U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Information Products Division
Technology Assessment and Forecast (TAF) Branch

Patenting By Geographic Region (State and Country), Breakout By Technology Class
Count of 1996 - 2000 Utility Patent Grants By Calendar Year of Grant

[Explanation of Data]

Rank Ordered Listing of Technology Classes Receiving 1 or More Utility Patents During the Period
Originating From

SOUTH AFRICA

(patent origin is determined by the residence of the first-named inventor)

(technology class is determined by the primary classification assigned to the patent- see 'Explanation of Data')
 
Class Class Title 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Total
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 4 7 6 7 5 29
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 4 3 5 2 7 21
340 Communications: Electrical 3 5 3 4 5 20
405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 2 4 3 4 2 15
604 Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) 2 0 5 2 4 13
606 Surgery (instruments) 1 3 3 2 3 12
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 1 1 6 1 1 10
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 1 1 3 2 2 9
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 3 0 4 1 1 9
198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 1 0 2 3 3 9
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 2 2 0 3 2 9
473 Games Using Tangible Projectile 2 0 5 2 0 9
209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 0 3 0 2 2 7
222 Dispensing (apparatus and process) 2 1 1 1 2 7
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 0 3 1 3 0 7
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 1 2 1 1 2 7
102 Ammunition and Explosives 2 2 0 0 2 6
335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 5 1 0 0 0 6
414 Material or Article Handling 2 0 2 1 1 6
053 Package Making 1 1 0 1 2 5
073 Measuring and Testing 1 1 0 2 1 5
137 Fluid Handling 3 0 1 1 0 5
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 1 3 0 1 0 5
220 Receptacles 0 3 0 2 0 5
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 1 0 1 2 1 5
404 Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus 1 1 2 1 0 5
426 Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products 0 2 0 2 1 5
427 Coating Processes 1 1 2 0 1 5
439 Electrical Connectors 0 1 1 2 1 5
502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 0 1 2 2 0 5
051 Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition 1 2 0 0 1 4
072 Metal Deforming 1 1 0 2 0 4
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 1 0 1 1 1 4
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 0 0 0 2 2 4
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 0 1 3 0 0 4
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 1 2 1 0 0 4
206 Special Receptacle or Package 1 1 1 0 1 4
280 Land Vehicles 0 1 1 2 0 4
299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 1 0 1 1 1 4
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 2 0 1 0 1 4
482 Exercise Devices 0 3 1 0 0 4
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 1 0 1 2 0 4
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 1 1 0 1 0 3
029 Metal Working 1 0 1 1 0 3
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 0 0 0 1 2 3
037 Excavating 1 0 0 2 0 3
042 Firearms 2 0 1 0 0 3
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 0 0 1 1 1 3
086 Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making 1 0 1 1 0 3
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 1 0 0 0 2 3
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 2 0 1 0 0 3
132 Toilet 0 1 1 1 0 3
148 Metal Treatment 1 1 0 0 1 3
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 0 0 1 0 2 3
235 Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) 1 0 2 0 0 3
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 0 1 0 1 1 3
273 Amusement Devices: Games 0 1 0 1 1 3
290 Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants 0 2 0 0 1 3
297 Chairs and Seats 0 1 1 0 1 3
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 2 1 0 0 0 3
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 0 1 1 0 1 3
380 Cryptography 0 1 1 0 1 3
383 Flexible Bags 1 2 0 0 0 3
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 0 1 0 2 0 3
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 0 0 0 2 1 3
441 Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices 1 0 0 1 1 3
518 Chemistry: Fischer-Tropsch Processes; or Purification or Recovery of Products Thereof 0 1 1 0 1 3
705 DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) 1 0 1 0 1 3
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 0 2 0 0 0 2
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 0 0 2 0 0 2
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 0 0 0 1 1 2
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 0 0 1 0 1 2
055 Gas Separation 2 0 0 0 0 2
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 0 0 1 0 1 2
081 Tools 0 0 0 0 2 2
089 Ordnance 0 1 0 1 0 2
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 0 1 1 0 0 2
105 Railway Rolling Stock 1 0 1 0 0 2
109 Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device 0 1 0 0 1 2
114 Ships 0 0 0 1 1 2
119 Animal Husbandry 1 0 1 0 0 2
126 Stoves and Furnaces 1 0 0 1 0 2
131 Tobacco 0 0 0 0 2 2
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 0 0 0 1 1 2
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 0 0 0 2 0 2
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 1 0 0 1 0 2
187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 2 0 0 0 0 2
194 Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms 1 0 1 0 0 2
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 1 1 0 0 0 2
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 0 1 0 0 1 2
212 Traversing Hoists 0 0 2 0 0 2
236 Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation 1 1 0 0 0 2
244 Aeronautics 0 1 0 0 1 2
252 Compositions 1 0 0 1 0 2
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 0 0 0 1 1 2
267 Spring Devices 1 0 0 0 1 2
281 Books, Strips, and Leaves 1 0 0 1 0 2
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 0 0 0 0 2 2
359 Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements 1 0 1 0 0 2
362 Illumination 0 0 0 2 0 2
379 Telephonic Communications 1 0 1 0 0 2
382 Image Analysis 1 0 0 1 0 2
402 Binder Device Releasably Engaging Aperture or Notch of Sheet 0 1 0 0 1 2
417 Pumps 0 0 1 0 1 2
425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 1 0 0 1 0 2
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 1 0 1 0 0 2
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 0 0 0 1 1 2
446 Amusement Devices: Toys 1 0 0 1 0 2
451 Abrading 0 1 0 1 0 2
475 Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components 2 0 0 0 0 2
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 0 0 0 0 2 2
701 DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) 0 0 1 1 0 2
800 Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related Processes 0 0 0 0 2 2
002 Apparel 1 0 0 0 0 1
005 Beds 0 0 0 1 0 1
047 Plant Husbandry 1 0 0 0 0 1
049 Movable or Removable Closures 0 0 1 0 0 1
060 Power Plants 0 0 0 0 1 1
062 Refrigeration 1 0 0 0 0 1
065 Glass Manufacturing 0 0 1 0 0 1
070 Locks 0 0 1 0 0 1
076 Metal Tools and Implements, Making 0 0 0 0 1 1
095 Gas Separation: Processes 1 0 0 0 0 1
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 0 1 0 0 0 1
104 Railways 0 0 1 0 0 1
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 0 0 0 1 0 1
108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 0 0 1 0 0 1
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 0 0 1 0 0 1
127 Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates 0 0 0 1 0 1
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 0 0 1 0 0 1
144 Woodworking 1 0 0 0 0 1
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 0 0 0 0 1 1
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 0 0 1 0 0 1
165 Heat Exchange 0 1 0 0 0 1
172 Earth Working 0 1 0 0 0 1
177 Weighing Scales 0 0 1 0 0 1
180 Motor Vehicles 0 0 0 1 0 1
188 Brakes 0 0 1 0 0 1
192 Clutches and Power-Stop Control 1 0 0 0 0 1
193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 0 0 0 0 1 1
202 Distillation: Apparatus 0 1 0 0 0 1
211 Supports: Racks 0 1 0 0 0 1
217 Wooden Receptacles 0 0 1 0 0 1
219 Electric Heating 1 0 0 0 0 1
223 Apparel Apparatus 0 1 0 0 0 1
224 Package and Article Carriers 1 0 0 0 0 1
228 Metal Fusion Bonding 1 0 0 0 0 1
229 Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes 0 0 1 0 0 1
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 0 0 0 0 1 1
250 Radiant Energy 1 0 0 0 0 1
254 Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force 0 0 0 0 1 1
293 Vehicle Fenders 0 1 0 0 0 1
298 Land Vehicles: Dumping 1 0 0 0 0 1
312 Supports: Cabinet Structure 0 0 0 1 0 1
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 0 1 0 0 0 1
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 0 0 0 0 1 1
320 Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging 0 1 0 0 0 1
337 Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches 0 0 1 0 0 1
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 0 0 0 0 1 1
348 Television 0 0 1 0 0 1
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 0 0 1 0 0 1
370 Multiplex Communications 0 0 0 0 1 1
373 Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces 1 0 0 0 0 1
384 Bearings 1 0 0 0 0 1
392 Electric Resistance Heating Devices 0 0 0 0 1 1
400 Typewriting Machines 1 0 0 0 0 1
408 Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool 1 0 0 0 0 1
412 Bookbinding: Process and Apparatus 0 0 1 0 0 1
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 0 0 0 1 0 1
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 0 0 0 1 0 1
432 Heating 0 0 0 0 1 1
433 Dentistry 0 0 0 1 0 1
434 Education and Demonstration 0 1 0 0 0 1
440 Marine Propulsion 0 0 0 0 1 1
501 Compositions: Ceramic 1 0 0 0 0 1
504 Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions 1 0 0 0 0 1
510 Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions 0 1 0 0 0 1
585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 0 0 0 1 0 1
607 Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application 0 1 0 0 0 1
ALL ALL CLASSES 111 101 115 110 111 548



TAF Contacts

Questions regarding these reports should be directed to:

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/

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Last Modified: April 30, 2001