Skip to content
PCE
Search Classifications
Search for IPC and CPC classification codes or keywords
IPC Class
C14

SKINS; HIDES; PELTS OR LEATHER

Classification Context

Section:
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
Class:
SKINS; HIDES; PELTS OR LEATHER

Description

C14 covers the processing, treatment, and manufacture of animal skins, hides, pelts, and leather products, including tanning, dyeing, finishing, and mechanical working operations. This classification encompasses chemical and physical methods for converting raw animal materials into finished leather suitable for footwear, garments, upholstery, and industrial applications. Related mechanical preparation steps such as beaming, fleshing, and splitting are included, along with treatments for preservation and quality improvement. Adjacent classes address raw animal materials (A22), textile finishing (D06), and footwear/leather goods manufacture (A43).

Filing statistics

IPC C14 recorded 17,058 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 2 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 814 in 2013 to 1,627 in 2023 (+100%), peaking at 2,216 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class C14 are SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (236 applications), SICHUAN UNIVERSITY (186 applications) and XINGYE LEATHER TECHNOLOGY COMPANY (118 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

C14 comprises 2 subclasses with filings; the largest is C14B with 57.7% of the class's 17,058 applications between 2013 and 2023.

Subclasses of class C14 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1C14B, Mechanical Treatment or Processing of Skins, Hides, or Leather in General; Pelt-Shearing Machines; Intestine-Splitting MachinesMechanical Treatment or Processing of Skins, Hides, or Leather in General; Pelt-Shearing Machines; Intestine-Splitting Machines9,85057.7%
2C14C, Treating Skins, Hides or Leather With Chemicals, Enzymes or Microorganisms, e.g. Tanning, Impregnating or Finishing; Apparatus Therefor; Compositions for TanningTreating Skins, Hides or Leather With Chemicals, Enzymes or Microorganisms, e.g. Tanning, Impregnating or Finishing; Apparatus Therefor; Compositions for Tanning7,20842.3%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

treating KIPSLEATHERmanufacture of LEATHERprocesses for dyeing LEATHERtreating PELTSworking SKIN(S); treating SKIN(S)

2 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 236
  2. SICHUAN UNIVERSITY 186
  3. XINGYE LEATHER TECHNOLOGY COMPANY 118
  4. NANTONG SIRUI ENGINEERING COMPANY 104
  5. HENAN PROSPER SKINS & LEATHER ENTERPRISE COMPANY 93
  6. LIAONING FUXIN NEW MATERIAL COMPANY 90
  7. FENGAN LEATHER COMPANY 70
  8. ZHANGZHOU XIANGZHOU LEATHER COMPANY 70
  9. STAHL INTERNATIONAL NL 68
  10. ZHEJIANG FUBANG GROUP COMPANY 61