 750
MONTRES BREGUET CH 707
APPLE US 706
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 648
CITIZEN WATCH COMPANY 578