F41H ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- WEAPONS
- Subclass:
- ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
Description
F41H covers protective systems and equipment designed to defend military personnel, structures, and vehicles against hostile attack. This includes armour plating and materials, armoured turrets, and the integration of protective systems into armoured or armed vehicles. The classification extends to general means of attack or defence such as camouflage techniques and systems. Related mechanical aspects of weapons delivery systems are found in F41B–F41G, while this subclass focuses primarily on the defensive and protective engineering elements of military systems.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass F41H recorded 23,348 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,571 in 2013 to 1,889 in 2023 (+20%), peaking at 2,564 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
In class comparison
F41H ranks 1st of 7 subclasses with filings in F41, with 23,348 applications between 2013 and 2023, 24.8% of the class. Annual filings grew 20% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+24%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F41H | Armour; Armoured Turrets; Armoured or Armed Vehicles; Means of Attack or Defence, e.g. Camouflage, in General | 23,348 | 24.8% |
| 2 | F41A, Functional Features or Details Common to Both Smallarms and Ordnance, e.g. Cannons; Mountings for Smallarms or Ordnance | Functional Features or Details Common to Both Smallarms and Ordnance, e.g. Cannons; Mountings for Smallarms or Ordnance | 22,919 | 24.3% |
| 3 | F41G, Weapon Sights; Aiming | Weapon Sights; Aiming | 15,221 | 16.1% |
| 4 | F41B, Weapons for Projecting Missiles Without Use of Explosive or Combustible Propellant Charge; Weapons Not Otherwise Provided for | Weapons for Projecting Missiles Without Use of Explosive or Combustible Propellant Charge; Weapons Not Otherwise Provided for | 13,533 | 14.3% |
| 5 | F41J, Targets; Target Ranges; Bullet Catchers | Targets; Target Ranges; Bullet Catchers | 7,499 | 7.9% |
| 6 | F41C, Smallarms, e.g. Pistols or Rifles; Accessories Therefor | Smallarms, e.g. Pistols or Rifles; Accessories Therefor | 7,242 | 7.7% |
| 7 | F41F, Apparatus for Launching Projectiles or Missiles From Barrels, e.g. Cannons; Launchers for Rockets or Torpedoes; Harpoon Guns | Apparatus for Launching Projectiles or Missiles From Barrels, e.g. Cannons; Launchers for Rockets or Torpedoes; Harpoon Guns | 4,573 | 4.8% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
7 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F41H 1/00 Personal protection-gear
- F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices; Means for clearing or detecting landmines
- F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for
- F41H 3/00 Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise
- F41H 5/00 Armour; Armour plates; Shields
- F41H 7/00 Armoured or armed vehicles
- F41H 9/00 Equipment for attack or defence by spreading flame, gas, or smoke; Chemical warfare equipment
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