LADDERS

Description

E06C covers the design, construction, and mechanical features of ladders as climbing devices. This subclass encompasses portable and fixed ladders of various types, including straight ladders, step ladders, extension ladders, and specialized ladder designs with safety features or structural innovations. Coverage includes ladder materials, rungs, rails, hinges, locking mechanisms, and anti-slip devices, as well as ladder accessories that enhance stability or safety. Adjacent subclasses E06B and E06D address doors, windows, and shutters respectively, while more specialized climbing equipment or scaffolding systems may fall under different IPC sections.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass E06C recorded 27,758 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,298 in 2013 to 3,028 in 2023 (+133%), peaking at 3,728 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E06 are SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (1,398 applications), YKK AP (1,252 applications) and LIXIL CORPORATION (1,235 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings