EP0786271A2 - Gewichtseinstellbarer Golfschläger - Google Patents

Gewichtseinstellbarer Golfschläger Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0786271A2
EP0786271A2 EP97300459A EP97300459A EP0786271A2 EP 0786271 A2 EP0786271 A2 EP 0786271A2 EP 97300459 A EP97300459 A EP 97300459A EP 97300459 A EP97300459 A EP 97300459A EP 0786271 A2 EP0786271 A2 EP 0786271A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
weight
weights
center
gravity
golf club
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97300459A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0786271A3 (de
Inventor
William H. Ryan
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.)
Quantum Leap Golf Company LLC
Original Assignee
Quantum Leap Golf Company 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 Quantum Leap Golf Company LLC filed Critical Quantum Leap Golf Company LLC
Priority to US08/899,939 priority Critical patent/US5947840A/en
Publication of EP0786271A2 publication Critical patent/EP0786271A2/de
Publication of EP0786271A3 publication Critical patent/EP0786271A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/04—Heads
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/04—Heads
    • A63B53/0466—Heads wood-type
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/04—Heads
    • A63B2053/0491—Heads with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to golf equipment, in particular golf clubs, and more particularly still woods, which because of their extra length and reduced loft are usually the most difficult clubs for a golfer to make consistent center contact with.
  • the present invention is directed to an improved golf club in which the clubhead is provided with adjustable weight means.
  • adjustable weight means allow an individual golfer to alter the clubhead's center of gravity. More particularly, the adjustable weight means of the present invention allows for adjustments to the center of gravity in three dimensions, as contrasted with prior art weights, which only provide for limited adjustment in one or two dimensions.
  • the golfer can effectively tailor or design clubs which will minimize torque effects resulting from striking the ball at points other than the center of gravity, thereby causing off-center shots to have a more solid feel, with less ball flight curvatures and less loss of distance.
  • the consequences are an improved swing, better ball contact and more accurate shots.
  • the "sweet spot" of a golf club may be defined as the point of maximum energy transference during the impact of the clubhead with the ball. This is usually the point at which a line perpendicular to the club face passes through the center of gravity. If a ball which is hit on the club face is hit only approximately 0.25 inch off of the sweet spot, the shot which is produced will ordinarily result in a 10 to 12 yard loss of distance and an adverse side spin imparted to the ball.
  • none of the adjustable-weight clubs of the prior art position the weights in axial alignment or on the same latitude as the club's center of gravity. This omission tends to lead to clubs which are prone to produce an unbalanced, wobbling motion during the swing, and resulting in a stroke which is inconsistent and error-prone.
  • the present invention conversely, positions the weights in three-dimensional axial alignment with the natural center of gravity of the club.
  • the weights and weight ports are often recessed through the perimeter of the clubhead into the club cavity.
  • the weight ports are recessed into the clubhead by at least three quarters of an inch. This placement of the weights into the club cavity further reduces the expansion of the moment of inertia or "sweet spot". It also weakens the wall strength of the club and its solidness.
  • the present invention provides for weight ports on the outer perimeter of the clubhead.
  • FIGURE 1 is a cutaway top interior view of the of the clubhead.
  • FIGURE 2 is a cutaway side interior view of the clubhead.
  • FIGURE 3 is a side view of the weights ports on the same longitudinal and vertical plane as the center of gravity.
  • FIGURE 4 is a top view of the weight ports and center of gravity forming an equilateral triangle.
  • FIGURE 5 is a top view of an individual weight means
  • FIGURE 5a is a side view of an individual weight means.
  • FIGURE 6 is a side view of a weight port.
  • FIGURE 6a is a top view of a weight port.
  • FIGURE 7 is a top cross-sectional view of a clubhead, with alternative weight means attached.
  • FIGURE 8 is a side view of an alternative weight means.
  • FIGURE 9 is a side view of an alternative weight port configuration.
  • FIGURES 10-15 are cross-section views of a clubhead, showing various positions of the weights, as seen from the face of the clubhead.
  • FIGURE 16 is a graph of a cross-sectional view of a clubface, showing impact rings.
  • FIGURE 17 is a vertical scale of distance losses caused by off-center impacts to the clubface.
  • FIGURE 18 is a rear view of the clubhead, showing another alternative weight port means.
  • FIGURE 19 is a side view of an alternative weight means.
  • FIGURE 20 is a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of a clubhead showing an alternative weight means configuration.
  • FIGURE 21 is a cross-sectional view of a clubhead from the front of the clubface, showing alternative weight means positions.
  • the present invention provides for golf clubs, in particular woods, which contain a three-dimensionally-adjustable weighting system.
  • the weighting system includes a plurality of weight ports or chambers, which are located on the exterior of the clubhead, preferably proximate to the toe and heel of the individual club, and the weights themselves.
  • the weights are positioned to be axially aligned, and generally form an equilateral triangle, with the normal center of gravity of the club.
  • the weights are two-sided, in which the individual weight on each side of the whole weight is the same or different from the weight of the other side of the whole weight.
  • the weights, and more particularly the individual sides of the two-sided weights are composed of materials of various densities and can easily be interchanged to make the club lighter or heavier, and vary the weight relative to the center of gravity.
  • This weighting system greatly facilitates the vertical, horizontal and lateral adjustement of the center of gravity of the clubhead, thereby providing for individual customization of the club.
  • This enables the golfer to decrease errors in the golf shot, for example, hooking or slicing of the ball. It also enables the cub to have the greatest possible expansion of the moment of inertia, as well as the ability to lower or raise the center of gravity of a club to customize shot trajectory.
  • the weight chambers or ports are preferably aligned within the club so that the center of each port, and therefore each weight, is aligned with the club's center of gravity, i.e. the top half of the weight is above the center of gravity and the bottom half is below. This allows for maximum stability during the swing of the club, while also maximizing possible trajectory changes.
  • the clubhead of the invention would include four sets of identical double-sided weights. These preferred weights comprise top to bottom halves of different materials fused together to form one solid weight.
  • One set of weights comprise lighter weight materials on both halves.
  • a second set of weights will consist of heavier materials on both halves, while the third set of weights comprises a lightweight material on one half and a heavyweight material on the other half.
  • the fourth set of weights will consist of a lightweight material on one half and a medium weight material on the other half, relative to the weight of the lighter and heavier weight materials.
  • the exact weight of each individual weight can be changed to accommodate different size and weight drivers and fairway woods.
  • the preferred embodiment described above, for example, allows for 64 different weight placement combinations.
  • the type of weights, and their placement, can significantly vary the nature of the club and the resulting shot.
  • the hooking spin of a shot will be reduced or eliminated.
  • the heavier weights in the heel weight port and the lighter weight in the toe weight port slicing spin will be reduced or eliminated.
  • By placing the medium or heavy weight in both the heel and toe weight ports the expansion of the moment of inertia will increase to its maximum for each respective mass.
  • the weight of the club By placing the lightest weights in both weight ports, the weight of the club will be reduced significantly allowing for more club head speed and longer distance. By placing the heavier half of the weight on the bottom the weight port or ports, the center of gravity will be lowered, producing a shot with a higher trajectory. By placing the lighter half of the weight on the bottom of the weight port or ports, the center of gravity will be raised producing a shot with a lower trajectory.
  • the club itself can be made from any conventional material used in the fabrication of golf clubs.
  • the club heads are comprised of metal or wood, more preferably metal.
  • a metal head can be made with any number of metals or metal alloys.
  • the weights can be comprised of metals, metal alloys, composite material, such as ceramic, graphite, polymer, and plastics, such as Keviar, etc.
  • the weights are comprised of metals having a variety of densities, including but not limited to aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and lead.
  • the present invention yields an approximately 32% greater expansion of the center of gravity than the prior art. This results in an approximately equivalent improved capacity for adding to or reducing the side spin on the ball resulting from off-center hits, as well as a similarly improved travel distance.
  • the weight chambers or ports [1], [2] are shown positioned in on the forward toe [20] and rear heel section [19] of the club head [4].
  • the weight chambers are axially aligned with the club's center of gravity [3].
  • the weights ports and weight centers are also vertically aligned [5] with the club's center of gravity [3].
  • the center of the weights [1] and [2] are axially aligned [5] with the center of gravity of the club [3], and the weights are spaced equally apart from an imaginary center line [21], forming an equilateral triangle with the club's center of gravity.
  • the weights themselves [16] comprise two substantially equal-sized weight halves, preferably fused together. They may be of similar or different densities and are capable of being rotated from top to bottom within the weight ports [1], [2].
  • the weights preferably have a notch on one side [17], which is intended to fit into either one of the weight ports [7], facilitating the improved securing of the weights within the weight ports.
  • the weights may be secured into the weight ports [7] by any conventional means, preferably a screw device [6].
  • the weights may also be more permanently secured by use of epoxy or other adhesives, although this limits the ability to adjust the weights after they have been secured.
  • FIG 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the same clubhead [4] in which another embodiment of the weights is shown. These alternative weights [8] and the weight chambers or ports [18] are also directly aligned [5] to the club's center of gravity [3].
  • FIG 8 illustrates an alternative weight means, which comprises identically-sizes rounded halves.
  • the weights themselves [8] have a screw means attached to the bottom of each individual weight [8a] for securing it into the weight port.
  • Figure 9 illustrates how the alternative weights [8] appear when attached into the outside perimeter of the club [4] via the alternative weight chamber or port [18]. They are aligned so that one half of the weight would preferably be above the club's center of gravity [3] and the other half would be below.
  • Figures 10-15 all show how the club's centers of gravity may be expanded using the weight system of the present invention.
  • the gravity would be expanded [10] towards the weight in the toe of the club [2]. This configuration helps to reduce or eliminate any hook spin on the ball.
  • Figure 11 shows the club's center of gravity [3] expanded [11] towards the weight in the heel of the club [1]. This configuration helps to reduce or eliminate any slice spin on the ball.
  • Figure 12 shows the club's center of gravity [3] expanded in both directions [12] towards the weight in the toe [2] and heel [1]. This configuration would give the maximum expansion of the sweat spot for solidness, distance, with the least amount of curvature imparted to the ball on off center hits.
  • Figure 13 shows the club's center of gravity expanded towards the toe [2] and heel weights [1], as well as in an upward vertical direction [13], because the heavier weights are placed in the upper half of the weight above the club's center of gravity [3].
  • This configuration yields excellent center of gravity expansion for off-center hits, as well as raising the club's center of gravity producing a lower shot trajectory.
  • Figure 14 shows the club's center of gravity expanded towards the toe [2] and heel weights [1], as well as in a downward vertical direction [14], because the heavier weights are placed in the lower half of the weight port below the club's center of gravity [3].
  • This configuration provides excellent center of gravity expansion for off center hits as well as to lower the club's center of gravity producing a higher shot trajectory.
  • Figure 15 shows the club's center of gravity [3] expanded towards the toe [2] and heel [1] of the club [15]. This configuration would give the lease amount of center of gravity expansion but it would make the club head considerably lighter, enabling the golfer to produce maximum clubhead speed for more distance.
  • Figure 16 illustrates consecutive elliptical shaped configurations superimposed upon the clubface. This pattern would occur with clubhead speeds of 95 to 100 mph.
  • the graph lines are approximately .25 of an inch apart; therefore, the impact of each .25 of an inch off center translates into an approximate 10-12 yards loss of distance.
  • Figure 17 is a vertical chart which illustrates the distance the ball would travel on center and off center hits at 95 to 100 mph. As can be seen, there is a 10 yard loss of distance on each successive ellipse.
  • FIG 18 illustrates another alternate and embodiment of the clubhead [4].
  • the weights [19] and [20] are aligned with the club's center of gravity [3] on a tilted plane [5], [5a] and [23].
  • the heel weight [19] would be positioned above the club's vertical center of gravity plane [22]. This would raise the club's center of gravity in a heelward direction [24], thereby producing a lower trajectory in the flight path of a ball struck more towards the heelward side of the clubface.
  • the toe weights [20] would be positioned below the club's vertical center of gravity plane [22]. This would lower the club's center of gravity in the toeward direction [25], thereby producing a higher trajectory in the flight path of a ball struck towards the toeward side of the clubface.
  • FIG 19 shows an additional alternative embodiment of a fastening means for the weights.
  • cylindrical weights having a screw-face surface, permitting the weights themselves to be directly fastened into the weight ports by screwing.
  • the weights may be constructed in various lengths [23], [24] and various densities in order to facilitate the adjustments described elsewhere herein.
  • FIG 20 illustrates another alternative weight port embodiment [24].
  • the weights [23] are affixed into the weight port, preferably by screwing, until they are flush with the clubhead. [4].
  • Figure 21 illustrates how the center of gravity of the clubhead would be expanded on a tilted plane [27] towards the added weights when using the present invention. This helps to lower the trajectory of a ball which is struck towards the heel of the clubface [24], a circumstance which would normally cause the ball's trajectory to be abnormally high, and also raises the trajectory of a ball which is struck towards the toe of the clubface [25], a circumstance which normally causes the ball's trajectory to be abnormally low.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Golf Clubs (AREA)
EP97300459A 1996-01-25 1997-01-24 Gewichtseinstellbarer Golfschläger Withdrawn EP0786271A3 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/899,939 US5947840A (en) 1997-01-24 1997-07-24 Adjustable weight golf club

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US59107496A 1996-01-25 1996-01-25
US591074 2000-06-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0786271A2 true EP0786271A2 (de) 1997-07-30
EP0786271A3 EP0786271A3 (de) 1998-06-03

Family

ID=24364952

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97300459A Withdrawn EP0786271A3 (de) 1996-01-25 1997-01-24 Gewichtseinstellbarer Golfschläger

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0786271A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH09308717A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1005882A1 (de) * 1998-12-02 2000-06-07 Adams Golf IP L.P. Golfschlägerkopf
US6428426B1 (en) 2000-06-28 2002-08-06 Callaway Golf Company Golf club striking plate with variable bulge and roll
US12434110B2 (en) 2020-03-24 2025-10-07 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head with sliding weight and cover

Families Citing this family (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6306048B1 (en) 1999-01-22 2001-10-23 Acushnet Company Golf club head with weight adjustment
US6773360B2 (en) 2002-11-08 2004-08-10 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head having a removable weight
US7731603B2 (en) 2007-09-27 2010-06-08 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head
US8900069B2 (en) 2010-12-28 2014-12-02 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Fairway wood center of gravity projection
US7186190B1 (en) * 2002-11-08 2007-03-06 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head having movable weights
US8235844B2 (en) 2010-06-01 2012-08-07 Adams Golf Ip, Lp Hollow golf club head
US7771291B1 (en) * 2007-10-12 2010-08-10 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head with vertical center of gravity adjustment
US8801541B2 (en) 2007-09-27 2014-08-12 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club
US9943734B2 (en) 2004-11-08 2018-04-17 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club
US7753806B2 (en) 2007-12-31 2010-07-13 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club
US8206244B2 (en) 2008-01-10 2012-06-26 Adams Golf Ip, Lp Fairway wood type golf club
US8827831B2 (en) 2010-06-01 2014-09-09 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head having a stress reducing feature
US8821312B2 (en) 2010-06-01 2014-09-02 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head having a stress reducing feature with aperture
US9089749B2 (en) 2010-06-01 2015-07-28 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head having a shielded stress reducing feature
US9220953B2 (en) 2010-12-28 2015-12-29 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Fairway wood center of gravity projection
US8888607B2 (en) 2010-12-28 2014-11-18 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Fairway wood center of gravity projection
US10639524B2 (en) 2010-12-28 2020-05-05 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club head
US9707457B2 (en) 2010-12-28 2017-07-18 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club
US9861864B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2018-01-09 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club
US9895585B2 (en) * 2016-06-20 2018-02-20 Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads
US10195497B1 (en) 2016-09-13 2019-02-05 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc Oversized golf club head and golf club
US10653926B2 (en) 2018-07-23 2020-05-19 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club heads
US11406881B2 (en) 2020-12-28 2022-08-09 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club heads
US11759685B2 (en) 2020-12-28 2023-09-19 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club heads

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2056335A (en) 1934-01-13 1936-10-06 William L Wettlaufer Golf club
US3059976A (en) 1960-08-19 1962-10-23 Gen Motors Corp Load responsive modulating valve for fluid brake system
US4869507A (en) 1986-06-16 1989-09-26 Players Golf, Inc. Golf club
US5013041A (en) 1990-01-22 1991-05-07 Cipa Manufacturing Corporation Golf driver with variable weighting for changing center of gravity
US5050879A (en) 1990-01-22 1991-09-24 Cipa Manufacturing Corporation Golf driver with variable weighting for changing center of gravity

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB439187A (en) * 1934-05-31 1935-12-02 William Henry Nash Improvements in or relating to golf clubs
US3610630A (en) * 1969-10-21 1971-10-05 Cecil C Glover Golf club head with weight adjusting means
US4085934A (en) * 1972-08-03 1978-04-25 Roy Alexander Churchward Golf club
US4043563A (en) * 1972-08-03 1977-08-23 Roy Alexander Churchward Golf club
US3979122A (en) * 1975-06-13 1976-09-07 Belmont Peter A Adjustably-weighted golf irons and processes
GB2173407A (en) * 1985-04-10 1986-10-15 Gordon James Tilley Golf clubs
WO1992015374A1 (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-09-17 Sanders Gregory L System for adjusting a golf club

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2056335A (en) 1934-01-13 1936-10-06 William L Wettlaufer Golf club
US3059976A (en) 1960-08-19 1962-10-23 Gen Motors Corp Load responsive modulating valve for fluid brake system
US4869507A (en) 1986-06-16 1989-09-26 Players Golf, Inc. Golf club
US5013041A (en) 1990-01-22 1991-05-07 Cipa Manufacturing Corporation Golf driver with variable weighting for changing center of gravity
US5050879A (en) 1990-01-22 1991-09-24 Cipa Manufacturing Corporation Golf driver with variable weighting for changing center of gravity

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1005882A1 (de) * 1998-12-02 2000-06-07 Adams Golf IP L.P. Golfschlägerkopf
US6428426B1 (en) 2000-06-28 2002-08-06 Callaway Golf Company Golf club striking plate with variable bulge and roll
US6558272B2 (en) 2000-06-28 2003-05-06 Callaway Golf Company Golf club striking plate with variable bulge and roll
US12434110B2 (en) 2020-03-24 2025-10-07 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf club head with sliding weight and cover

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH09308717A (ja) 1997-12-02
EP0786271A3 (de) 1998-06-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5947840A (en) Adjustable weight golf club
EP0786271A2 (de) Gewichtseinstellbarer Golfschläger
EP2414052B1 (de) Golfschläger und golfschlägerköpfe
US5082278A (en) Golf club head with variable center of gravity
US4826172A (en) Golf club head
US4883274A (en) Golf club head with variable center of gravity
US6719641B2 (en) Golf iron having a customizable weighting feature
US5429353A (en) Golf club irons and method of manufacture of iron sets
US7244188B2 (en) Multi-piece golf club head with improved inertia
US5209473A (en) Set of golf clubs having oval shape cavity back
US7744487B2 (en) Golf clubs and golf club heads having feel altering systems
US7198575B2 (en) Golf club head
US7018304B2 (en) Putter head
US7192361B2 (en) Iron-type golf clubs
CN102438710B (zh) 具有多个打击面插入物的高尔夫球杆杆头或其它击球器具
EP1644090A1 (de) Hohlen muscle-back eisen schlägerkopf
EP2504068A1 (de) Golfschläger mit tragkonsole
US7481718B2 (en) Golf club head with top line insert
JPH06511399A (ja) バランスのとれたゴルフパター
US20060100033A1 (en) Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity
JP2023540792A (ja) 低いｃｇを有しているフェアウェイウッドゴルフクラブヘッド
US11986711B1 (en) Golf putter
US20210402269A1 (en) Putter club head with radial face
KR20220151789A (ko) 골프클럽용 헤드
JP2001054603A (ja) ゴルフクラブ

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): DE ES FR GB IE IT

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IE IT

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19981204