ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES

Description

B60H covers climate control and air treatment systems integrated into vehicle cabins, cargo areas, and passenger compartments. It encompasses heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, humidity control, and related environmental conditioning technologies specifically designed for automotive applications. This subclass includes component arrangements, control systems, and distribution methods for maintaining occupant comfort and preserving cargo conditions in cars, trucks, buses, and similar vehicles. Adjacent classes address vehicle body structures (B60J) and other vehicle equipment not primarily focused on environmental conditioning.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass B60H recorded 69,674 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 4,025 in 2013 to 7,317 in 2023 (+82%), peaking at 7,592 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class B60 are HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (31,729 applications), FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (29,270 applications) and KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (23,892 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings