EP0521705B1 - Storage and/or transit stacking of articles - Google Patents

Storage and/or transit stacking of articles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0521705B1
EP0521705B1 EP92306054A EP92306054A EP0521705B1 EP 0521705 B1 EP0521705 B1 EP 0521705B1 EP 92306054 A EP92306054 A EP 92306054A EP 92306054 A EP92306054 A EP 92306054A EP 0521705 B1 EP0521705 B1 EP 0521705B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tray
articles
rows
tops
bottles
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
EP92306054A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0521705A1 (en
Inventor
Michael Christopher Embleton
Jeffrey Graham Pitt
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.)
FORMOLD Ltd
Original Assignee
FORMOLD 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 GB919114304A external-priority patent/GB9114304D0/en
Priority claimed from GB919125440A external-priority patent/GB9125440D0/en
Application filed by FORMOLD Ltd filed Critical FORMOLD Ltd
Publication of EP0521705A1 publication Critical patent/EP0521705A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0521705B1 publication Critical patent/EP0521705B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS 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
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/70—Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking

Definitions

  • This invention relates to storage and/or transit stacking of bottles or other articles, of the kind in which a plurality of arrays of rows of the articles are stacked one upon the other with each array above the lowermost standing on an upper-surface of an individual tray that itself stands on the tops of the articles of an array immediately beneath it in the stack, and in which the under-surface of the tray is configured for retaining engagement with the tops of the array of articles on which it stands.
  • a method of the above-specified kind for stacking bottles is known from DE-A-3 714 352.
  • the trays as loaded with arrays of bottles are stacked one upon the other with the bottom tray resting on a pallet and each of the others standing on the tops of the bottles of the array beneath.
  • a specially adapted lid is placed on the tops of the bottles of the uppermost array to complete the stack in preparation for bonding the stack together, and to the pallet, using straps.
  • the bottoms of the bottles of each array are engaged in respective recesses or sockets configured in the upper-surface of their tray, and their tops are engaged similarly in respective recesses or sockets of the tray or lid immediately above in the stack.
  • the bottles are in this way held firmly in their rows, they are necessarily spaced apart from one another, with consequent loss of achievable packing density, by the need to accommodate individual sockets for each bottle on the upper-surface of their tray.
  • each tray of the stack requires accurate location of the bottom of each bottle in its individual socket of the tray upper-surface, and then, when the tray is full, accurate handling of the next tray (or ultimately the lid) to align the sockets of its under-surface with the tops of the loaded bottles to ensure that positive engagement by each individually is achieved.
  • difficulty is likely to be experienced with achieving efficient and easy removal of first the lid, and then each successively-emptied tray, from the tops of the bottles, owing to the resistance met in breaking the engagement with their individual sockets; the resistance may readily vary from one bottle to another across the lid or tray causing it to bend or even be damaged as it is removed.
  • the bottles have to be lifted from the sockets in which they stand, and so where the bottles of the stack are to be supplied for filling or other mechanised handling, advantage cannot be taken of conventional unloading mechanisms that sweep bottles in bulk sideways onto a moving conveyor.
  • a method of stacking bottles or other articles is characterised in that the tops of the articles are engaged with the tray under-surface within elongate channels individual to the rows, and that the engagement of the tops within the channels tends to restrain movement of the articles laterally out of their respective rows.
  • the use of elongate channels in the under-surface of the tray for engagement by the tops of the articles has been found to offer significant advantages over what is known from DE-A-3 714 352.
  • the channels provide a simple and economic way of establishing the articles in rows and providing at least partial restraint against lateral movement from those rows.
  • the restraint obtainable in this regard has been found to be generally sufficient to avoid the need to establish individual engagement with each article, on the upper-surface of the tray.
  • the upper-surface of the tray may in the latter respect be configured to divide that surface into parallel guideways for separating the rows of articles from one another; these guideways may be defined between ridges that are upstanding from the upper-surface of the tray.
  • the articles may in these circumstances be at least partly restrained from individual movement longitudinally of the rows by abutment with one another in the rows.
  • the use of channels makes alignment with the tops of the articles simpler and more readily brought about for loading, and reduces the likelihood of resistance and other difficulties in removing the trays during unloading.
  • the channels may have closed ends and this may assist during loading in that pushing down of the tray onto the tops of the articles beneath, can serve to urge them together in their respective rows.
  • the present invention is also concerned in a further aspect with the provision of a form of tray for use in a method of the said above-specified kind, namely in retaining bottles or other articles in an array of rows of a plurality of such arrays stacked one upon the other for storage and/or transit of said articles, where such tray is of the specific form in which an upper-surface of the tray is adapted to receive the bottoms of the articles standing in their rows, and the under-surface is configured to be engaged by the tops of the articles of the array immediately below it in the stack.
  • a tray of the specific form referred to in the preceding paragraph is characterised in that the under-surface of the tray is configured to define a plurality of elongate channels for engagement by the tops of the articles of individual rows such as to tend to restrain movement of these articles laterally out of their rows.
  • the upper-surface of the tray may be at least partly enclosed by a rim or wall upstanding from that surface, and may be configured to define (for example, by ridges upstanding from that surface) a plurality of spaced parallel guideways for receiving the bottoms of the articles of respective rows.
  • the channels may be in register with the guideways respectively.
  • the method and form of tray of the present invention is of especial advantage as compared with the method and tray of DE-A-3 714 352, in the stacking of glass bottles, and in particular glass bottle flasks, for secure transportation without damage.
  • Using the method and form of tray of the invention it is possible to stack a large number of the bottles or flasks together tightly and achieve a high packing density.
  • more than one thousand identical glass flasks 1 are loaded together on a wooden pallet 2 to stand upright with one another in five rectangular arrays of eleven rows each, that are stacked one upon the other.
  • Six identical moulded-sheet trays 3 are included in the stack to locate and retain the flasks 1 together in the five arrays.
  • a tray 3 of the first, bottom array of the stack stands directly on the pallet 2 with the flasks 1 of that array standing upright on the tray 3, and with a tray 3 of the second array standing on the tops of those flasks 1.
  • the flasks 1 of the second array similarly stand upright in their tray 3, and a third tray 3 of the next, third array stands on them.
  • This stacking arrangement in which each successive array of flasks 1 stands in its individual tray 3 on the array beneath, is repeated for the third to fifth arrays.
  • Five trays 3 are used for the five arrays, and the sixth tray 3 stands on the tops of the flasks 1 in the fifth, uppermost array, to top off the stack.
  • the whole, including the pallet 2 is encased in shrink-film (not shown) to hold the stack tightly together as one for secure storage and/or transit.
  • each tray 3 has a peripheral skirt 4 that is extended into an upstanding wall or rim 5 around the upper-surface 6 ( Figure 3) of the tray 3 on three of its four sides.
  • the upper-surface 6 is in this respect bounded by the rim 5 along one long side 7 and across the two shorter sides 8 and 9 of the tray 3, and is flat to the other long side 10 except for parallel ridges 11 and troughs 12.
  • the ridges 11, which together with the troughs 12 run out across the tray-width towards the side 10, serve in conjunction with the rim 5 at the sides 8 and 9, to divide the upper-surface 6 into eleven parallel guideways 13 for receiving the rows of flasks 1.
  • each row stand in their respective guideway 13 packed tightly and nesting together along the full row-length with the first flask 1 in the row abutting the rim 5 at the side 7 and the last standing adjacent the flat side 10.
  • the bottom of each flask 1 stands firmly on the upper-surface 6 straddling the troughs 12 and being restrained from lateral movement out of row-alignment by the ridges 11 that separate the guideways 13 from one another.
  • Each tray 3 is configured by the troughs 12 of its upper-surface 6, to present in its under-surface 14 ( Figure 4) eleven channels 15 that extend in central register respectively with the eleven guideways 13 above.
  • Each channel 15 is closed up at its two ends 16, and its sidewalls 17 flare down to a minimum width which is substantially the same as the diameter of the flask open-mouth top.
  • the flaring of the side-walls 17 assists with the nesting of the tray 3 down on the tops of the flasks 1 below. More particularly, as the tray 3 is pushed down onto the array below, so the tops of the flasks 1 of each row of that array are each guided positively for firm and full reception into an individual one of the channels 15.
  • any tendency for the flasks 1 to move laterally out of row alignment is positively resisted by the firm hold on their tops within the relevant channel 15. Similar restraint against movement of the row of flasks 1 longitudinally of the row, is achieved by the relationship of the length of the channel 15 to the row length, and the rounding down of the channel ends 16. These are such that the tops of all the flasks 1 in the row are accommodated in the channel 15, only if those flasks 1 are closed up hard on one another throughout the row. Thus as the tray 3 above is pushed down onto the tops of each row of flasks 1, so the flasks 1 of that row are urged hard onto one another to be held in that condition.
  • the flasks 1 of each individual array of rows in the stack are afforded lateral location and individual support by the tray 3 on which they stand.
  • the fit of the flasks 1 is not in this case (illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) tight and so allows for a measure of variation in width of flask 1 loaded on the tray 3.
  • Tighter restraint is provided by the engagement or nesting of the tops of the flasks 1 within the channels 15 of the tray 3 above. This engagement constrains the flasks 1 to tight row-alignment and abutment with one another onto the rim 5 at the side 7.
  • the bottoms of the flasks 1 may not be a tight fit within the guideways 13, the fit is close enough to ensure that each flask 1 is prevented by the ridges 11 and rim 5 at the sides 8 and 9, from moving laterally to an extent that would be sufficient to bring about disengagement of the tops from the channels 15.
  • the tray 3 can be modified to continue the upstanding rim 5 along the side 10. With this modification, a greater degree of restraint against possible longitudinal movement of the rows of flasks 1 is afforded, but it has been found that the absence of the upstanding rim along the side 10 is in general acceptable.
  • any added restraint required can in any event be afforded by the encasing shrink-film alone, or by the addition of a sheet (for example, of card or other board, or plastics material) butted against the sides 10 of the stacked trays 3 and held in place by the shrink-film encasing.
  • a sheet for example, of card or other board, or plastics material
  • the tray 3 is thermo-formed from a sheet of high-impact polystyrene.
  • the sheet which for example, may have a thickness of 2 mm, is thermo-formed over a mould that conforms positively, with allowance for sheet thickness, to the configuration of the under-surface 14 required.
  • a modified form of tray that is thermo-formed over a mould conforming positively to its upper-surface, is illustrated in Figure 5, and will now be described.
  • the upper-surface 20 of the modified form of tray is divided into parallel guideways 21 for receiving the rows of flasks.
  • the ridges 22 (only one shown) which separate the guideways 21 from one another, are lower than the ridges 11, and the wall or rim 23 of the tray where it bounds the shorter sides 24 (only one shown) is sloping.
  • the rim 23 at its full height along one long side 25 of the rectangular tray is higher than the rim 5 of the tray 3, but slopes down progressively along the shorter sides 24 to run out to the other long side 26.
  • the channels in the under-surface 27 of the tray, required to receive and constrain the tops of the flasks, are configured by troughs 28 in the upper-surface 20.
  • the troughs 28 are steeper-sided than the corresponding troughs 12 of the tray 3 in order that the channels provide tighter constraint on the engaged flask-tops.
  • the walls of these channels are in this respect also strengthened by the provision of ribs 29 on the under-surface 27.
  • the ribs 29 are configured by grooves 30 in the upper-surface 20, which run transversely of the ridges 22 from each wall-defining trough 28 to the next.
  • the tray of Figure 5 like the tray 3 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, is for use where flasks are to be unloaded using a sweeping mechanism, such mechanism being used to discharge the flasks from the guideways 21 across the side 26. If a lifting mechanism is to be used instead, then the upstanding wall or rim 23 of the tray may be extended from the side 25 along the other three sides 24 and 26 at the full height, to afford greater restraint on the flasks.
  • the trays described above are used in the stacked storage and/or transit of bottles in the form of flasks, however, the principles embodied in the trays and their use are equally applicable to the provision of trays adapted to the stacked storage and/or transit of other forms of bottle.
  • a form of tray for use in the stacking of bottles of circular cross-section is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, and will now be described. The bottles are loaded on this tray in staggered rows with each bottle within the array abutting not only the adjacent bottles of its row, but also the adjacent bottles of the two adjoining rows.
  • the upper-surface 32 of the rectangular tray 33 in this case has an upstanding peripheral wall 34 that is configured to the bounding contour of the array of bottles 35 in their staggered rows.
  • the peripheral wall 34 confines the bottoms of the bottles 35 to remain in their respective rows on the surface 32.
  • the location of the bottles 35 in the staggered rows during loading on the surface 32, and their retention in that array, is in this respect defined and enhanced by the wall-contouring.
  • the upper-surface 32 is flat apart from troughs 36 that run lengthwise of the rows and configure the under-surface 37 to present channels 38 in central register respectively, with the rows above.
  • Each channel 38 is closed at both, rounded ends and receives the tops of the bottles of a respective row of bottles 35 of the tray beneath in the stack; the walls of the channels 38 are flared slightly to ease bottle-top entry.
  • the channel-length and -width are just sufficient to accommodate the tops of the bottles 35 of the respective row.
  • the abutting and closely-staggered formation of the bottles 35 provided by the rectangular tray 33 allows diagonal- or slanting-row patterns to be identified in the array, as well as rows running lengthwise or widthwise.
  • the channels 38 in the under-surface 37 may run parallel to any such pattern of rows, and the tray 33 may be modified in this respect as illustrated in Figure 8, where a diagonal or slanting disposition of troughs 39 in the upper-surface 32 presents slanting channels, indicated by broken lines 40, in the under-surface.
  • the wall 34 need not be configured to conform to the outer contour of the array of bottles 35, but may be straight. Furthermore, the wall 34, rather than completely enclosing the upper-surface 32 of the tray 33, may be modified to extend along just three sides so as to allow for the bottles 35 to be swept from the tray 33 during unloading; clearly, the wall 34 is in this case desirably straight along at least the two sides parallel to the direction of sweeping.
  • the flasks and other bottles referred to above are all empty and without closure caps, the described trays are readily adaptable also to the stacked storage and/or transit of the flasks and other bottles when filled and capped.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
EP92306054A 1991-07-02 1992-06-30 Storage and/or transit stacking of articles Expired - Lifetime EP0521705B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB919114304A GB9114304D0 (en) 1991-07-02 1991-07-02 Storage and/or transit stacking
GB9114304 1991-07-02
GB9120775 1991-10-01
GB919120775A GB9120775D0 (en) 1991-07-02 1991-10-01 Storage and/or transit stacking
GB919125440A GB9125440D0 (en) 1991-07-02 1991-11-29 Storage and/or transit stacking
GB9125440 1991-11-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0521705A1 EP0521705A1 (en) 1993-01-07
EP0521705B1 true EP0521705B1 (en) 1995-09-06

Family

ID=27265744

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92306054A Expired - Lifetime EP0521705B1 (en) 1991-07-02 1992-06-30 Storage and/or transit stacking of articles

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0521705B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE127426T1 (es)
DE (1) DE69204581T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2079147T3 (es)
IE (1) IE69556B1 (es)

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI94044C (fi) * 1992-09-29 1995-07-25 Hartwall Ab Oy Pakkaus pulloja varten
AT398417B (de) * 1992-09-30 1994-12-27 Seebach Metallwaren Platte zum halten von nebeneinander stehenden stapeln aus behältern
GB9302248D0 (en) * 1993-02-05 1993-03-24 Formold Ltd Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
DE4310373A1 (de) * 1993-03-30 1994-10-06 Kober Ag Vorrichtung zur Aufnahme von Rundlingen
DE4339445C1 (de) * 1993-11-19 1995-05-24 Ats Leichtmetallraeder Gmbh Transportsystem für Kraftfahrzeugfelgen
GB9414513D0 (en) * 1994-07-19 1994-09-07 Formold Ltd Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
US6279770B1 (en) 1994-09-23 2001-08-28 Georg Osbakk System for handling and transportation of bottles
NO179636C (no) * 1994-10-20 2000-02-21 Hartwall Ab Oy Stablebrett, saerlig for flasker
NO304485B1 (no) * 1997-02-28 1998-12-28 Georg Osbakk Brett for lagring og transport av stÕende flasker
FI990682A0 (fi) * 1999-03-26 1999-03-26 Oyj Hartwall Abp Kuljetustarjotin pulloja varten ja tarjottimen kanssa käytettävä pullopakkaus
GB2451425A (en) * 2007-07-20 2009-02-04 Avalon Group Ltd Inter-engaging stacking trays
DE102007054423A1 (de) * 2007-11-13 2009-05-20 Linpac Allibert Gmbh Tray für den Transport einzelner und in Umkartons verpackter Flaschen
FR3114081B1 (fr) * 2020-09-11 2022-08-19 A Raymond Et Cie Plateau de livraison et systeme d’emballage d’elements medicaux

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ZA784787B (en) * 1978-08-23 1980-05-28 Qualetron Ltd Improvements in or relating to containers
US4344530A (en) * 1980-09-17 1982-08-17 International Container Systems, Inc. Case for beverage bottles
US4735321A (en) * 1986-05-02 1988-04-05 The Coca-Cola Company Mobile extra display module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IE922155A1 (en) 1993-01-13
DE69204581D1 (de) 1995-10-12
ES2079147T3 (es) 1996-01-01
DE69204581T2 (de) 1996-04-18
IE69556B1 (en) 1996-10-02
EP0521705A1 (en) 1993-01-07
ATE127426T1 (de) 1995-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0521705B1 (en) Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
US5184748A (en) Low-depth nestable tray for fluid containers
US4416373A (en) Interlocking stackable bottles
US4162738A (en) Stacking plastic bottle case
US5031774A (en) Nestable beverage can tray
US5305884A (en) Dual purpose low depth nestable tray
US5316172A (en) Can tray assembly
US5823376A (en) Nestable crate for beverage bottles
US9321572B2 (en) Nestable crate for containers
US5105948A (en) Stackable and nestable beverage can tray
US6047844A (en) Nestable crate for beverage bottles
US5617953A (en) Stackable/nestable containers
US5230601A (en) Method for stacking trays
US20140050556A1 (en) Apparatus and method for aligning and holding egg cartons
AU2002347901A1 (en) Nestable crate for containers
GB2180821A (en) Trays for use in cooperation with one another
US3261495A (en) Case for beverage bottles and the like
GB2257121A (en) Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
EP0610100B1 (en) Storage and stacking tray for articles
EP0696543B1 (en) Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
GB2274833A (en) Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
RU2138431C1 (ru) Вставляемый ячеистый ящик (варианты)
US5695060A (en) Tray for receiving containers, in particular yogurt cups
US6152683A (en) Method, apparatus and container for shipping printed matter
US5535907A (en) Bins

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): AT DE ES FR GR IT PT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19930705

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19941130

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT DE ES FR GR IT PT

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

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19950906

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19950906

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 127426

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19950915

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69204581

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19951012

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2079147

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

SC4A Pt: translation is available

Free format text: 951205 AVAILABILITY OF NATIONAL TRANSLATION

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: PT

Payment date: 20000628

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20000629

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20000630

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20000830

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20010702

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

Ref country code: PT

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

Effective date: 20011231

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: 20020228

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: 20020403

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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

Effective date: 20011231

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20030203

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: 20050630