EP1648789A1 - Reclosable packaging bag and production method thereof - Google Patents

Reclosable packaging bag and production method thereof

Info

Publication number
EP1648789A1
EP1648789A1 EP04731557A EP04731557A EP1648789A1 EP 1648789 A1 EP1648789 A1 EP 1648789A1 EP 04731557 A EP04731557 A EP 04731557A EP 04731557 A EP04731557 A EP 04731557A EP 1648789 A1 EP1648789 A1 EP 1648789A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bag
packaging
strip
extensible
reclosable
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
EP04731557A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1648789B1 (en
Inventor
Eddy Daelmans
Jan Geudens
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.)
Amcor Flexibles ApS
Original Assignee
Amcor Flexibles Europe AS
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 Amcor Flexibles Europe AS filed Critical Amcor Flexibles Europe AS
Priority to EP04731557A priority Critical patent/EP1648789B1/en
Publication of EP1648789A1 publication Critical patent/EP1648789A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1648789B1 publication Critical patent/EP1648789B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/1616—Elements constricting the neck of the bag
    • B65D33/165—Flexible elongated elements integral with or attached to bags or sacks ; Fastening thereof to the bag before closing

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a reclosable packaging bag, usually but not exclusively, produced in a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process (VFFS/HFFS) and to a method for its production.
  • VFFS/HFFS vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process
  • Herrington in US patent 4,913,560 discloses an adhesive coated plastic tape welded on the outside of a plastic bag and protected by a brittle coating material. In use, the tape is manually stretched causing the brittle coating to crack and separate, exposing the adhesive. The tape is then wrapped around the neck of the bag to close it.
  • Burke in the document WO 00/73162 Al discloses a reclosable bag comprising towards its closed ends a fixed elastic strip with an extensibility sufficient to enable it to be stretched and to make a turn around the longest dimension of the bag when filled.
  • the elastic strip is a rubber material with reversible elastomeric behaviour and low plasticity fixed outside the bag. The elastic strip can only be turned once around the reclosable bag.
  • Document GB-A-2 347 137 discloses a bag with elongate flexible closure member wherein the torn-off piece is not fixed to the closure ribbon. To enable the end to be drawn out, the ribbon is torn out at a perforated line. In this case, the ribbon itself has a tear initiation, possibly detrimental to a VFFS/HFFS process.
  • Fig.l and Fig.2 show respectively the front side and the backside of a VFFS bag with an extensible strip fixed at his ends at the inside of the bag in the cross seal area.
  • Fig.3 shows four-side seal VFFS bag with an extensible strip sealed at his ends at the inside of the bag in the cross seal area.
  • Fig.4 shows the front side of a bag with an extensible strip sealed at his ends at the inside of the bag in the cross seal area, said strip being longer than the cut-off of the bag.
  • Fig.5 shows same as Fig.l with a laser perforation as opening initiation and/or as tear guide.
  • Fig.6 shows the opened bag with torn off piece of the bag with attached strip.
  • Fig.7 shows the stretching (elongation) of the extensible strip needing therefore good elongation and plasticity characteristics.
  • Fig.8 shows the stretched strip rolled around the opened bag.
  • Fig.9 shows the elongated strip rolled around the opened bag and torn off piece of the bag under the strings of the rolled around strip.
  • Fig.10 shows the elongated strip rolled around
  • FIG.11 is a schematic representation of a VFFS packaging machine with the extensible strip fed between form shoulder/filling pipe and bag packaging material.
  • Fig.12 shows a particular embodiment of the present invention wherein the opening initiation, including the extensible strip in the upper cross seal of the bag, is not identical with the opening initiation of the bag destined to remove the content of the bag.
  • Fig.13 shows where the opening initiation, including the extensible strip in the upper cross seal of the bag, is removed with the whole upper part of the bag while said strip and upper part remains connected to the original bag.
  • the aim of the present invention is to disclose a reclosable pack obtainable for example by a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process without major accommodations of the pack machinery and without a major cost increase of the final pack.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to disclose a packaging wherein the tearable part of the bag remains connected to the original bag after opening it to avoid waste management problems .
  • the present invention discloses a reclosable packaging bag comprising inside its cross or longitudinal sealed ends and either inside or outside the bag an extensible strip, said strip having a substantially irreversible extensibility to at least twice its original length, sufficient to enable said strip to reclose said packaging by turning it at least once around said bag, characterised in that said packaging comprises an opening initiation allowing to tear a part of the packaging and that the torn off part of said packaging is still attached to said extensible strip after opening said bag.
  • the strip is heat sealed and/or glued in the cross seals or in the longitudinal seals.
  • the extensible strip is heat sealed and/or glued in the cross seals at both ends of said strip.
  • a key aspect of the present invention is that the opening initiation to tear a part of the packaging is a part of said extensible strip.
  • the packaging further comprises in the upper cross seal of the bag an additional opening initiation of the bag destined to open the bag in order to remove the content of the bag.
  • the packaging is a plastic and/or paper bag or a combination of it.
  • the present invention discloses a method for the production of a reclosable packaging bag characterised in that an extensible strip of high plasticity is heat sealed inside or in the seams of said bag during a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process .
  • the reclosable packaging of the present invention can be produced on common horizontal and/or vertical form, fill and seal processing machines by adding to the normal packaging material an extensible strip 4 of high plasticity running at the inside of the packaging material 1.
  • the principle of such machinery is shown in Fig.11.
  • Non limitative examples of packaging materials are films of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, PVC, polystyrene, their copolymers and blendings in mono or multilayer combinations with paper, metallized coatings, etc .
  • the extensible strip 4 of high plasticity is proceeded in polymers well known by those skilled in the art and related to the properties of high elongation at break values and high plasticity.
  • the elongation percentage must be as high as possible and at least higher than 200%, and preferably higher than 400% and most preferably up to 1000%.
  • Non limitative examples of such polymers are polyolefins and in particular homogeneously branched polyolefins obtained by metallocene catalysis exhibiting very good elongation at break values (LDPE, LLDPE, VLDPE) , polyethylene and/or polypropylene copolymers and their modified versions, in particular EVA, EMA and EBA, polyurethanes, polyethers, modified polystyrene, PVC and his copolymers, etc.
  • the extensible strip 4 is generally sealed or glued together at his both ends with the rest of the packaging material in the cross directional seal area 5 of the VFFS/HFFS bag.
  • the possible seals for this kind of packaging are well known by those skilled in the art.
  • Non limitative examples are cold and heat seal coatings such as hot melts, PVDC coatings, acrylic coatings (MB666 of Mobil Plastics), latex-based cold sealing coatings, etc.
  • an opening initiation (3, 9) such as for example a pre-cut or a laser perforation for tear guidance is made in the top of the packaging next to the Kau position of the extensible strip 4. In that way, by opening (tearing) the package, the torn off piece 11 of this pack remains connected to the extensible strip 4 while the other end of said strip 4 is fixed on the bottom inside the pack (bottom seal) in the cross seal area 5.
  • the extensible strip 4 is pulled out of the pack by means of holding and pulling of the torn off piece of the pack and elongated by at least a factor 2, preferably 4 and most preferably 10.
  • the target of this operation is to achieve an elongated strip 4, which is long enough to roll it over the opened packaging bag 1.
  • the over-rolled strip 4 can be fixed by putting the torn off piece of the bag 11 attached to said strip 4 under the strings created by rolling the strip over the packaging bag 1. In this way, the pack can be closed as described above and re-opened by untying the string.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reclosable packaging bag (1) comprising, inside its cross and/or longitudinally sealed ends and/or inside the bag an extensible strip (4) of high plasticity appearing only after the opening of said bag, said strip having a substantially irreversible extensibility to a multiple of his original length, sufficient to enable said strip to reclose said packaging by turning it at least once around said bag. <IMAGE>

Description

RECLOSABLE PACKAGING BAG AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF
Field of the invention [0001] The present invention is related to a reclosable packaging bag, usually but not exclusively, produced in a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process (VFFS/HFFS) and to a method for its production.
Background of the invention and state of the art [0002] Sealed plastic and coated paper bags are widely used in various application fields. In general, only part of their contents are used immediately upon the initial opening. Therefore a strong request for reclosable packaging bags, in particular for frozen goods, exists. [0003] A lot of ideas to reclose a bag have been disclosed in the literature. Well known examples by those skilled in the art are plastic zipper or pressure sensitive tape at the top open neck of a bag. Most of these known solutions suffer from cost point of vue, in particular for cheap one-way food packaging such as those produced in high capacity vertical or horizontal form, fill and seal packaging machines (VFFS/HFFS) .
[0004] Herrington in US patent 4,913,560 discloses an adhesive coated plastic tape welded on the outside of a plastic bag and protected by a brittle coating material. In use, the tape is manually stretched causing the brittle coating to crack and separate, exposing the adhesive. The tape is then wrapped around the neck of the bag to close it. [0005] Burke in the document WO 00/73162 Al discloses a reclosable bag comprising towards its closed ends a fixed elastic strip with an extensibility sufficient to enable it to be stretched and to make a turn around the longest dimension of the bag when filled. The elastic strip is a rubber material with reversible elastomeric behaviour and low plasticity fixed outside the bag. The elastic strip can only be turned once around the reclosable bag. [0006] Document GB-A-2 347 137 discloses a bag with elongate flexible closure member wherein the torn-off piece is not fixed to the closure ribbon. To enable the end to be drawn out, the ribbon is torn out at a perforated line. In this case, the ribbon itself has a tear initiation, possibly detrimental to a VFFS/HFFS process.
Description of the figures [0007] For the purpose of facilitating and understanding of the present invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying Figures 1 to 10 and 12, 13 several views of bags or parts thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
[0008] Fig.l and Fig.2 show respectively the front side and the backside of a VFFS bag with an extensible strip fixed at his ends at the inside of the bag in the cross seal area. [0009] Fig.3 shows four-side seal VFFS bag with an extensible strip sealed at his ends at the inside of the bag in the cross seal area.
[0010] Fig.4 shows the front side of a bag with an extensible strip sealed at his ends at the inside of the bag in the cross seal area, said strip being longer than the cut-off of the bag. [0011] Fig.5 shows same as Fig.l with a laser perforation as opening initiation and/or as tear guide. [0012] Fig.6 shows the opened bag with torn off piece of the bag with attached strip. [0013] Fig.7 shows the stretching (elongation) of the extensible strip needing therefore good elongation and plasticity characteristics. [0014] Fig.8 shows the stretched strip rolled around the opened bag. [0015] Fig.9 shows the elongated strip rolled around the opened bag and torn off piece of the bag under the strings of the rolled around strip. [0016] Fig.10 shows the elongated strip rolled around
"the neck" of opened bag and torn off piece of the bag under the strings of the rolled strip. [0017] Fig.11 is a schematic representation of a VFFS packaging machine with the extensible strip fed between form shoulder/filling pipe and bag packaging material. [0018] Fig.12 shows a particular embodiment of the present invention wherein the opening initiation, including the extensible strip in the upper cross seal of the bag, is not identical with the opening initiation of the bag destined to remove the content of the bag. [0019] Fig.13 shows where the opening initiation, including the extensible strip in the upper cross seal of the bag, is removed with the whole upper part of the bag while said strip and upper part remains connected to the original bag.
Aims of the invention
[0020] The aim of the present invention is to disclose a reclosable pack obtainable for example by a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process without major accommodations of the pack machinery and without a major cost increase of the final pack. [0021] Another aim of the present invention is to disclose a packaging wherein the tearable part of the bag remains connected to the original bag after opening it to avoid waste management problems .
Summary of the invention [0022] The present invention discloses a reclosable packaging bag comprising inside its cross or longitudinal sealed ends and either inside or outside the bag an extensible strip, said strip having a substantially irreversible extensibility to at least twice its original length, sufficient to enable said strip to reclose said packaging by turning it at least once around said bag, characterised in that said packaging comprises an opening initiation allowing to tear a part of the packaging and that the torn off part of said packaging is still attached to said extensible strip after opening said bag. [0023] According to a first aspect of the present invention the strip is heat sealed and/or glued in the cross seals or in the longitudinal seals. [0024] According to a second aspect of the present invention the extensible strip is heat sealed and/or glued in the cross seals at both ends of said strip.
[0025] A key aspect of the present invention is that the opening initiation to tear a part of the packaging is a part of said extensible strip. [0026] A particular embodiment of this invention is that the packaging further comprises in the upper cross seal of the bag an additional opening initiation of the bag destined to open the bag in order to remove the content of the bag. [0027] According to the present invention, the packaging is a plastic and/or paper bag or a combination of it. [0028] Finally the present invention discloses a method for the production of a reclosable packaging bag characterised in that an extensible strip of high plasticity is heat sealed inside or in the seams of said bag during a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process .
Detailed description of the invention [0029] The reclosable packaging of the present invention can be produced on common horizontal and/or vertical form, fill and seal processing machines by adding to the normal packaging material an extensible strip 4 of high plasticity running at the inside of the packaging material 1. The principle of such machinery is shown in Fig.11. Non limitative examples of packaging materials are films of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, PVC, polystyrene, their copolymers and blendings in mono or multilayer combinations with paper, metallized coatings, etc . [0030] The extensible strip 4 of high plasticity is proceeded in polymers well known by those skilled in the art and related to the properties of high elongation at break values and high plasticity. The elongation percentage must be as high as possible and at least higher than 200%, and preferably higher than 400% and most preferably up to 1000%. Non limitative examples of such polymers are polyolefins and in particular homogeneously branched polyolefins obtained by metallocene catalysis exhibiting very good elongation at break values (LDPE, LLDPE, VLDPE) , polyethylene and/or polypropylene copolymers and their modified versions, in particular EVA, EMA and EBA, polyurethanes, polyethers, modified polystyrene, PVC and his copolymers, etc. Depending on the size of the bag and the type of the content, an adequate choice balancing .good irreversible elongation properties, thickness, eventually food related constraints, and price, must be targeted. [0031] The extensible strip 4, is generally sealed or glued together at his both ends with the rest of the packaging material in the cross directional seal area 5 of the VFFS/HFFS bag. The possible seals for this kind of packaging are well known by those skilled in the art. Non limitative examples are cold and heat seal coatings such as hot melts, PVDC coatings, acrylic coatings (MB666 of Mobil Plastics), latex-based cold sealing coatings, etc. [0032] Additionally, an opening initiation (3, 9) such as for example a pre-cut or a laser perforation for tear guidance is made in the top of the packaging next to the „ position of the extensible strip 4. In that way, by opening (tearing) the package, the torn off piece 11 of this pack remains connected to the extensible strip 4 while the other end of said strip 4 is fixed on the bottom inside the pack (bottom seal) in the cross seal area 5.
[0033] This is an additional advantage of the present invention, namely the tearable piece 11, usually directly thrown away by the user, is not irreversibly separated from the original bag 1 which makes the general waste problems more manageable.
[0034] After removing a part of the content of the bag of the present invention, the extensible strip 4 is pulled out of the pack by means of holding and pulling of the torn off piece of the pack and elongated by at least a factor 2, preferably 4 and most preferably 10. The target of this operation is to achieve an elongated strip 4, which is long enough to roll it over the opened packaging bag 1. Finally the over-rolled strip 4 can be fixed by putting the torn off piece of the bag 11 attached to said strip 4 under the strings created by rolling the strip over the packaging bag 1. In this way, the pack can be closed as described above and re-opened by untying the string. [0035] Legend
1. Bag
2. Cross-seal
3. Opening initiation by pre-cut
4. Extensible strip 5. Cross seal area comprising the extensible strip
6. Longitudinal seal
7. Four-side seal bag with extensible strip at the inside
8. Four-side seal area's
9. Laser perforation as opening initiation 10. Tear from opening initiation until side of bag
11. Torn off piece of the bag comprising one end of the strip
12. Filling pipe
13. „ Packaging material bag 14. Form shoulder 15. Longitudinal seal jaws
16. Cross seal jaws + cutting knife
17. Finished VFFS bag
18. Roll of extensible strip
19. Pre-perforation for top opening

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Reclosable packaging bag (1) comprising inside its cross or longitudinal sealed ends and either inside or outside the bag an extensible strip (4) , said strip (4) having a substantially irreversible extensibility to at least twice its original length, sufficient to enable said strip (4) to reclose said packaging by turning it at least once around said bag (1) , characterised in that said packaging (1) comprises an opening initiation (3, 9) allowing to tear a part of the packaging and in that the torn off part (11) of said packaging (1) is still attached to said extensible strip (4) after opening said bag (1) . 2. Reclosable packaging bag (1) as in claim 1 characterised in that said extensible strip (4) is heat sealed and/or glued in the cross seals or in the longitudinal seals. «- 3. Reclosable packaging bag (1) as in claim 1 characterised in that said extensible strip (4) is heat sealed and/or glued in the cross seals at both ends of said strip (4) . 4. Reclosable packaging as in claim 1 characterised in that said opening initiation (3, 9) allowing to tear a part of the packaging (1) is a part of said extensible strip (4) . 5. Reclosable packaging as in claim 1 characterised in that said packaging further comprises in the upper cross seal of the bag (1) an additional opening initiation of the bag destined to open the bag in order to remove the content of the bag. 6. Reclosable packaging as in claim 1 characterised in that said packaging is a plastic and/or paper bag or a combination of it. 7. Method for the production of a reclosable packaging bag (1) characterised in that an extensible strip (4) of high plasticity is heat sealed inside or in the seams of said bag during a vertical and/or horizontal form, fill and seal process.
EP04731557A 2003-07-25 2004-05-07 Reclosable packaging bag Expired - Lifetime EP1648789B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04731557A EP1648789B1 (en) 2003-07-25 2004-05-07 Reclosable packaging bag

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03447198A EP1500601A1 (en) 2003-07-25 2003-07-25 Reclosable packaging bag and production method thereof
EP04731557A EP1648789B1 (en) 2003-07-25 2004-05-07 Reclosable packaging bag
PCT/BE2004/000067 WO2005009851A1 (en) 2003-07-25 2004-05-07 Reclosable packaging bag and production method thereof

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1648789A1 true EP1648789A1 (en) 2006-04-26
EP1648789B1 EP1648789B1 (en) 2009-04-15

Family

ID=33484106

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03447198A Withdrawn EP1500601A1 (en) 2003-07-25 2003-07-25 Reclosable packaging bag and production method thereof
EP04731557A Expired - Lifetime EP1648789B1 (en) 2003-07-25 2004-05-07 Reclosable packaging bag

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03447198A Withdrawn EP1500601A1 (en) 2003-07-25 2003-07-25 Reclosable packaging bag and production method thereof

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1500601A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE428646T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602004020626D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2323424T3 (en)
RU (1) RU2006103236A (en)
WO (1) WO2005009851A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007328872A (en) * 2006-06-08 2007-12-20 Hitachi Ltd Information recording medium housing system and housing case
US7681732B2 (en) 2008-01-11 2010-03-23 Cryovac, Inc. Laminated lidstock
DE102011075466A1 (en) 2011-05-06 2012-11-08 Constantia Hueck Folien Gmbh & Co. Kg Packaging composite film and packaging
FR3021034B1 (en) * 2014-05-15 2017-05-12 S2F Flexico FORMING-FILLING-SEALING MACHINE FOR RIBBON BAG

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2742382C2 (en) * 1977-09-21 1983-12-01 Melitta-Werke Bentz & Sohn, 4950 Minden Plastic film bag open on one side, especially for waste
US4913560A (en) 1989-03-08 1990-04-03 Mobil Oil Corporation Stretchy sticky tape bag tie closure
GB2347137B (en) * 1999-02-25 2002-10-23 Christopher Freeman Worrell A bag with an elongate closure member
GB9912309D0 (en) 1999-05-26 1999-07-28 Innovative Elastics Limited Rubbish bag

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2005009851A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004020626D1 (en) 2009-05-28
ES2323424T3 (en) 2009-07-15
EP1500601A1 (en) 2005-01-26
ATE428646T1 (en) 2009-05-15
EP1648789B1 (en) 2009-04-15
WO2005009851A1 (en) 2005-02-03
RU2006103236A (en) 2006-06-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU2009200107B9 (en) Tamper evident slider package
US7520673B2 (en) Elastic drawstring having improved modulus and improved tensile yield for use on a plastic liner bag
EP2311746B1 (en) Flexible package with internal, resealable closure feature
US7395642B2 (en) Method of manufacturing packages incorporating easy-open strips
US8167487B2 (en) Secure access easy opening tamper evident feature for sealable bags
CA2455184C (en) Tamper evident multi-wall packaging and associated methods
AU2005313124B2 (en) Packaging
US20080050055A1 (en) Resealable Package with Tamper-Evident Structure and Method for Making Same
US20050063617A1 (en) Reclosable bag having tamper-evident membrane
EP1648789B1 (en) Reclosable packaging bag
WO2006019324A1 (en) Improvements relating to resealable packages and closures
WO2003031281A1 (en) Bag
GB2281282A (en) Tearing a polymeric film or bag
WO2006024827A2 (en) Reclosable bag and zipper therefor
EP1516824A1 (en) Reclosable pack and production method thereof
NZ534813A (en)
AU2002343274A1 (en) Bag
MXPA00011659A (en) Tear control closing tape and container with tear control closing tape

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: 20051006

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: DAELMANS, EDDY

Inventor name: GEUDENS, JAN

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20080717

RTI1 Title (correction)

Free format text: RECLOSABLE PACKAGING BAG

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 BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 602004020626

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20090528

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2323424

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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: PT

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: 20090915

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: 20090415

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: 20090415

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: 20090715

Ref country code: PL

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: 20090415

Ref country code: SI

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: 20090415

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: 20090415

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: 20090531

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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

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: 20090415

Ref country code: EE

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: 20090415

Ref country code: CZ

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: 20090415

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20090531

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20090531

Ref country code: RO

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: 20090415

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

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

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: 20090415

Ref country code: SK

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: 20090415

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20100118

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

Ref country code: BG

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: 20090715

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: 20090507

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20100511

Year of fee payment: 7

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20100614

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20100428

Year of fee payment: 7

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: 20090716

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20100429

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Effective date: 20090415

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: 20090507

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

Ref country code: HU

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: 20091016

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

Ref country code: TR

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: 20090415

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

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: 20090415

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

Effective date: 20110507

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20120131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602004020626

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20111201

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: 20110531

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: 20110507

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20120717

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

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20110508

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: 20111201