EP0322488B1 - Capuchon de buse - Google Patents

Capuchon de buse Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0322488B1
EP0322488B1 EP87311456A EP87311456A EP0322488B1 EP 0322488 B1 EP0322488 B1 EP 0322488B1 EP 87311456 A EP87311456 A EP 87311456A EP 87311456 A EP87311456 A EP 87311456A EP 0322488 B1 EP0322488 B1 EP 0322488B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
foaming cylinder
uneven portion
inner peripheral
nozzle
peripheral wall
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
EP87311456A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0322488A1 (fr
Inventor
Takaharu Tasaki
Tadao Saito
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.)
Yoshino Kogyosho Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Yoshino Kogyosho Co 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
Application filed by Yoshino Kogyosho Co Ltd filed Critical Yoshino Kogyosho Co Ltd
Priority to EP87311456A priority Critical patent/EP0322488B1/fr
Priority to DE8787311456T priority patent/DE3785454T2/de
Priority to AU83099/87A priority patent/AU606640B2/en
Priority to CA000556361A priority patent/CA1330211C/fr
Priority to US07/372,112 priority patent/US4971252A/en
Publication of EP0322488A1 publication Critical patent/EP0322488A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0322488B1 publication Critical patent/EP0322488B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/0005Components or details
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/0018Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam
    • B05B7/005Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam wherein ambient air is aspirated by a liquid flow
    • B05B7/0056Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam wherein ambient air is aspirated by a liquid flow with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/01Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
    • B05B11/10Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
    • B05B11/1042Components or details
    • B05B11/1052Actuation means
    • B05B11/1056Actuation means comprising rotatable or articulated levers
    • B05B11/1057Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a nozzle cap rotatably mounted at the end of the injection cylinder for a trigger type liquid dispenser.
  • a conventional dispenser of this kind is shown in Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings and will now be described by way of background to the invention.
  • the trigger type liquid dispenser shown in Fig. 11 operates so as to actuate a piston 2 several times with a trigger 1 to suck liquid from a container, to pull the trigger 1 in this state to press the piston 2 into a pumping chamber to pressurize the interior in the pumping chamber, and to open an exhaust valve by the high pressure liquid to inject the liquid through an injection cylinder 4 and the nozzle port of a cap 5.
  • the nozzle cap 5 has, as known per se, a liquid guide engaged fixedly at the end of the injection cylinder 4, and a nozzle body rotatably engaged with the end of the liquid guide and opened with a nozzle port at the centre therof.
  • the nozzle body can be selected to three types of states of "foam”, “direct” and “closed”, i.e., injecting the liquid contents in a foaming state, injecting the liquid contents in a water column state as it is or closing to stop injecting the liquid contents, according to the rotating position of the nozzle body.
  • foaming means have had a foaming cylinder arranged on the front face of the nozzle port of the nozzle body.
  • the foaming cylinder is a mere cylinder which lacks variable reflection of injecting liquid and can not foam the liquid efficiently.
  • Such a dispenser is shown in US-A-4 598 862 wherein a foamable liquid is passed through a swirl chamber and orifice to produce a vortex spray of finely - divided particles.
  • a nozzle cap having the features set forth in the characterised portion of claim 1. Preferred features of the invention are set fourth in claims 2 to 12.
  • the foaming cylinder acts to reflect injected liquid onto the inner peripheral wall, to thus involve air in the liquid to foam the liquid.
  • the inner peripheral uneven portion is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder to reflect the injected liquid from the nozzle port by the inner peripheral uneven portion - as compared with a cylindrical foaming cylinder of merely smooth inner peripheral surface - to thus effeciently foam the liquid.
  • a nozzle cap 5 comprises a nozzle body 5a and a liquid guide 5b.
  • the liquid guide 5b is engaged fixedly with the end of a liquid injection cylinder 4.
  • the nozzle body 5a has a substantially triangular shape in the front shape.
  • a nozzle port 6 is perforated at the centre on the front face of the nozzle body 5a.
  • the nozzle body 5a is rotatably engaged through a short cylindrical portion 5c with a plug 9 at the end of the liquid guide 5b.
  • Figs. 1(A) and 1(B) show the "foaming" position of the nozzle cap.
  • Shallow grooves 10 are formed at a plurality of peripheral positions on the peripheral surface of the end of the plug 9 of the liquid guide 5b in a longitudinal direction from the front end face over a predetermined zone.
  • Liquid passages 11 are formed at a plurality of peripheral positions on the inner periphery of an end cylindrical portion 5c in longitudinal line direction from the rear end face over a predetermined zone.
  • a spin groove 12 is disposed at the rear side face of the nozzle port 6.
  • the shallow grooves 10, 10 communicate between the liquid passages 11, 11 and the spin groove 12 to thus inject high pressure liquid through the spin groove 12 and the nozzle port 6 in an atomized state to collide the atomized liquid to the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to foam the liquid.
  • a deed groove of different direction - not shown in Fig. 1 - of the plug 9 communicates the liquid passages 11, 11 directly with the nozzle port 6 to thus inject the high pressure nozzle directly in a water column state without spin from the nozzle port 6.
  • the portion not formed with the shallow grooves 10, 10 and the deep groove of the plug 9 is disposed to interrupt communication between the liquid passages 11, 11, the nozzle port 6 and the spin groove 12 and to shut off the communication thereamong.
  • the foaming cylinder 7 is integrally formed as an outer periphery thereof with a large-diameter mounting cylinder 13.
  • the mounting cylinder 13 is engaged fixedly within a peripheral wall 14 projected toward the front face side so that the foaming cylinder 7 is arranged at an air gap 13A of suitable distance on the front face of the nozzle port 6 of the nozzle body 5a.
  • the foaming cylinder 7 and the mounting cylinder 13 are integrated by a front end plate.
  • Air intake openings 15 are perforated peripherally at the end plate and communicate with the air gap 13A.
  • the foaming cylinder 7 also has an engaging projecting circumferential strip 16 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting cylinder 13 to be engaged with an engaging inner circumferential groove 17 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 14.
  • the inner peripheral uneven portion 8 on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 is formed substantially by half near the nozzle port 6 for colliding injecting liquid from the nozzle port 6 and the projecting strip is spirally projected on the inner wall to be formed in the uneven state.
  • the inner peripheral uneven portion 8 of the foaming cylinder 7 may be formed in an uneven state on the inner wall of the foaming cylinder 7, and is not limited to the embodiment in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 2 to 7 show different examples of inner peripheral uneven portions 8 of the foaming cylinder 7.
  • grooves are spirally recessed on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to form an uneven state on the inner peripheral wall.
  • a plurality of ring-like projecting strips 8A are peripherally projected on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to form an uneven state on the inner peripheral wall.
  • a plurality of ring-like peripheral grooves 8B are peripherally recessed on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to form an uneven state in the inner peripheral wall.
  • a plurality of projections 8C are projected on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to form an uneven state on the inner peripheral wall.
  • a plurality of pores 8D are recessed on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to form an uneven portion on the inner peripheral wall.
  • small projections 8E of triangular projecting shape on a plane are formed at a predetermined circumferential interval on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 to form an uneven state on the inner peripheral wall.
  • an angle for diffusing liquid (atomized state) injected from the nozzle port 6 depends differently upon the viscosity of the liquid to be injected. Therefore, the formation of the uneven portion 8 is preferably devised on the basis of the viscosity of the liquid to be injected.
  • the liquid is injected to be dispersed in a wide angle from the nozzle port 6.
  • the injected liquid atomized state
  • the injected liquid is diffused at the position near the nozzle port 6 axially, as compared with the case of high viscosity liquid.
  • a range that the low viscosity liquid is contacted with the uneven portion 8 becomes a peripheral surface near the nozzle port 6 on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7, as compared with that of the high viscosity liquid.
  • the uneven portion 8 it is desirable to form the uneven portion 8 shorter and nearer to the nozzle port 6 axially as compared with the case of high viscosity liquid.
  • the uneven portion 8 is formed too long in the axial direction in the foaming cylinder 7, the resistance of the uneven portion 8 against the liquid injected from the nozzle port 6 is increased, so that the injecting pressure of the liquid injected from an injection port 18 decreases.
  • the uneven portion 8 is formed on the portion near the side of the nozzle port 6 from the centre of the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7.
  • the liquid is diffused and injected in a relatively narrow angle from the nozzle port 6 as compared with the case of low viscosity liquid.
  • the inner diameter of the portion 7a formed with no uneven portion 8 of the forming cylinder 7 may increased larger than the maximum inner diameter of the uneven portion 8.
  • the atomizing pattern can be varied.
  • the inner diameter of the portion 7a not formed with the uneven portion 8 of the foaming cylinder 7 may be formed smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the uneven portion 8.
  • the resistance increases excessively to cause the injecting pressure of the liquid to reduce, thereby permitting the liquid to leak and drop from the injection port.
  • the uneven portion 8 of the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 is formed mainly on the rear half portion near the nozzle port 6 on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 and it is preferable not to form the uneven portion 8 on the entire inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7. If the uneven portion 8 is formed on the entire inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7, the resistance against the injected liquid by the uneven portion 8 is excessively increased to reduce the injection pressure of the liquid.
  • the axial length of the uneven portion 8 on the inner peripheral surface depends upon the viscosity of the liquid.
  • the foaming cylinder 7 is formed independently from the nozzle body 5a.
  • the foaming cylinder 7 may be formed integrally with the nozzle body 5a.
  • Fig. 10 shows the example of this case.
  • a foaming cylinder 7 projects integrally from the front wall of the outer periphery of the nozzle port.
  • the respective portions are moulded of synthetic resin material.
  • the uneven portion 8 is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the foaming cylinder 7 so that the injecting liquid from the nozzle port 6 is complicatedly reflected by the uneven portion 8. Therefore, the nozzle cap having high foaming efficiency can be provided.

Landscapes

  • Nozzles (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Claims (13)

  1. Coiffe de buse comportant un corps (5a) de buse ayant un orifice (6) de buse et un cylindre générateur de mousse (7) présentant une surface intérieure rendue rugueuse, reliée au corps de buse de façon à être alignée axialement avec l'orifice (6) de buse et en avant de celui-ci, caractérisée en ce que l'orifice (6) de buse est d'une forme divergente et en ce que le cylindre générateur de mousse (7) comprend une partie périphérique intérieure inégale (8) formée sur une paroi périphérique intérieure de ce cylindre générateur de mousse ayant une ouverture de section transversale sensiblement uniforme et une partie périphérique intérieure égale définie par la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse, ayant une ouverture de section transversale sensiblement uniforme, la partie périphérique intérieure inégale (8) du cylindre générateur de mousse étant adjacente à l'orifice divergent (6) de la buse afin qu'un liquide injecté depuis l'orifice divergent de la buse soit dispersé vers l'extérieur et atteigne directement la partie inégale adjacente (8) du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  2. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) du cylindre générateur de mousse (7) est formée par la réalisation en saillie hélicoïdale d'une bande en saillie sur la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  3. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) est formée par creusement hélicoïdal d'une gorge dans la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  4. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) est formée par la réalisation en saillie périphérique de plusieurs bandes (8A) en saillie analogues à des anneaux sur la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  5. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) est formée par creusement périphérique de plusieurs gorges (8B) analogues à des anneaux dans la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  6. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) est formée par la réalisation en saillie de plusieurs saillies (8C) sur la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  7. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) est formée par creusement de plusieurs évidements (8D) dans la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  8. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la partie inégale (8) est formée par la formation de petites saillies (8E) en forme de saillies triangulaires à intervalles périphériques prédéterminés sur un plan circonférentiel de la paroi périphérique intérieure du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  9. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que, lorsqu'un liquide à faible viscosité est injecté, la partie inégale (8) est formée sur la paroi intérieure au plus prêt de l'orifice divergent (7) de buse dans une direction axiale du cylindre générateur de mousse (7) et la longueur de la partie inégale (8) est inférieure à la moitié de la longueur du cylindre générateur de mousse (7).
  10. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que, lorsqu'un liquide à faible viscosité est la matière devant être amenée à l'état de mousse, l'ouverture de la section transversale intérieure de la partie égale du cylindre générateur de mousse (7) est plus grande que l'ouverture maximale de la section transversale intérieure de la partie inégale (8).
  11. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que, lorsqu'un liquide à haute viscosité est injecté, la partie inégale (8) est formée sur une partie importante de la longueur du cylindre générateur de mousse (7) dans la direction axiale du cylindre générateur de mousse.
  12. Coiffe de buse selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le corps de buse et le cylindre générateur de mousse (7) sont formés d'une seule pièce.
  13. Coiffe de buse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que, lorsqu'un liquide à haute viscosité est la matière devant être amenée à l'état de mousse, l'ouverture de la section transversale intérieure de la partie égale du cylindre générateur de mousse (7) est plus petite que l'ouverture minimale de la section transversale intérieure de la partie inégale (8).
EP87311456A 1987-12-24 1987-12-24 Capuchon de buse Expired - Lifetime EP0322488B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP87311456A EP0322488B1 (fr) 1987-12-24 1987-12-24 Capuchon de buse
DE8787311456T DE3785454T2 (de) 1987-12-24 1987-12-24 Duesenkappe.
AU83099/87A AU606640B2 (en) 1987-12-24 1987-12-29 Nozzle cap
CA000556361A CA1330211C (fr) 1987-12-24 1988-01-12 Capuchon d'ajutage
US07/372,112 US4971252A (en) 1987-12-24 1989-06-28 Nozzle cap

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP87311456A EP0322488B1 (fr) 1987-12-24 1987-12-24 Capuchon de buse
CA000556361A CA1330211C (fr) 1987-12-24 1988-01-12 Capuchon d'ajutage

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0322488A1 EP0322488A1 (fr) 1989-07-05
EP0322488B1 true EP0322488B1 (fr) 1993-04-14

Family

ID=25671660

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87311456A Expired - Lifetime EP0322488B1 (fr) 1987-12-24 1987-12-24 Capuchon de buse

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0322488B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU606640B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA1330211C (fr)
DE (1) DE3785454T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2660289B1 (fr) * 1990-04-03 1992-07-17 Oreal Bouton-poussoir pour bidon aerosol, et bidon aerosol equipe d'un tel bouton-poussoir.
US5234166A (en) * 1990-10-25 1993-08-10 Contico International, Inc. Spinner assembly for a sprayer
FR2711930B1 (fr) * 1993-11-03 1996-01-26 Sofab Dispositif de pulvérisation.

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4598862A (en) * 1983-05-31 1986-07-08 The Dow Chemical Company Foam generating device and process
DE3442901A1 (de) * 1984-11-24 1986-06-05 Zeller Plastik Koehn Graebner Schaumerzeuger
US4730775A (en) * 1986-01-10 1988-03-15 Afa Division Of Waynesboro Textiles, Inc. Two piece foamer nozzle assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3785454T2 (de) 1993-07-29
EP0322488A1 (fr) 1989-07-05
DE3785454D1 (en) 1993-05-19
AU606640B2 (en) 1991-02-14
CA1330211C (fr) 1994-06-14
AU8309987A (en) 1989-07-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4971252A (en) Nozzle cap
US4989790A (en) Nozzle cap, spring valve and body assembly
US4925106A (en) Foam-off nozzle assembly with barrel screen insert for use in a trigger sprayer
KR100504082B1 (ko) 수동펌프스프레이어
CA1137141A (fr) Ajutage debiteur
US20030098369A1 (en) Telescoping foamer nozzle
US20060086828A1 (en) Sprayer push-button
US5775594A (en) Sprayer
SK279870B6 (sk) Nastaviteľná dýzová zostava na ručne ovládaný rozp
JPH03503380A (ja) ノズルアセンブリ
US5267692A (en) Adjustable nozzle assembly
US4940186A (en) Manually operated trigger type dispenser, a spinner for use in the dispenser, and a flow-pattern switching mechanism for use in the dispenser
US4669665A (en) Nozzle
EP0322488B1 (fr) Capuchon de buse
US6000636A (en) Nozzle device
US3178120A (en) Two piece spray nozzle
JPH05104038A (ja) 媒体用排出ノズル
DE69818864D1 (de) Zerstäubunsdüse mit aufgesetztem plättchen
JPH0634858Y2 (ja) 液体の泡状噴射器のノズル
JPH0634857Y2 (ja) 液体の泡状噴射器のノズル
JPS6027482Y2 (ja) トリガ−式液体噴出器のノズル
JP4311844B2 (ja) エアゾール用ノズル
JPH0639809Y2 (ja) 液体噴出器のノズル
JPS6027483Y2 (ja) トリガ−式霧等噴出器のノズル
JPS604613Y2 (ja) エアゾル用噴射頭

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

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19891221

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19910125

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: STUDIO FERRARIO

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3785454

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930519

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

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20010306

Year of fee payment: 14

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20011212

Year of fee payment: 15

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20011227

Year of fee payment: 15

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: 20011231

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20011231

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20020109

Year of fee payment: 15

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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: 20021224

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20021227

Year of fee payment: 16

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

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20030701

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

Effective date: 20021224

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

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20030901

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

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: 20040701

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

Effective date: 20040701

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

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20051224