DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS

Description

E03C covers domestic plumbing systems for supplying fresh water and removing waste water, along with sink designs and associated fixtures. This includes water distribution pipes, drainage systems, valves, taps, and related fittings installed in residential buildings, as well as integral sink construction and functionality. The classification encompasses both above-ground and in-wall plumbing components, pressure regulation devices, and anti-siphoning mechanisms typically found in household water systems. Related large-scale water supply infrastructure is classified separately under E03B and E03D.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass E03C recorded 30,993 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 2,173 in 2013 to 1,966 in 2023 (-10%), peaking at 3,714 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class E03 are NEOPERL (934 applications), GROHE (870 applications) and TOTO (646 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings