E03F SEWERS; CESSPOOLS
Description
E03F covers the design, construction, and components of sewerage systems and individual wastewater containment structures. This includes sewage pipes, conduits, underground mains, connection networks, inspection and access points (manholes), and treatment-related infrastructure for collecting and transporting municipal and domestic wastewater. Also encompassed are cesspools, septic tanks, and similar on-site wastewater storage or treatment devices for areas lacking centralized sewerage. The classification excludes water supply systems (E03B), water purification and treatment plants (E03C), and the mechanical/chemical processes of wastewater treatment itself (typically C05 or other process classes).
Filing statistics
CPC subclass E03F recorded 35,221 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,491 in 2013 to 3,653 in 2023 (+145%), peaking at 5,159 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E03 are NEOPERL (934 applications), GROHE (870 applications) and TOTO (646 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
7 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- E03F 1/00 Methods, systems, or installations for draining-off sewage or storm water
- E03F 11/00 Cesspools (emptying cesspools E03F7/00; features relating to treatment of sewage C02F)
- E03F 2201/00 Details, devices or methods not otherwise provided for
- E03F 3/00 Sewer pipe-line systems
- E03F 5/00 Sewerage structures
- E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
- E03F 9/00 Arrangements or fixed installations for cleaning sewer pipes, e.g. by flushing (sediment traps, rakes, screens, or the like, arranged in sewer lines E03F5/14; cleaning pipes in general, devices for cleaning pipes B08B9/02 )
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class E03, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- NEOPERL DE 934
- GROHE DE 870
- TOTO 646
- GEBERIT INTERNATIONAL CH 629
- KOHLER COMPANY US 621
- TOTO JP 590
- LIXIL CORPORATION JP 429
- AS AMERICA US 324
- HANSGROHE SE DE 314
- LIXIL CORPORATION 307