EP0882656A1 - Dispositif de fermeture - Google Patents

Dispositif de fermeture Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0882656A1
EP0882656A1 EP98114045A EP98114045A EP0882656A1 EP 0882656 A1 EP0882656 A1 EP 0882656A1 EP 98114045 A EP98114045 A EP 98114045A EP 98114045 A EP98114045 A EP 98114045A EP 0882656 A1 EP0882656 A1 EP 0882656A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closure
skirt
tamper
container
ring
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP98114045A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0882656B1 (fr
Inventor
Chris Mcnaughton
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.)
MASSMOULD HOLDINGS Ltd
Original Assignee
MASSMOULD HOLDINGS 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 MASSMOULD HOLDINGS Ltd filed Critical MASSMOULD HOLDINGS Ltd
Publication of EP0882656A1 publication Critical patent/EP0882656A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0882656B1 publication Critical patent/EP0882656B1/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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3404—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element
    • B65D41/3409—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a closure device and, in particular, to a closure device adapted for screw-threaded or like engagement with a plastics container such as those used for milk/juice packaging or for other food and non-food products commonly sold in supermarkets. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of an improved tamper-evident arrangement for such a closure device.
  • Closures having tamper-evident means are well known and serve to reassure would-be purchasers of goods that the contents of a bottle or similar container have not been subject to tampering after filling.
  • One form of known device is described in British Patent No. 1 457 991 and comprises a tamper-evident ring which is attached to the downwardly-depending skirt of a closure by frangible bridges that sever on the first occasion that the closure is unscrewed.
  • the tamper-evident ring is of greater diameter than the closure itself, with the result that manipulation of the closure is hampered by the radially outwardly projecting tamper-evident ring. Sometimes this projection causes minor injuries to users' fingers. Nevertheless, this type of arrangement currently enjoys widespread use by stores retailing milk and non-carbonated fruit drinks in polyethylene containers.
  • the tamper-evident ring is dimensioned to be an interference fit with the container neck and becomes permanently stressed when the closure is applied to a container.
  • severance of the frangible bridges does not provide on-shelf evidence of tampering because the tamper-evident band does not fall away from the closure. Rather, it remains fixed in position on the container neck.
  • the types of container for which the present invention is intended will be produced by blow-moulding polyethylene, although other materials and moulding processes can be used.
  • Mass produced blow moulded containers particularly when manufactured to a lightweight design in polyethylene, tend to exhibit a less well-defined neck finish than other containers. This means that, for a closure to function consistently correctly, it must be capable of accommodating a wide spread of neck finish tolerances.
  • the invention is a tamper-evident plastics closure for a container, said closure comprising a cap having a top wall and a depending skirt, said skirt having an internal screw thread for engagement in use with a complementary external screw thread on a container to be closed by said closure, said closure further comprising a tamper-evident ring disposed in axial alignment with the skirt, a snap-engagement formation projecting inwardly from the ring for snap-engagement beneath a retaining bead on the container to restrain the ring against axial movement when the closure is first unscrewed, and a plurality of bridges integrally securing the ring to the skirt and frangible to provide tamper evidence on said first unscrewing, characterised in that the bridges are radially inclined to the closure axis, being attached to the skirt at one of their ends and from there extending inwardly and downwardly to attachment to the snap-engagement formation at their other ends.
  • This arrangement therefore provides the means whereby the frangible bridges may be formed with increased length relative to conventional bridges, without the disadvantage of making them too long such that their ability to break is compromised on the occasion of first removal of the closure from a container.
  • This is particularly important on shallow closures such as those used on milk and non-carbonated fruit drinks containers. Shallow closures have a limited screw-thread engagement and it is unlikely that a tamper-evident ring which is attached to a closure skirt by longer axial bridges would be capable of sufficient thread engagement to enable good separation to take place between the closure skirt and the tamper-evident ring when the closure is removed for the first time.
  • the above arrangement confers the advantage that, when the tamper-evident ring stretches radially outwardly to ride over the retaining projection means on a container during installation of the closure, the frangible bridges are also able to flex in the radially outward direction with minimal stretch or stress due to the additional length which results from their radial inclination to the rotational axis of the closure.
  • the bridges are inclined at an angle of between 15 and 30° to the rotational axis of the closure.
  • the most preferred angular range is from 20 to 25°, with an angle of 22° being especially preferred. Observance of these angles is important to ensure that the closure can be ejected readily from the mould during manufacture. This is an essential point to be borne in mind for components which need to be jumped from an undercut feature on a mould core. If the angle is too shallow, then severe dragging of the snap-engagement formation may occur, rendering it ineffective. If the angle is too steep, there is a risk that the frangible bridges will be so excessively long that their extension to breaking point cannot occur within the available travel provided by the threads.
  • the frangible bridges are of non-uniform cross-section, being narrower adjacent the closure skirt. This means that, upon severance, the tails of the bridges remain attached to the tamper-evident ring and the closure itself presents a relatively clean lower rim. Although of seemingly minor importance, this is another factor which influences customer satisfaction.
  • the outer diameter of the tamper-evident ring is the same as the outer diameter of the closure skirt, a greater gripping area is provided on the sides of the closure skirt since it is not inhibited by a so-called "external" tamper-evident ring. Such an arrangement is therefore more comfortable for the user.
  • the relative dimensions of the tamper-evident ring and the container neck are such that the tamper-evident ring falls away from the lower rim of the closure skirt portion once the frangible bridges have been broken. This ensures that tampering can be spotted by would-be purchasers of the goods whilst they are still on the shelves in the store. This advantage is obtained even where wide tolerances occur in the neck finishes of the containers to which the closure is applied.
  • the lower rim of the skirt portion and the upper rim of the tamper-evident ring may be provided with complementary formations which interengage when the closure is subjected to a compressive force as it is screwed onto a container.
  • the complementary formations may be in the form of a series of projections and recesses.
  • the frangible bridges flex under the compressive force, causing the separation between the skirt portion and the tamper-evident ring to decrease so that the complementary formations interengage.
  • the skirt portion and the tamper-evident ring effectively behave as a single unit, thereby avoiding stretching of the frangible bridges.
  • the complementary formations may be configured such that positive engagement between them is facilitated in the forward or screwing-on sense of rotation but inhibited in the reverse or removal sense of rotation.
  • This may be achieved, for example, by providing non-symmetrical driving teeth on one of the components. These are oriented such that they have steeply-pitched trailing surfaces which are engageable against respective bluff surfaces formed in recesses provided on the other component.
  • the teeth have gently-pitched leading surfaces which, in the reverse sense of rotation, engage with similarly-inclined surfaces provided on the recesses, so that there is a tendency for the components to slide over each other and rotate relative to one another. This relative rotation leads to rupture of the frangible bridges when the closure is removed for the first time.
  • the tamper-evident ring may be provided with a chamfer in the axial direction to facilitate installation of the closure by push-fitting rather than screw-fitting.
  • the tamper-evident ring has a surface which converges radially inwardly from the lower rim of the tamper-evident ring.
  • reference numeral 10 denotes a closure for use on a container such as a milk or other type of bottle containing food or non-food products.
  • the closure itself is moulded from polypropylene and is shown here in enlarged form for ease of reference, a typical diameter for such closures being 38 mm.
  • Closure 10 comprises a cap portion 11 having an internal closure plug 12 for sealing engagement with the lip of a container (not shown) during use, and a downwardly depending skirt 13.
  • the skirt 13 has an internal screw thread 14 for engagement with a complementary external screw thread on the neck of the container, and is provided on its outer surface with a gripping portion 15 having a knurled or serrated finish to enable a good grip to be obtained by the user when unscrewing or replacing the closure 10.
  • a tamper-evident ring 30 is attached at the bottom rim 16 of the closure 10 by a plurality of frangible bridges 20.
  • the outer periphery of the tamper-evident ring 30 is substantially co-extensive with that of the skirt 13 so that the gripping portion 15 remains unhindered by radially-outwardly projecting features.
  • the tamper-evident ring 30 has an upper surface 100 and is formed on its radially inner surface with a series of nibs 31, each of which is provided with an upwardly-directed projection on its radially innermost portion to define a snap-engagement formation 32.
  • the inclined upper surface 200 of the snap-engagement formation 32 is adapted to engage the underside of a retaining projection (51, see ghost outline in Figure 3) provided on the neck of the container in a manner described in more detail below.
  • the engagement of the inclined upper surface 200 of the snap-engagement formation 32 against the retaining projection 51 of the container causes axial movement of the tamper-evident ring 30 to be arrested.
  • the closure skirt 13 is able to continue its axial movement by virtue of mutual engagement between the screw threads 14 of the skirt 13 and the external screw threads (not shown) of the container.
  • the frangible bridges 20 are caused to stretch beyond their breaking points, which breaking points are reached before complete disengagement of the respective screw threads.
  • the tamper-evident ring 30 is held captive on the container, behind the retaining projection.
  • the relative dimensions of the tamper-evident ring 30 and the container neck 50 are such that the tamper-evident ring is free to drop away from the retaining projection 51 when the container is in an upright orientation.
  • FIG 2 shows a view from above of the tamper-evident ring 30 discussed above with reference to Figure 1.
  • the neck 50 of a container is shown in cross-section.
  • This view shows the ratchet profile of the radially-inwardly projecting nibs 31.
  • the leading edge 33 of each nib has a shallow chamfered surface.
  • the trailing edge 34 presents a much steeper profile, being substantially radial.
  • the nibs 31 are adapted to co-operate with complementary ratchet dogs 52 formed on the outer periphery of the neck 50 of a container.
  • the tamper-evident ring 30 has nibs 31 formed at 20° intervals around its periphery. Not all of the nibs have an associated frangible bridge 20 as this would greatly increase the force required to unscrew the closure 10 and effect separation thereof from the tamper-evident ring 30. Conveniently, a frangible bridge 20 is formed at every third nib 31, so that a total of six frangible bridges 20 is provided on the complete closure 10. These are shown in cross-section on the Figure.
  • the leading edges 33 of the nibs 31 are able to ride over the ratchet dogs 52 formed on the neck because the leading edges 53 of the ratchet dogs 52 are also gently chamfered.
  • rotation in the opposite sense i.e. to unscrew the closure, causes the trailing edges of the ratchet dogs 54 to butt against the trailing edges 34 of the nibs 31, thereby resisting rotation of the tamper-evident ring 30 relative to the container neck 50.
  • Rotation of the closure skirt 13 is, however, still possible against the resistive force of the frangible bridges 20, thereby causing them to elongate.
  • the elongation of the frangible bridges 20 during removal of the closure 10 for the first time is therefore caused by a combination of factors: Firstly, axial movement of the tamper-evident ring 30 is prevented by engagement of the inclined upper surface 200 of the snap-engagement formation 32 of the nibs 31 against the retaining projection 51 on the container neck 50. Secondly, rotational movement of the tamper-evident ring 30 is prevented by abutment of the trailing edges 34 of the nibs 31 against the ratchet dogs 52. In addition, the frangible bridges become stretched around the profile of the retaining projection 51 of the container neck 50.
  • the nibs 31 are also formed with a chamfer 35 in the axial sense. This arrangement allows the closure to be installed on a container neck for the first time by push-fitting rather than screw-fitting.
  • FIG 3 shows a side sectional part view of the closure skirt 13 and tamper-evident ring 13 of Figures 1 and 2, joined together by a frangible bridge 20.
  • the frangible bridge 20 is inclined at angle ⁇ to the rotational axis AA' of the closure by virtue of the fact that the lowermost extremity 22 of the bridge 20 is attached to the radially-innermost part of the nib 31. This inclination is helpful in enabling the bridge 20 to ride over the retaining projection 51 of a container 50 when the closure is first installed.
  • the additional length of the bridge 20, relative to a prior art bridge having an axis parallel to the rotational axis AA' of the closure enables the bridge to flex in the direction of the arrow C without extension to breaking point.
  • the preferred value for the angle of inclination ⁇ of the bridges 20 is between 15 and 30°, more preferably between 20 and 25°.
  • the most preferred angle, as shown in the present example, is 22°.
  • the view of Figure 3 also shows the non-uniform section of the bridge 20.
  • the bridge 20 is slightly narrower than at the lower end 22 adjacent nib 31.
  • the preferred fracture point is in the vicinity of the narrow section at the upper end 21.
  • the advantage of this arrangement is that the skirt 13 presents a relatively clean lower rim 16 after separation from the tamper-evident ring 30. The severed tails of the frangible bridges 20 remain attached to the tamper-evident ring 30 which is held captive on the container neck.
  • This Figure also shows detail of the configuration of the snap-engagement formation 32 of the nib 31.
  • the angle of inclination ⁇ of the upper surface 200 of the snap-engagement formation 32 relative to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis AA' of the closure lies in the range from 10 to 20°, a preferred value being 15°.
  • the lower rim 16 of the closure skirt portion 13 is provided with a plurality of recesses 46 which are formed with a steeply-pitched trailing surface 47 and a shallow-pitched leading surface 49.
  • Intervening root surface 48 lies substantially parallel to the lower rim 16 of the skirt portion 13.
  • the tamper-evident ring 30 is formed with a series of projections 36 around its top rim. These projections 36 are configured to complement the recesses 46 formed in the lower rim 16 of the skirt portion 13. They each have a steeply-pitched trailing surface 37, a shallow-pitched leading surface 39 and an intervening crown surface 38 which is substantially parallel to the top rim of the tamper-evident ring 30.
  • leading surface and “trailing surface” are used here for convenience and should be interpreted with reference to the act of screwing the closure onto a container, indicated by rotation in the sense of arrow B in Figure 4.
  • Figure 4 depicts this embodiment of the closure in a relaxed condition, either prior to fitting to a container, or after fitting to a container for the first time.
  • the frangible bridges 20 hold the skirt portion 13 and the tamper-evident ring 30 in spaced-apart relationship.
  • the gap between these components is larger than the distance by which the crowns 38 of projections 36 protrude beyond the top rim of the tamper-evident ring 30.
  • the closure is depicted in a compressed condition in which the gap between the skirt portion 13 and the tamper-evident ring 30 is decreased as a result of flexure of the frangible bridges 20. This occurs when the closure is applied to a container for the first time.
  • the positions of the projections 36 and of the recesses 46 can be switched so that projections 36 are provided on the lower rim 16 of the skirt portion 13 and recesses 46 are provided on the upper rim of the tamper-evident band 30.
  • a combination of recesses and projections could also be provided on the respective components, provided that each projection is in register with a recess on the other component.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
EP98114045A 1995-03-03 1996-02-22 Dispositif de fermeture Expired - Lifetime EP0882656B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9504262A GB2295143B (en) 1995-03-03 1995-03-03 Closure device
GB9504262 1995-03-03
EP19960301179 EP0729894B1 (fr) 1995-03-03 1996-02-22 Dispositif de fermeture

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960301179 Division EP0729894B1 (fr) 1995-03-03 1996-02-22 Dispositif de fermeture

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0882656A1 true EP0882656A1 (fr) 1998-12-09
EP0882656B1 EP0882656B1 (fr) 2001-07-04

Family

ID=10770566

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960301179 Expired - Lifetime EP0729894B1 (fr) 1995-03-03 1996-02-22 Dispositif de fermeture
EP98114045A Expired - Lifetime EP0882656B1 (fr) 1995-03-03 1996-02-22 Dispositif de fermeture

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960301179 Expired - Lifetime EP0729894B1 (fr) 1995-03-03 1996-02-22 Dispositif de fermeture

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0729894B1 (fr)
DE (2) DE69603521T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2295143B (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2414230A (en) * 2004-05-21 2005-11-23 Portola Packaging Ltd Snap on tamper evident closure
WO2016054720A1 (fr) * 2014-10-07 2016-04-14 Stanpac Inc. Couvercle à indicateur d'effraction et son procédé de fabrication

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19733636C2 (de) * 1997-08-04 2000-12-14 Weis Kg Schraubverschlußkappe aus Kunststoff
DE102009044643A1 (de) * 2009-11-24 2011-05-26 Kunststofftechnik Waidhofen An Der Thaya Gmbh Verschlusskappe mit Garantiering sowie Spritzgießwerkzeug und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung
CH709172A1 (de) * 2014-01-21 2015-07-31 Hoffmann Neopac Ag Behälter mit Verschlusskappe und Garantiering.
DE102018106844A1 (de) * 2018-03-22 2019-09-26 Gfv Verschlusstechnik Gmbh & Co Kg Behälter für einen Drehverschluss mit Originalitätsring

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2339541A1 (fr) * 1976-02-02 1977-08-26 Astra Plastique Perfectionnements aux obturateurs du type inviolable pour bouteilles et autres recipients
EP0080846A1 (fr) * 1981-11-30 1983-06-08 Johnsen & Jorgensen (Plastics) Limited Bouchon inviolable à vis

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2961119A (en) * 1957-11-25 1960-11-22 Charles F Leach Closure devices
US3874540A (en) * 1974-01-30 1975-04-01 Walter E Hidding Tamperproof cap
AU480881B2 (en) * 1974-03-14 1975-09-18 The Metalbox Company Limited Improvements relating to closures for containers
NL7810527A (nl) * 1978-10-20 1980-04-22 Leer Koninklijke Emballage Schroefkap met borgrand.
IT1173373B (it) * 1984-02-24 1987-06-24 Guala Angelo Spa Chiusura per bottiglie
CH664131A5 (de) * 1984-10-09 1988-02-15 Wiedmer Plastikform W Aus kunststoff bestehender verschluss fuer behaelter mit garantiering.
EP0229206A1 (fr) * 1986-01-13 1987-07-22 Ewit S.A. Fermeture pour récipient munie d'une bande de garantie
GB2223748A (en) * 1988-09-09 1990-04-18 Metal Closures Group Ltd Closures
GB8822444D0 (en) * 1988-09-23 1988-10-26 Johnsen Jorgensen Plastics Ltd Improved tamper-resistant container assembly
GB8926469D0 (en) * 1989-11-23 1990-01-10 Lin Pac Plastics Int Plastics bottle
CA2107041A1 (fr) * 1993-02-09 1994-08-10 Jose Carvalheiro Dispositif de fermeture d'un recipient

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2339541A1 (fr) * 1976-02-02 1977-08-26 Astra Plastique Perfectionnements aux obturateurs du type inviolable pour bouteilles et autres recipients
EP0080846A1 (fr) * 1981-11-30 1983-06-08 Johnsen & Jorgensen (Plastics) Limited Bouchon inviolable à vis

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2414230A (en) * 2004-05-21 2005-11-23 Portola Packaging Ltd Snap on tamper evident closure
WO2016054720A1 (fr) * 2014-10-07 2016-04-14 Stanpac Inc. Couvercle à indicateur d'effraction et son procédé de fabrication

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2295143A (en) 1996-05-22
EP0729894B1 (fr) 1999-08-04
EP0729894A3 (fr) 1997-02-12
EP0729894A2 (fr) 1996-09-04
DE69603521D1 (de) 1999-09-09
EP0882656B1 (fr) 2001-07-04
GB9504262D0 (en) 1995-04-19
GB2295143B (en) 1998-04-22
DE69603521T2 (de) 2000-02-03
DE69613719T2 (de) 2002-05-08
DE69613719D1 (de) 2001-08-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU2002339179B2 (en) Closure assembly for a wide mouth vessel
US4752014A (en) Tamper-evident child-resistant closure and container with same
US4529096A (en) Pilferproof cap
EP1522499B1 (fr) Récipient à fermeture inviolable par les enfants
US4993570A (en) Tamper indicating container-closure package
US5009323A (en) Tamper indicating closure having a rotary seal
US4534480A (en) Tamper evident closure
AU649929B2 (en) Tamper proof cap and container
US4756438A (en) Container with threaded closure and tamper-evident feature
US20050269373A1 (en) Cover for dispensing closure with pressure actuated valve
US4485934A (en) Tamperproof closure
EP0815027B1 (fr) Recipient a bouchon resistant a la separation
US5137163A (en) Tamper evident closure with ramped contact
GB2467355A (en) Container closure with pressure seal
WO2008150831A1 (fr) Finition indémontable et système de fermeture
US20090223922A1 (en) Jaw seals for container closure assemblies
US5660288A (en) Reverse helix tamper-evident container
US5950849A (en) Container closure with ribbed enlarged grasping region
CA1180303A (fr) Capuchon inviolable
EP0882656B1 (fr) Dispositif de fermeture
US5853097A (en) Ribbed container closure
US4509654A (en) Tamperproof closure
AU745180B2 (en) Closure cap
EP0052804B1 (fr) Bouchon inviolable
US20040045926A1 (en) Tamper evident cap wtih wavy ring seal

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

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 729894

Country of ref document: EP

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19990517

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20000125

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

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 729894

Country of ref document: EP

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

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

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20010704

Ref country code: BE

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: 20010704

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69613719

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20010809

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: MODIANO & ASSOCIATI S.R.L.

ET Fr: translation filed
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

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
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CD

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: TP

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20100225

Year of fee payment: 15

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: 20110222

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20130301

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20130218

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20130219

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 69613719

Country of ref document: DE

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

Effective date: 20140222

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20141031

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 69613719

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140902

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: 20140222

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20140228

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20140902