Skip to content
PCE
Search Classifications
Search for IPC and CPC classification codes or keywords
IPC Subgroup
G04B 21/1

Releasing or locking the regular stroke, e.g. for silence during the night

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 2006

Full Title

Indicating the time by acoustic means > Regular striking mechanisms giving the full hour, half hour, or quarter hour > Releasing or locking the regular stroke, e.g. for silence during the night

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

Filing statistics

IPC G04B 21/1 belongs to the parent subclass G04B, which 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

Top Applicants

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

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