Trademark Class 11: Environmental Control Apparatus

Choose Class 11 if you're registering trademarks for appliances, HVAC, lights, and purifiers.

By , Attorney · Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Updated by Amanda Hayes, Attorney · University of North Carolina School of Law

Trademark Class 11 includes appliances for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply, and sanitary purposes.

Specifically, the class includes HVAC units, heated blankets, grills, electric pressure cookers, fireplaces, and tanning beds.

What Goods Are Included Under Trademark Class 11?

The following is a more comprehensive list of Class 11 goods:

  • Fireplaces, chimney flues, chimney flues, chimney blowers, chimney dampers, pipes for heating boilers, and gas condensers other than parts of machines.
  • Tanning beds, tanning lamps, tanning booths, and sun lamps.
  • Steam rooms, cooling installations for water, hot water heating installations, hydrants, laundry room boilers, solar thermal modules, water heaters, regulating accessories for water supply, and water distilling units.
  • Water purifying apparatus, disinfectant apparatus, aquarium filtration apparatus, water desalination plants, purification installations for sewage, swimming pool chlorinating apparatus, water purification installations, water filtering apparatus, water purifying apparatus and machines, sterilizers, disposable sterilization pouches, and water sterilizers.
  • Sanitary and bathroom installations and plumbing fixtures, antisplash tap nozzles, bathtubs, bathtubs for sitz baths, bath, bath installations, bidets, disinfectant dispensers for toilets, flushing tanks, water fountains, bathroom heaters, mixer taps for water pipes, pipes being parts of sanitary facilities, shower enclosures, showers, sinks, taps water faucets, faucets, spigots for pipes and pipelines, toilet seats, toilet bowls, toilets, portable toilets, water closets, urinals being sanitary fixtures, wash-hands basins, washers for water taps, flush handles for toilets, saunas, hydromassage bath apparatus, sauna bath installations, steam facial apparatus, and whirlpools.
  • Gas burners, furnaces, boilers and heaters, acetylene burners, acetylene flares for lighting, acetylene generators, alcohol burners, pipes for heating boilers, brackets for gas burners, coils as part of distilling, heating or cooling installations, evaporators for chemical processing, furnace ash boxes, ash pits for furnaces, gas boilers, fireplace hearths, heat accumulators, heat generators, heat exchangers other than parts of machines, heat pumps, space heating apparatus, electric, heating installations, heating elements, heating boilers, heating apparatus for solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, hot-air space heating apparatus, immersion heaters, incinerators, laboratory burners, oil and gas burners, oxyhydrogen burners, solar furnaces, steam generating installations, steam accumulators, fabric steamers, stoves being heating apparatus, thermostatic valves [parts of heating installations], and tobacco roasters.
  • Lighting installations, lamps, lighting reflectors, aquarium lights, arc lamps, burners for lamps, ceiling lights, chandeliers, electric Chinese lanterns, fairy lights for festive decoration, curling lamps, electric discharge tubes, for lighting, diving lights, electric lamps, filaments for electric lamps, acetylene flares for lighting, gas lamps, laboratory lamps, lamp mantles, lamp casings, lamp chimneys, lamp glasses, lamp reflectors, lamp globes, lamp shades, lanterns for lighting, light diffusers, light-emitting diodes [LED] lighting apparatus, friction lighters, lighting installations, electric light bulbs, electric lights for Christmas trees, luminous tubes for lighting, luminous house numbers, magnesium filaments for lighting, oil lamps, pocket searchlights, safety lamps, sockets for electric lights, street lamps, standard lamps, electric torches for lighting, flashing strobe light apparatus, and ultraviolet ray lamps not for medical purposes.
  • Lighting apparatus for vehicles, lighting reflectors, fitted antidazzle devices for automobile headlamps, fitted antiglare devices for automobile headlamps, bicycle lights, headlights for automobiles, light bulbs for directional signals for vehicles, lighting installations for air vehicles, lights for vehicles, LED lights for automobiles, vehicle reflectors, and vehicle headlights.
  • Grills, electric cookers, microwave ovens, electric autoclaves for cooking, electric pressure cookers, bakers' ovens, barbecues, beverage cooling apparatus, electric toasters, bread baking machines, breadmaking machines, coffee roasters, electric coffee percolators, electric coffee machines, cooking rings, electric deep fryers, electric yogurt makers, extractor hoods for kitchens, fruit roasters, electric heaters for feeding bottles, hot plates, electric kettles, cooking ranges, lava rocks for use in barbecue grills, malt roasters, pasteurizers, plate warmers, electric pressure cooking saucepans, electric roasters, griddles, roasting jacks, roasting spits for cooking ovens, rotisseries, structural plates sold as parts of ovens, and electric waffle irons.
  • Air filtering units, filters for air conditioning units, and filters for air extractor hoods.
  • Air filters for industrial installations, apparatus for dehydrating food waste, and industrial refining towers for distillation.
  • Gas purification machines, gas scrubbing apparatus, gas scrubbers, oil purifying installations, industrial furnaces, dental ovens, flare stacks for use in the oil industry, forges, kiln furniture, and kilns.
  • Distillation apparatus for chemical processing, chromatography apparatus for industrial purposes, distillation apparatus, distillation columns, heated polymerization units for dental restoration compounds, and stills not for scientific purposes.
  • Hot air blowers, bed warmers, electric blankets for household purposes, electric footmuffs, hair dryers, heating cushions not for medical purposes, microwavable heating pads not for medical purposes, hot air blowers, hot water bottles, electric pocket warmers, and warming pans for beds.
  • Electric air dryers, electric fans, hand dryers, desiccating units, touchless hand drying apparatus, drying apparatus for fodder and forage, electric laundry dryers, and clothes dryers,
  • Refrigerating appliances and installations, freezers, refrigerating or freezing showcases, beverage cooling apparatus, cooling installations for tobacco, cooling installations for water, ice machines and apparatus, ice boxes, ice chests, milk cooling installations, refrigerating cabinets, refrigerating chambers, walk-in refrigerators, refrigerating display cabinets, refrigerating shipping containers, and refrigerators.
  • Safety accessories for gas pipes, air valves for steam heating installations, metered valves, and pressure regulators for gas pipes and lines.
  • Nuclear reactors, nuclear generators, nuclear fusion reactors, atomic piles, air cooling apparatus, aquarium heaters, central heating radiators, fireplace dampers, electrically heated carpets, radiator caps, radiators, and ventilation hoods.
  • Air purifiers, electric air deodorizers, air filtering installations, air sterilizers, germicidal lamps for purifying air, humidifiers, ionization apparatus for the treatment of air, water ionizers, and ventilation hoods.
  • HVAC units (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), air conditioning installations, air conditioning apparatus, fans for HVAC units, and ventilating exhaust fans.
  • Air conditioners for vehicles, heaters for vehicles, defrosting apparatus for vehicles, heating apparatus for defrosting vehicle windows, ventilation, and vehicle climate-controlled system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
  • Irrigation sprinklers, lawn sprinkler systems, ornamental fountains, and watering machines for agricultural purposes.

What Goods Aren't Included Under Class 11?

But you would not use Class 11 if you're applying for:

Examples of Trademarks in Class 11

You can find trademarks that have been applied for or registered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under Class 11 in the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), an electronic trademark database.

Some well-known examples of Class 11 marks include:

  • KOHLER (bathtubs, sinks, and faucets)
  • WHIRLPOOL (refrigerators and ovens), and
  • GE (lamps, refrigerators, ranges, and furnaces).

    USPTO Trademark Classes

    The USPTO, the federal agency that oversees the registration of federal trademarks, divides marks into 45 different classes of products and services. The purpose of these classes is to allow different types of businesses to register their trademarks into categories most related to their core business.

    The first 34 classes consist of different broad categories of goods. The last 11 classes consist of different broad categories of services.

    Related or Coordinated Classes to Class 11

    If you're not sure whether you should apply for your mark under Class 11, you can consider a "coordinated" class. A coordinated class is one that's related to another class, usually because the USPTO has determined that applicants filing within one particular class often file in other specific classes, too.

    For Class 11, the USPTO has determined the following classes to be coordinated classes:

    Trademark Filing Fees

    The trademark class system will also affect the scope of the registration fees that you pay. The USPTO charges a set filing fee per class of goods or services. So, if you apply for a trademark for posters (Class 16) and shirts (Class 25), you must pay the filing fee for two classes, which is double the filing fee for one class. (37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(2022).)

    Be sure to indicate the correct class at the time you're registering a trademark—if the application doesn't already do so for you. If you list the incorrect class, you must restart the application process, and your filing fees will not be refunded.

    Your registration is restricted to those classes that encompass the goods or services you're already offering (as shown by the specimens you submit) or that you plan to offer (if you're registering on an intent-to-use basis).

    USPTO Specimens

    At some point in the trademark application process, you'll need to supply the USPTO with a specimen. A specimen is a real-world example of how your mark is being used in association with your goods or services. In other words, it's how customers come across your mark as they shop for your goods or services.

    If you're applying for a use-in-commerce trademark (you're already using your trademark to sell your goods or services), then you'll submit a specimen with your trademark application. If you're applying for an intent-to-use trademark (you haven't started using your trademark yet but plan to), then you'll submit a specimen after you've already submitted your trademark application once the trademark examiner—the person at the USPTO reviewing your application—requests it from you.

    For every class of goods or services, you'll need to submit at least one specimen regardless of how many goods or services are listed under the class. So, if you apply for hats, t-shirts, and socks under Class 25, then you'll only need to submit one specimen and you can choose which good to include in your specimen.

    (37 C.F.R. §2.34(b)(2)(2022).)

    Acceptable Specimens for a Goods Trademark

    The specimen must show the mark as used on or in connection with the goods in commerce. Specifically, a specimen for a goods trademark must show use of the mark in a manner that would be perceived by potential purchasers as identifying the applicant's goods and indicating the goods' source.

    When a trademark is on the good itself or on the packaging or containers of the goods, photographs or facsimiles showing the trademark in use on or with the goods are acceptable.

    A specimen for a goods trademark can appear:

    • On the good itself. The trademark can be imprinted on the body of the goods, as with metal stamping; it can be applied by a rubber stamp; or it can be inked on by using a stencil or template.
    • On a tag for the good. For example, you could include your trademark on a sales tag above the product price, or it can be printed below the product specifications on a mattress tag.
    • On a label for the good. For instance, your trademark could be on the UPC barcode sticker or on a drink's ingredients label. You could also use shipping or mailing labels affixed to the goods as long as the trademark functions as an indicator of the good's source. For example, if the trademark appears only on the return address, then the specimen wouldn't be appropriate.
    • Directly on the packaging or container for the good. The trademark can be on any type of commercial packaging that's normal for the particular goods as they move in trade, such as shipping boxes or shelf display packaging. For instance, gasoline pumps are normal containers or "packaging" for gasoline.
    • On a display associated with the goods. If you sell your goods at trade shows or community events, your trademark could be printed out next to a display of your goods as long as customers can connect your trademark with the goods. For example, your trademark could be printed on the tablecloth at your booth or on a sign hanging from your pop-up tent.

    (37 C.F.R. §2.56(2022).)

    Webpage Listing for a Goods Trademark

    If you sell your goods online—whether on your own website or on a third-party online marketplace—you can use a screenshot of the webpage where your good is listed for sale as your specimen.

    The webpage must include:

    • your trademark, either in the webpage header or in another prominent position
    • a picture or description of your good, and
    • a way for consumers to immediately purchase your good, such as an "add to cart" or "buy now" option.

    If you use this kind of specimen, be sure you include—either on the screenshot or in the application—the website URL and the date you last accessed the webpage. (37 C.F.R. §2.56(c)(2022).)

    While most marks appear in writing somewhere, trademarks can also be in audio format. If your mark represents a service, and it appears only on radio ads or in some other audio form, you can submit a sound file of the audio.

    For more information about trademarks and federal registration, see our section on trademark law.

    Talk to a Lawyer

    Need a lawyer? Start here.

    How it Works

    1. Briefly tell us about your case
    2. Provide your contact information
    3. Choose attorneys to contact you
    Get Professional Help

    Talk to a Intellectual Property attorney.

    How It Works

    1. Briefly tell us about your case
    2. Provide your contact information
    3. Choose attorneys to contact you