US 10822165

US Patent 10822165, titled "Waterproof induction actuated container," was issued to Nine Stars Group USA Inc. on November 3, 2020, following an application filed on January 30, 2018. The inventors are Xin Wang and Jiangqun Chen.

Abstract:
The patent describes a waterproof induction container that includes a container body with a storage cavity and an opening, and an induction actuated container cover. The cover comprises a control housing, a cover panel, and an automatic driving arrangement. The control housing features side concealed compartments and a cover opening. The cover panel is pivotally mounted to the control housing to move between closed and opened positions. The automatic driving arrangement is housed within a side concealed compartment in a waterproof manner, protecting it from moisture, corrosive gas, and trash residuals.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim defines a waterproof induction container. It includes a container body and an induction-actuated cover. The cover has a control housing with sealed side compartments and a central opening. A cover panel is pivotally attached to the housing via a pivot shaft, allowing it to open and close. An automatic driving arrangement within one of the sealed compartments, connected to a sensor, controls the pivot shaft to open and close the cover panel. Crucially, the patent also claims an element that helps to initially push the cover panel open and partially supports its weight when closing, ensuring smooth operation.

Legal Status and Litigation:
The patent's legal status is "Active - Reinstated," with an adjusted expiration date of March 19, 2037. The patent family is noted to have ongoing litigation, including:

• A US case filed in the California Central District Court, identified as case number 5:24-cv-01843.
• A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-01191, which has been filed and is currently "Pending - Instituted."

I have searched for litigation involving US patent 10822165.

Here is the known litigation involving US patent 10822165:

1. District Court Case:

• Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets, but likely the patent assignee, Nine Stars Group USA Inc. (from the patent document itself).
• Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
• Jurisdiction: California Central District Court
• Case Number: 5:24-cv-01843
• Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2024 (implied by the case number 5:24-cv-01843).
• Outcome or Current Status: Active, ongoing litigation.

2. PTAB Case:

• Plaintiff(s) / Petitioner: GUANGZHO EKO TRADING DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD. AKA EKO DEVELOPMENT LTD., EKO NORTH AMERICA, INC., AND EKO GROUP, LTD.
• Defendant(s) / Patent Owner: Nine Stars Group USA Inc. (from the patent document itself).
• Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
• Case Number: IPR2025-01191
• Filing Date: The IPR proceeding was filed on August 19, 2025, with an effective date of July 16, 2025.
• Outcome or Current Status: Pending - Instituted.

Please note that while the provided search results show general information about patent litigation trends and Unified Patents' role, the specific details for US patent 10822165 are limited to what's directly stated on the patent information page itself within the provided context. Therefore, some details like specific plaintiffs/defendants for the district court case are inferred from the patent's assignee or not available in the provided snippets.Known litigation involving US patent 10822165 includes:

1. District Court Case:

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided information, but the current assignee of the patent is Nine Stars Group USA Inc.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided information.
   • Jurisdiction: California Central District Court
   • Case Number: 5:24-cv-01843
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case number indicates it was filed in 2024.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Active.

2. PTAB Case (Inter Partes Review):

   • Petitioner: GUANGZHO EKO TRADING DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD. AKA EKO DEVELOPMENT LTD., EKO NORTH AMERICA, INC., AND EKO GROUP, LTD.
   • Patent Owner: Nine Stars Group USA Inc. (as the current assignee).
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01191
   • Filing Date: August 19, 2025 (Trial No. IPR2025-01191). The effective date is July 16, 2025.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Pending - Instituted.

Proceedings overview

A single AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US Patent 10822165. This Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01191) is currently in the "Trial Instituted" phase. Given the ongoing nature of this sole proceeding, the patent's defensive posture for a defendant facing assertion is currently uncertain, with some claims under review for patentability.

IPR2025-01191 — Guangzho EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd. et al. v. Nine Stars Group USA Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-07-16
• Status: Trial Instituted. The PTAB has determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least one challenged claim and has commenced a trial.
• Judge panel: Information not publicly available at this stage through direct search.
• Petition grounds: Specific claims challenged, prior art, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103) are not readily available through general search results for a newly instituted IPR. This information would typically be found in the institution decision itself, which is not yet widely indexed for direct quotation.
• Institution decision: The proceeding was instituted. The exact date of institution is likely around the "last modified" date of 2026-04-15 or shortly thereafter. The panel's reasoning for institution is not publicly available through direct search results at this time but would be detailed in the institution decision document.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not yet issued. The trial is ongoing.
• Settlement / termination: No settlement or termination information is available as the trial is active.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This active IPR means that the patent's validity, at least for the challenged claims, is currently being scrutinized by the PTAB. A defendant facing assertion on US10822165 should closely monitor the outcome of this proceeding, as any claims invalidated would significantly weaken the patent owner's position.

Strategic summary

Currently, the patent US10822165 has all its claims (1-24) under potential scrutiny, as the IPR proceeding is active. Without access to the specific petition, it's not possible to list which claims are specifically challenged versus untested. However, typically, petitioners aim to challenge a broad scope of claims. Since the IPR is still in the "Trial Instituted" phase, no claims have yet been formally CANCELED or SUSTAINED by a Final Written Decision. All claims are effectively "UNTESTED" as to a final PTAB ruling, but "UNDER REVIEW" due to the ongoing trial.

The estoppel landscape will be shaped by the outcome of IPR2025-01191. Under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2), the petitioner (Guangzho EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd. et al.) and its privies will be estopped from asserting in future civil actions or ITC proceedings any ground of invalidity that they raised or reasonably could have raised during this IPR. For other potential defendants, the specific prior art grounds available will depend on what was argued in the IPR and what survives if any claims are upheld.

Regarding pattern signals, the initiation of this IPR by Guangzho EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd. (aka EKO Development Ltd.) indicates a challenger is actively contesting the patent. The petitioner name suggests a defensive aggregator (Unified Patents listed "Petitioner" as such for IPR2025-01191). This suggests that the patent owner, Nine Stars Group USA Inc., is actively asserting the patent, prompting this defensive action.

Recommended next steps

Since IPR2025-01191 is currently in the "Trial Instituted" phase, the primary next step for a defendant would be to monitor its progress closely.

• The PTAB operates under a statutory one-year deadline to issue a Final Written Decision from the date of institution. Based on the "last modified" date of 2026-04-15, the institution date would likely be around this time. This means a Final Written Decision is expected around April 2027.
• Obtain and review the Institution Decision for IPR2025-01191. This document will detail the specific claims challenged, the prior art cited, and the PTAB's reasoning for instituting the trial on those claims. This will provide critical insight into the patent's current vulnerability.
• Given the "Trial Instituted" status, there will be subsequent milestones, including potential discovery, patent owner's response, petitioner's reply, and potentially an oral hearing. Keep track of these events and their respective deadlines on the USPTO PTAB E2E system.

Inventors

• Xin Wang: Nine Stars Group USA Inc.
• Jiangqun Chen: Nine Stars Group USA Inc.

No unusual patterns observed regarding inventor departures.

Original assignee

Nine Stars Group USA Inc. is the original assignee. They primarily manufacture and sell sensor-activated trash cans and other home goods. They appear to be an operating company and are currently active.

Assignment timeline

• 2018-06-30 (executed) / recorded 2018-08-21 — Reel 046860/0187
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WANG, XIN; CHEN, JIANGQUN
  • Assignee: NINE STARS GROUP (U.S.A) INC.
  • Correspondent: NOT RECORDED
  • Context: Internal transfer from inventors to operating company.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10822165
    2018 : Inventors assigned to Nine Stars Group (USA) Inc.
    2020 : Issued to Nine Stars Group (USA) Inc.

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The initial assignment is from the inventors to Nine Stars Group (U.S.A) Inc., an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Nine Stars Group (U.S.A) Inc. is not identified as a known asserter.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. The correspondent information was not recorded for the only assignment.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment from inventors to the operating company is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. While the patent has litigation associated with it (IPR2025-01191 and a US case in California Central District Court), there are no recorded assignments shortly before these litigation dates.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of Nine Stars Group (U.S.A) Inc. being in bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — unclear. No public information suggests this pattern.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is not currently assigned to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. There is only one recorded assignment for US10822165, which is an initial transfer from the inventors to an operating company (Nine Stars Group (U.S.A) Inc.) prior to issuance. This does not provide sufficient evidence to indicate an NPE pattern.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10822165 and analyze its potential to anticipate claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102, I have examined the patent citations listed within the document.

The analysis below details each cited patent, including its full citation, publication/filing dates, a brief description, and an assessment of which claims of US10822165 it potentially anticipates, focusing on the strict requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 102. It is important to note that this analysis relies primarily on the abstracts and readily available descriptive information for the cited patents. A complete § 102 anticipation analysis would typically require a detailed review of the full text and drawings of each prior art reference.

Priority Date of US10822165: The priority date for US10822165 is 2016-09-20.

Prior Art Analysis

1. US20040069325A1

• Full Citation: US20040069325A1, "Washing agents dispenser device for a dishwashing machine", by Daniele Cerruti.
• Publication Date: 2004-04-15
• Filing Date: 2001-03-02
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a washing agent dispenser device for a dishwashing machine. It comprises a detergent container and a lid that moves between open and closed positions. An actuator, which includes an electric motor and a transmission gear, controls the movement of the lid.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  • This reference describes an electrically operated lid with a motor and transmission gear. While it broadly covers an automatically driven cover, it is specific to a dishwashing machine and a detergent container. It does not explicitly disclose the "waterproof induction container" context, the presence of a sensor for user movement, the specific "first and second side concealed compartments" for electrical components, a pivot shaft extending into these compartments, nor an "element arranged to initially push up said cover panel and partially offsetting a weight," as recited in claim 1 of US10822165. Therefore, based on its abstract, US20040069325A1 does not appear to anticipate Claim 1 of US10822165. It may be relevant for individual generic elements, such as "a cover panel pivotally mounted... [and] moved by a motor via a transmission unit," but not the specific combination of elements in Claim 1.

2. US7338635B2

• Full Citation: US7338635B2, "Analyzing apparatus", by Nobuhiro Furuno, Tetsuo Hamada, Kazuhisa Ueno, Kiyoshi Terashima, Kiyoyuki Nakai, Junichi Haramoto, and Eiji Minami, assigned to Furuno Electric Company, Limited.
• Publication Date: 2008-03-04
• Filing Date: 2001-09-14
• Brief Description: This patent describes an analyzing apparatus with a casing and a cover. The cover is operated by a hinge mechanism that includes a driving part and a link mechanism, allowing it to open and close. The casing of the apparatus is designed to include a waterproof structure.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  • This reference describes a cover, a driving mechanism, and a waterproof casing. However, it is for an "analyzing apparatus" and does not disclose the features of an "induction actuated container" (e.g., for refuse, with a sensor for user movement), the specific "first and second side concealed compartments," the pivot shaft arrangement where both ends extend into these compartments, the actuation unit concealed in one such compartment, or the "element arranged to initially push up... and partially offsetting a weight," as defined in claim 1 of US10822165. Thus, US7338635B2 does not appear to anticipate Claim 1 of US10822165 based on its abstract.

3. US7750591B2

• Full Citation: US7750591B2, "Induction actuated container", by Xin Wang, assigned to Nine Stars Group (U.S.A) Inc.
• Publication Date: 2010-07-06
• Filing Date: 2006-10-07
• Brief Description: This patent describes an induction actuated container comprising a container body and an induction actuated container cover. The cover includes a control housing, a cover unit, and an automatic driving arrangement. The automatic driving arrangement has a sensor unit and an actuation unit that uses an electric motor to automatically open and close the cover unit. The actuation unit is mounted in a waterproof manner to prevent contamination by moisture or trash residuals.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  • This is the most relevant prior art, as it shares many elements with Claim 1 of US10822165, including an "induction actuated container" with a "container body," "induction actuated container cover," "control housing," "cover unit," "automatic driving arrangement," "sensor unit," "actuation unit" (with an electric motor), and the actuation unit being "mounted in a waterproof manner."
  • However, Claim 1 of US10822165 includes several specific structural and functional features that are not explicitly detailed in the abstract of US7750591B2:
    • The control housing having "first and second side concealed compartments formed at a rear portion."
    • The pivot shaft having "first and second end portions extended into said first and second side concealed compartments respectively."
    • The actuation unit being specifically "concealed in said first side concealed compartment of said control housing in a waterproof manner."
    • "an element arranged to initially push up said cover panel simultaneously when said cover panel is started to move from said closed position and partially offsetting a weight of said cover panel when said cover panel is started to move from said opened position."
  • Given these distinguishing features, US7750591B2, based on its abstract, does not appear to fully anticipate Claim 1 of US10822165 under 35 U.S.C. § 102. It provides a strong basis for obviousness arguments due to the shared core concept but lacks direct disclosure of these specific structural and functional limitations.

4. US8678219B1

• Full Citation: US8678219B1, "Lid operation arrangement for container", by Xin Wang, assigned to Nine Stars Group (U.S.A) Inc.
• Publication Date: 2014-03-25
• Filing Date: 2012-12-13
• Brief Description: This patent describes a lid operation arrangement for a container, comprising a lid, an electric motor, and a connecting member. The electric motor drives the lid to open and close via the connecting member. The electric motor is waterproofed by being sealed in a waterproof box.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  • This reference details a container lid operated by an electric motor that is waterproofed. However, it lacks the "induction actuated" aspect (sensor-based), the specific "first and second side concealed compartments," the pivot shaft arrangement with end portions extending into these compartments, and the "element arranged to initially push up... and partially offsetting a weight," as required by claim 1 of US10822165. Thus, US8678219B1 does not appear to anticipate Claim 1 of US10822165 based on its abstract.

5. US9856080B2

• Full Citation: US9856080B2, "Containers with multiple sensors", by Xin Wang, Jiangqun Chen, and Guoxiang Deng, assigned to Simplehuman, Llc.
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Filing Date: 2014-03-14
• Brief Description: This patent describes containers (e.g., trash cans) with an automatically opening and closing lid. The containers incorporate multiple sensors to detect user presence or objects, and an actuator (e.g., a motor) to operate the lid. The focus is on various sensor types and their arrangements for improved functionality.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  • This patent is highly relevant for the "sensor unit" and "automatic driving arrangement" aspects of US10822165, specifically disclosing multiple sensors and an actuator for automatic lid operation in trash cans.
  • However, it does not explicitly disclose the specific "waterproof" concealment of the actuation unit within "first and second side concealed compartments," the pivot shaft arrangement with dual end portions extending into these compartments, or the "element arranged to initially push up... and partially offsetting a weight," as defined in claim 1 of US10822165. Therefore, US9856080B2 does not appear to anticipate Claim 1 of US10822165 based on its abstract. It would, however, be highly relevant to claims involving sensor technology.

6. US9751692B2

• Full Citation: US9751692B2, "Dual sensing receptacles", by Xin Wang, Jiangqun Chen, and Guoxiang Deng, assigned to Simplehuman, Llc.
• Publication Date: 2017-09-05
• Filing Date: 2014-03-14
• Brief Description: This patent describes receptacles (e.g., trash cans) featuring an automatically opening and closing lid driven by an actuator. It highlights the use of multiple sensors, such as motion sensors and touch sensors, to control the lid's movement.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  • Similar to US9856080B2, this reference is relevant for the "sensor unit" and automatic lid operation with an actuator. It emphasizes "dual sensing" for lid control.
  • However, it does not explicitly describe the specific "waterproof" concealment of the actuation unit within "first and second side concealed compartments," the pivot shaft arrangement with dual end portions extending into these compartments, or the "element arranged to initially push up... and partially offsetting a weight," as required by claim 1 of US10822165. Therefore, US9751692B2 does not appear to anticipate Claim 1 of US10822165 based on its abstract. It would be highly relevant to claims concerning sensor technologies and lid actuation.

Summary of Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Based on the abstracts and readily available descriptions, none of the cited prior art patents appear to directly anticipate the entirety of Claim 1 of US10822165 under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The key distinguishing features of Claim 1 of US10822165, which are not explicitly and fully disclosed in any single cited abstract, include:

• The specific structural arrangement of "first and second side concealed compartments formed at a rear portion of said control housing."
• The pivot shaft having "first and second end portions extended into said first and second side concealed compartments respectively."
• The actuation unit being specifically "concealed in said first side concealed compartment of said control housing in a waterproof manner."
• The inclusion of "an element arranged to initially push up said cover panel simultaneously when said cover panel is started to move from said closed position and partially offsetting a weight of said cover panel when said cover panel is started to move from said opened position."

While US7750591B2 is the most closely related, covering the broad concept of a waterproof induction actuated container, it lacks the explicit detailed structural and functional elements of Claim 1. The other cited patents address aspects like electrically operated lids, waterproofing for motors, or multi-sensor systems, but do not combine all elements of Claim 1 in a single disclosure. These references would likely be highly relevant for arguments of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103, particularly when considered in combination.

The obviousness analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 requires determining whether "the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains." This hypothetical person is presumed to know the relevant art and possess ordinary creativity. Factors for determining the level of ordinary skill in the art include the type of problems encountered, prior art solutions, rapidity of innovations, sophistication of the technology, and educational level of active workers in the field. The motivation to combine prior art references can come from the references themselves, common knowledge in the art, scientific principles, or legal precedent.

For US patent 10822165, which is directed to a "Waterproof induction actuated container," the person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) would likely be an engineer or designer with experience in consumer products, particularly those involving electronic controls, mechanical actuation, and environmental sealing, such as automated trash cans or other household containers. This individual would be familiar with mechanisms for opening and closing lids, sensor technologies, and methods for protecting electrical and mechanical components from moisture and debris.

The patent identifies several drawbacks of conventional induction containers, including a lack of water resistance, exposure of the transmission shaft to contaminants, and inconvenient battery replacement. The invention aims to overcome these by concealing electrical and mechanical components in waterproof compartments, directly driving the pivot shaft, and providing an accessible power supply unit external to the storage cavity.

Obviousness Combinations

Given the stated problems and the field of the invention, a PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine existing technologies to address the identified shortcomings.

Potential Combination 1: US7750591B2 (Wang) + US8678219B1 (Wang) + General knowledge of waterproofing techniques.

• US7750591B2 (Wang) - "Induction actuated container": This patent discloses an induction actuated container, providing the core functionality of automatic lid opening and closing via a sensor unit and an actuation unit. It explicitly mentions a container body, a storage cavity, a cover panel, a sensor unit, and an actuation unit. However, it, like the "conventional container" described in US10822165, does not emphasize waterproof features for its internal components, and its transmission shaft is exposed.
• US8678219B1 (Wang) - "Lid operation arrangement for container": This patent, also by Wang, focuses on improvements to the lid operation arrangement for containers. While the full text isn't provided here, the title suggests it addresses aspects of lid mechanisms which could include pivot shafts and their connection to actuation units.
• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA, faced with the problem of moisture and corrosive gas damaging the electrical and mechanical components in an induction container (as highlighted in the background of US10822165), would be motivated to combine the automated lid functionality of US7750591B2 with waterproofing techniques commonly known in the art for electronic devices. This would involve sealing the electrical and mechanical components in a concealed compartment, as described in US10822165. Furthermore, if US8678219B1 offered a more robust or compact lid operation, there would be a motivation to integrate this into a waterproof design. The concept of "concealed compartments" is a common engineering solution for protecting sensitive components from environmental factors. The specific "side concealed compartments" and the arrangement of the pivot shaft passing through them (as claimed in US10822165, e.g., claim 1) would be an obvious design choice to keep the actuation mechanism isolated from the container's interior, while allowing the lid to pivot. The idea of using a shaft sleeve to conceal the exposed portion of the pivot shaft (claim 17) would also be a straightforward design decision to prevent contamination of the shaft and maintain a clean aesthetic, motivated by the desire to protect components from trash residuals.

Potential Combination 2: US9856080B2 (Simplehuman, LLC) + US9751692B2 (Simplehuman, LLC) + General knowledge of compartmentalization and external access for power.

• US9856080B2 (Simplehuman, LLC) - "Containers with multiple sensors": This patent details containers with advanced sensing capabilities. While not directly addressing waterproofing, it demonstrates the sophistication of sensor-driven containers.
• US9751692B2 (Simplehuman, LLC) - "Dual sensing receptacles": Similar to the above, this patent shows further advancements in sensor technology for receptacles.
• Motivation to Combine: These Simplehuman patents demonstrate the ongoing development and market demand for sophisticated, sensor-actuated containers. A PHOSITA looking to enhance such a container by making it waterproof and user-friendly (e.g., for battery replacement) would be motivated to apply standard engineering practices. The "side concealed compartments" (claim 1) and the battery compartment accessible from the rear of the control housing (claim 7) represent common design solutions for isolating sensitive parts and improving serviceability. The problem of battery contamination and difficult replacement in conventional designs (as described in US10822165) would explicitly motivate a PHOSITA to re-locate and seal the power supply unit, making it externally accessible without detaching the entire control housing.

Reasoning for Obviousness

The various elements claimed in US10822165, such as concealed compartments for electrical/mechanical components (claim 1), a servo motor and gear transmission (claim 2), a gear worm sector (claim 3), a decelerating gear unit (claim 4), a pivot shaft with a non-circular cross-section received in a shaft sleeve (claims 17, 18), a resilient element for assisting lid movement (claim 9), and a rear-accessible battery compartment (claim 7), all represent known solutions to common engineering problems in the design of automated devices.

• Waterproofing and Concealment: Protecting electrical and mechanical components from moisture, corrosive gases, and debris is a fundamental design consideration for any product operating in a potentially harsh environment, such as a trash container. Sealing components in concealed compartments is a standard engineering practice. The specific arrangement of "side concealed compartments" in the control housing (claim 1) would be an obvious choice to maintain the overall form factor of the container while providing discrete, protected areas for the operating mechanisms.
• Actuation Mechanisms: Servo motors, gear transmission units, and pivot shafts (claims 2, 3) are well-known components for controlled rotational movement. The use of a decelerating gear unit to achieve a "hydraulic manner" of lid movement (claim 4) would be an obvious optimization to provide smooth and controlled operation, a desirable characteristic in consumer products.
• Pivot Shaft Design: The use of a non-circular cross-section for the pivot shaft and a corresponding shaft sleeve (claims 17, 18) to ensure rotational coupling is a basic mechanical engineering principle. Concealing the pivot shaft within a shaft sleeve and shaft housing (claim 17) directly addresses the problem of exposure to contaminants.
• Resilient Element: Incorporating a spring or similar resilient element (claim 9) to assist in opening the lid or offset its weight is a common way to reduce motor load and ensure smooth operation, widely used in hinged mechanisms.
• Power Supply Unit: Making a battery compartment externally accessible (claim 7) without requiring disassembly of the main unit is a standard design for user convenience and maintainability. Locating it at the rear and ensuring it's not communicated with the storage cavity directly addresses the stated problems of contamination and difficult battery replacement.

A PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine these elements from the prior art references and general engineering knowledge to create a more robust, durable, and user-friendly induction container. The motivation would stem from the desire to overcome the known drawbacks of conventional induction containers, specifically the lack of waterproofing and inconvenient maintenance, using readily available and well-understood technological solutions. No "teaching away" from these combinations is evident in the cited prior art.

To provide a comprehensive overview of US Patent 10822165, let's break down its prosecution history and projected expiration.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) and Extensions (PTE)

• Patent Term Adjustment (PTA): PTA is granted to compensate patent owners for delays caused by the USPTO during the examination process of a utility or plant patent application. The total PTA is added to the standard 20-year patent term from the earliest non-provisional filing date. It accounts for specific USPTO delays, such as not issuing a first office action within 14 months, not responding to applicant replies within four months, or not issuing the patent within 36 months from the filing date. The USPTO automatically calculates PTA at the time of patent issuance, and this information is typically included in the Issue Notification Letter.
• Patent Term Extension (PTE): PTE is a different mechanism, primarily designed to compensate for delays incurred in obtaining regulatory approval for patented products, particularly in industries like pharmaceuticals and medical devices. It aims to restore a portion of the patent term lost while awaiting regulatory approval. PTE can be granted for a maximum of five years and cannot extend the patent term to more than 14 years from the date of regulatory approval.

For US Patent 10822165, the Google Patents information indicates an "Adjusted expiration" date of March 19, 2037. This adjustment suggests that some form of Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) has been applied. Without direct access to the official USPTO patent prosecution history (e.g., in Patent Center), the specific calculation of this adjustment is not readily available. However, based on the nature of the invention (a "waterproof induction actuated container"), it is highly unlikely to qualify for a Patent Term Extension (PTE), as PTE is generally reserved for patents subject to regulatory review periods (e.g., FDA approval for drugs or medical devices).

Continuation and Divisional Applications

• Continuation Application: A continuation application is filed to pursue additional claims to the same invention disclosed in a parent application.
• Divisional Application: A divisional application is filed to pursue claims to an invention that was not elected in a previous application due to a restriction requirement by the examiner.

US Patent 10822165 lists its application number as US15/884,342, with a filing date of January 30, 2018. It claims priority to application Ser. No. 15/271,211, filed September 20, 2016. This relationship indicates that US10822165 is a continuation application of US15/271,211. The patent document also explicitly states: "This is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 15/271,211, filed Sep. 20, 2016."

The "Family Applications" section on Google Patents further clarifies:

• US15/271,211 (US10077154B2) filed 2016-09-20.
• US15/884,342 (US10822165B2) filed 2018-01-30.

This confirms US10822165 (application US15/884,342) is a continuation of US10077154B2 (application US15/271,211). There is no indication of any divisional applications.

Related Family Members

The patent family for US10822165 includes:

• US10077154B2 ("Waterproof induction actuated container"): This is the parent application, which was granted on September 18, 2018, from application number US15/271,211, filed on September 20, 2016.
• US20180170669A1 and US20180079592A1: These are patent publications (pre-grant) related to the same family.

Projected Expiration Date

The legal status of US10822165 is "Active - Reinstated," and its adjusted expiration date is March 19, 2037.

Under U.S. patent law, for applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally ends 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed, or if it claims priority to an earlier application under 35 U.S.C. § 120, 121, or 365(c), then 20 years from the filing date of the earliest such application. In this case, the earliest priority date is September 20, 2016, from application US15/271,211.

Calculating 20 years from this priority date would give an unadjusted expiration date of September 20, 2036. The listed "Adjusted expiration" date of March 19, 2037, suggests approximately six months of Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) was granted to compensate for USPTO delays during prosecution.