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IPC Subclass
F25C

PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: July 1974

Classification Context

Section:
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Class:
REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION OR SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
Subclass:
PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE

Description

F25C encompasses machinery and processes for manufacturing ice, shaping ice products, and managing ice in industrial or commercial contexts. This includes ice-making equipment, ice-breaking apparatus, ice-molding systems, and storage or transport solutions for ice. The classification covers both mechanical methods for ice formation and subsequent processing operations, excluding general refrigeration systems themselves (covered under F25D) and the underlying thermodynamic principles of cooling (F25B).

Filing statistics

IPC subclass F25C recorded 16,883 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 942 in 2013 to 2,181 in 2023 (+132%). The most active applicants in class F25 are HAIER SMART HOME (13,215 applications), LG ELECTRONICS (8,561 applications) and MIDEA (7,315 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

F25C ranks 3rd of 4 subclasses with filings in F25, with 16,883 applications between 2013 and 2023, 4.3% of the class. Annual filings grew 132% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+117%).

Subclasses of class F25 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1F25D, Refrigerators; Cold Rooms; Ice-Boxes; Cooling or Freezing Apparatus Not Otherwise Provided forRefrigerators; Cold Rooms; Ice-Boxes; Cooling or Freezing Apparatus Not Otherwise Provided for179,37245.8%
2F25B, Refrigeration Machines, Plants or Systems; Combined Heating and Refrigeration Systems; Heat Pump SystemsRefrigeration Machines, Plants or Systems; Combined Heating and Refrigeration Systems; Heat Pump Systems178,62945.6%
3F25CProducing, Working or Handling Ice16,8834.3%
4F25J, Liquefaction, Solidification, or Separation of Gases or Gaseous Mixtures by Pressure and Cold TreatmentLiquefaction, Solidification, or Separation of Gases or Gaseous Mixtures by Pressure and Cold Treatment16,5364.2%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

Ice Any frozen liquid and also covers frozen semiliquids or pasty substances

Application references

Frozen sweets, including ice-cream, their production

Related Keywords

CONGELATION of liquids or pastesFREEZING of liquids or pastesmanufacture, working, or storage of ICEfreezing of LIQUID(S)

3 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F25, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. HAIER SMART HOME 13,215
  2. LG ELECTRONICS KR 8,561
  3. MIDEA 7,315
  4. GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 6,041
  5. HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR COMPANY 5,211
  6. MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 4,905
  7. HEFEI HUALING COMPANY 4,633
  8. BSH (BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE) DE 3,697
  9. QINGDAO HAIER INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ANDDEVELOPMENT COMPANY 3,376
  10. HAIER SMART HOME CN 3,265