WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Class:: WEAPONS
Subclass:: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Description

F41B covers non-explosive and non-combustible missile projection systems, including mechanical, pneumatic, and elastic-force weapons such as crossbows, bows, catapults, slingshots, and air-powered guns. This subclass encompasses both traditional and modern designs that rely on mechanical energy storage and release mechanisms rather than chemical propulsion. It also serves as a residual category for weapon types not specifically classified elsewhere in the F41 weapons hierarchy. Adjacent classes F41A (firearms using explosive/combustible propellant) and F41C (edged weapons) are excluded.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass F41B recorded 13,533 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,004 in 2013 to 1,215 in 2023 (+21%), peaking at 1,404 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F41 are NEXTER SYSTEMS (509 applications), AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT (461 applications) and RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION (409 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

toy AIR gunsBLOWPIPES for projecting missilesDARTS as weaponsfoils for FENCINGGUNS not using explosive chargesair or water PISTOLSRIFLES not using explosive chargesSWORDSWEAPON(S) for discharging missiles without use of explosive propellant

10 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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F41B 1/00 Blow guns, i.e. tubes for impelling projectiles, e.g. peas or darts, by the force of the breath
F41B 11/00 Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
F41B 13/00 Thrusting-weapons; Cutting-weapons carried as side-arms
F41B 15/00 Weapons not otherwise provided for
F41B 3/00 Sling weapons
F41B 4/00 Friction-wheel operated launchers
F41B 5/00 Bows; Crossbows
F41B 6/00 Electromagnetic launchers
F41B 7/00 Spring guns
F41B 9/00 Liquid ejecting guns, e.g. water pistols

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F41, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

NEXTER SYSTEMS FR 509
AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT KR 461
RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION DE 409
BAE SYSTEMS GB 388
CHONGQING JIANSHE INDUSTRY (GROUP) COMPANY 352
AXON ENTERPRISE US 345
LIG NEX1 COMPANY KR 323
RAYTHEON COMPANY US 320
KRAUSS-MAFFEI WEGMANN & COMPANY DE 263
NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 228