(19)

(11)

EP 1 163 131 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 19.12.2001 Bulletin 2001/51 (21) Application number: 00913601.1 (22) Date of filing: 22.02.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B60R 25/02, B62H 5/04, E05B 13/10, F16C 3/00, G05G 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0004/720 (87) International publication number: WO 0048/872 (24.08.2000 Gazette 2000/34)

(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: 22.02.1999 US 255586 (71) Applicant: SOUTHCO, INC. Concordville, PA 19331 (US)	(72) Inventor: GERT, Berg Cheltenham,Gloustershire GL50 2UR (GB) (74) Representative: Weber, Dieter, Dr. et al Weber, Dieter, Dr., Seiffert, Klaus, Dipl.-Phys., Lieke, Winfried, Dr., Gustav-Freytag-Strasse 25 65189 Wiesbaden 65189 Wiesbaden (DE)