European Patent Office

T 0501/94 (Electrical double leaf spring contact) of 10.07.1996

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1996:T050194.19960710
Date of decision
10 July 1996
Case number
T 0501/94
Petition for review of
-
Application number
86100730.0
IPC class
H01R 13/18
Language of proceedings
German
Distribution
Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Further relevant links for this decision in the OJ
Other decisions for this case
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Abstracts for this decision
-
Application title
Elektrischer Doppelflachfederkontakt
Applicant name
Delphi Automotive Systems
Opponent name
AMP Incorporated
Board
3.5.02
Headnote

1. Written state of the art which is only mentioned and offered for inspection by an opponent after the parties have presented their main submissions during oral proceedings may be regarded by the board as late-submitted under Article 114(2) EPC and does not need to be added to the file.

2. A document indicated in a contested patent as the closest or important prior art for the purposes of elucidating the technical problem set out in the description forms part of the opposition or opposition appeal proceedings even if not expressly cited within the opposition period (see decision T 536/88, OJ EPO 1992, 638). However, a document indicated in a citation as the closest or important prior art for the purposes of elucidating the technical problem set out in the citation does not automatically form part of the opposition or opposition appeal proceedings if it has not been expressly cited within the opposition period.

Keywords
Inventive step (yes)
Document only submitted towards the end of oral proceedings not added to file
Catchword
-

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The patent is maintained unamended.