F24 HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
Description
Class F24 covers heating systems, cooking ranges, and ventilation equipment. This includes furnaces, boilers, heat exchangers, space heating devices, cooking appliances, and air circulation/extraction systems for buildings and industrial applications. The classification encompasses both the equipment design and associated control mechanisms for thermal management and air handling in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Related mechanical engineering aspects such as combustion, heat transfer, and air flow regulation fall within this broad category.
Filing statistics
IPC F24 recorded 869,661 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 48,917 in 2013 to 89,695 in 2023 (+83%), peaking at 105,033 applications in 2020. 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
In class comparison
F24 comprises 9 subclasses with filings; the largest is F24F with 49.1% of the class's 869,661 applications between 2013 and 2023.
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F24F, Air-Conditioning; Air-Humidification; Ventilation; Use of Air Currents for Screening | Air-Conditioning; Air-Humidification; Ventilation; Use of Air Currents for Screening | 427,113 | 49.1% |
| 2 | F24H, Fluid Heaters, e.g. Water or Air Heaters, Having Heat-Generating Means, e.g. Heat Pumps, in General | Fluid Heaters, e.g. Water or Air Heaters, Having Heat-Generating Means, e.g. Heat Pumps, in General | 123,801 | 14.2% |
| 3 | F24C, Domestic Stoves or Ranges; Details of Domestic Stoves or Ranges, of General Application | Domestic Stoves or Ranges; Details of Domestic Stoves or Ranges, of General Application | 116,007 | 13.3% |
| 4 | F24D, Domestic- or Space-Heating Systems, e.g. Central Heating Systems; Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems; Elements or Components Therefor | Domestic- or Space-Heating Systems, e.g. Central Heating Systems; Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems; Elements or Components Therefor | 88,434 | 10.2% |
| 5 | F24S, Solar Heat Collectors; Solar Heat Systems | Solar Heat Collectors; Solar Heat Systems | 72,075 | 8.3% |
| 6 | F24J | 21,125 | 2.4% | |
| 7 | F24B, Domestic Stoves or Ranges for Solid Fuels; Implements for Use in Connection With Stoves or Ranges | Domestic Stoves or Ranges for Solid Fuels; Implements for Use in Connection With Stoves or Ranges | 12,566 | 1.4% |
| 8 | F24T, Geothermal Collectors; Geothermal Systems | Geothermal Collectors; Geothermal Systems | 6,275 | 0.7% |
| 9 | F24V, Collection, Production or Use of Heat Not Otherwise Provided for | Collection, Production or Use of Heat Not Otherwise Provided for | 2,265 | 0.3% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
8 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F24B DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES FOR SOLID FUELS; IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH STOVES OR RANGES
- F24C DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F24D DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24F AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24H FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24S SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24T GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
- F24V COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- MIDEA 21,834
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 21,535
- GUANGDONG MIDEA REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT COMPANY 20,870
- QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER COMPANY 15,443
- HAIER SMART HOME 15,442
- QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER ELECTRIC COMPANY 10,008
- AUX AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY 7,723
- NINGBO AUX ELECTRIC COMPANY 7,499
- NINGBO FOTILE KITCHENWARE COMPANY 6,712
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 6,441