EP0771921A1 - Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble - Google Patents

Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0771921A1
EP0771921A1 EP95830469A EP95830469A EP0771921A1 EP 0771921 A1 EP0771921 A1 EP 0771921A1 EP 95830469 A EP95830469 A EP 95830469A EP 95830469 A EP95830469 A EP 95830469A EP 0771921 A1 EP0771921 A1 EP 0771921A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
lock according
lock
cylinder
closure device
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
EP95830469A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0771921B1 (fr
Inventor
Gersam Meroni
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.)
Serrature Meroni SpA
Original Assignee
Serrature Meroni SpA
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 Serrature Meroni SpA filed Critical Serrature Meroni SpA
Priority to DE69514665T priority Critical patent/DE69514665D1/de
Priority to EP95830469A priority patent/EP0771921B1/fr
Priority to AT95830469T priority patent/ATE189031T1/de
Publication of EP0771921A1 publication Critical patent/EP0771921A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0771921B1 publication Critical patent/EP0771921B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B9/00—Lock casings or latch-mechanism casings ; Fastening locks or fasteners or parts thereof to the wing
    • E05B9/08—Fastening locks or fasteners or parts thereof, e.g. the casings of latch-bolt locks or cylinder locks to the wing
    • E05B9/084—Fastening of lock cylinders, plugs or cores
    • E05B9/086—Fastening of rotors, plugs or cores to an outer stator
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B65/00—Locks or fastenings for special use
    • E05B65/46—Locks or fastenings for special use for drawers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B17/00—Accessories in connection with locks
    • E05B17/04—Devices for coupling the turning cylinder of a single or a double cylinder lock with the bolt operating member
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B65/00—Locks or fastenings for special use
    • E05B65/44—Locks or fastenings for special use for furniture
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05C—BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS
    • E05C1/00—Fastening devices with bolts moving rectilinearly
    • E05C1/02—Fastening devices with bolts moving rectilinearly without latching action
    • E05C1/06—Fastening devices with bolts moving rectilinearly without latching action with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the bolt

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cylinder security lock for locking a movable portion to a fixed portion of a structure to be locked, particularly for a cabinet or for items of furniture in general, of the type comprising a mechanical closure device fixed to one of the fixed portion and the movable portion, a drum associated with the mechanical closure device and a locking cylinder housed in the drum and rotatable therein by means of a key in order to operate the mechanical closure device to engage it with the other of the said portions.
  • Locks are preferably fitted on the above-mentioned items of furniture during the manufacture thereof since the rationalization of the fitting operations, in combination with the use of tooling dedicated to this purpose, considerably reduces their fitting times and costs and achieves significant economies in large-scale production.
  • a requirement experienced in the field of the supply of office furniture and the like is that of providing, according to the customers' requirements, sets of furniture which are intended to be located in the same area with security locks having locking-unlocking mechanisms which can be operated by the same key.
  • the object of the present invention is to devise a security lock having structural and functional characteristics such as to satisfy the aforesaid requirement and at the same time to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art referred to.
  • a cylinder security lock of the type specified above characterized in that it comprises releasable coupling means between the drum and the mechanical closure device.
  • the concept upon which the present invention is based is that of rendering the drum, with the entire locking-unlocking mechanism of the lock, quickly and easily engageable with and releasable from the remaining parts of the lock even after these have been fitted on the movable portion or on the fixed portion of a structure to be locked such as, for example, a cabinet or an item of furniture in general.
  • a cylinder security lock intended for use, by way of example, with a cabinet 2 with drawers, is generally indicated 1.
  • the lock 1 comprises a mechanical closure device 3 and a drum 4 having a predetermined axis X-X and housing a locking cylinder 5 and a locking-unlocking mechanism 6 of the lock 1.
  • the closure device 3 comprises a disc-shaped bolt support 7 fixed to a drawer 42 of the cabinet 2 and a bolt 8 slidable in the bolt support 7 between a retracted position and a projecting position in which it is intended to engage a corresponding bolt seat 10 in a fixed portion 44 of the cabinet 2, as will become more clear from the following description.
  • the locking cylinder 5 is inserted coaxially in the drum 4 until its head 11 abuts a corresponding face of an end 12 of the drum 4.
  • An end portion 14 of the cylinder 5 projects from the other end 13 of the drum 4, a resilient sealing ring 15 being mounted thereon and preventing the cylinder 5 from coming out of the drum 4.
  • the continuity of the lateral surface 16 of the cylinder 5 is interrupted by a keyhole notch 18.
  • a plurality of radial through-holes 19 suitably aligned in a direction parallel to the axis X-X is formed in the thickness of the cylinder 5 in a position diametrally opposite that of the keyhole notch 18.
  • the plurality of holes 19 in the cylinder 5 corresponds to a plurality of radial through-holes 20 formed in the thickness of the drum 4, aligned in a direction parallel to the axis X-X and positioned axially so as to coincide with the radial holes 19 of the cylinder 5.
  • the locking-unlocking mechanism 6 of the lock 1 is of the known cylinder type and comprises a plurality of pairs of pins 21, each pair of pins 21 being inserted head-to-tail for sliding inside a respective radial duct defined by a hole 19 in the cylinder 5 aligned with a hole 20 in the drum 4, and a spring 17 which acts resiliently on each pair of pins 21 in a direction such as to urge them towards the axis X-X.
  • the radially outermost pins 21 of the pairs of pins 21 are positioned partially in the holes 19 of the cylinder 5 and their remaining portions are positioned in the holes 20 of the drum 4 so that they act as tongues to prevent relative rotation between the cylinder 5 and the drum 4.
  • the cylinder 5 is in fact rotated relative to the drum 4 by the insertion and rotation in the keyhole 18 of a key which has a notched profile such as to move the pins 21 against the action exerted thereon by the springs 17 until all of the radially outermost pins 21 of each pair of pins 21 are housed in the thickness of the drum 4 and all of the radially innermost pins 21 of each pair of pins 21 are housed in the thickness of the cylinder 5.
  • the closure device 3 and the drum 4 are connected by means of a bush 22 aligned with the drum 4 on the axis X-X.
  • An end 23 of the bush 22 comprises an external circumferential profile 24 snap-engaged in a corresponding internal groove 25 of a collar 26 projecting from the bolt support 7; this collar 26 is disposed adjacent holes 9 in the bolt 8.
  • the other end 27 of the bush 22 has two opposed projecting parallel arms 28 between which a corresponding mating portion 29 of the drum 4 with a reduced cross-section and opposed flat shoulders is inserted forming a male and female connection of known type.
  • the drum 4 comprises releasable coupling means which enable the drum 4 to be engaged with/released from the bush 22 fixed to the bolt support 7.
  • the releasable coupling means preferably comprise a ball 30 inserted slidingly in a radial through-hole 31 in a shoulder of the mating portion 29 of the drum 4.
  • the hole 31 has an end portion adjacent the outer surface of the drum 4 with a diameter d smaller than the diameter D of the ball 30 so as to prevent the ball from coming out of the drum 4 completely.
  • the ball 30 is forced by the lateral surface 16 of the cylinder 5 to a position in which it projects from the drum 4.
  • Each of the arms 28 has a corresponding seat 32, in one or other of which the portion of the ball 30 which projects from the drum 4 is engaged ( Figure 7) so as to prevent the release of the drum 4 from the bush 22.
  • the collar 26, the bush 22 and the drum 4 are shaped externally in a manner such that, when they are joined together as described above, they form a cylindrical body 35 (Figure 5).
  • connection element 33 which has a fork-shaped end 34 inserted in the holes 9 in the bolt 8 and a second, key-shaped end 43 engaged in a corresponding frontal key seat in the end 14 of the cylinder 5.
  • the bush 22 advantageously keeps the connection element 33 in position with the end 34 inserted in the holes 9 in the bolt even when the drum 4 is released from the bush 22, as will become clearer from the following description.
  • the lock 1 is mounted with the cylindrical body 35 inserted in a hole formed in the thickness of a front wall 37 of the drawer 42 so that the bolt support 7 is in abutment with the wall 37.
  • a plurality of fixing screws then fix the bolt support 7 to the wall 37 and hence the lock 1 to the drawer 42.
  • the locking cylinder 5 When the lock 1 is in operation, the locking cylinder 5 is rotated in the drum 4 by the insertion and rotation in the keyhole 18 of a key 38 having, as stated above, a notched profile such as to move the pins 21 against the action exerted thereon by the springs 17 until all of the radially outermost pins 21 of each pair of pins 21 are housed in the thickness of the drum 4 and all of the radially innermost pins 21 of each pair of pins 21 are housed in the thickness of the cylinder 5 ( Figure 6).
  • the ball 30 is constantly urged into the projecting position by the lateral surface 16 of the cylinder 5 so as to prevent the release of the drum 4 from the bush 22 ( Figure 7).
  • the lock 1 is also equipped with a release key 39 having a notched profile such as to enable the locking cylinder 5 to be rotated in the drum 4 in exactly the same way as described for the key 38.
  • a recess 40 is advantageously formed in the back 41 of the release key 39 for housing the ball 30 in a retracted position inside the drum 4 when the keyhole notch 18 is positioned angularly facing the hole 31 in the drum 4 ( Figure 3).
  • the drum 4 containing the locking cylinder 5 and the entire locking-unlocking mechanism 6 of the lock 1 can thus be released from the bush 22 which is fixed to the drawer 42.
  • the drum 4 advantageously enables the locking-unlocking mechanism 6 of the lock to be kept intact even when it is released from the remaining parts of the lock 1 ( Figure 2).
  • the engagement/release of the drum with/from the bush 22 is substantially equivalent to a normal operation of the lock 1 except that, instead of a normal operating key 38, it is necessary to use a release key 39.
  • the release key 39 is preferably a universal key or pas-partout and has a notched profile such as to enable fitted locks with different locking-unlocking mechanisms to be operated so that drums having different locking-unlocking mechanisms can be engaged/released with a single release key.
  • the parts of the lock such as the bolt closure device, the connection element and the bush can advantageously be fitted to the drawer during the manufacture of the drawer, whereas the drum can be engaged on the bush after the cabinet has been positioned in its final appointed place, together with the other items of furniture.
  • This enables drums comprising locking-unlocking mechanisms operable by the same key to be fitted on all those items of furniture for which they are required by the customer, without the need to worry about this problem during their manufacture.
  • the cylinder security lock according to the invention satisfies the requirements referred to in the introductory portion of the present description and at the same time overcomes the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art.
  • Another advantage of the security lock according to the invention lies in the fact that it enables the locking-unlocking mechanism of the lock to be kept intact even when the drum is released from the remaining parts of the lock.
  • a further advantage of the security lock according to the invention lies in the fact that it enables the drum of the lock to replaced easily and quickly even after a prolonged period of use.
  • Yet another advantage of the security lock according to the invention lies in the fact that it is structurally and functionally simple so that it can be expected to have a life at least equal to that of the locks of the prior art.
  • the lock could be of the cylinder type with disks, in this case enabling the entire drum to be removed in order to overcome the problem referred to in relation to the prior art.
  • the coupling means which enable the drum to be engaged with/released from the remaining parts of the lock may be replaced by other means structurally and/or functionally equivalent to those described, and the bush may be formed integrally with the bolt support.
  • the bolt may be replaced by other known closure systems such as, for example, those with rods and hooks used for locking cabinet doors.
  • the lock described above could be used for locking a movable part to a fixed part of a structure to be locked other than an item of furniture, such as, for example, doors on motor-car dashboards or doors of letter boxes in blocks of flats.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Drawers Of Furniture (AREA)
EP95830469A 1995-11-06 1995-11-06 Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble Expired - Lifetime EP0771921B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69514665T DE69514665D1 (de) 1995-11-06 1995-11-06 Ein Zylindersicherheitsschloss, insbesondere für einen Schubladenschrank oder allgemein für Möbeleinzelheiten
EP95830469A EP0771921B1 (fr) 1995-11-06 1995-11-06 Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble
AT95830469T ATE189031T1 (de) 1995-11-06 1995-11-06 Ein zylindersicherheitsschloss, insbesondere für einen schubladenschrank oder allgemein für möbeleinzelheiten

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95830469A EP0771921B1 (fr) 1995-11-06 1995-11-06 Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0771921A1 true EP0771921A1 (fr) 1997-05-07
EP0771921B1 EP0771921B1 (fr) 2000-01-19

Family

ID=8222051

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95830469A Expired - Lifetime EP0771921B1 (fr) 1995-11-06 1995-11-06 Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0771921B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE189031T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69514665D1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1103682A1 (fr) * 1999-11-15 2001-05-30 F.C. Brown (Steel Equipment) Limited Serrure et produit avec serrure
DE10200153A1 (de) * 2002-01-04 2003-07-17 Lehmann Vertriebsgmbh Elektromotorische Verriegelungsvorrichtung für Möbel

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI755965B (zh) * 2020-12-10 2022-02-21 藍天廚飾股份有限公司 櫃體之安全鎖扣裝置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1599150A (en) * 1925-03-28 1926-09-07 Carter A Taillefer Spring lock
DE1615392U (de) * 1950-06-20 1950-11-02 Hans Wackermann Durch drehknopf betaetigter moebelverschluss.
AT340269B (de) * 1976-07-02 1977-12-12 Franz Geisberger & Sohne Schloss, insbesondere mobelschloss
US4306431A (en) * 1979-11-28 1981-12-22 Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc. Chest safety lock

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1599150A (en) * 1925-03-28 1926-09-07 Carter A Taillefer Spring lock
DE1615392U (de) * 1950-06-20 1950-11-02 Hans Wackermann Durch drehknopf betaetigter moebelverschluss.
AT340269B (de) * 1976-07-02 1977-12-12 Franz Geisberger & Sohne Schloss, insbesondere mobelschloss
US4306431A (en) * 1979-11-28 1981-12-22 Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc. Chest safety lock

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1103682A1 (fr) * 1999-11-15 2001-05-30 F.C. Brown (Steel Equipment) Limited Serrure et produit avec serrure
DE10200153A1 (de) * 2002-01-04 2003-07-17 Lehmann Vertriebsgmbh Elektromotorische Verriegelungsvorrichtung für Möbel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69514665D1 (de) 2000-02-24
ATE189031T1 (de) 2000-02-15
EP0771921B1 (fr) 2000-01-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5979200A (en) Axial pin tumbler removable core lock
US5634359A (en) Removable core lock with latch alignment and limited latch rotation
US4099397A (en) Snap-in cylinder for disc and pin tumbler cam locks
EP0488786B1 (fr) Serrure cylindrique
US4920774A (en) Self-aligning re-keyable pin tumbler cabinet door lock
US4885923A (en) Combination lock
US6301942B1 (en) Accessories for a modular removable core cylinder assembly
US4672828A (en) Key-in-knob cylinder replacement system
US4860561A (en) Numerical lock
JPH01315569A (ja) ロック
EP1075577B1 (fr) Serrure a noyau amovible
US3299678A (en) Lock device for vending machine or the like
US4624119A (en) Tumbler lock
US3525242A (en) Locks
US7213424B2 (en) Rotation restricted locking apparatus and method
US5285667A (en) Cylinder lock
US5168734A (en) Re-combinate removable plug lock
US4914932A (en) Lock with key operated removable plug
US3102412A (en) Tumbler lock with axially shiftable interchangeable tumblers
US4191037A (en) Cylinder lock with key responsive removable core
GB1225991A (fr)
EP0771921B1 (fr) Une serrure de sécurité cylindrique, en particulier pour une armoire à tiroirs ou en général pour détails de meuble
CA2290857A1 (fr) Systeme de blocage a mecanisme d'entrainement
EP1002176B1 (fr) Serrure tubulaire
JPS6237473A (ja) シリンダ−錠

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: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: LT PAYMENT 961016;LV PAYMENT 961016;SI PAYMENT 961016

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19970604

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI NL PT SE

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19990120

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

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: LT PAYMENT 19961016;LV PAYMENT 19961016;SI PAYMENT 19961016

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 20000119

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: 20000119

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20000119

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 PRE;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.SCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20000119

Ref country code: GR

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

Effective date: 20000119

Ref country code: FR

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: 20000119

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 20000119

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20000119

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: 20000119

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: 20000119

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 189031

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 20000215

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69514665

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20000224

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: 20000419

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: 20000419

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

Effective date: 20000420

EN Fr: translation not filed
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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: 20001106

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

Effective date: 20001106