EP1012926B1 - Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail - Google Patents

Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1012926B1
EP1012926B1 EP98928481A EP98928481A EP1012926B1 EP 1012926 B1 EP1012926 B1 EP 1012926B1 EP 98928481 A EP98928481 A EP 98928481A EP 98928481 A EP98928481 A EP 98928481A EP 1012926 B1 EP1012926 B1 EP 1012926B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
label
rail
bus
connection assembly
latch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98928481A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1012926A1 (fr
Inventor
Thierry Huin
Frédéric VOGEL
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker LLC
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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Priority to EP98928481A priority Critical patent/EP1012926B1/fr
Publication of EP1012926A1 publication Critical patent/EP1012926A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1012926B1 publication Critical patent/EP1012926B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
    • G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
    • G09F3/204—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
    • G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
    • G09F3/208—Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electrical connection assembly for mounting electronic displays or labels on a bus rail supplying electrical power or signals thereto.
  • a price indicator tag or label comprises a PCB with electronic components, located within an insulative housing, and a display such as an LCD display.
  • the electronic price label is clipped to a rail which may be provided with conductors for supplying power or electronic data signals to the label.
  • a rail which may be provided with conductors for supplying power or electronic data signals to the label.
  • a further problem with electronic labels is vandalism, whereby it would be desirable to render electronic labels more difficult to remove from their bus rails. It would also be desirable to reduce the exposure of electronic labels from accidental damage, for example due to collision with external objects. It would also be desirable to provide to provide electronic labels that are compact and that have an aesthetic appeal. Despite the need for secure labels, it would be desirable to enable rapid mounting and unmounting of labels from the bus rails, such that repositioning or replacement thereof can be quickly and easily effected by store personnel.
  • connection assembly comprising an electronic label and a bus rail on which the label is mountable, the electronic label comprising a housing and electrical terminals for interconnecting electronic components within the housing to bus conductors external of the housing, the label having latch members for engaging complementary latch members of the bus rail for latching of the label thereto, the bus rail comprising an insulative base supporting conductors for connection to the label terminals, the conductors extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the rail, wherein the label comprises a disengagement latch member to couple with a complementary disengagement latch member of a removable tool during release of the rail latch members by engagement of removal portions of the removal tool therebetween.
  • the rail may be extruded from a plastic material wherein the bus conductors are solid wires embedded partially in the extrusion such that a cost effective manufacturing of the rail is possible.
  • the solid wire conductors are exposed partially for abutment of resilient conducts of the label thereagainst.
  • the solid wire conductors enable many plugging and unplugging connections without affecting the quality of the electrical connection between the contacts and the conductors.
  • the label may be provided substantially flush or below outermost top and bottom edges of the rail that extend parallel to the longitudinal direction either side of the label, such that access to the rail by external objects is difficult. A well protected electronic label is thus provided.
  • the latch members of the connection assembly may comprise a resilient latch or lip extending along the top or bottom edge of the rail for engaging substantially rigid locking shoulders of the electronic label.
  • a front face of the label may be provided with cut-outs at the position of the locking shoulders such that an extension of the removal tool may be inserted therethrough and bias the resilient latch away from the locking shoulder for removal of the label therefrom.
  • a further extension of the removal tool may be provided with a locking shoulder that engages a resilient latch of the label such that the label can be lifted off the rail upon unlatching therefrom.
  • the removal latching shoulder of the tool may also be provided on an extension that is received through a cut-out through a front face of the label housing for increased security.
  • the tool thus enables rapid unlatching of the label from the bus rails, but enhances security, especially due to the need for the special tool in order to remove the label from the bus rail.
  • the electronic labels can be rapidly positioned at any position along the rails by merely clicking the label into latching position along the rail.
  • connection assembly 2 comprises a bus rail 4, an electronic label 6, and a removal tool 8.
  • the electronic label 6 is shown without printed circuit board, electrical components, or a display, for more clarity.
  • the bus rail 4 extends prismatically in a longitudinal direction L and in this embodiment is extruded from an insulative plastic material having some resiliency.
  • the body 9 of the rail comprises a base wall 10, and top and bottom walls 12, 14 respectively upstanding and extending along top and bottom edges 13, 15 of the substantially planar base wall 10.
  • Extending parallel to the longitudinal direction L are a pair of solid wire conductors 16, 18, one of the wire conductors 16 proximate the top edge 13 and the other 18 proximate the bottom edge 15, each wire conductor partially embedded in the base wall 10.
  • the wire conductors 16, 18 have an exposed conductive surface 20 for receiving terminals of the label 6 in abutment thereagainst.
  • the solid conducting wires 16, 18 may be embedded in the rail support 9 during the extrusion process such that a cost effective manufacturing of the bus rail is provided.
  • the conductors 16, 18 may be substantially cylindrical in shape, whereby lips 22 flank the conductor around a circumference greater than 180 degrees such that the conductor is securely held to the base 10. It is also possible to provide conductors of other cross-sectional profiles, for example rectangular or polygonal profiles, although cylindrical wires are likely to be more cost effective.
  • the bus rail 4 further comprises a continuous wall portion 24 in the form an L-shaped prism integrally extending from the top wall 12 having a branch 25 extending substantially parallel to the top wall 12 and separated by a gap therefrom.
  • the rail 4 may be provided with a flexible latch 24 integrally attached to the bottom wall 14 in a similar or identical manner to the top wall 12. The symmetry would enable the label 6 to be positioned the right way up irrespective of the orientation of assembly of the rail to a shelve.
  • the label 6 comprises an insulative housing 36 comprising a base 37 and cover 38 latchable to the base 37 by means of interengaging latches 39, 40.
  • the base and cover parts enclose a cavity 42 within which is received a printed circuit board with electronic components (not shown) for processing data signals and feeding information to a display, such as a liquid crystal display positioned at a cut-out 44 through a front face 46 of the cover 38 (the display is not shown) .
  • a pair of terminals 48 are provided below the printed circuit board mounted to a mounting section 49 of the base 37.
  • the terminals 48 have PCB contact protrusions 50 for resilient abutment against circuit traces of the PCB, and contact portions 52 for abutment against the conductors 16, 18, the contact portions 52 resiliently biasable through slots 54 in the base wall 47.
  • the terminals 48 in this embodiment are edge stamped from sheet metal into substantially U-shapes wherein one cantilever branch 56 of the U comprises the contact protrusion 50, and the other branch 58 comprises the conductor contact portion 52, the contact protrusion/portion proximate free ends of the branches 56, 58 respectively.
  • the housing slot 54 also acts as a guide for laterally guiding the contact portion 52, such that it biases substantially within the plane of the sheet metal.
  • a particularly simple and cost effective terminal is thus provided, whereby the edge stamping and U-shaped configuration of the integrally formed branches 56, 58 allow a particularly compact terminal with high contact force.
  • a pair of terminals 48 may be provided in opposed orientations as best seen in Figure 1 such that the contact portions 52 contact the two conductors, 16, 18 respectively.
  • anti-overstress studs 60 engageable against the base 10 of the rail 4 when the label 6 is pressed thereagainst in order to limit deformation of the terminal contact branch 58; in other words by limiting depression of the conductor contact protrusion 52 into the housing 36.
  • the anti-overstress protrusion also protects the contact protrusions 52 from damage by external objects when the label is not mounted on the rail.
  • the label housing 36, and in particular the cover 38 comprises a resilient latch member 62 positioned between the pair of the latching shoulders 28 (as best seen in Figure 1) for engaging a complementary latching member in form of a latching shoulder 64 (see figures 3 and 6) provided in a recess 65 of an extension 66 of the removal tool 8.
  • a cut-out 68 is provided through the cover 38 for allowing the removal extension 66 to pass therethrough and access the removal latch 62.
  • release extensions 69 On the removal tool 8, either side of the central removal extension 66, are release extensions 69 for wedging between the rail latching arm 24 and the label housing such that the latching arm 24 is biased out of engagement with the housing latching shoulders 28, thereby enabling separation of the label from the bus rail.
  • Cut-outs 70 are provided through the cover 38 in alignment with the locking shoulders 28 to enable passage of the tool release extensions 68 therethrough.
  • the release extensions 69 may further be provided with oblique camming surfaces 72 for engaging corresponding oblique camming surfaces 74 (see Figure 1) of the base and cover latches in order to assist separation of the cover from the base with the tool 8.
  • a single tool can thus be provided either for removing the label from the bus rail, or removing the cover 38 from the base 37 in the event disassembly of the label is required.
  • the label 6 can be simply snap-fitted into the rail 4 whereby the label latching shoulders 28 engage the latch members 24 of the rail.
  • the terminal contact portions 52 resiliently bias against the embedded wire conductors 20.
  • the label housing, particularly the cover part may be provided with ledges 76, 78 that rest against a recessed ledge 80 of the rail, whereby the label top face 46 is at or below the top edge 84 of the rail top and bottom walls 12, 14 respectively.
  • the label is thus well protected, compact and relatively difficult to access.
  • the solid conductors 20 are resistant to wear in comparison to thin film conductors sometimes used in bus rails.
  • the elasticity of the latch arm 24 may also primarily come from outward resilient bending of the top, respectively bottom wall 12, 14 rather than from the latch wall portion 24, or from a combination of both.
  • the release extensions 69 of the removal tool 8 are inserted until abutment with the latching shoulders 28 whereby the rail latching member 24 is biased out of engagement with the label latching shoulder 28.
  • the removal latch shoulder 64 engages the housing resilient removal latch 62 as shown in Figure 6 such that the label can be pivotly lifted out of the rail as shown in Figure 10.
  • the removal tool 8 is released from the label 6 by pivoting the removal extension 56 out of engagement with the removal latch 62 and subsequently extracting the removal tool 8 from the corresponding cut-outs 68, 70 of the label housing as depicted in Figure 11.
  • sections of rail 4, 4' can be interconnected together by termination connectors 86, 86' that are provided with a housing 87 (see Figure 13) comprising base and cover parts 88, 89 and a pair terminals 48 that are identical in construction to the terminals of the label 6, and are mounted to the base in a similar manner.
  • a cable 90 having insulated conducting wires therein interconnects a pair of termination connectors 86, 86' that are mounted at ends of the bus rail sections 4, 4'.
  • the conductors of the cable 90 may be terminated directly to the terminals 48 by being stuffed into insulation displacing contact (IDC) slots 93 edge stamped out of the terminals 48.
  • IDC insulation displacing contact
  • the conducting wires may be stuffed into the IDC slots 93 by means of the cover 89 provided with abutment or pressing portions 95 that stuff the wires into the IDC lots 93. Rapid and simple connection of the cable 90 to the conductors of the bus rail is thus achieved, whilst using the same terminals 48 as that of the label for cost-effective manufacturing.
  • the cover 89 is provided with an end wall 96 for covering and insulating the end 91 of the rail section 4, 4'.
  • the cover is symmetrically designed such that a single cover 96 can be mounted with the end wall 96 on either of the opposed sides of the base 88, such that as shown in Figure 16 the same base and cover are used to provide the mirror image termination connectors 86, 86'.
  • the cable 90 may also extend to a control or power supply box for supplying the bus rails and labels with power and signals.
  • a secure electronic labelling system is provided that is well protected and difficult to remove without the aid of special tools.
  • a robust electronic display system is provided enabling multiple plugging and unplugging whilst ensuring reliable electrical connection.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)

Abstract

Ensemble d'étiquetage électronique (2) qui possède un rail (4) extrudé dans une matière isolante et doté de conducteurs métalliques solides (16, 18) encastrés dans une paroi de base (10) du rail. Des étiquettes électroniques (6) peuvent être verrouillées sur le rail, par simple pression sur lesdites étiquettes. Toutefois, pour enlever ces étiquettes, il est nécessaire de disposer d'un outil spécial (8) qui possède des partie saillantes (69) permettant de contraindre les éléments de verrouillage pour les déboîter, et une partie saillante (66) destinée à s'emboîter dans un dispositif de libération de l'étiquette et à soulever l'étiquette du rail.

Claims (10)

  1. Assemblage de connexion (2) comprenant une étiquette électronique (6) et un rail de bus (4), sur lequel l'étiquette (6) peut être montée, l'étiquette électronique (6) comprenant un boítier (36) et des bornes électriques (48) pour interconnecter les composants électroniques dans le boítier aux conducteurs de bus (6, 18) externes au boítier, l'étiquette comportant des éléments de verrouillage (28) destinés à s'engager dans des éléments de verrouillage complémentaires (24) du rail de bus pour y verrouiller l'étiquette, le rail de bus comprenant une base isolante (10) supportant les conducteurs de bus (16, 18) en vue de la connexion aux bornes de l'étiquette (48), les conducteurs s'étendant de manière pratiquement parallèle à une direction longitudinale (L) du rail, l'étiquette comprenant un élément de verrouillage de dégagement (62) destiné à être accouplé avec un élément de verrouillage de dégagement complémentaire (64) d'un outil d'enlèvement (8) au cours du dégagement des éléments de verrouillage du rail (24) des éléments de verrouillage de l'étiquette (28) par engagement des parties d'enlèvement (68) de l'outil d'enlèvement, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de verrouillage de dégagement (62) et les éléments de verrouillage (28, 24) sont positionnés de sorte que les parties d'enlèvement (69) de l'outil d'enlèvement peuvent dégager les éléments de verrouillage du rail et de l'étiquette par engagement entre eux.
  2. Assemblage de connexion selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une face avant (46) de l'étiquette, à partir de laquelle un affichage électronique est visible, comprend des entailles (70, 68) pour permettre le passage des extensions (66, 69) de l'outil d'enlèvement comprenant respectivement l'élément de verrouillage de dégagement complémentaire (64) et les parties d'enlèvement (69), en vue de donner respectivement accès à l'élément de verrouillage de dégagement (62) et à l'élément de verrouillage du rail (24).
  3. Assemblage de connexion selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'élément de verrouillage de dégagement (62) de l'étiquette est élastique et comporte un épaulement de verrouillage s'engageant dans un épaulement de verrouillage (64) de l'outil d'enlèvement agencé dans un évidement (65) sur une extension de dégagement (66) de l'outil d'enlèvement.
  4. Assemblage selon les revendications 2 ou 3, dans lequel l'élément de verrouillage de dégagement complémentaire (64) de l'outil d'enlèvement est positionné au centre et espacé entre les parties d'enlèvement (69) de l'outil.
  5. Assemblage de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le rail de bus est symétrique autour d'un axe longitudinal, de sorte que l'étiquette (6) peut y être fixée par encliquetage dans des orientations opposées de 180 degrés.
  6. Assemblage de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les conducteurs de bus (16, 18) sont des fils solides noyés dans la base isolante (10), la base isolante étant extrudée et les conducteurs étant noyés dans la base au cours de l'extrusion de celle-ci.
  7. Assemblage de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les éléments de verrouillage de l'étiquette (28) sont pratiquement rigides, l'élasticité étant ainsi établie par les éléments de verrouillage (24) et/ou les parois latérales (12, 14) du rail avec lequel les éléments de verrouillage (24) sont formés d'une seule pièce.
  8. Assemblage de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les éléments de verrouillage du rail de bus (24) et de la base (10) sont extrudés intégralement pour donner une forme pratiquement prismatique s'étendant dans la direction longitudinale (L).
  9. Assemblage de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le rail de bus comporte des parties de paroi supérieure et inférieure (12, 14), s'étendant vers le haut à partir de la base (10) vers les bords libres les plus externes (84), l'étiquette (6) étant ainsi montée de sorte à affleurer pratiquement les bords (84) ou à se situer au-dessous de ceux-ci, en vue d'assurer une protection correspondante.
  10. Assemblage de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'étiquette comprend des bornes à estampage des bords (48) ayant une forme en U, une première branche élastique (56) comportant une saillie de contact (50) destinée à être poussée contre une carte de circuits imprimés montée dans l'étiquette, et une deuxième branche (58) comportant une partie de contact (52) destinée à être poussée contre le conducteur de bus (16, 18), la partie de contact (52) s'étendant à travers une fente (54) dans une paroi de base (47) du boítier de l'étiquette (36).
EP98928481A 1997-07-11 1998-07-06 Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail Expired - Lifetime EP1012926B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98928481A EP1012926B1 (fr) 1997-07-11 1998-07-06 Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97401677 1997-07-11
EP97401677 1997-07-11
PCT/IB1998/001028 WO1999003174A1 (fr) 1997-07-11 1998-07-06 Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail
EP98928481A EP1012926B1 (fr) 1997-07-11 1998-07-06 Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1012926A1 EP1012926A1 (fr) 2000-06-28
EP1012926B1 true EP1012926B1 (fr) 2002-04-10

Family

ID=8229807

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98928481A Expired - Lifetime EP1012926B1 (fr) 1997-07-11 1998-07-06 Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1012926B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU8030798A (fr)
DE (1) DE69804822T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999003174A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101004862B1 (ko) * 2008-08-08 2010-12-28 삼성전기주식회사 전자 선반 라벨
CN102413740B (zh) * 2009-05-01 2015-05-27 Opto电子有限公司 电子货架标签
KR102069760B1 (ko) * 2013-05-28 2020-01-23 주식회사 솔루엠 전자태그 및 전자태그의 리무버 키
WO2015083005A2 (fr) 2013-12-04 2015-06-11 Opticon Sensors Europe B.V. Système d'étiquette électronique
ITUB20160486A1 (it) * 2016-02-01 2017-08-01 C A O S Solution S R L Kit di sistemi informativi elettronici e mezzi per il loro supporto.
DE102016124956A1 (de) * 2016-12-20 2018-06-21 Rehau Ag + Co System zur Bestromung mehrerer elektronischer Anzeigeeinrichtungen zur Anzeige von produktbezogenen Informationen und Warenpräsentationssystem
DE102017107927A1 (de) * 2017-04-12 2018-10-18 Rehau Ag + Co Gehäuse zur Aufnahme einer elektronischen Anzeigeeinrichtung zur Anzeige von warenbezogenen Informationen
CN107863665B (zh) * 2017-12-14 2024-02-23 福州思飞信息技术有限公司 一种连接端子、轨道及***

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8510410D0 (en) * 1985-04-24 1985-06-26 Fords Ltd Multiple display system
GB2249854A (en) * 1990-10-17 1992-05-20 Sainsbury J Plc Electronic labels
US5553412A (en) * 1993-03-25 1996-09-10 Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. Information display rail system
US6069596A (en) * 1994-05-17 2000-05-30 Ncr Corporation Electronic shelf label mounting system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1999003174A1 (fr) 1999-01-21
EP1012926A1 (fr) 2000-06-28
AU8030798A (en) 1999-02-08
DE69804822T2 (de) 2002-11-28
DE69804822D1 (de) 2002-05-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1128474B1 (fr) Connecteur pour des unités de circuit plat
EP1596471B1 (fr) Ensemble de bornes d'appareil électrique
US7137847B2 (en) Slide-to-latch panel mount connector
US7845987B2 (en) Electrical connector with plug connector and receptacle connector
US7581972B2 (en) Busbar connection system
US7014516B2 (en) Power connector with an adjustable opening
US6837740B2 (en) Flat circuit connector
EP0365617A1 (fr) Conducteurs isoles de terminaison
US6004163A (en) Electrical multi-pole plug-and-socket-type connector with associated socket part
EP0573047A1 (fr) Système modulaire de distribution d'énergie
EP0871997B1 (fr) Systeme de connexion pour radiotelephone portatif
US20210006012A1 (en) Wire to board connector with low height
EP1012926B1 (fr) Ensemble connexion electronique pour affichage monte sur rail
US4647129A (en) Electrical connector
US6997756B2 (en) Connector terminal, a connector and a mounting method
US6244887B1 (en) Electrical connector assembly
US7303446B2 (en) Frame assembly
EP0530964B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique avec barre omnibus pour prise de masse amélioré
CN103210546A (zh) 端子连接结构
US7656648B2 (en) Bus-bar and connector
US8092237B2 (en) Electrical connection bar and adapted connection device
US6739903B1 (en) Connector structure
US7232338B2 (en) Electrical connector with metal strengthen member
WO1994003941A1 (fr) Outil pour connecteurs d'embases et prises de courant modulaires
US5163854A (en) Field wirable VME compatible edge card connector

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: 19991220

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20010607

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

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

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69804822

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20020516

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

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

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

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20030113

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20170726

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20170727

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20170727

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69804822

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

Expiry date: 20180705

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 EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20180705