F41H 11/12 - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Devices or systems for clearing an area or a path through a minefield area of anti-personnel or anti-tank land mines or clearing an area of unexploded ordnance devices (UXO) or improvised explosive devices (IED) by removal of the unexploded mines, by destruction without detonation of said mines by external influence such as for example mechanical means, laser beams, magnetic fields or water-jets or by causing forced detonation of said mines by external influence such as for example mechanical means, laser beams, magnetic fields or water-jets.
Devices or systems for the detection of anti-personnel or anti-tank land mines or unexploded ordnance devices (UXO) or improvised explosive devices (IED).
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Destruction or dismantling ammunition | F42B 33/06 |
Rendering explosive charges harmless | F42D 5/04 |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| unexploded ordnance | means explosive weapons (bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, etc.) that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation |
| improvised explosive device | means a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery round, attached to a detonating mechanism. |
| demining or mine-clearing | means the process of removing land mines from an area |
| booby-trap | means a disguised improvised explosive device having often some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it |
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
| AP | Anti-personnel |
| AT | Anti-tank |
| EOD | Explosive Ordnance Disposal |
| IED | Improvised Explosive Device |
| IEDD | Improvised Explosive Device Disposal |
| PFC | Projectile Forming Charge |
| HE | High Explosive |
| RC | Radio Controlled/ Remote Controlled |
| UXO | UneXploded Ordnance |
In patent documents the following terms "UXO", "mine" and "IED" are often used as synonyms. Also, these terms can be used as keywords.
In patent documents the expression/word "demining" is often used instead of "mine-clearing" which is used in the classification scheme of this subclass.