EP1097691B1 - Dispositif d'aide à la marche - Google Patents

Dispositif d'aide à la marche Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1097691B1
EP1097691B1 EP99308853A EP99308853A EP1097691B1 EP 1097691 B1 EP1097691 B1 EP 1097691B1 EP 99308853 A EP99308853 A EP 99308853A EP 99308853 A EP99308853 A EP 99308853A EP 1097691 B1 EP1097691 B1 EP 1097691B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ground
engaging
ball
shank
mounting member
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
EP99308853A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1097691A1 (fr
Inventor
Jacqueline Ann Robins
Tracy Diane Youde
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 to GB9816302A priority Critical patent/GB2339682B/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT99308853T priority patent/ATE251442T1/de
Priority to EP99308853A priority patent/EP1097691B1/fr
Priority to DE69911970T priority patent/DE69911970T2/de
Priority to ES99308853T priority patent/ES2212475T3/es
Publication of EP1097691A1 publication Critical patent/EP1097691A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1097691B1 publication Critical patent/EP1097691B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02—Crutches
    • A61H3/0277—Shock absorbers therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
    • A45B9/00—Details
    • A45B9/04—Ferrules or tips
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02—Crutches
    • A61H3/0288—Ferrules or tips therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02—Crutches
    • A61H3/0288—Ferrules or tips therefor
    • A61H2003/0294—Ferrules or tips therefor comprising a ball-and-socket joint

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with a walking aid device, and relates in particular to a foot-like object that can be mounted at the end of a walking stick or crutch, or the like, so as to provide the User with greater stability and security.
  • a walking aid such as a walking stick or a crutch is merely an elongate stick-like body with a pad or ring-like support at the upper, or proximal, end, to fit under the arm, and perhaps some sort of tip at the lower, or distal, end. Even a walking frame - a Zimmer frame - is in essence much the same.
  • Such aids can be made of a variety of materials - wood or aluminium sticks with rubber tips are common - but a favourite combination for a crutch/stick is a rigid aluminium tube with a rubber grommet on the ground-engaging end and a fixed hand grip up towards the opposite end (which is usually either bifurcated to provide support for a pad that fits into the armpit or has a semi-ring at the top which fits around the User's upper arm).
  • the invention suggests, for use with a walking aid, a ground-engaging device which is like a shin-ankle-foot combination; it has a shin-like mounting member (to be carried by or adapted to be mounted on the shank of the aid) and a terminal ground-engaging foot-like member connected to the shin by a ball-and-socket coupling that will permit a limited degree of flexing of the foot about the axis of the shank, the coupling's ball being fixedly secured to the shin and being retained within a socket in the foot in which there is a ball-supporting plunger resiliently biassed towards the ball so as to provide a degree of shock absorbency.
  • the present invention provides a ground-engaging device to be attached to the end of a crutch or other walking aid for a disabled person, the crutch or other aid being of the type having a longitudinally-extended shank onto the distal end of which the ground-engaging device can be mounted, which device comprises:
  • the invention relates to a ground-engaging device to be attached to the end of a crutch or other walking aid for a disabled person.
  • This walking aid can be of any sort provided it has a longitudinally-extended shank onto the distal end of which the ground-engaging device can be mounted, but for the most part it will be a stick or a crutch.
  • the ground-engaging device of the invention includes a mounting member mountable on the shank of the walking aid.
  • the like ground-engaging members known in the Art can be affixed in a number of ways - as a sleeve fitting outside the end of the shank, or as a rod fitting inside the shank end; for the invention, the mounting member preferably comprises a sleeve member, and while this sleeve member can be a screw or other fit on the shank most preferably it is a push fit - that is to say, a "friction" fit.
  • the mounting member carries coupling means in the form of a ball joint the ball of which is fixedly attached to the mounting member and is rotatably retained within the socket in the ground-engaging member - that is to say, the mounting member carries a distally-projecting ball which engages as a captive fit within a corresponding socket in the proximal end of the ground engaging member.
  • One way of retaining the ball within the socket is by means of a split retaining cap, which may be attached to the ground engaging member by any suitable means, such as retaining screws or bolts.
  • a more convenient way is to form the entire ground-engaging member as two suitably-shaped halves - the member being "split" from top to bottom (longitudinally) - which are then put together to hold the ball captive therebetween.
  • the two halves desirably each have location means (such as projecting pins in one mating with corresponding recesses in the other) whereby they can be correctly positioned with respect to each other, and can be glued, screwed or - and preferably - welded together (most suitable plastics, such as nylon [NYLON is a Registered Trademark], can be welded as here required).
  • the two halves can be held together with one or more small circlip device.
  • the ground-engaging member of the invention's device contains - within the ball-retaining socket - bias means - typically a spring co-operating with a plunger/piston in actual contact with the ball - for ensuring a frictional engagement of the ball in the socket.
  • This bias means also provides a measure of shock absorbency when the ground-engaging member strikes the ground.
  • ground-engaging member does in fact directly engage the ground, most preferably its distal end carries a rubber or similar pad to provide a friction surface for secure ground engagement.
  • one or other - or both - of the ground-engaging member and the mounting member provided with means for limiting the extent of flexing of the one member relative to the other.
  • the means for limiting the extent of relative flexing or pivoting can take one or other of several forms. For example, it can take the form of inter-engaging chamfers or tapers on the opposed faces of the mounting member and ground-engaging member. Alternatively, the opposed faces of these members may carry axially-projecting stocks against which the other member bears as the ground engaging member pivots or flexes.
  • the ground-engaging member can be provided with a sleeve which extends axially to encompass at least part of the mounting member and/or the shank, and the clearance between the inner wall of the sleeve and the outer wall of the shank or mounting member permits flexing or pivoting of the ground engaging member until the sleeve engages the shank or mounting member.
  • the device of the invention preferably has radial symmetry, and the ground engaging member can flex or pivot through an angle of 5 to 20 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the shank in all directions.
  • the ground-engaging device of the invention is one which, by virtue of its ball-joint flexible coupling always sits flat to the engaging ground surface even on a compound angle, and which, because of its spring loading, has and an inbuilt shock-absorbing feature.
  • the walking aid of Figure 1 is a crutch of the type having an elongate shank (11) at the top - proximal - end is a half-ring arm support (12) below which is a fixed handle (13), and having at the bottom - distal - end a ground-engaging device (generally 14) of the invention.
  • the shank is "telescopic" - it is in two parts (upper: 11 u , and lower: 11 l ) mounted with the lower inside the upper and fixable therein using pins (not shown) through corresponding holes (as 15).
  • the ground-engaging device 14 - shown in detail in Figure 2 - has a sleeve-like mounting member (16) mounted onto a ground-engaging member (17) by way of a ball joint flexible coupling (see Figure 2).
  • the walking aid is show in engagement with the ground (18: at an angle), with the dashed view (19) indicating how far the crutch may lean and yet still have complete ground contact.
  • FIG. 2 shows the details of the ground-engaging device of the invention.
  • the device has a sleeve-like mounting member 16 within which can be received the distal end of the walking aid's shank (not shown), and at the distal end of which sleeve is the ball (21) of a ball joint.
  • the ball fits into a socket (22) in the proximal end of a ground-engaging member 17, and is held therein by a split retaining cap (23) secured in place by screws (as 24).
  • a shaped plunger/piston (25) that is urged into frictional engagement with the ball 21 by a spring (26) located in an extension (27) of the socket 22.
  • the plunger 25 can be pushed down against the spring 26, so providing the required degree of resilience and shock absorbency.
  • ground-engaging member 17 On the actual distal end of the ground-engaging member 17 is a non-slip ground-engaging pad (28).
  • FIG. 3 shows the details of an alternative form of ground-engaging member for use in the device of the invention.
  • the ground-engaging member (37) is "split" from top to bottom (horizontally, as actually depicted here) into two like parts (37 u ,37 l ), which fit together using a number of locating pins/recesses (as 39) to define a ball-retaing socket (22) in the proximal end.
  • the two halves are here welded together.
  • a shaped plunger/piston 25 that is urged into frictional engagement with the ball 21 (not shown in Figure 3) by a spring 26 located in an extension 27 of the socket 22, and on the actual distal end of the ground-engaging member 17 is a non-slip ground-engaging pad 28.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
  • Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol (14) destiné à être fixé à l'extrémité d'une béquille ou autre aide à la marche pour personne handicapée, la béquille ou autre aide ayant une tige s'étendant longitudinalement (11) sur l'extrémité distale de laquelle le dispositif d'engagement avec le sol (14) peut être monté, lequel dispositif comprend :
    un élément de montage (16) pouvant être monté sur la tige (11), et
    un élément d'engagement avec le sol (17) connecté à l'élément de montage par un moyen d'accouplement (21) qui durant l'utilisation permet la flexion de l'élément d'engagement avec le sol autour de l'axe longitudinal de la tige (11) ;
    l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17) et/ou l'élément de montage (16) est/sont munis de moyens pour limiter l'étendue de la flexion de l'élément d'engagement avec le sol par rapport à l'élément de montage ;
    l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17) incorpore une cavité (22), et
    le moyen d'accouplement (21 ) est un joint à rotule, dont la rotule (21 ) est attachée de manière fixe à l'élément de montage (16) et est retenue en rotation à l'intérieur de la cavité (22) dans l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17);
        caractérisé en ce que :
    un moyen de charge préliminaire élastique (26) est disposé à l'intérieur de la cavité (22, 27) de manière à s'engager avec la rotule (21 ) et fournir un certain degré d'amortissement de choc.
  2. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de montage (16) comprend un élément de manchon.
  3. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'élément de manchon (16) est un ajustement exact sur la tige (11).
  4. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17, 37) est formé en deux moitiés longitudinales convenablement formées (37u, 37l) qui sont ensuite rassemblées pour maintenir la rotule (22) emprisonnée entre elles.
  5. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les deux moitiés (37u, 37l) sont soudées ensemble.
  6. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le moyen de charge préliminaire (25, 26) dans la cavité de retenue de rotule (22) est un ressort (26) coopérant avec un plongeur/piston (25) en contact effectif avec la rotule (21).
  7. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17) porte un patin de caoutchouc ou similaire (28) afin de fournir une surface de frottement pour un engagement sûr avec le sol.
  8. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen pour limiter l'étendue de la flexion relative de l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17) et l'élément de montage (16) prend la forme de chanfreins ou de cônes s'engageant les uns avec les autres sur les faces opposées de l'élément de montage et de l'élément d'engagement avec le sol.
  9. Dispositif d'engagement avec le sol selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément d'engagement avec le sol (17) peut fléchir ou pivoter sur un angle de 5 à 20 degrés autour de l'axe longitudinal de la tige (11) dans tous les sens.
EP99308853A 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Dispositif d'aide à la marche Expired - Lifetime EP1097691B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9816302A GB2339682B (en) 1998-07-27 1998-07-27 Walking aid device
AT99308853T ATE251442T1 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-hilfsvorrichtung
EP99308853A EP1097691B1 (fr) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Dispositif d'aide à la marche
DE69911970T DE69911970T2 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung
ES99308853T ES2212475T3 (es) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Dispositivo de ayuda para caminar.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9816302A GB2339682B (en) 1998-07-27 1998-07-27 Walking aid device
EP99308853A EP1097691B1 (fr) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Dispositif d'aide à la marche

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1097691A1 EP1097691A1 (fr) 2001-05-09
EP1097691B1 true EP1097691B1 (fr) 2003-10-08

Family

ID=26153597

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99308853A Expired - Lifetime EP1097691B1 (fr) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Dispositif d'aide à la marche

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1097691B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE251442T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69911970T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2212475T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2339682B (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0717167D0 (en) 2007-09-04 2007-10-17 Goodwin David M Walking aids
CA2783395A1 (fr) * 2008-12-15 2010-06-24 Sidestix Ventures Inc. Dispositif d'assistance aux personnes a mobilite reduite
DE202017001390U1 (de) 2017-03-15 2017-03-22 Semen Schofmann Gehstock oder Unterarmgehstütze
DE102017002502B3 (de) 2017-03-15 2018-05-17 Semen Schofmann Gehstock oder Unterarmgehstütze

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL6006C (fr) * 1919-06-03
GB196117A (en) * 1922-01-26 1923-04-19 Harry Rivett Improvements relating to crutches, walking sticks and the like
US2453742A (en) * 1945-03-23 1948-11-16 Henry B Bowen Terminal attachment for crutches and the like
US3741226A (en) * 1971-09-30 1973-06-26 Lamico Inc Crutch tip with insert
GB1373593A (en) * 1973-03-20 1974-11-13 Thrift P A Glide for use on articles of furniture or the like
DE3004028C2 (de) * 1980-02-05 1983-07-28 Josef 5000 Köln Lottner Gleitschutzkörper für den Stock einer Gehhilfe
DE3039324A1 (de) * 1980-10-17 1982-09-30 Holger G. 7750 Konstanz Weber Fussteil fuer sicherheitsgeh- bzw. krueckstock
US4510957A (en) * 1981-08-05 1985-04-16 S & F Orthopadietechnik Gmbh Resilient support foot for walking aids, particularly crutches
FR2614529A1 (fr) * 1987-04-29 1988-11-04 Levasseur Daniel Canne du type " anglaise " ou analogue
GB2270627A (en) * 1992-09-17 1994-03-23 Alan Cunnick Walking aid
FR2715559B1 (fr) * 1994-01-31 1996-03-29 Daniel Levasseur Embout de sécurité pour cannes, béquilles ou analogues.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1097691A1 (fr) 2001-05-09
GB2339682B (en) 2000-06-28
DE69911970D1 (de) 2003-11-13
ES2212475T3 (es) 2004-07-16
ATE251442T1 (de) 2003-10-15
GB2339682A8 (en) 2000-03-14
GB9816302D0 (en) 1998-09-23
GB2339682A (en) 2000-02-09
DE69911970T2 (de) 2004-09-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9801776B2 (en) Crutch
US4708154A (en) Nonslip crutch foot assembly
US7025072B2 (en) Walking aid
US9955760B2 (en) Adaptive pivoting and impact reduction tip assembly for walking aids
US5103850A (en) Radial crutch tip assembly
JP5343256B2 (ja) 歩行補助具
US6216713B1 (en) Support device having interchangeable tips
US8060975B2 (en) Paint roller
US7270138B2 (en) Joint mechanism
US7637274B1 (en) Articulating glide assembly
US20110240077A1 (en) Assistive mobility device
US5699819A (en) Reduced impact cane
US20100024857A1 (en) Crutch
EP1097691B1 (fr) Dispositif d'aide à la marche
US6378540B2 (en) Walking assistance device and walking assistance attachment for the device
US9974367B2 (en) Base structure for walking stick
GB2131683A (en) Walking aid foot device
US9492838B2 (en) Pretensioner pivot device
GB2494906A (en) A support foot having a resiliently biased pivot
KR200444189Y1 (ko) 시각 장애인용 지팡이
US20140090678A1 (en) Protective glide for medical walker legs
CA2082115A1 (fr) Canne a crampon retractable
CN210020216U (zh) 帕金森患者用拐杖
CN209933421U (zh) 一种防滑可伸缩的多功能腋拐
EP0212772A2 (fr) Béquilles

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 CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20011107

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

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 CY DE DK ES FI 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: FI

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: 20031008

Ref country code: AT

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: 20031008

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

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: 20031105

Ref country code: CY

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: 20031105

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69911970

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20031113

Kind code of ref document: P

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: 20031130

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

Ref country code: SE

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: 20040108

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: 20040108

Ref country code: DK

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: 20040108

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

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20040223

Year of fee payment: 5

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2212475

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: BOVARD AG PATENTANWAELTE

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

Effective date: 20040709

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: 20041105

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

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20050916

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20051006

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20051108

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20051116

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20051128

Year of fee payment: 7

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 728V

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

Effective date: 20051105

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20061123

Year of fee payment: 8

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: 20061130

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20061130

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20061130

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20061130

Year of fee payment: 8

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 728Y

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: 20070601

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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

Effective date: 20070601

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20070731

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *YOUDE TRACY DIANE

Effective date: 20061130

Owner name: *ROBINS JACQUELINE ANN

Effective date: 20061130

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

Ref country code: PT

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

Effective date: 20040308

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20061106

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: 20061130

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20061106

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: 20080603

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: 20071105

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

Effective date: 20091105

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: S28

Free format text: APPLICATION 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: 20091105

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: S28

Free format text: RESTORATION ALLOWED

Effective date: 20110107

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20141029

Year of fee payment: 16

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

Effective date: 20151105

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: 20151105