IPR2013-00072, No. 8

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    1/24

    [email protected] Paper 8

    571-272-7822 Entered: April 25, 2013

    UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

    ____________

    BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD

    ____________

    MUNCHKIN, INC. AND TOYS R US, INC.

    Petitioners

    v.

    LUV N CARE, LTD.

    Patent Owner

    ____________

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    ____________

    Before SALLY C. MEDLEY, JENNIFER S. BISK, and

    MICHAEL J. FITZPATRICK, Administrative Patent Judges.

    FITZPATRICK, Administrative Patent Judge.

    DECISION

    Institution ofInter Partes Review

    37 C.F.R. 42.108

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    2/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    2

    I. BACKGROUNDOn December 5, 2012, Petitioners Munchkin, Inc. and Toys R Us,

    Inc. filed a Petition requesting inter partes review of the sole claim of U.S.

    Patent D617,465 (the 465 Patent)pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 311. Patent

    OwnerLuv N Care, Ltd. did not file a Preliminary Response pursuant to 35

    U.S.C. 313. We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. 314.

    Institution ofinter partes review is authorized by statute when the

    information presented in the petition filed under section 311 and any

    response filed under section 313 shows that there is a reasonable likelihood

    that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least 1 of the claims

    challenged in the petition. 35 U.S.C. 314(a);see also 37 C.F.R. 42.108.

    We determine that the petition demonstrates that there is a reasonable

    likelihood that Petitioners would prevail with respect to the sole claim of the

    465 Patent, and we therefore institute inter partes review.

    A. Related ProceedingsThe parties identify pending litigation concerning the 465 Patent

    brought by the Patent Owner and styledLuv N Care, Ltd.et al. v. Toys R

    Us, Inc. et al., 1:12-cv-00228 (S.D.N.Y. filed Jan. 11, 2012). (Pet. 2; Patent

    Owner Mandatory Notices 2; Ex. 1003.)

    Petitioners additionally identify anInter Partes Reexamination of

    related U.S. Patent D634,439 bearing control no. 95/001,973.

    Patent Owner additionally identifiesLuv NCare, Ltd. et al. v. RegentBaby Products Corp., 10-9492 (S.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 21, 2010) andLuv N

    Care, Ltd. v.Royal King Infant Prods Co. Ltd. et al., 10-cv-00461 (E.D.

    Tex. filed Nov. 4, 2010). (Patent Owner Mandatory Notices 2.)

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    3/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    3

    B. The 465 PatentThe 465 Patent (Ex. 1002), entitled Drinking Cup, issued on June

    8, 2010, names Nouri E. Hakim as inventor, and is assigned to Luv N Care,

    Ltd. The claim of the 465 Patent recites the ornamental design for a

    drinking cup, as shown and described. The 465 Patent includes five

    Figures, reproduced below.

    Figures 1-5 show front, right, top, bottom, and back views,

    respectively, of a drinking cup having a vessel, collar, and spout.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    4/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    4

    C. Prior Art Relied UponPetitioners challenge the patentability of the claim of the 465 Patent

    as obvious under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) in view of the following items of

    asserted prior art:

    Ex. 1006 US 2007/0221604 A1 to Hakim, pub. Sep. 27, 2007

    (Hakim604)

    Ex. 1007 Japan Patent No. D1129061, pub. Dec. 17, 2001 (Japan 061)

    Ex. 1008 Japan Patent Application No. 10-185624, pub. Jul. 1, 2000 as

    2000-000288 (Japan 624)

    Ex. 1009 US 6,880,713 B2 to Holley, iss. Apr. 19, 2005 (Holley)

    Ex. 1010 US D359,417 to Chen, iss. Jun. 20, 1995 (Chen)

    Ex. 1011 US D475,890 S to Mazonkey, iss. Jun. 17, 2003 (Mazonkey)

    Ex. 1012 US D567,384 S to Sakulsacha et al., iss. Apr. 22, 2008

    (Sakulsacha)

    Ex. 1013 US 6,994,225 B2 to Hakim, iss. Feb. 7, 2006 (Hakim225)

    Ex. 1014 Japan Patent No. D1369925, pub. Sep. 28, 2009 (Japan 925)

    Ex. 1015 Japan Patent No. D1370096, pub. Sep. 28, 2009 (Japan 096)1

    Ex. 1016 US D476,850 S to Featherston et al., iss. Jul. 8, 2003(Featherston)

    Ex. 1017 US D354,416 to Cautereels et al., iss. Jan. 17, 1995

    (Cautereels)

    Ex. 1018 US D559,622 S to Carreno, iss. Jan. 15, 2008 (Carreno)

    Ex. 1019 US 2002/0066741 A1 to Rees, pub. Jun. 6, 2002 (Rees)

    1Petitioners do not supply a translation of Japan 925 (Ex. 1014) or

    Japan 096 (Ex. 1015). Petitioners also do not identify the subsection(s) of35 U.S.C. 102 under which they contend that these references are prior art

    to the 465 Patent nor do Petitioners assert requisite facts (e.g., publication

    dates) to support such a determination. The Japan 925 and 096 references

    both appear to have been filed on March 9, 2009, and published on

    September 28, 2009. Accordingly, based on the record before us, they do

    not qualify as prior art to the 465 Patent.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    5/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    5

    Ex. 1020 US 5,839,581 to Vagedes, iss. Nov. 24, 1998 (Vagedes)

    Ex. 1021 US D327,818 to Haralson et al., iss. Jul. 14, 1992 (Haralson)

    Ex. 1022 US 6,321,931 B1 to Hakim et al., iss. Nov. 27, 2001

    (Hakim931)

    Ex. 1023 US 5,474,028 to Larson et al., iss. Dec. 12, 1995 (Larson)

    Ex. 1024 US 6,422,415 B1 to Manganiello, iss. Jul. 23, 2002

    (Manganiello)

    Ex. 1025 US 6,102,245 to Haberman, iss. Aug. 15, 2000 (Haberman)

    Ex. 1026 US 2,588,069 to Allen, iss. Mar. 4, 1952 (Allen)

    Ex. 1027 US 5,330,054 to Brown, iss. Jul. 19, 1994 (Brown)

    Ex. 1028 2003 New Product Directory, Juvenile Products ManufacturersAssociation (2003 JPMA Directory)

    D. Proposed Grounds for ReviewThe Petition raises two grounds for review based on single references:

    obviousness over Hakim 604 and obviousness over Hakim 225. (Pet. 4-5.)

    Petitioners also challenge the patentability of the sole claim of the

    465 Patent on numerous, multi-reference grounds that they have classified

    into nine categories according to the primary reference being asserted, the

    primary references being Hakim 604, Hakim 225, Japan 061, Japan 624,

    Holley, Sakulsacha, Chen, Cautereels, and Mazonkey. (Pet. 4-7.)

    Each categoryproposes the respective principal reference in view of

    one or more of twenty additional references.2

    Thus, the proposed grounds

    must number in the hundreds, if not thousands. Although Petitioners are not

    entitled to consideration of all such grounds,see Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. v.

    2For each category, the Petition actually proposes a principal reference in

    view of one or more oftwenty-two additional references but, as stated above,

    two of Petitioners asserted references do not qualify as prior art.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    6/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    6

    Progressive Casualty Ins. Co., Case CBM2012-00003 (PTAB Oct. 25,

    2012), we will address them at least generally in the analysis that follows.

    E. Effective Filing Date of the Sole Claim of the 465 PatentThe 465 Patent issued from U.S. Application Serial No. 29/292,909,

    which was filed October 31, 2007, as a continuation of U.S. Application

    Serial No. 10/536,106 (the 106 Application), which is the national stage

    of PCT Patent Application PCT/US03/24400 filed August 5, 2003.

    Petitioners assert various intervening prior art references, including

    most notably Hakim 604 (published September 27, 2007) and Hakim 225

    (issued February 7, 2006). Hence, we address Petitioners arguments

    regarding the effective filing date of the claim of the 465 Patent.

    To be entitled to a parents effective filing date under 35 U.S.C.

    120, a continuation must comply with the written description requirement.3

    In re Owens, 710 F.3d 1362, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2013). The test for

    sufficiency of the written description, which is the same for either a design

    or a utility patent, has been expressed as whether the disclosure of the

    application relied upon reasonably conveys to those skilled in the art that the

    inventor had possession of the claimed subject matter as of the filing date.

    Id. (quotingAriad Pharms., Inc. v. Eli Lilly & Co., 598 F.3d 1336, 1351

    (Fed. Cir. 2010) (en banc)). In the context of design patents, the drawings

    provide the written description of the invention. Thus, when an issue of

    priority arises under 120 in the context of design patent prosecution, one

    looks to the drawings of the earlier application for disclosure of the subject

    3The written description requirement, which is now found at 35 U.S.C.

    112(a), was codified previously at 35 U.S.C. 112, 1 (1975).

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    7/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    7

    matter claimed in the later application. Owens, 710 F.3d at 1366 (citations

    omitted).

    Petitioners argue that Hakim 604 [sic, the 106 Application]4

    does

    not provide written description support for the claim of the 465 Patent.

    (Pet. 13-18.) Figure 12a of the 106 Application as filed is reproduced

    below.

    Figure 12a shows a top view of a spout, collar, and vessel although

    the vessel is barely visible. Figure 12a does not show the same design as

    that of the 465 Patent, as best viewed in Figure 3supra. For example, the

    106 Application, which shows a racetrack-shaped spout tip, does not

    disclose the claimed oval-shaped spout tip of the 465 Patent. Also, the 106

    Application, which shows slits in the openings of the spout tip and vent,

    does not disclose the broader design of the 465 Patent, which lacks any

    such slits.

    For at least these reasons, possession of the claimed design of the 465

    Patent is not shown as of the filing date of the 106 Application.

    4Hakim 604 is a published version of the 106 Application. The figures of

    Hakim 604 relied upon by Petitioners in challenging priority are shown

    identically in the 106 Application as filed. The Board enters as Exhibit

    3001 the specification and figures of the 106 Application as filed.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    8/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    8

    Accordingly, based on the present record, the challenged claim is not

    entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the 106 Application. See In re

    Salmon, 705 F.2d 1579, 1581 (Fed. Cir. 1983) (for section 120 to apply, the

    first application must disclose the invention claimed in the second

    application. With respect to the design patent involved in this case, those

    provisions require that the stool design claimed in the second application

    must be the same design disclosed in the parent application.) (citations

    omitted).

    II. PRINCIPLES OF LAWWhoever invents any new, original and ornamental design for an

    article of manufacture may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions

    and requirements of this title. 35 U.S.C. 171. One of those requirements

    is that the design be nonobvious. 35 U.S.C. 103(a);see also 35 U.S.C.

    171 (The provisions of this title relating to patents for inventions shall

    apply to patents for designs, except as otherwise provided.).

    In addressing a claim of obviousness in a design patent, theultimate inquiry . . . is whether the claimed design would have

    been obvious to a designer of ordinary skill who designs

    articles of the type involved. To determine whether one of

    ordinary skill would have combined teachings of the prior art to

    create the same overall visual appearance as the claimed design,

    the finder of fact must employ a two-step process. First, one

    must find a single reference, a something in existence, the

    design characteristics of which are basically the same as the

    claimed design. Second, other references may be used tomodify the primary reference to create a design that has the

    same overall visual appearance as the claimed design.

    However, the secondary references may only be used to modify

    the primary reference if they are so related to the primary

    reference that the appearance of certain ornamental features in

    one would suggest the application of those features to the other.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    9/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    9

    Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 678 F.3d 1314, 1329-30 (Fed.

    Cir. 2012) (citations, brackets, and quotation marks omitted).

    The role of the designer of ordinary skill lies only in determining

    whether to combine earlier references to arrive at a single piece of art for

    comparison with the potential design or to modify a single prior art

    reference. Intl Seaway Trading Corp. v. Walgreens Corp., 589 F.3d 1233,

    1240 (Fed Cir. 2009). Once that piece of prior art has been constructed,

    obviousness, like anticipation, requires application of the ordinary observer

    test[.]Id.The ordinary observer test was first enunciated by the Supreme

    Court in Gorham Co. v. White, 81 U.S. 511 (1871) as a test for infringement

    of a design patent and was stated as follows:

    [I]f, in the eye of an ordinary observer, giving such attention as

    a purchaser usually gives, two designs are substantially the

    same, if the resemblance is such as to deceive such an observer,

    inducing him to purchase one supposing it to be the other, the

    first one patented is infringed by the other.

    Id. at 528. [T]he ordinary observer is a person who is either a purchaser of,

    or sufficiently interested in, the item that displays the patented designs [here,

    a drinking cup with a spout to reduce spills] and who has the capability of

    making a reasonably discerning decision when observing the accused items

    design whether the accused item is substantially the same as the item

    claimed in the design patent. Arminak and Assocs., Inc. v. Saint-Gobain

    Calmar, Inc., 501 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2007).

    InEgyptian Goddess, Inc. v. Swisa, Inc., 543 F.3d 665 (Fed. Cir.

    2008) (en banc), the Federal Circuit held that the ordinary observer test is

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    10/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    10

    the sole controlling test for design patent infringement, id. at 678, and it has

    since held that the test applies also to anticipation and obviousness

    challenges of design patents. Intl Seaway, 589 F.3d at 1240 (obviousness,

    like anticipation, requires application of the ordinary observer test).

    III. ANALYSISA. Claim Construction

    We generally give claim terms their ordinary and customary meaning

    as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Phillips v. AWH

    Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312-13 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc). In an inter partes

    review, [a] claim in an unexpired patent shall be given its broadest

    reasonable construction in light of the specification of the patent in which it

    appears. 37 C.F.R. 42.100(b).

    Design patents typically are claimed as shown in drawings, and claim

    construction is adapted accordingly. Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 679. A

    detailed verbal description of the claim, as is done often in the case of utility

    patents, is not needed. Id. (citing Contessa Food Prods., Inc., 282 F.3d

    1370, 1377 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (approving district courts construction of the

    asserted claim as meaning a tray of a certain design as shown in Figures 1-

    3). Indeed, the preferable course ordinarily will be for [us] not to attempt

    to construe a design patent claim by providing a detailed verbal description

    of the claimed design. Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 679.

    The claim of the 465 Patent recites the ornamental design for adrinking cup, as shown and described. The 465 Patent shows a drinking

    cup that includes three general components: a vessel, collar, and spout.

    (Figs. 1-5.)

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    11/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    11

    The DESCRIPTIONof the 465 Patent merely identifies the various

    views of the drinking cup depicted in the figures and additionally states that

    [t]he broken lines in the figures illustrate portions of the drinking cup and

    form no part of the claimed design.5(465 Patent cover page.)

    We construe the claim to be the ornamental design of the drinking

    cup, as illustrated in Figures 1-5, except that the broken lines do not form

    part of the claimed design. See Owens, 710 F.3d at 1367, n.1 ([I]t is

    appropriate to disclaim certain design elements using broken lines, provided

    the application makes clear what has been claimed.)

    Additionally, we find it helpful to describe verbally certain features of

    the claim. See Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 679. (While it may be

    unwise to attempt a full description of the claimed design, a court may find it

    helpful to point out . . . various features of the claimed design as they relate

    to the accused design and the prior art.)

    The spout is not radially symmetrical; instead, it has a drinking tip

    that is off center. Additionally, the tip of the spout is concave.The collar has a curved outer wall such that the top of the collar has a

    smaller diameter than the bottom of the collar.

    The vessel includes an hourglass-shaped envelope when viewed from

    the front (Fig. 1) or back (Fig. 5). The midsection or waist portion of the

    hourglass-shaped envelope includes three horizontally-oriented shallow

    grooves that extend around the sides and back of the vessel. The grooves do

    not extend around the front of the vessel. The vessel also includes two

    5The broken lines are directed to a central portion of the bottom surface of

    the vessel, two series of five grooved ribs on the sides of the collar, and two

    notches adjacent to the top of the collar and bottom of the spout. (Figs. 1-5.)

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    12/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    12

    regions that are demarcated from one another by a curving line that

    circumnavigates the vessel and slopes downward as it extends from rear to

    front such that it reaches its lowest elevation on the front side of the vessel

    as shown in Figure 1.

    Petitioners assert that the vessel and collar do not form part of the

    claim because they are functional. (Pet. 22;see also Pet. 10.) In other

    words, Petitioners argue that the claim only covers the spout. But,

    Petitioners have not asserted, let alone persuaded us, that the vessel and

    collar arepurely functional. See Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 680 (other

    issues that bear on the scope of the claim . . . include . . . distinguishing

    between those features of the claimed design that are ornamental and those

    that are purely functional);see also In re Garbo, 287 F.2d 192, 194 (CCPA

    1961) (the design must have an unobvious appearance distinct from that

    dictated solely by functional considerations). We agree that the vessel and

    collar provide some function (e.g., the vessel holds liquid for drinking and is

    configured to be grasped by a hand and the collar appears to secure the spoutto the top of the vessel). We are not persuaded, however, that the vessel and

    collar are purely functional and not also ornamental.

    For example, the curved outer wall of the collar does not appear to be

    critical to, or even involved in, the securing of the spout to the vessel.

    Rather, that feature appears to be ornamental. With respect to the vessel, we

    are not persuaded that the three grooves that extend around the side and back

    of the vessel and the relatively narrow waist portion of the hourglass-shaped

    envelope are purely functional. Further, Petitioners do not even address the

    curving line that circumnavigates the vessel dividing it into two regions,

    which is ornamental based on the record before us.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    13/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    13

    In sum, we construe the claim to be the ornamental design of the

    drinking cup, including vessel, collar, and spout, as illustrated in Figures 1-5

    except that the broken lines do not form part of the claimed design.

    B. The Claim as Obvious Principally over Hakim 604Hakim 604 is entitled No-Spill Drinking Products and discloses a

    drinking cup that is very similar in overall appearance to the drinking cup

    claimed in the 465 Patent. Figure 10b of Hakim 604 is reproduced (below

    left)juxtaposed with Figure 2 of the 465 Patent (below right).

    Figure 10b of Hakim 604 and Figure 2 of the 465 Patent each show

    a side view of a drinking cup having a vessel, collar, and spout. In these side

    views, the drinking cups appear nearly identical to one another, except that

    the 465 Patent disclaims some of the features using broken lines.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    14/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    14

    Figure 10c of Hakim 604 is reproduced (below left) juxtaposed with

    Figure 1 of the 465 Patent (below right).

    Figure 10c of Hakim 604 and Figure 1 of the 465 Patent each show a

    front view of the corresponding drinking cup. In these front views, the

    drinking cups appear nearly identical to one another, except that, again, the

    465 Patent disclaims some of the features using broken lines.

    We determine that there is a reasonable likelihood, that, in the eye of

    an ordinary observer, the designs are substantially the same, such that they

    would deceive the observer, inducing him to purchase a drinking cup

    embodying the design of Hakim 604 supposing it to be that of the

    challenged claim. Accordingly, the Petition is granted as to review of the

    patentability of the claim of the 465 Patent over Hakim 604.Petitioners have not persuaded us that any of the proposed secondary

    references discloses any ornamental feature of the challenged claim better

    than Hakim 604 does. Accordingly, the Petition is denied as to all grounds

    for review based on Hakim 604 in view of any other reference(s).

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    15/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    15

    C. The Claim as Obvious Principally over Hakim 225Hakim 225 is also entitled No-Spill Drinking Products and

    discloses a drinking cup that is very similar in overall appearance to the

    drinking cup claimed in the 465 Patent. Figure 10b of Hakim 225 is

    reproduced (below left) juxtaposed with Figure 2 of the 465 Patent (below

    right).

    Figure 10b of Hakim 225 and Figure 2 of the 465 Patent each show

    a side view of a drinking cup having a vessel, collar, and spout. In these side

    views, the drinking cups appear nearly identical to one another, except that

    the 465 Patent disclaims some of the features using broken lines.

    Figure 10c of Hakim 225 is reproduced (below left) juxtaposed withFigure 1 of the 465 Patent (below right).

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    16/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    16

    Figure 10c of Hakim 225 and Figure 1 of the 465 Patent each show a

    front view of the corresponding drinking cup. In these front views, the

    drinking cups appear nearly identical to one another, except that, again, the

    465 Patent disclaims some of the features using broken lines.

    We determine that there is a reasonable likelihood, that, in the eye of

    an ordinary observer, the designs are substantially the same, such that they

    would deceive the observer, inducing him to purchase a drinking cup

    embodying the design of Hakim 225 supposing it to be that of the

    challenged claim. Accordingly, the Petition is granted as to review of the

    patentability of the claim of the 465 Patent over Hakim 225.

    Petitioners have not persuaded us that any of the proposed secondary

    references discloses any ornamental feature of the challenged claim better

    than Hakim 225 does. Accordingly, the Petition is denied as to all groundsfor review based on Hakim 225 in view of any other reference(s).

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    17/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    17

    D. The Claim as Obvious Principally over Japan 061In design patent obviousness analysis, a primary reference must be

    something in existence, the design characteristics of which are basically the

    same as the claimed design in order to support a holding of obviousness.

    Apple, 678 F.3d at 1331 (quotingIn re Rosen, 673 F.2d 388, 391 (CCPA

    1982)).

    Japan 061 is a non-English language document and a translation of it

    has not been provided. It appears to disclose a spout that may be intended

    for use with a vessel and collar but it does not actually disclose a vessel or

    collar. (See, e.g., Ex. 1007 at 2.) As such, it is not a qualifying primary

    reference, based on our construction above that the vessel and collar are part

    of the overall claimed design of the 465 Patent. See Apple, 678 F.3d at

    1332 (The offered designs do not create the same visual impression as

    Apples claimed design and thus do not qualify as primary references. In the

    absence of a qualifying primary reference, we hold that the district court

    erred in concluding that there is likely to be a substantial question as to thevalidity of the D'889 patent.)

    The Petition is denied as to all grounds for review based principally

    on Japan 061.

    E. The Claim as Obvious Principally over Japan 624The most relevant figure of the Japan 624 reference is reproduced

    below.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    18/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    18

    The figure appears to show a vessel, a separate mountable structure

    providing two handles, a first collar, a spout, and a second collar. (See Ex.

    1008-7.) The design characteristics of the Japan 624 reference are

    substantially different than that of the challenged claim. For example, the

    Japan 624 vessel lacks an hourglass shape and the reference shows handles

    that stick out beyond the vessels walls. Additionally, the spout is radially

    symmetrical and has a convex tip.

    For at least these reasons, Petitioners have not persuaded us that Japan

    624 is a qualifying primary reference. The Petition is denied as to all

    grounds for review based principally on Japan 624.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    19/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    19

    F. The Claim as Obvious Principally over HolleyHolley Figure 1 is reproduced below.

    Figure 1 shows a vessel and a spout that can be screwed onto the

    vessel without the need for separate collar. (Holley Fig. 1.) The design

    characteristics of Holley are substantially different than that of the

    challenged claim. For example, Holley appears to have an hourglass shape

    that extends uniformly around the entire vessel instead of just three sides.

    Also, the Holley vessel lacks the two regions of the 465 Patent that are

    demarcated from one another by a curving line that circumnavigates the

    vessel and that slopes downward as it extends from rear to front such that it

    reaches its lowest elevation on the front side of the vessel as shown in Figure

    1 of the 465 Patent. Holley also lacks a separate collar structure and lacks a

    concave spout tip.

    For at least these reasons, Petitioners have not persuaded us that

    Holley is a qualifying primary reference. The Petition is denied as to all

    grounds for review based principally on Holley.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    20/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    20

    G. The Claim as Obvious Principally over SakulsachaSakulsacha discloses a design for a silicon spout. (Sakulsacha Claim,

    Figs. 1-5.) It does not disclose a vessel or collar. As such, it is not a

    qualifying primary reference, based on our construction above that the vessel

    and collar are part of the overall claimed design of the 465 Patent.

    The Petition is denied as to all grounds for review based principally

    on Sakulsacha.

    H. The Claim as Obvious Principally over ChenChen Figure 1 is reproduced below.

    Figure 1 shows a vessel and a spout that appears to be directly mated

    to the vessel without the need for collar. (Chen Fig. 1.) The design

    characteristics of Chen are substantially different than that of the challenged

    claim. For example, the Chen vessel lacks an hourglass shape, a separate

    collar structure having a curved outer wall, and a spout with a concave tip.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    21/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    21

    For at least these reasons, Petitioners have not persuaded us that Chen

    is a qualifying primary reference. The Petition is denied as to all grounds for

    review based principally on Chen.

    I. The Claim as Obvious Principally over CautereelsCautereels Figure 1 is reproduced below.

    Figure 1 shows a vessel with handles and a spout that appears to be

    mated directly to the vessel without the need for a collar. (Cautereels Fig.

    1.) The design characteristics of Cautereels are substantially different than

    that of the challenged claim. For example, Cautereels includes two handles

    that stick out beyond the vessels walls. Additionally, it lacks a separate

    collar structure having a curved outer wall, and its spout lacks a concave tip.

    For at least these reasons, Petitioners have not persuaded us that

    Cautereels is a qualifying primary reference. The Petition is denied as to all

    grounds for review based principally on Cautereels.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    22/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    22

    J. The Claim as Obvious Principally over MazonkeyMazonkey Figure 1 is reproduced below.

    Figure 1 shows a child cup and remote locating combination[.]

    (Mazonkey cover page.) The child cup has a vessel with a spout that

    appears to be mated directly to the vessel without the need for a collar.

    (Mazonkey Fig. 1.) The design characteristics of Mazonkey are

    substantially different than that of the challenged claim. For example,

    Mazonkey appears to have an hourglass shape that extends uniformly around

    the entire vessel instead of just three sides. Also, the Mazonkey vessel lacks

    the two regions of the 465 Patent that are demarcated from one another by a

    curving line that circumnavigates the vessel and that slopes downward as it

    extends from rear to front such that it reaches its lowest elevation on the

    front side of the vessel as shown in Figure 1 of the 465 Patent.

    Additionally, Mazonkey lacks a separate collar structure having a curved

    outer wall, and its spout lacks a concave tip.

    For at least these reasons, Petitioners have not persuaded us that

    Mazonkey is a qualifying primary reference. The Petition is denied as to all

    grounds for review based principally on Mazonkey.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    23/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    23

    IV. SUMMARYPetitioners Munchkin, Inc. and Toys R Us, Inc. have demonstrated

    that there is a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on its challenge to the

    patentability of the sole claim of the 465 Patent.

    The Petition is granted as to the following grounds for review:

    I. The sole claim as obvious overHakim 604; and

    II. The sole claim as obvious overHakim 225.

    V. ORDERIn consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby:

    ORDERED that the Petition is granted as to the sole claim of the 465

    Patent on the grounds identified as III above;

    FURTHER ORDERED that the Petition is denied on all grounds not

    identified as III above;

    FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 314(a), inter

    partes review of the 465 Patent is hereby instituted commencing on the

    entry date of this Order, and pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 314(c) and 37 C.F.R.

    42.4, notice is hereby given of the institution of a trial; and

    FURTHER ORDERED that an initial conference call with the Board

    is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on May 30, 2013. The parties are directed to

    the Office Trial Practice Guide, 77 Fed. Reg. 48756, 48765-66 (Aug. 14,

    2012) for guidance in preparing for the initial conference call, and should

    come prepared to discuss any proposed changes to the Scheduling Order

    entered herewith and any motions the parties anticipate filing during the

    trial.

  • 7/28/2019 IPR2013-00072, No. 8

    24/24

    Case IPR2013-00072

    Patent D617,465

    24

    PETITIONERS:

    Dane Baltich

    Alston & Bird LLP

    [email protected]

    PATENT OWNER:

    Morris Cohen

    Goldberg Cohen LLP

    [email protected]