(19)

(11)

EP 1 542 822 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 03.07.2003 (43) Date of publication: 22.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/25 (21) Application number: 02763584.6 (22) Date of filing: 30.08.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B23C 3/35 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/027653 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/101180 (19.12.2002 Gazette 2002/51)

(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 (71) Applicant: Almblad, Robert E. Mundelein, IL 60060 (US)	(72) Inventors: ALMBLAD, Robert, E. Mundelein, IL 60060 (US) ALMBLAD, Jay, M. Grays Lake, IL 60030 (US) BLIN, John Lindenhurst, IL 60046 (US) JURCZAK, Paul Gurnee, IL 60031 (US) (74) Representative: Hedges, Martin Nicholas et al A.A. Thornton & Co.235 High Holborn London WC1V 7LE London WC1V 7LE (GB)