(19)

(11)

EP 1 461 192 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 27.11.2003 (43) Date of publication: 29.09.2004 Bulletin 2004/40 (21) Application number: 02773646.1 (22) Date of filing: 30.09.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B29C 31/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/030927 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/049914 (19.06.2003 Gazette 2003/25)

(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 SE SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 12.12.2001 US 15872 12.12.2001 US 15305 (71) Applicant: Milliken & Company Spartanburg, SC 29303 (US)	(72) Inventors: LARIDON, Erik B-3001 Heverlee (BE) HAAS, Geoffrey Spartanburg, SC 29301 (US) DANKEL, Robert Taylors, SC 29687 (US) (74) Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE  Patent- und RechtsanwälteArabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)