CPC Definition - Subclass C12H
Beer per se, brewing of beer, fermentation processes and post fermentation treatments for beer are classified in subclass C12C.
C12C deals with the process of making beer with a low alcohol content
Low alcohol beer is classified in C12C 12/04.
Low alcohol wine is classified in C12G 1/14 and other low alcohol beverages are classified in C12G 3/00.
Post-fermentation treatment such as carbonation is subject matter of this subclass but is classified in C12H when combined with subject matter of that subclass.
When classifying in this subclass, classification is also made in group B01D 15/08 insofar as subject matter of general interest relating to chromatography is concerned.
This place does not cover:
Simulation of ageing by flavouring |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general | |
Distillation or rectification of fermented solutions to obtain pure alcohol | |
Recovery of by-products from wine or beer | |
Preparation of alcoholic beverages other than wine or beer by varying the composition of fermented solutions |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Adsorption | Capability of all solid substances to attract to their surfaces molecules of gases or solutions with which they are in contact |
Clarification | Removal of the suspended material during aging |
Lagering | Ageing or ripening of the beer by storing. During lagering, fermentation and clarification take place |
Sulfiting | Process for adding sulfur dioxide (SO2) |
This place covers:
Methods as well as apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification, ageing of alcoholic beverages (typically wine, beer, distilled alcoholic beverages).
This place does not cover:
Preparation of beer | |
Simulation of ageing by flavouring | |
Recovery of by-products from fermented solutions (in particular derived from the preparation of alcoholic beverages) | |
Preparation of wine and alcoholic beverages other than beer and wine | |
Pitching / depitching machines and cellar tools |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Subject-matter of general interest relating to chromatography |
Filtration is always to be classified in C12H 1/063, irrespective of precipitation, adsorption, or the nature of the material to be separated.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, by a biochemical process.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein bacterial cultures are used.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein the precipitate, e.g. protein haze or colloidal haze, and/or added materials, e.g. PVPP or silica gel is/are removed.
This place does not cover:
Removal of yeast from (sparkling) wine by "degorgeage" |
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein ion-exchange and/or inert clarification material is removed.
This place covers:
Methods as well as apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein inorganic added clarification material is removed.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Silicon derived materials used in clarification, e.g. silica hydrogels and xerogels |
In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used with the meaning indicated:
Silica gel | Silica hydrogel |
Xerogel | Silica xerogel |
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein added organic clarification material is removed.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein added polymeric organic clarification material is removed.
This place does not cover:
Use of ion-exchange material (in so far as the ion-exchange functionality is of essential importance) |
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein an ion-exchange material is removed.
C12H 1/0432 takes precedence over C12H 1/0408, C12H 1/0416 and C12H 1/0424, in so far as the ion-exchange functionality is of essential importance (factually and/or according to the disclosed information)
In patent documents various trademarks are often used: Amberlite or Dowex
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein precipitate is generated by physical means (in particular by irradiation and/or vibration) and/or separated by filtration.
Until further notice, a large interpretation for the term "irradiation " is given. For instance the application of electric fields and magnetic fields is covered.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein precipitate is generated by physical means, in particular by irradiation and/or vibration, and removed by centrifugation.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Centrifuges in general |
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein
(a) precipitation is generated by physical means, in particular by irradiation and/or vibration, and removed by filtration, or (more generally)
(b) filtration is performed, irrespective of precipitation, adsorption, or the nature of the material to be separated.
This place does not cover:
Post fermentation treatment of beer involving filtration | |
Yeast removal in wine or champagne production by degorgage type methods |
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein precipitate is generated by heating.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages, wherein precipitate is generated by chemical means.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages not relying on or involving precipitation and/or removal of added materials.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages not relying on or involving precipitation and/or removal of added materials, wherein non-precipitating compounds e.g. sulfite or chelating agents, are used.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages not relying on or involving precipitation and/or removal of added materials, wherein physical means (in particular irradiation and/or vibration) are applied.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages not relying on or involving precipitation and/or removal of added materials, wherein irradiation is applied.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Until further notice, a large interpretation for the term "irradiation " is given. For instance the application of electric fields and magnetic fields is covered.
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages not relying on or involving precipitation and/or removal of added materials, wherein heating is applied.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Preservation of non-alcoholic beverages by heating |
This place covers:
Methods or apparatus pertaining to pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages not relying on or involving precipitation and/or removal of added materials, wherein heating is applied and a flexible container allowing for expansion of the contents is used.
This place covers:
Methods for ageing of alcoholic beverages, e.g. wine, beer or distilled alcoholic beverages.
Apparatus, e.g. tanks or barrels, specifically adapted for ageing of alcoholic beverages.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Containers | |
Beer flavouring preparations |
This place covers:
Methods for reducing the alcohol content of fermented solutions or alcoholic beverages to obtain low alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages other than beer, wine (derived from grapes) or sparkling wine (derived from grapes) wherein membranes are used (e.g. ultrafiltration, dialysis, electrodialysis, osmosis, reverse osmosis), and apparatus specifically adapted therefor.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Reverse osmosis process | |
Semi-permeable membrane for separation processes |
This place covers:
Methods for preparing alcoholic beverages other than beer, wine (derived from grapes) or sparkling wine (derived from grapes), by increasing the alcohol content;
Apparatus specifically adapted therefor.
This place covers:
Methods for preparing alcoholic beverages other than beer, wine (derived from grapes) or sparkling wine (derived from grapes), by increasing the alcohol content by distillation.
Apparatus specifically adapted therefor.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Processes specially adapted for distillation or rectification of fermented solutions |
This place covers:
Methods for preparing alcoholic beverages other than beer, wine (derived from grapes) or sparkling wine (derived from grapes), by increasing the alcohol content by refrigeration and separation of the crystals thus formed (i.e. freeze-concentration);
Apparatus specifically adapted therefor.