EP0944521B1 - Vorrichtung und verfahren zum schutz von bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen bioorganismen - Google Patents

Vorrichtung und verfahren zum schutz von bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen bioorganismen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0944521B1
EP0944521B1 EP97946013A EP97946013A EP0944521B1 EP 0944521 B1 EP0944521 B1 EP 0944521B1 EP 97946013 A EP97946013 A EP 97946013A EP 97946013 A EP97946013 A EP 97946013A EP 0944521 B1 EP0944521 B1 EP 0944521B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hull
sheathing
inflatable elements
water
anyone
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
EP97946013A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0944521A1 (de
Inventor
Enzo Borghi
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.)
New Age Constructions and Engineering SpA
Original Assignee
New Age Constructions and Engineering SpA
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 New Age Constructions and Engineering SpA filed Critical New Age Constructions and Engineering SpA
Publication of EP0944521A1 publication Critical patent/EP0944521A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0944521B1 publication Critical patent/EP0944521B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B59/00—Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels
    • B63B59/04—Preventing hull fouling
    • B63B59/045—Preventing hull fouling by wrapping the submerged hull or part of the hull with an impermeable sheet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device and a method for protecting boat hulls, especially against biologically active organisms.
  • the boat To prevent these encrustations from forming (or to remove them after they have formed), the boat must be periodically sent to a boatyard, dry-docked and, if necessary, stripped, so that a suitable protective paint can be applied to it.
  • DE-B-24 84 945 which is considered the closest prior art, is disclosed a device for protecting the hull of a boat made of a waterproof film material connected to a tubular element acting as a floating.
  • the device must be placed around the hull and with the tubular element on the periphery of boat at least at the level of the waterline. The handling said device is quite complicated and difficult.
  • the aim of the present invention is to improve the handling of the known devices.
  • the boat hull is provided with a sheathing and/or inflatable elements characterised in that they comprise spacers faced the hull, whereby said sheathing and/or inflatable elements are maintained at a preset distance from the hull, thereby creating a gap between the hull and the sheathing, the spacers extending lengthways in relation to the hull, having therein appropriate interruptions in the longitudinal direction and being transversely aligned in such a way as to form a system of channels.
  • a method to protect the boat hull against water-borne organisms by preventing such organisms from growing on the hull characterized in that it comprises keeping a sheathing at a preset distance from the hull by means of spacers, whereby creating a gap between the hull and the sheathing, the spacers extending lengthways in relation to the hull, having therein appropriate interruption in the longitudinal direction and being transversely aligned in such a way as to form a system of channels, whereby draining off the water is facilitated when the sheathing is emerging.
  • the numeral 1 indicates a boat moored to a quay 2 in a harbour, the bottom of the hull 3, that is to say, the part below the waterline 4, being submerged in water.
  • the protection device disclosed by the present invention comprises a sheath consisting of a shell 5 made of metal, plastic or rubber, either rigid or flexible, essentially concave in shape and designed to fit at least over the submerged part of the hull 3 so as to isolate it from the surrounding water.
  • the back part of the shell 5, designed to fit over the hull 3 astern, is equipped with recesses 6 designed to accommodate the propellers 7 and the rudder 8.
  • the shell 5 is peripherally connected to positioning means comprising an inflatable element 9, preferably tubular, and long enough to run right round the hull 3 at the waterline and, once inflated, designed to keep the shell 5 against the hull 3.
  • positioning means comprising an inflatable element 9, preferably tubular, and long enough to run right round the hull 3 at the waterline and, once inflated, designed to keep the shell 5 against the hull 3.
  • the shell 5 and the inflatable element 9 are preferably equipped with spacers 10 made of metal, plastic or rubber running lengthways along the hull to keep the hull 3 at a preset distance from the shell 5 and from the inflatable element 9 in such a way as to create a gap 11 for the controlled forced circulation of a liquid used to wash the hull and the other submerged parts of the boat and containing anti-biological substances designed to inhibit the growth of water-borne organisms.
  • This is especially convenient when the boat is used at sea since the washing liquid may consist of fresh water used to rinse harmful brine off the hull, the propellers 7, the outboard parts of the motors and the rudders.
  • the forced circulation of the washing liquid is carried out by a service unit 18 located on the quay 2, including a pump connected to the tank that contains the washing liquid and equipped also with a pipe 19 leading into a manifold that is connected to the shell 5.
  • the service unit 18 may also include a compressor used to inflate the element 9 through an appropriate pipe 9a shown with a dashed line in Fig. 1.
  • the bottom of the shell 5 is equipped with ballasting means, consisting, for example, of a container 12 filled with water or other ballasting substance to keep the shell 5 under the water in the mooring area when the boat 1 is not moored to the quay 2.
  • ballasting means consisting, for example, of a container 12 filled with water or other ballasting substance to keep the shell 5 under the water in the mooring area when the boat 1 is not moored to the quay 2.
  • Buoys 13 are also envisaged, each being connected to the inflatable element 9 by a cable 14 and designed to mark the position of the shell 5 when sunken and to determine the sinking depth.
  • the spacers 10 have appropriate interruptions in them in such a way as to form a system of transverse channels 15 on the surfaces of the shell 5 and of the inflatable element 9 facing the hull 3 so as to make it easier for water to drain off when the shell 5 is raised towards the surface of the water.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention particularly suitable for protecting the hull of a boat that is riding at anchor in the waterways.
  • the inflatable element 9 is divided into a front portion 16 and a rear portion 17 which can be inflated separately: this facilitates the positioning of the shell 5 on the hull 3.
  • the protective device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 is used as follows.
  • the boat 1 comes into the harbour to be berthed near the quay 2, it is steered between the buoys 13 which mark the position of the shell 5, the latter being kept at a certain depth below the surface of the water.
  • the inflatable element 9 of the shell 5 is then inflated and, if necessary, the water or other ballast emptied out of the container 12, so that the shell emerges from under the boat and the spacers 10 come into contact with the submerged part of the hull 3.
  • the correct position of the shell 5 relative to the boat 1 is guaranteed by the buoys 13 which constitute a set of reference points to enable the boat 1 to be moored in the correct position over the shell 5.
  • the inflatable element 9 starts emerging, it tends to move naturally into position round the hull without requiring complicated manoeuvring of the boat since the perimeter of the inflatable element is substantially the same in shape as the cross section of the hull at the waterline.
  • the protective device illustrated in Fig.6 it is necessary first of all to lower it into the water from the boat 1, with the inflatable element 9 deflated so that it will sink.
  • the front portion 16 of the inflatable element 9 must be inflated using the service unit installed on board (not illustrated) and, once the front portion 16 has emerged, the boat 1 can be steered forward into it in such way that the bow of the hull 3 comes into contact with the front portion 16.
  • This manoeuvre is facilitated by the "V" shape of the front portion 16 which is designed to accommodate the bow of the hull.
  • the shell 5, still partially sunk is correctly aligned with the hull 3.
  • the positioning of the shell 5 against the hull 3 of the boat 1 is quick and easy.
  • the hull 3 of the boat 1 is protected easily and effectively against encrustations due to algae, mollusks and other organisms since the shell 5 isolates the submerged part of the hull 3 from the surrounding water during the periods when the boat is not used which are usually those when the encrustations develop.
  • the shell 5 can be equipped with safety stays anchored to the sea bed (not illustrated).
  • the service unit 18 may be equipped with a remote control to start inflating the inflatable element 9 while the boat is approaching its berth.
  • a number of single-acting valves may be fitted to various parts of the shell in order to allow the water to flow out of the hollow parts of the shell.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Vorrichtung zum Schutz von Bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen aktive Bioorganismen, enthaltend eine Ummantelung (5, 6), die wenigstens den eingetauchten Teil des Rumpfes (3) abdeckt und dazu bestimmt ist, den Rumpf (3) von dem diesen umgebenden Wasser zu isolieren, wobei die Ummantelung (5, 6) an aufblasbare Elemente (9, 16, 17) angeschlossen ist, deren Umriss in der Form im wesentlichen der gleiche ist wie der Querschnitt des Rumpfes (3) an der Wasserlinie, um sie im Verhältnis zu dem Rumpf (3) zu positionieren, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte Ummantelung (5, 6) und/oder die aufblasbaren Elemente (9, 16, 17) dem Rumpf (3) zugewandte Abstandsstücke (10) enthalten, wodurch die genannte Ummantelung (5, 6) und/oder die aufblasbaren Elemente (9, 16, 17) in einem bestimmten Abstand von dem Rumpf (3) gehalten werden und damit einen Zwischenraum (11) zwischen dem Rumpf (3) und der Ummantelung (5, 6) bilden, wobei sich die Abstandsstücke (10) der Länge nach im Verhältnis zu dem Rumpf (3) erstrecken, in dieser Längsrichtung entsprechende Unterbrechungen aufweisen und in Querrichtung auf solche Weise zueinander ausgerichtet sind, dass sie ein System von Kanälen (15) bilden.
  2. Vorrichtung zum Schutz von Bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen aktive Bioorganismen, enthaltend eine Ummantelung (5, 6), die wenigstens den eingetauchten Teil des Rumpfes (3) abdeckt und dazu bestimmt ist, den Rumpf (3) von dem diesen umgebenden Wasser zu isolieren, wobei die Ummantelung (5, 6) an aufblasbare Elemente (9, 16, 17) angeschlossen ist, deren Umriss in der Form im wesentlichen der gleiche ist wie der Querschnitt des Rumpfes (3) an der Wasserlinie, um sie im Verhältnis zu dem Rumpf (3) zu positionieren, wobei das genannte aufblasbare Element (9) in zwei Teile (16, 17) geteilt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Teile vordere Teile (16) und hintere Teile (17) sind, die unabhängig voneinander aufblasbar sind, wodurch die Ummantelung (5, 6) in zwei Phasen an dem Rumpf (3) positioniert werden kann.
  3. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 2, bei welcher die vorderen Teile (16) V-förmig ausgebildet sind, um so den Bug des Rumpfes (3) aufzunehmen.
  4. Vorrichtung nach einem beliebigen der vorgenannten Patentansprüche, bei welcher die Ummantelung (5, 6) mit einer Ballasteinrichtung (12) versehen ist, welche einen mit Wasser oder einer anderen Ballastsubstanz füllbaren Behälter enthält.
  5. Vorrichtung nach einem beliebigen der vorgenannten Patentansprüche, bei welcher diese eine Anzahl von Bojen (13) enthält, die mit Hilfe von Kabeln (14) mit der Ummantelung (5, 6) und/oder den aufblasbaren Elementen (9, 16, 17) verbunden sind.
  6. Vorrichtung nach einem beliebigen der vorgenannten Patentansprüche, bei welcher die Ummantelung (5, 6) mit einfachwirkenden Ventilen (5v) ausgestattet ist, um das Ausfliessen des Wassers zu erleichtern.
  7. Vorrichtung nach einem beliebigen der vorgenannten Patentansprüche, bei welcher die Ummantelung (5, 6) mit Sicherheitsankern versehen ist, welche am Meeresboden verankert sind, wobei die Ummantelung (5, 6) stabil unter Wasser liegt.
  8. Vorrichtung nach einem beliebigen der vorgenannten Patentansprüche, bei welcher die Ummantelung (5, 6) und/oder die aufblasbaren Elemente (9, 16, 17) an eine Servicevorrichtung (18) angeschlossen werden können, welche von fern bedient werden kann.
  9. Verfahren zum Schutz des Rumpfes (3) von einem sich auf Wasserwegen befindlichem oder an einem Kai festgemachten Boot (1) mit Hilfe einer Ummantelung (5, 6), die mit aufblasbaren Elementen (9, 16, 17) versehen ist, welches das Ansetzen von biologisch aktiven Organismen an dem in das Wasser eingetauchten Teil des Rumpfes (3) verhindert, wobei das Verfahren folgende Phasen enthält:
    Auftauchen der Ummantelung (5, 6) aus einer eingetauchten Position unterhalb des Rumpfes (3);
    Befestigen der mit aufblasbaren Elementen (9, 16, 17) verbundenen Ummantelung (5, 6) an wenigstens dem eingetauchten Teil des Rumpfes (3), so dass der Rumpf (3) von dem diesen umgebenden Wasser isoliert wird;
    Aufblasen der aufblasbaren Elemente (9, 16, 17) zum Positionieren der Ummantelung (5, 6) im Verhältnis zum Rumpf (3);
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es wie folgt umfasst:
    das Halten der Ummantelung (5, 6) in einem bestimmten Abstand von dem Rumpf (3) mit Hilfe von Abstandsstücken (10), indem ein Zwischenraum (11) zwischen dem Rumpf (3) und der Ummantelung (5, 6) gebildet wird, wobei die Abstandsstücke (10) sich im Verhältnis zu dem Rumpf (3) in der Länge erstrecken, und wobei diese entsprechende Unterbrechungen in Längsrichtung aufweisen und in Querrichtung auf solche Weise zueinander ausgerichtet sind, dass sie ein System von Kanälen (15) bilden, so dass das Abfliessen des Wassers erleichtert wird, wenn die Ummantelung (5, 6) auftaucht.
  10. Verfahren nach Patentanspruch 9, in welchem das Ausfliessen des Wassers in der Ummantelung (5, 6) mit Hilfe von einfachwirkenden Ventilen (5v) enthalten ist.
  11. Verfahren nach Patentanspruch 9 oder 10, bei welchem die Phase des Auftauchens der Ummantelung (5, 6) durch das Aufblasen von getrennten Teilen der aufblasbaren Elemente (9, 16, 17) erreicht wird.
  12. Verfahren nach Patentanspruch 10, bei welchem die vorderen Teile (16) der aufblasbaren Elemente noch vor den hinteren Teilen (17) aufgeblasen werden, wodurch die Positionierung der Ummantelung (5, 6) an dem Rumpf (3) erleichtert wird.
  13. Verfahren nach einem beliebigen der Patentansprüche von 9 bis 12, in welchem eine Spülphase enthalten ist, bestehend aus der Zirkulierung einer Spülflüssigkeit zwischen der Ummantelung (5, 6) und dem Rumpf (3).
  14. Verfahren nach einem beliebigen der Patentansprüche von 9 bis 13, bei welchem die Aufblasphase und die Spülphase durch eine Servicevorrichtung (18) ausgeführt werden, welche von fern bedient und auf einem Kai (2) oder an Bord aufgestellt werden kann.
EP97946013A 1996-12-20 1997-12-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren zum schutz von bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen bioorganismen Expired - Lifetime EP0944521B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO960681 1996-12-20
IT96BO000681A IT1287611B1 (it) 1996-12-20 1996-12-20 Dispositivo per proteggere lo scafo di imbarcazioni, in particolare da agenti biologicamente attivi e relativo metodo di protezione
PCT/IB1997/001577 WO1998028184A1 (en) 1996-12-20 1997-12-17 A device and method for protecting boat hulls, especially against biologically active organisms

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0944521A1 EP0944521A1 (de) 1999-09-29
EP0944521B1 true EP0944521B1 (de) 2001-02-28

Family

ID=11341810

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97946013A Expired - Lifetime EP0944521B1 (de) 1996-12-20 1997-12-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren zum schutz von bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen bioorganismen

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0944521B1 (de)
AU (1) AU5131798A (de)
DE (1) DE69704171D1 (de)
IT (1) IT1287611B1 (de)
WO (1) WO1998028184A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6568343B1 (en) 2001-11-05 2003-05-27 Grant Roy Hill Protective enclosure for watercraft hulls
WO2004085239A1 (en) * 2003-03-20 2004-10-07 Boat Bunkers, Inc. Watercraft storage apparatus and method
FR2852916B1 (fr) * 2003-03-28 2006-06-30 Alexandre Derveloy Dispositif de protection hivernale de la partie immergee d'un bateau ou d'une embarcation
FR2899560B1 (fr) * 2006-04-11 2008-12-19 Buzit Gerard Le Dispositif de protection ou de traitement des surfaces immergees et plus particulierement des coques de navires
BRPI0805737A2 (pt) * 2008-12-23 2010-09-14 Wadir Giannattasio Jr revestimento submerso para cascos de embarcações
ITAP20090001A1 (it) * 2009-03-19 2009-06-18 O M C Di Federici Stefano Protezione antivegetativa per carena
WO2011068416A1 (en) * 2009-12-04 2011-06-09 Redox As Method and device for cleaning and disinfecting the outside of a hull
US20140290556A1 (en) * 2013-04-01 2014-10-02 Eric Desmarest Keel case
FR3124485A1 (fr) * 2021-06-25 2022-12-30 Eric Celma Dispositif gonflable de protection pour stocker une coque de bateau in situ
WO2024132120A1 (fr) * 2022-12-20 2024-06-27 Protecmarinenc Dispositif gonflable de protection pour stocker une coque de bateau in situ

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU6411665A (en) * 1966-09-14 1968-03-14 Tonkin Norman Method and apparatus for protecting ship hulls from marine organisms
DE2428945B1 (de) * 1974-06-15 1975-08-21 Leipersberger Regina Einrichtung zum schutz des rumpfes eines bootes o.dgl.
DE3806265A1 (de) * 1988-02-27 1989-09-07 Andreas Dr Kunicki Schutzhuelle und verfahren zur umhuellung eines im wasser liegenden schiffs- oder bootsrumpfes
US5152242A (en) * 1991-05-17 1992-10-06 Bradley William A Protective hull enclosure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1998028184A1 (en) 1998-07-02
ITBO960681A0 (it) 1996-12-20
EP0944521A1 (de) 1999-09-29
ITBO960681A1 (it) 1998-06-20
DE69704171D1 (de) 2001-04-05
IT1287611B1 (it) 1998-08-06
AU5131798A (en) 1998-07-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU707725B2 (en) Barnacle shield
US6953002B2 (en) Boat wake system
US8739724B2 (en) Inflatable dry-dock
US4495880A (en) Draft assisted delivery system
US4693200A (en) Apparatus for enclosing a boat hull
EP0944521B1 (de) Vorrichtung und verfahren zum schutz von bootsrümpfen, insbesondere gegen bioorganismen
US5860765A (en) In-water dry dock system with removable centerline insert
US5385427A (en) Method and apparatus for containment of oil and other pollutants
US5549070A (en) In-water dry dock system
US20230322342A1 (en) Inflatable Watercraft Barrier
US5279244A (en) Combined mooring slip and underwater body protector against marine growth
US20060086302A1 (en) Vessel hull protection device
US7047900B2 (en) Watercraft storage apparatus and method
WO2013165423A1 (en) Inflatable dry-dock
AU2005222514A1 (en) A protection apparatus
US4622912A (en) Draft reduction system for ships
US5660137A (en) Detachable protective dinghy cover
US6152061A (en) Floating collapsible hull protector against marine growth
JPH0329279Y2 (de)
JPS6332076Y2 (de)
JPS5975900A (ja) 脱着式船舶離接岸操縦装置
BRPI0805737A2 (pt) revestimento submerso para cascos de embarcações
JPH0930490A (ja) プロペラ汚損防止装置
US20100139541A1 (en) Boat Docking and Cleaning Device
JPH0554199U (ja) 船底保護マット

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19990601

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB GR IT MC NL

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: SI PAYMENT 19990601

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20000314

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 ES FR GB GR IT MC NL

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: SI PAYMENT 19990601

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: 20010228

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20010228

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

Ref document number: 69704171

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20010405

ET Fr: translation filed
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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20010529

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

Ref country code: GR

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

Effective date: 20010601

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
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: 20011217

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20011217

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

Effective date: 20011217

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: 20020830

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: 20051217