EP0597606B1 - Conditionnement pour boissons - Google Patents

Conditionnement pour boissons Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0597606B1
EP0597606B1 EP93308516A EP93308516A EP0597606B1 EP 0597606 B1 EP0597606 B1 EP 0597606B1 EP 93308516 A EP93308516 A EP 93308516A EP 93308516 A EP93308516 A EP 93308516A EP 0597606 B1 EP0597606 B1 EP 0597606B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
beverage
gas
primary chamber
chamber
package
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
EP93308516A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0597606A1 (fr
Inventor
Alan James Forage
Robert Purdham
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.)
Guinness Brewing Worldwide Ltd
Original Assignee
Guinness Brewing Worldwide 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 Guinness Brewing Worldwide Ltd filed Critical Guinness Brewing Worldwide Ltd
Publication of EP0597606A1 publication Critical patent/EP0597606A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0597606B1 publication Critical patent/EP0597606B1/fr
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
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
    • B65D85/73—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a beverage package and a method of forming such a package. More particularly it concerns beverages containing gas, such as carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen, in solution and packaged in a sealed container which, when opened for dispensing or consumption, causes gas to be evolved or liberated from the beverage to form, or assist in the formation of, a head of froth on the beverage.
  • the beverages to which the invention relates may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic; primarily the invention was developed for fermented beverages such as ale, lager, stout or other beer and cider but may be applied with advantage to so-called soft drinks and beverages, or alcoholic drinks such as spirits, liquers, wine and the like.
  • Beverage packages which comprise a sealed container having a primary chamber containing the beverage having gas in solution and forming a primary headspace comprising gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and in which a secondary chamber containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric has a restricted orifice which communicates with the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • the primary headspace is opened to atmospheric pressure and this creates a pressure differential within the container which causes gas in the secondary chamber to be ejected by way of the restricted orifice into the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • the ejection of the gas from the secondary chamber and through the restricted orifice causes gas in solution in the beverage to be evolved for froth formation.
  • An example of a beverage package having the latter characteristics is disclosed in our British Patent No. 1,266,351 (where the gas ejection from the secondary chamber may be through a non-return valve).
  • the restricted orifice is located at or towards the bottom of the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • gas in solution is initially evolved in the region of the beverage which is local to the restricted orifice and this evolution of gas develops or grows rapidly to rise or surge throughout the volume of beverage in the primary chamber to develop a head of froth which is retained when the beverage is dispensed from the container.
  • carbon dioxide in solution with or without nitrogen gas in solution
  • a beverage package by which the aforementioned desirable sparkle may be retained is the subject of our European Patent EP-A-0 520 602 (having an earlier priority date but a later publication date than the priority date of the present Application) in which the secondary chamber has extending upwardly therefrom a tube within the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • the tube is arranged so that, on opening the package, gas and/or beverage is ejected from the secondary chamber into beverage in the tube causing gas in solution to be evolved from that beverage in the tube to form froth on the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • the tube serves, in effect, to restrict the volume of beverage in the package from which gas is evolved upon opening of the package to what is, usually, a minor proportion of the total volume of such beverage whilst after the opening gas can continue to evolve from the remaining proportion of the volume of beverage to provide the required "sparkle".
  • a beverage package comprising a sealed container having a primary chamber containing beverage having gas in solution therewith and forming a headspace comprising gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric; a secondary chamber formed by a hollow insert located in the primary chamber at or towards the bottom of the primary chamber and containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric for communication with beverage in the primary chamber by way of an aperture and an upwardly extending tubular extension carried by the insert, the package being openable to open the primary chamber to atmospheric pressure and said opening creating a pressure differential causing gas under pressure from the secondary chamber to be introduced by way of the aperture into the beverage in the primary chamber for said introduction to liberate gas from solution in the beverage to form froth in the primary headspace and wherein said liberation of gas is restricted to a minor proportion of the volume of beverage in the primary chamber; the insert comprises a base part located at or towards the bottom of the primary chamber and the tubular extension is carried by the base part, said base part and tubular extension together forming the secondary chamber; the aperture is located on the tubular
  • Beverage packages are well known, for example as disclosed in our British Patent No. 1,266,351, in which in response to a pressure differential developed on opening of the package, gas under pressure from a secondary chamber is injected into beverage in the primary chamber for the purpose of liberating gas from solution in beverage in the primary chamber.
  • This ejection is effected from the secondary chamber through an aperture and in the prior proposals such aperture is located at or towards the bottom of the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • high energy from the gas injection liberates gas from solution in the beverage initially in the region of the aperture and this seeds the further liberation of gas from the beverage so that a surge of gas bubbles develops and grows rapidly to rise, predominantly, throughout the volume of beverage in the primary chamber.
  • the aperture is located in the beverage in the primary chamber nearer to the surface of that beverage than to the bottom of the beverage and as a consequence the aforementioned liberation of gas from solution in the beverage by the rising surge of gas bubbles from the aperture restricts the gas liberation to a minor proportion of the volume of beverage in the container.
  • the minor proportion of beverage from which gas is liberated will be less than 30% of the total volume of beverage within the container.
  • the result of such restricted gas liberation is that a major proportion of the volume of beverage in the container will retain gas in solution - this is particularly so for carbon dioxide. Therefore when the beverage is dispensed from the container into a drinking glass for consumption, gas may continue to evolve from solution to maintain "sparkle" and other characteristics considered desirable for the beverage product.
  • the insert will be formed of plastics.
  • the base part of the insert is located within the container through an open top thereof during formation of the beverage package and subsequently the extension part can be fitted and sealed to the base part within the primary chamber.
  • the aperture of the insert is likely to be restricted sufficiently to alleviate flow of beverage from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber when the contents of the sealed package are in equilibrium.
  • the aperture has a non-return valve associated therewith which restrains entry of beverage into the secondary chamber and which is responsive to the pressure differential (developed when the package is opened to open the primary headspace to atmospheric pressure) to permit the injection of gas under pressure from the secondary chamber into the upper region of beverage in the primary chamber for froth development.
  • the latter form of insert may be received within an open topped container during formation of the package with the aperture closed so that the secondary chamber is sealed and contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric; following charging of the container with its beverage and subsequent sealing of the container, the sealed package may be processed (for example as a result of the package being heated for pasteurising the beverage, so that the structure of the insert is modified, for example by thermal distortion of plastics material from which the insert is formed) to ensure that when the sealed package is opened and the pressure differential applied, communication is effected, possibly by way of a known non-return valve in the insert, between the secondary chamber and the beverage in the primary chamber.
  • the beverage package illustrated comprises a conventional form of container such as a light metal can 1 having an externally concave circular base 2 on which the package will normally stand, a cylindrical side wall 3 and a circular top 4 which will usually be seamed to the side wall 3 to seal the container.
  • the top 4 will be openable, typically by a ring pull, displaceable tab or other conventional means for the purpose of dispensing beverage contents of the container.
  • the beverage for the package may be considered as a light beer or lager having in solution a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases, typically the carbon dioxide content will be 1.25 to 6.0 gramms per litre and the nitrogen gas content will be 3% to 5% vols./vol.
  • the term "vols./vol.” is well known in the art but a definition of it may be found in our British Patent No. 1,588,624.
  • the container 1 forms a primary chamber 5 and prior to fitting and sealing the top 4 and with the container in an upstanding condition, an insert 6 is inserted into the primary chamber through the open top of the container and located on the base 2 at the bottom of the primary chamber 5.
  • the insert 6 is conveniently assembled from plastics mouldings to have a hollow generally cylindrical drum part 7 from which extend diametrically opposed flanges 8 and a tubular extension part 9 which projects upwardly from the drum part 7 towards the open top of the container.
  • the insert 6 is fitted within the container so that the flanges 8 frictionally engage with the cylindrical side walls 3 to retain the insert at the bottom of the primary chamber.
  • alternative means of retaining the insert 6 at the bottom of the container may be provided, for example by suction or magnetically.
  • the hollow drum part 7 and extension part 9 of the insert form a secondary chamber 10 which is to communicate with the primary chamber 5 by way of an aperture or port 11 at the upper end of the extension part 9.
  • the secondary chamber 10 contains gas, usually nitrogen, at a pressure greater than atmospheric. Pressurisation of the secondary chamber 10 may be effected in either of two ways as will be discussed hereinafter.
  • the primary chamber 5 is charged with the beverage 20 containing gas in solution and thereafter the container is closed and sealed by the top 4 so that a primary headspace 21 in the primary chamber of the container is at a pressure greater than atmospheric. Pressurisation of the headspace 21 may be achieved in conventional manner, for example by dosing the primary chamber with liquid nitrogen immediately prior to the top 4 being fitted and sealed.
  • the aperture 11 is submerged in the beverage 5 and is located much nearer to the surface 22 of the beverage than it is to the bottom of the primary chamber 5; in practice the aperture 11 is likely to be submerged to a depth at which approximately 10% to 20% of the volume of beverage 20 in the primary chamber is located above that aperture.
  • the primary headspace 21 is opened to atmospheric pressure and rapidly depressurises.
  • a pressure differential is developed whereby the pressure of gas in the secondary chamber 22 exceeds the pressure in the headspace 21.
  • gas is liberated from solution in the beverage 20 to provide a surge of gas bubbles which develops, predominantly, throughout the beverage 20 above the aperture 11 and rises to develop froth in the headspace 21.
  • Gas under pressure may be provided in the secondary chamber 10 where that secondary chamber is in constant communication by way of the aperture 11 with the primary chamber 5 by locating and maintaining the insert 6 in the open topped container in a gas environment where the pressure is greater than atmospheric and this environment is maintained to pressurise the secondary chamber during charging of the primary chamber with beverage and sealing the open top of the container.
  • the aperture 11 should form a restriction which ensures that any beer which may flow from the primary chamber through the restricted aperture 11 into the secondary chamber 10 (during charging of the container with beverage, during the period in which the contents of the sealed package come into equilibrium, and during general handling and storage of the sealed package) is negligible.
  • the insert 6 may, for ease of mechanical handling, be assembled within the open topped container by first fitting the base part 7 of the insert within the container and subsequently fitting and sealing the extension part 9 to the base part 7 within the container.
  • the insert 6 as received by the primary chamber 5 may have its secondary chamber 10 sealed and containing gas, typically nitrogen gas, at a pressure greater than atmospheric.
  • the port 11 will initially be closed but arranged to open, following charging of the primary chamber 5 with beer 20 and subsequent pressurisation of the headspace 21 and sealing of the container with the top 4, by appropriate processing of the sealed package.
  • the sealed package may be subjected to heat during pasteurisation of the beverage 20 and such heat may cause a change in the characteristics of the plastics material of the extension part 9 which results in automatic opening of the port 11.
  • the characteristics of the plastics insert 6 change to the extent that the free end of the projection 30 co-operates with the port 11 to form a non-return valve which is responsive to the pressure differential developed between the pressure of gas in the secondary chamber 10 and that in the headspace 21 (when the top 4 is opened to open the headspace to atmospheric pressure).
  • the non-return valve presented by the projection 30 and port 11 normally restrains beer from entering the secondary chamber 10 through the port 11.
  • the plastics material of the extension part 9 may flex in response to the pressure differential that is developed and relative to the projection 30 so that gas under pressure is injected from the secondary chamber 10 through the port 11 into the upper region of the beer 20 in the primary chamber 5 for froth development.
  • the aperture 11 is shown as being directed towards the surface 22 of the beer 20 it will be appreciated that this aperture may be arranged to provide the gas injection into the beer in any direction as preferred and probably depending upon the depth at which the port 11 is submerged within the beer 5, for example where the aperture 11 is located immediately below the surface 22 of the beer 20 it is likely that the port 11 will be arranged to inject gas towards the cylindrical side wall of the container or even downwardly into the beverage to alleviate loss of energy from the gas injection into the headspace 21.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Distillation Of Fermentation Liquor, Processing Of Alcohols, Vinegar And Beer (AREA)
  • Tea And Coffee (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Emballage pour boisson comprenant un récipient scellé (1) ayant une chambre primaire (5) contenant une boisson (20) ayant du gaz en solution dans celle-ci et formant un espace de tête (21) contenant du gaz à une pression supérieure à la pression atmosphérique ; une chambre secondaire (10) formée par une pièce d'insertion creuse (6) placée dans la chambre primaire (5) à l'endroit ou près du fond (2) de cette chambre primaire (5) et contenant du gaz à une pression supérieure à la pression atmosphérique pour communiquer avec la boisson (20) contenue dans la chambre primaire (5), par une ouverture (11) et une extension tubulaire s'étendant vers le haut (9), portée par la pièce d'insertion (6), l'emballage pouvant être ouvert pour ouvrir la chambre primaire (5) à la pression atmosphérique, et cette ouverture créant une différence de pression amenant le gaz sous pression provenant de la chambre secondaire (10) à être introduit, par l'ouverture (11), dans la boisson (20) contenue dans la chambre primaire (5), de façon que cette introduction libère le gaz de la solution dans la boisson (20) pour former de la mousser dans l'espace de tête primaire (21), et cette libération de gaz étant restreinte à une moindre proportion du volume de boisson (20) dans la chambre primaire (5),
    dans lequel
    la pièce d'insertion (6) comprend une partie de base (7) placée à l'endroit ou près du fond (2) de la chambre primaire (5), et l'extension tubulaire (9) est portée par la partie de base (7), cette partie de base (7) et l'extension tubulaire (9) formant ensemble la chambre secondaire (10), tandis que l'ouverture (11) est placée sur l'extension tubulaire (9) dans la boisson (20), dans une position plus proche de la surface de la boisson (20) que du fond (2) de la boisson (20) dans la chambre primaire (5), de façon que cette libération du gaz soit restreinte à la boisson (20) contenue dans la chambre primaire en étant disposée à une moindre profondeur de la boisson par rapport à la surface de celle-ci.
  2. Emballage selon la revendication 1,
    dans lequel
    la proportion minimum de boisson (20) est inférieure à 30 % de la boisson contenue dans la chambre primaire (5).
  3. Emballage selon la revendication 2,
    dans lequel
    la proportion minimum de boisson (20) est inférieure à 20 % de la boisson contenue dans la chambre primaire.
  4. Emballage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
    dans lequel
    l'ouverture (11) comporte un clapet anti-retour (30) associé à celle-ci pour restreindre l'entrée de la boisson (20) dans la chambre secondaire (10) en passant à travers l'ouverture (11), et la soupape (30) répond à la différence de pression pour permettre l'injection de gaz sous pression de la chambre secondaire (10) dans la boisson (20) contenue dans la chambre primaire (5).
  5. Emballage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
    dans lequel
    l'ouverture (11) est disposée de manière à diriger l'injection du gaz à partir de la chambre secondaire (10) de façon que cette injection soit dirigée vers le haut dans la boisson (20) contenue dans la chambre primaire (5).
EP93308516A 1992-11-10 1993-10-26 Conditionnement pour boissons Expired - Lifetime EP0597606B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9223516A GB2272199B (en) 1992-11-10 1992-11-10 A beverage package
GB9223516 1992-11-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0597606A1 EP0597606A1 (fr) 1994-05-18
EP0597606B1 true EP0597606B1 (fr) 1997-01-08

Family

ID=10724816

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93308516A Expired - Lifetime EP0597606B1 (fr) 1992-11-10 1993-10-26 Conditionnement pour boissons

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0597606B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3260940B2 (fr)
AT (1) ATE147355T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU670632B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2102037C (fr)
DE (1) DE69307279T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK0597606T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2098679T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2272199B (fr)
NZ (1) NZ250143A (fr)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9312677D0 (en) * 1993-06-18 1993-08-04 Pyxis Limited Beverage container and method of producting a filled beverage container
GB9421142D0 (en) * 1994-10-20 1994-12-07 Scottish & Newcastle Plc Method and apparatus for enhancing a beverage head
US6074217A (en) * 1995-05-25 2000-06-13 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Coaxial connector receptacle
GB2321062B (en) * 1997-01-13 1998-12-16 Matthew Clark Polysaccharide-containing, foaming beverage
EP1055614A1 (fr) * 1999-05-18 2000-11-29 Whitbread Plc Récipient à boisson
US7228789B1 (en) 1999-05-18 2007-06-12 Whitbread Plc Beverage container
DE10258791B4 (de) 2002-12-16 2007-03-22 Ball Packaging Europe Gmbh Flüssigkeitsbehälter-Einsatz mit zeitdeterminierter Positionierung in einer unter Gasdruck stehenden Flüssigkeit
EP1614638A1 (fr) 2004-07-09 2006-01-11 Ball Packaging Europe GmbH Insert multichambre pour un conteneur à liquide
US20150118348A1 (en) 2013-10-28 2015-04-30 Bryce Bunkers Carbonated beverage nucleation accessory
EP2947026A1 (fr) 2014-05-20 2015-11-25 Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A. Système de rétention et de libération, récipient de boisson avec un tel système, fermeture avec un tel système et méthode pour améliorer l'aspect visuel d'une boisson
DE102018110764A1 (de) * 2018-05-04 2019-11-07 Ardagh Metal Beverage Holdings Gmbh & Co. Kg Getränkebehälter

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1266351A (fr) * 1969-01-27 1972-03-08
GB2183592B (en) * 1985-11-29 1989-10-04 Guinness Son & Co Ltd A A beverage package and a method of packaging a beverage containing gas in solution
GB8915532D0 (en) * 1989-07-06 1989-08-23 Whitbread & Co Plc Beverage container and method of filling it
IE70665B1 (en) * 1989-11-22 1996-12-11 Whitbread & Co Plc Carbonated beverage container
GB2257107B (en) * 1991-06-25 1994-12-07 Guinness Brewing Worldwide A beverage package

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2272199B (en) 1996-03-13
CA2102037A1 (fr) 1994-05-11
JPH06211248A (ja) 1994-08-02
ES2098679T3 (es) 1997-05-01
DK0597606T3 (fr) 1997-03-17
JP3260940B2 (ja) 2002-02-25
EP0597606A1 (fr) 1994-05-18
CA2102037C (fr) 2003-09-23
DE69307279T2 (de) 1997-08-14
AU5042493A (en) 1994-05-26
GB9223516D0 (en) 1992-12-23
ATE147355T1 (de) 1997-01-15
AU670632B2 (en) 1996-07-25
NZ250143A (en) 1994-12-22
GB2272199A (en) 1994-05-11
DE69307279D1 (de) 1997-02-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU661160B2 (en) A beverage package and a method of packaging a beverage
EP0520602B1 (fr) Récipient pour boissons
EP0597607B1 (fr) Emballage pour boisson
JP3325292B2 (ja) 飲料用パッケージ及びパッケージの形成方法
EP0597606B1 (fr) Conditionnement pour boissons
US5863577A (en) Pressurized beverage package with an interior compartment for the production of foam on opening of the package, and a method of forming such a package
EP0597608B1 (fr) Emballage pour boisson
EP0597605B1 (fr) Emballage pour boisson et procédé de confection d'un tel emballage

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 BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: GUINNESS BREWING WORLDWIDE LIMITED

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940728

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19951011

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): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

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

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19970108

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;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: 19970108

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: 19970108

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19970108

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19970108

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 147355

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19970115

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

ET Fr: translation filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69307279

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19970220

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: 71443

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

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

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19970408

Ref country code: PT

Effective date: 19970408

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2098679

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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: LU

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

Effective date: 19971026

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

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 19980430

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: FR

Payment date: 20021008

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20021014

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20021023

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20021029

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20021031

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20021031

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20021031

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20021219

Year of fee payment: 10

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: 20031026

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

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20031027

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20031027

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

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20031031

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *GUINNESS BREWING WORLDWIDE LTD

Effective date: 20031031

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

Ref country code: DK

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

Effective date: 20040430

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: 20040501

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20040501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

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

Effective date: 20031026

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: 20040630

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

Effective date: 20040501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20031027