Skip menu navigation Home > Listing of PTMT Viewable Reports

U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Electronic Information Products Division
Patent Technology Monitoring Team (PTMT)

Patent Counts By Class By Year
JANUARY 1977 -- DECEMBER 2006

PATENTS DISTRIBUTED BY CALENDAR YEAR OF GRANT

Parts of the Report

Description of the Report
Report Printing and Use of Spreadsheet Software

PART I, Patent Counts Based on ORIGINAL Classification Only -
Part I counts patents only according to the "original" (i.e., primary) classification assigned to each patent. If the patent record is incomplete and the "original" classification is unknown, then the (non-design) patent is counted in class 001. Design patents with an unknown "original" classification are counted in design class D00. See the Description of the Report section, below, for further details.

PART II, Patent Counts Based on ORIGINAL and CROSS-REFERENCE Classifications with Duplicate Patents Eliminated Within Classes -
Part II counts patents according to the "original" and "cross-reference" classifications assigned to each patent. Counts of duplicate patents are eliminated within each class, but not among classes. For example, the same patent would be counted once in Class 2 and once in Class 4 if it has classifications assigned in both classes. If the patent record is incomplete and the classification is unknown, then the (non-design) patent is counted in class 001. Design patents with unknown classification are counted in design class D00. See the Description of the Report section, below, for further details.

CONTACT INFORMATION -

Patent Counts By Class By Year
Patents Granted: 1977 - 2006
A Patent Technology Monitoring Team Report

Description of the Report

Classes are major divisions of technology in the U.S. Patent Classification System (USPCS). Each class is further divided into smaller divisions of technology called subclasses. The USPCS currently contains approximately 470 total classes and 159,000 total subclasses. Copies of each patent are placed (classified) in those subclasses which have been identified as pertinent to the information disclosed in the patent. One, and only one, of these subclasses is designated as the "original classification" (OR), and the remainder (if any) are designated as "cross-reference classifications" (XR).

The "original" classification of a patent may be considered to be its "primary" classification. This classification need not correspond to any classification that was assigned to the patent at the time of issue since the classification system is continuously undergoing revision and since classifications that are assigned to patents are continuously updated to reflect these revisions. Counting patents by "original" classifications will ensure that each patent is counted only once. However, if a patent teaches more than one concept, e.g., table and chair, only one concept, e.g., table, will be counted. To ensure that all concepts are counted, patents should be counted in all of their classifications. Patent classifications used to produce this report are those assigned to patents as of December 31, 2006. Please refer to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Manual of Patent Classification for further information concerning the patent classification system.

This report counts all patent documents including utility, design, plant, and reissue patents as well as statutory invention registrations and defensive publications.

Report Printing and the Use of Spreadsheet Software

This report can be printed from an Internet browser - for such printing, optimal results are usually obtained by printing in landscape orientation with minimal margins and a small text font.

Additionally, a user may import this report file into spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel to facilitate printing. Such spreadsheet software also may facilitate sorting and further manipulation of the data.

Patent Counts By Class By Year
Patents Granted: 1977 - 2006
A Patent Technology Monitoring Team Report

Part I, Patent Counts By Class By Year
Patent Counts Based on ORIGINAL Classification Only

Number of Patents Granted as Distributed by Year of Patent Grant
Breakout by U.S. Patent Classification System Class

PART I, Patent Counts By Class By Year, Breakout by U.S. Patent Classification System Class.
Patent Counts Based on ORIGINAL Patent Classification Only are presented.
Patents Granted: 01/01/1977 - 12/31/2006
Class Class Title PRE_1986 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Total
001 ** Classification Undetermined ** 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 10 7 28
002 Apparel 1393 222 296 210 285 243 394 341 232 259 269 384 426 508 601 568 550 496 338 408 341 381 9145
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 1357 165 151 184 218 272 287 221 249 290 230 198 218 311 409 327 351 398 329 309 231 219 6924
005 Beds 1235 179 271 227 256 295 320 338 268 237 268 335 298 312 314 353 343 333 373 403 389 390 7737
007 Compound Tools 138 23 20 17 28 21 33 21 34 25 14 28 25 31 40 41 46 39 33 38 39 39 773
008 Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers 1931 162 171 202 245 172 194 176 201 202 188 211 159 228 310 239 187 194 243 212 136 194 6157
012 Boot and Shoe Making 205 22 25 12 17 21 14 11 14 13 7 11 10 14 20 6 11 6 9 9 4 9 470
014 Bridges 190 22 40 20 27 31 32 22 25 35 44 41 30 39 40 32 28 53 38 49 34 46 918
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 2336 257 315 341 370 338 366 338 314 446 432 446 394 544 599 620 506 446 500 425 351 347 11031
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 867 73 165 154 217 117 177 135 132 130 148 179 164 216 202 227 198 270 258 215 190 231 4665
019 Textiles: Fiber Preparation 515 43 66 49 76 87 122 65 54 68 66 54 54 47 45 58 65 52 42 22 20 28 1698
023 Chemistry: Physical Processes 144 13 12 6 4 11 5 15 10 19 12 5 5 13 7 14 10 11 8 5 11 6 346
024 Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. 1496 185 233 176 220 256 257 243 210 225 236 227 293 288 299 276 306 357 322 205 144 223 6677
026 Textiles: Cloth Finishing 148 16 19 13 20 28 17 18 12 11 26 20 17 23 25 14 12 7 9 7 8 6 476
027 Undertaking 67 6 5 9 11 15 11 14 13 13 14 16 28 24 20 23 23 12 25 15 12 13 389
028 Textiles: Manufacturing 390 26 36 32 42 77 59 53 39 64 60 38 47 39 45 54 44 51 45 46 23 45 1355
029 Metal Working 5631 915 982 894 1044 830 992 980 1050 961 878 923 975 1201 1120 1253 1378 1256 1471 1398 1243 1494 28869
030 Cutlery 1705 250 245 186 299 286 339 237 202 221 213 234 228 276 304 291 282 306 299 276 221 230 7130
033 Geometrical Instruments 2420 356 307 232 272 364 363 335 250 235 320 245 195 255 213 318 341 407 386 374 398 379 8965
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 1432 161 196 151 151 152 183 189 199 201 167 249 229 241 284 349 234 256 184 202 193 187 5790
036 Boots, Shoes, and Leggings 951 168 180 158 171 193 148 112 141 165 160 146 177 258 258 227 202 194 185 217 196 214 4821
037 Excavating 727 55 66 64 94 75 88 94 82 50 85 103 79 101 112 122 108 139 108 115 103 95 2665
038 Textiles: Ironing or Smoothing 188 30 29 20 29 25 33 22 12 38 29 32 37 34 33 38 30 36 23 36 20 39 813
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 1452 109 182 199 242 189 194 132 145 197 189 176 187 214 240 265 262 249 312 245 202 173 5755
042 Firearms 704 103 113 93 120 136 154 100 93 108 139 108 144 149 136 87 164 189 195 155 120 130 3440
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 1416 220 290 262 410 281 253 263 284 273 212 274 176 184 346 292 206 243 296 222 195 170 6768
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 1122 122 122 113 129 84 92 81 86 103 96 105 79 100 105 119 98 77 112 89 46 28 3108
047 Plant Husbandry 894 94 84 109 138 140 152 141 130 162 173 178 130 143 192 236 200 222 206 128 103 107 4062
048 Gas: Heating and Illuminating 613 48 52 39 62 62 22 19 23 12 34 23 42 44 28 19 24 7 21 35 27 50 1306
049 Movable or Removable Closures 1094 182 192 121 194 186 204 148 167 166 174 176 139 176 182 236 194 191 168 187 140 139 4756
051 Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition 313 27 35 34 51 57 62 86 89 58 51 69 73 42 52 45 70 77 82 71 41 31 1516
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 4725 776 772 614 776 715 691 608 644 691 619 752 831 1002 987 1016 1141 981 857 775 683 567 21223
053 Package Making 2025 388 358 305 369 362 401 337 301 278 418 391 436 538 394 455 387 359 418 424 378 352 10074
054 Harness for Working Animal 93 16 10 14 16 17 24 25 16 19 16 15 12 27 12 31 24 33 35 31 13 27 526
055 Gas Separation 809 83 94 73 98 98 98 118 114 64 77 96 103 184 152 170 172 190 169 177 150 148 3437
056 Harvesters 1576 129 172 183 191 244 216 176 176 172 198 158 116 214 238 229 182 205 201 178 199 165 5518
057 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 1547 195 203 152 161 149 69 133 113 142 111 109 111 162 116 107 132 98 61 66 50 75 4062
059 Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making 172 15 16 12 23 15 16 19 20 23 20 12 20 27 27 23 41 28 29 24 27 30 639
060 Power Plants 4516 412 534 555 554 522 519 644 634 644 620 503 537 710 672 740 1025 974 944 951 947 1096 19253
062 Refrigeration 3580 461 518 517 582 574 583 572 710 653 636 632 685 791 902 884 1045 1099 1022 813 660 798 18717
063 Jewelry 153 21 17 35 31 26 37 48 34 28 36 42 55 40 33 41 36 56 52 43 26 40 930
065 Glass Manufacturing 2005 215 233 232 277 220 207 234 175 174 101 118 200 234 251 175 194 200 202 223 124 139 6133
066 Textiles: Knitting 741 84 95 86 90 35 86 71 80 74 69 94 73 73 89 141 128 71 70 82 81 80 2493
068 Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus 526 33 50 60 63 60 63 50 70 62 62 70 80 112 111 69 49 79 72 29 33 35 1838
069 Leather Manufactures 78 4 3 5 6 3 7 1 2 1 0 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 4 7 0 134
070 Locks 1318 163 249 200 262 223 239 171 189 182 210 201 242 338 319 248 211 285 309 222 212 203 6196
071 Chemistry: Fertilizers 457 44 27 33 35 31 37 53 38 40 61 44 59 58 42 39 62 64 24 27 14 12 1301
072 Metal Deforming 3253 423 363 392 396 376 384 326 326 325 277 325 389 470 500 435 450 343 350 322 259 458 11142
073 Measuring and Testing 8951 1141 1098 1016 1287 1205 1154 1070 1125 1372 1356 1463 1347 1653 1528 1517 1575 1684 2055 1727 1779 1913 39016
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 3089 439 468 464 557 487 438 514 594 409 373 490 425 618 626 613 605 561 492 410 355 389 13416
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 2073 215 197 246 211 236 203 192 227 223 245 175 150 200 247 231 274 289 235 190 131 102 6492
076 Metal Tools and Implements, Making 243 32 32 31 39 16 41 38 23 27 44 28 24 23 19 31 21 19 22 15 10 9 787
079 Button Making 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 8
081 Tools 1141 174 141 213 233 201 211 185 187 197 142 193 130 184 285 352 407 293 228 256 310 416 6079
082 Turning 582 97 98 62 79 67 82 74 63 54 33 41 64 73 82 68 75 55 109 50 45 49 2002
083 Cutting 2318 291 309 206 246 259 308 282 259 235 183 157 177 301 337 314 286 204 264 320 210 272 7738
084 Music 2072 175 263 173 222 251 239 252 299 305 343 323 273 342 417 381 347 306 277 274 234 316 8084
086 Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making 141 16 15 16 20 18 18 19 18 17 16 10 14 21 10 11 16 15 15 7 14 15 462
087 Textiles: Braiding, Netting, and Lace Making 61 11 5 16 10 13 8 8 7 9 11 6 6 13 15 7 8 11 9 5 2 8 249
089 Ordnance 921 120 185 122 156 181 152 159 129 134 134 80 111 123 108 83 124 118 126 117 87 84 3554
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 1266 106 139 160 140 122 107 133 122 92 67 87 77 111 77 80 92 104 81 92 69 79 3403
092 Expansible Chamber Devices 576 91 114 125 142 105 135 90 93 101 101 93 111 141 136 99 153 160 144 113 105 99 3027
095 Gas Separation: Processes 1030 104 135 167 164 153 163 180 152 122 134 136 132 205 216 205 227 272 276 218 166 211 4768
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 1004 100 160 122 125 125 122 112 108 93 97 111 124 138 133 126 130 168 159 142 116 108 3623
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 1328 150 211 201 202 220 201 210 254 234 309 279 320 306 352 332 332 277 278 247 173 176 6592
100 Presses 1014 75 92 105 72 54 107 115 117 113 99 103 103 135 105 82 82 56 129 105 82 107 3052
101 Printing 2078 221 221 207 271 264 302 327 309 319 339 357 366 527 447 431 385 438 547 581 333 353 9623
102 Ammunition and Explosives 1302 162 258 209 231 215 261 203 197 182 180 155 143 155 132 121 215 192 213 151 137 141 5155
104 Railways 679 83 94 90 91 122 92 96 81 71 82 86 102 73 52 65 91 105 84 57 47 33 2376
105 Railway Rolling Stock 610 68 85 58 71 70 78 82 72 69 78 77 71 91 55 65 99 91 81 50 67 49 2137
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 2434 208 262 283 287 264 344 426 376 483 406 394 415 555 518 427 428 474 489 490 311 372 10646
108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 609 64 86 75 130 89 73 97 76 145 138 167 158 159 176 190 152 155 149 159 111 118 3276
109 Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device 177 21 38 18 22 20 12 8 18 12 11 12 22 21 16 11 7 12 14 8 12 5 497
110 Furnaces 851 137 121 149 132 154 144 124 108 137 80 104 121 143 82 93 119 92 50 68 79 62 3150
111 Planting 319 50 38 43 25 44 36 30 26 38 41 55 47 38 59 59 68 48 66 58 47 59 1294
112 Sewing 1816 226 262 164 197 160 214 171 143 127 134 178 156 181 188 157 146 87 65 112 92 89 5065
114 Ships 1764 196 317 251 286 283 294 255 239 259 268 271 256 257 277 336 318 274 290 258 322 332 7603
116 Signals and Indicators 569 57 46 47 73 67 87 58 63 81 58 57 52 39 51 59 66 75 65 73 60 48 1851
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 592 95 100 77 98 102 88 108 129 151 177 138 127 203 236 226 190 187 178 192 175 184 3753
118 Coating Apparatus 1608 198 229 152 231 246 269 271 290 273 323 369 375 408 431 554 544 479 445 367 299 259 8620
119 Animal Husbandry 1476 150 158 187 210 257 311 310 277 291 248 279 283 456 391 357 356 437 434 299 304 326 7797
122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 771 93 121 89 112 101 76 56 68 99 47 59 35 86 82 82 82 82 86 65 64 46 2402
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 8362 924 1084 956 1076 1116 1196 1154 1082 843 864 1076 1108 1294 1240 1397 1752 1777 1743 1664 1623 1836 35167
124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors 425 62 77 61 87 70 79 77 84 92 108 104 138 106 109 101 82 79 114 138 81 71 2345
125 Stone Working 217 22 32 25 31 45 21 28 36 24 20 24 31 41 47 68 64 61 39 38 47 63 1024
126 Stoves and Furnaces 3649 268 258 210 225 240 198 144 149 167 169 139 143 162 230 224 184 122 164 166 154 78 7443
127 Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates 273 25 25 26 36 19 31 30 20 25 23 22 18 32 47 21 26 25 12 15 6 11 768
128 Surgery 1290 194 230 151 339 306 365 294 324 390 389 494 522 653 558 588 481 522 573 521 411 505 10100
131 Tobacco 1096 166 157 138 146 157 164 174 94 83 90 91 92 129 80 89 61 67 73 92 45 30 3314
132 Toilet 631 125 89 73 92 107 134 118 103 130 96 136 140 244 322 239 188 169 157 102 66 94 3555
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 1163 131 159 208 256 205 270 262 270 317 322 303 322 433 549 438 462 514 554 391 302 273 8104
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 307 49 47 63 107 75 62 74 86 126 90 95 105 131 112 122 186 134 93 123 81 78 2346
136 Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric 746 85 105 71 53 57 71 63 72 76 91 85 65 72 118 173 203 179 147 113 55 59 2759
137 Fluid Handling 5116 606 693 588 735 676 699 678 662 623 581 555 540 746 903 948 1020 722 673 686 693 678 19821
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 1012 102 125 103 112 84 105 75 81 111 127 113 110 172 240 275 216 177 158 135 152 150 3935
139 Textiles: Weaving 1038 120 125 107 125 128 142 124 100 110 119 100 98 109 89 137 156 98 41 67 95 102 3330
140 Wireworking 331 35 38 28 22 31 27 35 29 25 26 33 33 37 33 31 26 21 28 19 8 33 929
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 1203 156 184 110 177 176 173 184 217 255 209 228 215 237 298 251 347 312 289 335 268 275 6099
142 Wood Turning 21 5 1 1 1 3 3 5 1 1 1 3 2 1 5 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 59
144 Woodworking 931 111 99 102 123 121 106 130 87 109 101 80 91 107 139 133 110 111 121 72 53 109 3146
147 Coopering 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 9
148 Metal Treatment 2130 250 243 280 352 313 318 379 386 367 378 339 293 393 406 403 469 480 468 345 227 202 9421
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 536 36 54 33 51 65 77 31 27 19 52 82 46 55 41 73 57 43 61 45 62 25 1571
150 Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers 82 8 11 14 17 23 18 21 21 19 15 15 10 20 17 28 23 18 21 15 9 13 438
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 993 88 116 131 146 127 116 116 160 160 135 104 125 143 130 178 170 233 224 169 150 173 4087
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 5227 566 654 673 789 766 655 695 767 758 806 751 887 1058 1128 1070 1076 1078 1190 1049 749 731 23123
157 Wheelwright Machines 121 16 9 19 20 11 20 15 18 10 8 7 5 5 7 15 23 8 14 7 12 16 386
159 Concentrating Evaporators 218 18 16 13 13 13 14 28 26 10 12 11 5 14 9 8 5 7 3 7 14 7 471
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 661 63 109 102 161 123 157 170 123 122 125 159 165 173 171 244 212 172 187 193 168 162 3922
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 1322 115 114 153 192 230 189 226 215 206 224 269 295 330 286 325 423 427 308 271 192 210 6522
163 Needle and Pin Making 7 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
164 Metal Founding 1648 303 300 260 248 251 260 187 258 260 175 196 200 225 244 162 205 261 290 201 218 234 6586
165 Heat Exchange 2594 339 368 314 355 319 351 316 307 335 253 301 266 346 380 370 420 373 345 417 424 544 10037
166 Wells 2844 425 530 359 437 378 402 400 417 528 406 308 248 386 423 518 632 525 596 648 514 841 12765
168 Farriery 41 8 5 9 7 6 14 14 12 9 2 7 9 8 6 12 10 16 10 10 6 3 224
169 Fire Extinguishers 296 44 52 29 44 43 53 63 45 33 32 59 56 67 88 96 49 52 45 49 49 58 1402
171 Unearthing Plants or Buried Objects 104 8 7 5 10 13 8 5 8 6 8 5 5 6 2 7 4 5 6 5 4 6 237
172 Earth Working 1276 107 96 69 136 107 86 83 75 82 109 110 94 134 111 131 127 100 87 97 91 90 3398
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 641 66 78 61 100 53 77 86 46 65 53 57 54 76 86 99 91 66 90 115 104 124 2288
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 1763 186 251 233 290 223 288 243 336 364 403 355 316 488 416 516 914 954 792 751 682 652 11416
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 1341 181 199 168 206 169 191 184 160 223 170 181 154 214 233 270 306 276 261 229 203 275 5794
177 Weighing Scales 759 124 127 97 142 76 64 89 90 75 41 36 60 111 92 57 69 84 87 94 65 85 2524
178 Telegraphy 272 35 65 37 48 27 39 32 32 26 41 55 40 36 32 10 14 11 11 14 5 10 892
180 Motor Vehicles 2386 351 438 407 430 351 419 355 327 340 215 303 200 357 416 457 493 536 575 507 574 581 11018
181 Acoustics 983 126 125 122 162 125 118 109 113 98 112 111 101 154 173 172 126 152 179 144 126 72 3703
182 Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 907 147 147 126 125 133 151 169 83 138 104 97 104 151 191 162 130 166 129 153 138 144 3795
184 Lubrication 282 29 30 44 41 75 69 54 71 54 53 59 42 52 44 60 69 66 62 41 39 41 1377
185 Motors: Spring, Weight, or Animal Powered 36 7 9 4 4 5 0 3 5 3 5 0 4 3 5 4 3 6 2 4 2 1 115
186 Merchandising 53 7 4 7 5 9 11 20 10 8 9 13 9 12 9 10 6 7 17 10 3 3 242
187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 602 61 98 91 61 64 125 106 114 123 101 120 111 154 182 116 132 171 102 70 67 112 2883
188 Brakes 1772 230 225 224 300 197 227 236 212 238 275 295 203 254 307 295 481 448 315 251 290 302 7577
190 Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage 139 16 18 28 31 19 24 42 24 26 37 37 31 37 38 39 47 39 47 23 26 31 799
191 Electricity: Transmission To Vehicles 138 13 16 11 12 9 17 16 20 16 10 13 21 18 15 14 35 23 15 13 14 12 471
192 Clutches and Power-Stop Control 1786 340 344 194 281 304 327 289 179 162 177 245 280 266 393 359 275 298 326 297 225 260 7607
193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 183 17 23 16 14 18 25 18 20 13 14 9 11 4 26 26 35 28 17 16 11 19 563
194 Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms 366 41 38 34 59 41 57 56 60 68 89 83 51 56 84 81 66 34 56 45 52 36 1553
196 Mineral Oils: Apparatus 59 5 4 5 2 3 6 4 5 3 2 2 4 5 2 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 119
198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 2364