EP4039604A1 - Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile - Google Patents

Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4039604A1
EP4039604A1 EP21156127.9A EP21156127A EP4039604A1 EP 4039604 A1 EP4039604 A1 EP 4039604A1 EP 21156127 A EP21156127 A EP 21156127A EP 4039604 A1 EP4039604 A1 EP 4039604A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cover
tactile
actuator
discontinuity
tactile discontinuity
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21156127.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Paulus Antonius Augustinus Hoefte
Clara Sophie NG PAK LEUNG
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.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
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 Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP21156127.9A priority Critical patent/EP4039604A1/fr
Priority to CN202280007499.1A priority patent/CN116547210A/zh
Priority to JP2023526863A priority patent/JP2023548527A/ja
Priority to PCT/US2022/015415 priority patent/WO2022173682A1/fr
Priority to CA3197830A priority patent/CA3197830A1/fr
Publication of EP4039604A1 publication Critical patent/EP4039604A1/fr
Priority to US18/310,031 priority patent/US20230264852A1/en
Pending 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
    • 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
    • B65D5/64Lids
    • B65D5/66Hinged lids
    • B65D5/6626Hinged lids formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
    • B65D5/665Hinged lids formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank the lid being held in closed position by self-locking integral flaps or tabs
    • B65D5/6661Flaps provided over the total length of the lid edge opposite to the hinge
    • B65D5/6664Flaps provided over the total length of the lid edge opposite to the hinge combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid
    • B65D5/6667Flaps provided over the total length of the lid edge opposite to the hinge combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid and connected to one another in order to form an uninterrupted telescoping flange
    • 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
    • B65D5/38Drawer-and-shell type containers
    • 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
    • B65D5/64Lids
    • B65D5/66Hinged lids
    • B65D5/6602Hinged lids formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body
    • B65D5/6608Hinged lids formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body the lid being held in closed position by self-locking integral flaps
    • 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
    • B65D5/64Lids
    • B65D5/68Telescope flanged lids
    • B65D5/685Telescope flanged lids having an inwardly or upwardly extending tab on the lid side wall cooperating with a tab on, or an opening in, the container side wall
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/04Orienting or positioning means
    • 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
    • B65D83/00Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0445Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments
    • B65D83/0463Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container

Definitions

  • Such second tactile discontinuity may for example be used by machinery to manipulate the container on a factory line without opening the box. Such tactile discontinuity may also be used by a user as a reference gripping point for actually opening the lock by also pressing onto the first tactile discontinuity at the same time.
  • the fact that the second tactile discontinuity directly faces a corresponding sidewall portion of the box indeed permits having a stable gripping point, unlike the structure corresponding to the first tactile discontinuity which corresponds to the first actuator with is movable between different positions. It was indeed found that having at least one finger placed in a stable location (i.e. at the second tactile discontinuity) was facilitating operating the first actuator with a second finger, through a "lever” effect, the second tactile discontinuity acting as a stable base for this lever effect.
  • the consumer product according to this disclosure aims at taking these different aspects into account.
  • the container comprises a box.
  • a box should be understood as a generally parallelepiped, barrel shaped, cylindrical, round, oval or cubical three dimensional object defining a cavity. The use of parallelepiped boxes may facilitate storage and transportation by permitting piling up boxes in a space efficient manner.
  • a box may be a parallelepiped provided with some rounded, tapered trapezium or chamfered edges.
  • the box according to this disclosure comprises the detergent product. It should be understood that the detergent product is contained or stored in the box.
  • the box according to this disclosure comprises a base, sidewalls and an opening. In some examples, the opening is opposite the base. In other examples the opening is on a sidewall.
  • the top of the cover or another part of the cover may cover the opening, and at least a portion of the flanks or another part of the cover may cover at least a specific portion of a specific sidewall of the sidewalls of the box when the cover is in the closed position, the cover being moveable from the closed position to an open position. Movement of the cover may be restrained by a connection to the box such as a hinge, or may be entirely removable, for example to provide an improved access to the content of the box.
  • the box and cover cooperate to participate in fulfilling the role of the container to store, transport and facilitate access to the content of the container.
  • the container comprises a box 201, a cover 202 for the box, and a lock 203 to maintain the cover in a closed position
  • the box comprising the detergent product
  • the box comprising a base 204, sidewalls 205 and an opening 206
  • the cover comprising a top 207 and flanks 208, the cover covering the opening and the cover covering at least a first and a second specific portion of sidewalls of the box when the cover is in the closed position
  • the lock comprising at least a first actuator 203 moveable from a locking position to an opening position by applying an actuation pressure onto the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific portion
  • the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity 209, the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity permitting displacing the first actuator from the locking position to the opening position by applying the actuation pressure at the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, whereby the cover further comprises a second tactile discontinuity 210,
  • Figures 4A-B illustrate an example consumer product 400 comprising a detergent product (not shown) and a container.
  • the container is open.
  • the container is closed and locked.
  • the container comprises a box 401, a cover 402 for the box, and a lock 403 to maintain the cover in a closed position, the box comprising the detergent product, the box comprising a base 404, sidewalls 405 and an opening 406, the cover comprising a top 407 and flanks 408, the cover covering the opening and the cover covering at least a first and a second specific portion of sidewalls of the box when the cover is in the closed position, the lock comprising at least a first actuator 413 moveable from a locking position to an opening position by applying an actuation pressure onto the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific portion, the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity 409, the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity permitting displacing the first actuator from the
  • the consumer product comprises a fourth tactile discontinuity 412, the fourth tactile discontinuity facing a third actuator 433 when the cover is in the closed position, whereby the fourth tactile discontinuity pertains to the opposite flank.
  • the fourth tactile discontinuity corresponds to a third actuator
  • such a fourth tactile discontinuity could directly face a corresponding specific portion of sidewalls when the cover is in the closed position, thereby acting as a gripping area, for a human hand, or for machinery, similarly as for the second tactile discontinuity.
  • each tactile discontinuity spans less than 8 cm 2 and more than 0.2 cm 2 , each tactile discontinuity defining a centroid; each centroid is separated from the top of the cover by less than 5 cm and by more than 0.5 cm; each centroid is separated from a distal end of the specific flank by more than 0.5 cm; and the top of the cover spans less than 13 cm and more than 6cm along a direction normal to the specific portion at the centroid, in particular at the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity. Complying with such combined conditions was found particularly suited to reaching all the tactile discontinuities with a single adult hand at the same time.
  • the container may indeed be made from paper or cardboard material, in particular rigid cardboard material, flexible cardboard material or a mixture thereof.
  • the material forming the box or the cover has a wall thickness of more than 220 microns and of less than 3mm.
  • the material forming the box or the cover has a wall thickness of more than 1mm and of less than 2mm.
  • the material forming the box or the cover is folded on itself, for example to reinforce parts of or the whole of the box or the cover.
  • the container may be made from paper materials, bio based material, bamboo fibres, cellulose fibres, cellulose based or fibre based materials, or a mixture thereof.
  • the container may be made from materials comprising recycled materials, for example recycled cellulose fiber based materials.
  • the clearance distance is of at least 1mm and of less than 1cm when the cover is in the closed position and no actuation pressure is applied. Such a range permits both easing the closing of the cover and preventing sinking of the specific portion of the sidewall leading to undesired unlocking.
  • the clearance distance is of at least 1.5mm and of less than 0.5cm when the cover is in the closed position and no actuation pressure is applied. In some examples, the clearance distance is of at least 2mm and of less than 0.4cm when the cover is in the closed position and no actuation pressure is applied.
  • a laundry detergent composition can be used in a fabric hand wash operation or may be used in an automatic machine fabric wash operation, for example in an automatic machine fabric wash operation.
  • Example laundry detergent compositions comprise a non-soap surfactant, wherein the non-soap surfactant comprises an anionic non-soap surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant.
  • the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 60%, or between 20% and 55% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap surfactant.
  • Example weight ratio of non-soap anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant are from 1:1 to 20:1, from 1.5:1 to 17.5:1, from 2:1 to 15:1, or from 2.5:1 to 13:1.
  • the unit dose article comprises at least three compartments, two of the compartments may be smaller than the third compartment, and in some examples the two smaller compartments being superposed on the larger compartment.
  • the unit dose article comprises at least four compartments, three of the compartments may be smaller than the fourth compartment, and in some examples the three smaller compartments being superposed on the larger compartment.
  • the superposed compartments are in some examples orientated side-by-side.
  • each individual unit dose article may have a weight of between 10g and 40g, or even between 15g and 35g.
  • the water soluble film may be soluble or dispersible in water.
  • the container comprises a first part, wherein the first part comprises a first compartment in which the at least one water-soluble unit dose article is contained.
  • the first compartment comprises at least two water-soluble unit dose articles.
  • the first compartment may comprise between 1 and 80 water-soluble unit dose articles, between 1 and 60 water-soluble unit dose articles, between 1 and 40 water-soluble unit dose articles, or between 1 and 20 water-soluble unit dose articles.
  • the volume of the first compartment may be between 500ml and 5000ml, in some examples between 800ml and 4000ml.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
EP21156127.9A 2021-02-09 2021-02-09 Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile Pending EP4039604A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21156127.9A EP4039604A1 (fr) 2021-02-09 2021-02-09 Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile
CN202280007499.1A CN116547210A (zh) 2021-02-09 2022-02-07 具有触觉不连续部的盖
JP2023526863A JP2023548527A (ja) 2021-02-09 2022-02-07 触覚不連続部を有するカバー
PCT/US2022/015415 WO2022173682A1 (fr) 2021-02-09 2022-02-07 Couvercle à discontinuité tactile
CA3197830A CA3197830A1 (fr) 2021-02-09 2022-02-07 Couvercle a discontinuite tactile
US18/310,031 US20230264852A1 (en) 2021-02-09 2023-05-01 Cover with tactile discontinuity

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21156127.9A EP4039604A1 (fr) 2021-02-09 2021-02-09 Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4039604A1 true EP4039604A1 (fr) 2022-08-10

Family

ID=74668609

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21156127.9A Pending EP4039604A1 (fr) 2021-02-09 2021-02-09 Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20230264852A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4039604A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2023548527A (fr)
CN (1) CN116547210A (fr)
CA (1) CA3197830A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022173682A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL3907149T3 (pl) 2020-05-08 2022-12-19 The Procter & Gamble Company Pojemnik na produkt detergentowy z blokadą
EP3936451A1 (fr) 2020-07-09 2022-01-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Récipient de produit détergent
EP4071073B1 (fr) * 2021-04-06 2023-09-27 Fameccanica.Data S.p.A. Récipient en papier ou carton à fermeture inviolable par des enfants

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2615613A (en) 1949-03-25 1952-10-28 Patent & Licensing Corp Container with telescoping closure
US3116007A (en) 1962-10-26 1963-12-31 Container Corp Container with interlocking tray and cover
US3692231A (en) * 1970-12-18 1972-09-19 Weyerhaeuser Co Means for locking a lid to a container
EP0397577A1 (fr) 1989-05-12 1990-11-14 Bull S.A. Boîte d'emballage à fermeture autoverrouillable et procédé d'emballage
EP0454506A1 (fr) 1990-04-24 1991-10-30 Hugues Nicollet S.A. Emballage en carton, carton ondulé ou autre matériau en feuille convenablement découpé et plié, à couvercle refermable par encliquetage, et flan(s) correspondant(s)
US6484931B1 (en) * 1999-03-04 2002-11-26 The Procter & Gamble Company Sift-resistant cartons having slotted closure structures
WO2005102849A1 (fr) * 2004-04-20 2005-11-03 Nick Katsis Emballage a l'epreuve des enfants
DE202005017363U1 (de) 2005-11-07 2007-03-15 Gustav Stabernack Gmbh Verpackungsbehälter, insbesondere kindersicherer Verpackungsbehälter
JP2009029481A (ja) 2007-07-30 2009-02-12 Kyocera Mita Corp 紙製の収納箱
WO2009024772A2 (fr) * 2007-08-17 2009-02-26 Duff Design Limited Améliorations concernant un emballage
EP2808265A1 (fr) 2013-05-27 2014-12-03 Van Genechten Packaging N.V. Emballage
US20150136619A1 (en) 2012-05-07 2015-05-21 William Mitchell Scott Container with improved locking ports
FR3020349A1 (fr) * 2014-04-24 2015-10-30 Thiolat Boite avec couvercle presentant un systeme de verrouillage ameliore
EP3261941A1 (fr) 2015-02-27 2018-01-03 Everett, Munson Whitman Systèmes et procédés d'emballage à l'épreuve des enfants
EP3587293A1 (fr) 2018-06-29 2020-01-01 Van Genechten Packaging N.V. Boîte pliante

Patent Citations (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2615613A (en) 1949-03-25 1952-10-28 Patent & Licensing Corp Container with telescoping closure
US3116007A (en) 1962-10-26 1963-12-31 Container Corp Container with interlocking tray and cover
US3692231A (en) * 1970-12-18 1972-09-19 Weyerhaeuser Co Means for locking a lid to a container
EP0397577A1 (fr) 1989-05-12 1990-11-14 Bull S.A. Boîte d'emballage à fermeture autoverrouillable et procédé d'emballage
EP0454506A1 (fr) 1990-04-24 1991-10-30 Hugues Nicollet S.A. Emballage en carton, carton ondulé ou autre matériau en feuille convenablement découpé et plié, à couvercle refermable par encliquetage, et flan(s) correspondant(s)
US6484931B1 (en) * 1999-03-04 2002-11-26 The Procter & Gamble Company Sift-resistant cartons having slotted closure structures
WO2005102849A1 (fr) * 2004-04-20 2005-11-03 Nick Katsis Emballage a l'epreuve des enfants
EP1783058A1 (fr) * 2005-11-07 2007-05-09 Gustav Stabernack GmbH Emballage à l'épreuve des enfants
DE202005017363U1 (de) 2005-11-07 2007-03-15 Gustav Stabernack Gmbh Verpackungsbehälter, insbesondere kindersicherer Verpackungsbehälter
JP2009029481A (ja) 2007-07-30 2009-02-12 Kyocera Mita Corp 紙製の収納箱
WO2009024772A2 (fr) * 2007-08-17 2009-02-26 Duff Design Limited Améliorations concernant un emballage
US20150136619A1 (en) 2012-05-07 2015-05-21 William Mitchell Scott Container with improved locking ports
EP2808265A1 (fr) 2013-05-27 2014-12-03 Van Genechten Packaging N.V. Emballage
FR3020349A1 (fr) * 2014-04-24 2015-10-30 Thiolat Boite avec couvercle presentant un systeme de verrouillage ameliore
EP3261941A1 (fr) 2015-02-27 2018-01-03 Everett, Munson Whitman Systèmes et procédés d'emballage à l'épreuve des enfants
EP3587293A1 (fr) 2018-06-29 2020-01-01 Van Genechten Packaging N.V. Boîte pliante

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2022173682A1 (fr) 2022-08-18
JP2023548527A (ja) 2023-11-17
CA3197830A1 (fr) 2022-08-18
CN116547210A (zh) 2023-08-04
US20230264852A1 (en) 2023-08-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP4039604A1 (fr) Couvercle ayant une discontinuité tactile
EP4039605B1 (fr) Couvercle doté d'une première, d'une deuxième et d'une troisième zone d'actionnement
EP4039607B1 (fr) Contenant avec couvercle, verrouillage et marque d'alignement
EP4011795B1 (fr) Contenant de produit détergent doté d'un verrou
US11932468B2 (en) Detergent product container with lock
EP3967617B1 (fr) Couvercle en carton, flan en carton, procede de fabrication d'un produit de consommation
EP3936450A1 (fr) Élément de support en carton
US20230322455A1 (en) Prism forming cardboard support element with folding regions

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

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

TPAC Observations filed by third parties

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNTIPA

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20230123

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230429

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED