EP0699591B1 - Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière - Google Patents

Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0699591B1
EP0699591B1 EP95630087A EP95630087A EP0699591B1 EP 0699591 B1 EP0699591 B1 EP 0699591B1 EP 95630087 A EP95630087 A EP 95630087A EP 95630087 A EP95630087 A EP 95630087A EP 0699591 B1 EP0699591 B1 EP 0699591B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
primary
container
hinge
resilient piece
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
EP95630087A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0699591A3 (fr
EP0699591A2 (fr
Inventor
Yukio c/o Nifco Inc. Ojima
Yasutomo C/O Nifco Inc. Kobayashii
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.)
Nifco Inc
Original Assignee
Nifco Inc
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 JP20425594A external-priority patent/JP3229132B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP20425494A external-priority patent/JP3229131B2/ja
Application filed by Nifco Inc filed Critical Nifco Inc
Priority to EP97202574A priority Critical patent/EP0819615A1/fr
Publication of EP0699591A2 publication Critical patent/EP0699591A2/fr
Publication of EP0699591A3 publication Critical patent/EP0699591A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0699591B1 publication Critical patent/EP0699591B1/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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
    • B65D47/0809—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage and elastically biased towards both the open and the closed positions
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/10—Details of hinged closures
    • B65D2251/1066—Actuating means

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a container cap according to the precharacterizing portion of claim 1.
  • the present invention relates to a cap adapted to be fitted on an opening of a container for foods, drugs and cosmetics, and in particular to a cap having a secondary cap hinged to a primary cap via a reversible hinge which reverses the resilient urging force thereof from an opening direction to a closing direction or vice versa depending on the angular position of the cap.
  • a cap made of synthetic resin material is often fitted on an opening of a container for foods, drugs and cosmetics.
  • the cap often consists of a primary cap having a outlet opening at a top wall thereof, and a secondary cap adapted to close this outlet opening.
  • Japanese utility model publication (kokai) No. 1-66355 discloses a container cap including a primary cap 1 and a secondary cap 2 which are joined together by a pair of flexible hinge strips 3a having a reduced thickness, and also by a resilient piece 3b so that the direction of the biasing force of the resilient piece may be reversed from the closing direction to the opening direction and vice versa depending on the angular position of the secondary cap.
  • This utility model publication also discloses a plate member 4 which is slidably guided on a top surface of the primary cap and provided with a tapered surface 5, and allows the secondary cap to be opened up with a single hand by pushing the plate member which in turn pushes up the secondary cap with its tapered surface and pushes the inner surface of the resilient piece 3b with a free end 6 thereof.
  • the CH-A-683 833 discloses a container cap as in the preamble of claim 1, comprising a primary cap provided with an outlet opening and a secondary cap attached to the primary cap with a hinge.
  • the container cap also comprises a resilient piece molded with the secondary cap and attached to the primary cap.
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide a container cap including a primary cap and a secondary cap joined by a reversible hinge which minimizes the part of the hinge showing on the exterior of the container and having no pronounced external protrusions.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide a container cap including a primary cap and a secondary cap joined by a reversible hinge which can be opened up with a single hand, and can be made from a small number of component parts.
  • a third object of the present invention is to provide a container cap including a primary cap and a secondary cap joined by a reversible hinge which is convenient to use and easy to fabricate.
  • the container cap of the present invention is defined in the characterizing portion of claim 1.
  • a container cap integrally molded from synthetic resin material, comprising: a primary cap adapted to be fitted on an opening of a container, and provided with an outlet opening in a top wall thereof; and a secondary cap attached to the primary cap with hinge means, and provided with a plug member adapted to be closely fitted into the outlet opening of the primary cap;
  • the hinge means comprising a thin strip integrally molded with a top end of the primary cap and a bottom end of the secondary cap, and a resilient piece integrally molded with one of the primary cap and the secondary cap and attached to the other of the primary cap and the secondary cap, in each case, at a point slightly more inwardly than the thin strip, the resilient piece being configured as a reversible hinge which reverses a direction of a biasing force thereof at a certain critical opening angle of the secondary cap.
  • the hinge means may consist of an integrally molded single thin strip for connecting the primary cap to the secondary cap, and the resilient piece may be hidden inside the thin strip, the externally exposed portions of the hinge means can be minimized, and the resilient piece can be totally concealed.
  • the resilient piece has a somewhat complex shape, and makes a relatively large flexing movement, the concealment of the resilient piece is highly effective in improving the external appearance of the hinge means. Because only one end of the resilient piece is integrally molded with the cap, the molding process is kept easy. The free end of the resilient piece can be readily attached to the primary cap or the secondary cap, as the case may be, by snap fitting it into a slit formed in the associated part.
  • the primary cap is generally cylindrical in shape, and the thin strip joins an upper axial end of a side wall of the primary cap with an associated lower peripheral portion of the secondary cap.
  • the resilient piece is provided with a pair of thinned portions provided adjacent to the primary cap and the secondary cap, respectively.
  • the secondary cap may be provided with a finger catch on a side wall diagonally opposite to the hinge means.
  • FIGS 1 to 3 show the container cap according to the present invention.
  • This cap 1 is injection molded in its developed or unfolded condition as illustrated in Figure 1 and 2, and comprises a primary cap 2 which is generally cylindrical and cup-shaped and adapted to be fitted onto an opening of a container main body (not shown in the drawings) and a secondary cap 6 having a plug member 5 projecting from an inner surface thereof for closing an outlet opening 4 provided in a top wall 3 of the primary cap 2.
  • the cap 1 is integrally molded from highly resilient synthetic resin material such as polypropylene. More specifically, these two parts 2 and 6 are joined together by a thin and flexible hinge portion 7 at axial end portions of the circumferential walls thereof.
  • a part of the inner surface of the secondary cap 6 radially adjacent to the plug member 5 is integrally provided with a resilient piece 8 for producing a reversible elastic force.
  • This resilient piece 8 is provided with one end which is connected to the inner surface of the top wall 9 of the secondary cap 6 via a thinned hinge portion 10 and another end which forms an engagement piece 13 provided with a thinned hinge portion 12 so as to be flexible and adapted to be connected to the primary cap 2 by being fit into a slit 11 provided in a part of the secondary cap 2 radially and inwardly adjacent to the hinge portion 7.
  • the secondary cap 6 in the unfolded state is raised to an angle approximately equal to 90 degrees, and the tip of the engagement piece 13 is fitted into the slit 11. Because the tip of the engagement piece 13 is somewhat enlarged, once the engagement piece 13 is fully fitted into the slit 11, the tip of the engagement piece 13 is snap fitted and engaged by the inner edge of the slit 11, and is kept engaged therein. In this condition, the primary cap 2 is fitted onto the opening of the container main body in advance.
  • the resilient strip 8 is slightly curved in its natural state, and is deflected into the shape of letter-U when the secondary cap 6 is turned in the closing direction.
  • the resilient strip 8 When the resilient strip 8 is thus deflected, it produces an elastic force tending to restore itself to a straight condition, and can reverse the direction of its biasing force from the closing direction to the opening direction and vice versa at a certain critical angle (Figure 3).
  • the plug member 5 When the secondary cap 6 is closed and the tip of the plug member 5 projecting from the inner surface of the secondary cap 6 is fitted into the outlet opening 4 of the primary cap 2, the plug member 5 is kept engaged in the outlet opening 4 in a liquid tight condition by virtue of its own resiliency because the tip of the plug member 5 is slightly oversized as compared to the inner diameter of the outlet opening 4. Furthermore, the outlet opening 4 is defined by an annular lip which is designed to be highly resilient, and the inner bore is countersunk from both inside and outside.
  • the secondary cap 6 can be opened by pushing up a finger catch 14 projecting from a open end of the secondary cap 6. Once the secondary cap 6 is opened and the plug member 5 is removed from the outlet opening 4, the secondary cap 6 is opened to an angle suitable for dispensing liquid from the outlet opening 4 by the reversible hinge formed by the resilient piece 8 and the hinge portion 7.
  • the externally exposed part of the hinge portion is minimized, and the external projections are totally eliminated. Also, the handling of the cap of this type and the external appearance can be substantially improved. Furthermore, these advantages are provided without increasing the number of component parts or complicating the structure.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Une fermeture de conteneur (1) moulé en une seule pièce à partir d'une matière de résine synthétique, comprenant:
    un capuchon primaire (2) adapté pour être ajusté sur une ouverture d'un conteneur, et pourvu d'une ouverture de sortie (4) dans une paroi supérieure (3), et
    un capuchon secondaire (6) attaché à ce capuchon primaire (2) au moyen d'une charnière (7)
    cette charnière (7) comprenant une mince bande moulée de façon intégrante avec une extrémité supérieure de ce capuchon primaire (2) et une extrémité inférieure de ce capuchon secondaire (6), et une pièce élastique (8) moulée de façon intégrante avec soit ce capuchon primaire (2) soit ce capuchon secondaire (6) cette pièce élastique étant configurée sous forme d'une charnière réversible qui inverse une direction de force précontrainte à un certain angle d'ouverture critique de ce capuchon secondaire (6),
    caractérisée en ce que:
    ce capuchon secondaire (6) est pourvu d'un élément obturateur (5) adapté pour être ajusté étroitement dans cette ouverture de sortie (4) de ce capuchon primaire; et
    cette pièce élastique (8) est attachée à l'autre de ces capuchons primaire (2) et secondaire (6), dans chaque cas, a un endroit légèrement plus à l'intérieur de cette bande mince, en étant encliquetée dans une fente (11) formée dans celle-ci.
  2. Une fermeture de conteneur (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ce capuchon primaire (2) a une forme généralement cylindrique, et cette mince bande relie une extrémité axiale supérieure d'une paroi latérale de ce capuchon primaire (2) à une partie périphérique inférieure associée de ce capuchon secondaire (6).
  3. Une fermeture de conteneur (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que cette pièce élastique (8) est pourvue d'une paire de parties amincies (10,12) prévue adjacent à ce capuchon primaire (2) et ce capuchon secondaire (6), respectivement.
  4. Une fermeture de conteneur (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ce capuchon secondaire est pourvu d'un cran (14) pour le doigt sur une paroi latérale diagonalement à l'opposé de cette charnière (7).
EP95630087A 1994-08-05 1995-07-27 Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière Expired - Lifetime EP0699591B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97202574A EP0819615A1 (fr) 1994-08-05 1995-07-27 Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP204254/94 1994-08-05
JP20425594A JP3229132B2 (ja) 1994-08-05 1994-08-05 容器用キャップ
JP204255/94 1994-08-05
JP20425494A JP3229131B2 (ja) 1994-08-05 1994-08-05 容器用キャップ

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97202574A Division EP0819615A1 (fr) 1994-08-05 1995-07-27 Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0699591A2 EP0699591A2 (fr) 1996-03-06
EP0699591A3 EP0699591A3 (fr) 1996-06-26
EP0699591B1 true EP0699591B1 (fr) 1998-10-21

Family

ID=26514368

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95630087A Expired - Lifetime EP0699591B1 (fr) 1994-08-05 1995-07-27 Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière
EP97202574A Ceased EP0819615A1 (fr) 1994-08-05 1995-07-27 Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97202574A Ceased EP0819615A1 (fr) 1994-08-05 1995-07-27 Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0699591B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE172422T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69505474T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2123935T3 (fr)
TW (1) TW276239B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1036743A1 (fr) 1999-03-16 2000-09-20 L'oreal Fermeture articulé monopièce
US6474493B1 (en) 1998-11-16 2002-11-05 L'oreal Assembly articulated by a hinge with assisted opening/closing
US7907897B2 (en) 2003-06-25 2011-03-15 Nxp B.V. Data carrier with modification means for modifying the load period

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6253938B1 (en) 1998-09-25 2001-07-03 Colgate-Palmolive Company Indirectly activated closure
JP4159235B2 (ja) * 2000-09-04 2008-10-01 エム・エフ・ヴィ株式会社 ヒンジキャップ
JP3848201B2 (ja) 2002-03-18 2006-11-22 株式会社エルメックス 拭き取り検査キット
FR2849429B1 (fr) * 2002-12-31 2005-05-27 Plastohm Sa Bouchon de fermeture d'un flacon, a ouverture controlee
US8006853B2 (en) 2005-05-09 2011-08-30 L'oreal Closure cap and a receptacle fitted therewith
WO2007051047A1 (fr) * 2005-10-28 2007-05-03 The Procter & Gamble Company Bouchon distributeur pour contenants
EP1780141A1 (fr) * 2005-10-28 2007-05-02 The Procter and Gamble Company Bouchon distributeur pour récipients
US8434639B2 (en) * 2006-06-19 2013-05-07 C & N Packaging, Inc. One piece, push button, flip top closure
US8540121B2 (en) 2009-07-07 2013-09-24 Aptargroup, Inc. Dispensing actuator with flip-open lid
DE102011112615A1 (de) * 2011-09-08 2013-03-14 Krallmann Kunststoffverarbeitung Gmbh Klappdeckelverschluss

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0615844Y2 (ja) * 1987-10-21 1994-04-27 株式会社吉野工業所 ヒンジ付きキャップ
AU611898B2 (en) * 1988-05-03 1991-06-27 Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. Container with elastically reversible hinge
CH683833A5 (de) * 1991-11-05 1994-05-31 Createchnic Ag Schnappscharnier.
FR2685294B1 (fr) * 1991-12-19 1994-02-11 Oreal Capsule de distribution pour un produit fluide ou visqueux et recipient equipe d'une telle capsule.

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6474493B1 (en) 1998-11-16 2002-11-05 L'oreal Assembly articulated by a hinge with assisted opening/closing
EP1036743A1 (fr) 1999-03-16 2000-09-20 L'oreal Fermeture articulé monopièce
FR2791042A1 (fr) 1999-03-16 2000-09-22 Oreal Ensemble articule monopiece
US6484731B1 (en) 1999-03-16 2002-11-26 L'oreal Single-piece articulated assembly
US7907897B2 (en) 2003-06-25 2011-03-15 Nxp B.V. Data carrier with modification means for modifying the load period

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2123935T3 (es) 1999-01-16
EP0699591A3 (fr) 1996-06-26
EP0699591A2 (fr) 1996-03-06
EP0819615A1 (fr) 1998-01-21
DE69505474T2 (de) 1999-04-15
DE69505474D1 (de) 1998-11-26
ATE172422T1 (de) 1998-11-15
TW276239B (fr) 1996-05-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5868265A (en) Container cap including a primary cap and a secondary cap joined by a hinge
EP0699591B1 (fr) Fermeture pour récipient comprenant un capuchon primaire et un capuchon secondaire reliés par une charnière
US4793502A (en) Hinged dispensing closure
US6478184B2 (en) Two piece hinged closure
US5573127A (en) Cap for liquid containers
US6116477A (en) Two piece hinge closure
US4915268A (en) Closure with dispensing applicator
US5007555A (en) Biased hinge cap
US5348201A (en) Flip top closure
US6484731B1 (en) Single-piece articulated assembly
US5730310A (en) Lid opening mechanism system
EP1951592B1 (fr) Vanne pour materiau fluide
US5975093A (en) Makeup case with improved sealing
US4513877A (en) Container having spring biased hinge
US6102257A (en) Closure capsule, in particular for a receptacle that is to contain a cosmetic
US5588546A (en) Closure with stay-open lid
JPH03118575U (fr)
US4736858A (en) Selectively closable container closure
EP0726207B1 (fr) Capuchon de récipient articulé
CA2518870A1 (fr) Fermeture destinee a un contenant
KR100218612B1 (ko) 힌지로 결합된 제1캡 및 제2캡을 포함하는 용기 캡
JPH024906Y2 (fr)
CN114291414A (zh) 具有装饰部的一键式盖
JP3636793B2 (ja) ワンタッチヒンジキャップ
JP3229131B2 (ja) 容器用キャップ

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): AT CH DE ES FR GB IT LI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960730

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19970310

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

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 CH DE ES FR GB IT LI

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 172422

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19981115

Kind code of ref document: T

XX Miscellaneous (additional remarks)

Free format text: TEILANMELDUNG 97202574.6 EINGEREICHT AM 21/08/97.

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69505474

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19981126

ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2123935

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: UFFICIO BREVETTI RICCARDI & C.

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19990614

Year of fee payment: 5

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19990616

Year of fee payment: 5

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

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19990617

Year of fee payment: 5

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

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19990622

Year of fee payment: 5

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19990626

Year of fee payment: 5

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 19990720

Year of fee payment: 5

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: GB

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

Effective date: 20000727

Ref country code: AT

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

Effective date: 20000727

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: 20000728

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: 20000731

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20000731

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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

Effective date: 20000727

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: 20010330

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: DE

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

Effective date: 20010501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20010810

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: 20050727