(19)

(11)

EP 1 489 930 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 29.12.2004 Bulletin 2004/53 (21) Application number: 02807163.7 (22) Date of filing: 31.12.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A24F 1/22 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/041771 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/082031 (09.10.2003 Gazette 2003/41)

(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 SI SK TR (30) Priority: 22.03.2002 US 366809 P 29.05.2002 US 384551 P 29.07.2002 US 399465 P 26.11.2002 US 429120 P (71) Applicant: Steinberg, Dan A. Blacksburg, VA 24060 (US)	(72) Inventor: Steinberg, Dan A. Blacksburg, VA 24060 (US) (74) Representative: Lins, Edgar, Dipl.-Phys. Dr.jur. et al GRAMM, LINS & PARTNERTheodor-Heuss-Strasse 1 38122 Braunschweig 38122 Braunschweig (DE)