Section A: Human Necessities
~12,952,438
Applications (2013–2023)
PATSTAT worldwide
16
Classes
86
Subclasses
1,282
Main Groups
9,906
IPC
29,967
CPC
Description
Section A encompasses technologies and inventions directly related to fundamental human needs, including food, beverages, tobacco, personal hygiene, healthcare, clothing, and shelter. It covers agricultural processes, food preparation and preservation, medical treatments and devices, pharmaceuticals, and domestic appliances. This broad section serves as the foundation for classifying inventions that improve human welfare, sustenance, and quality of life across diverse industries from agriculture to medicine to consumer goods.
Visualizations
Size of each class by number of subgroups
| Class | Title | Descendants |
|---|---|---|
| A01 | AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING | 3,024 |
| A21 | BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS | 282 |
| A22 | BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH | 239 |
| A23 | FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES | 2,110 |
| A24 | TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES | 442 |
| A41 | WEARING APPAREL | 647 |
| A42 | HEADWEAR | 149 |
| A43 | FOOTWEAR | 717 |
| A44 | HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY | 400 |
| A45 | HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES | 849 |
| A46 | BRUSHWARE | 262 |
| A47 | FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL | 3,705 |
| A61 | MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE | 13,557 |
| A62 | LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING | 335 |
| A63 | SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS | 3,526 |
| A99 | SUBJECT MATTER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION | 2 |
Classification entries by hierarchy level
IPC and CPC are identically structured here. All 16 subcodes exist in both systems.
2 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.
Child Classifications
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- A01 AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- A23 FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES heading +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- A24 TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- A47 FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- A99 SUBJECT MATTER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
Top Applicants
Top Applicants (IPC)
Section A,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SANKYO 23,899
- SANYO PRODUCT COMPANY 23,718
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 20,489
- PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 19,765
- L'OREAL FR 15,563
- NOVARTIS CH 14,253
- COVIDIEN US 13,953
- ZHEJIANG SUPOR 13,571
- DAIICHI SHOKAI COMPANY 13,338
- PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS CH 13,201
Top Applicants (CPC)
Section A,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 22,446
- L'OREAL FR 17,113
- PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS CH 15,849
- NOVARTIS CH 15,792
- ROCHE CH 14,303
- COVIDIEN US 13,862
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 13,454
- P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 13,286
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 12,798
- OLYMPUS CORPORATION JP 9,894
Classes in section A
A01 Agriculture; Forestry; Animal Husbandry; Hunting; Trapping; Fishing
- A01B Soil Working in Agriculture or Forestry; Parts, Details, or Accessories of Agricultural Machines or Implements, in General
- A01C Planting; Sowing; Fertilising
- A01D Harvesting; Mowing
- A01F Threshing; Baling of Straw, Hay or the Like; Stationary Apparatus or Hand Tools for Forming or Binding Straw, Hay or the Like Into Bundles; Cutting of Straw, Hay or the Like; Storing Agricultural or Horticultural Produce
- A01G Horticulture; Cultivation of Vegetables, Flowers, Rice, Fruit, Vines, Hops or Seaweed; Forestry; Watering
- A01H New Plants or Processes for Obtaining Them; Plant Reproduction by Tissue Culture Techniques
- A01J Manufacture of Dairy Products
- A01K Animal Husbandry; Aviculture; Apiculture; Pisciculture; Fishing; Rearing or Breeding Animals, Not Otherwise Provided for; New Breeds of Animals
- A01L Shoeing of Animals
- A01M Catching, Trapping or Scaring of Animals; Apparatus for the Destruction of Noxious Animals or Noxious Plants
- A01N Preservation of Bodies of Humans or Animals or Plants or Parts Thereof; Biocides, e.g. as Disinfectants, as Pesticides or as Herbicides; Pest Repellants or Attractants; Plant Growth Regulators
- A01P Biocidal, Pest Repellant, Pest Attractant or Plant Growth Regulatory Activity of Chemical Compounds or Preparations
A21 Baking; Equipment for Making or Processing Doughs; Doughs for Baking
A23 Foods, Foodstuffs or Non-Alcoholic Beverages; Preparation, Treatment or Preservation Thereof
- A23B Preservation of Foods, Foodstuffs or Non-Alcoholic Beverages; Chemical Ripening of Fruit or Vegetables
- A23C Dairy Products, e.g. Milk, Butter or Cheese; Milk or Cheese Substitutes; Preparation Thereof
- A23D Edible Oils or Fats, e.g. Margarines, Shortenings or Cooking Oils
- A23F Coffee; Tea; Their Substitutes; Manufacture, Preparation, or Infusion Thereof
- A23G Cocoa; Cocoa Products, e.g. Chocolate; Substitutes for Cocoa or Cocoa Products; Confectionery; Chewing Gum; Ice-Cream; Preparation Thereof
- A23J Protein Compositions for Foodstuffs; Working-Up Proteins for Foodstuffs; Phosphatide Compositions for Foodstuffs
- A23K Feeding-Stuffs Specially Adapted for Animals; Methods Specially Adapted for Production Thereof
- A23L Foods, Foodstuffs or Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Not Otherwise Provided for; Preparation or Treatment Thereof
- A23N Machines or Apparatus for Treating Harvested Fruit, Vegetables, or Flower Bulbs in Bulk, Not Otherwise Provided for; Peeling Vegetables or Fruit in Bulk; Apparatus for Preparing Animal Feeding-Stuffs
- A23P Shaping or Working of Foodstuffs, Not Fully Covered by a Single Other Subclass
A24 Tobacco; Cigars; Cigarettes; Simulated Smoking Devices; Smokers' Requisites
- A24B Manufacture or Preparation of Tobacco for Smoking or Chewing; Tobacco; Snuff
- A24C Machines for Making Cigars or Cigarettes
- A24D Cigars; Cigarettes; Tobacco Smoke Filters; Mouthpieces of Cigars or Cigarettes; Manufacture of Tobacco Smoke Filters or Mouthpieces
- A24F Smokers’ Requisites; Match Boxes; Simulated Smoking Devices
-
- A41B Shirts; Underwear; Baby Linen; Handkerchiefs
- A41C Corsets; Brassieres
- A41D Outerwear; Protective Garments; Accessories
- A41F Garment Fastenings; Suspenders
- A41G Artificial Flowers; Wigs; Masks; Feathers
- A41H Appliances or Methods for Making Clothes, e.g. for Dress-Making or for Tailoring, Not Otherwise Provided for
-
- A47B Tables; Desks; Office Furniture; Cabinets; Drawers; General Details of Furniture
- A47C Chairs; Sofas; Beds
- A47D Furniture Specially Adapted for Children
- A47F Special Furniture, Fittings, or Accessories for Shops, Storehouses, Bars, Restaurants, or the Like; Paying Counters
- A47G Household or Table Equipment
- A47H Furnishings for Windows or Doors
- A47J Kitchen Equipment; Coffee Mills; Spice Mills; Apparatus for Making Beverages
- A47K Sanitary Equipment; Accessories Therefor, e.g. Toilet Accessories
- A47L Domestic Washing or Cleaning; Suction Cleaners in General
A61 Medical or Veterinary Science; Hygiene
- A61B Diagnosis; Surgery; Identification
- A61C Dentistry; Apparatus or Methods for Oral or Dental Hygiene
- A61D Veterinary Instruments, Implements, Tools, or Methods
- A61F Filters Implantable Into Blood Vessels; Prostheses; Devices Providing Patency To, or Preventing Collapsing Of, Tubular Structures of the Body, e.g. Stents; Orthopaedic, Nursing or Contraceptive Devices; Fomentation; Treatment or Protection of Eyes or Ears; Bandages, Dressings or Absorbent Pads; First-Aid Kits
- A61G Transport, Personal Conveyances or Accommodation Specially Adapted for Patients or Disabled Persons; Operating Tables or Chairs; Chairs for Dentistry; Funeral Devices
- A61H Physical Therapy Apparatus, e.g. Devices for Locating or Stimulating Reflex Points in the Body; Artificial Respiration; Massage; Bathing Devices for Special Therapeutic or Hygienic Purposes or Specific Parts of the Body
- A61J Containers Specially Adapted for Medical or Pharmaceutical Purposes; Devices or Methods Specially Adapted for Bringing Pharmaceutical Products Into Particular Physical or Administering Forms; Devices for Administering Food or Medicines Orally; Baby Comforters; Devices for Receiving Spittle
- A61K Preparations for Medical, Dental or Toiletry Purposes
- A61L Methods or Apparatus for Sterilising Materials or Objects in General; Disinfection, Sterilisation or Deodorisation of Air; Chemical Aspects of Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles; Materials for Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles
- A61M Devices for Introducing Media Into, or Onto, the Body; Devices for Transducing Body Media or for Taking Media From the Body; Devices for Producing or Ending Sleep or Stupor
- A61N Electrotherapy; Magnetotherapy; Radiation Therapy; Ultrasound Therapy
- A61P Specific Therapeutic Activity of Chemical Compounds or Medicinal Preparations
- A61Q Specific Use of Cosmetics or Similar Toiletry Preparations
A62 Life-Saving; Fire-Fighting
- A62B Devices, Apparatus or Methods for Life-Saving
- A62C Fire-Fighting
- A62D Chemical Means for Extinguishing Fires; Processes for Making Harmful Chemical Substances Harmless, or Less Harmful, by Effecting a Chemical Change; Composition of Materials for Coverings or Clothing for Protecting Against Harmful Chemical Agents; Composition of Materials for Transparent Parts of Gas-Masks, Respirators, Breathing Bags or Helmets; Composition of Chemical Materials for Use in Breathing Apparatus
-
- A63C Skates; Skis; Roller Skates; Design or Layout of Courts, Rinks or the Like
- A63D Bowling Games, e.g. Skittles, Bocce or Bowls; Installations Therefor; Bagatelle or Similar Games; Billiards
- A63F Card, Board or Roulette Games; Indoor Games Using Small Moving Playing Bodies; Video Games; Games Not Otherwise Provided for
- A63G Merry-Go-Rounds; Swings; Rocking-Horses; Chutes; Switchbacks; Similar Devices for Public Amusement
- A63H Toys, e.g. Tops, Dolls, Hoops or Building Blocks
- A63J Devices for Theatres, Circuses, or the Like; Conjuring Appliances or the Like
- A63K Racing; Riding Sports; Equipment or Accessories Therefor
A99 Subject Matter Not Otherwise Provided for in This Section