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 1997 - 2001 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 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 7 6 7 5 4 29
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 3 5 2 7 9 26
340 Communications: Electrical 5 3 4 5 7 24
405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 4 3 4 2 2 15
606 Surgery (instruments) 3 3 2 3 1 12
198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 0 2 3 3 3 11
604 Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) 0 5 2 4 0 11
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 0 1 1 1 7 10
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 2 0 3 2 3 10
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 1 6 1 1 1 10
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 1 3 2 2 1 9
473 Games Using Tangible Projectile 0 5 2 0 2 9
209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 3 0 2 2 1 8
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 2 1 1 2 2 8
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 0 4 1 1 1 7
220 Receptacles 3 0 2 0 2 7
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 3 1 3 0 0 7
439 Electrical Connectors 1 1 2 1 2 7
502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 1 2 2 0 2 7
102 Ammunition and Explosives 2 0 0 2 2 6
222 Dispensing (apparatus and process) 1 1 1 2 1 6
280 Land Vehicles 1 1 2 0 2 6
426 Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products 2 0 2 1 1 6
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 0 0 2 1 3 6
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 0 0 0 2 4 6
073 Measuring and Testing 1 0 2 1 1 5
089 Ordnance 1 0 1 0 3 5
273 Amusement Devices: Games 1 0 1 1 2 5
427 Coating Processes 1 2 0 1 1 5
518 Chemistry: Fischer-Tropsch Processes; or Purification or Recovery of Products Thereof 1 1 0 1 2 5
053 Package Making 1 0 1 2 0 4
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 3 0 1 0 0 4
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 0 0 2 2 0 4
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 1 3 0 0 0 4
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 2 1 0 0 1 4
206 Special Receptacle or Package 1 1 0 1 1 4
244 Aeronautics 1 0 0 1 2 4
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 0 1 2 1 0 4
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 1 1 0 1 1 4
404 Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus 1 2 1 0 0 4
414 Material or Article Handling 0 2 1 1 0 4
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 1 0 2 0 1 4
482 Exercise Devices 3 1 0 0 0 4
705 DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) 0 1 0 1 2 4
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 0 0 1 2 0 3
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 0 2 0 0 1 3
051 Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition 2 0 0 1 0 3
072 Metal Deforming 1 0 2 0 0 3
081 Tools 0 0 0 2 1 3
114 Ships 0 0 1 1 1 3
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 0 1 1 1 0 3
132 Toilet 1 1 1 0 0 3
137 Fluid Handling 0 1 1 0 1 3
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 0 1 0 2 0 3
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 1 0 0 1 1 3
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 1 0 1 1 0 3
290 Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants 2 0 0 1 0 3
297 Chairs and Seats 1 1 0 1 0 3
299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 0 1 1 1 0 3
380 Cryptography 1 1 0 1 0 3
451 Abrading 1 0 1 0 1 3
701 DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) 0 1 1 0 1 3
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 0 1 2 0 0 3
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 1 0 1 0 0 2
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 2 0 0 0 0 2
029 Metal Working 0 1 1 0 0 2
037 Excavating 0 0 2 0 0 2
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 0 0 1 1 0 2
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 0 1 0 1 0 2
060 Power Plants 0 0 0 1 1 2
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 0 1 0 1 0 2
076 Metal Tools and Implements, Making 0 0 0 1 1 2
086 Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making 0 1 1 0 0 2
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 1 1 0 0 0 2
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 0 0 0 2 0 2
108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 0 1 0 0 1 2
109 Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device 1 0 0 1 0 2
127 Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates 0 0 1 0 1 2
131 Tobacco 0 0 0 2 0 2
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 0 0 1 1 0 2
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 0 0 2 0 0 2
148 Metal Treatment 1 0 0 1 0 2
188 Brakes 0 1 0 0 1 2
212 Traversing Hoists 0 2 0 0 0 2
223 Apparel Apparatus 1 0 0 0 1 2
235 Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) 0 2 0 0 0 2
236 Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation 1 0 0 0 1 2
252 Compositions 0 0 1 0 1 2
254 Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force 0 0 0 1 1 2
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 0 0 1 1 0 2
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 0 0 0 1 1 2
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 0 1 0 1 0 2
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 0 0 0 2 0 2
359 Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements 0 1 0 0 1 2
362 Illumination 0 0 2 0 0 2
383 Flexible Bags 2 0 0 0 0 2
402 Binder Device Releasably Engaging Aperture or Notch of Sheet 1 0 0 1 0 2
417 Pumps 0 1 0 1 0 2
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 0 0 1 1 0 2
440 Marine Propulsion 0 0 0 1 1 2
441 Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices 0 0 1 1 0 2
510 Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions 1 0 0 0 1 2
585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 0 0 1 0 1 2
623 Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and Accessories Therefor 0 0 0 0 2 2
800 Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related Processes 0 0 0 2 0 2
002 Apparel 0 0 0 0 1 1
005 Beds 0 0 1 0 0 1
042 Firearms 0 1 0 0 0 1
049 Movable or Removable Closures 0 1 0 0 0 1
057 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 0 0 0 0 1 1
062 Refrigeration 0 0 0 0 1 1
065 Glass Manufacturing 0 1 0 0 0 1
070 Locks 0 1 0 0 0 1
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 1 0 0 0 0 1
104 Railways 0 1 0 0 0 1
105 Railway Rolling Stock 0 1 0 0 0 1
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 0 0 1 0 0 1
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 0 1 0 0 0 1
119 Animal Husbandry 0 1 0 0 0 1
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 0 1 0 0 0 1
126 Stoves and Furnaces 0 0 1 0 0 1
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 0 0 0 0 1 1
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 0 1 0 0 0 1
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 0 0 1 0 0 1
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 0 0 0 1 0 1
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 0 1 0 0 0 1
165 Heat Exchange 1 0 0 0 0 1
172 Earth Working 1 0 0 0 0 1
177 Weighing Scales 0 1 0 0 0 1
180 Motor Vehicles 0 0 1 0 0 1
193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 0 0 0 1 0 1
194 Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms 0 1 0 0 0 1
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 1 0 0 0 0 1
202 Distillation: Apparatus 1 0 0 0 0 1
211 Supports: Racks 1 0 0 0 0 1
215 Bottles and Jars 0 0 0 0 1 1
217 Wooden Receptacles 0 1 0 0 0 1
219 Electric Heating 0 0 0 0 1 1
229 Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes 0 1 0 0 0 1
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 0 0 0 1 0 1
267 Spring Devices 0 0 0 1 0 1
281 Books, Strips, and Leaves 0 0 1 0 0 1
285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 0 0 0 0 1 1
292 Closure Fasteners 0 0 0 0 1 1
293 Vehicle Fenders 1 0 0 0 0 1
307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 0 0 0 0 1 1
312 Supports: Cabinet Structure 0 0 1 0 0 1
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 1 0 0 0 0 1
320 Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging 1 0 0 0 0 1
322 Electricity: Single Generator Systems 0 0 0 0 1 1
335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 1 0 0 0 0 1
337 Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches 0 1 0 0 0 1
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 0 0 0 1 0 1
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 1 0 0 0 0 1
348 Television 0 1 0 0 0 1
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 0 1 0 0 0 1
370 Multiplex Communications 0 0 0 1 0 1
372 Coherent Light Generators 0 0 0 0 1 1
373 Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces 0 0 0 0 1 1
379 Telephonic Communications 0 1 0 0 0 1
382 Image Analysis 0 0 1 0 0 1
392 Electric Resistance Heating Devices 0 0 0 1 0 1
410 Freight Accommodation On Freight Carrier 0 0 0 0 1 1
412 Bookbinding: Process and Apparatus 0 1 0 0 0 1
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 0 0 1 0 0 1
425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 0 0 1 0 0 1
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 0 0 1 0 0 1
432 Heating 0 0 0 1 0 1
433 Dentistry 0 0 1 0 0 1
434 Education and Demonstration 1 0 0 0 0 1
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 0 1 0 0 0 1
446 Amusement Devices: Toys 0 0 1 0 0 1
455 Telecommunications 0 0 0 0 1 1
460 Crop Threshing or Separating 0 0 0 0 1 1
463 Amusement Devices: Games 0 0 0 0 1 1
493 Manufacturing Container or Tube From Paper; or Other Manufacturing From a Sheet or Web 0 0 0 0 1 1
607 Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application 1 0 0 0 0 1
ALL ALL CLASSES 101 115 110 111 120 557



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 9, 2002