CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
Subclass:: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS

Description

A47C encompasses seating and resting furniture for domestic and commercial use, including chairs, sofas, armchairs, benches, and beds of all types. This subclass covers the structural design, mechanical features, and manufacturing aspects of these items, such as frame construction, cushioning systems, reclining mechanisms, and adjustable components. Related furniture accessories like bedsprings, mattress supports, and seat cushioning fall within this classification. Upholstery materials and decorative aspects are generally excluded, being covered under textile or finishing-related classifications.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A47C recorded 166,495 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 10,487 in 2013 to 14,911 in 2023 (+42%), peaking at 19,260 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

A47C ranks 5th of 9 subclasses with filings in A47, with 166,495 applications between 2013 and 2023, 11.9% of the class. Annual filings grew 42% from 2013 to 2023, below 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	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	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

Additional Content

Seats specially adapted for vehicles

Related Keywords

seats for AIRCRAFTAUDITORIUM(S) seatstables convertible into BED(S)BENCH(ES)BUNKSORNAMENTS for Christmas treeshead, foot or like SUPPORTS for beds, chairs or sofasseats for THEATRES

19 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A47C 1/00 Chairs adapted for special purposes
A47C 11/00 Benches not otherwise provided for
A47C 12/00 Step-stools
A47C 13/00 Convertible chairs, stools or benches
A47C 15/00 Other seating furniture
A47C 16/00 Stand-alone rests or supports for feet, legs, arms, back or head
A47C 17/00 Sofas; Couches; Beds
A47C 19/00 Bedsteads
A47C 20/00 Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
A47C 21/00 Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders or bed-cover holders; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
A47C 23/00 Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases
A47C 27/00 Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
A47C 29/00 Nets for protection against insects in connection with chairs or beds; Bed canopies
A47C 3/00 Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
A47C 4/00 Foldable, collapsible or dismountable chairs
A47C 5/00 Chairs of special materials
A47C 7/00 Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
A47C 9/00 Stools for specified purposes

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