(19)

(11)

EP 1 415 106 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 06.05.2004 Bulletin 2004/19 (21) Application number: 01953445.2 (22) Date of filing: 11.07.2001

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F16L 55/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2001/021841 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/006869 (23.01.2003 Gazette 2003/04)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (71) Applicant: Dura-Line Corporation Knoxville, TN 37923 (US)	(72) Inventors: GRIMSLEY, Timothy, A. Knoxville, TN 37922 (US) COREY, R., David Louisville, TN 37777 (US) MCCALL, Thomas, R. Knoxville, TN 37922 (US) (74) Representative: Perry, Robert Edward  GILL JENNINGS & EVERYBroadgate House7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH London EC2M 7LH (GB)