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

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

Description of the Report

An independent inventor patent is a patent for which ownership is either unassigned (i.e., patent rights are held by the inventor) or assigned to an individual at the time of grant. This report is limited to only such independent inventor patents. Patents for which ownership is assigned to an organization at the time of grant are excluded from this 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 - Independent Inventors
Patents Granted: 1977 - 2006
A Patent Technology Monitoring Team Report

Part I, Patent Counts By Class By Year - Independent Inventors
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 II, Patent Counts By Class By Year, Independent Inventor Patents, Breakout by U.S. Patent Classification System Class.
Patent Counts Based on ORIGINAL and CROSS-REFERENCE Patent Classifications are presented.
Duplicate patent counts are eliminated within each class.
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 ** 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 6
002 Apparel 847 142 197 147 190 175 255 220 161 176 152 266 296 348 427 372 375 307 205 220 178 206 5862
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 916 108 96 118 150 176 182 148 174 190 152 136 152 212 264 218 201 236 198 177 133 123 4460
005 Beds 739 96 166 134 161 191 193 214 165 157 152 208 175 181 190 206 177 166 189 188 186 169 4403
007 Compound Tools 99 17 17 13 22 19 25 15 28 21 12 24 17 23 23 26 34 24 14 21 21 21 536
008 Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers 125 12 7 12 19 11 9 11 14 18 14 17 14 22 18 17 16 15 14 6 8 7 406
012 Boot and Shoe Making 53 5 8 4 8 7 4 2 5 5 3 2 3 5 13 1 6 2 6 6 1 2 151
014 Bridges 61 6 18 8 11 8 11 4 8 12 16 15 10 10 17 6 7 15 11 17 8 11 290
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 1170 118 142 154 154 143 166 134 144 193 199 236 181 237 238 251 186 175 175 137 111 106 4750
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 266 18 47 42 85 39 54 37 40 63 55 69 66 92 76 70 63 97 78 67 57 50 1531
019 Textiles: Fiber Preparation 85 9 6 3 14 15 14 6 5 13 10 6 8 5 10 10 8 14 4 1 0 3 249
023 Chemistry: Physical Processes 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 28
024 Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. 595 59 91 65 89 111 125 103 79 81 98 95 131 121 116 121 130 126 141 79 46 79 2681
026 Textiles: Cloth Finishing 27 1 2 4 4 4 4 2 1 1 1 4 5 1 4 2 2 0 0 1 0 2 72
027 Undertaking 45 1 2 7 6 11 9 6 7 7 5 5 12 11 9 5 9 6 15 6 2 9 195
028 Textiles: Manufacturing 47 1 4 2 1 6 6 6 2 9 6 5 4 4 7 4 3 4 1 7 2 4 135
029 Metal Working 1088 158 176 149 171 156 169 145 168 127 133 131 144 137 120 152 158 142 157 136 125 140 4182
030 Cutlery 827 130 127 107 146 151 155 118 104 109 98 124 97 136 137 129 116 146 124 127 93 87 3388
033 Geometrical Instruments 1131 157 167 115 140 185 177 171 113 117 167 121 96 132 112 143 148 134 150 163 169 120 4128
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 434 45 50 40 40 36 46 47 50 52 49 43 56 59 75 78 51 49 41 40 39 38 1458
036 Boots, Shoes, and Leggings 522 71 81 72 75 81 61 47 69 73 64 65 86 126 106 96 83 76 76 81 66 67 2144
037 Excavating 298 32 31 28 43 37 36 43 38 23 31 47 29 35 43 49 40 49 31 34 30 22 1049
038 Textiles: Ironing or Smoothing 66 15 13 13 14 13 13 9 8 12 9 13 7 11 14 10 11 9 7 11 8 7 293
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 839 58 90 100 145 112 111 78 95 113 100 92 98 124 135 153 140 148 179 131 101 96 3238
042 Firearms 438 50 70 55 78 93 112 63 61 70 82 63 84 88 77 49 77 104 108 88 65 66 2041
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 1122 183 239 227 330 231 208 215 220 219 163 223 135 139 263 214 141 183 205 171 135 130 5296
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 148 17 15 16 13 14 8 9 13 13 14 12 9 4 15 22 10 10 14 14 10 6 406
047 Plant Husbandry 570 61 50 54 90 82 100 79 82 108 106 100 62 88 103 124 98 103 94 52 60 62 2328
048 Gas: Heating and Illuminating 87 6 8 3 9 7 3 4 0 4 6 0 2 7 3 4 3 0 2 6 1 8 173
049 Movable or Removable Closures 369 54 77 38 53 44 50 48 33 51 60 61 41 55 47 50 57 42 35 53 27 30 1375
051 Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition 57 5 5 7 11 11 11 14 18 7 8 5 14 4 4 6 4 5 4 3 2 2 207
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 2339 350 376 309 390 352 305 262 309 348 301 385 431 496 467 460 532 435 401 360 295 233 10136
053 Package Making 433 68 77 52 57 56 76 52 46 45 65 60 51 71 57 54 47 33 37 53 53 30 1573
054 Harness for Working Animal 83 14 8 13 13 14 19 18 14 15 12 13 9 20 8 20 17 24 28 18 10 20 410
055 Gas Separation 181 19 23 26 28 24 30 31 28 9 15 25 17 35 36 28 33 24 30 29 16 21 708
056 Harvesters 555 42 61 52 63 91 88 77 78 71 88 75 39 65 80 71 48 64 43 48 57 42 1898
057 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 208 36 33 27 30 28 13 27 39 32 14 8 16 34 17 10 15 10 5 6 0 5 613
059 Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making 50 3 5 3 9 8 4 2 4 9 7 6 10 4 9 6 4 5 11 9 11 6 185
060 Power Plants 1014 87 105 96 85 64 68 77 88 61 56 61 69 82 86 91 100 92 84 91 82 117 2756
062 Refrigeration 858 116 114 112 139 145 130 105 142 141 110 127 122 150 144 156 192 201 170 116 89 105 3684
063 Jewelry 116 16 13 27 21 19 27 35 25 14 30 25 32 21 24 25 19 30 30 24 18 19 610
065 Glass Manufacturing 157 11 7 3 14 10 4 13 9 13 4 6 5 11 22 8 7 18 12 8 10 9 361
066 Textiles: Knitting 125 13 18 12 13 2 19 4 12 4 3 12 15 10 12 18 20 14 6 11 10 10 363
068 Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus 99 3 5 13 6 6 9 10 9 9 12 11 7 15 15 10 8 15 14 2 2 2 282
069 Leather Manufactures 30 2 1 3 3 2 4 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 56
070 Locks 643 76 118 112 139 116 123 102 104 105 122 103 128 174 170 104 92 121 129 96 88 79 3044
071 Chemistry: Fertilizers 104 7 6 7 10 9 3 18 6 10 16 14 19 17 11 11 12 19 8 8 1 4 320
072 Metal Deforming 739 75 73 60 87 73 72 42 60 53 40 57 63 84 83 69 52 46 42 37 42 71 2020
073 Measuring and Testing 1670 202 187 163 240 187 204 167 159 173 203 217 189 209 196 166 167 205 218 180 161 162 5625
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 616 78 79 73 105 81 79 116 92 91 85 109 90 102 112 101 86 58 73 53 32 41 2352
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 219 15 18 17 16 15 11 12 13 21 25 12 14 17 14 14 27 25 17 8 8 7 545
076 Metal Tools and Implements, Making 106 20 11 11 13 6 15 13 5 10 16 10 10 7 3 15 5 3 7 1 3 3 293
079 Button Making 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
081 Tools 716 112 88 124 152 126 134 109 115 129 91 116 79 118 182 215 251 187 139 157 177 235 3752
082 Turning 181 23 25 15 15 10 15 16 12 14 7 9 19 19 19 15 22 13 30 12 12 9 512
083 Cutting 683 87 88 67 85 92 100 84 76 58 51 58 47 72 93 73 66 45 57 99 52 57 2190
084 Music 928 75 129 101 112 113 109 91 87 104 124 128 95 130 158 173 152 121 131 123 96 132 3412
086 Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making 60 7 3 6 12 3 9 5 10 3 5 2 4 5 1 6 2 6 3 1 4 6 163
087 Textiles: Braiding, Netting, and Lace Making 18 5 1 2 4 2 1 2 5 0 0 1 2 1 5 2 0 5 5 5 1 2 69
089 Ordnance 150 22 22 22 33 43 22 24 28 24 34 18 21 30 28 23 30 33 32 35 19 20 713
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 221 15 22 27 15 19 18 17 19 18 4 9 9 10 6 9 5 8 6 8 4 5 474
092 Expansible Chamber Devices 130 10 15 33 20 33 29 16 12 25 22 16 7 18 12 10 13 15 17 9 8 6 476
095 Gas Separation: Processes 154 14 19 22 24 23 20 27 19 13 14 16 21 23 28 14 28 27 22 17 22 16 583
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 240 16 29 27 33 41 25 27 29 19 21 27 19 21 27 22 25 25 17 23 23 24 760
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 593 69 86 75 73 78 72 88 92 93 126 102 130 148 133 149 150 110 96 89 60 64 2676
100 Presses 326 25 29 25 18 17 40 45 41 37 29 28 34 37 25 21 22 11 27 16 14 24 891
101 Printing 348 38 43 37 44 43 53 49 49 51 69 39 49 67 50 56 53 36 49 52 27 42 1344
102 Ammunition and Explosives 151 18 29 31 31 30 33 36 31 28 32 18 15 19 21 11 34 28 27 28 24 21 696
104 Railways 162 22 30 21 17 23 27 20 14 16 24 20 25 22 18 14 20 29 23 21 22 8 598
105 Railway Rolling Stock 70 9 11 7 9 10 11 13 13 6 8 13 11 12 3 12 14 12 6 6 11 7 274
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 263 17 24 16 25 27 31 31 34 59 35 44 33 39 44 32 39 32 39 38 24 20 946
108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 320 30 43 37 63 44 42 51 28 62 62 83 77 77 83 103 68 63 66 72 43 43 1560
109 Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device 91 9 14 9 15 11 5 2 10 5 3 5 11 9 9 8 3 7 5 2 4 2 239
110 Furnaces 228 29 30 36 28 42 36 35 29 44 29 23 19 30 15 17 21 19 12 15 16 18 771
111 Planting 156 18 19 18 15 26 18 16 12 18 23 28 22 10 22 21 29 19 24 13 12 18 557
112 Sewing 224 31 25 18 27 16 34 28 19 20 16 20 18 32 40 29 35 26 11 16 19 20 724
114 Ships 914 112 184 139 172 179 181 148 139 144 138 147 139 141 154 175 147 133 137 108 162 155 4048
116 Signals and Indicators 276 37 19 26 45 49 62 34 34 49 38 35 28 23 32 41 37 42 32 44 33 28 1044
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 48 6 8 8 2 6 4 2 2 6 7 3 4 9 8 8 7 4 3 3 3 3 154
118 Coating Apparatus 277 32 39 29 26 25 48 36 33 37 43 32 37 40 47 32 32 34 31 21 15 23 969
119 Animal Husbandry 960 89 101 128 133 169 200 209 180 186 164 194 186 288 227 216 207 255 249 177 156 180 4854
122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 197 25 26 17 23 20 12 8 9 17 11 11 6 16 15 14 11 10 25 11 13 11 508
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 1644 132 159 117 173 139 182 159 142 126 131 137 123 159 136 129 195 148 156 132 138 156 4713
124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors 292 47 58 44 61 44 54 51 53 60 67 70 91 59 60 56 60 52 67 80 48 48 1522
125 Stone Working 87 8 10 8 8 14 6 9 9 11 8 10 15 10 12 14 16 12 11 17 14 24 333
126 Stoves and Furnaces 2177 141 129 107 110 112 96 60 83 79 75 65 61 73 93 102 90 48 70 65 63 37 3936
127 Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates 33 3 1 1 1 2 2 7 4 5 3 2 1 4 6 1 4 1 0 0 1 1 83
128 Surgery 630 85 117 72 162 149 188 151 149 181 191 215 205 245 195 176 170 171 160 159 115 126 4012
131 Tobacco 287 34 29 22 31 25 24 26 7 15 22 23 22 41 27 29 13 19 17 24 9 8 754
132 Toilet 394 66 59 41 61 76 92 68 73 85 72 87 88 169 195 141 104 86 75 57 25 46 2160
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 331 33 49 70 71 57 83 68 62 65 90 68 56 76 120 98 79 83 74 48 34 33 1748
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 232 29 31 50 73 60 50 52 60 101 62 77 84 90 80 83 127 79 71 87 63 44 1685
136 Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric 141 10 12 7 9 8 10 6 4 10 13 16 11 14 9 22 15 18 10 14 9 8 376
137 Fluid Handling 1313 149 178 163 217 185 190 195 183 181 147 141 143 171 237 251 223 128 126 135 128 137 4921
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 236 26 28 24 26 14 32 28 20 31 30 28 23 45 63 52 45 34 24 23 24 20 876
139 Textiles: Weaving 126 12 15 4 13 5 14 10 3 5 11 11 7 7 5 8 8 5 1 8 7 8 293
140 Wireworking 83 6 9 8 3 8 4 4 3 9 8 7 5 9 5 8 6 3 5 2 1 10 206
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 379 42 57 27 56 44 50 53 54 73 69 72 68 62 76 68 88 81 60 80 66 52 1677
142 Wood Turning 13 5 1 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 2 1 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 44
144 Woodworking 460 64 53 65 63 59 56 69 46 52 50 40 44 53 59 62 52 59 61 31 19 49 1566
147 Coopering 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
148 Metal Treatment 114 8 9 10 14 15 11 18 15 24 14 9 15 15 14 19 26 22 26 21 8 2 429
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 42 2 6 2 4 3 3 1 1 2 1 4 3 3 0 2 3 1 2 2 3 0 90
150 Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers 57 7 9 13 14 19 15 14 16 15 10 14 6 13 13 24 21 14 15 10 7 10 336
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 207 10 17 16 30 17 16 16 25 19 14 13 16 16 17 22 17 13 21 13 12 17 564
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 945 100 100 93 117 100 89 101 99 111 136 107 109 127 141 129 140 122 111 104 52 61 3194
157 Wheelwright Machines 60 4 4 11 5 7 7 7 5 3 5 4 1 2 3 5 7 2 1 1 2 3 149
159 Concentrating Evaporators 33 2 2 4 2 1 0 5 6 3 3 2 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 73
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 319 23 51 51 76 60 78 74 60 52 70 69 82 84 86 111 92 81 70 74 61 57 1781
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 105 9 11 12 14 16 14 11 18 14 12 15 12 20 10 13 21 9 9 6 4 7 362
163 Needle and Pin Making 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
164 Metal Founding 254 40 35 24 36 33 21 13 29 26 12 31 13 21 13 6 20 31 23 12 17 18 728
165 Heat Exchange 561 64 73 60 72 58 46 59 39 67 52 48 27 49 51 39 53 42 36 70 37 61 1664
166 Wells 450 57 88 52 58 64 71 78 71 80 67 58 53 73 56 81 126 70 79 69 50 77 1928
168 Farriery 34 5 3 8 7 4 13 13 10 5 2 4 6 6 4 11 8 9 7 5 6 2 172
169 Fire Extinguishers 131 17 19 11 21 16 27 30 22 13 9 25 31 31 42 40 24 26 20 12 17 23 607
171 Unearthing Plants or Buried Objects 49 5 2 3 0 8 4 3 2 6 3 1 1 2 1 4 2 5 0 1 1 5 108
172 Earth Working 548 53 35 28 56 51 34 39 34 38 50 47 42 65 51 54 49 41 33 32 34 26 1440
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 166 23 23 15 36 17 23 20 9 14 16 15 15 28 21 28 15 10 21 24 19 18 576
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 221 38 32 34 31 42 39 37 45 46 49 39 48 83 78 59 84 95 80 72 102 87 1441
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 405 41 35 40 50 50 52 52 36 44 46 45 29 53 45 42 49 39 37 33 33 34 1290
177 Weighing Scales 154 18 28 23 27 20 11 16 20 12 11 2 12 19 13 10 15 13 19 14 6 9 472
178 Telegraphy 27 3 5 3 1 3 3 3 2 1 4 5 3 3 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 71
180 Motor Vehicles 618 75 56 74 65 55 71 60 58 76 59 66 35 60 70 73 70 78 75 56 81 83 2014
181 Acoustics 289 33 35 30 39 35 33 22 42 30 24 26 32 38 54 53 31 35 42 22 26 11 982
182 Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 617 118 102 84 90 91 110 106 61 100 74 75 80 111 130 102 67 95 78 99 80 87 2557
184 Lubrication 93 8 9 8 11 21 15 16 15 14 23 25 11 14 17 14 20 12 7 7 5 8 373
185 Motors: Spring, Weight, or Animal Powered 16 0 4 0 2 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 38
186 Merchandising 27 4 2 3 2 1 2 7 3 1 6 5 5 4 0 3 4 2 2 4 0 1 88
187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 92 7 12 9 7 8 17 14 14 21 12 22 16 16 28 17 16 14 11 10 6 15 384
188 Brakes 238 31 21 26 52 41 31 29 26 44 46 58 43 41 55 45 52 79 44 31 40 45 1118
190 Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage 81 14 10 16 16 11 10 21 13 17 22 23 19 16 17 16 20 19 22 10 7 11 411
191 Electricity: Transmission To Vehicles 42 2 3 4 2 4 4 6 3 8 4 3 7 4 2 4 13 6 5 3 4 3 136
192 Clutches and Power-Stop Control 171 21 25 5 17 19 34 17 11 17 18 30 20 16 27 18 18 15 11 10 14 8 542
193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 62 4 11 4 6 3 8 5 7 3 3 3 2 1 8 9 9 13 1 4 4 6 176
194 Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms 115 12 7 12 9 7 14 12 14 9 18 15 7 7 15 5 8 5 9 7 1 4 312
196 Mineral Oils: Apparatus 12 0 1 1 1 1 1