(19)

(11)

EP 2 176 868 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 30.04.2009 (43) Date of publication: 21.04.2010 Bulletin 2010/16 (21) Application number: 08789014.1 (22) Date of filing: 06.08.2008

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  H01B 9/00(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/IB2008/002060 (87) International publication number: WO 2008/149236 (11.12.2008 Gazette 2008/50)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA MK RS (30) Priority: 06.06.2008 US 134454 (71) Applicant: Ballard, Claudio R. Huntington, NY 11743 (US)	(72) Inventors: BALLARD, Claudio R. Huntington, NY 11743 (US) SARGENT, Andrew P. Chittenden, VT 05737 (US) SEWARD, Jeffrey N. Fairfax, VT 05454 (US) (74) Representative: UEXKÜLL & STOLBERG  Patentanwälte Beselerstraße 4 22607 Hamburg 22607 Hamburg (DE)