(19)

(11)

EP 2 488 778 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 22.08.2012 Bulletin 2012/34 (21) Application number: 10824001.1 (22) Date of filing: 13.10.2010

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  F16L 21/02(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2010/052470 (87) International publication number: WO 2011/047018 (21.04.2011 Gazette 2011/16)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 13.10.2009 US 278839 P 14.04.2010 US 342463 P (71) Applicant: VSL International AG 3098 Köniz (CH)	(72) Inventors: CRIGLER, John, R. Woodbine MD 21797 (US) MOUSSA, Michael, R. Euless TX 76039 (US) YOUNG, James, G. Midlothian TX 76065 (US) (74) Representative: Scheuzger, Beat Otto  Bovard AG Patent- und Markenanwälte Optingenstrasse 16 3000 Bern 25 3000 Bern 25 (CH)