U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Information Products Division Technology Assessment and Forecast (TAF) Branch |
Class | Class Title | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | Total |
463 | Amusement Devices: Games | 9 | 5 | 33 | 20 | 41 | 108 |
273 | Amusement Devices: Games | 13 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 98 |
429 | Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process | 4 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 45 |
340 | Communications: Electrical | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 28 |
029 | Metal Working | 3 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 27 |
128 | Surgery (includes Class 600) | 3 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 26 |
210 | Liquid Purification or Separation | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 23 |
248 | Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 22 |
473 | Games Using Tangible Projectile | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 20 |
004 | Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 18 |
424 | Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
002 | Apparel | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 17 |
206 | Special Receptacle or Package | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 17 |
604 | Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 17 |
119 | Animal Husbandry | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 16 |
362 | Illumination | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 15 |
280 | Land Vehicles | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
433 | Dentistry | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 14 |
428 | Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
606 | Surgery (instruments) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
062 | Refrigeration | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
194 | Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
435 | Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
205 | Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
219 | Electric Heating | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11 |
043 | Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
073 | Measuring and Testing | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
137 | Fluid Handling | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
264 | Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
427 | Coating Processes | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
052 | Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
084 | Music | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
220 | Receptacles | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
235 | Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
008 | Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
123 | Internal-Combustion Engines | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
242 | Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
250 | Radiant Energy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
296 | Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
324 | Electricity: Measuring and Testing | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
404 | Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
204 | Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
239 | Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
414 | Material or Article Handling | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
422 | Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
436 | Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
607 | Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
024 | Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
036 | Boots, Shoes, and Leggings | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
070 | Locks | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
114 | Ships | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
222 | Dispensing (apparatus and process) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
224 | Package and Article Carriers | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
244 | Aeronautics | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
292 | Closure Fasteners | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
335 | Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
345 | Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
361 | Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
411 | Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded Fastener | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
453 | Coin Handling | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
482 | Exercise Devices | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
700 | DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
702 | DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
705 | DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
015 | Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
060 | Power Plants | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
075 | Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
099 | Foods and Beverages: Apparatus | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
156 | Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
211 | Supports: Racks | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
297 | Chairs and Seats | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
348 | Television | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
366 | Agitating (e.g., of articles and materials) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
423 | Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
439 | Electrical Connectors | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
623 | Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and Accessories Therefor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
081 | Tools | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
104 | Railways | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
108 | Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
251 | Valves and Valve Actuation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
333 | Wave Transmission Lines and Networks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
341 | Coded Data Generation or Conversion | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
351 | Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
365 | Static Information Storage and Retrieval | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
370 | Multiplex Communications | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
403 | Joints and Connections | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
714 | Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
005 | Beds | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
016 | Miscellaneous Hardware | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
042 | Firearms | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
106 | Compositions: Coating or Plastic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
110 | Furnaces | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
132 | Toilet | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
138 | Pipes and Tubular Conduits | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
184 | Lubrication | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
221 | Article Dispensing | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
228 | Metal Fusion Bonding | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
229 | Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
293 | Vehicle Fenders | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
294 | Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
315 | Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
320 | Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
337 | Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
342 | Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
368 | Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
383 | Flexible Bags | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
386 | Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproducing | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
416 | Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
431 | Combustion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
434 | Education and Demonstration | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
446 | Amusement Devices: Toys | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
451 | Abrading | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
602 | Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
711 | Memory (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
030 | Cutlery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
034 | Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
040 | Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
072 | Metal Deforming | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
074 | Machine Element or Mechanism | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
109 | Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
116 | Signals and Indicators | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
124 | Mechanical Guns and Projectors | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
134 | Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
149 | Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
150 | Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
152 | Resilient Tires and Wheels | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
160 | Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
180 | Motor Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
188 | Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
198 | Conveyors: Power-Driven | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
202 | Distillation: Apparatus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
208 | Mineral Oils: Processes and Products | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
209 | Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
241 | Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
252 | Compositions | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
254 | Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
256 | Fences | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
285 | Pipe Joints or Couplings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
290 | Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
307 | Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
310 | Electrical Generator or Motor Structure | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
312 | Supports: Cabinet Structure | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
338 | Electrical Resistors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
343 | Communications: Radio Wave Antennas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
356 | Optics: Measuring and Testing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
372 | Coherent Light Generators | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
379 | Telephonic Communications | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
382 | Image Analysis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
384 | Bearings | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
385 | Optical Waveguides | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
392 | Electric Resistance Heating Devices | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
401 | Coating Implements with Material Supply | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
417 | Pumps | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
441 | Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
452 | Butchering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
454 | Ventilation | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
455 | Telecommunications | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
472 | Amusement Devices | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
494 | Imperforate Bowl: Centrifugal Separators | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
532 | Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
701 | DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
713 | Support (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
800 | Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related Processes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
001 | ** Classification Undetermined ** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
033 | Geometrical Instruments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
038 | Textiles: Ironing or Smoothing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
044 | Fuel and Related Compositions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
047 | Plant Husbandry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
055 | Gas Separation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
059 | Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
063 | Jewelry | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
082 | Turning (e.g., for metal working) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
089 | Ordnance | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
096 | Gas Separation: Apparatus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
100 | Presses | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
101 | Printing | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
102 | Ammunition and Explosives | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
112 | Sewing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
118 | Coating Apparatus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
122 | Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
125 | Stone Working | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
126 | Stoves and Furnaces | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
131 | Tobacco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
135 | Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
144 | Woodworking | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
148 | Metal Treatment | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
165 | Heat Exchange | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
172 | Earth Working | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
173 | Tool Driving or Impacting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
174 | Electricity: Conductors and Insulators | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
177 | Weighing Scales | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
181 | Acoustics | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
182 | Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
187 | Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
192 | Clutches and Power-Stop Control | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
201 | Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
212 | Traversing Hoists | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
223 | Apparel Apparatus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
249 | Static Molds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
269 | Work Holders | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
277 | Seal for a Joint or Juncture | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
281 | Books, Strips, and Leaves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
301 | Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
318 | Electricity: Motive Power Systems | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
358 | Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
359 | Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
369 | Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
375 | Pulse or Digital Communications | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
376 | Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
381 | Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
396 | Photography | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
405 | Hydraulic and Earth Engineering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
408 | Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
410 | Freight Accommodation On Freight Carrier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
415 | Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
420 | Alloys or Metallic Compositions | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
425 | Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
426 | Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
432 | Heating | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
502 | Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
510 | Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
588 | Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
601 | Surgery: Kinesitherapy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
707 | DP: Database and File Management, Data Structures, Or Document Processing (Data Processing) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
712 | Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing, e.g., Processors (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
717 | DP: Software Development, Installation, and Management (Data Processing) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
ALL | ALL CLASSES | 195 | 181 | 270 | 295 | 318 | 1259 |
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/