US 10232286

Here is a concise summary of US patent 10232286:

US Patent: 10232286

• Title: Closed oil extraction booth with integrated ventilation system
• Current Assignee: ALIEN PROCESSING LLC
• Inventor: Linn D. Havelick
• Filing Date: December 12, 2016
• Issue Date: March 19, 2019
• Abstract: The patent describes an oil extraction booth made from securable pre-fabricated modules to create an air-tight interior workspace. It includes an inlet blower, an exhaust blower, a sensor to detect gases within the workspace, and a controller. This controller manages the speeds of the blowers based on the gas concentration detected by the sensor, operating them at a first speed for low gas levels and a second, higher speed if the gas level equals or exceeds a first predetermined value.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes an oil extraction booth that includes pre-fabricated wall and ceiling panels, a door, and a ventilation system. The ventilation system features an air intake for filtered air, a vertical exhaust duct with a low-lying vent, and an exhaust fan located outside the booth above the ceiling. The booth also has ports in its walls for piping from external equipment, an electrical panel outside for controlling this equipment, and a monitoring system. The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor detecting gases or liquids inside the booth and a monitor that triggers an alarm if the concentration of these substances exceeds a first predetermined level.

• Independent Claim 6: This claim details an oil extraction booth consisting of first and second pre-fabricated side modules that form an airtight interior workspace. It includes an inlet blower connected to ductwork in the first side module to bring air into the workspace, and an exhaust blower connected to ductwork in the second side module to remove air from the workspace. A sensor detects gas within the workspace, and a controller is electrically linked to both the sensor and the blowers. The controller is programmed to operate the blowers at a base speed when gas levels are below a first predetermined value and to increase their speed to a higher setting if the gas level meets or exceeds that first predetermined value.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search for "CAFC 2026 dockets US10232286" did not return any direct results regarding litigation involving US Patent 10232286 in the CAFC dockets for 2026. The patent information itself indicates that "Family has litigation" and points to a US case filed in the California Northern District Court (3:26-cv-01401), but this is not a CAFC docket.

Known Litigation Involving US Patent 10232286

As of April 26, 2026, the patent US10232286 is involved in at least one known litigation case:

• Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided patent information.
• Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided patent information.
• Jurisdiction: California Northern District Court.
• Case Number: 3:26-cv-01401.
• Filing Date: The patent information does not explicitly state the filing date of this specific case, but it notes that "First worldwide family litigation filed" and "US case filed in California Northern District Court" with this case number.
• Outcome or Current Status: Active litigation is indicated by the patent status information, "Family has litigation".

A search for "CAFC 2026 dockets US10232286" did not yield any direct results for litigation involving this patent in the CAFC dockets for 2026. The Unified Patents portal also indicates general patent litigation search capabilities but does not provide specific case details for US10232286 directly in the search results.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 10232286.

Strategic summary

As of today, July 13, 2026, all claims of US Patent 10232286 remain untested by any AIA trial proceeding. This means that a defendant facing assertion of this patent would have the full range of prior art grounds available for a potential inter partes review (IPR) or post-grant review (PGR), assuming they meet the statutory requirements for filing such a petition. The absence of PTAB activity could suggest that the patent has not been extensively asserted or that previous challenges did not result in formal AIA trials.

Recommended next steps

If you are a defendant facing assertion of US Patent 10232286, the absence of PTAB activity indicates that all claims are currently presumed valid against AIA trial challenges. A detailed prior art search would be a crucial first step to evaluate the potential for filing an IPR or PGR petition, as there are no existing PTAB decisions to consider for claim construction or invalidity findings.

Inventors

• Linn D. Havelick (Employer: Not specified in the patent document)

No unusual patterns such as inventors departing the original assignee within 12 months of filing are determinable from the provided information.

Original assignee

The original assignee, as listed on the issued patent, is Hal Extraction Technology Ltd. The patent document does not provide information about whether Hal Extraction Technology Ltd shipped a product embodying the claims, their primary line of business, or their current operational status.

Assignment timeline

• 2016-12-12 (executed) / recorded 2016-12-12 – Not available
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: HAVELICK, LINN D
  • Assignee: HAL EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY LTD
  • Correspondent: Not available.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to initial assignee.
• 2024-01-05 (executed) / recorded 2024-01-05 – Not available
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: HAL EXTRACTIONS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD
  • Assignee: ALIEN PROCESSING LLC
  • Correspondent: Not available.
  • Context: Transfer of ownership.

The USPTO Assignment Center indicates that assignment records are available from August 1980 to the present. A search using the patent number US10232286 would typically provide reel and frame numbers if the assignments were recorded. However, the Google Patents legal events for this patent do not provide reel/frame numbers for the listed assignments. The information provided notes "ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS)" but does not expose the reel and frame directly.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10232286
    2016 : Filed by Hal Extraction Technology Ltd
         : Assigned from Havelick to Hal Extraction
    2019 : Issued
    2024 : Assigned to ALIEN PROCESSING LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer - Present. The patent was assigned from "HAL EXTRACTIONS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD" to "ALIEN PROCESSING LLC" in 2024. ALIEN PROCESSING LLC is described as a business registered in California and Nevada. The name "ALIEN PROCESSING LLC" could suggest a shell entity, and without further information about its products or operating business, this transfer raises a signal.
2. Known asserter in the chain - Unclear. There is no information in the provided text to suggest that ALIEN PROCESSING LLC is a known NPE from public lists like Acacia Research Corp, Marathon Patent Group, etc.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain - Unclear. The correspondent information is "Not available" for both assignments.
4. Cascading transfers - Not present. There are only two recorded assignments in the chain, occurring in 2016 and 2024, which is not multiple consecutive assignments in a short period.
5. Pre-litigation transfer - Unclear. The assignment to ALIEN PROCESSING LLC occurred on 2024-01-05. The litigation case in the California Northern District Court (3:26-cv-01401) is noted as "First worldwide family litigation filed" but a specific filing date for this case is not provided, making it impossible to determine if the transfer occurred within 6 months prior to litigation. The patent shows "Family has litigation" with the case number, but the specific filing date for the case is not specified.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale - Unclear. While some online discussions suggest that HAL Extraction Technology Ltd. might have gone out of business, the patent records themselves do not explicitly state a bankruptcy filing or a sale due to bankruptcy. One source mentions a former employee stating, "Unfortunately, HAL Extraction is no longer in business, and they are unable to support your extraction booth".
7. Privateering - Unclear. No information in the provided text suggests privateering.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) - Not present. The chain terminates with ALIEN PROCESSING LLC, which is not identified as a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence.
The transfer to ALIEN PROCESSING LLC in 2024, combined with the lack of clear operating information about this entity and the indication of active litigation (Case 3:26-cv-01401 in California Northern District Court), suggests a possible NPE pattern. The original assignee, Hal Extraction Technology Ltd., appears to be out of business as of late 2022/early 2023. The reassignment to ALIEN PROCESSING LLC in 2024-01-05 after the original assignee ceased operations is a strong indicator of a potential assertion play.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10232286, I will use the USPTO's Patent Public Search tool. The USPTO provides a web-based search application for patents and patent application publications.

Once I access the Patent Public Search tool, I will use the "Basic search" option to look for the specific patent number 10232286, as it is a single patent number lookup.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 10232286

Based on the patent document for US10232286, the sole patent citation listed under "Patent Citations" is US20080263968A1.

• Full Citation: US20080263968A1
• Publication Date: October 30, 2008
• Filing Date: April 25, 2007
• Brief Description: US20080263968A1 describes a prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure. This structure is designed for quick assembly and deployment, providing temporary shelter or workspace. It focuses on the modularity and ease of construction for various applications.
• Claims Potentially Anticipated:
  • Independent Claim 1: The concept of "a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panels" and "a plurality of pre-fabricated ceiling panels" in claim 1 of US10232286 could potentially be anticipated by US20080263968A1, which emphasizes a "prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure." The general idea of using prefabricated modules for quick assembly for a specific purpose aligns with this prior art, although the specific application (oil extraction booth with integrated ventilation) is distinct.
  • Independent Claim 6: Similarly, the aspect of "first and second pre-fabricated side modules securable to each other to create a first air-tight interior work space" in claim 6 of US10232286 may be anticipated. The prior art's focus on a "prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure" implies the use of securable, modular components to create an enclosed space. The "air-tight" nature and "work space" are further refinements in US10232286, but the foundational modular construction could be seen as predated.
  • Dependent Claim 10: This claim specifically mentions "at least one pre-fabricated expansion module securable between the first and second side modules." This concept of expandability through additional prefabricated modules is also a characteristic that could be found or implicitly suggested in a "prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure" designed for varying needs.

tool_code
print(google_search.search(queries=["US10232286 prior art references", "US20080263968A1 prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure", "obviousness 35 U.S.C. 103 patent analysis"]))
thought
The user is asking for an obviousness analysis of US patent 10232286 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, based on the prior art references listed in the patent. I need to identify combinations of these references that would render the claims obvious and explain the motivation to combine them.

From the provided patent text, under the "Citations" section, only one patent citation is listed as "Cited by examiner": US20080263968A1. This is the primary prior art reference I should focus on.

I need to analyze:

1. What US20080263968A1 discloses.
2. How this reference, possibly in combination with general knowledge in the art, would make the claims of US10232286 obvious.
3. The motivation for a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) to combine these references or modify US20080263968A1 to arrive at the invention of US10232286.

I will focus on independent claims 1 and 6 of US10232286, as these define the broadest scope of the invention.

Let's break down the elements of Claim 1 and Claim 6 and see how US20080263968A1 relates.

Claim 1 elements:

• A plurality of pre-fabricated wall panels;
• A plurality of pre-fabricated ceiling panels;
• A door;
• A ventilation system configured to remove air from the booth, comprising:
  • an air intake configured to pass filtered air into the booth;
  • a vertical exhaust duct secured to a wall panel and having an open upper end at or above the ceiling panels and a lower end proximate to a floor;
  • an exhaust vent in the lower end of the exhaust duct; and
  • an exhaust fan coupled to the upper end of the exhaust duct external to the booth above the ceiling panels;
• Ports in one or more wall panels through which piping from equipment located outside the booth passes;
• An electrical panel secured to the outside of a wall panel configured to control the equipment located outside the booth; and
• A monitoring system, comprising:
  • at least one sensor sensitive to the presence of one or more gases or liquids within the booth; and
  • a monitor to which the at least one sensor is coupled and programmed to provide an alarm when the concentration of the one or more gases or liquids exceeds a first predetermined level.

Claim 6 elements:

• First and second pre-fabricated side modules securable to each other to create a first air-tight interior work space;
• An inlet blower mechanically coupled to first ductwork between inner and outer walls of the first side module and configured to move air from the exterior of the extraction booth, through the first ductwork, and into the work space;
• An exhaust blower mechanically coupled to second ductwork between inner and outer walls of the second side module and configured to remove air from the work space, through the second ductwork, and into the exterior of the extraction booth;
• A sensor sensitive to the presence of a gas within the work space; and
• A controller electrically coupled to control the speed of the inlet blower and the exhaust blower and electrically coupled to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of an amount of the gas in the work space, the controller configured to:
  • operate the inlet blower and the outlet blower at a first speed when the amount of the gas detected by the sensor is less than a first predetermined value; and
  • operate the inlet blower and the outlet blower at a second, higher speed when the amount of the gas detected by the sensor equals or exceeds the first predetermined value.

I will use the search results for US20080263968A1 to understand its disclosure.### Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 10232286 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims of US Patent 10232286 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) as of the priority date (April 9, 2016). The primary prior art reference cited by the examiner is US20080263968A1.

Reference:

• US20080263968A1 (Day Mark O): "Prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure".

Understanding the PHOSITA:
A PHOSITA in this field would likely have experience with industrial ventilation systems, modular construction, safety protocols for hazardous environments, and control systems for environmental monitoring. They would understand the need to safely manage volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other hazardous gases in industrial settings, particularly those involving extraction processes with solvents.

Analysis of Independent Claim 1:

Claim 1 describes an oil extraction booth with several key features:

1. Prefabricated wall and ceiling panels; a door: US20080263968A1 discloses a "prefabricated rapid response accommodation structure" which inherently involves prefabricated panels for walls, ceilings, and a door to form an enclosure. This is a fundamental aspect of modular construction.
2. Ventilation system:
   • Air intake for filtered air; vertical exhaust duct with a low-lying exhaust vent; and an exhaust fan coupled to the upper end of the exhaust duct external to the booth above the ceiling panels: US20080263968A1 describes a modular structure designed for various uses, including as a command center or medical facility. Such structures, especially for temporary or rapid deployment, commonly incorporate ventilation systems for air circulation. A PHOSITA would recognize that a ventilation system for an enclosed space, particularly one dealing with potential contaminants (even if not explicitly hazardous solvents in Day Mark O), would typically include an air intake for filtered air, an exhaust fan, and ductwork to guide airflow. Locating an exhaust vent near the floor is a known technique for removing heavier-than-air gases (as acknowledged in US10232286's description for its "sweep flow" and "capture of heavier-than-air gases"). Placing the exhaust fan external to the booth, e.g., above the ceiling, is a common engineering practice to minimize noise, vibration, or potential ignition sources within the workspace, or simply for space efficiency and maintenance access.
3. Ports in wall panels for piping from external equipment: US20080263968A1, as a general-purpose accommodation structure, would inherently anticipate the need for utilities like power, water, or communication lines to pass into and out of the structure. Providing "ports" for such connections is a routine design consideration for any prefabricated modular building intended for functional use. The patent US10232286 explicitly states that "Equipment 10, such as water chiller, air compressor, dryer, vacuum pumps, water heater, lighting, and unrated instrumentation, is located outside of the booth 100 with appropriate piping entering the booth 100 through ports 120, 122 in one or more of the walls 102." This represents a common engineering solution to keep non-explosion-proof equipment outside a hazardous environment.
4. Electrical panel secured to the outside of a wall panel configured to control external equipment: Similar to ports for piping, an electrical control panel for managing internal functions (like lighting or ventilation) or external equipment, placed outside the hazardous interior, is a standard safety practice in environments where flammable or toxic substances are handled. US10232286 explicitly states that placing the control panel outside "further enhancing the safety of booth 100 by removing all electrical equipment and connections from inside the booth 100."
5. Monitoring system with at least one sensor and a monitor programmed to provide an alarm: The concept of detecting hazardous gases and triggering alarms in an industrial setting, particularly where solvents are used, is well-established in the art. Many industrial codes and regulations (as mentioned in the background of US10232286) require such monitoring. A PHOSITA applying a prefabricated modular structure (like that of US20080263968A1) to a task involving hazardous materials, such as oil extraction with solvents, would be motivated to integrate commercially available gas detection sensors and alarm systems to ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance.

Motivation to Combine/Modify:
A PHOSITA, tasked with creating a safe and economical oil extraction facility, would look to known modular construction techniques (as in US20080263968A1) to provide a quickly deployable and customizable structure. Knowing that oil extraction often involves hazardous solvents, this PHOSITA would be motivated to integrate standard safety features into such a modular structure. These features, such as a well-designed ventilation system (including low exhaust for heavy gases), external placement of non-rated electrical equipment and controls, and a hazardous gas monitoring system with alarms, are all conventional solutions for managing risks in hazardous industrial environments. The combination of a prefabricated structure with these known safety elements would be an obvious design choice to achieve the desirable outcomes of safety and cost-effectiveness.

Analysis of Independent Claim 6:

Claim 6 describes a modular oil extraction booth with an inlet blower, exhaust blower, internal ductwork for air circulation, a sensor, and a controller that adjusts blower speeds based on gas detection.

1. First and second pre-fabricated side modules securable to each other to create a first air-tight interior work space: As discussed for Claim 1, US20080263968A1 clearly discloses prefabricated modular structures that are securable to create an enclosed space. The "air-tight" nature is a desirable characteristic for any structure designed to contain or control an internal environment, especially for hazardous processes.
2. Inlet blower coupled to first ductwork into the workspace; exhaust blower coupled to second ductwork out of the workspace: US20080263968A1's prefabricated structure, when adapted for an industrial process, would naturally include a forced-air ventilation system. The concept of using separate inlet and exhaust blowers for controlled airflow is standard in HVAC and industrial ventilation design. Integrating ductwork within the walls of modular panels is also a common feature of advanced prefabricated structures to maintain a clean interior aesthetic and optimize space.
3. Sensor sensitive to the presence of a gas within the work space: As explained for Claim 1, the use of gas sensors in environments handling hazardous solvents is a well-known safety requirement.
4. Controller electrically coupled to control blower speed and receive sensor signals, configured to operate blowers at a first speed for low gas levels and a second, higher speed when gas levels exceed a first predetermined value: This feature, variable speed control of ventilation based on detected hazardous gas levels, is a direct application of widely known industrial automation and safety control principles. A PHOSITA designing a ventilation system for a hazardous environment would readily understand the advantages of increasing airflow when dangerous gas concentrations are detected, both for safety (reducing concentration) and energy efficiency (only increasing airflow when necessary). The description of US10232286 itself highlights energy savings as a benefit of its variable flow rate system, comparing it to conventional paint spray booths with constant high flow rates. This demonstrates that the idea of adjusting ventilation based on need was a recognized concern in the art. The use of a controller (e.g., a programmable microprocessor) to integrate sensor inputs and actuate fan speed changes is a routine task for a control systems engineer.

Motivation to Combine/Modify:
The motivation to combine the modular construction of US20080263968A1 with a sophisticated, responsive ventilation system (including variable speed blowers controlled by gas sensors) arises directly from the need to create a safe, efficient, and cost-effective environment for oil extraction using hazardous solvents. The flexibility of modular design (as in Day Mark O) allows for easy setup and expansion, while the integrated, intelligent ventilation system directly addresses the specific hazards of the extraction process. A PHOSITA would combine these elements from readily available knowledge and technology in modular construction, industrial ventilation, and safety controls to solve the problem of safely and efficiently conducting oil extraction. The advantages of variable fan speed (energy savings) and rapid response to hazardous gas detection are well-known and would clearly motivate a PHOSITA to implement such a control scheme.

In summary, the core components of US10232286, particularly those recited in independent claims 1 and 6, appear to be a combination of known modular construction techniques (as exemplified by US20080263968A1) with standard industrial safety and ventilation practices that would be obvious to a PHOSITA when designing a facility for handling hazardous solvents. The motivation to combine these elements is driven by the clear needs for safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in such an environment.