EP0857837A2 - Glazing bars - Google Patents

Glazing bars Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0857837A2
EP0857837A2 EP97302990A EP97302990A EP0857837A2 EP 0857837 A2 EP0857837 A2 EP 0857837A2 EP 97302990 A EP97302990 A EP 97302990A EP 97302990 A EP97302990 A EP 97302990A EP 0857837 A2 EP0857837 A2 EP 0857837A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
end cap
bracket
support beam
pair
glazing
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
EP97302990A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0857837A3 (en
EP0857837B1 (en
Inventor
Christopher Richardson
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.)
Ultraframe UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Ultraframe UK Ltd
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 Ultraframe UK Ltd filed Critical Ultraframe UK Ltd
Priority claimed from CA002232046A external-priority patent/CA2232046C/en
Publication of EP0857837A2 publication Critical patent/EP0857837A2/en
Publication of EP0857837A3 publication Critical patent/EP0857837A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0857837B1 publication Critical patent/EP0857837B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
    • E04D3/02—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant
    • E04D3/06—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor
    • E04D3/08—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
    • E04D3/02—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant
    • E04D3/06—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor
    • E04D3/08—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars
    • E04D2003/0806—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars the supporting section of the glazing bar consisting of one single extruded or rolled metal part
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
    • E04D3/02—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant
    • E04D3/06—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor
    • E04D3/08—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars
    • E04D2003/0818—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars the supporting section of the glazing bar consisting of several parts, e.g. compound sections
    • E04D2003/0825—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars the supporting section of the glazing bar consisting of several parts, e.g. compound sections the metal section covered by parts of other material
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
    • E04D3/02—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant
    • E04D3/06—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor
    • E04D3/08—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor with metal glazing bars
    • E04D2003/0868—Mutual connections and details of glazing bars
    • E04D2003/0881—Mutual connections and details of glazing bars on the eaves of the roof

Definitions

  • This invention concerns improvements relating to glazing bars.
  • Glazing bars for constructing roofs of conservatories generally comprise aluminium support beams, between which are mounted glazing panels and upper and lower cappings to secure and seal the roofing panels and conceal the aluminium beams.
  • Typical glazing beams are of inverted T-section with a channel shaped capping fitted to the cross bar of the T-section and an upper capping which has divergent sides and internally a means for connecting the upper capping to the top of the aluminium beam, usually in a press fit manner.
  • Top ends of the glazing bars are concealed beneath ridge covers but their lower ends at the eaves of a conservatory structure need to be covered. At present an end cap is screwed to the aluminium glazing beam end, which is formed with a screw port for that purpose.
  • An object of this invention is to provide an improved system for securing end caps to glazing bars in order to avoid or mitigate against the above mentioned disadvantages.
  • a glazing bar system comprising a support beam, upper and lower cappings locatable on the beam, an end cap therefor, and means for mounting the end cap on the support beam end.
  • the means for mounting the end cap on the support beam end is preferably a bracket securable to the support beam end.
  • the bracket is preferably securable to the end of the support beam by means of a screw through the bracket into a screw port of the support beam.
  • the bracket and the end cap preferably have mutually engageable formations whereby they slidingly interfit.
  • One of the bracket and the end cap preferably provides a pair of facing channels and the other has a pair of oppositely facing lugs or the like which are a sliding fit in the channels.
  • the bracket preferably provides a pair of opposed ends or lugs spaced from the beam end to receive cooperating internal formations of the end cap in sliding relationship.
  • the end cap preferably has a pair of opposed L-shaped projections on its internal face to provide said formations in the form of facing channels.
  • the end cap preferably has a rim that is deeper at its top, whereby the end cap when fitted covers the end of the upper capping.
  • a glazing bar system comprises a support beam 10 of aluminium and upper and lower cappings 12, 14 respectively of u-PVC.
  • roofing panels such as of transparent plastics material, for example polycarbonate, will have their edges sandwiched between the upper and lower cappings on opposite sides of the roof beam arrangement.
  • the support beam 10 is generally of inverted T-section.
  • the beam 10 has a pair of flanges 16, which are turned back on themselves at their remote ends, and an upstanding limb 18.
  • the limb 18 comprises a stem 20 extending from the junction of the flanges 16 to a screw port 22, a hollow generally triangular section main part 24 above the screw port and an upwardly open channel 26 above the main port.
  • the channel 26 has generally parallel sides. On the inside of each side is a series of notches 30 forming downwardly open recesses.
  • Each flange 16 has a first part generally perpendicular to the upstanding limb 18 and a second part which forms a trough 34 remote from the upstanding limb 18.
  • the upper capping 12 is generally of inverted V-section but comprises a flat top 40 and depending sides 42. The remote edges of the sides 42 have gaskets 44 formed thereon by co-extrusion of rubber or synthetic elastomeric material.
  • a pair of resilient divergent flaps 46 Internally of the capping 12 and depending from its flat top 40 are a pair of resilient divergent flaps 46 having outwardly projecting tops 48 at their ends.
  • the lower capping 14 is generally formed as a channel section having a flat base 50 and upstanding side walls 52. Internally of the channel on the base 40 and on the side walls 52 are spacing projections 54. The free edges of the side walls 52 have co-extruded thereon, from rubber or synthetic elastomeric material, gaskets 56 which extend inwardly and are inclined slightly upwardly.
  • the gaskets 56 include resiliently deformable projection 58 and 60 on their upper surface along their outermost edges and 62 centrally thereof.
  • the aluminium support beams 10 are fixed in position between a ridge and the eaves of a conservatory roof.
  • the lower cappings 14 are fitted onto the beams either before or after the beams are fixed in place.
  • the glazing panels are positioned between the beams with their side edges on the gaskets 56, which are thereby trapped between the beam flanges and the glazing panels.
  • the upper cappngs are pressed down onto the beams with their deformable flaps being trapped in the upwardly open channels of the support beams.
  • a bracket 61 is fixed by means of a screw 62 through the bracket into the screw port 22 of the support beam.
  • the bracket 61 has a wider central section 64 and narrower opposed ends 66, whereby the ends are spaced from the end of the support beam.
  • An end cap 68 for the glazing bar has a main surface 70 and a rim 72.
  • the end cap 60 On its intended inner face the end cap 60 has a pair of L-shaped projections 74 forming two facing open channels, which can be slid over the ends of the bracket to fit the end cap to the glazing bar.
  • the end cap rim 72 is of sufficient depth to extend rearwards over the ends of the upper and lower cappings.
  • the rim widens to a central part 74 at the top of the cap, to ensure that the cap rests on the top of the upper capping when slid into place on the bracket.
  • the illustrated end cap provides a neat and simple to complete finish to the glazing bars for a conservatory roof.

Landscapes

  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Roof Covering Using Slabs Or Stiff Sheets (AREA)
  • Securing Of Glass Panes Or The Like (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Joining Of Glass To Other Materials (AREA)
  • Re-Forming, After-Treatment, Cutting And Transporting Of Glass Products (AREA)
  • Eyeglasses (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
  • Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

A glazing bar system comprises a support beam (10), upper and lower cappings (12, 14 respectively) locatable on the beam, an end cap (68) therefor and means (61) for mounting the end cap on the support beam end.

Description

This invention concerns improvements relating to glazing bars.
Glazing bars for constructing roofs of conservatories generally comprise aluminium support beams, between which are mounted glazing panels and upper and lower cappings to secure and seal the roofing panels and conceal the aluminium beams. Typical glazing beams are of inverted T-section with a channel shaped capping fitted to the cross bar of the T-section and an upper capping which has divergent sides and internally a means for connecting the upper capping to the top of the aluminium beam, usually in a press fit manner. Top ends of the glazing bars are concealed beneath ridge covers but their lower ends at the eaves of a conservatory structure need to be covered. At present an end cap is screwed to the aluminium glazing beam end, which is formed with a screw port for that purpose.
However, there are disadvantages with this system. Firstly, of course, the head of the screw or screws used to secure the end cap is or are unsightly, even when masked. Secondly, the screw or screws used are liable to corrosion and to allow water ingress into the glazing bar.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved system for securing end caps to glazing bars in order to avoid or mitigate against the above mentioned disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a glazing bar system comprising a support beam, upper and lower cappings locatable on the beam, an end cap therefor, and means for mounting the end cap on the support beam end.
The means for mounting the end cap on the support beam end is preferably a bracket securable to the support beam end. The bracket is preferably securable to the end of the support beam by means of a screw through the bracket into a screw port of the support beam.
The bracket and the end cap preferably have mutually engageable formations whereby they slidingly interfit. One of the bracket and the end cap preferably provides a pair of facing channels and the other has a pair of oppositely facing lugs or the like which are a sliding fit in the channels.
The bracket preferably provides a pair of opposed ends or lugs spaced from the beam end to receive cooperating internal formations of the end cap in sliding relationship. The end cap preferably has a pair of opposed L-shaped projections on its internal face to provide said formations in the form of facing channels.
The end cap preferably has a rim that is deeper at its top, whereby the end cap when fitted covers the end of the upper capping.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a glazing bar system of the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a rear view of the glazing bar system of Figure 1; and
  • Figure 3 is a further view of the glazing bar system of Figure 1.
    • Referring to the accompanying drawings, a glazing bar system comprises a support beam 10 of aluminium and upper and lower cappings 12, 14 respectively of u-PVC. In use roofing panels, such as of transparent plastics material, for example polycarbonate, will have their edges sandwiched between the upper and lower cappings on opposite sides of the roof beam arrangement.
    The support beam 10 is generally of inverted T-section. Thus, the beam 10 has a pair of flanges 16, which are turned back on themselves at their remote ends, and an upstanding limb 18. The limb 18 comprises a stem 20 extending from the junction of the flanges 16 to a screw port 22, a hollow generally triangular section main part 24 above the screw port and an upwardly open channel 26 above the main port. The channel 26 has generally parallel sides. On the inside of each side is a series of notches 30 forming downwardly open recesses.
    Each flange 16 has a first part generally perpendicular to the upstanding limb 18 and a second part which forms a trough 34 remote from the upstanding limb 18. The upper capping 12 is generally of inverted V-section but comprises a flat top 40 and depending sides 42. The remote edges of the sides 42 have gaskets 44 formed thereon by co-extrusion of rubber or synthetic elastomeric material. Internally of the capping 12 and depending from its flat top 40 are a pair of resilient divergent flaps 46 having outwardly projecting tops 48 at their ends.
    The lower capping 14 is generally formed as a channel section having a flat base 50 and upstanding side walls 52. Internally of the channel on the base 40 and on the side walls 52 are spacing projections 54. The free edges of the side walls 52 have co-extruded thereon, from rubber or synthetic elastomeric material, gaskets 56 which extend inwardly and are inclined slightly upwardly. The gaskets 56 include resiliently deformable projection 58 and 60 on their upper surface along their outermost edges and 62 centrally thereof.
    To assemble a roof using the glazing bars, the aluminium support beams 10 are fixed in position between a ridge and the eaves of a conservatory roof. The lower cappings 14 are fitted onto the beams either before or after the beams are fixed in place. The glazing panels are positioned between the beams with their side edges on the gaskets 56, which are thereby trapped between the beam flanges and the glazing panels. Then the upper cappngs are pressed down onto the beams with their deformable flaps being trapped in the upwardly open channels of the support beams.
    At the end of the support beam 10 a bracket 61 is fixed by means of a screw 62 through the bracket into the screw port 22 of the support beam. The bracket 61 has a wider central section 64 and narrower opposed ends 66, whereby the ends are spaced from the end of the support beam. An end cap 68 for the glazing bar has a main surface 70 and a rim 72. On its intended inner face the end cap 60 has a pair of L-shaped projections 74 forming two facing open channels, which can be slid over the ends of the bracket to fit the end cap to the glazing bar.
    The end cap rim 72 is of sufficient depth to extend rearwards over the ends of the upper and lower cappings. The rim widens to a central part 74 at the top of the cap, to ensure that the cap rests on the top of the upper capping when slid into place on the bracket.
    Thus, the illustrated end cap provides a neat and simple to complete finish to the glazing bars for a conservatory roof.

    Claims (8)

    1. A glazing bar system comprising a support beam, upper and lower cappings locatable on the beam, an end cap therefor, and means for mounting the end cap on the support beam end.
    2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the end cap on the support beam end is a bracket securable to the support beam end.
    3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bracket is securable to the end of the support beam by means of a screw through the bracket into a screw port of the support beam.
    4. A system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the bracket and the end cap have mutually engageable formations whereby they slidingly interfit.
    5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the bracket and the end cap provides a pair of facing channels and the other has a pair of oppositely facing lugs or the like which are a sliding fit in the channels.
    6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bracket provides a pair of opposed ends or lugs spaced from the beam end to receive cooperating internal formations of the end cap in sliding relationship.
    7. A system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the end cap has a pair of opposed L-shaped projections on its internal face to provide said formations in the form of facing channels.
    8. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the end cap has a rim that is deeper at its top, whereby the end cap when fitted covers the end of the upper capping.
    EP97302990A 1997-02-07 1997-05-01 Glazing bars Expired - Lifetime EP0857837B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    GB9702470 1997-02-07
    GBGB9702470.7A GB9702470D0 (en) 1997-02-07 1997-02-07 Glazing bars
    CA002232046A CA2232046C (en) 1997-02-07 1998-03-12 Glazing bars

    Publications (3)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0857837A2 true EP0857837A2 (en) 1998-08-12
    EP0857837A3 EP0857837A3 (en) 1999-08-25
    EP0857837B1 EP0857837B1 (en) 2003-04-02

    Family

    ID=31979135

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP97302990A Expired - Lifetime EP0857837B1 (en) 1997-02-07 1997-05-01 Glazing bars

    Country Status (6)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP0857837B1 (en)
    AT (1) ATE236315T1 (en)
    DE (1) DE69720405T2 (en)
    DK (1) DK0857837T3 (en)
    ES (1) ES2196260T3 (en)
    GB (1) GB9702470D0 (en)

    Cited By (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US6691474B2 (en) * 2000-02-28 2004-02-17 Ultraframe (Uk) Limited Glazing bar end caps
    WO2004079122A1 (en) * 2003-03-01 2004-09-16 Ultraframe (Uk) Limited Roof beam end caps

    Citations (5)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    GB752123A (en) * 1954-03-09 1956-07-04 Robinson King & British Challe Improvements in or relating to glazing
    GB2093144A (en) * 1981-02-09 1982-08-25 Marley Trident Ltd Improvements in greenhouse frames
    FR2608192A1 (en) * 1986-12-12 1988-06-17 Accoplas Fermetures Folding roofing for veranda or similar shelter
    FR2655676A1 (en) * 1989-12-12 1991-06-14 Jacquemin Guillaume Daniel Insulation roofing with metal rafters
    EP0610102A1 (en) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-10 Ultraframe Plc Roof beams

    Patent Citations (5)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    GB752123A (en) * 1954-03-09 1956-07-04 Robinson King & British Challe Improvements in or relating to glazing
    GB2093144A (en) * 1981-02-09 1982-08-25 Marley Trident Ltd Improvements in greenhouse frames
    FR2608192A1 (en) * 1986-12-12 1988-06-17 Accoplas Fermetures Folding roofing for veranda or similar shelter
    FR2655676A1 (en) * 1989-12-12 1991-06-14 Jacquemin Guillaume Daniel Insulation roofing with metal rafters
    EP0610102A1 (en) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-10 Ultraframe Plc Roof beams

    Cited By (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US6691474B2 (en) * 2000-02-28 2004-02-17 Ultraframe (Uk) Limited Glazing bar end caps
    WO2004079122A1 (en) * 2003-03-01 2004-09-16 Ultraframe (Uk) Limited Roof beam end caps

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    ES2196260T3 (en) 2003-12-16
    EP0857837A3 (en) 1999-08-25
    ATE236315T1 (en) 2003-04-15
    DE69720405D1 (en) 2003-05-08
    DE69720405T2 (en) 2004-03-04
    GB9702470D0 (en) 1997-03-26
    DK0857837T3 (en) 2003-07-28
    EP0857837B1 (en) 2003-04-02

    Similar Documents

    Publication Publication Date Title
    EP1234925B1 (en) Roof beams
    US6151845A (en) Roof ridge assemblies
    EP0610102B1 (en) Roof beams
    US6553739B2 (en) Roof beams
    US5797225A (en) Sloped roof and head
    US5927027A (en) Conservatory roofs
    US20010047630A1 (en) Roof construction
    US5924263A (en) Glazing bars
    US20010029708A1 (en) Roof beams
    CA2232046C (en) Glazing bars
    EP0857837B1 (en) Glazing bars
    US6148565A (en) Roof assemblies
    US6691474B2 (en) Glazing bar end caps
    EP1254996A2 (en) Roof ridge assemblies
    GB2399104A (en) A snap-fit roof beam connector
    CA2231921C (en) Conservatory roofs
    IES70426B2 (en) Roof beam construction
    GB2335696A (en) Glazing bar rafter
    JPH0234360Y2 (en)
    GB2280914A (en) Connector for glazed roofs
    WO2002053857A1 (en) A glazing bar assembly for glazed structures
    GB2335675A (en) An adjustable ridge assembly for a conservatory roof
    GB2339441A (en) A roof ridge assembly with capping support means
    GB2383594A (en) Rafter with end capping at eave

    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: A2

    Designated state(s): AT BE CH 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;RO;SI

    PUAL Search report despatched

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

    AK Designated contracting states

    Kind code of ref document: A3

    Designated state(s): AT BE CH 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;RO;SI

    17P Request for examination filed

    Effective date: 20000204

    AKX Designation fees paid

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

    17Q First examination report despatched

    Effective date: 20011112

    GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

    GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

    GRAA (expected) grant

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

    AK Designated contracting states

    Designated state(s): AT BE CH 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: 20030402

    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

    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: LU

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

    Effective date: 20030501

    REF Corresponds to:

    Ref document number: 69720405

    Country of ref document: DE

    Date of ref document: 20030508

    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: 20030531

    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: 20030702

    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: 20030702

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: SE

    Ref legal event code: TRGR

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: NV

    Representative=s name: PATENTANWALTSBUERO JEAN HUNZIKER

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: DK

    Ref legal event code: T3

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: ES

    Ref legal event code: FG2A

    Ref document number: 2196260

    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

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

    Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

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

    Effective date: 20030702

    26N No opposition filed

    Effective date: 20040105

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

    Ref country code: CH

    Payment date: 20040428

    Year of fee payment: 8

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

    Ref country code: SE

    Payment date: 20040506

    Year of fee payment: 8

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

    Ref country code: AT

    Payment date: 20040512

    Year of fee payment: 8

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

    Ref country code: ES

    Payment date: 20040518

    Year of fee payment: 8

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: 728V

    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;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: 20050501

    Ref country code: AT

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

    Effective date: 20050501

    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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20050502

    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: 20050504

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

    Ref country code: DK

    Payment date: 20050513

    Year of fee payment: 9

    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: 20050531

    Ref country code: CH

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

    Effective date: 20050531

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: 728Y

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: PL

    EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: 732E

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

    Ref country code: DE

    Payment date: 20060427

    Year of fee payment: 10

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

    Ref country code: NL

    Payment date: 20060503

    Year of fee payment: 10

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

    Ref country code: IE

    Payment date: 20060515

    Year of fee payment: 10

    Ref country code: FR

    Payment date: 20060515

    Year of fee payment: 10

    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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20060531

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

    Ref country code: BE

    Payment date: 20060712

    Year of fee payment: 10

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: ES

    Ref legal event code: FD2A

    Effective date: 20050504

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: DK

    Ref legal event code: EBP

    BERE Be: lapsed

    Owner name: *ULTRAFRAME (UK) LTD

    Effective date: 20070531

    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: 20071201

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

    Effective date: 20071201

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: IE

    Ref legal event code: MM4A

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: FR

    Ref legal event code: ST

    Effective date: 20080131

    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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20070531

    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: 20071201

    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: 20070501

    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: 20070531

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

    Ref country code: GB

    Payment date: 20110427

    Year of fee payment: 15

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

    Effective date: 20120501

    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: 20120501