U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Information Products Division Technology Assessment and Forecast (TAF) Branch |
Class | Class Title | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | Total |
114 | Ships | 11 | 24 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 66 |
367 | Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices | 11 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 57 |
424 | Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) | 5 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 20 | 53 |
073 | Measuring and Testing | 6 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 39 |
428 | Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 29 |
604 | Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) | 5 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 28 |
435 | Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 24 |
137 | Fluid Handling | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
361 | Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 21 |
446 | Amusement Devices: Toys | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 20 |
520 | Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 19 |
227 | Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 18 |
356 | Optics: Measuring and Testing | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 |
606 | Surgery (instruments) | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 18 |
248 | Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
206 | Special Receptacle or Package | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
210 | Liquid Purification or Separation | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
532 | Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 15 |
707 | DP: Database and File Management, Data Structures, Or Document Processing (Data Processing) | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
128 | Surgery (includes Class 600) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
473 | Games Using Tangible Projectile | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
024 | Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
327 | Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
347 | Incremental Printing of Symbolic Information | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
384 | Bearings | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
430 | Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
510 | Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
063 | Jewelry | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
277 | Seal for a Joint or Juncture | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
340 | Communications: Electrical | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
439 | Electrical Connectors | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
701 | DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
702 | DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
706 | DP: Artificial Intelligence (Data Processing) | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
029 | Metal Working | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
033 | Geometrical Instruments | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
156 | Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
401 | Coating Implements with Material Supply | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
709 | Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
089 | Ordnance | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
119 | Animal Husbandry | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
200 | Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
257 | Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
273 | Amusement Devices: Games | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
343 | Communications: Radio Wave Antennas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
385 | Optical Waveguides | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
425 | Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
264 | Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
297 | Chairs and Seats | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
323 | Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
362 | Illumination | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
400 | Typewriting Machines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
422 | Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
002 | Apparel | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
043 | Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
124 | Mechanical Guns and Projectors | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
174 | Electricity: Conductors and Insulators | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
244 | Aeronautics | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
349 | Liquid Crystal Cells, Elements and Systems | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
351 | Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
382 | Image Analysis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
030 | Cutlery | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
036 | Boots, Shoes, and Leggings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
101 | Printing | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
239 | Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
251 | Valves and Valve Actuation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
359 | Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
427 | Coating Processes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
034 | Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
052 | Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
081 | Tools | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
106 | Compositions: Coating or Plastic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
134 | Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
181 | Acoustics | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
219 | Electric Heating | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
228 | Metal Fusion Bonding | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
345 | Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
372 | Coherent Light Generators | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
417 | Pumps | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
429 | Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
434 | Education and Demonstration | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
482 | Exercise Devices | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
530 | Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
703 | DP: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation (Data Processing) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
004 | Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
005 | Beds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
042 | Firearms | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
060 | Power Plants | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
099 | Foods and Beverages: Apparatus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
204 | Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
220 | Receptacles | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
224 | Package and Article Carriers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
250 | Radiant Energy | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
280 | Land Vehicles | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
285 | Pipe Joints or Couplings | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
320 | Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
324 | Electricity: Measuring and Testing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
342 | Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
416 | Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
438 | Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
440 | Marine Propulsion | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
441 | Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
442 | Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, Etc.) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
602 | Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
705 | DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
717 | DP: Software Development, Installation, and Management (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
040 | Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
068 | Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
070 | Locks | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
072 | Metal Deforming | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
084 | Music | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
123 | Internal-Combustion Engines | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
164 | Metal Founding | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
165 | Heat Exchange | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
169 | Fire Extinguishers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
190 | Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
205 | Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
211 | Supports: Racks | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
216 | Etching a Substrate: Processes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
222 | Dispensing (apparatus and process) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
236 | Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
283 | Printed Matter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
294 | Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
310 | Electrical Generator or Motor Structure | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
312 | Supports: Cabinet Structure | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
330 | Amplifiers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
335 | Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
337 | Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
375 | Pulse or Digital Communications | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
379 | Telephonic Communications | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
404 | Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
415 | Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
436 | Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
623 | Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and Accessories Therefor | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
700 | DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
710 | Input/Output (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
713 | Support (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
053 | Package Making | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
055 | Gas Separation | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
062 | Refrigeration | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
066 | Textiles: Knitting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
074 | Machine Element or Mechanism | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
087 | Textiles: Braiding, Netting, and Lace Making | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
096 | Gas Separation: Apparatus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
102 | Ammunition and Explosives | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
116 | Signals and Indicators | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
132 | Toilet | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
138 | Pipes and Tubular Conduits | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
160 | Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
180 | Motor Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
192 | Clutches and Power-Stop Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
209 | Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
221 | Article Dispensing | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
242 | Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
252 | Compositions | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
261 | Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
296 | Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
318 | Electricity: Motive Power Systems | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
341 | Coded Data Generation or Conversion | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
366 | Agitating (e.g., of articles and materials) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
370 | Multiplex Communications | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
381 | Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
426 | Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
431 | Combustion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
433 | Dentistry | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
463 | Amusement Devices: Games | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
607 | Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
714 | Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
716 | DP: Design and Analysis of Circuit or Semiconductor Mask (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
007 | Compound Hand Tools | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
008 | Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
016 | Miscellaneous Hardware | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
028 | Textiles: Manufacturing | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
037 | Excavating | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
049 | Movable or Removable Closures | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
054 | Harness (for animals) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
056 | Harvesters | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
059 | Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
091 | Motors: Expansible Chamber Type | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
092 | Expansible Chamber Devices | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
095 | Gas Separation: Processes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
104 | Railways | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
118 | Coating Apparatus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
122 | Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
131 | Tobacco | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
135 | Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
139 | Textiles: Weaving | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
141 | Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
144 | Woodworking | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
148 | Metal Treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
172 | Earth Working | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
175 | Boring or Penetrating the Earth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
178 | Telegraphy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
182 | Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
188 | Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
223 | Apparel Apparatus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
225 | Severing by Tearing or Breaking | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
235 | Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
237 | Heating Systems | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
249 | Static Molds | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
254 | Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
256 | Fences | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
269 | Work Holders | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
307 | Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
331 | Oscillators | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
333 | Wave Transmission Lines and Networks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
358 | Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
368 | Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
374 | Thermal Measuring and Testing | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
377 | Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and Systems | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
380 | Cryptography | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
396 | Photography | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
399 | Electrophotography | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
405 | Hydraulic and Earth Engineering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
411 | Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded Fastener | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
414 | Material or Article Handling | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
418 | Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
419 | Powder Metallurgy Processes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
420 | Alloys or Metallic Compositions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
423 | Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
451 | Abrading | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
472 | Amusement Devices | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
475 | Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
508 | Solid Anti-Friction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant or Separate Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
708 | Arithmetic Processing and Calculating (Electrical Computers) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
725 | Interactive Video Distribution Systems | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
ALL | ALL CLASSES | 235 | 249 | 280 | 261 | 320 | 1345 |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information Products Division - TAF Branch
PK3- Suite 441
Washington, DC 20231 tel: (703) 306-2600
FAX: (703) 306-2737
email: oeip@uspto.gov address of TAF Internet pages : http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/tafp.html
ftp download of TAF reports from : ftp.uspto.gov/pub/taf/