EP0546673B1 - Connecteur avec dispositif de rétention - Google Patents

Connecteur avec dispositif de rétention Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0546673B1
EP0546673B1 EP92309772A EP92309772A EP0546673B1 EP 0546673 B1 EP0546673 B1 EP 0546673B1 EP 92309772 A EP92309772 A EP 92309772A EP 92309772 A EP92309772 A EP 92309772A EP 0546673 B1 EP0546673 B1 EP 0546673B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tail
apex
connector
tails
hole
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
EP92309772A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0546673A2 (fr
EP0546673A3 (en
Inventor
David Alan Griesemer
David Lonnie Mcknight
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker LLC
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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0546673A2 publication Critical patent/EP0546673A2/fr
Publication of EP0546673A3 publication Critical patent/EP0546673A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0546673B1 publication Critical patent/EP0546673B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/648—Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding  
    • H01R13/658—High frequency shielding arrangements, e.g. against EMI [Electro-Magnetic Interference] or EMP [Electro-Magnetic Pulse]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/55—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures characterised by the terminals
    • H01R12/58—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures characterised by the terminals terminals for insertion into holes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical connectors of the type having a connector body and a plurality of posts extending out of one side of the connector body for mounting to a circuit board.
  • this invention relates to an improved retention feature for such electrical connectors for temporarily holding the electrical connector in place on a printed circuit board prior to soldering.
  • solder tails of connector contacts there are various structures formed into the solder tails of connector contacts for retaining the connector in place on the printed circuit board prior to soldering the tails permanently in position.
  • An example of such a structure is disclosed in US-A-2 958 063 which discloses a plurality of solder tails attached to a coil support which are inserted into holes in a substrate. Note that the solder tails are configured to snap into the holes and retain the part in position until soldering is complete.
  • This configuration includes a knee portion which engages a corner of the hole under the board and relies upon the diametrically opposed knee to help provide centering so that both knees are effective in holding the coil support against the board. With this structure, the individual leads will engage only one side of the hole thereby requiring significant force from the opposite leads for effective retention.
  • a similar structure is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open U.M. Publication No. 57-86270 which discloses a pin header connector where some of the posts include bends for holding the connector to the printed circuit board prior to soldering.
  • a lead structure for an electrical component that is disclosed in US-A-2 754 486.
  • This patent discloses a lead structure comprising a soft copper, round wire, lead which is bent 90 degrees to the axis of the component and then has a dent or kink formed in each wire lead in mutual opposition so that when the two leads are inserted into holes of a printed circuit board the rounded part of the kink engages one side of the hole which urges the free end of the lead into engagement with the other side of the hole. Further engagement causes the free end to extend through the hole and hook under the corner of the board.
  • Such a structure will easily deform past its elastic limit when encountering extreme tolerance variations, partly due to the lack of positional memory of soft copper wire and partly due to the geometry of the structure.
  • tail structure that will permit the easy insertion of the solder tails of a connector into the holes of a printed circuit board where a selected solder tail will reliably engage opposite sides of its respective hole and snap into place thereby positively urging the connector housing against the surface of the printed circuit board.
  • the tail structure must be sufficiently elastic to permit this operation under extreme limits of tolerance variations of the board and the connector.
  • the present invention consists in the combination defined in claim 1.
  • WO-A-88/04484 discloses a combination according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a connector having a body and a plurality of posts, each of which has a tail extending out of one side of the body for mounting on a printed circuit board.
  • the board includes first and second spaced, parallel major surfaces and a plurality of through holes extending therebetween. Each hole intersects the first surface at a first corner and the second surface at a second corner.
  • Each of the tails is received in a respective one of the holes with the one side of the connector body being substantially parallel and in engagement with the first major surface of the board.
  • a retention feature is provided on at least two of the tails. Each retention feature includes a portion of the tail extending straight from the one side to form a first beam having a centerline extending normal to and through the printed circuit board.
  • the portion of the tail is then bent in a first direction normal to the first beam to form a second beam which is substantially parallel with the first major surface of the board, and is then bent in a direction away from the one side of the connector body to form a third beam substantially normal to the second beam.
  • the third beam being generally parallel with the first beam and terminating in a free end.
  • the third beam includes a first bent portion extending in a direction away from the one side of the body and toward the extended centerline of the first beam to an apex.
  • a second portion extends from the apex in a direction away from both the one side and the extended centerline to a terminal point adjacent the free end. This is arranged so that the apex is urged against one side of the through hole and another portion of the third beam is urged against the second corner of an opposite side of the through hole.
  • a plug connector 8 composed of an insulating connector housing 10 having a main body portion 12, side shrouds 14, and a side 16 for mounting against a surface of a printed circuit board.
  • Two parallel rows of cavities 18 are formed along the length of the housing 10 for receiving male signal contacts 20 each of which has a contacting portion 22 for electrically contacting a receptacle contact and a post or solder tail portion 24 extending from the side 16 for inserting into a plated through hole in the printed circuit board.
  • the housing 10 includes several openings 26 for receiving posts or solder tails 28 of a ground bus bar 30, the tails also extending from the side 16 for inserting into holes in the printed circuit board.
  • the plug connector 8 is arranged to mate with a receptacle connector 40, shown in Figure 2, having an insulating connector housing 42.
  • a plurality of signal receptacle contacts 44 are arranged in two parallel rows of cavities 46 which correspond to and are in alignment with the cavities 18 of the plug connector 8.
  • the receptacle connector 40 includes a receptacle bus bar 48 composed of two opposing halves 50 and 52 each of which has a plurality of solder tails 54.
  • the bus bar halves 50 and 52 are arranged in slots 56 disposed in the connector housing 42 so that the solder tails 54 extend out of one side 60 of the housing for insertion into plated through holes 58 disposed in a printed circuit board 59.
  • each of the signal receptacle contacts 44 includes a post or solder tail 45 that extends out of the side 60 for insertion into holes 62 and 64 disposed in the printed circuit board 59.
  • the printed circuit board 59 includes first and second major surfaces 61 and 63.
  • the through holes 62 intersect these major surfaces at upper and lower corners 65 and 67 respectively as seen in Figure 2.
  • the plug and receptacle connectors 8 and 40 please refer to US-A-4 762 500.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown in Figure 3, in cross section, the connectors 8 and 40 in mating engagement with the solder tails 45 inserted into position within the plated through holes 62 in the printed circuit board 59.
  • the connector housing 42 includes standoffs 69 that engage the first major surface 61 of the printed circuit board 59 and maintains the side 60 substantially parallel with the major surface 65.
  • the solder tails are soldered in place within the holes, however, the solder has been omitted from Figure 3 for clarity.
  • the receptacle connector 40 is shown in Figure 4 prior to insertion of the solder tails 45 fully into the holes 62. Note that the solder tails 45 and 54 are just entering their respective holes 62 and 58 but there is no mutual contact and the solder tails 45 are in their free form position.
  • the signal contact 44 includes a portion of the tail 45 that extends straight from the side 60 of the connector housing 42 and forms a first beam 70 which has a centerline 72 that extends downwardly through the printed circuit board 59, substantially normal thereto.
  • the tail 45 then bends in a first direction normal to the first beam and away from the tails 54 of the ground bus 48 thereby forming a second beam 74.
  • This second beam 74 is substantially parallel to the major surface 65.
  • the tail 45 then bends in a direction away from the side 60 to form a third beam 76 which is substantially normal to the second beam and is generally parallel to the first beam and terminates in a free end 78.
  • the third beam 76 includes a first bent portion 80 extending in a direction away from the side 60 and toward the extended centerline 72 to an apex 82.
  • a second bent portion 84 extends from the apex 82 in a direction away from both the side 60 and the extended centerline 72 to a terminal point 86 adjacent the free end 78.
  • a stiffener rib 88 may be optionally formed in a portion of the third beam 76, as shown in Figure 4, for a purpose that will be described below.
  • the first and second bent portions 80 and 84 and the apex 82 form a dent or kink in the third beam 76 which projects outwardly for a distance greater than the diameter of the hole 62 so that when the third beam is inserted into the hole 62, the first and second beams and the bent portions 80,84, apex 82, and the straight portions of the third beam must deform and straighten a slight amount.
  • This is shown in Figure 5 where the solder tails 45 and 54 have been inserted further into their respective holes 62 and 58.
  • the second bent portion 84 engages the upper corner 65 of one side of the hole causing the apex 82 to cam away from the centerline 72 so that the apex can enter the hole 62.
  • the lower corner 67 cams along the angled surface of the bent portion 84 causing a substantial downward force on the tail 76 which, in turn, causes the connector housing 42 to snap into place against the first major surface 61.
  • Tolerance buildup of the various parts of the connector 40 and printed circuit board 59 may preclude the lower corner 67 from camming along the free end 78 and onto the bent portion 84.
  • the standoffs 69 are in firm engagement with the first major surface 61 while the lower corner 67 is still in contact with the free end 78. Even in this case there is a substantial downward force imposed on the tail 76 causing the connector housing to snap into place.
  • the angle A between the second and third beams is slightly greater than that shown in Figure 5. All of the deforming and flexing of the first, second, and third beams occurs within their respective elastic limits so that there is no substantial permanent deformation. In the event that the connector 40 is lifted slightly from the board 59, the angle A will tend to become even larger because the second beam will try to pivot at its junction with both the first and third beams so that the third beam tends to further pivot counterclockwise about the apex 82 thereby causing the bent portion 84 to press more securely against the lower corner 67 thereby resisting further lifting of the connector.
  • the board 59 is placed on a flat, hard surface with the free ends 78 pointing down and in contact with the hard surface. The board 59 is then firmly pressed toward the hard surface thereby causing the free ends to move upwardly into the holes 62 until the apex 82 of each tail emerges from its hole 62.
  • the solder tail 78 in the present embodiment, is made of beryllium copper or some other suitable spring material, and is of substantially rectangular cross section having dimensions of about 0,018 cm by about 0.046 cm (about 0.007 inch by about 0.018 inch).
  • the stiffener rib 88 is formed in the third beam, as shown in the figures, for the purpose of increasing the force which urges the second bent portion 84 against the lower corner 67.
  • the kink comprising the first and second bent portions 80 and 84, the apex 82, and the optional stiffener 88 are formed in only selected ones of the solder tails 45.
  • the actual number of solder tails selected to receive kinks should correspond to the amount of retention force or connector hold down force desired in each particular case. In the present example of a 100 pin microstrip connector, three such solder tails were selected for kinks at the two ends of each row resulting in 12 solder tails having kinks. While the solder tails 28 of the plug connector 8 are shown without kinks, such kinks could be advantageously employed there in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.
  • solder tails of the connector may be inserted into the holes of a printed circuit board and the kinks formed in the tails will cause the connector to snap into place against the surface of the board. This giving a positive indication that the parts are properly mated. Additionally, the unique structure of the kink tends to resist inadvertent removal of the connector from the printed circuit board prior to soldering while permitting deliberate removal when desired without destroying the parts. Another important advantage is that retention forces are attainable that are much higher than those of similar prior art retention devices.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Combinaison d'un connecteur électrique (8, 40) du type comportant un corps (12) de connecteur et plusieurs broches (20) ayant chacune une queue (24) s'étendant vers l'extérieur d'un premier côté du corps (12) du connecteur pour un montage sur une plaquette (59) à circuits imprimés, et une plaquette (59) à circuits imprimés présentant des première et seconde surfaces principales parallèles et espacées (61, 63) et plusieurs trous traversants (64) s'étendant entre elles et intersectant ladite première surface (61) à un premier angle et ladite seconde surface à un second angle, ledit premier côté du corps (60) du connecteur étant sensiblement parallèle à ladite première surface principale (61) de ladite plaquette et en contact avec elle, au moins une paire de queues (45) étant destinées à être reçues dans une paire complémentaire desdits trous traversants (64), lesdites queues (45) étant formées d'une matière électriquement conductrice, lesdites queues (45) présentant plusieurs poutres (70, 74, 80, 84, 78) où une partie de chaque queue s'étend en ligne droite depuis ledit premier côté, formant ainsi une première poutre (70) ayant un axe central s'étendant perpendiculairement à ladite plaquette à circuits imprimés et la traversant, ladite partie de ladite queue (24) étant ensuite pliée dans une première direction perpendiculaire à ladite première poutre, formant ainsi une deuxième poutre (74) qui est sensiblement parallèle à ladite première surface principale de ladite plaquette et étant ensuite pliée dans une direction s'éloignant dudit premier côté, formant ainsi une troisième poutre (76) sensiblement perpendiculaire à ladite deuxième poutre et se terminant par une extrémité libre, caractérisée en ce que ladite matière conductrice comprend un métal à ressort durci ayant une limite élastique prédéterminée et l'extrémité de chacune des queues (45) de ladite paire de queues (45) est configurée de façon à présenter une configuration de retenue, et en ce que
       ladite troisième poutre (76) comprend une première partie pliée (80) s'étendant dans une direction s'éloignant dudit premier côté et vers l'axe central prolongé de ladite première poutre jusqu'à un sommet (82), et une seconde partie pliée (84) s'étendant depuis ledit sommet (82) dans une direction s'éloignant à la fois dudit premier côté et dudit axe central prolongé jusqu'à un point terminal adjacent à ladite extrémité libre (78) afin que ledit sommet (82) soit sollicité élastiquement contre un premier côté dudit trou traversant et qu'une autre partie de ladite poutre soit sollicitée élastiquement contre ledit second angle d'un côté opposé dudit trou traversant, grâce à quoi, lorsque la troisième poutre (76) est amenée à entrer dans son trou traversant correspondant (62), ledit sommet (82) formé par lesdites première et seconde parties pliées (80, 84) est déformé élastiquement d'une quantité inférieure à ladite limite élastique, lesdites poutres (70, 74, 80, 84, 78) étant de dimensions relatives telles que lesdites parties pliées serrent leur prise sur la plaquette (59) à circuits lors de l'application d'une force de soulèvement au connecteur (8, 40).
  2. Combinaison selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdites première, deuxième et troisième poutres (70, 74, 76) présentent des propriétés de ressorts qui permettent leur flexion pendant une insertion de la queue dans le trou traversant respectif (62) sans subir une déformation substantielle.
  3. Combinaison selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite autre partie de ladite troisième poutre est ladite seconde partie afin que ladite extrémité libre (78) s'étende au-delà de ladite seconde surface.
  4. Combinaison selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdites première et seconde parties pliées (80, 84) forment un angle avec ledit sommet (82) tel que, lorsque ladite queue (45) est insérée dans son trou traversant respectif, ladite troisième poutre (76) fléchisse afin que ledit angle soit plus grand et qu'une portion de ladite queue entre en prise de maintien avec ledit second angle.
  5. Combinaison selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite portion de ladite queue qui entre en prise de maintien est ladite seconde partie pliée (84).
  6. Combinaison selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que lesdites première et deuxième poutres (80, 84) forment un angle qui augmente et amène ainsi ladite troisième poutre (76) à tendre à pivoter autour dudit sommet (82) et à solliciter davantage ladite portion de ladite queue en prise de maintien avec ledit angle.
  7. Combinaison selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ladite troisième poutre (76) comprend une nervure (86) de raidissement formée le long d'une partie de sa longueur.
  8. Combinaison selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit métal à ressort est du cuivre au béryllium demi-dur.
EP92309772A 1991-12-13 1992-10-26 Connecteur avec dispositif de rétention Expired - Lifetime EP0546673B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80826791A 1991-12-13 1991-12-13
US808267 1991-12-13

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0546673A2 EP0546673A2 (fr) 1993-06-16
EP0546673A3 EP0546673A3 (en) 1993-12-08
EP0546673B1 true EP0546673B1 (fr) 1996-12-27

Family

ID=25198324

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92309772A Expired - Lifetime EP0546673B1 (fr) 1991-12-13 1992-10-26 Connecteur avec dispositif de rétention

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0546673B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2969314B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69216212T2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7247050B1 (en) 2006-10-24 2007-07-24 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Press-fit electrical contact
CN109586061A (zh) * 2018-10-23 2019-04-05 番禺得意精密电子工业有限公司 电连接器

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2763751B1 (fr) * 1997-05-26 2002-11-29 Proner Comatel Sa Contact electrique demontable, a pression
DE10152439B4 (de) * 2001-10-26 2014-11-27 Erni Electronics Gmbh Steckverbinder mit Kröpfung
EP1263091B1 (fr) * 2001-05-25 2005-12-21 Erni Elektroapparate Gmbh Connecteur tournable à 90 deg
US6974337B2 (en) * 2002-07-30 2005-12-13 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connector and contact for use therein
GB2417371B (en) * 2002-10-21 2007-04-11 Hubbell Inc High performance jack for telecommunication applications
US6796847B2 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-09-28 Hubbell Incorporated Electrical connector for telecommunications applications
JP6249643B2 (ja) * 2013-06-14 2017-12-20 宏致電子股▲ふん▼有限公司Ａｃｅｓ Ｅｌｅｃｔｒｏｎｉｃｓ Ｃｏ．，Ｌｔｄ． 電気コネクタ
JP6301297B2 (ja) * 2015-09-17 2018-03-28 Ckd株式会社 給電装置、及びそれを備えた電磁弁

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3989331A (en) * 1974-08-21 1976-11-02 Augat, Inc. Dual-in-line socket
US4575167A (en) * 1984-04-02 1986-03-11 Minter Jerry B Electrical connector for printed circuit boards and the like
CA1282847C (fr) * 1986-03-05 1991-04-09 Ray C. Doutrich Connecteur electrique a cale-broches
US4762500A (en) * 1986-12-04 1988-08-09 Amp Incorporated Impedance matched electrical connector
US4907978A (en) * 1988-11-02 1990-03-13 Robinson Nugent, Inc. Self-retaining connector

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7247050B1 (en) 2006-10-24 2007-07-24 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Press-fit electrical contact
CN109586061A (zh) * 2018-10-23 2019-04-05 番禺得意精密电子工业有限公司 电连接器
CN109586061B (zh) * 2018-10-23 2021-04-23 番禺得意精密电子工业有限公司 电连接器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2969314B2 (ja) 1999-11-02
DE69216212D1 (de) 1997-02-06
DE69216212T2 (de) 1997-05-07
EP0546673A2 (fr) 1993-06-16
EP0546673A3 (en) 1993-12-08
JPH05251119A (ja) 1993-09-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0411888B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique
US5383792A (en) Insertable latch means for use in an electrical connector
EP0510995B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique avec bornes fiables
US6234827B1 (en) Electrical connector shield with dual function of mechanical locking and electrical shielding continuety
EP0280449B1 (fr) Connecteur de surface
US4708415A (en) Electrical connectors
EP0543278B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique à profile bas
US5647755A (en) Electrical connector
EP0651471B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique pourvu de barres omnibus assurant rétention sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé
EP0384580A1 (fr) Contact HDI pour montage en surface
EP0305597B1 (fr) Contacts fabriqués en bande
EP0931366A1 (fr) Connecteur extra-plat
EP0487866B1 (fr) Dispositif connecteur électrique pour assemblage sur plaquette de circuits imprimés
KR100669296B1 (ko) 가압 접촉부를 갖는 전기 커넥터
US5409399A (en) Electrical connection assembly for mounting on a printed circuit board
EP0717468A2 (fr) Connecteur interrompant d'abord les contacts polaires et après le contact à la terre
EP0546673B1 (fr) Connecteur avec dispositif de rétention
US6793541B2 (en) Circuit board connector with improved terminal tails
EP0542068B1 (fr) Contact électrique femelle
US5445529A (en) Connector apparatus
EP0079665B1 (fr) Boîtier de connecteur
US5151046A (en) Electrical terminal which has overstress protection
WO1988005612A1 (fr) Prise pour plaquette de circuit a haute densite
US5147214A (en) Electrical terminal which has overstress protection
US4662694A (en) Resilient beam electrical terminal

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: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT 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): DE FR GB IT NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940519

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19950522

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL SE

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

Ref document number: 69216212

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19970206

ET Fr: translation filed
ET Fr: translation filed

Free format text: CORRECTIONS

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: NL

Payment date: 19980914

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19981007

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19991030

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: 20000501

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 92309772.9

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

Effective date: 20000501

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20000918

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: 20001009

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: 20001030

Year of fee payment: 9

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: 20011026

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

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

Effective date: 20011026

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: 20020628

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: 20020702

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: IT

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

Effective date: 20051026