SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS, OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
Subclass:: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS, OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

Description

A47F encompasses specialized furniture, fixtures, and fittings designed for commercial retail and hospitality environments, including shops, warehouses, bars, restaurants, and similar establishments. This classification covers paying counters, display units, serving counters, shelving systems, storage furniture, and related architectural fittings that are purpose-built for commercial operations rather than domestic use. The scope includes both structural components and removable fixtures that facilitate merchandise display, customer service, or point-of-sale operations in commercial settings. Adjacent classes in A47 address general domestic furniture and appliances, whereas A47F specifically targets the specialized requirements of commercial and institutional food service or retail premises.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A47F recorded 77,268 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 3,393 in 2013 to 7,801 in 2023 (+130%), peaking at 11,112 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

A47F ranks 7th of 9 subclasses with filings in A47, with 77,268 applications between 2013 and 2023, 5.5% of the class. Annual filings grew 130% 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	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	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

cabinets or show-cases with DISPENSING arrangementscontainers with means for DISPENSING contents, for shops, stores, offices or barsshop, storehouse or bar FITTINGSFURNITURE for shops, warehouses or barsSALES counters or apparatusdisplaying SAMPLES for saleself- SERVICE arrangements in shopsSHOP(S) furniture, fittings or accessoriesSHOW room furniture, fittings or accessoriesSTANDS for displaying goodsWAREHOUSES furniture, fittings or accessories

9 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A47F 1/00 Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
A47F 10/00 Furniture or installations specially adapted to particular types of service systems, not otherwise provided for
A47F 11/00 Arrangements in shop windows or showcases
A47F 13/00 Shop or like accessories
A47F 3/00 Showcases or show cabinets
A47F 5/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
A47F 7/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials
A47F 8/00 Dummies, busts, or the like, e.g. for displaying garments
A47F 9/00 Shop, bar, bank or like counters

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