(19)

(11)

EP 1 401 778 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 10.04.2003 (43) Date of publication: 31.03.2004 Bulletin 2004/14 (21) Application number: 02741377.2 (22) Date of filing: 01.07.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C03B 23/025 (86) International application number: PCT/JP2002/006640 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/004424 (16.01.2003 Gazette 2003/03)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 04.07.2001 JP 2001203279 17.10.2001 JP 2001319142 (71) Applicant: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. Osaka-shi,Osaka 541-0041 (JP)

(72) Inventors: MATSUSHITA, Yoshimitsu,Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd Osaka-shi,Osaka 541-0041 (JP) SUGISHITA, Chie,Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. Osaka-shi,Osaka 541-0041 (JP) TSUJIUCHI, Koichi,Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. Osaka-shi,Osaka 541-0041 (JP) TANAKA, Mitsuo,Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. Osaka-shi,Osaka 541-0041 (JP) (74) Representative: Wilson Gunn M'Caw  41-51 Royal Exchange,Cross Street Manchester M2 7BD Manchester M2 7BD (GB)