(19)

(11)

EP 1 540 200 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 21.05.2004 (43) Date of publication: 15.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/24 (21) Application number: 03759325.8 (22) Date of filing: 17.09.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F16F 9/05 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/029616 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/027283 (01.04.2004 Gazette 2004/14)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 20.09.2002 US 412472 P (71) Applicant: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership Plymouth, MI 48170-2455 (US)	(72) Inventor: CRABTREE, Michael, L. Arvada, CO 80003 (US) (74) Representative: Ripper, Monika Sigrid, Dr.  Carl Freudenberg KG,Patente und Marken 69465 Weinheim 69465 Weinheim (DE)