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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP1255981

EP1255981 - AUTOMATED NON-DESTRUCTIVE WELD EVALUATION METHOD AND APPARATUS [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusNo opposition filed within time limit
Status updated on  13.02.2015
Database last updated on 30.10.2024
Most recent event   Tooltip13.10.2017Lapse of the patent in a contracting state
New state(s): CY, TR
published on 15.11.2017  [2017/46]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.
845 Livernois
Ferndale, MI 48220 / US
[2002/48]
Former [2002/46]For all designated states
Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.
845 Livernois
Ferndale, MI 48220 / US
For all designated states
Shepard, Steven M.
23656 Hunter's Lane
Southfield, MI 48034 / US
Inventor(s)01 / SHEPARD, Steven, M.
23656 Hunter's Lane
Southfield, MI 48034 / US
 [2002/46]
Representative(s)McCartney, Jonathan William, et al
Haseltine Lake LLP
Redcliff Quay
120 Redcliff Street
Bristol BS1 6HU / GB
[2013/46]
Former [2010/07]Cheyne, John Robert Alexander M., et al
Haseltine Lake LLP Redcliff Quay 120 Redcliff Street
Bristol BS1 6HU / GB
Former [2002/48]Becker, Bernd, Dipl.-Ing., et al
Patentanwälte BECKER & AUE Saarlandstrasse 66
55411 Bingen / DE
Former [2002/46]Becker, Bernd, Dipl.-Ing.
Patentanwälte BECKER & AUE Saarlandstrasse 66
55411 Bingen / DE
Application number, filing date01939989.805.01.2001
[2002/46]
WO2001US00271
Priority number, dateUS20000174794P06.01.2000         Original published format: US 174794 P
[2002/46]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO0150116
Date:12.07.2001
Language:EN
[2001/28]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP1255981
Date:13.11.2002
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 12.07.2001 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[2002/46]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP1255981
Date:09.04.2014
Language:EN
[2014/15]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:US12.07.2001
(Supplementary) European search report - dispatched on:EP02.02.2010
ClassificationIPC:G01N25/72
[2002/46]
CPC:
G01N25/72 (EP,US)
Designated contracting statesAT,   BE,   CH,   CY,   DE,   DK,   ES,   FI,   FR,   GB,   GR,   IE,   IT,   LI,   LU,   MC,   NL,   PT,   SE,   TR [2002/46]
TitleGerman:VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR ZERSTÖRUNGSFREIE PRÜFUNG EINER SCHWEISS NAHT[2002/46]
English:AUTOMATED NON-DESTRUCTIVE WELD EVALUATION METHOD AND APPARATUS[2002/46]
French:PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF D'EVALUATION DE SOUDURE NON DESTRUCTIFS ET AUTOMATISES[2002/46]
Entry into regional phase03.08.2002National basic fee paid 
03.08.2002Search fee paid 
03.08.2002Designation fee(s) paid 
03.08.2002Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure25.07.2001Request for preliminary examination filed
International Preliminary Examining Authority: US
03.08.2002Examination requested  [2002/46]
22.04.2010Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
27.08.2010Reply to a communication from the examining division
06.11.2013Communication of intention to grant the patent
26.02.2014Fee for grant paid
26.02.2014Fee for publishing/printing paid
Divisional application(s)The date of the Examining Division's first communication in respect of the earliest application for which a communication has been issued is  22.04.2010
Opposition(s)12.01.2015No opposition filed within time limit [2015/12]
Fees paidRenewal fee
07.01.2003Renewal fee patent year 03
26.01.2004Renewal fee patent year 04
23.12.2004Renewal fee patent year 05
16.01.2006Renewal fee patent year 06
13.01.2007Renewal fee patent year 07
21.12.2007Renewal fee patent year 08
19.12.2008Renewal fee patent year 09
27.01.2010Renewal fee patent year 10
28.01.2011Renewal fee patent year 11
26.01.2012Renewal fee patent year 12
29.01.2013Renewal fee patent year 13
21.01.2014Renewal fee patent year 14
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Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the data displayed under the link provided lies entirely with the Unified Patent Court.
Lapses during opposition  TooltipAT09.04.2014
BE09.04.2014
CY09.04.2014
DK09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
IT09.04.2014
MC09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
TR09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
IE05.01.2015
LU05.01.2015
[2017/40]
Former [2016/07]AT09.04.2014
BE09.04.2014
DK09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
IT09.04.2014
MC09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
IE05.01.2015
LU05.01.2015
Former [2015/43]AT09.04.2014
BE09.04.2014
DK09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
IT09.04.2014
MC09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
LU05.01.2015
Former [2015/39]AT09.04.2014
BE09.04.2014
DK09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
IT09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
LU05.01.2015
Former [2015/18]AT09.04.2014
BE09.04.2014
DK09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
IT09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
Former [2015/08]AT09.04.2014
BE09.04.2014
DK09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
Former [2015/02]AT09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
PT11.08.2014
Former [2014/51]AT09.04.2014
ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
Former [2014/50]ES09.04.2014
FI09.04.2014
NL09.04.2014
SE09.04.2014
GR10.07.2014
Former [2014/49]FI09.04.2014
Documents cited:Search[A]US3648009  (STEIGERWALD KARL HEINZ) [A] 1-24 * column 2, line 58 - column 2, line 70 *;
 [A]US4647220  (ADAMS MARK J [US], et al) [A] 1-24 * claim 1 *;
 [A]DE4311320  (BRANSON ULTRASCHALL [DE]) [A] 1-24* claims 1,8 *;
 [A]US5631465  (SHEPARD STEVEN M [US]) [A] 1-24 * figures 1A,1B *;
 [A]US5968376  (SHIRK BRYAN W [US]) [A] 1-24 * claim 1 *;
 [A]  - Method for checking the quality of welded pipe joints - with an inductor with hinged construction and rotating magnetic field for heating pipe joints, DERWENT HOST- DERWENT, (19940615), XP002276256 [A] 1-24 * abstract *
International search[X]US4854724  (ADAMS MARK J [US], et al);
 [AP]US6153848  (NAGAE HIROKI [JP], et al)
by applicantUS4854724
The EPO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from other authorities; in particular, it does not guarantee that it is complete, up to date or fit for specific purposes.