DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
Subclass:: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL

Description

A47L encompasses domestic washing and cleaning appliances, including both traditional wet-cleaning equipment and suction-based cleaning devices for household use. This subclass covers washing machines, dishwashers, carpet cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and related mechanical or electrical appliances designed for removing dirt, stains, or debris from domestic surfaces, fabrics, and dishware. The classification also includes components and accessories integral to such appliances, such as filters, brushes, nozzles, and control mechanisms. Adjacent classes A47B (furniture) and A47G (table and bed articles) are excluded; suction cleaners for industrial or medical purposes are classified separately in their respective technical fields.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A47L recorded 203,625 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 9,680 in 2013 to 21,093 in 2023 (+118%), peaking at 25,303 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

A47L ranks 3rd of 9 subclasses with filings in A47, with 203,625 applications between 2013 and 2023, 14.5% of the class. Annual filings grew 118% 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	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

Additional Content

Pneumatically taking-up undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces

Related Keywords

CLEANING footwearCLEANING specific domestic articlesdomestic CLEANING in general except laundering or specific implements or machinesspecific CLEANING implements or machines for domestic useDOMESTIC washing or cleaningdomestic DUST removing implements or machinesFLOOR(S) polishing machinesHEATING of boots or shoescleaning HOLLOW-WAREcleaning by force of JET(S)PAD(S) for domestic cleaningcleaning by RUBBINGSPONGEScleaning by SUCTIONdomestic WASHING in general, except laundry WASHING

14 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A47L 1/00 Cleaning windows
A47L 11/00 Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
A47L 13/00 Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
A47L 15/00 Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or table-ware
A47L 17/00 Apparatus or implements used in manual washing or cleaning of crockery, table-ware, cooking-ware or the like
A47L 19/00 Drying devices for crockery or table-ware, e.g. tea-cloths
A47L 21/00 Polishing of table-ware, e.g. knives, forks, spoons
A47L 23/00 Cleaning footwear
A47L 25/00 Domestic cleaning devices not provided for in other groups of this subclass
A47L 3/00 Safety devices for use in window-cleaning
A47L 4/00 Cleaning window shades, window screens, venetian blinds
A47L 5/00 Structural features of suction cleaners
A47L 7/00 Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners

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