A24C MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- Subclass:
- MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
Description
A24C covers machines and apparatus for the automated or semi-automated manufacture of cigars and cigarettes, including equipment for wrapping, rolling, cutting, and assembling tobacco products. This classification encompasses feeding mechanisms, wrapping material application systems, cutting devices, and complete production lines designed for large-scale or artisanal tobacco product manufacturing. Related equipment for handling, sorting, and quality control of finished products during the manufacturing process is also included. Adjacent classes cover tobacco preparation (A24B) and smoking accessories (A24D).
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A24C recorded 14,706 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,063 in 2013 to 1,531 in 2023 (+44%), peaking at 1,795 applications in 2022. The most active applicants in class A24 are PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS (13,201 applications), NICOVENTURES TRADING (7,482 applications) and KT & G CORPORATION (4,818 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
A24C ranks 4th of 4 subclasses with filings in A24, with 14,706 applications between 2013 and 2023, 7.4% of the class. Annual filings grew 44% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+152%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A24F, Smokers’ Requisites; Match Boxes; Simulated Smoking Devices | Smokers’ Requisites; Match Boxes; Simulated Smoking Devices | 118,288 | 59.8% |
| 2 | A24B, Manufacture or Preparation of Tobacco for Smoking or Chewing; Tobacco; Snuff | Manufacture or Preparation of Tobacco for Smoking or Chewing; Tobacco; Snuff | 35,622 | 18.0% |
| 3 | A24D, Cigars; Cigarettes; Tobacco Smoke Filters; Mouthpieces of Cigars or Cigarettes; Manufacture of Tobacco Smoke Filters or Mouthpieces | Cigars; Cigarettes; Tobacco Smoke Filters; Mouthpieces of Cigars or Cigarettes; Manufacture of Tobacco Smoke Filters or Mouthpieces | 29,043 | 14.7% |
| 4 | A24C | Machines for Making Cigars or Cigarettes | 14,706 | 7.4% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Cigarette Cigarettes “cigarette” means:• a small tube of wrapper containing tobacco or tobacco substitutes which people smoke by igniting it directly and where the tobacco (or the tobacco substitute) is burned;• in a broader sense it also means a small tube of wrapper containing tobacco or tobacco substitutes which is associated with a heat source at manufacturing or inserted by the user in a device containing a heat source, and where the tobacco (or the tobacco substitute) is heated without being burned. In this broader sense, the word “rod” is also often used in place of cigarette. Simulated smoking device Simulated smoking devices “simulated smoking devices” means devices simulating the act of smoking without burning tobacco, e.g. so called electronic cigarettes
3 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A24, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS CH 13,201
- NICOVENTURES TRADING GB 7,482
- KT & G CORPORATION KR 4,818
- JAPAN TOBACCO JP 4,636
- JT INTERNATIONAL CH 3,806
- CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN INDUSTRIAL COMPANY 2,490
- CHINA TOBACCO HENAN INDUSTRIAL 2,453
- CHINA TOBACCO HUBEI INDUSTRIAL 2,344
- BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) GB 2,199
- SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECHNOLOGY COMPANY 2,097