(19)

(11)

EP 1 087 863 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 04.04.2001 Bulletin 2001/14 (21) Application number: 99912271.6 (22) Date of filing: 03.03.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B29C 49/00, A45C 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9904/752 (87) International publication number: WO 9944/807 (10.09.1999 Gazette 1999/36)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 04.03.1998 US 76705 P (71) Applicant: 500 Group Inc. Stamford, CT 06902 (US)	(72) Inventors: TIRAMANI, Paolo, M., B. Greenwich, CT 06830 (US) BOZAK, John, A. Greenwich, CT 06839 (US) FUDGE, Chester Middleton, CT 06457 (US) HAM, Soohyun Stamford, CT 06907 (US) (74) Representative: Howden, Christopher Andrew  FORRESTER & BOEHMERTFranz-Joseph-Strasse 38 80801 München 80801 München (DE)