F21V FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 2000
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- LIGHTING
- Subclass:
- FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
Description
F21V covers functional features, design details, and structural adaptations of lighting devices and systems that do not fit into more specific lighting classifications. This includes reflectors, diffusers, lenses, heat management components, mounting systems, and controls integrated into lighting fixtures or lamps. The class also encompasses combinations where lighting devices are structurally integrated with non-lighting articles (such as furniture, vehicles, or building elements) without constituting a separate functional invention. F21V serves as a residual category for lighting device improvements and hybrid designs that fall outside the scope of dedicated classes for specific light sources (F21K), lamp types (F21S), or specialized lighting applications.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass F21V recorded 583,204 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 40,370 in 2013 to 48,808 in 2023 (+21%), peaking at 71,274 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F21 are PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (3,883 applications), VALEO VISION (2,797 applications) and KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY (2,531 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
F21V ranks 1st of 7 subclasses with filings in F21, with 583,204 applications between 2013 and 2023, 41.3% of the class. Annual filings grew 21% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+7%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F21V | Functional Features or Details of Lighting Devices or Systems Thereof; Structural Combinations of Lighting Devices With Other Articles, Not Otherwise Provided for | 583,204 | 41.3% |
| 2 | F21S, Non-Portable Lighting Devices; Systems Thereof; Vehicle Lighting Devices Specially Adapted for Vehicle Exteriors | Non-Portable Lighting Devices; Systems Thereof; Vehicle Lighting Devices Specially Adapted for Vehicle Exteriors | 342,348 | 24.2% |
| 3 | F21Y, Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , , and , Relating to the Form or the Kind of the Light Sources or of the Colour of the Light Emitted | Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , , and , Relating to the Form or the Kind of the Light Sources or of the Colour of the Light Emitted | 269,193 | 19.1% |
| 4 | F21W, Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , , and , Relating to Uses or Applications of Lighting Devices or Systems | Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , , and , Relating to Uses or Applications of Lighting Devices or Systems | 138,500 | 9.8% |
| 5 | F21K, Non-Electric Light Sources Using Luminescence; Light Sources Using Electrochemiluminescence; Light Sources Using Charges of Combustible Material; Light Sources Using Semiconductor Devices as Light-Generating Elements; Light Sources Not Otherwise Provided for | Non-Electric Light Sources Using Luminescence; Light Sources Using Electrochemiluminescence; Light Sources Using Charges of Combustible Material; Light Sources Using Semiconductor Devices as Light-Generating Elements; Light Sources Not Otherwise Provided for | 53,788 | 3.8% |
| 6 | F21L, Lighting Devices or Systems Thereof, Being Portable or Specially Adapted for Transportation | Lighting Devices or Systems Thereof, Being Portable or Specially Adapted for Transportation | 25,594 | 1.8% |
| 7 | F21H, Incandescent Mantles; Other Incandescent Bodies Heated by Combustion | Incandescent Mantles; Other Incandescent Bodies Heated by Combustion | 16 | 0.0% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Light source Light sources The entity (e.g. light bulb, fluorescent tube, gas mantle or combustible charge) that generates light for a lighting device.
Application references
Arrangements of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits thereof for vehicles in general
Related Keywords
23 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F21V 1/00 Shades for light sources
- F21V 11/00 Screens not covered by groups , , or
- F21V 13/00 Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups
- F21V 14/00 Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements
- F21V 15/00 Protecting lighting devices from damage
- F21V 17/00 Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages
- F21V 19/00 Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
- F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
- F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
- F21V 25/00 Safety devices structurally associated with lighting devices
- F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels
- F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses
- F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
- F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
- F21V 35/00 Candle holders
- F21V 36/00 Arrangements of mantles or other incandescent bodies on burners
- F21V 37/00 Details of lighting devices employing combustion as light source, not otherwise provided for
- F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources
- F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 3,883
- VALEO VISION FR 2,797
- KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY 2,531
- OPPLE LIGHTING COMPANY 2,343
- SIGNIFY HOLDING NL 2,275
- TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 1,982
- KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY JP 1,766
- LG INNOTEK COMPANY KR 1,651
- SUZHOU OPPLE LIGHTING COMPANY 1,633
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION 1,591