EP1224125B1 - Divisible multi-carton package - Google Patents

Divisible multi-carton package Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1224125B1
EP1224125B1 EP00974432A EP00974432A EP1224125B1 EP 1224125 B1 EP1224125 B1 EP 1224125B1 EP 00974432 A EP00974432 A EP 00974432A EP 00974432 A EP00974432 A EP 00974432A EP 1224125 B1 EP1224125 B1 EP 1224125B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panel
adjacent
bottom panel
lateral side
weakness
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
EP00974432A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1224125A1 (en
Inventor
Paula Lynn Unilever H. & P. Care USA RECORD
Shane Kenneth Unilever H & P Care USA BERTSCH
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.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
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 Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP1224125A1 publication Critical patent/EP1224125A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1224125B1 publication Critical patent/EP1224125B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D71/00Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/06Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • B65D71/36Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D5/00Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/54Lines of weakness to facilitate opening of container or dividing it into separate parts by cutting or tearing
    • B65D5/5445Lines of weakness to facilitate opening of container or dividing it into separate parts by cutting or tearing for dividing a tubular body into separate parts
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00129Wrapper locking means
    • B65D2571/00135Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00141Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper glued
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00555Wrapper opening devices
    • B65D2571/00561Lines of weakness
    • B65D2571/00567Lines of weakness defining a narrow removable strip
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00648Elements used to form the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00654Blanks
    • B65D2571/0066Blanks formed from one single sheet
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00709Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
    • B65D2571/00722Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface
    • B65D2571/00728Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface the end walls being closed by gluing
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00833Other details of wrappers
    • B65D2571/00864Lines of weakness for separating into subgroups

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multi-carton package especially useful for shipping bottles.
  • the package may be readily divided into separate packs or cartons.
  • the packs include easy opening tabs.
  • a blank for the package and a method of folding the blank into a package is also provided.
  • each carton may be varied in size.
  • the size of the carton may be varied, so that more or less than six bottles, or other containers can be included in each carton.
  • the package may be made so that it can be split into more than two cartons.
  • U.S. Patent No. 2,998,179 (Zilles) describes a multicompartment carton having a rib separating the compartments. A flange extends from the rib and is adhered to one inside panel of the carton. An end of a second panel is adhered to the outside of a third panel.
  • U.S. Patent No. 1,898,231 (Weiss) illustrates a multicompartment carton having a partition with an attaching flap and attaching wall which is continuous with a side wall of the carton.
  • Patents disclosing weakened portions defined by scores or cuts include U.S. Patent No. 2,828,060 (Brown), U.S. Patent No. 3,015,432 (Tyrseck); U.S. Patent Nos. 3,491,937 and 3,719,317 (Brastad) and U.S. Patent No. 2,259,822 (Kienlen).
  • Other cartons are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,852,180; 2,881,968; 2,884,180; 2,936,104; and 2,992,767.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,261,536 (Bixler) discloses a carton having a delamination portion on a flap.
  • U.S. Patent No. 2,936,104 (De Blaere) discloses a slit which extends only partially through the carton structure forming the front wall and provides a weakened outer surface area to aid opening of the carton and to prevent peeling of the front wall when the carton is opened.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,505,370 (Brown et al ) discloses a multi-carton package which may be readily divided into separate cartons by the consumer.
  • the present invention relates to a package comprising at least two detachable cartons.
  • the package of the invention is preferably formed from a single integral blank and the two detachable cartons share a top panel having a line of weakness through which the cartons may be separated.
  • Each of the two cartons includes a lateral side panel, a bottom panel, a medial side panel and a glue flap extending from the medial side panel.
  • Each of the glue flaps is adhered to a respective portion of the top panel.
  • the cartons include front and rear opening flaps.
  • the front opening flaps include lift tabs.
  • the package of the invention utilises the materials of the blank very efficiently.
  • the package also allows ready separation of the cartons and facile opening of the carton flaps for access to product.
  • top refers to the side of the package to which the first and second glue flap described below are adhered by glue.
  • glue flap refers to a glue flap as described below, which is adhered to another surface of the package by glue or other adhesive.
  • the package 10 (see Figs.2 and 3) comprises a first carton 12 and a second carton 14.
  • a first carton 12 comprises top panel 16 (see Figure 1) which includes adjacent top sub-panels, 18 and 20, first proximal lateral side panel 23, first bottom panel 26, and first medial lateral side panel 28.
  • First glue flap 30 extends from panel 28 and is adhered to the underside of the first top sub-panel 18.
  • a second carton 14 comprises a second top sub-panel 20, a second proximal lateral side panel 34, a second bottom panel 36, and second medial lateral side panel 38.
  • a Second glue flap 40 extends from the second medial lateral side panel 38 and is adhered to the bottom of second top sub-panel 20.
  • a perforated cut line 42 separates the first top sub-panel 18 from the second top sub-panel 20.
  • a first front closing flap 46 is connected by a folding line to top sub-panels 18 and 20 and said first front closing flap is divided by a line of weakness 42 which is continuous with the line of weakness 42 dividing top sub-panels 18 and 20.
  • a second front closing flap 96 is connected by a folding line to the opposite end of top sub-panels 18 and 20 and said second front closing flap 96 is divided by a line of weakness 42 which is continuous with the line of weakness 42 dividing top sub-panels 18 and 20.
  • Side lateral closing flaps 48 and 50 are attached by folding lines to opposite ends of first proximal lateral side panel 23.
  • Side lateral closing flaps 52 and 54 are attached by folding lines to opposite ends of second proximal lateral side panel 34.
  • Side lateral closing flaps 60 and 64 are attached via folding lines to opposite ends of bottom panel 26.
  • Side lateral closing sub-flaps 62 and 66 are attached via lines of weakness 80 to side lateral closing flaps 60 and 64 respectively.
  • the package is assembled by folding the blank as shown in figure 1 and as described below.
  • the package is assembled by folding bottom panels 26 and 36 so that they are facing and parallel to top sub-panels 18 and 20, folding distal side flap 28 and distal side flap 38 perpendicular to bottom panels 26 and 36 and top sub-panels 18 and 20.
  • Glue flaps 30 and 40 are adhered to top sub-panels 18 and 20, respectively.
  • Bottom sub-flap 62 overlaps and adheres to bottom closing flap 68 and bottom sub-flap 66 overlaps and adheres to bottom closing flap 70.
  • closing flaps 60, 48, 46, 52, 68, 70, 54, 96, 50, 64 and 30 are then closed.
  • the bottom closing flaps 96 and 46 are closed after side lateral closing flaps 48, 50, 52, and 54 are closed.
  • Two cartons can be broken out from the thus formed package by breaking the lines of weakness 42 and 80. Since the lines of weakness 42 runs parallel with the line where medial side panels 28 and 38 contact top sub-panels 18 and 20 respectively, breaking this line of weakness reveals the top ends of the two contained cartons. Since the lines of weakness 80 run parallel to the line where the two medial side panels rest against each other, or come close to each other, breaking this line of weakness exposes the back ends of the two contained cartons.
  • Lines of weakness 90 and 100 are for opening each carton after it has been detached from the original package.
  • each fold line between said glue flap and each medial lateral side panel may contain a large perforation such that when the package is assembled a portion of said respective large perforations overlap.
  • the resulting opening can be used to carry the package when just that portion of the line of weakness over it and between the two top sub-panels has been opened.
  • the major and/or minor flaps may be shied. That is, their length in the direction facing the opposing flap is shortened to conserve paperboard.
  • the carton may be made of paperboard, coated paperboard, or any other appropriate material. Hot melt or chemical adhesive such as glue may be used to adhere portions of the carton together.
  • An appropriate coating would be a low density polyethylene extrusion coating.
  • the blank may be made by methods known in the art, or by methods analogous to those known in the art, out of materials that are known in the art or are analogous to those known in the art.
  • the lines of weakness could divide both lateral side panels, running parallel to the folding lines attaching the lateral and top panel, and the medial side panels could be rearranged so that the lines of weakness on each lateral side panel ran parallel to the line where the two medial side panels rested against each other or came close to each other.
  • the medial side panels would be attached to each of the lateral side panels in this case. In this case, of course, the carton would be broken in a different direction into two cartons.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP00974432A 1999-10-26 2000-10-19 Divisible multi-carton package Expired - Lifetime EP1224125B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16144299P 1999-10-26 1999-10-26
US161442P 1999-10-26
PCT/EP2000/010376 WO2001030659A1 (en) 1999-10-26 2000-10-19 Divisible multi-carton package

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1224125A1 EP1224125A1 (en) 2002-07-24
EP1224125B1 true EP1224125B1 (en) 2004-06-16

Family

ID=22581187

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00974432A Expired - Lifetime EP1224125B1 (en) 1999-10-26 2000-10-19 Divisible multi-carton package

Country Status (13)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1224125B1 (hu)
JP (1) JP4474084B2 (hu)
AR (1) AR026218A1 (hu)
AT (1) ATE269253T1 (hu)
AU (1) AU752870B2 (hu)
BR (1) BR0015109A (hu)
CA (1) CA2388874C (hu)
DE (1) DE60011655T2 (hu)
HU (1) HU224049B1 (hu)
MX (1) MXPA02004202A (hu)
PL (1) PL203135B1 (hu)
WO (1) WO2001030659A1 (hu)
ZA (1) ZA200203260B (hu)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2845353B1 (fr) * 2002-10-02 2005-01-14 Smurfit Socar Sa Perfectionnements apportes a des emballages en carton ondule comportant des parois verticales en position de gerbage
DE60308008T2 (de) * 2003-07-07 2007-02-08 Smurfit Kappa France Sas Verfahren zur Verpackung von Flaschen in einem Verpackungsbehälter aus einem halbstarren Material, ohne Zwischeneinlageorgange zwischen den Flaschen
US7373765B2 (en) 2004-02-26 2008-05-20 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Shipping carton with pull tabs and tear strip
NL1027998C2 (nl) 2005-01-11 2006-07-12 Heineken Tech Services Drukregelinrichting voor een container en container voorzien van een dergelijke drukregelinrichting.
WO2009006096A2 (en) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-08 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carton with divider
PL2913281T3 (pl) 2010-07-09 2017-08-31 Intercontinental Great Brands Llc Opakowanie dla ułożonych sztuk produktu mających oddzielany wzór rozmieszczenia
US9132936B2 (en) 2012-03-29 2015-09-15 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carton with tray
US9284090B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2016-03-15 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Divider for package
WO2016201046A1 (en) 2015-06-11 2016-12-15 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carton with divider
US10017293B2 (en) 2015-07-29 2018-07-10 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Modular carton
WO2017120301A1 (en) 2016-01-05 2017-07-13 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carrier for containers
EP3999435A4 (en) 2019-07-18 2023-08-16 Graphic Packaging International, LLC CARTON INCLUDING FASTENERS

Family Cites Families (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1898231A (en) 1931-12-04 1933-02-21 Robert Gair Co Inc Carton
US2259822A (en) 1939-04-21 1941-10-21 Container Corp Carton
US2697544A (en) 1951-06-21 1954-12-21 Morand Emil Plural compartment box formed from a single blank of sheet material
US2828060A (en) 1955-06-14 1958-03-25 Nat Paper Box Ltd Reclosable carton
US2992767A (en) 1956-04-18 1961-07-18 Bloomer Bros Co Collapsible carton
US2936104A (en) 1956-06-01 1960-05-10 Bloomer Bros Co Collapsible carton
US2884180A (en) 1956-06-01 1959-04-28 Bloomer Bros Co Collapsible carton
US2881968A (en) 1956-06-06 1959-04-14 Bloomer Bros Co Collapsible carton
US2852180A (en) 1957-12-16 1958-09-16 Bloomer Bros Co Collapsible carton
US3015432A (en) 1958-02-19 1962-01-02 Robertson Paper Box Company In Dispensing carrier
US2998179A (en) 1958-10-06 1961-08-29 Frank P Zilles Carton construction
US3113713A (en) 1961-09-29 1963-12-10 West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co Glue lap closure
US3143273A (en) * 1962-04-04 1964-08-04 St Regis Paper Co Multi-box like container
US3135457A (en) 1963-01-18 1964-06-02 Edward J Risucci Plural carton containing separable units
US3182887A (en) 1963-07-29 1965-05-11 Crown Zellerbach Corp Container
US3261536A (en) 1964-11-09 1966-07-19 Diamond Int Corp Cover sealed leakproof carton
US3491937A (en) 1968-05-17 1970-01-27 Gen Mills Inc Easily openable carton
US3719317A (en) 1970-05-04 1973-03-06 Gen Mills Inc Easily openable carton with elongated adherence areas near the side edges of the overlapped flap
US4919269A (en) * 1988-11-18 1990-04-24 The Mead Corporation Multiple compartment container
US5699957A (en) * 1993-04-21 1997-12-23 The Mead Corporation Multiple compartment separable container
US5579911A (en) * 1994-11-17 1996-12-03 Werth; Elmer D. Detachable side by side multi-unit package
US5505370A (en) 1994-12-27 1996-04-09 Lever Brothers Company, Division Of Conopco, Inc. Carton having separate compartments
GB2322349B (en) 1997-02-22 2000-06-21 British Sisalkraft Packaging material

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR0015109A (pt) 2002-07-23
JP2003526578A (ja) 2003-09-09
CA2388874A1 (en) 2001-05-03
AR026218A1 (es) 2003-01-29
DE60011655D1 (de) 2004-07-22
ZA200203260B (en) 2003-04-24
ATE269253T1 (de) 2004-07-15
PL203135B1 (pl) 2009-08-31
PL354931A1 (en) 2004-03-22
JP4474084B2 (ja) 2010-06-02
DE60011655T2 (de) 2004-11-11
HU224049B1 (hu) 2005-05-30
HUP0203147A3 (en) 2003-10-28
HUP0203147A2 (hu) 2003-01-28
MXPA02004202A (es) 2002-10-17
EP1224125A1 (en) 2002-07-24
WO2001030659A1 (en) 2001-05-03
AU752870B2 (en) 2002-10-03
CA2388874C (en) 2007-09-11
AU1274301A (en) 2001-05-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2032463B1 (en) Carton having dispensing configurations
US8550332B2 (en) Carton with opening feature and blank
US5484100A (en) Tapered, hexagonal paperboard carton
EP2032450B1 (en) Method of dispensing generally cylindrical containers from a carton
US7648061B2 (en) Carton with dispenser
US20070295789A1 (en) Carton Having Dispenser and Handle
CA2767672C (en) Carton with product holding compartments
US10472120B2 (en) Carton with reclosable top
WO2011026010A2 (en) Carton with handle
EP1224125B1 (en) Divisible multi-carton package
WO2021041482A1 (en) Carton with tamper-evident feature
WO2007130538A2 (en) Carton with vent openings, blank and folding method
US7163139B2 (en) Carton and carton blank
CA3187598A1 (en) Shipping and dispensing construct
US8955737B2 (en) Split carton
WO2015054442A1 (en) Separable carton and carton blank
US20240067390A1 (en) Divider Construct For Cartons, Related Systems And Methods
US20230348131A1 (en) Carton With Article Retention Features

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: 20020418

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

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20030306

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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: LI

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: 20040616

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20040616

Ref country code: CH

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: 20040616

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: 20040616

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: 20040616

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: 20040616

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: 20040616

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: 20040616

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

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60011655

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040722

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

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: 20040916

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: 20040916

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: 20040916

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

Effective date: 20040927

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: 20041019

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20041019

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: 20041031

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension

Effective date: 20040616

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: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

ET Fr: translation filed
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

Effective date: 20050317

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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: 20041116

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20091028

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20091026

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20091029

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Effective date: 20101019

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: 20101102

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20110630

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: 20101019

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60011655

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20110502

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: 20110502