Intellectual Property and Women

Entrepreneurs

Quantitative Analysis

Conducted by the National Women’s Business Council

Date: 02.27.2012
1

INTELLECTUAL 

PROPERTY AND 

WOMEN 

ENTREPRENEURS

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

FEBRUARY 2012

CONTENTS

1 Executive Summary

2 Technical Approach

3 Analysis of Trademarks

4 References

5 Appendix 1

6 Appendix 2

Prepared by

Delixus, Inc.

A California Corporation specializing in Big 

Data Analytics, Web Applications and Market 

Research. 

for

National Women’s Business Council

The National Women’s Business Council is a 

non-partisan federal government council 

created to serve as an independent source of 

advice and counsel to the President, Congress, 

and the U.S. Small Business Administration 

on economic issues of importance to women 

business owners. Members of the Council are 

prominent women business owners and 

representatives of women’s business 

organizations. The Council’s mission includes 

conducting and supporting research on issues 

of importance to women business owners and 

their organizations in order to promote bold 

initiatives, policies and programs designed to 

support women’s business enterprises at all 

stages of development in the public and 

private sector marketplaces.
2

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This research focuses on the participation of U.S. based women entrepreneurs in Patents and 

Trademarks activity. Using data obtained from the United States Patents and Trademarks Office, 

the study probes, in-depth, the number of patents and trademarks obtained by women 

entrepreneurs as well as the concomitant gender gap for the period 1975-2010. Commercially 

available data on the most common names for men and women was used to net 94.11% of the 

patents granted in a given year. Particular attention was paid to include uncommon names of 

Chinese, Korean, Indian, Japanese and European origin to ensure that the contributions of 

immigrant U.S. based women were not overlooked. Both primary and non-primary patentees 

were examined. The contributions of women entrepreneurs in specific industries were segmented 

and analyzed. Differences in the rates at which patents and trademarks are assigned by men and 

women to companies were studied.

Several significant conclusions may be drawn from this research:

1. U.S. based women demonstrate increasing leadership in patent and trademark 

activities. It should be noted that this report summarizes results only for patentees and 

trademark holders and theses terms do not always connote entrepreneurship.

2. The number of patents granted to women is significantly higher than those reported in 

earlier studies. Importantly, the number of patents granted to women is increasing at 

an accelerating pace.

The number of patents granted to women increased 

by approximately 34.72% from 2009 to 2010. In the 

same period (2009 to 2010), the number of primary 

patents granted to women increased by 28.57% and 

the number of non-primary patents granted to 

women increased by 38.23%. In this report, the first 

name on a patent disclosure is assumed to be the 

“primary” patent holder. Subsequent names are assumed to be “non-primary” patent 

holders. The USPTO does not classify “primary” and “non-primary” patentees this 

way. Sometimes, the names are just listed alphabetically. 

3. The highest sustained rate of increase in the grant of U.S. patents to women was in 

the 1986-1993 period.

4. The slowest rate of increase in patents granted to women was in the 1999-2006 

period.

5. The total number of patents obtained by women shows an accelerating rate of 

increase with time. Similarly, there is an accelerating rate at which women become 

primary inventors as judged by the first name on a patent disclosure. This suggests an 

increasing leadership by women entrepreneurs in R&D activities.

“U.S. based women 

demonstrate increasing 

leadership in patent and 

trademark activities.”
3

6. Of particular interest is the surge of innovation by women in some of the emerging 

high-tech industries. The field of optics and optical systems was selected to illustrate 

this observation. For instance, 11.55% of patents in Optical Waveguides had at least 1 

woman inventor.

7. The participation of women in Trademark 

activity as measured by the percentage of 

Trademarks granted has more than doubled in the 

period between 1980 to 2010, from 

approximately 16.5% in 1980 to more than 33% 

in 2010.

8. Women have a significantly higher 

participation in Trademark activity as compared 

to Patent activity. For instance, whereas women 

received approximately 18% of all patents 

granted in the year 2010, the contribution of 

women to Trademark activity was more than 

33%.

9. The ratio of successful women patent applicants to successful men patent applicants 

varies from a low of 73.36% in 1986 to a high of 93.57% in 2002.

10. There is no statistically measurable difference in the proportion of successful women 

Trademark applicants and successful men Trademark applicants. The analysis shows 

no bias in the processing of trademark applications. The reasons for the apparent 

differences in IP protection activity between men and women must be sought in 

employment patterns, R &D opportunities, and perceptions of risk and reward.

2.0 TECHNICAL APPROACH

2.1 INTRODUCTION

This study was conducted at the initiative of the National Women’s Business Council.

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), with its offices located in Washington, D.C., 

is a bi-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and 

counsel to the President, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic 

issues of importance to women business owners. Members of the Council are prominent women 

business owners and leaders of women’s business organizations.

The Council’s mission is to promote bold initiatives, policies, and programs designed to support 

women’s business enterprises at all stages of development in the public and private sector 

marketplace – from startups to significance.

“The participation of 

women in Trademark 

activity as measured by the 

percentage of Trademarks 

granted has more than 

doubled in the period 

between 1980 to 2010, from 

approximately 16.5% in 

1980 to more than 33% in 

2010.”
4

One of NWBC’s current priorities is to examine in-depth the relationship between intellectual 

property and women-owned businesses. There is some information on women and patents; but 

the NWBC would like to dive deeper and cast a wider net in this research project.

2.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are:

1. Quantitatively define the number of women entrepreneurs applying for and receiving 

patents and trademarks.

2. Analyze the differences in the number of women applying for and receiving patents 

and trademarks as compared to men. Analyze sub-groups of women.

The quantitative study will be followed by a qualitative study whose objectives are:

1. Conduct focus groups with women who have received patents and trademarks; 

women who have applied for but have not received patents and trademarks; and 

women who do not even know they should or could apply for these.

2. Through the focus group probe questions such as

• What are the long-term effects on businesses that receive patents or 

trademarks?

• What are the perceived barriers facing women entrepreneurs surrounding 

protecting their IP?

• What are the actual barriers?

• How do we address these barriers (both perceived and actual)?

2.3 SCOPE

Only U.S. based women entrepreneurs were considered in this study. The data on patents and 

trademarks was purchased from the USPTO. Commercial sources based on data from the United 

States Bureau of Census and the United States Social Security Administration were used for men 

and women. A large number of lists were used to include not so common names of Korean, 

Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, German and other European origin.

The scope of the study included the number of patents and trademarks granted to men and 

women for the period 1975-2010 as well as an analysis of the gender gap. Sub-groups of women 

in specific industries wherein the contribution of women entrepreneurs is the highest were 

identified. The gap between patents and trademarks filed versus granted was studied. Trends in 

the grant of patents and trademarks were examined and a regression analysis of patents granted 

was performed.

Future areas for research were identified. Results from the quantitative analysis will be used to 

conduct in-depth focus group studies of the issues facing women entrepreneurs in pursuing IP 

protection.

2.4 THE LITERATURE
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The USPTO does not track patents and trademarks data by gender. Information about women 

entrepreneurs has to be deduced by interrogating the USPTO data using names that are 

commonly used for men and women. There is growing interest in the contribution of women to 

intellectual property; however, only a few studies have addressed this issue.

Lisa et al.1studied the commercialization gap between women patentees and the U.S. patentee 

population with a particular focus on the African American population. They found that there is a 

correlation between advanced degrees and the assignment of patents to businesses. The study 

also included a comprehensive bibliography of literature in this domain.

The United States Patents and Trademarks Office in its report, Buttons to Biotech, 1996 Update 

Report, with supplement data through 1998, U.S. Patents by Women, 1977 to 1996, examine the 

total grant of patents and the share of patents granted to women. The report also segments the 

data within major patent categories, namely, utility, design, plant and other categories.

The current study extends the USPTO research to 2010 and probes deeper into patents and 

trademarks granted to women.

2.5 ANALYSIS OF PATENTS

2.5.1 THE DATA

An optical disk containing data on patents granted between the years 1975 and 2010 was 

obtained from the United States Patents and Trademarks Office. Weekly USPTO database 

reports on patents were also downloaded.

2.5.2 DATA FOR NAMES OF MEN AND WOMEN

This was a key step in the research, and a critical one. Multiple sources were used to gather 

names of men and women from all over the world. These lists were then used to allocate the 

inventors in the patent database to men and women:

The first iteration used the 10,000 most popular names for men and 10,000 most popular names 

for women available from a commercial source, Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61805

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61801

The Smashwords data is derived from data published by the U.S. Social Security Administration 

for the year 2010 and authored by Nancy Man. Other sources used for the analysis included:

• U.S. Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/dist.female.first

• U.S. Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/dist.male.first

• U.S. Social Security Administration: 

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/limits.html
6

Data sources used to categorize and allocate uncommon names included:

• Japanese Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Korean Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Chinese Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Hindi Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• French Names, Source; 20,000names.com

• German Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Spanish Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Polish Names, Source; 20,000names.com

• Persian Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Russian Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Yiddish Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Greek Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Canadian Names, Source: familyberry.com

• Brazilian Names, Source: familyberry.com

• African Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Italian Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• United Kingdom Names, Source: 50 British women’s names, BabyNames.co.uk

• Turkish Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Arabic Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Irish Names, Source: 20,000names.com

• Unisex Names: familyberry.com

2.5.3 LIMITATIONS OF THE DATABASE OF NAMES

1. The Social Security Data of births in the US suffers from the limitation of not 

including the changing demographics due to immigration.

2. There are limitations imposed by the USPTO data itself. Some of the patent 

disclosures do not show a first name. There are others with initials but no first name. 

As the sort is done by the first name, these patent disclosures cannot be sorted and 

allocated to men and women. In addition, the names as spelled in the patent award 

sometimes do not match the spelling that is used in the US Census data or the data 

from commercially available sources.
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3. Some common names are used both for men and women. For instance, the name 

“John” appears both in the database of men and of women, although the frequency at 

which the name occurs in the database of men and women is different.

4. American names that have their apparent origin in China, Korea, Japan, India, France 

and Germany require highly specialized sorting to differentiate between the names of 

men and women. For instance, the name Suratha is usually used by men in India but 

can be easily misread as a woman’s name.

5. The most common names change with time; the most common names used in 1977 

were not necessarily the same as the ones used in 2010.

6. The patent applications filed data from 2003 to 2010 was as yet incomplete.

Ideally, one would like to assign 100% of the patents deterministically to men and women. 

However, the limitations of the USPTO data as well as the changing demographics of the US 

population preclude a 100% 

capture rate.

A concerted effort was made to 

reduce the number of names that 

are not deterministically male or 

female. Several passes were made 

using multiple databases of names 

to capture an acceptable number of 

patents for allocation to men and 

women. 94.11% of the names in 

patent disclosures were deterministically identified. The remainder, that is 5.89% of the names 

that could not be identified as male or female, were allocated based on the ratio of patents 

awarded to males and females for each year.

2.5.4 DATA PREPARATION

A Data Warehouse was prepared using the ETL (extraction, transformation and loading) process. 

The structure of the Warehouse was prepared in accordance with the available data to facilitate 

loading and then querying the data for the desired results while maintaining data integrity.

The data was successfully loaded into the database following data Extraction, Transformation 

and Cleaning.

2.5.5 DATA SORT

2.5.5.1 GENDER ASSIGNMENT

The first sort used only the names that were exclusively female or male. This assignment was 

based on two lists containing the 10,000 most common female names and 10,000 most common 

“94.11% of the names in patent disclosures 

were deterministically identified. The 

remainder, that is 5.89% of the names that 

could not be identified as male or female, 

were allocated based on the ratio of patents 

awarded to males and females for each 

year.”
8

male names derived from the U.S. Social Security Administration data. The lists account for 

90% of the male and female names in the United States.

2.5.5.2 NAMES COMMON TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN

The two lists used for the first sort showed a substantial number of names that were common to 

men and women. The following procedure was used for gender assignment of unisex names:

1. After assigning a gender to the exclusively female and male names based on the 

10,000 most common female names and 10,000 most common male names lists, the 

count of female and male patentees for every year from 1975 to 2010 was obtained. 

This is referred to as FemaleCountInDB and MaleCountInDB in the formulae below.

2. The two lists used for the base sort provided information on the occurrence of 

common names in 1 million females and 1 million males respectively. These values 

(referred to as FemaleNameOccurence(Base1million) and 

MalesNameOccurence(Base1million) in the formulas below) were also taken into 

account.

For a name ‘XYZ’ that occurred ‘n’ number of times in the database in a year and 

was used as a common name for men and women, the following formulae were used 

to apportion male and female names to our database:

AllocatedFemaleShare = 

[FemaleNameOccurance(Base1Million)]* 

(FemaleCountInDB/(FemaleCountInDB + MaleCountInDB))

AllocatedMaleShare = [MaleNameOccurance(Base1Million)]* 

(MaleCountInDB/(FemaleCountInDB + MaleCountInDB))

Number of names ‘XYZ’ that were designated as females (nf) in that year =

(AllocatedFemaleShare * n)/( AllocatedFemaleShare + 

AllocatedMaleShare)

Number of names ‘XYZ’ that were designated as males (nm) in that year =

(AllocatedMaleShare * n)/( AllocatedFemaleShare + 

AllocatedMaleShare)

The first ‘nf’ names were marked as females and the subsequent ‘nm’ names were 

marked as males. This procedure was followed first for primary inventors and then 

for non-primary inventors. The procedure resulted in gender assignments to the bulk 

of the inventors in the US.
9

3. Multiple commercially available name lists were then used to assign gender to the 

remaining names. The bulk of these names were of 

Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Spanish, 

German and French origin. Names from all over the 

world were procured to assign gender to the names 

that appeared to be exclusively male or female. The 

names that appeared to be used by males and 

females were allocated based on the count of female 

and male names per year in the database at that 

point.

4. The number of unassigned records was further reduced by additional sorts using 

uncommon names from China, India, Korea, Germany and other countries.

5. These procedures resulted in the allocation of 94.11% of the names of patent holders 

to the male and female categories. However, of a total of 4,887,424 patent records 

from the USPTO database, about 287,980 (5.89%) records remained. These 

unassigned records were apportioned to males and females based on the ratio of male 

to female patentees in the database. The allocation was done on a per year basis.

6. This procedure was followed first for primary inventors and then for non-primary 

inventors. This was done to ensure uniformity while assigning gender to the 

inventors.

2.5.5.3 PRIMARY AND NON-PRIMARY INVENTORS

Separate sorts were used for the primary inventor and the non-primary inventors.

2.5.5.4 THE IMPACT OF CHANGING DEMOGRAPHY

The commercially available lists of the names of men and women are drawn from the U.S. 

Census database which includes 90% of the U.S. population and stops when a name occurs less 

than 5 times. The changing 

demographics of the United States 

include immigrant groups from Japan, 

Korea, China, India and other countries 

that show a significant and growing 

participation in the patent process. Some

of the names from these immigrant 

groups do not necessarily occur more 

than 5 times to be captured by the U.S. 

Census database which includes 90% of 

the U.S. population. This limitation was overcome by using commercially available names of

men and women from these immigrant groups. Successive filters were applied to identify the 

“Names from all over the 

world were procured to 

assign gender to the names 

that appeared to be 

exclusively male or female.”

“The changing demographics of the 

United States include immigrant groups 

from Japan, Korea, China, India and 

other countries that show a significant 

and growing participation in the patent 

process.”
10

names of men and women from the unassigned list of patent holders to ensure that the number of 

women patent holders was not undercounted.

2.5.5.5 PATENT DISCLOSURES FROM USPTO DATABASE WITH NO FIRST 

NAME OR INITIALS ONLY

The USPTO Database has a large number of disclosures with no first name or only an initial. 

These were assigned to the male and female categories in proportion to the number of patents 

granted to men and women for that year.

2.5.5.6 SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS BY PATENT CLASS

A comprehensive and exhaustive segmentation analysis of all 464 Patent Classes contained in 

the USPTO database was conducted to 

determine the share of patents granted to 

women. The objective was to obtain 

quantitative information about the 

contribution of women to patent activity 

across all industries and then to interrogate 

the results further for insights into specific 

industries wherein the contribution of women entrepreneurs was the highest. A table is presented

in Appendix 2.

2.5.5.7 PATENTS GRANTED IN THE TOP 25 CLASSES – A LONGITUDINAL 

STUDY

The USPTO database for the top 25 Classes as determined by the number of patents granted to 

women was interrogated for each of the years 1975-2010. The objective was to identify the 

trends in patent activity in specific industries.

The top 25 segments with the highest participation by women are shown in Table 1. The number 

as well as percentages of patents granted to women in the top 25 Classes are plotted for the years 

1975-2010.

“The USPTO database for the top 25 

Classes as determined by the number 

of patents granted to women was 

interrogated for each of the years 

1975-2010.”
11

Patents Granted to Women (All) - Top 25 Patent Classes

As a single chart for all 25 of the top Classes had too much information and was difficult to read, 

the same results were divided into five separate charts each containing 5 of the top Classes.
12
13

The USPTO database was probed further to identify the number of patents wherein a woman was 

the primary inventor. The results for 

the top 25 of the Classes are 

presented in the following charts.

“The USPTO database was probed further to 

identify the number of patents wherein a 

woman was the primary inventor”
14

Patents Granted to Women (Primary Inventor) - Breakdown by Patent Class

The results were divided into five separate charts each containing 5 of the top Classes.
15
16

Similarly, the results for patents wherein a woman was a non-primary inventor are presented in 

the following chart.
17

Patents Granted to Women (Non-Primary Inventor) -Breakdown by Patent Class

For clarity, the results were divided into five separate charts each containing 5 of the top Classes.
18
19

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States 

Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO))

Total 

no. of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents
20

435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 40,314 14,129 35.05

514

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating 

Compositions 49,801 13,434 26.98

424

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating 

Compositions 32,515 9,625 29.60

438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 34,848 5,677 16.29

D06 Furnishings 26,707 5,297 19.83

428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 32,518 4,780 14.70

604 Surgery 22,666 3,838 16.93

707

Data Processing: Database and File Management or 

Data Structures 17,901 3,664 20.47

370 Multiplex Communications 28,613 3,615 12.63

D14

Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval 

Equipment 17,071 3,602 21.10

D07

Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink 

Not Elsewhere Specified 14,138 3,496 24.73

530

Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides 

or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof 9,356 3,413 36.48

257

Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, SolidState Diodes) 26,534 3,412 12.86

709

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing 

Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring 19,922 3,239 16.26

D09 Packages and Containers for Goods 13,414 3,174 23.66

D02 Apparel and Haberdashery 10,807 3,087 28.56

430

Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, 

or Product Thereof 14,736 2,987 20.27

D21 Games, Toys, and Sports Goods 15,817 2,905 18.37

600 Surgery 23,491 2,812 11.97

426

Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, 

and Products 12,503 2,719 21.75

D24 Medical and Laboratory Equipment 11,088 2,719 24.52

705

Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, 

Management, or Cost/Price Determination 13,276 2,692 20.28

D03 Travel Goods and Personal Belongings 8,571 2,330 27.18

455 Telecommunications 20,520 2,322 11.32

536

Organic Compounds, Part of the Class 532-570 

Series 6,964 2,239 32.15

Table 1: The top 25 of the segments with the highest participation by women

2.5.5.8 CATEGORIES WITH THE SHARPEST INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF 

PATENTS
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The top 5 categories that show the sharpest increase in the number of patents with at least 1 

woman inventor are shown in Table 2a. Data processing as applied to Financial, Business 

Practice, Management, or Cost/Price 

Determination (705) shows a 

whopping 172.13% increase from 

2008 to 2010. Surgery (604) is in the 

second place with an increase of 

156.36%. Surgery (600) is in the 

third place with an increase of 

129.91%. Data processing as applied 

to Database and File Management or 

Data Structures (707) is in the fourth place with an increase of 127.95%. Electrical Computers 

and Digital Processing Systems as applied to Multicomputer Data Transferring (709) is in the 

fifth place with an increase of 101.92%.

Patent 

Class 

Code Patent Class Title 2008 2009 2010

2 year 

% 

increase 

2008-

2010

705

Data Processing: Financial, Business 

Practice, Management, or Cost/Price 

Determination 305 354 830 172.13

604 Surgery 110 148 282 156.36

600 Surgery 117 160 269 129.91

707

Data Processing: Database and File 

Management or Data Structures 322 489 734 127.95

709

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing 

Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring 313 456 632 101.92

Table 2a: Industries with the Highest Recent Surge in Patent Activity - The top 5 Patent 

Categories with the largest percentage increase in patents with at least 1 woman inventor in the 

two year period 2008-2010.

Patent 

Class 

Code Patent Class Title 2008 2009 2010

2 year 

% 

increase 

2008-

2010

705

Data Processing: Financial, Business 

Practice, Management, or Cost/Price 

Determination 1,324 1,621 3,419 158.23

604 Surgery 496 642 1,249 151.81

600 Surgery 729 881 1,401 92.18

“Data processing as applied to Financial, 

Business Practice, Management, or 

Cost/Price Determination (705) shows a 

whopping 172.13% increase from 2008 to 

2010. Surgery (604) is in the second place 

with an increase of 156.36%.”
22

707

Data Processing: Database and File 

Management or Data Structures 1,458 2,153 3,301 126.4

709

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing 

Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring 1,986 2,421 3,330 67.67

Table 2b: The above 5 patent categories showing all the patents awarded in the two year period 

2008-2010.

2.5.5.9 CONTRIBUTIONS IN EMERGING HIGH-TECH SECTORS

Of particular interest is the surge of innovation by women in some of the emerging high-tech 

industries. The field of optics and optical systems was selected to illustrate this observation.

Optics and optical communications have a broad range of applications in both civilian and 

defense sectors and constitute an important differentiator in the strength of an economy. Table 3 

shows that 12.95% of the patents in Photography and Optical Equipment had at least 1 U.S. 

woman inventor. For Optical 

Waveguides, 11.55% of the 

patents had at least 1 woman 

inventor. Optics, Eye 

Examining, Vision Testing and 

Correcting came in third at 

10.91%. Specific data on the 

employment of women in 

these industries is required to 

correlate this data with employment patterns. This is an issue to investigate in future studies as it 

would throw more light on the growing presence of and contribution of women in high-tech 

segments.

Patent 

Class 

Code Patent Class

Total 

no. of 

Patents

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

woman 

inventor Percent

D16 Photography and Optical Equipment 2,995 388 12.95

385 Optical Waveguides 15,112 1,746 11.55

351

Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and 

Correcting 3,859 421 10.91

398 Optical Communications 4,084 441 10.80

720 Dynamic Optical Information Storage or Retrieval 348 35 10.06

359 Optical: Systems and Elements 16,434 1,402 8.53

356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 14,657 1,200 8.19

353 Optics: Image Projectors 1,783 116 6.51

“12.95% of the patents in Photography and 

Optical Equipment had at least 1 U.S. woman 

inventor. For Optical Waveguides, 11.55% of 

the patents had at least 1 woman inventor. 

Optics, Eye Examining, Vision Testing and 

Correcting came in third at 10.91%.”
23

352 Optics: Motion Pictures 614 16 2.61

Table 3: Highlighting Women’s Contributions to Optical Technologies, an Emerging High-tech 

Sector

Table 4 represents the results obtained by querying the database for primary patent holders only. 

This data is a measure of leadership provided by women since the primary patent holder tends to 

be the idea generator or the team lead in an R&D project.

Patent 

Class 

Code Patent Class

Total 

no. of 

Patents

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

woman 

primary

inventor Percent

D16 Photography and Optical Equipment 2,960 225 7.60

351

Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and 

Correcting 3,793 241 6.35

398 Optical Communications 3,975 168 4.23

385 Optical Waveguides 14,823 619 4.18

720

Dynamic Optical Information Storage or 

Retrieval 344 14 4.07

359 Optical: Systems and Elements 16,073 587 3.65

356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 14,407 432 3.00

353 Optics: Image Projectors 1,749 45 2.57

352 Optics: Motion Pictures 610 9 1.48

Table 4: Highlighting Women’s Contributions as Primary Inventors to Optical Technologies, an 

Emerging High-tech Sector

While it is premature to draw long term conclusions from these statistics, if this trend continues, 

it would be a significant finding of this study. Of 

particular interest is the increase in patent activity by 

women in specialized fields such as surgery and high 

tech sectors like multiplex communications which have 

broad technological implications for macro-economics. 

As to why these Categories lead the way in innovation 

by women would be a worthwhile project for future 

research. Questions of interest would include: What 

structural, environmental, motivational and business 

factors influence innovation by women? What factors 

discourage innovation? How can the U.S. unleash and 

harness the creative potential of women? Is there a 

“Of particular interest is the 

increase in patent activity by 

women in specialized fields 

such as surgery and high 

tech sectors like multiplex 

communications which have 

broad technological 

implications for macroeconomics.”
24

correlation between innovation and employment? Is there a correlation (after subtracting out a 

time lag) between innovation and SAT scores by graduating women in science and mathematics? 

Is there a marginal difference in the inventiveness of men and women given a certain investment 

in education, employment and supporting R&D infrastructure?

2.5.5.10 PATENTS BY OWNERSHIP CATEGORY

The USPTO database was interrogated to determine the number of assigned and unassigned 

patents. The results for different US and foreign categories are shown in Table 5 below.

Ownership Category

Total no. 

of 

Patents

% of 

Total no. 

of 

Patents 

(1975-

2010)

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

woman 

inventor

% of 

Total no. 

of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

woman 

inventor

Assigned to a U.S. non-government 

organization 1,809,666 74.118 220,060 75.839

Unassigned 489,495 20.048 52,975 18.257

Assigned to a foreign non-government 

organization 77,889 3.190 10,290 3.546

Assigned to the U.S. (Federal) Government 38,643 1.583 4,124 1.421

Assigned to a U.S. individual 25,372 1.039 2,667 0.919

Assigned to a foreign individual 436 0.018 46 0.016

Assigned to a foreign government 100 0.004 7 0.002

Total no. of Patents (1975-2010) 2,441,601 290,169

Table 5: Shows the number of patents assigned to private and government organizations

Table 6 represents the results obtained by querying the database for primary inventors only.

Ownership Category

Total no. 

of Patents

% of 

Total 

no. of 

Patents 

(1975-

2010)

Patents 

with a

woman 

primary 

invento

r

% of 

Total no. 

of 

Patents 

with a 

woman 

primary 

inventor

Patents 

with a

man 

primary 

inventor

% of 

Total no. 

of 

Patents 

with a 

man 

primary 

inventor

Assigned to a U.S. nongovernment organization 1,787,695 74.423 87,181 64.975 1,700,514 74.982

Unassigned 487,902 20.312 39,463 29.411 448,439 19.773

Assigned to a foreign nongovernment organization 62,426 2.599 4,045 3.015 58,381 2.574
25

Assigned to the U.S. 

(Federal) Government 38,413 1.599 1,630 1.215 36,783 1.622

Assigned to a U.S. 

individual 25,302 1.053 1,835 1.368 23,467 1.035

Assigned to a foreign 

individual 292 0.012 20 0.015 272 0.012

Assigned to a foreign 

government 54 0.002 2 0.001 52 0.002

Total no. of Patents (1975-

2010) 2,402,084 134,176 2,267,908

Table 6: Shows the number of patents by U.S. based men and women assigned to private and 

government organizations. This table includes the primary inventors only.

The analysis shows a slightly lower percentage of patents by women that were assigned to 

private companies. 64.97% of all patents with women 

primary inventors in the period 1976-2010 were 

assigned to a U.S. non-governmental organization. 

This is a lower percentage than that for men who 

assigned 74.98% of patents to private companies. 

19.77% of all patents by men were unassigned as 

compared to 29.41% for women. Together, these 

results suggest a slight difference between men and 

women in independent entrepreneurship: women are 

more likely to be independent entrepreneurs and keep 

their patents unassigned while men are more likely to 

be leading the research in businesses and corporations.

It must be cautioned that assignment must not be confused with commercial success as has been 

done in some earlier studies. Only a small number of patents, perhaps as few as 10%, are brought 

to the marketplace and become commercially viable. The commercialization of Patents and 

Trademarks and its impact on the economy is an issue that needs to be studied in future research. 

The assignment or non-assignment of a patent merely confirms a decision on the part of the 

inventor or his/her employer to seek IP protection for an innovation and keep the concomitant 

technology “in-house”. A patentable technology may not be marketable on a “stand-alone” basis, 

but it may have a print-through on the development of subsequent systems or technologies that 

do become economically viable.

2.5.6 REGRESSION ANALYSIS: PATENTS GRANTED TO WOMEN

A regression analysis was performed on the data to identify longitudinal trends as well as 

identify benchmarks. Since it currently takes an average of 3.6 years to obtain a patent, 

“Women are more likely to 

be independent 

entrepreneurs and keep their 

patents unassigned while 

men are more likely to be 

leading the research in 

businesses and 

corporations.”
26

consideration was given to using a 4 year moving average for the regression analysis. This option 

was discarded as the moving average would smooth out the data and might conceal significant 

“bends” in the longitudinal trends. It was therefore decided to use a piecewise linear analysis. 

The table below summarizes the results for Patents Granted to Women, Share of all Patents.

Women’s Share of Patents Granted 1975-2010

Data Source: USPTO

Piecewise Linear Analysis

Percentage of patents granted to women = (a + b(t1-t2))*100,

where, a and b are constants,

t2-t1 is the time lapse, measured in years, for each segment.

Date analysis performed: November 27, 2011

Period (Segment) a b Yearly percentage rate of increase

1975-1986 0.028 0.0029 0.29%

1986-1993 0.06 0.007 0.70%

1993-1999 0.109 0.0051 0.51%

1999-2004 0.14 0.002 0.20%

2004-2010 0.152 0.0050 0.50%

The following inferences may be drawn from the regression analysis:

1. The number of patents granted to women increased by approximately 34.72% from 

2009 to 2010.

2. In the same period, the number of primary patents granted to women (where a woman 

is the first inventor) increased by 28.57% and the number of non-primary patents 

(where a woman is the second, third or fourth inventor) granted increased by 38.23%.

3. If a single formula is desired, a non-linear regression such as

x= a+ b (t2-t1) + c (t2-t1)2 +d ((t2-t1) 3, where a, b, c and d are constants,

would be more appropriate to capture the accelerating pace at which patents are 

granted to women. This is a non-linear equation with one unknown “x”; multiple 

solutions are possible with different values for the coefficients a, b, c and d.

2.5.7 PATENTS FILED VERSUS PATENTS GRANTED

The patents filed data obtained from the USPTO was plotted for men and women. As seen from 

the charts in Figures 2 and 6, Appendix 1, the USPTO data for patents filed drops off after the 

year 2002. Apparently, the USPTO data, as reflected in the disc supplied to Delixus, is as yet 

incomplete.

Alternate sources for patents filed data were investigated:
27

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/us_stat.htm

This source has more complete information about the number of patents filed and the number of 

patents granted up to the year 2010. However, it has 

no information about names; hence, it is of no help in 

determining the gender of the patent applicants.

It was therefore decided to analyze the USPTO data 

for patents filed and patents granted for men and 

women only up to the year 2002. The results are 

plotted in several charts presented in Figures 1-14, 

Appendix 1.

The ratio of successful women patent applicants 

(patents granted/ patents filed by women) to 

successful men patent applicants (patents granted/ 

patents filed by men) varies from a low of 73.36% in 

1986 to a high of 93.57% in 2002. The factors that 

influence this slow but steady progress in closing the 

gender gap in the processing of patent applications will be probed further in focus groups.

“The ratio of successful 

women patent applicants 

(patents granted/ patents 

filed by women) to 

successful men patent 

applicants (patents granted/ 

patents filed by men) varies 

from a low of 73.36% in 

1986 to a high of 93.57% in 

2002.”
28

Patents filed vs patents granted to men Patents filed vs patents granted to women

1. Patents filed versus patents granted to women - 1975-2010

2. Patents filed versus patents granted to men – 1975-2010
29

% Successful Women Patent Applicants/% Successful Men Patent Applicants 

Patents filed vs patents granted to women

3. % Successful Women Patent Applicants/% Successful Men Patent Applicants, 1975-2002

4. Patents filed versus patents granted to women - 1975-2002
30

Patents filed vs patents granted to men

5. Patents filed versus patents granted to men - 1975-2002

2.6 CONCLUSIONS- PATENTS DATA ANALYSIS

Several significant conclusions may be drawn from the quantitative study on patents:

1. The number of patents granted to women are significantly higher than those reported 

in earlier studies 1,2.

2. The number of patents granted to women is 

increasing at an accelerating pace.

3. There was a noticeable jump in the number of 

patents granted in the year 2010. The number of 

patents granted to women increased by approximately 

34.72% from 2009 to 2010.

It is too early to draw a definite conclusion from the 

recent yearly jump in the grant of patents. Some of these patents might have been 

filed years earlier. The results may also reflect the USPTO’s focus on increasing 

efficiency and productivity in order to reduce the backlog of applications. 

Notwithstanding these reservations, there is a definite increase in the participation of 

women in U.S. patent activity in recent years. Several questions present themselves: 

Why is there a noticeable jump in patent activity in the midst of a continuing, 

“The number of patents 

granted to women are 

significantly higher than 

those reported in earlier 

studies 1,2.”
31

prolonged recession? Is it a reflection of more women becoming entrepreneurs? Does 

it reflect increasing investment by U.S. 

companies in R&D (which is not supported 

by macro-economic data)? Does it reflect 

an increasing awareness by women of the 

benefits of patent protection? Does it show 

increasing participation in patent activity 

by recent immigrants? Are the standards 

for granting of patents more lenient now as compared to those thirty years ago? These 

are issues worth investigating.

4. In the same period (2009 to 2010), the number of primary patents granted to women 

increased by 28.57% and the number of non-primary patents granted to women 

increased by 38.23%.

5. The highest sustained rate of increase in the grant of U.S. patents to women was in 

the 1986-1993 period.

6. The slowest rate of increase in patents granted to women was in the 1999-2006 

period. A relevant question here would be: Does a reduction in IP activity presage an 

economic downturn, and if so, what is the degree of correlation between the two? 

Similarly, does resurgence in IP activity presage economic expansion, and if so, what 

is the correlation between the two? The 

technology sector is only one element in 

the macro-economic picture. So, there 

would be secondary and tertiary effects 

involved.

7. The total number of patents obtained by 

women shows an accelerating rate of 

increase with time. Similarly, there is an accelerating rate at which women become 

primary inventors as judged by the first name on a patent disclosure. This shows 

increasing leadership of women in R&D activity.

8. 19.77% of all patents by men were unassigned as compared to 29.41% for women. 

Together, these results suggest a slight difference between men and women in 

independent entrepreneurship: women are more likely to be independent 

entrepreneurs and keep their patents unassigned while men are more likely to be 

leading the research in businesses and corporations.

3.0 ANALYSIS OF TRADEMARKS

3.1 THE DATA

Trademark data files were obtained from http://www.google.com/googlebooks/usptotrademarks.html

“The number of patents 

granted to women is 

increasing at an accelerating 

pace.”

“The highest sustained rate of 

increase in the grant of U.S. 

patents to women was in the 

1986-1993 period”
32

3.2 DATA PREPARATION

The USPTO data was approximately 151.3 GB in size, and it required a substantial amount of 

programming. The processing was optimized 3 times, each time using a different XML parsing 

technology:

• The first processing used a DOM parser as we needed to read forward and backward 

in the XML file.

• In the second processing, we used a SAX parser.

• In the third processing, we used a modified SAX parser.

The modified SAX parser had a substantial performance benefit whereby we were able to 

process each 1GB of raw data in approx. 30 seconds. Additionally, huge performance gains were 

obtained by switching to a single pass, read forward only approach. As we also required the 

ability to read backwards, we updated our parsing application to maintain state in the application 

layer. This provided the best of both worlds in terms of performance and state.

1. 30 seconds of CPU time per 1 GB of XML data

2. Approx. 151.3 GB of raw XML from the USPTO was reduced to 7 GB of data which 

was imported into the database.

Importantly, we changed some data types as this optimized the file size. As a simple example, 

Boolean values were changed from True/False to 1/0, which reduced the data size.

Once the data was processed, it had to be loaded into 

the database. Here too we optimized significantly. 

Initially, we connected directly to the database within 

the parsing application. This provided the benefit of 

eliminating an intermediate step and eliminating the 

need for an intermediate file format. However, we 

eventually settled on using an export of the data to an 

import ready file format (which added the 

intermediate step back into our process), but provided 

the following benefits: (1) reducing data loads to a 

matter of seconds for each gigabyte of data, and (2) 

providing atomic commits at a batch level. The batch 

level atomic commits are critical as they enabled us to 

ensure data quality at a higher level, and we were able to use this assurance to add new data 

quality checks.

Data quality was an important driver in this work.

1. We created a “self-destruct” mechanism in the parser whereby an error in the input 

file (raw XML) would cause the parser to exit without saving its work. This is 

important as it ensures that each data load file is accurate.

“The USPTO data was 

approximately 151.3 GB in 

size, and it required a 

substantial amount of 

programming. The 

processing was optimized 3 

times, each time using a 

different XML parsing 

technology.”
33

2. Next, we added a file origin marker within the data load file, and within the database. 

This “origin” marker allows us to track each data point back to its original file.

3. Next, we added data quality checks using the origin markers. Essentially, the parser is 

able to provide frequencies within the XML file which can be compared against 

frequencies in the database.

a. These frequency checks allow us to verify that the data in the raw USPTO XML 

files was loaded perfectly into the relational database. (i.e. we can verify data 

input quality).

b. Importantly, the vast improvements in performance as listed above made this 

possible within reasonable time frames.

3.3 DATA PROCESSING

The XML files were processed to extract the Trademarks data and loaded into a data warehouse. 

There were many duplicates in the USPTO database as the entries for the same trademarks had 

been made multiple times.

• First, the data was filtered to consider only trademark applicants in the US.

• Next, filters were applied to exclude all data other than data pertaining to trademarks 

filed by individuals and sole proprietorship businesses (LegalEntityTypeCodes 1 and 

19).

• Multiple passes were made through the records in order to extract the first name from 

the trademark applicant’s name. This required complex and repetitive querying as the 

names in the USPTO database have not been saved in any well defined format.

3.4 GENDER ASSIGNMENT

The applicants were marked as men or women following the same procedure as in the case of 

patents, outlined in Section 2.5.5. First the lists for the 10,000 most common names for boys and 

the 10,000 most common names for girls were used to assign gender to exclusive male and 

female names. A formula (the same as in the case of patents) was used to allocate gender for the 

common names. Various name lists were used to assign gender to the remaining names followed 

by allocating the yet unassigned names based on the male female ratio in the database.

3.5 ANALYSIS

The data was then used to generate the attached reports. The period 1980-2010 was used as the 

base period as the data for the years 1976-1979 was meager and the data for the year 2011 was as 

yet incomplete.
34

Trademark applications filed by year

1. Trademark applications filed by year

Trademark applications show a spike just prior to Y2K; however, trademark applications have 

fallen from a high of 49,256 in 2007 to 

42,950 in 2009, a drop of 12.8% 

reflecting the onset of a recession.

2. Trademark applications filed by women by year

Trademark applications filed by women show a cadence similar to the total number of 

trademarks filed. There is a spike just prior to Y2K. 

At the onset of the recession, they drop off, from a 

high of 14,353 in 2007 to a low of 12,604 in 2009, a 

drop of 12.19%.

“Trademark applications show a spike just 

prior to Y2K; however, trademark 

applications have fallen from a high of 

49,256 in 2007 to 42,950 in 2009, a drop of 

12.8% reflecting the onset of a recession.”

“Trademark applications filed 

by women show a cadence 

similar to the total number of 

trademarks filed.”
35

Trademark applications filed by women by year

3. Trademark applications filed by men by year

Trademark applications by men show a cadence similar to those for the total trademarks and 

those for women. The number of trademark applications by men shows a drop from a high of 

34,063 in 2007 to a low of 29,807 in 2009, a drop of 12.5%.

The sum of the numbers for the trademarks filed for men and for women shows a slight variance 

from the total number of trademarks filed due to processing errors; the interrogation for each of 

these categories was carried out independent of the other.
36

Trademark applications filed by men by year

4. Total trademarks granted by year

The total number of trademarks granted shows a steady, albeit uneven climb over the last three 

decades. Taking the year 1985 as a baseline, the number of trademarks granted has increased 

from 4,268 in 1985 to 23,709 in 2007. There is a 

recent drop to a low of 20,547 in 2010 due perhaps to 

the recession. No attempt has been made to correlate 

the number of trademarks granted to the periods of 

economic expansion and contraction. This would be a 

worthwhile subject for future research.

“The total number of 

trademarks granted shows a 

steady, albeit uneven climb 

over the last three decades.”
37

Total trademarks granted by year

5. Trademarks granted to women by year

Trademarks granted to women entrepreneurs follow a pattern similar to those of total trademarks. 

They increase from 1,077 in 1985 to a high of 7,274 

“Trademarks granted to in 2008. There is a drop off to 6,533 in 2010.

women entrepreneurs follow a 

pattern similar to those of 

total trademarks.”
38

Trademarks granted to men by year Trademarks granted to women by year

6. Trademarks granted to men by year

Trademarks granted to men follow a similar pattern. They increase from 3,328 to a high of 

16,074 in 2008. There is a drop off to 13,881 in 2010.
39

Trademarks granted to women – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

7. Trademarks granted to women – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

One of the most significant results of this study is that the share of trademarks granted to women 

has climbed steadily over the last three decades. In 1985, 25.25% of all trademarks granted to 

individuals were granted to women. In 2010, fully a 

third of all trademarks to individuals were granted to 

women entrepreneurs. Clearly, women entrepreneurs 

are an increasingly important constituent of 

intellectual property development in the United 

States. The educational, demographic and 

institutional factors that influence this development need to be investigated in future research.

8. Trademarks granted to men – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

Corresponding with an increase in the share of trademarks granted to women, there has been a 

decrease in the share of trademarks granted to men. In 1985, men entrepreneurs accounted for 

78.03% of all trademarks granted to 

individuals. In 2010, this dropped to 

70.78%.

“The share of trademarks 

granted to women has 

climbed steadily over the last 

three decades.”

“Corresponding with an increase in the 

share of trademarks granted to women, 

there has been a decrease in the share 

of trademarks granted to men.”
40

Trademarks granted to men – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

9. Successful women trademark applications %/Successful men trademark applications %

An analysis of the ratio of successful trademark applications by women to successful trademark 

applications by men shows no consistent bias in the processing of trademark applications. This

ratio consistently hovers around 1.0, although for a period of about 12 years, from 1988 to 2000, 

women entrepreneurs showed greater resilience in 

pursuing trademark protection than men and the ratio 

was greater than 1.0. “No consistent bias in the 

processing of trademark 

applications”
41

Successful women trademark applications %/Successful men trademark applications %

10. Trademarks granted to women – Share of applications filed by women

An analysis of the ratio of trademarks granted to trademark applications filed shows that it is 

increasingly more difficult to obtain a trademark from the USPTO. In 1985, 88.28% of all 

women applicants were successful in obtaining trademark protection. In 2010 it dropped to 

49.6%.
42

Trademarks granted to women – Share of applications filed by women

11. Trademarks granted to men – Share of applications filed by men

The pattern of success in obtaining a trademark for men is similar to those for women. In 1985, 

96.18% of men applicants were successful in obtaining a trademark. The success rate dropped to 

44.63 percent in 2010.

The drop in the success rate of both men and women in obtaining trademark protection may 

indicate the effect of a change in rules governing the award of a trademark, or it may be a sign of 

increased willingness on the part of entrepreneurs to file for trademark protection despite the risk

of rejection.
43

Trademarks granted to men – Share of applications filed by men

12. Trademarks granted to women – Share of trademarks granted to men

The ratio of trademarks granted to women entrepreneurs as measured by a percentage of 

trademarks granted to men is very revealing. In 1985 this ratio was 32.36%. This ratio has 

steadily climbed to 47.06% in 2010. Women entrepreneurs account for fully a third of all 

trademarks currently granted in the United States 

showing the resilience and dynamism of this section 

of the work force.

“Women entrepreneurs 

account for fully a third of 

all trademarks currently 

granted in the United States 

showing the resilience and 

dynamism of this section of 

the work force.”
44

Trademarks granted to women – Share of trademarks granted to men

13. Trademarks granted to women by industry (top 5 industries)

The Trademarks data was probed to determine the 

industries with the highest participation by women 

entrepreneurs. The top five industries with the highest 

participation in trademark activity by women were:

• Advertising and Business

• Clothing

• Education and Entertainment

• Miscellaneous Services- Scientific and 

Technological Services and Design

• Paper Goods and Printed Matter

The emergence of Scientific and Technological 

Services among the top 5 contributors to trademark 

activity by women is of particular significance as it 

shows the increasing penetration of women 

entrepreneurs in this field.

Further research is required to probe whether this 

concentration is due to demographic reasons, 

employment or other factors.

“The top five industries with 

the highest participation in 

trademark activity by 

women were

• Advertising and 

Business

• Clothing

• Education and 

Entertainment

• Miscellaneous 

Services- Scientific 

and Technological 

Services and Design

• Paper Goods and 

Printed Matter”
45

Trademarks granted to women by industry (top 5 industries)

14. Trademarks granted annually – individuals vs. businesses

The data was probed to determine how entrepreneurship influences the pursuit of trademark 

protection. The number of trademarks granted to individuals was separated from those granted to 

sole proprietorship businesses. The analysis showed an overwhelming number of trademarks 

were granted to individuals as determined by their filing. In 2010, only 4.8% of trademarks were 

awarded to sole proprietorship businesses. As to why this is so is also a possible area for further 

research.
46

Trademarks granted annually – individuals vs. businesses

3.6 CONCLUSIONS- TRADEMARKS DATA ANALYSIS

1. The participation of women in Trademarks activity as measured by the percentage of 

Trademarks granted has more than 

doubled from 1980 to 2010, from 

approximately 16.5% in 1980 to more 

than 33% in 2010. Whether this 

increase is due to demographic reasons 

such as employment patterns, 

education, or a greater inclination on 

the part of women entrepreneurs to file 

for IP protection is a possible subject 

for further research.

2. Women have a significantly higher participation in Trademark activity as compared 

to Patent activity. For instance, whereas women received approximately 18% of all 

patents granted in the year 2010, the contribution of women to Trademark activity 

was more than 33%.

3. There is no statistically measurable 

difference in the proportion of successful 

women Trademark applications and 

successful men Trademark applications; 

there is no measurable bias in the 

processing of applications by women. 

“The participation of women in 

Trademarks activity as measured by the 

percentage of Trademarks granted has 

more than doubled from 1980 to 2010, 

from approximately 16.5% in 1980 to

more than 33% in 2010.”

“Women have a significantly 

higher participation in

Trademark activity as 

compared to Patent activity.”
47

Further research is required to probe whether gender differences in Trademark 

activity are more a reflection of employment patterns, demographics, risk and reward 

perception.

4. The results in this report reflect only the trademarks for U.S. based individuals and 

proprietorships wherein the first name is identified. Caution must be exercised in 

applying the results to the entire USPTO database on trademarks. 

4.0 REFERENCES

1. The Idea Commercialization Gap and Pink and Black, Lisa D. Cook and 

Chaleampong Kongcharoen, November 14, 2009, Michigan State University.

2. Buttons to Biotech, 1996 Update Report, with supplement data through 1998, U.S. 

Patents by Women, 1977 to 1996, United States Patents and Trademarks Office
48

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Patents Filed by Women – Annually (1975-2002)

Figure 2: Patents Filed by Women – Annually (1975-2010)

Figure 3: Patents Granted to Women – Annually

Figure 4: Ratio of Patents Granted to Patents Filed by Women – Annually

Figure 5: Patents Filed by Men – Annually (1975-2002)

Figure 6: Patents Filed by Men – Annually (1975-2010)

Figure 7: Patents Granted to Men – Annually

Figure 8: Ratio of Patents Granted to Patents Filed by Men – Annually

Figure 9: Patents Granted to Women – Share of All Patents

Figure 10: Patents Granted to Women (Primary Inventor) – Annually

Figure 11: Patents Granted to Women – Share of Primary Inventors

Figure 12: Patents Granted to Women (Non-Primary Inventor) -Annually

Figure 13: Patents Granted to Women - Share of Non-Primary Inventors

Figure 14: Patents Granted to Women vs. All Patents
49

Patents Filed by Women – Annually (1975-2002)

Figure 1: Patents Filed by Women – Annually (1975-2002)

Annual U.S. Origin Patents Filed by Women, 1975-2002
50

Patents Filed by Women – Annually (1975-2010)

Figure 2: Patents Filed by Women – Annually (1975-2010)

Annual U.S. Origin Patents Filed by Women, 1975-2010

Note: The USPTO data for patents filed drops off after the year 2002. Apparently, the USPTO 

data, as reflected in the disc supplied to Delixus, is as yet incomplete.
51

Patents Granted to Women – Annually

Figure 3: Patents Granted to Women – Annually

Annual Grants of U.S. Origin Woman-Inventor Patents, 1975-2010
52

Ratio of Patents Granted to Patents Filed by Women – Annually

Figure 4: Ratio of Patents Granted to Patents Filed by Women – Annually

Ratio of Patents Granted to Women to Patents Filed by Women, 1975-2002
53

Patents Filed by Men – Annually (1975-2002)

Figure 5: Patents Filed by Men – Annually (1975-2002)

Annual U.S. Origin Patents Filed by Men, 1975-2002
54

Patents Filed by Men – Annually (1975-2010)

Figure 6: Patents Filed by Men – Annually (1975-2010)

Annual U.S. Origin Patents Filed by Men, 1975-2010

Note: The USPTO data for patents filed drops off after the year 2002. Apparently, the USPTO 

data, as reflected in the disc supplied to Delixus, is as yet incomplete.
55

Patents Granted to Men – Annually

Figure 7: Patents Granted to Men – Annually

Annual Grants of U.S. Origin Man-Inventor Patents, 1975-2010
56

Ratio of Patents Granted to Patents Filed by Men – Annually

Figure 8: Ratio of Patents Granted to Patents Filed by Men – Annually

Ratio of Patents Granted to Men to Patents Filed by Men, 1975-2002
57

Patents Granted to Women – Share of All Patents

Figure 9: Patents Granted to Women – Share of All Patents

Share of U.S. Origin Patents which have a Woman Inventor, 1975-2010
58

Patents Granted to Women (Primary Inventor) – Annually

Figure 10: Patents Granted to Women (Primary Inventor) – Annually

Annual Grants of U.S. Origin Woman-Inventor (Primary) Patents, 1975-2010
59

Patents Granted to Women – Share of Primary Inventors

Figure 11: Patents Granted to Women – Share of Primary Inventors

Share of U.S. Origin Patents which have a Woman as the Primary Inventor, 1975-2010
60

Patents Granted to Women (Non-Primary Inventor) –Annually

Figure 12: Patents Granted to Women (Non-Primary Inventor) –Annually

Annual Grants of U.S. Origin Woman-Inventor (Non-Primary) Patents, 1975-2010
61

Patents Granted to Women - Share of Non-Primary Inventors

Figure 13: Patents Granted to Women - Share of Non-Primary Inventors

Share of U.S. Origin Patents which have a Woman as a Non-Primary Inventor, 1975-2010
62

Patents Granted to Women vs. All Patents

Figure 14: Patents Granted to Women vs. All Patents

Annual Grants of U.S. Origin Woman-Inventor Patents compared with Annual Grants of All U.S. 

Patents, 1975-2010
63

APPENDIX 2

Tables containing the data corresponding to charts are provided in Appendix 2.

LIST OF TABLES

Table A.1: Patents by Patent Class

Table A.2: Women Inventor Patents – Top 25 Patent Classes

Table A.3: Women Primary Inventor Patents – Top 25 Patent Classes

Table A.4: Women Non-Primary Inventor Patents – Top 25 Patent Classes

Table A.5: Patents filed versus patents granted to women-1975-2010

Table A.6: Patents filed versus patents granted to men – 1975-2010

Table A.7: % Successful Women Patent Applicants/% Successful Men Patent Applicants, 1975-2002

Table A.8: Patents filed versus patents granted to women-1975-2002

Table A.9: Patents filed versus patents granted to men-1975-2002

Table A.10: Trademark applications filed by year

Table A.11: Trademark applications filed by women by year

Table A.12: Trademark applications filed by men by year

Table A.13: Total trademarks granted by year

Table A.14: Trademarks granted to women by year

Table A.15: Trademarks granted to men by year

Table A.16: Trademarks granted to women – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

Table A.17: Trademarks granted to men – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

Table A.18: Successful women trademark applications %/Successful men trademark applications %

Table A.19: Trademarks granted to women – Share of applications filed by women

Table A.20: Trademarks granted to men – Share of applications filed by men

Table A.21: Trademarks granted to women – Share of trademarks granted to men

Table A.22: Trademarks granted to women by industry (top 5 industries)

Table A.23: Trademarks granted annually – individuals vs. businesses
64

Table A.1: Patents by Patent Class

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 40,314 14,129 35.05

514 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions 49,801 13,434 26.98

424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions 32,515 9,625 29.6

438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 34,848 5,677 16.29

D06 Furnishings 26,707 5,297 19.83

428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 32,518 4,780 14.7

604 Surgery 22,666 3,838 16.93

707 Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures 17,901 3,664 20.47

370 Multiplex Communications 28,613 3,615 12.63

D14 Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment 17,071 3,602 21.1

D07 Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink Not Elsewhere Specified 14,138 3,496 24.73

530

Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or 

Reaction Products Thereof 9,356 3,413 36.48

257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 26,534 3,412 12.86

709

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data 

Transferring 19,922 3,239 16.26

D09 Packages and Containers for Goods 13,414 3,174 23.66

D02 Apparel and Haberdashery 10,807 3,087 28.56

430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 14,736 2,987 20.27

D21 Games, Toys, and Sports Goods 15,817 2,905 18.37

600 Surgery 23,491 2,812 11.97

426 Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products 12,503 2,719 21.75

D24 Medical and Laboratory Equipment 11,088 2,719 24.52

705

Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price 

Determination 13,276 2,692 20.28

D03 Travel Goods and Personal Belongings 8,571 2,330 27.18

455 Telecommunications 20,520 2,322 11.32

536 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 6,964 2,239 32.15

379 Telephonic Communications 14,613 2,224 15.22

D08 Tools and Hardware 16,757 2,191 13.08

D23 Environmental Heating and Cooling; Fluid Handling and Sanitary Equipment 13,423 2,140 15.94

2 Apparel 8,196 2,137 26.07

D12 Transportation 15,023 2,100 13.98

715

Data Processing: Presentation Processing of Document, Operator Interface 

Processing, and Screen Saver Display Processing 10,018 2,081 20.77

382 Image Analysis 14,614 2,076 14.21

606 Surgery 20,558 2,054 9.99

427 Coating Processes 13,777 1,928 13.99

524 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 13,841 1,922 13.89
65

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

510

Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or 

Processes of Preparing the Compositions 6,619 1,877 28.36

714 Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery 15,879 1,853 11.67

800

Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related 

Processes 6,988 1,839 26.32

525 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 12,027 1,795 14.92

385 Optical Waveguides 15,112 1,746 11.55

D11 Jewelry, Symbolic Insignia, and Ornaments 6,380 1,746 27.37

206 Special Receptacle or Package 13,801 1,690 12.25

340 Communications: Electrical 22,264 1,640 7.37

345 Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems 16,233 1,626 10.02

73 Measuring and Testing 27,183 1,618 5.95

711 Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Memory 14,422 1,618 11.22

210 Liquid Purification or Separation 20,186 1,596 7.91

436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 7,258 1,560 21.49

375 Pulse or Digital Communications 16,454 1,546 9.4

PLT Plants 8,369 1,467 17.53

250 Radiant Energy 20,108 1,461 7.27

365 Static Information Storage and Retrieval 15,527 1,445 9.31

5 Beds 7,205 1,434 19.9

359 Optical: Systems and Elements 16,434 1,402 8.53

324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 20,208 1,396 6.91

528 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 9,479 1,389 14.65

702 Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing 12,051 1,360 11.29

252 Compositions 7,621 1,321 17.33

D28 Cosmetic Products and Toilet Articles 3,762 1,315 34.95

D10 Measuring, Testing, or Signalling Instruments 8,251 1,304 15.8

361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 19,122 1,290 6.75

D26 Lighting 8,724 1,282 14.7

607 Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application 9,256 1,256 13.57

D19 Office Supplies; Artists' and Teachers' Materials 4,961 1,255 25.3

235 Registers 8,809 1,241 14.09

422

Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or 

Sterilizing 10,462 1,240 11.85
66

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

710 Electrical Computers and Digital Data Processing Systems: Input/Output 12,189 1,215 9.97

156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 15,332 1,206 7.87

713 Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Support 10,796 1,205 11.16

356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 14,657 1,200 8.19

502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 7,964 1,174 14.74

29 Metal Working 20,223 1,172 5.8

280 Land Vehicles 17,839 1,168 6.55

360 Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval 12,690 1,164 9.17

264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 14,203 1,159 8.16

434 Education and Demonstration 4,837 1,159 23.96

423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 10,076 1,147 11.38

119 Animal Husbandry 7,079 1,147 16.2

429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 8,732 1,113 12.75

347 Incremental Printing of Symbolic Information 8,488 1,112 13.1

128 Surgery 8,521 1,098 12.89

526 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 6,184 1,094 17.69

297 Chairs and Seats 7,753 1,068 13.78

439 Electrical Connectors 21,071 1,060 5.03

623

Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and 

Accessories Therefor 8,973 1,053 11.74

700 Data Processing: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications 9,469 1,012 10.69

704

Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation, 

and Audio Compression/Decompression 6,154 1,012 16.44

717 Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and Management 6,169 942 15.27

132 Toilet 2,911 938 32.22

546 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 4,588 935 20.38

106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 6,354 927 14.59

204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 8,696 907 10.43

362 Illumination 12,001 867 7.22

D30 Animal Husbandry 3,018 866 28.69

219 Electric Heating 12,640 852 6.74

D13 Equipment for Production, Distribution, or Transformation of Energy 6,898 848 12.29

248 Supports 12,242 840 6.86

273 Amusement Devices: Games 7,373 837 11.35

348 Television 11,915 836 7.02

548 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 4,925 815 16.55

15 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 8,619 810 9.4

585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 5,559 805 14.48

716 Computer-Aided Design and Analysis of Circuits and Semiconductor Masks 5,702 796 13.96
67

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

701 Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location 8,541 788 9.23

D25 Building Units and Construction Elements 5,914 786 13.29

446 Amusement Devices: Toys 5,033 772 15.34

358 Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing 6,416 769 11.99

523 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 4,861 761 15.66

62 Refrigeration 13,079 743 5.68

D32 Washing, Cleaning, or Drying Machine 4,003 733 18.31

123 Internal-Combustion Engines 15,037 721 4.79

205

Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of 

Preparing the Compositions 6,185 709 11.46

4 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 5,719 696 12.17

327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems 12,393 695 5.61

549 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 4,899 694 14.17

220 Receptacles 8,127 667 8.21

52 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 17,268 663 3.84

544 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 4,016 658 16.38

208 Mineral Oils: Processes and Products 6,656 654 9.83

703 Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation 4,348 630 14.49

296 Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops 8,308 627 7.55

372 Coherent Light Generators 7,017 621 8.85

712

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Processing 

Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g., Processors) 5,964 610 10.23

326 Electronic Digital Logic Circuitry 7,078 601 8.49

568 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 5,925 600 10.13

222 Dispensing 10,256 598 5.83

134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 6,059 598 9.87

166 Wells 13,752 597 4.34

224 Package and Article Carriers 4,989 595 11.93

174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 8,307 584 7.03

726 Information Security 4,255 571 13.42

378 X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices 5,757 570 9.9

40 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 5,219 566 10.84

399 Electrophotography 5,690 559 9.82

482 Exercise Devices 7,765 541 6.97

521 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 4,193 538 12.83

60 Power Plants 12,457 536 4.3

D34 Material or Article Handling Equipment 3,539 531 15

D15 Machines Not Elsewhere Specified 5,405 526 9.73

211 Supports: Racks 5,493 523 9.52
68

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

442 Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, Etc.) 3,255 523 16.07

706 Data Processing: Artificial Intelligence 3,095 518 16.74

508

Solid Anti-Friction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant or Separant 

Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous Mineral Oil 

Compositions 3,774 509 13.49

602 Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage 3,636 500 13.75

D20 Sales and Advertising Equipment 2,298 497 21.63

473 Games Using Tangible Projectile 11,934 494 4.14

8

Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles 

and Fibers 2,829 491 17.36

564 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 3,478 486 13.97

D04 Brushware 2,121 485 22.87

216 Etching a Substrate: Processes 3,018 481 15.94

162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 3,864 476 12.32

451 Abrading 7,588 475 6.26

463 Amusement Devices: Games 3,994 474 11.87

341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 7,147 463 6.48

137 Fluid Handling 14,647 460 3.14

560 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 4,019 458 11.4

118 Coating Apparatus 5,171 457 8.84

239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 8,585 448 5.22

501 Compositions: Ceramic 2,973 446 15

433 Dentistry 5,832 444 7.61

D01 Edible Products 1,128 444 39.36

313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 5,392 443 8.22

398 Optical Communications 4,084 441 10.8

342

Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, 

Radio Navigation) 8,432 440 5.22

504 Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions 3,778 425 11.25

351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting 3,859 421 10.91

719

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Interprogram 

Communication or Interprocess Communication (Ipc) 2,454 419 17.07

401 Coating Implements with Material Supply 2,365 415 17.55

148 Metal Treatment 4,586 412 8.98

562 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 3,369 412 12.23

36 Boots, Shoes, and Leggings 3,655 403 11.03

33 Geometrical Instruments 7,144 397 5.56

D16 Photography and Optical Equipment 2,995 388 12.95

708 Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and Calculating 4,971 385 7.74
69

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

450 Foundation Garments 598 384 64.21

725 Interactive Video Distribution Systems 3,164 382 12.07

310 Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 8,066 374 4.64

95 Gas Separation: Processes 3,793 373 9.83

24 Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. 4,349 371 8.53

312 Supports: Cabinet Structure 4,040 365 9.03

244 Aeronautics and Astronautics 7,646 359 4.7

540 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 2,924 358 12.24

556 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 2,739 357 13.03

718

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Virtual Machine Task or 

Process Management or Task Management/Control 2,204 356 16.15

30 Cutlery 5,273 354 6.71

D05 Textile or Paper Yard Goods; Sheet Material 796 353 44.35

D18 Printing and Office Machinery 2,205 352 15.96

343 Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 6,939 350 5.04

47 Plant Husbandry 3,305 349 10.56

228 Metal Fusion Bonding 4,049 343 8.47

558 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 2,662 343 12.89

43 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 6,605 334 5.06

D22 Arms, Pyrotechnics, Hunting and Fishing Equipment 3,531 329 9.32

D29 Equipment for Safety, Protection, and Rescue 1,502 327 21.77

294 Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements 4,233 320 7.56

333 Wave Transmission Lines and Networks 4,970 319 6.42

99 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 4,220 317 7.51

229 Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes 4,147 315 7.6

53 Package Making 6,499 311 4.79

330 Amplifiers 6,127 311 5.08

242 Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding 6,183 309 5

315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 7,081 306 4.32

84 Music 5,248 303 5.77

349 Liquid Crystal Cells, Elements and Systems 2,201 302 13.72

135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 1,913 285 14.9

396 Photography 4,325 281 6.5

380 Cryptography 3,281 281 8.56

160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 2,905 277 9.54

131 Tobacco 2,128 274 12.88

318 Electricity: Motive Power Systems 6,720 269 4

425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 6,592 264 4

221 Article Dispensing 2,725 264 9.69
70

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

75

Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, 

Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate 

Mixtures 3,360 263 7.83

180 Motor Vehicles 6,119 261 4.27

D99 Miscellaneous 1,230 258 20.98

34 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 3,403 257 7.55

414 Material or Article Handling 9,392 256 2.73

522 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 1,463 252 17.22

126 Stoves and Furnaces 5,992 251 4.19

65 Glass Manufacturing 3,801 249 6.55

215 Bottles and Jars 3,222 246 7.64

381 Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices 4,796 244 5.09

506 Combinatorial Chemistry Technology: Method, Library, Apparatus 1,036 244 23.55

44 Fuel and Related Compositions 2,560 243 9.49

507 Earth Boring, Well Treating, and Oil Field Chemistry 1,935 241 12.45

405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 6,570 237 3.61

165 Heat Exchange 5,859 236 4.03

367 Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices 4,868 234 4.81

601 Surgery: Kinesitherapy 1,973 234 11.86

417 Pumps 6,591 233 3.54

63 Jewelry 814 233 28.62

383 Flexible Bags 1,817 232 12.77

400 Typewriting Machines 3,091 224 7.25

320 Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging 2,927 224 7.65

108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 2,777 224 8.07

141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 4,718 217 4.6

283 Printed Matter 1,529 206 13.47

331 Oscillators 3,941 205 5.2

223 Apparel Apparatus 1,219 205 16.82

363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 4,449 204 4.59

114 Ships 6,246 202 3.23

369 Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval 3,198 202 6.32

117

Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating 

Apparatus Therefor 2,045 202 9.88

374 Thermal Measuring and Testing 2,624 200 7.62

175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 5,169 199 3.85

55 Gas Separation 2,647 195 7.37

366 Agitating 3,481 193 5.54
71

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

503

Record Receiver Having Plural Interactive Leaves or a Colorless Color Former, 

Method of Use, or Developer Therefor 846 191 22.58

241 Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration 3,884 190 4.89

431 Combustion 3,348 190 5.68

416 Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) 3,638 189 5.2

200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 5,802 186 3.21

D27 Tobacco and Smokers' Supplies 1,017 186 18.29

101 Printing 4,205 184 4.38

415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 4,121 182 4.42

335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 3,118 182 5.84

96 Gas Separation: Apparatus 2,519 177 7.03

323 Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems 4,008 175 4.37

16

Miscellaneous Hardware (e.g., Bushing, Carpet Fastener, Caster, Door Closer, 

Panel Hanger, Attachable or Adjunct Handle, Hinge, Window Sash Balance, 

Etc.) 2,921 175 5.99

74 Machine Element or Mechanism 6,806 172 2.53

83 Cutting 5,197 171 3.29

307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 4,065 167 4.11

368 Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices 1,878 166 8.84

164 Metal Founding 3,325 160 4.81

116 Signals and Indicators 1,726 160 9.27

56 Harvesters 4,475 159 3.55

70 Locks 4,289 158 3.68

505 Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process 1,110 158 14.23

198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 6,292 155 2.46

81 Tools 4,726 155 3.28

554 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 1,344 154 11.46

271 Sheet Feeding or Delivering 3,313 152 4.59

209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 3,817 149 3.9

281 Books, Strips, and Leaves 829 149 17.97

516 Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations Thereof; Processes Of 1,057 148 14

102 Ammunition and Explosives 3,822 147 3.85

570 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 1,168 147 12.59

112 Sewing 2,128 145 6.81

441 Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices 1,790 144 8.04

136 Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric 1,863 143 7.68

150 Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers 485 143 29.48

251 Valves and Valve Actuation 4,778 142 2.97

292 Closure Fasteners 3,771 141 3.74

285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 5,512 140 2.54
72

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

182 Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 3,262 137 4.2

355 Photocopying 2,362 137 5.8

181 Acoustics 2,719 129 4.74

149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 1,330 129 9.7

72 Metal Deforming 5,930 128 2.16

376 Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements 3,548 128 3.61

386 Motion Video Signal Processing for Recording or Reproducing 1,765 127 7.2

49 Movable or Removable Closures 3,203 123 3.84

54 Harness for Working Animal 505 122 24.16

227 Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus 2,125 121 5.69

512 Perfume Compositions 485 121 24.95

403 Joints and Connections 3,588 117 3.26

411

Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded 

Fastener 3,337 117 3.51

353 Optics: Image Projectors 1,783 116 6.51

493

Manufacturing Container or Tube From Paper; or Other Manufacturing From a 

Sheet or Web 2,482 114 4.59

277 Seal for a Joint or Juncture 3,695 113 3.06

190 Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage 615 112 18.21

51 Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition 1,088 110 10.11

404 Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus 2,910 108 3.71

419 Powder Metallurgy Processes 1,134 108 9.52

588 Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment 1,004 108 10.76

552 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 777 106 13.64

D17 Musical Instruments 992 102 10.28

445 Electric Lamp or Space Discharge Component or Device Manufacturing 1,207 101 8.37

261 Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus 2,309 98 4.24

472 Amusement Devices 979 97 9.91

38 Textiles: Ironing or Smoothing 483 97 20.08

192 Clutches and Power-Stop Control 3,459 96 2.78

338 Electrical Resistors 1,463 95 6.49

203 Distillation: Processes, Separatory 1,302 94 7.22

475 Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components 2,784 93 3.34

392 Electric Resistance Heating Devices 1,522 92 6.04

89 Ordnance 2,685 91 3.39

188 Brakes 3,881 90 2.32

66 Textiles: Knitting 836 90 10.77

138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 2,569 89 3.46

187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 1,541 89 5.78
73

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

420 Alloys or Metallic Compositions 1,400 86 6.14

402 Binder Device Releasably Engaging Aperture or Notch of Sheet 610 85 13.93

454 Ventilation 2,384 84 3.52

290 Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants 1,864 84 4.51

28 Textiles: Manufacturing 752 83 11.04

477 Interrelated Power Delivery Controls, Including Engine Control 1,168 81 6.93

534 Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series 686 81 11.81

139 Textiles: Weaving 835 80 9.58

518

Chemistry: Fischer-Tropsch Processes; or Purification or Recovery of Products 

Thereof 671 79 11.77

336 Inductor Devices 1,465 78 5.32

232 Deposit and Collection Receptacles 776 75 9.66

42 Firearms 3,299 71 2.15

254 Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force 2,791 70 2.51

452 Butchering 1,817 70 3.85

384 Bearings 3,136 69 2.2

440 Marine Propulsion 2,453 68 2.77

110 Furnaces 2,007 68 3.39

236 Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation 1,718 68 3.96

68 Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus 912 68 7.46

410 Freight Accommodation On Freight Carrier 1,652 65 3.93

48 Gas: Heating and Illuminating 1,069 63 5.89

432 Heating 1,663 62 3.73

144 Woodworking 2,177 61 2.8

152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 1,695 61 3.6

177 Weighing Scales 1,472 60 4.08

71 Chemistry: Fertilizers 923 59 6.39

100 Presses 1,968 58 2.95

127 Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates 445 57 12.81

301 Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles 1,392 55 3.95

172 Earth Working 2,639 54 2.05

269 Work Holders 2,117 54 2.55

225 Severing by Tearing or Breaking 716 54 7.54

37 Excavating 2,163 53 2.45

267 Spring Devices 1,708 53 3.1

337 Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches 1,524 52 3.41

27 Undertaking 458 52 11.35

303 Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake Systems 1,872 51 2.72
74

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

377

Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and 

Systems 1,339 51 3.81

249 Static Molds 1,290 50 3.88

256 Fences 1,212 50 4.13

474 Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components 1,905 48 2.52

122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 1,561 47 3.01

418 Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices 1,906 45 2.36

408 Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool 2,068 44 2.13

293 Vehicle Fenders 727 44 6.05

494 Imperforate Bowl: Centrifugal Separators 815 43 5.28

105 Railway Rolling Stock 1,620 42 2.59

92 Expansible Chamber Devices 1,573 42 2.67

57 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 1,012 42 4.15

266 Metallurgical Apparatus 1,541 41 2.66

14 Bridges 642 41 6.39

169 Fire Extinguishers 1,221 40 3.28

7 Compound Tools 696 40 5.75

194 Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms 998 38 3.81

91 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 1,638 36 2.2

720 Dynamic Optical Information Storage or Retrieval 348 35 10.06

124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors 2,413 34 1.41

104 Railways 1,357 33 2.43

111 Planting 1,134 33 2.91

850

Scanning-Probe Techniques or Apparatus; Applications of Scanning-Probe 

Techniques, e.g., Scanning Probe Microscopy [Spm] 331 32 9.67

218 High-Voltage Switches with Arc Preventing or Extinguishing Devices 680 31 4.56

409 Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing 1,346 29 2.15

173 Tool Driving or Impacting 1,242 29 2.33

332 Modulators 494 28 5.67

464 Rotary Shafts, Gudgeons, Housings, and Flexible Couplings for Rotary Shafts 1,346 27 2.01

202 Distillation: Apparatus 820 27 3.29

270 Sheet-Material Associating 783 27 3.45

346 Recorders 732 25 3.42

12 Boot and Shoe Making 305 25 8.2

406 Conveyors: Fluid Current 1,123 24 2.14

279 Chucks or Sockets 816 24 2.94

407 Cutters, for Shaping 783 24 3.07

186 Merchandising 197 23 11.68

412 Bookbinding: Process and Apparatus 302 21 6.95

168 Farriery 189 21 11.11
75

Contd...

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

322 Electricity: Single Generator Systems 738 20 2.71

76 Metal Tools and Implements, Making 566 20 3.53

23 Chemistry: Physical Processes 192 19 9.9

299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 1,494 18 1.2

184 Lubrication 991 18 1.82

462 Books, Strips, and Leaves for Manifolding 188 18 9.57

237 Heating Systems 532 17 3.2

19 Textiles: Fiber Preparation 489 17 3.48

289 Knots and Knot Tying 163 17 10.43

1 ** Classification Undetermined ** 96 17 17.71

140 Wireworking 649 16 2.47

352 Optics: Motion Pictures 614 16 2.61

305 Wheel Substitutes for Land Vehicles 598 16 2.68

87 Textiles: Braiding, Netting, and Lace Making 177 16 9.04

460 Crop Threshing or Separating 616 15 2.44

226 Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length 880 14 1.59

373 Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces 604 14 2.32

492 Roll or Roller 288 14 4.86

527 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 176 14 7.95

82 Turning 1,219 12 0.98

329 Demodulators 385 12 3.12

388 Electricity: Motor Control Systems 395 11 2.78

109 Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device 354 11 3.11

26 Textiles: Cloth Finishing 294 11 3.74

260 Chemistry of Carbon Compounds 51 11 21.57

246 Railway Switches and Signals 599 10 1.67

238 Railways: Surface Track 446 10 2.24

213 Railway Draft Appliances 425 10 2.35

86 Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making 414 10 2.42

298 Land Vehicles: Dumping 446 9 2.02

159 Concentrating Evaporators 264 9 3.41

300 Brush, Broom, and Mop Making 128 9 7.03

178 Telegraphy 530 8 1.51

193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 467 8 1.71

59 Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making 312 8 2.56

483 Tool Changing 242 8 3.31

212 Traversing Hoists 757 7 0.92

453 Coin Handling 288 7 2.43

201 Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic 274 7 2.55
76

Patent 

Class 

Code

Patent Class Title (according to the United States Patents and Trademarks 

Office (USPTO))

Total no. 

of 

Patents

No. of 

Patents 

with at 

least 1 

Woman 

Inventor

% 

Women 

Patents

191 Electricity: Transmission To Vehicles 248 7 2.82

449 Bee Culture 126 7 5.56

217 Wooden Receptacles 79 7 8.86

125 Stone Working 585 6 1.03

476 Friction Gear Transmission Systems or Components 196 5 2.55

231 Whips and Whip Apparatus 19 5 26.32

147 Coopering 9 5 55.56

157 Wheelwright Machines 307 4 1.3

470 Threaded, Headed Fastener, or Washer Making: Process and Apparatus 258 4 1.55

171 Unearthing Plants or Buried Objects 167 4 2.4

413 Sheet Metal Container Making 208 2 0.96

196 Mineral Oils: Apparatus 94 2 2.13

291 Track Sanders 31 2 6.45

334 Tuners 70 1 1.43

69 Leather Manufactures 40 1 2.5

79 Button Making 9 1 11.11

163 Needle and Pin Making 5 1 20

D00 ** Design Classification Undetermined ** 2 1 50

185 Motors: Spring, Weight, or Animal Powered 71 0 0

142 Wood Turning 41 0 0

295 Railway Wheels and Axles 39 0 0

234 Selective Cutting (e.g., Punching) 31 0 0

245 Wire Fabrics and Structure 12 0 0

278 Land Vehicles: Animal Draft Appliances 3 0 0

199 Type Casting 2 0 0

258 Railway Mail Delivery 2 0 0

520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers -- Part of the Class 520 Series 2 0 0

314 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Consumable Electrodes 1 0 0

276 Typesetting 0 0 0

Total number of Patents (1975 - 2010) 2,441,601 290,169 11.88
77

Table A.2: Women Inventor Patents – Top 25 Patent Classes

Contd...

Patent Class 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products (426)

45 24 14 24 29 30 49 22 42 45 68 47 68 100 100 103 99 92 100 89 72 79 129 165 158 138 144 111 59 82 55 46 56 90

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (514)

29 40 48 55 37 61 67 46 70 91 77 133 168 190 222 266 279 252 302 462 567 650 683 673 745 843 831 592 619 763 709 647 821 1127

Surgery (604) 25 22 20 18 6 14 13 23 24 24 35 82 44 82 92 98 93 140 148 158 178 220 174 167 208 194 283 194 145 133 122 110 148 282Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof (430)

22 10 15 15 13 16 34 33 24 28 30 21 30 58 75 72 96 113 101 129 111 146 139 177 183 171 150 159 104 146 122 98 108 137

Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles (428)

19 23 12 29 16 22 38 23 38 36 74 68 86 104 103 138 132 133 125 175 186 239 247 220 240 257 310 262 258 210 180 158 184 251

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (424)

17 14 19 17 26 31 36 25 23 42 52 86 93 148 181 205 218 245 234 281 486 551 686 552 630 692 644 434 358 451 424 409 440 675

Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology (435)

16 17 22 26 22 21 49 43 41 28 57 92 105 142 184 244 294 272 310 452 661 1005 1085 893 971 938 782 685 588 821 746 664 712 934

Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series (536)

11 7 4 6 6 6 10 11 7 9 3 10 10 14 26 43 40 29 50 63 78 141 125 99 153 146 114 108 96 135 149 126 177 197

Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process (438)

8 8 2 11 12 6 13 12 12 20 18 36 34 34 67 58 63 78 82 62 88 130 192 304 450 508 449 442 406 413 364 334 396 502

Surgery (600) 7 2 4 9 2 4 5 6 9 14 21 21 21 40 41 46 55 75 76 76 87 136 152 158 156 186 206 185 121 169 125 117 160 269Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof (530)

5 4 2 10 2 7 8 7 11 19 12 19 24 41 50 65 74 42 58 81 137 172 173 165 174 141 123 130 149 210 373 348 249 287

Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) (257)

4 1 9 4 4 2 6 5 3 7 14 14 10 25 46 45 38 65 49 68 75 119 118 98 159 194 270 277 261 287 232 231 269 358

Multiplex Communications (370) 2 0 1 3 1 3 2 1 1 8 4 11 12 11 14 13 31 42 45 71 54 66 85 128 103 145 159 198 206 321 252 369 504 728Telecommunications (455) 1 2 3 3 6 2 4 4 1 2 1 2 4 8 5 13 7 19 21 33 33 65 101 102 109 108 95 141 135 230 246 214 246 343Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (705)

0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 1 2 4 10 11 7 19 20 19 24 28 58 100 109 76 68 65 44 111 212 199 305 354 830

Furnishings (D06) 0 0 34 43 34 42 61 45 35 43 53 76 79 74 122 119 202 146 221 243 187 241 251 325 307 242 215 213 190 263 291 300 207 212Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink Not Elsewhere Specified (D07)

0 0 27 19 32 26 26 35 17 13 42 35 27 38 39 71 121 82 82 96 74 136 125 171 191 128 181 197 161 215 305 257 175 265

Apparel and Haberdashery (D02) 0 0 18 14 10 19 21 14 21 20 31 46 45 64 79 83 129 122 97 92 112 158 115 110 89 120 160 122 104 181 185 219 180 205Games, Toys, and Sports Goods (D21) 0 0 16 34 16 37 30 33 65 38 56 99 65 64 100 76 94 111 111 108 88 128 98 118 130 96 131 92 61 122 159 188 132 84Travel Goods and Personal Belongings (D03)

0 0 13 21 17 15 13 22 17 14 21 35 21 25 56 61 79 65 84 74 74 104 132 120 103 105 92 104 93 142 140 115 127 157

Medical and Laboratory Equipment (D24) 0 0 6 7 6 14 12 22 21 28 18 29 32 41 45 73 84 88 95 94 101 134 137 150 180 146 189 107 75 95 154 187 122 176Packages and Containers for Goods (D09) 0 0 5 10 16 17 22 15 13 16 11 23 14 18 34 40 72 56 75 72 75 105 114 169 234 108 177 127 149 198 276 337 224 302Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment (D14)

0 0 2 1 1 5 7 4 12 15 9 29 41 26 36 37 59 53 82 111 121 144 132 211 175 175 198 182 163 230 396 421 210 251

Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures (707)

0 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 0 3 1 5 9 9 19 23 31 35 50 50 125 119 131 138 195 220 215 173 287 266 322 489 734

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring (709)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 3 3 4 2 11 14 17 16 41 29 97 111 149 150 125 133 195 180 301 245 313 456 632

1985 1990

57 88

Number of patents granted within patent class w hich have at least one woman inventor, 1975-2010

91 17837 8230 7171 11345 15559 148

5 25

20 4313 3815 26

9 366 153 100 9

61 12038 4939 6342 8318 5117 3424 2620 43

1 70 7
78

Patent Class 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products (426)

9.3% 5.4% 4.2% 9.0% 11.7% 9.9% 14.8% 8.5% 14.8% 17.5% 25.1% 16.8% 21.4% 21.7% 22.7% 25.2% 25.1% 24.6% 25.8% 21.6% 21.1% 20.7% 23.9% 28.3% 29.0% 31.6% 34.8% 33.7% 31.4% 34.6% 27.6% 31.5% 32.6% 36.1%

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (514)

5.5% 6.1% 6.4% 7.3% 6.8% 8.1% 9.9% 7.8% 11.7% 12.3% 10.9% 15.4% 19.5% 16.9% 18.7% 23.4% 21.9% 23.1% 23.2% 27.9% 26.1% 29.2% 29.2% 29.1% 31.0% 32.2% 34.6% 33.9% 37.0% 37.5% 38.1% 38.5% 40.2% 41.4%

Surgery (604) 8.7% 7.6% 7.4% 9.6% 4.4% 5.4% 5.5% 8.1% 8.7% 7.9% 8.1% 15.6% 8.9% 13.6% 14.4% 12.7% 11.7% 13.1% 15.4% 17.7% 20.5% 18.9% 16.8% 18.6% 21.8% 22.5% 22.9% 23.0% 23.1% 21.9% 24.4% 22.2% 23.1% 22.6%Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof (430)

5.3% 2.9% 4.5% 5.2% 6.4% 6.2% 8.4% 11.0% 8.3% 10.3% 12.0% 8.3% 12.3% 17.9% 21.1% 23.0% 18.9% 19.5% 19.8% 24.2% 22.8% 24.8% 21.6% 25.7% 27.0% 26.7% 24.9% 29.1% 26.9% 31.5% 32.6% 28.6% 33.2% 32.0%

Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles (428)

3.1% 3.9% 2.2% 5.1% 3.9% 3.9% 6.1% 3.9% 6.7% 5.9% 9.9% 9.3% 11.6% 11.3% 12.7% 14.5% 14.2% 13.7% 12.7% 15.3% 15.3% 16.9% 16.3% 16.3% 17.6% 18.0% 21.2% 19.2% 24.0% 24.5% 21.6% 23.7% 26.8% 24.7%

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (424)

8.2% 5.7% 7.9% 7.7% 11.6% 14.6% 14.5% 9.9% 12.2% 14.0% 15.9% 20.8% 21.4% 21.8% 24.8% 27.9% 26.8% 28.8% 26.6% 28.2% 29.9% 28.9% 33.6% 31.6% 32.3% 35.3% 34.3% 31.2% 32.8% 31.3% 34.4% 35.1% 38.5% 37.9%

Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology (435)

7.9% 8.7% 11.6% 15.2% 17.9% 9.3% 16.3% 15.9% 17.6% 11.5% 19.1% 19.8% 24.2% 24.3% 30.9% 32.1% 31.0% 30.5% 31.3% 31.6% 32.6% 36.5% 39.2% 37.9% 36.4% 39.2% 37.4% 37.8% 37.2% 40.4% 40.2% 39.8% 42.7% 40.7%

Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series (536)

10.3% 9.2% 4.8% 6.5% 10.2% 7.5% 12.8% 16.7% 12.3% 13.0% 7.9% 25.6% 18.9% 18.4% 24.3% 30.9% 28.8% 24.2% 24.8% 25.5% 23.4% 32.2% 33.2% 31.9% 40.7% 37.9% 35.7% 36.4% 40.0% 39.2% 47.8% 40.4% 46.5% 43.3%

Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process (438)

3.3% 4.6% 1.2% 6.7% 7.9% 3.4% 6.4% 5.9% 5.2% 8.1% 6.3% 10.5% 11.1% 9.6% 15.8% 12.0% 11.5% 13.6% 12.3% 11.0% 11.3% 13.5% 12.6% 14.7% 17.9% 19.6% 18.7% 18.6% 19.5% 19.2% 17.6% 17.7% 20.5% 20.6%

Surgery (600) 2.8% 0.9% 2.1% 5.0% 1.3% 1.5% 2.0% 2.6% 3.9% 5.6% 6.2% 5.6% 5.8% 7.8% 7.6% 8.7% 8.4% 9.5% 9.8% 10.3% 11.9% 11.7% 13.3% 12.1% 12.5% 14.1% 14.9% 17.5% 15.2% 18.3% 15.4% 16.0% 18.2% 19.2%Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof (530)

6.0% 7.1% 2.9% 9.7% 4.3% 8.0% 8.5% 9.3% 12.8% 16.7% 13.3% 13.3% 17.5% 26.5% 29.4% 28.3% 31.2% 21.9% 29.7% 32.7% 35.9% 31.0% 34.8% 39.3% 42.2% 36.9% 34.3% 39.8% 47.3% 41.7% 56.9% 54.4% 49.0% 50.1%

Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) (257)

2.2% 0.5% 4.5% 2.9% 2.8% 1.2% 4.2% 4.6% 2.7% 5.3% 6.8% 5.9% 4.7% 7.4% 8.7% 10.3% 10.9% 12.2% 9.5% 10.5% 12.0% 12.1% 11.1% 8.7% 12.6% 13.5% 15.2% 14.8% 14.9% 16.3% 14.4% 15.2% 17.7% 16.5%

Multiplex Communications (370) 2.1% 0.0% 1.2% 3.9% 1.6% 3.6% 2.9% 1.3% 1.0% 6.6% 2.7% 5.2% 6.6% 6.0% 7.6% 6.4% 12.0% 11.3% 9.9% 13.2% 10.8% 9.7% 10.3% 11.4% 8.9% 11.3% 11.1% 11.2% 12.4% 13.5% 13.2% 14.4% 16.2% 17.1%Telecommunications (455) 0.8% 1.4% 2.3% 2.8% 6.4% 1.8% 3.9% 3.8% 1.0% 1.9% 1.1% 1.9% 3.5% 6.8% 3.0% 6.6% 3.2% 8.1% 7.1% 7.6% 9.1% 10.1% 12.5% 9.8% 11.5% 11.8% 10.2% 12.3% 12.0% 11.5% 13.9% 14.0% 14.2% 15.4%Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (705)

0.0% 6.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 5.6% 0.0% 13.6% 0.0% 8.0% 2.9% 3.8% 7.3% 11.2% 15.1% 11.5% 15.2% 15.9% 21.1% 20.7% 14.2% 14.4% 17.7% 17.6% 19.0% 18.0% 17.8% 16.7% 17.6% 20.5% 20.9% 23.0% 21.8% 24.3%

Furnishings (D06) 0.0% 0.0% 9.2% 10.2% 10.3% 11.3% 13.6% 10.1% 8.6% 9.8% 11.3% 17.0% 16.1% 19.4% 19.6% 17.9% 21.4% 18.2% 21.1% 23.1% 21.7% 22.3% 23.0% 26.1% 24.6% 21.6% 19.6% 20.4% 24.5% 23.5% 20.4% 22.7% 18.5% 20.4%Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink Not Elsewhere Specified (D07)

0.0% 0.0% 13.8% 9.6% 17.8% 11.0% 11.7% 16.6% 8.4% 7.5% 15.4% 15.5% 15.9% 18.0% 14.4% 23.6% 28.5% 19.9% 21.5% 19.8% 20.2% 28.0% 26.9% 27.1% 31.4% 26.1% 29.8% 35.4% 33.3% 30.6% 33.6% 28.7% 23.6% 27.9%

Apparel and Haberdashery (D02) 0.0% 0.0% 31.6% 20.6% 20.8% 20.4% 20.6% 19.4% 26.3% 25.3% 31.6% 33.1% 20.3% 33.7% 36.2% 29.9% 33.5% 32.3% 35.4% 32.5% 25.7% 25.8% 24.0% 26.6% 21.8% 33.6% 36.5% 28.2% 29.4% 28.4% 25.8% 28.8% 26.7% 29.2%Games, Toys, and Sports Goods (D21) 0.0% 0.0% 7.4% 14.4% 7.7% 14.3% 9.6% 9.9% 21.7% 14.0% 22.5% 30.4% 25.6% 18.1% 18.8% 15.3% 19.4% 18.8% 18.2% 20.6% 17.9% 17.3% 15.9% 16.4% 21.8% 19.9% 22.5% 17.9% 14.5% 17.1% 21.5% 23.9% 20.5% 16.5%Travel Goods and Personal Belongings (D03)

0.0% 0.0% 17.3% 19.3% 17.9% 15.6% 9.9% 16.7% 12.3% 13.9% 17.6% 28.5% 16.7% 27.2% 21.6% 27.0% 27.9% 23.4% 28.6% 25.7% 25.8% 31.0% 34.7% 33.6% 26.8% 30.0% 25.8% 30.4% 31.5% 30.9% 33.0% 29.5% 31.2% 34.1%

Medical and Laboratory Equipment (D24) 0.0% 0.0% 3.7% 5.1% 7.1% 11.0% 7.9% 10.2% 12.3% 11.6% 7.6% 11.7% 15.9% 17.9% 17.2% 24.4% 25.5% 23.1% 23.9% 25.5% 28.2% 32.9% 31.6% 29.7% 33.3% 32.1% 40.0% 30.2% 33.3% 30.9% 30.9% 32.2% 21.6% 22.7%Packages and Containers for Goods (D09) 0.0% 0.0% 3.8% 5.8% 13.9% 8.2% 8.7% 8.0% 7.7% 9.2% 5.9% 11.4% 9.0% 11.7% 11.0% 15.2% 22.6% 16.1% 21.1% 22.0% 19.3% 23.5% 23.4% 27.6% 37.1% 22.4% 28.6% 27.5% 30.2% 27.5% 32.6% 38.1% 25.1% 31.1%Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment (D14)

0.0% 0.0% 1.4% 0.7% 1.1% 4.5% 4.2% 2.7% 9.0% 7.7% 4.4% 11.0% 18.7% 11.7% 10.8% 14.0% 13.4% 10.8% 14.0% 19.8% 21.1% 20.1% 19.7% 26.3% 25.6% 25.9% 26.2% 27.5% 31.9% 25.1% 35.0% 33.9% 16.1% 21.9%

Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures (707)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.3% 33.3% 16.7% 0.0% 16.7% 28.6% 0.0% 15.0% 5.6% 35.7% 23.1% 27.3% 32.8% 20.4% 24.6% 20.7% 19.5% 16.5% 17.2% 15.1% 18.3% 18.8% 19.3% 20.7% 19.8% 18.7% 20.4% 21.2% 22.1% 22.7% 22.2%

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring (709)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 18.2% 0.0% 5.6% 20.0% 17.6% 11.5% 19.0% 5.4% 18.3% 18.2% 18.3% 13.9% 16.4% 13.0% 13.7% 14.3% 16.5% 16.8% 13.1% 14.2% 15.9% 15.2% 16.5% 14.2% 15.8% 18.8% 19.0%

1985 1990

16.6% 19.9%12.1% 17.1%

Share of patents granted within patent class which have at least one woman inventor, 1975-2010

10.8% 13.0%12.3% 21.9%

9.7% 12.4%

15.9% 23.1%23.4% 27.3%11.4% 22.1%

7.7% 13.8%4.6% 7.8%

16.3% 20.8%

6.0% 9.0%3.2% 7.2%2.9% 8.5%0.0% 12.7%

12.9% 23.7%17.6% 19.3%28.5% 34.6%12.8% 21.8%11.3% 23.7%

7.7% 21.2%0.0% 20.6%

10.5% 16.2%13.9% 9.5%

8.0% 13.7%
79

Table A.3: Women Primary Inventor Patents – Top 25 Patent Classes

Contd...

Patent Class 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products (426)

22 16 8 10 16 22 24 11 14 12 22 22 29 43 41 50 45 43 31 39 31 53 75 77 52 61 48 22 42 20 16 17 41

Apparel (002) 19 22 20 23 14 20 25 19 26 36 31 62 28 63 62 38 32 41 65 65 89 108 94 109 97 44 53 44 59 42 40 26 73Surgery (604) 17 13 15 13 5 11 10 15 17 18 29 51 40 53 55 46 84 75 77 75 111 67 85 94 90 133 74 63 60 60 45 57 95Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (514)

15 15 17 28 15 27 27 18 37 45 32 50 64 89 93 104 82 107 161 192 195 240 218 255 224 205 155 160 200 176 169 253 292

Special Receptacle or Package (206) 14 12 7 11 10 12 19 15 14 16 21 17 23 42 24 43 33 37 39 47 53 55 55 55 58 44 40 49 38 32 46 36 51Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles (428)

12 17 8 12 7 11 17 17 22 19 38 31 37 42 77 55 60 45 79 66 98 97 93 88 94 113 105 89 70 65 65 64 114

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (424)

9 8 12 6 13 12 18 13 15 23 25 40 42 85 85 82 87 96 104 189 209 275 205 248 282 268 175 136 163 153 166 170 266

Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology (435)

7 14 8 9 10 11 16 13 12 10 22 40 39 80 101 112 105 107 175 250 413 475 392 352 350 334 263 214 281 263 228 272 321

Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process (438)

5 8 2 6 5 2 5 7 1 8 4 15 14 24 21 24 28 21 20 27 44 75 110 149 188 153 167 134 113 116 114 130 167

Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof (530)

4 0 1 4 1 4 1 2 5 14 8 4 10 13 16 33 22 24 30 53 57 61 76 58 48 43 45 46 61 222 182 100 118

Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) (257)

3 1 7 3 1 2 3 2 1 3 8 4 6 10 16 18 18 24 28 21 38 50 31 52 68 81 88 80 98 69 55 87 117

Multiplex Communications (370) 2 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 3 2 6 3 5 4 12 15 12 23 21 18 22 39 40 39 54 68 72 99 85 151 196 282Furnishings (D06) 0 0 29 40 30 35 53 37 31 37 47 69 62 88 106 165 116 173 173 140 205 202 242 171 182 149 133 109 172 202 229 164 151Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink Not Elsewhere Specified (D07)

0 0 27 18 24 24 18 29 13 13 36 31 21 32 50 61 53 55 64 45 95 91 119 142 86 114 114 108 135 222 191 105 166

Tools and Hardware (D08) 0 0 25 6 20 9 15 4 11 20 14 7 11 28 34 37 29 41 56 38 54 47 74 49 52 63 77 72 72 123 123 78 55Jewelry, Symbolic Insignia, and Ornaments (D11)

0 0 17 33 22 24 14 16 20 19 23 12 12 49 36 56 53 52 40 50 57 65 61 55 65 70 80 49 86 75 103 60 69

Apparel and Haberdashery (D02) 0 0 17 14 10 18 20 14 17 19 28 40 35 64 69 104 107 86 66 90 128 100 92 76 98 122 95 92 160 154 192 155 167Travel Goods and Personal Belongings (D03)

0 0 13 20 14 13 10 19 14 13 20 33 15 51 53 63 57 64 59 62 88 97 96 75 83 67 83 69 113 88 85 104 123

Games, Toys, and Sports Goods (D21) 0 0 12 29 9 34 26 26 55 32 42 74 50 78 58 80 95 89 88 71 89 72 67 89 63 86 65 51 77 101 86 63 38Transportation (D12) 0 0 7 5 11 5 12 4 4 13 18 19 10 17 30 32 34 50 31 52 56 74 69 77 78 89 87 40 54 71 58 39 32Environmental Heating and Cooling; Fluid Handling and Sanitary Equipment (D23)

0 0 7 4 6 7 4 3 5 8 15 21 26 50 40 34 42 27 27 34 54 60 65 65 81 71 59 62 104 63 119 76 84

Medical and Laboratory Equipment (D24) 0 0 6 6 2 13 10 15 13 20 13 15 21 32 50 56 64 72 60 57 78 92 101 101 88 92 60 46 52 104 103 75 101Packages and Containers for Goods (D09) 0 0 3 6 6 16 22 13 11 13 7 17 7 31 22 52 32 47 56 51 73 64 103 125 71 105 84 68 123 154 184 107 165Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment (D14)

0 0 1 1 1 3 4 4 4 10 8 19 33 21 20 26 20 34 50 50 63 62 89 64 94 105 103 85 124 240 237 92 119

Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures (707)

0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 5 10 14 14 11 18 13 42 35 40 58 95 103 89 57 90 92 110 178 280

1985 1989 1990

Patents Granted w ithin Patent C lass which have a Woman as the Primary Inventor, 1975-2010

28 43 4126 45 4026 51 5742 67 6716 39 3843 51 6222 65 6322 59 5111 13 17

4 16 112 10 173 4 3

52 54 9135 28 39

8 27 26

16 18 2037 60 4615 21 4834 56 69

9 13 215 16 69 34 28

15 12 2115 10 17

0 5 2
80

Patent Class 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products (426)

4.6% 3.7% 2.4% 3.8% 6.5% 7.3% 7.3% 4.3% 4.9% 4.7% 8.2% 8.0% 9.2% 9.8% 10.2% 12.8% 12.1% 11.3% 7.7% 11.7% 8.4% 10.2% 13.3% 14.5% 12.3% 15.1% 15.1% 11.9% 18.1% 10.6% 11.6% 10.4% 17.2%

Apparel (002) 14.0% 22.7% 14.2% 17.0% 16.3% 17.1% 19.1% 19.6% 26.0% 24.8% 17.9% 27.2% 16.8% 19.8% 22.9% 19.4% 14.8% 19.0% 20.2% 19.2% 22.0% 22.9% 21.1% 27.7% 25.9% 18.0% 17.8% 17.9% 20.0% 22.6% 25.5% 19.4% 25.3%Surgery (604) 5.9% 4.5% 5.6% 6.9% 3.7% 4.2% 4.3% 5.3% 6.2% 6.0% 6.7% 9.8% 8.2% 8.3% 7.2% 5.8% 8.0% 7.9% 8.7% 8.8% 9.7% 6.6% 9.6% 10.0% 10.7% 11.0% 9.1% 10.2% 10.0% 12.3% 9.4% 9.1% 7.8%Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (514)

2.9% 2.3% 2.3% 3.8% 2.8% 3.6% 4.0% 3.1% 6.3% 6.1% 4.6% 6.0% 7.7% 7.7% 8.4% 8.4% 7.8% 8.5% 10.1% 9.3% 9.2% 10.8% 9.9% 11.1% 9.0% 9.1% 9.4% 10.2% 10.4% 10.1% 10.7% 13.1% 11.5%

Special Receptacle or Package (206) 3.8% 3.5% 2.4% 3.4% 3.9% 3.9% 6.8% 5.8% 4.9% 6.0% 7.5% 4.8% 5.8% 9.7% 5.7% 9.4% 6.7% 8.1% 8.4% 10.4% 8.7% 9.2% 10.3% 12.0% 14.4% 12.1% 12.5% 13.8% 12.1% 12.0% 12.9% 12.7% 12.9%Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles (428)

2.0% 2.9% 1.5% 2.1% 1.7% 2.0% 2.7% 2.9% 3.9% 3.1% 5.1% 4.3% 5.0% 5.2% 8.1% 6.0% 6.3% 4.6% 7.0% 5.5% 7.0% 6.5% 7.0% 6.7% 6.8% 7.9% 7.9% 8.5% 8.4% 8.1% 10.1% 9.7% 11.7%

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (424)

4.4% 3.3% 5.0% 2.8% 5.9% 5.6% 7.3% 5.2% 8.0% 7.7% 7.7% 9.8% 9.8% 11.8% 11.8% 10.3% 10.4% 11.2% 10.7% 12.0% 11.4% 14.1% 12.3% 13.2% 15.0% 14.9% 13.1% 13.0% 11.9% 13.0% 15.1% 15.7% 15.8%

Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology (435)

3.5% 7.3% 4.3% 5.3% 8.2% 4.9% 5.4% 4.9% 5.3% 4.1% 7.4% 8.8% 9.1% 13.6% 13.5% 12.3% 12.1% 11.0% 12.6% 12.8% 15.5% 17.7% 17.2% 13.8% 15.2% 16.6% 15.1% 14.0% 14.5% 14.8% 14.3% 16.9% 14.7%

Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process (438)

2.1% 4.7% 1.2% 3.7% 3.3% 1.1% 2.5% 3.5% 0.4% 3.3% 1.4% 4.4% 4.7% 5.7% 4.4% 4.4% 5.0% 3.3% 3.6% 3.6% 4.6% 5.0% 5.5% 6.1% 7.5% 6.6% 7.2% 6.6% 5.4% 5.8% 6.2% 6.9% 7.1%

Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof (530)

4.9% 0.0% 1.4% 4.0% 2.2% 4.6% 1.1% 2.7% 5.9% 12.5% 8.9% 2.9% 7.4% 7.9% 7.3% 14.3% 12.0% 12.7% 12.3% 14.2% 10.7% 12.6% 18.7% 14.8% 13.2% 12.3% 14.3% 15.3% 12.6% 35.4% 29.9% 20.8% 21.9%

Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) (257)

1.7% 0.5% 3.6% 2.2% 0.7% 1.2% 2.1% 1.9% 0.9% 2.3% 3.9% 1.7% 2.9% 1.9% 3.7% 5.3% 3.4% 4.8% 4.5% 3.5% 4.0% 4.8% 2.8% 4.2% 4.9% 4.7% 4.8% 4.7% 5.7% 4.5% 3.7% 5.9% 5.6%

Multiplex Communications (370) 2.1% 0.0% 0.0% 2.6% 1.6% 1.2% 1.5% 1.4% 0.0% 2.5% 1.4% 2.9% 1.7% 2.8% 2.0% 4.7% 4.2% 2.7% 4.4% 4.3% 2.7% 2.7% 3.6% 3.6% 3.1% 3.9% 4.0% 4.5% 4.3% 4.6% 6.1% 6.6% 7.0%Furnishings (D06) 0.0% 0.0% 7.9% 9.5% 9.1% 9.4% 11.8% 8.3% 7.7% 8.4% 10.0% 15.4% 12.7% 14.3% 15.9% 17.5% 14.5% 16.6% 16.5% 16.3% 19.1% 18.6% 19.5% 13.9% 16.3% 13.7% 12.8% 14.1% 15.5% 14.3% 17.5% 14.9% 14.8%Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink Not Elsewhere Specified (D07)

0.0% 0.0% 13.8% 9.1% 13.4% 10.1% 8.1% 13.7% 6.4% 7.6% 13.4% 14.1% 12.4% 11.9% 16.7% 14.4% 12.9% 14.5% 13.3% 12.3% 19.6% 19.6% 19.1% 23.6% 18.0% 18.9% 20.8% 22.5% 19.3% 25.0% 21.8% 14.3% 17.7%

Tools and Hardware (D08) 0.0% 0.0% 11.7% 3.3% 14.5% 4.8% 6.4% 1.8% 5.6% 7.9% 6.3% 2.7% 4.0% 6.2% 6.9% 6.8% 5.5% 7.1% 9.8% 7.3% 7.4% 7.0% 8.7% 8.4% 9.0% 9.2% 10.5% 14.1% 9.3% 12.9% 11.7% 9.5% 7.2%Apparel and Haberdashery (D02) 0.0% 0.0% 29.8% 20.6% 20.8% 19.4% 19.6% 19.4% 21.3% 24.1% 28.9% 28.8% 16.1% 29.4% 24.8% 27.0% 28.7% 31.4% 23.3% 20.7% 21.0% 21.1% 22.6% 18.7% 28.6% 28.9% 22.8% 28.0% 25.6% 23.2% 26.9% 23.7% 24.0%Jewelry, Symbolic Insignia, and Ornaments (D11)

0.0% 0.0% 15.0% 20.9% 18.0% 16.7% 8.8% 10.8% 18.3% 27.9% 21.3% 14.0% 18.8% 29.5% 22.5% 25.0% 26.2% 17.2% 16.8% 18.4% 21.2% 29.1% 28.0% 20.8% 26.7% 32.9% 34.2% 25.3% 30.6% 26.8% 34.3% 25.8% 26.7%

Travel Goods and Personal Belongings (D03)

0.0% 0.0% 17.3% 18.3% 14.7% 13.5% 7.6% 14.5% 10.1% 12.9% 16.8% 27.0% 11.9% 19.8% 23.5% 22.3% 20.5% 21.9% 20.5% 21.6% 26.2% 25.6% 26.9% 19.5% 24.0% 18.8% 24.3% 23.6% 24.6% 21.0% 21.8% 25.6% 26.9%

Games, Toys, and Sports Goods (D21) 0.0% 0.0% 5.5% 12.3% 4.3% 13.1% 8.3% 7.9% 18.3% 12.0% 17.1% 22.8% 19.8% 14.7% 11.6% 16.5% 16.0% 14.7% 16.8% 14.6% 12.1% 11.8% 9.3% 15.0% 13.1% 14.8% 12.8% 12.1% 11.0% 13.7% 11.0% 9.9% 7.5%Environmental Heating and Cooling; Fluid Handling and Sanitary Equipment (D23)

0.0% 0.0% 4.7% 3.1% 4.5% 5.0% 2.2% 1.5% 3.0% 4.4% 8.8% 9.5% 13.3% 12.4% 11.0% 11.6% 10.0% 7.4% 7.7% 9.6% 10.7% 11.0% 10.6% 11.7% 14.2% 12.5% 13.4% 11.8% 10.1% 8.3% 14.5% 11.9% 11.9%

Transportation (D12) 0.0% 0.0% 3.5% 3.5% 8.7% 3.4% 6.7% 2.3% 2.2% 7.3% 9.6% 8.2% 5.2% 4.5% 7.9% 7.2% 7.5% 10.5% 6.2% 9.4% 8.1% 11.7% 8.7% 11.5% 12.5% 13.9% 11.6% 8.3% 7.7% 8.9% 7.8% 6.3% 4.5%Medical and Laboratory Equipment (D24) 0.0% 0.0% 3.7% 4.4% 2.4% 10.2% 6.6% 7.0% 7.6% 8.4% 5.6% 6.0% 10.4% 12.3% 16.8% 17.0% 16.9% 18.6% 16.3% 16.0% 19.4% 21.5% 20.1% 18.8% 19.6% 19.7% 17.1% 20.6% 17.2% 21.3% 18.1% 13.7% 13.4%Packages and Containers for Goods (D09) 0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 3.5% 5.2% 7.7% 8.7% 6.9% 6.5% 7.6% 3.7% 8.5% 4.5% 10.1% 8.5% 16.4% 9.3% 13.4% 17.1% 13.2% 16.4% 13.3% 17.0% 20.0% 14.8% 17.0% 18.2% 14.0% 17.4% 18.5% 21.1% 12.3% 17.3%Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment (D14)

0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.7% 1.1% 2.8% 2.4% 2.7% 3.0% 5.2% 3.9% 7.3% 15.3% 6.4% 7.6% 6.0% 4.1% 5.9% 9.1% 8.9% 8.9% 9.4% 11.3% 9.7% 14.7% 14.4% 16.2% 17.6% 14.2% 21.6% 19.8% 7.3% 10.8%

Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures (707)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 33.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 10.0% 0.0% 21.4% 15.2% 17.5% 12.4% 11.1% 6.8% 7.2% 4.3% 5.9% 4.5% 5.6% 8.1% 9.6% 9.8% 8.4% 6.2% 6.6% 7.6% 7.8% 8.6% 8.8%

1985 1989 1990

Share of Patents Granted w ithin Patent C lass which have a Woman as the Primary Inventor, 1975-2010

8.2% 9.5% 9.3%

16.7% 19.1% 20.0%

7.6% 8.5% 9.1%5.7% 6.1% 6.7%5.4% 7.8% 8.4%5.9% 5.6% 6.9%7.9% 9.7% 9.6%8.8% 10.3% 9.6%4.2% 3.7% 5.5%4.3% 10.5% 9.2%1.3% 3.0% 4.3%1.6% 2.2% 1.5%

11.0% 14.2% 18.1%16.6% 13.3% 15.4%

4.4% 8.1% 7.1%

27.0% 31.6% 25.3%18.2% 16.4% 20.6%

9.4% 22.8% 22.3%

10.5% 16.0% 18.2%

3.3% 9.0% 2.3%5.4% 5.4% 6.0%5.6% 14.8% 13.3%0.0% 13.2% 6.3%8.9% 7.8% 7.7%6.0% 4.6% 5.5%
81

Table A.4: Women Non-Primary Inventor Patents – Top 25 Patent Classes

Contd...

Patent Class 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products (426)

24 9 6 15 14 10 32 12 28 35 48 28 44 63 62 69 67 59 74 63 43 55 86 103 99 102 103 78 46 53 44 36 47 63

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (514)

14 25 31 27 24 35 42 29 38 51 48 86 113 138 150 187 190 184 220 328 424 506 501 516 570 680 693 476 512 622 598 540 685 954

Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof (430)

13 6 10 6 6 10 22 20 14 20 22 13 13 36 49 55 76 79 80 103 83 115 110 135 153 143 119 126 79 117 90 78 92 118

Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology (435)

10 4 15 17 14 12 34 31 30 20 38 66 75 98 120 175 212 197 221 323 505 728 824 662 741 734 575 529 463 649 572 516 548 736

Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series (536)

8 5 2 6 2 3 9 11 6 6 2 6 8 7 22 34 34 24 35 49 63 104 82 83 129 115 93 91 67 98 114 102 143 168

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (424)

8 6 8 11 13 19 19 12 9 21 34 50 59 96 109 143 146 174 159 194 335 386 482 406 450 489 437 306 260 333 317 307 348 516

Surgery (604) 8 10 6 5 1 4 4 10 7 6 11 43 10 36 43 50 54 68 86 93 115 129 117 100 136 132 193 143 100 91 72 78 107 214Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles (428)

7 8 5 17 9 12 21 6 16 18 36 40 52 58 61 69 89 86 87 107 135 161 168 145 169 189 220 182 187 157 127 106 140 173

Coating Processes (427) 4 7 5 9 5 8 12 8 8 11 15 20 19 32 24 34 24 46 42 53 51 67 80 62 74 83 85 71 66 32 46 43 69 104Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process (438)

3 0 0 5 7 4 8 6 11 12 16 23 21 22 48 40 43 52 63 47 66 98 131 216 320 371 336 303 296 319 271 239 301 372

Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions (510)

2 2 2 2 6 4 7 3 11 7 12 15 17 22 26 39 35 37 32 45 45 83 84 94 87 106 93 91 51 66 55 68 60 68

Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof (530)

1 4 1 6 1 3 7 5 6 6 5 15 17 27 41 52 48 26 40 64 100 135 132 115 142 109 95 103 121 175 260 284 192 223

Surgery (600) 1 1 1 4 0 2 2 2 3 9 9 14 13 26 26 25 37 47 51 56 52 93 106 103 101 129 150 126 89 122 90 86 106 206Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) (257)

1 0 2 1 3 0 3 3 2 4 6 10 4 15 37 31 21 48 26 42 58 84 76 70 116 137 201 196 195 207 169 182 205 263

Telecommunications (455) 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 5 3 4 4 14 13 21 19 47 65 71 67 71 59 89 81 143 182 140 159 241Image Analysis (382) 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 5 10 11 10 14 16 17 16 37 50 54 45 58 48 70 79 68 101 134 123 158 214Furnishings (D06) 0 0 5 5 5 8 10 10 5 9 7 14 21 22 43 16 44 34 57 78 56 47 68 105 158 86 81 95 89 118 110 107 57 79Packages and Containers for Goods (D09) 0 0 2 5 10 2 2 3 2 4 4 7 7 6 5 18 29 31 35 22 32 39 66 79 125 41 91 55 99 104 167 192 130 194Multiplex Communications (370) 0 0 1 2 0 2 1 0 1 5 2 6 10 7 10 9 19 29 35 53 36 49 66 91 64 110 109 134 140 235 175 234 338 499Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment (D14)

0 0 1 0 0 2 3 0 8 5 1 10 10 17 16 20 35 34 52 65 76 91 75 136 125 98 119 104 95 129 206 241 142 178

Data Processing: Presentation Processing of Document, Operator Interface Processing, and Screen Saver Display Processing (715)

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 2 8 4 7 8 11 9 16 25 28 47 64 55 91 85 54 85 58 75 120 121 171 197 195

Telephonic Communications (379) 0 0 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 6 12 5 14 10 12 16 22 44 55 64 50 78 78 69 66 94 81 123 88 114 97 94 92 138Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures (707)

0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 3 4 6 9 11 19 26 34 40 94 96 102 87 119 147 146 127 215 192 235 355 525

Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (705)

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 1 2 3 4 7 4 14 13 14 20 24 49 67 73 62 50 46 33 89 161 150 236 263 654

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring (709)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 3 2 3 2 10 10 14 13 35 21 73 88 100 102 88 95 128 142 222 184 228 329 446

1 50 40 66 273 55 22

10 3910 6

3 137 201 40 12

17 2113 18

2 19

30 5810 27

9 283 17

27 10411 2856 12117 4639 113

1985 1990

36 53

Number of Patents Granted within Patent C lass which have a Woman as a Non-Primary Inventor, 1975-2010
82

Patent Class 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products (426)

8.8% 3.7% 3.2% 10.6% 9.9% 6.1% 17.2% 8.7% 17.7% 21.5% 30.8% 16.1% 21.4% 22.6% 23.6% 26.3% 29.3% 26.6% 30.3% 25.2% 21.9% 22.8% 26.5% 27.7% 28.9% 33.7% 35.3% 35.6% 36.2% 32.3% 31.4% 31.3% 35.3% 33.9%

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (514)

5.2% 7.8% 7.9% 6.5% 8.4% 8.6% 11.4% 9.2% 11.8% 13.4% 11.9% 14.9% 19.0% 18.0% 19.2% 22.6% 20.6% 23.1% 21.9% 25.6% 25.0% 29.5% 27.6% 28.9% 30.8% 33.0% 35.9% 33.3% 37.0% 36.5% 37.4% 37.2% 39.5% 41.8%

Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof (430)

7.0% 3.9% 5.8% 4.1% 5.4% 7.1% 9.4% 11.6% 8.5% 11.9% 15.1% 9.4% 7.8% 16.5% 18.9% 24.2% 20.7% 18.2% 20.0% 24.5% 22.1% 24.1% 21.0% 23.8% 27.3% 27.1% 24.8% 29.0% 25.3% 30.5% 28.1% 28.2% 35.1% 34.8%

Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology (435)

9.2% 3.9% 14.2% 18.1% 19.4% 9.1% 17.5% 21.1% 21.7% 14.3% 20.7% 24.7% 24.5% 24.8% 28.2% 31.4% 30.9% 30.8% 29.9% 30.2% 32.2% 34.2% 37.9% 36.3% 35.2% 38.5% 35.1% 36.5% 37.2% 40.0% 37.9% 37.9% 40.1% 40.1%

Surgery (604) 9.8% 12.2% 7.8% 8.1% 2.6% 5.4% 5.2% 9.7% 6.7% 4.6% 6.7% 18.8% 4.9% 14.6% 13.9% 12.8% 14.6% 12.2% 16.9% 18.8% 23.8% 19.9% 19.0% 18.2% 23.1% 24.3% 24.1% 25.4% 25.5% 23.0% 23.0% 23.9% 25.1% 24.4%Organic Compounds -- Part of the Class 532-570 Series (536)

11.0% 12.2% 4.5% 10.5% 7.1% 6.7% 19.1% 28.2% 18.8% 17.1% 8.3% 23.1% 19.5% 13.0% 31.0% 31.5% 32.4% 26.1% 22.6% 25.5% 23.8% 29.1% 26.5% 32.4% 40.6% 34.5% 34.4% 38.1% 32.7% 34.3% 43.0% 36.6% 43.7% 42.0%

Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (424)

8.5% 4.7% 5.8% 9.3% 10.6% 17.3% 15.1% 10.3% 10.2% 15.3% 18.5% 21.4% 22.1% 23.1% 22.1% 28.3% 26.1% 29.0% 26.2% 29.6% 28.8% 28.3% 32.9% 31.4% 32.0% 34.0% 32.3% 29.9% 32.2% 30.4% 34.1% 34.7% 39.1% 37.2%

Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles (428)

2.7% 3.1% 2.0% 6.5% 4.6% 4.6% 7.5% 2.4% 6.1% 6.3% 9.2% 10.6% 12.9% 11.8% 13.8% 13.1% 16.2% 14.7% 15.3% 14.6% 17.7% 18.3% 16.9% 16.6% 17.9% 18.3% 21.5% 18.5% 23.8% 25.5% 20.4% 21.8% 26.9% 23.0%

Coating Processes (427) 2.5% 5.6% 3.7% 5.8% 5.2% 5.7% 8.3% 5.3% 6.9% 6.9% 9.0% 12.1% 10.2% 16.7% 11.1% 12.0% 10.0% 14.2% 15.1% 17.4% 14.7% 17.9% 20.2% 14.5% 20.4% 21.4% 21.0% 21.2% 24.4% 16.9% 20.2% 18.9% 24.0% 24.2%Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process (438)

2.3% 0.0% 0.0% 5.4% 7.9% 4.2% 7.4% 5.6% 8.1% 8.9% 9.6% 11.2% 12.4% 9.2% 18.0% 13.1% 11.4% 13.4% 13.8% 12.2% 12.4% 14.2% 12.1% 14.1% 17.5% 19.9% 19.4% 17.1% 19.0% 19.5% 17.4% 16.4% 20.0% 19.6%

Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions (510)

3.6% 2.7% 3.2% 3.1% 11.8% 7.7% 10.6% 7.7% 20.4% 12.1% 22.6% 19.2% 23.3% 21.8% 24.3% 35.1% 28.5% 32.5% 20.4% 28.1% 29.2% 32.2% 32.2% 36.6% 34.7% 38.3% 37.8% 45.0% 39.5% 40.5% 40.7% 47.2% 40.8% 38.9%

Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof (530)

2.0% 18.2% 2.7% 12.2% 4.3% 7.7% 14.3% 10.9% 13.6% 9.0% 8.2% 17.6% 17.2% 25.7% 32.5% 30.8% 26.2% 19.5% 27.8% 32.3% 33.3% 31.0% 33.4% 34.2% 42.0% 35.7% 32.9% 38.1% 47.5% 41.6% 46.0% 51.8% 43.1% 45.6%

Surgery (600) 1.2% 1.4% 1.2% 5.5% 0.0% 1.8% 2.4% 2.3% 4.1% 10.1% 6.0% 9.8% 8.3% 11.6% 9.9% 8.9% 10.9% 10.7% 11.9% 13.6% 12.4% 13.9% 15.2% 12.3% 12.2% 15.4% 16.2% 17.5% 17.6% 19.2% 16.8% 16.8% 17.5% 20.8%Telecommunications (455) 2.4% 2.2% 2.2% 3.8% 11.4% 4.0% 2.7% 8.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.9% 0.0% 8.9% 3.8% 4.0% 3.2% 9.7% 7.2% 7.7% 8.6% 11.1% 12.5% 10.6% 11.4% 12.1% 9.8% 12.2% 11.6% 11.6% 15.6% 14.4% 14.2% 16.8%Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) (257)

1.4% 0.0% 2.0% 1.7% 4.3% 0.0% 4.5% 4.6% 3.8% 5.6% 5.1% 7.8% 3.4% 8.1% 12.0% 11.5% 9.9% 14.2% 7.9% 10.3% 14.3% 13.0% 10.4% 9.4% 13.3% 13.8% 16.0% 15.1% 15.8% 16.5% 14.7% 16.8% 18.7% 16.2%

Image Analysis (382) 0.0% 8.3% 4.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.2% 0.0% 6.7% 5.9% 9.4% 14.3% 10.4% 8.2% 11.7% 11.3% 14.0% 10.4% 16.6% 12.5% 13.5% 11.7% 11.6% 12.4% 13.4% 13.4% 15.3% 14.0% 18.1% 16.0% 17.5% 19.9%Furnishings (D06) 0.0% 0.0% 10.4% 7.2% 13.2% 11.3% 10.3% 10.0% 6.7% 9.4% 8.6% 13.2% 19.3% 22.9% 25.9% 11.3% 20.7% 19.7% 20.6% 24.1% 25.0% 16.0% 19.8% 24.3% 34.4% 25.4% 25.7% 27.0% 31.7% 30.4% 24.4% 24.4% 15.6% 23.0%Packages and Containers for Goods (D09) 0.0% 0.0% 7.1% 11.1% 37.0% 4.5% 3.4% 5.8% 6.7% 10.0% 6.7% 10.8% 17.1% 13.6% 6.0% 22.8% 22.7% 25.4% 29.4% 16.7% 19.6% 19.8% 29.2% 29.9% 39.8% 18.2% 28.1% 25.5% 33.2% 25.9% 34.5% 39.6% 26.9% 33.6%Data Processing: Presentation Processing of Document, Operator Interface Processing, and Screen Saver Display Processing (715)

0.0% 0.0% 33.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 18.2% 22.2% 14.3% 44.4% 18.2% 21.2% 25.0% 20.4% 14.3% 16.7% 18.7% 13.9% 21.1% 18.4% 16.0% 23.5% 22.9% 15.4% 24.8% 19.3% 19.9% 21.5% 23.0% 30.3% 26.9% 23.0%

Recording, Communication, or Information Retrieval Equipment (D14)

0.0% 0.0% 1.8% 0.0% 0.0% 5.6% 5.2% 0.0% 12.5% 5.6% 1.0% 7.5% 8.8% 14.8% 9.9% 15.3% 15.9% 13.3% 18.0% 21.3% 21.7% 22.2% 21.2% 29.7% 28.0% 24.8% 26.1% 27.0% 30.6% 24.3% 29.3% 30.0% 17.8% 23.0%

Telephonic Communications (379) 0.0% 0.0% 1.3% 2.4% 4.5% 2.0% 2.9% 4.2% 3.9% 6.3% 11.3% 4.2% 11.6% 8.6% 9.8% 14.8% 17.1% 21.7% 21.2% 21.6% 20.2% 18.1% 17.5% 17.9% 15.5% 20.3% 16.6% 20.5% 20.9% 18.0% 20.9% 24.7% 23.2% 26.9%Multiplex Communications (370) 0.0% 0.0% 2.6% 6.3% 0.0% 5.3% 2.9% 0.0% 2.0% 8.6% 2.6% 4.8% 8.5% 7.1% 9.1% 7.1% 11.4% 12.3% 11.7% 14.2% 10.5% 10.4% 12.1% 11.4% 8.3% 12.6% 10.9% 10.8% 12.1% 14.1% 13.0% 12.2% 14.8% 15.8%Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures (707)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 10.0% 0.0% 20.0% 0.0% 33.3% 40.0% 0.0% 14.3% 16.7% 37.5% 18.2% 26.1% 25.0% 13.1% 24.1% 23.4% 17.4% 19.8% 20.6% 17.9% 20.5% 16.4% 16.9% 19.7% 19.2% 19.3% 21.1% 20.8% 21.2% 21.3% 20.9%

Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (705)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 9.1% 0.0% 30.0% 0.0% 15.4% 7.1% 5.9% 9.4% 8.3% 17.5% 11.4% 18.2% 18.3% 26.9% 29.4% 20.9% 20.5% 21.1% 19.1% 25.8% 21.5% 20.7% 21.0% 22.0% 24.1% 23.5% 26.8% 23.6% 28.0%

Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring (709)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 28.6% 0.0% 0.0% 20.0% 21.4% 13.3% 18.8% 8.0% 22.7% 19.2% 19.7% 15.1% 18.2% 14.2% 14.8% 16.0% 15.6% 15.8% 13.1% 14.6% 15.3% 16.7% 16.7% 14.6% 15.5% 18.5% 17.8%

0.0% 10.0%0.0% 23.1%6.5% 14.5%3.0% 10.4%

11.1% 20.0%17.5% 9.4%15.0% 19.2%

5.2% 17.9%9.1% 8.3%0.0% 16.4%

10.6% 26.9%21.0% 19.8%

1.8% 7.9%2.6% 6.1%6.0% 13.8%5.8% 14.4%

21.5% 23.1%13.0% 22.1%17.1% 24.4%

8.6% 11.9%

12.2% 20.2%24.4% 29.9%

8.1% 10.9%1985 1990

20.1% 19.6%12.8% 16.6%

Share of Patents Granted w ithin Patent C lass which have a Woman as a Non-Primary Inventor, 1975-2010
83

Table A.5: Patents filed versus patents granted to women-1975-2010

Year No. of Patents 

Filed

No. of Patents 

Granted

1975 1395 1328

1976 1672 1284

1977 1770 1523

1978 1706 1600

1979 1829 1294

1980 1901 1643

1981 1900 1884

1982 2172 1637

1983 2276 1750

1984 2642 2206

1985 3102 2445

1986 3507 2503

1987 3950 3229

1988 4716 3341

1989 5143 4496

1990 6053 4712

1991 6473 5490

1992 6893 6103

1993 7830 6735

1994 9758 7006

1995 12814 7463

1996 11583 8766

1997 14299 9390

1998 14658 12577

1999 16351 13424

2000 17893 14039

2001 18565 14974

2002 19178 15087

2003 18288 15414

2004 17031 14738

2005 15978 13211

2006 13851 16637

2007 11059 15874

2008 6213 16321

2009 2948 17061

2010 552 22984

Total 287949 290169
84

Table A.6: Patents filed versus patents granted to men – 1975-2010

Year No. of Patents 

Filed

No. of Patents 

Granted

1975 43619 46148

1976 44959 43737

1977 44454 44366

1978 42960 44098

1979 42211 32394

1980 42298 40015

1981 39870 42493

1982 40018 37055

1983 37989 35913

1984 39753 41557

1985 41697 42696

1986 42625 41469

1987 46531 47088

1988 51236 43910

1989 54514 53718

1990 58331 51840

1991 59411 56529

1992 62792 57505

1993 66747 59878

1994 75203 63160

1995 89274 63247

1996 85577 68032

1997 100062 68710

1998 99628 89050

1999 105395 92372

2000 112144 95364

2001 113427 97425

2002 114169 95988

2003 109649 97768

2004 102169 93361

2005 93908 81986

2006 79446 101523

2007 60406 92871

2008 34249 91342

2009 14976 94850

2010 2598 121257

Total 2294295 2370715
85

Table A.7: % Successful Women Patent Applicants/% Successful Men Patent Applicants, 

1975-2002

Year Ratio of Successful 

Applicants

1975 0.90

1976 0.79

1977 0.86

1978 0.91

1979 0.92

1980 0.91

1981 0.93

1982 0.81

1983 0.81

1984 0.80

1985 0.77

1986 0.73

1987 0.81

1988 0.83

1989 0.89

1990 0.88

1991 0.89

1992 0.97

1993 0.96

1994 0.85

1995 0.82

1996 0.95

1997 0.96

1998 0.96

1999 0.94

2000 0.92

2001 0.94

2002 0.94
86

Table A.8: Patents filed versus patents granted to women-1975-2002

Year No. of Patents 

Filed

No. of Patents 

Granted

1975 1395 1328

1976 1672 1284

1977 1770 1523

1978 1706 1600

1979 1829 1294

1980 1901 1643

1981 1900 1884

1982 2172 1637

1983 2276 1750

1984 2642 2206

1985 3102 2445

1986 3507 2503

1987 3950 3229

1988 4716 3341

1989 5143 4496

1990 6053 4712

1991 6473 5490

1992 6893 6103

1993 7830 6735

1994 9758 7006

1995 12814 7463

1996 11583 8766

1997 14299 9390

1998 14658 12577

1999 16351 13424

2000 17893 14039

2001 18565 14974

2002 19178 15087

Total 202029 157929
87

Table A.9: Patents filed versus patents granted to men-1975-2002

Year No. of Patents 

Filed

No. of Patents 

Granted

1975 43619 46148

1976 44959 43737

1977 44454 44366

1978 42960 44098

1979 42211 32394

1980 42298 40015

1981 39870 42493

1982 40018 37055

1983 37989 35913

1984 39753 41557

1985 41697 42696

1986 42625 41469

1987 46531 47088

1988 51236 43910

1989 54514 53718

1990 58331 51840

1991 59411 56529

1992 62792 57505

1993 66747 59878

1994 75203 63160

1995 89274 63247

1996 85577 68032

1997 100062 68710

1998 99628 89050

1999 105395 92372

2000 112144 95364

2001 113427 97425

2002 114169 95988

Total 1796894 1595757
88

Table A.10: Trademark applications filed by year

Year No. of Trademark 

Applications Filed

1980 2139

1981 2561

1982 5027

1983 3596

1984 4232

1985 4506

1986 4712

1987 5192

1988 5709

1989 6930

1990 11016

1991 11216

1992 10890

1993 14470

1994 14285

1995 16597

1996 18763

1997 19736

1998 21032

1999 33655

2000 33009

2001 25718

2002 29957

2003 33226

2004 38080

2005 42071

2006 44385

2007 49256

2008 46026

2009 42950

2010 44533

Total 645475
89

Table A.11: Trademark applications filed by women by year

Year No. of Trademark 

Applications Filed

1980 396

1981 521

1982 1076

1983 723

1984 972

1985 1220

1986 1162

1987 1349

1988 1450

1989 1716

1990 2596

1991 2685

1992 2461

1993 3466

1994 3467

1995 3787

1996 4433

1997 4775

1998 5135

1999 7683

2000 7974

2001 6615

2002 8135

2003 8830

2004 10163

2005 11357

2006 11934

2007 14353

2008 13741

2009 12604

2010 13171

Total 169950
90

Table A.12: Trademark applications filed by men by year

Year No. of Trademark 

Applications Filed

1980 1780

1981 2100

1982 4038

1983 2940

1984 3359

1985 3460

1986 3716

1987 4028

1988 4467

1989 5457

1990 8767

1991 8850

1992 8657

1993 11386

1994 11070

1995 13155

1996 14728

1997 15399

1998 16287

1999 26505

2000 25430

2001 19493

2002 22514

2003 24621

2004 27073

2005 29585

2006 31153

2007 34063

2008 31835

2009 29807

2010 31104

Total 476827
91

Table A.13: Total trademarks granted by year

Year No. of Trademarks 

Granted

1980 1133

1981 2720

1982 2671

1983 2855

1984 3243

1985 4268

1986 3114

1987 3349

1988 3388

1989 4147

1990 4361

1991 3250

1992 6323

1993 5913

1994 5041

1995 6738

1996 7501

1997 9209

1998 8213

1999 8266

2000 10913

2001 10946

2002 14499

2003 13080

2004 11807

2005 13637

2006 17724

2007 20537

2008 23709

2009 21398

2010 20547

Total 274500
92

Table A.14: Trademarks granted to women by year

Year No. of Trademarks 

Granted

1980 189

1981 480

1982 529

1983 643

1984 704

1985 1077

1986 828

1987 878

1988 918

1989 1103

1990 1120

1991 841

1992 1656

1993 1492

1994 1262

1995 1746

1996 1941

1997 2290

1998 2180

1999 2208

2000 2975

2001 2905

2002 3786

2003 3750

2004 3367

2005 3821

2006 5045

2007 5811

2008 7274

2009 6617

2010 6533

Total 75969
93

Table A.15: Trademarks granted to men by year

Year No. of Trademarks 

Granted

1980 959

1981 2295

1982 2192

1983 2296

1984 2619

1985 3328

1986 2396

1987 2597

1988 2600

1989 3216

1990 3393

1991 2535

1992 4895

1993 4585

1994 3904

1995 5174

1996 5703

1997 7069

1998 6197

1999 6243

2000 8149

2001 8264

2002 10937

2003 9566

2004 8686

2005 9803

2006 12452

2007 14241

2008 16074

2009 14618

2010 13881

Total 200867
94

Table A.16: Trademarks granted to women – Share of total trademarks granted to 

individuals

Year Share of Trademarks 

Granted to Individuals 

(%)

1980 16.70

1981 17.65

1982 19.81

1983 22.52

1984 21.71

1985 25.25

1986 26.62

1987 26.23

1988 27.10

1989 26.62

1990 25.78

1991 26.12

1992 26.45

1993 25.69

1994 25.56

1995 26.47

1996 26.41

1997 25.39

1998 27.05

1999 27.28

2000 27.88

2001 27.06

2002 26.61

2003 29.17

2004 28.99

2005 29.11

2006 30.14

2007 30.15

2008 32.42

2009 32.44

2010 33.31
95

Table A.17: Trademarks granted to men – Share of total trademarks granted to individuals

Year Share of Trademarks 

Granted to Individuals 

(%)

1980 84.72

1981 84.41

1982 82.07

1983 80.42

1984 80.76

1985 78.03

1986 77.02

1987 77.59

1988 76.76

1989 77.61

1990 78.11

1991 78.73

1992 78.18

1993 78.94

1994 79.06

1995 78.43

1996 77.59

1997 78.37

1998 76.90

1999 77.12

2000 76.38

2001 76.97

2002 76.87

2003 74.41

2004 74.79

2005 74.67

2006 74.38

2007 73.89

2008 71.64

2009 71.66

2010 70.78
96

Table A.18: Successful women trademark applications %/Successful men trademark 

applications %

Year Ratio of Successful 

Women to Men 

Applicants

1980 0.89

1981 0.84

1982 0.91

1983 1.14

1984 0.93

1985 0.92

1986 1.11

1987 1.01

1988 1.09

1989 1.09

1990 1.11

1991 1.09

1992 1.19

1993 1.07

1994 1.03

1995 1.17

1996 1.13

1997 1.04

1998 1.12

1999 1.22

2000 1.16

2001 1.04

2002 0.96

2003 1.09

2004 1.03

2005 1.02

2006 1.06

2007 0.97

2008 1.05

2009 1.07

2010 1.11
97

Table A.19: Trademarks granted to women – Share of applications filed by women

Year Share of Trademark 

Applications Filed by 

Women (%)

1980 47.73

1981 92.13

1982 49.16

1983 88.93

1984 72.43

1985 88.28

1986 71.26

1987 65.09

1988 63.31

1989 64.28

1990 43.14

1991 31.32

1992 67.29

1993 43.05

1994 36.40

1995 46.11

1996 43.79

1997 47.96

1998 42.45

1999 28.74

2000 37.31

2001 43.92

2002 46.54

2003 42.47

2004 33.13

2005 33.64

2006 42.27

2007 40.49

2008 52.94

2009 52.50

2010 49.60
98

Table A.20: Trademarks granted to men – Share of applications filed by men

Year Share of Trademark 

Applications Filed by 

Men (%)

1980 53.88

1981 109.29

1982 54.28

1983 78.10

1984 77.97

1985 96.18

1986 64.48

1987 64.47

1988 58.20

1989 58.93

1990 38.70

1991 28.64

1992 56.54

1993 40.27

1994 35.27

1995 39.33

1996 38.72

1997 45.91

1998 38.05

1999 23.55

2000 32.04

2001 42.39

2002 48.58

2003 38.85

2004 32.08

2005 33.14

2006 39.97

2007 41.81

2008 50.49

2009 49.04

2010 44.63
99

Table A.21: Trademarks granted to women – Share of trademarks granted to men

Year Share of Trademarks 

Granted to Men (%)

1980 19.71

1981 20.92

1982 24.13

1983 28.01

1984 26.88

1985 32.36

1986 34.56

1987 33.81

1988 35.31

1989 34.30

1990 33.01

1991 33.18

1992 33.83

1993 32.54

1994 32.33

1995 33.75

1996 34.03

1997 32.39

1998 35.18

1999 35.37

2000 36.51

2001 35.15

2002 34.62

2003 39.20

2004 38.76

2005 38.98

2006 40.52

2007 40.80

2008 45.25

2009 45.27

2010 47.06
100

Table A.22: Trademarks granted to women by industry (top 5 industries)

Year Advertising and 

Business

Clothing Education and 

Entertainment

Miscellaneous 

Services; Scientific and 

technological services, 

and research and 

design relating thereto; 

Industrial analysis and 

research services; 

Design and 

development of 

computer hardw are 

and softw are; Legal 

services

Paper Goods and 

Printed Matter

1980 5 18 19 16 40

1981 18 48 73 74 79

1982 22 56 61 70 81

1983 21 72 85 85 131

1984 22 88 104 90 103

1985 28 155 126 134 147

1986 18 103 79 102 170

1987 30 98 95 119 148

1988 43 128 81 136 124

1989 35 130 123 177 154

1990 45 154 118 193 161

1991 21 106 110 138 121

1992 70 170 244 278 246

1993 50 181 232 214 225

1994 54 149 166 174 196

1995 73 199 265 263 275

1996 89 246 283 281 324

1997 140 293 350 355 332

1998 173 254 390 258 383

1999 201 225 366 316 336

2000 357 307 526 443 403

2001 337 300 504 438 410

2002 439 430 691 518 494

2003 385 424 758 314 534

2004 347 411 710 176 453

2005 367 548 745 137 509

2006 524 717 981 143 587

2007 645 882 1188 163 698

2008 858 1132 1579 205 825

2009 731 1077 1380 184 728

2010 810 1080 1396 165 639
101

Table A.23: Trademarks granted annually – individuals vs. businesses

Year No. of Trademarks 

Granted to 

Individuals

No. of Trademarks 

Granted to 

Businesses

1980 1132 1

1981 2719 1

1985 4265 3

1986 3111 3

1987 3347 2

1988 3387 1

1989 4144 3

1990 4344 17

1991 3220 30

1992 6261 62

1993 5808 105

1994 4938 103

1995 6597 141

1996 7350 151

1997 9020 189

1998 8059 154

1999 8095 171

2000 10669 244

2001 10737 209

2002 14228 271

2003 12856 224

2004 11614 193

2005 13128 509

2006 16740 984

2007 19274 1263

2008 22436 1273

2009 20400 998

2010 19611 936

Total 257490 8241