SMOKERS’ REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
Subclass:: SMOKERS’ REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES

Description

A24F covers devices, accessories, and products directly related to smoking and tobacco consumption, excluding the tobacco products themselves. This includes cigarette holders, cigar cases, pipes, lighters, ashtrays, and related smoking paraphernalia, as well as match boxes and match-striking devices. The subclass also encompasses simulated smoking devices and electronic alternatives designed to replicate the smoking experience without traditional tobacco combustion. Related tobacco products and their manufacture are classified separately under A24B-A24D.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A24F recorded 118,288 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 3,653 in 2013 to 14,269 in 2023 (+291%), peaking at 17,652 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

A24F ranks 1st of 4 subclasses with filings in A24, with 118,288 applications between 2013 and 2023, 59.8% of the class. Annual filings grew 291% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+152%).

Subclasses of class A24 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	A24F	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	Machines for Making Cigars or Cigarettes	14,706	7.4%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

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

Limiting references

Inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes

Related Keywords

tobacco SMOKE ring toysrequisites for smokers

19 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A24F 1/00 Tobacco pipes
A24F 11/00 Seasoning of tobacco pipes
A24F 13/00 Appliances for smoking cigars or cigarettes
A24F 15/00 Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor
A24F 17/00 Receptacles for cigarette papers
A24F 19/00 Ash-trays
A24F 21/00 Stands for smokers' requisites
A24F 23/00 Cases for tobacco, snuff, or chewing tobacco
A24F 25/00 Devices used by the smoker for controlling the moisture content of, or for scenting, cigars, cigarettes or tobacco
A24F 27/00 Match receptacles or boxes
A24F 29/00 Devices for igniting matches; Holders for ignited matches
A24F 3/00 Tobacco pipes combined with other objects
A24F 31/00 Pipe-spills; Devices for splitting matches
A24F 40/00 Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
A24F 42/00 Simulated smoking devices other than electrically operated; Component parts thereof; Manufacture or testing thereof
A24F 47/00 Smokers’ requisites not otherwise provided for
A24F 5/00 Bowls for pipes
A24F 7/00 Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders
A24F 9/00 Accessories for smokers' pipes

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