(19)

(11)

EP 1 224 045 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/30 (21) Application number: 00955714.1 (22) Date of filing: 18.08.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B21K 1/05 (86) International application number: PCT/US0022/742 (87) International publication number: WO 0112/359 (22.02.2001 Gazette 2001/08)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 19.08.1999 US 149947 P 29.11.1999 US 167840 P 25.05.2000 US 207010 P (71) Applicant: Nitinol Technologies, Inc. Milton, WA 98354 (US)	(72) Inventor: JULIEN, Gerald, J. Puyallup, WA 98372 (US) (74) Representative: Schmitz, Jean-Marie et al Dennemeyer & Associates S.A.,P.O. Box 1502 1015 Luxembourg 1015 Luxembourg (LU)