F42C AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30)
Introduced: September 1968
Description
F42C covers fuzing systems and mechanisms for ammunition, including devices that initiate detonation or projectile firing. This class encompasses fuze designs, arming mechanisms, safety devices, and related components that control when and how ammunition is activated. Typical applications include artillery shells, bombs, mines, torpedoes, and other ordnance where controlled initiation timing or safety interlocks are critical. Related fuze-specific designs such as impact fuzes, time fuzes, proximity fuzes, and electronic firing mechanisms fall within this scope.
Title
Titles differ between systems:
IPC: AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
CPC: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30)
Full Title
Full titles differ between systems:
AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30)
IPC and CPC are identically structured here. All 13 subcodes exist in both systems.
6 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.
Child Classifications
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- F42C 1/00 Impact fuzes, i.e. fuzes actuated only by ammunition impact IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 11/00 Electric fuzes (; proximity fuzes F42C13/00; ; electric igniters F42C19/12, ) +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 14/00 fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type (F42C1/00, , F42C13/00, F42C15/00 take precedence) since 1990 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 15/00 Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 3/00 Fuzes actuated by exposure to a liquid, e.g. seawater (F42C5/00 takes precedence; time fuzes F42C9/00) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 5/00 Fuzes actuated by exposure to a predetermined ambient fluid pressure IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 7/00 Fuzes actuated by application of a predetermined mechanical force, e.g. tension, torsion, pressure (by ammunition impact F42C1/00, by exposure to a predetermined ambient fluid pressure F42C5/00) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 9/00 Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F42C 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass since 2006 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
Top Applicants
Top Applicants (IPC)
Class F42,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION DE 442
- DETNET SOUTH AFRICA ZA 440
- BAE SYSTEMS GB 422
- AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT KR 403
- HANWHA CORPORATION KR 388
- BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 375
- RAYTHEON COMPANY US 341
- NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 284
- TRUE VELOCITY IP HOLDINGS US 264
- ANHUI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 243
Top Applicants (CPC)
Class F42,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- DETNET SOUTH AFRICA ZA 478
- RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION DE 462
- BAE SYSTEMS GB 439
- RAYTHEON COMPANY US 404
- HANWHA CORPORATION KR 388
- AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT KR 352
- BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 294
- TRUE VELOCITY IP HOLDINGS US 269
- NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 226
- BAE SYSTEMS BOFORS SE 222