DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES FOR SOLID FUELS; IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH STOVES OR RANGES

Description

F24B covers heating appliances designed for domestic use that burn solid fuels such as coal, wood, or biomass, including traditional stoves, ranges, and fireplaces. The classification also encompasses functional implements and accessories specifically designed for operation and maintenance of these solid-fuel heating devices, such as ash removal tools, grates, and damper mechanisms. This subclass excludes industrial furnaces and boilers (covered under F27) and electric or gas-fired domestic heating equipment (covered under other F24 subclasses). Inventions in this area typically address fuel combustion efficiency, heat distribution, ash handling, and user safety features in solid-fuel heating systems.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass F24B recorded 12,566 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 1,214 in 2013 to 809 in 2023 (-33%), peaking at 1,504 applications in 2015. The most active applicants in class F24 are MIDEA (21,834 applications), GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES (21,535 applications) and GUANGDONG MIDEA REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT COMPANY (20,870 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Protecting plants by heating in gardens, orchards or forests