F25C PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
Description
F25C encompasses machinery and processes for manufacturing ice, shaping ice products, and managing ice in industrial or commercial contexts. This includes ice-making equipment, ice-breaking apparatus, ice-molding systems, and storage or transport solutions for ice. The classification covers both mechanical methods for ice formation and subsequent processing operations, excluding general refrigeration systems themselves (covered under F25D) and the underlying thermodynamic principles of cooling (F25B).
Filing statistics
CPC subclass F25C recorded 11,393 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 724 in 2013 to 1,178 in 2023 (+63%), peaking at 1,648 applications in 2019. The most active applicants in class F25 are LG ELECTRONICS (9,415 applications), HAIER SMART HOME (8,015 applications) and MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION (5,758 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
11 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F25C 1/00 Producing ice (F25C3/00 takes precedence)
- F25C 2300/00 Special arrangements or features for producing, working or handling ice
- F25C 2301/00 Special arrangements or features for producing ice
- F25C 2303/00 Special arrangements or features for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Special arrangements or features for producing artificial snow
- F25C 2305/00 Special arrangements or features for working or handling ice
- F25C 2400/00 Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
- F25C 2500/00 Problems to be solved
- F25C 2600/00 Control issues
- F25C 2700/00 Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25C 3/00 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Producing artificial snow
- F25C 5/00 Working or handling ice (F25C3/00 takes precedence)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F25, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 9,415
- HAIER SMART HOME 8,015
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 5,758
- BSH (BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE) DE 3,827
- MIDEA 3,769
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 3,417
- HAIER SMART HOME CN 3,403
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 3,329
- DAIKIN INDUSTRIES JP 2,908
- HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR COMPANY 2,186