TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
Subclass:: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE

Description

A47B encompasses furniture articles and their structural components, including tables, desks, office workstations, storage cabinets, and drawer assemblies. This subclass covers the design and construction of these items, such as support structures, folding mechanisms, adjustable heights, and surface treatments, as well as general furniture hardware and assembly details applicable across multiple furniture types. Excluded are specialized kitchen furniture (A47J), seating furniture like chairs and beds (A47C), and functional appliances that happen to have furniture form.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A47B recorded 284,847 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 13,022 in 2013 to 24,732 in 2023 (+90%), peaking at 42,419 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A47 are ZHEJIANG SUPOR (13,571 applications), MIDEA (10,855 applications) and JOYOUNG COMPANY (10,106 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

A47B ranks 2nd of 9 subclasses with filings in A47, with 284,847 applications between 2013 and 2023, 20.3% of the class. Annual filings grew 90% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+47%).

Subclasses of class A47 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	A47J, Kitchen Equipment; Coffee Mills; Spice Mills; Apparatus for Making Beverages	Kitchen Equipment; Coffee Mills; Spice Mills; Apparatus for Making Beverages	324,664	23.2%
2	A47B	Tables; Desks; Office Furniture; Cabinets; Drawers; General Details of Furniture	284,847	20.3%
3	A47L, Domestic Washing or Cleaning; Suction Cleaners in General	Domestic Washing or Cleaning; Suction Cleaners in General	203,625	14.5%
4	A47G, Household or Table Equipment	Household or Table Equipment	192,470	13.7%
5	A47C, Chairs; Sofas; Beds	Chairs; Sofas; Beds	166,495	11.9%
6	A47K, Sanitary Equipment; Accessories Therefor, e.g. Toilet Accessories	Sanitary Equipment; Accessories Therefor, e.g. Toilet Accessories	109,102	7.8%
7	A47F, Special Furniture, Fittings, or Accessories for Shops, Storehouses, Bars, Restaurants, or the Like; Paying Counters	Special Furniture, Fittings, or Accessories for Shops, Storehouses, Bars, Restaurants, or the Like; Paying Counters	77,268	5.5%
8	A47D, Furniture Specially Adapted for Children	Furniture Specially Adapted for Children	27,357	2.0%
9	A47H, Furnishings for Windows or Doors	Furnishings for Windows or Doors	15,449	1.1%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

wall BRACKETS [= shelves]BUFFETSBUREAU cabinets; BUREAU desksCABINET(S) for shoesfiling- CABINET(S)CASE(S) for filing papers, documents or cardsCHAIRS(2) CHEST(S) or containersCHIFFONIERSCLOSET(S)CUPBOARDSOFFICE(S) furniturefurniture PRESS(ES)SEAT(S) combined with desksSIDEBOARDSUNDERFRAMES for furnitureWAREHOUSES furniture, fittings or accessoriesWHATNOTS

48 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A47B 1/00 Extensible tables
A47B 11/00 Tables with tops revolvable on vertical spindles
A47B 13/00 Details of tables or desks
A47B 17/00 Writing-tables
A47B 19/00 Reading-desks; Lecterns; Pulpits
A47B 21/00 Tables or desks specially adapted for use at individual computer workstations, e.g. for word processing or other manual data entry; Tables or desks specially adapted for typing; Auxiliary devices for attachment to such tables or desks
A47B 23/00 Bed-tables; Trays; Reading-racks; Book-rests
A47B 25/00 Card tables; Tables for other games
A47B 27/00 Drawing desks or tables; Carriers for drawing-boards
A47B 29/00 Sewing-tables
A47B 3/00 Folding or stowable tables
A47B 31/00 Service or tea tables, trolleys, or wagons
A47B 33/00 Kitchen or dish-washing tables
A47B 35/00 Tables combined with ironing-boards, washers, wringers, or the like
A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes
A47B 39/00 School forms; Benches or forms combined with desks
A47B 41/00 School desks or tables
A47B 43/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling folding of the cabinet or the like
A47B 45/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth
A47B 46/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, having one or more surfaces adapted to be brought into position for use by extending or pivoting

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A47, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

ZHEJIANG SUPOR 13,571
MIDEA 10,855
JOYOUNG COMPANY 10,106
FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING COMPANY 9,846
LG ELECTRONICS KR 7,657
GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 4,805
GUANGDONG MIDEA ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE COMPANY 4,508
NINGBO FOTILE KITCHENWARE COMPANY 4,300
HAIER SMART HOME 3,964
BSH (BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE) DE 3,910