(19)

(11)

EP 4 195 974 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 21.06.2023 Bulletin 2023/25 (21) Application number: 21759067.8 (22) Date of filing: 10.08.2021

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A44C 15/00(2006.01) A44C 7/00(2006.01) A44C 17/02(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): A44C 15/0015; A44C 17/0233; A44C 7/003; A44C 15/0035 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2021/072294 (87) International publication number: WO 2022/034096 (17.02.2022 Gazette 2022/07)

(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 Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 13.08.2020 GB 202012621 (71) Applicant: De Beers UK Limited London EC1N 6RA (GB)	(72) Inventors: POWELL, Graham Ralph London EC1N 6RA (GB) YAKOVENKO, Ekaterina London EC1N 6RA (GB) KONTOROVICH, Boris Brooklyn, New York 11205 (US) FORT, Tucker Brooklyn, New York 11205 (US) (74) Representative: Marks & Clerk LLP  15 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BW London EC4A 1BW (GB)