EP0149889B1 - Récipient multi-couche - Google Patents

Récipient multi-couche Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0149889B1
EP0149889B1 EP84307706A EP84307706A EP0149889B1 EP 0149889 B1 EP0149889 B1 EP 0149889B1 EP 84307706 A EP84307706 A EP 84307706A EP 84307706 A EP84307706 A EP 84307706A EP 0149889 B1 EP0149889 B1 EP 0149889B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
corners
sleeve
bevelled
bevel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP84307706A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0149889A3 (en
EP0149889A2 (fr
Inventor
David F. Gillard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd
Original Assignee
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB848401373A external-priority patent/GB8401373D0/en
Application filed by MacMillan Bloedel Ltd filed Critical MacMillan Bloedel Ltd
Priority to AT84307706T priority Critical patent/ATE49936T1/de
Publication of EP0149889A2 publication Critical patent/EP0149889A2/fr
Publication of EP0149889A3 publication Critical patent/EP0149889A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0149889B1 publication Critical patent/EP0149889B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/4266Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D3/00Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies or peripheral walls of curved or partially-curved cross-section made by winding or bending paper without folding along defined lines
    • B65D3/22Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies or peripheral walls of curved or partially-curved cross-section made by winding or bending paper without folding along defined lines with double walls; with walls incorporating air-chambers; with walls made of laminated material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multi-layered flat walled bulk storage bin or container made from collapsible or compressible sheet material such as corrugated board. More particularly, the invention relates to a container formed by winding compressible sheet layers to form a sleeve having flat sides with corners between adjacent sides crushing the corners and having at least two opposite corners bevelled to allow the sleeve to be easily collapsed for storing when not in use.
  • Corrugated board containers may also be made by winding corrugated layers about a mandrel with flat sides and glueing each layer to the adjacent layer to form a sleeve.
  • Containers made by this method have no butt or lap joints and therefore use less material than more conventional containers or bulk bins having the same strength properties.
  • the most obvious corner profile for a container is a right angle, which provides maximum concentration of pressure during the crushing step, thus giving the most efficient means of crushing.
  • the right angle corner would not fold flat when the corner was folded to the fully closed position and had a spring back which required a counter force to flatten it.
  • a container is characterised by the features (a) and (b) set fourth in Claim 1. These crushed bevelled corners avoid the spring back that sometime occurs when the finished sleeves are flattened for storage purposes.
  • the flattened sleeves provide a distinct advantage for conveying, printing and other processes that are applied to the sleeves after forming.
  • This foldability is a labour saving feature allowing container sleeves to be folded easily by one person without applying force.
  • the present invention provides a container comprising a multi-layered sleeve having at least four flat sides with corners between adjacent sides, the sleeve having compressible sheet layers with crushed corners and at least two opposing corners being bevelled corners to allow the sleeve to be collapsed, so fully closed corners have adjacent sides substantially parallel without additional force applied.
  • the present invention also provides in one embodiment, for the bevelled corners to have an inside bevel width (y), substantially proportional to caliper (x) of the container, where the caliper represents the thickness of the container.
  • the container is preferably made from a flat sheet liner on the inside and multiple layers of single face corrugated sheet wound on the liner. In other embodiments, all the corners of the container are bevelled and caps are provided to fit over the top and the bottom of the sleeve.
  • the bevelled corners in a preferred embodiment have a flat inside bevelled surface, at an angle of in the range of about 30° to 60°, preferably 45°.
  • the inside bevelled surface may be multifaceted or curved.
  • FIG. 1 An example of a container 10 or bulk bin is shown in Fig. 1 having three layers 11 of single face corrugated sheet wrapped around a flat sheet liner 12. Whereas a single face corrugated sheet is illustrated in this embodiment, a foam backed paper would also be applicable depending on the requirements of the container 10.
  • Two bevelled corners 13 oppose each other on the container 10 and have crushed layers at each bevelled corner 13. The other two opposing corners 14 are not bevelled but are crushed so that the container can be folded and lie flat.
  • the thickness of the sides of the container is referred to as the "Caliper”, sometimes as the Board Caliper.
  • the "Caliper" sometimes as the Board Caliper.
  • two bevelled corners 13 provided they are opposite, allow easy folding of the container, it is preferred to bevel all four corners because then it does not matter which corners are fully folded, the container folds flat about all corners.
  • a bottom cap 15 is shown at the bottom of the container 10 which exactly fits around the sleeve in the open position.
  • the cap 15 is made in a conventional manner, generally of not more than two corrugated layers.
  • Atop cap (not shown) may be provided to close the container if required.
  • the top cap may be identical in construction to the bottom cap 15.
  • Fig. 2 shows a four layered container 10 having four sides and having four bevelled corners 13. Each of the bevelled corners 13 is compressed across the bevel so that the container 10 may be collapsed with either of the pairs of opposing corners opening out to the open or fully closed folded position.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate containers having four sides, it will be understood that a container may be made with more than four sides.
  • a six or eight sided container may be made with at least two opposite corners being bevelled corners so that the container could be collapsed with the bevelled corners forming the fully closed folded position.
  • Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a right angle corner as is known in the prior art.
  • Four layers 11 of single face corrugated sheet layers are formed about a flat sheet liner 12 and glued to each other to form a container.
  • the corners 14 shown right angled in Fig. 3 are compressed.
  • the corner 14 opens out to the open position to allow the three layers to bend about the flat sheet liner 12 without causing any delamination of the glued layers or between the first layer 11 and the liner 12.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a fully closed folded position of the corner 14, and as can be seen, the corner does not fully fold so the inside flat sheet liner 12 is tapered. To make the two inner surfaces parallel, it is necessary to apply pressure to overcome the spring back force. The inability of the corner to fully fold may result from the liner 12 being pinched together at the corner 14. Forming this type of corner completely closed can result in severe damage and loss of structural integrity to the corner and hence to the container.
  • Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a four layered container with a bevelled corner 13 having a preferred inside bevel width (y), as shown in Fig. 6 in the right angled position.
  • the crushing of the layers 11 extends the crushed portion to not just the bevel but right across the face of the bevel so that there is a predominately flat bevelled surface at the corner of the container.
  • the bevel does not appear.
  • the corner is fully closed as can be seen in Fig. 8, the bevel provides a triangular space 16 which allows the two inner surfaces of the liner 12 to remain substantially flat and parallel to each other. This is the preferred embodiment of the corner and requires no force on the container to fold flat.
  • Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate another example of a bevel, where the inner bevel width is too wide for the caliper of the container.
  • the right angled position shown in Fig. 9 and the fully open position shown in Fig. 10 are satisfactory, but when the corner is in the fully closed position as shown in Fig. 11,the inside surfaces ofthe liner 12 do not lie flat and parallel to each other, but are tapered in the reverse direction to that shown in Fig. 5 which has no bevel or too small a bevel.
  • This configuration is acceptable for folding as no spring back occurs, and the container lies flat, however it takes up more space, and the space is wasted when the containers are laid flat one upon the other.
  • Figs. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a seven layered container having a preferred inside bevel width (y) as shown in Fig. 12 in the right angled position.
  • Fig. 14 illustrates clearly that the inside surfaces of the liner 12 lie flat and substantially parallel when the corner is in the fully closed position.
  • caliper (x) The bevel should preferably be flat when the corner was in the fully opened position, and form a triangular space 16 when in the fully closed position.
  • the inside width of the bevel prefferably made to a certain series of fixed increments so that standard mandrels can be used.
  • the inside bevel widths were made to 6.3 mm, 9.3 mm, 12.7 mm, 15.7 mm, 19 mm.
  • Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate 6.3 mm bevel for a container having a caliper of 15 mm.
  • the shape of the bevels are preferably flat on the inside and at an angle of 45° for symmetry as shown in Fig. 16. However a range of angles, from 30° to 60° can be used as shown in Fig. 17. Furthermore a multifaceted bevel as shown in Fig. 18 may be used or a curved bevel as shown in Fig. 19.
  • the width of bevel (y) is measured between the points on the adjacent inside faces where a change occurs from the flat surface.
  • the shape of the bevel is arranged so that the inside of the bevel lies flat when the corner is in the fully open position.
  • the width of the bevel depends partly on the shape and size of the container and the size and the number of layers. It has been found that up to at least six layers can be formed into a container and the preferred bevel is in the order of 6.3 mm although bevels of up to 19 mm may be applicable in certain cases.
  • the measurements represent the inside face width of the bevel.
  • the bevelled corner gives the correct corner geometry necessary to result in corner creases which are easy to fold.
  • the unique corner requires less labour and less force to fold the box and results in less spring back from a folded sleeve. Furthermore, the sleeve has superior strength due to structural integrity because the corners are not damaged by folding.
  • the container When a sleeve is wound on a mandrel, the container has no butt joints or cap joints, therefore there are no areas for weaknesses as in corrugated containers made by conventional methods having butt or lap joints.
  • the sleeve may be trimmed by a sawcut at both edges thus providing a perfectly square sleeve for fitting into a cap 15 as shown in Figure 1.
  • the layered container also provides a superior panel rigidity and thus better resists bulging.
  • the bevelled corners can be utilized with containers made by crushing the corners after the container has been formed, known as "post” crushing or in the case where layers are wound about a mandrel, each layer is crushed as it is wound in accordance with co-pending U.S. Patent Application 397,990 known as “continuous” crushing.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)

Claims (5)

1. Récipient (10) en matériau multicouche compressible, comprenant, entre des portions voisines du récipient, au moins deux encoignures écrasées présentant chacune deux fronces, espacées l'une de l'autre, sur la surface intérieure du récipient et une surface intérieure en biseau entre les fronces, chaque fronce reliant une surface latérale intérieure plate voisine à la surface en bieau, caractérisé en ce que:
a) le récipient est formé à partir d'un fourreau (12) présentant au moins quatre côtés plats avec des encoignures écrasées (13) entre les côtés voisins, le fourreau étant fabriqué en enroulant en couches (11) une feuille compressible autour d'un mandrin, les couches étant, auxdites encoignures (13), écrasées en étant comprimées sur le mandrin; et
b) un espace (16), de section droite sensiblement triangulaire, limité par une surface intérieur en biseau et par des portions, voisines, des surface latérales intérieures plates des côtés, voisins, du fourreau se forme à deux ou plus encoignures opposées (13) du fourreau lorsque ces encoignures sont en position complètement fermée pour permettre au fourreau de se replier en condition démontée, les majeures portions de la surface intérieure (12) des côtés, voisins, du fourreau étant sensiblement parallèles et en contact face à face sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'appliquer une force pour maintenir le fourreau dans la condition repliée démontée.
2. Récipient selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les encoignures en biseau (13) sont de l'ordre d'environ 6, 3 mm à 1. mm.
3. Récipient selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les encoignures en biseau (13) ont une largeur intérieure (y) du biseau sensiblement proportionnelle au calibre (x) du récipient sur la base de la formule y=0,0294+0,347x.
4. Récipient selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la surface intérieure du fourreau est formée par une doublure en feuille plate (12); et en ce que des couches multiples (11) de matériau compressible sont composées d'une feuille ondulée simple face enroulée sur la doublure.
5. Récipient selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que toures les encoignures (13) entre les côtes du récipient sont des encoignures en biseau.
EP84307706A 1984-01-19 1984-11-08 Récipient multi-couche Expired - Lifetime EP0149889B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84307706T ATE49936T1 (de) 1984-01-19 1984-11-08 Behaelter mit geschichtetem wandungsaufbau.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848401373A GB8401373D0 (en) 1984-01-19 1984-01-19 Multi-layered container
GB8401373 1984-01-19
US06/632,871 US4601407A (en) 1984-01-19 1984-07-20 Multi-layered container
US632871 1984-07-20

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0149889A2 EP0149889A2 (fr) 1985-07-31
EP0149889A3 EP0149889A3 (en) 1986-09-17
EP0149889B1 true EP0149889B1 (fr) 1990-01-31

Family

ID=26287202

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84307706A Expired - Lifetime EP0149889B1 (fr) 1984-01-19 1984-11-08 Récipient multi-couche

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0149889B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU566629B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR8500151A (fr)
DE (1) DE3481187D1 (fr)
DK (1) DK162206C (fr)
ES (1) ES292796Y (fr)
FI (1) FI80649C (fr)
NO (1) NO166116C (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4429088A1 (de) * 1994-08-17 1996-02-22 Eger Albert Gmbh & Co Versandhülse mit eckiger Außenkontur

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9715896D0 (en) * 1997-07-28 1997-10-01 Sca Packaging Ltd Containers
FR2773778B1 (fr) * 1998-01-21 2000-08-11 Soc D Expl Des Ets Maubrac Caisse de section ajustee au contenu, flan necessaire et dispositif d'encaissage utilisant notamment ladite caisse
US9302806B2 (en) * 2013-12-11 2016-04-05 Paper Systems, Inc. Collapsible container with improved corners
US10273070B2 (en) 2017-05-19 2019-04-30 Paper Systems, Inc. Collapsible container

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0098904A1 (fr) * 1982-07-14 1984-01-25 Macmillan Bloedel Limited Méthode et appareil pour la réalisation de boîtes multicouches en carton ondulé

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH428411A (fr) * 1964-12-28 1967-01-15 Rite Size Corrugated Machinery Outil à inciser et à rainer des ébauches de boîtes
US3717074A (en) * 1967-12-04 1973-02-20 Hoerner Waldorf Corp Deadened crease
US3866523A (en) * 1973-05-30 1975-02-18 Lancaster Research And Dev Cor Method and apparatus for forming bulk containers from articulatable composite panels
JPS5511426A (en) * 1978-07-06 1980-01-26 Mitsui Zerabatsuku Kk Bending working method of synthetic pulp paper

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0098904A1 (fr) * 1982-07-14 1984-01-25 Macmillan Bloedel Limited Méthode et appareil pour la réalisation de boîtes multicouches en carton ondulé

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4429088A1 (de) * 1994-08-17 1996-02-22 Eger Albert Gmbh & Co Versandhülse mit eckiger Außenkontur

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3481187D1 (de) 1990-03-08
DK162206B (da) 1991-09-30
DK23785A (da) 1985-07-20
DK23785D0 (da) 1985-01-18
FI80649B (fi) 1990-03-30
ES292796U (es) 1987-03-16
ES292796Y (es) 1987-10-16
BR8500151A (pt) 1985-08-27
NO166116C (no) 1991-06-05
FI80649C (fi) 1990-07-10
EP0149889A3 (en) 1986-09-17
AU566629B2 (en) 1987-10-22
FI845119L (fi) 1985-07-20
EP0149889A2 (fr) 1985-07-31
AU3755185A (en) 1985-07-25
NO166116B (no) 1991-02-25
DK162206C (da) 1992-03-16
NO850230L (no) 1985-07-22
FI845119A0 (fi) 1984-12-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4601407A (en) Multi-layered container
CA1146513A (fr) Charniere
US5894044A (en) Honeycomb structure and method of making
CA2446757C (fr) Dispositif de protection monopiece forme par pliage
JPS6311141B2 (fr)
JPS61242837A (ja) 段ボ−ル容器及び製法
US4905864A (en) Fibreboard sheet and blank and method for producing same
US5799797A (en) Corner post construction
US2422725A (en) Container and seam construction
US4260442A (en) Method for making an improved variable flute container
US8297491B2 (en) Packaging container and blank
US3843039A (en) Container partitions
AU696515B2 (en) Case forming materials and components and structures thereof
EP0149889B1 (fr) Récipient multi-couche
US3559867A (en) Multi-ply container
US4165030A (en) Two cell bulk box
US6105220A (en) Structure for a casket shell
CA1162170A (fr) Contenant a fermeture de fond rentrante
US4177936A (en) Variable flute container
CA1054447A (fr) Fermeture a pans superposes tailles en angle et etages
EP0757650B1 (fr) Ebauche de boite en carton et machine pour faconner des ebauches de boites en carton
CA1092997A (fr) Contenant cannele d'epaisseur variable et methode et machine de fabrication
KR840001660Y1 (ko) 넓게 접혀지는 힌지
JPS6016494Y2 (ja) カツプ容器
CA1123721A (fr) Machine pour la fabrication de cartonnages ondules multicouche de qualite amelioree

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19861212

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19870820

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 49936

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19900215

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3481187

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19900308

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 84307706.6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19981008

Year of fee payment: 15

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991108

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19991108

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20021008

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20021018

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20021021

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 20021024

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20021122

Year of fee payment: 19

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20031108

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20031108

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20031110

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20031118

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20031125

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20031130

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20031130

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20031130

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *MACMILLAN BLOEDEL LTD

Effective date: 20031130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040601

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20040601

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed