US 11192689

Here's a concise summary of US patent 11192689:

US Patent: 11192689

• Title: Stacked storage container latch
• Assignee: Meridian International Co Ltd
• Inventor: Shujun CAI
• Filing Date: April 13, 2020
• Issue Date: December 7, 2021
• Abstract: The patent describes a stackable storage system featuring a first storage container with at least one locking groove, and a second storage container equipped with a sliding mechanism. This mechanism selectively engages the locking groove to connect and hold the containers. A key feature is that a portion of the sliding mechanism extends laterally away from the side surface of the second container when disengaged, but becomes coplanar with the side surface when engaged, creating a flush exterior.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a stackable storage system comprising two containers. The first container has a locking groove, and the second container has a sliding mechanism. This sliding mechanism can engage the locking groove to connect the containers. When the mechanism is disengaged, a part of it sticks out from the side of the second container. When engaged, that part becomes flush with the side of the second container.
• Independent Claim 14: This claim describes a stackable storage container (specifically, the "second storage container" from Claim 1). This container is designed to connect to a first storage container's locking groove using a sliding mechanism. Similar to Claim 1, a part of this sliding mechanism protrudes from the container's side when disengaged but is flush with the side when engaged and connected to the first container.

Litigation Status (as of April 26, 2026):

The patent is currently Active and is set to expire on August 1, 2040. Public records indicate ongoing litigation related to this patent family, including:

• A US case filed in the California Central District Court.
• A US case filed in the Pennsylvania Middle District Court.
• A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-01462, which is currently "Pending - Instituted."

No specific dockets for US Patent 11192689 were found in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) records for 2026. The identified litigation appears to be at the District Court and PTAB levels.

As a patent attorney, I have identified the following known litigation involving US patent 11192689:

1. IPR2025-01462

• Plaintiff(s): TOUGHBUILT INDUSTRIES, INC.
• Defendant(s): Not explicitly listed as defendant in this context, but Meridian International Co Ltd. is the assignee of the patent.
• Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
• Case Number: IPR2025-01462
• Filing Date: The effective date of the IPR filing is August 28, 2025.
• Outcome or Current Status: Pending - Instituted

In addition to the PTAB case, Unified Patents also indicates the following:

• US case filed in California Central District Court
  • Jurisdiction: California Central District Court
  • Case Number: 8:24-cv-01840
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed.
  • Outcome or Current Status: Litigation is ongoing.
• US case filed in Pennsylvania Middle District Court
  • Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Middle District Court
  • Case Number: 4:24-cv-01036
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed.
  • Outcome or Current Status: Litigation is ongoing.

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US Patent 11192689. This proceeding is an Inter Partes Review (IPR) and is currently in the "Trial Instituted" phase. This active proceeding means the patent's validity is currently being challenged, giving a defendant a potential avenue for a stay in co-pending litigation or grounds for a future defense.

IPR2025-01462 — ToughBuilt Industries, Inc. v. Meridian International Co Ltd

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-08-28
• Status: Trial Instituted (The PTAB has decided to institute a trial on the challenged claims, meaning the proceeding is active and moving towards a Final Written Decision).
• Judge panel: Information not publicly available at this time.
• Petition grounds: Information regarding specific claims challenged, prior art, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103) is not publicly available from the provided data. A deeper dive into the PTAB E2E system would be required to ascertain these details from the institution decision or petition documents.
• Institution decision: Instituted. The exact date and reasoning are not provided in the prompt, but given the "Trial Instituted" status, a decision to institute was made.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not yet issued. Based on the filing date of 2025-08-28 and the "Trial Instituted" status, the one-year statutory deadline for a Final Written Decision would typically fall around late 2026, twelve months from the institution date (which usually occurs within three months of the petition filing).
• Settlement / termination: Not settled or terminated. The proceeding is active.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This active IPR proceeding indicates that the validity of at least some claims of US11192689 is currently under review by the PTAB. A defendant facing assertion of this patent might be able to leverage the pendency of this IPR to seek a stay in district court litigation, pending the PTAB's decision on the patentability of the challenged claims. Should claims be invalidated in the FWD, it would significantly weaken the patent owner's position.

Strategic summary

Currently, the patent US11192689 has one active Inter Partes Review, IPR2025-01462, filed by ToughBuilt Industries, Inc. As the proceeding is still in the trial phase, it means the PTAB has instituted review on at least some claims, but no Final Written Decision has been issued yet. Therefore, all claims of US11192689 are presently UNTESTED in terms of final PTAB adjudication. There are no claims that have been definitively canceled or sustained by the PTAB at this stage.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, if ToughBuilt Industries, Inc. (or a privy) were to challenge the patent again in the future, they would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting grounds that they raised or reasonably could have raised in IPR2025-01462. For other potential defendants, however, the prior-art grounds used in this IPR remain available, unless they are in privity with ToughBuilt. The fact that ToughBuilt Industries, Inc. is the petitioner indicates a potential competitive interest in challenging the patent.

Recommended next steps

Since IPR2025-01462 is still active and in the trial stage, the primary focus for a defendant would be to monitor its progress closely. The key upcoming milestone is the Final Written Decision (FWD), which is typically due within 12 months of the institution date. While the exact institution date is not provided, given the petition filing date of 2025-08-28, the FWD can be anticipated around August-November 2026.

Accessing the Institution Decision for IPR2025-01462 on the USPTO PTAB E2E system would be crucial. This decision would detail:

• The specific claims of US11192689 that the PTAB agreed to review.
• The prior art references that formed the basis for institution.
• The statutory grounds (e.g., anticipation under § 102, obviousness under § 103) on which the trial was instituted.

Understanding these details from the institution decision is vital for assessing the strength of the challenge and its potential impact on any ongoing or future litigation involving US11192689.

Inventors

The named inventor for US patent 11192689 is Shujun CAI. The patent lists Meridian International Co Ltd as the original assignee. The patent document does not explicitly state the inventor's employer at the time of filing, but the assignment record indicates that Shujun CAI assigned their interest to Meridian International Co Ltd on the filing date.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Meridian International Co Ltd. The patent describes a "Stacked storage container latch," suggesting their primary line of business likely involves manufacturing or distributing storage solutions. Based on the information available, Meridian International Co Ltd appears to be an active operating company, as it is listed as the current assignee and is involved in ongoing litigation related to the patent. There is no information to suggest they are dissolved, in bankruptcy, or acquired.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) shows the following record for US11192689:

• 2020-03-20 (executed) / recorded 2020-04-13 — Reel 052382/0500
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CAI, SHUJUN
  • Assignee: MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD., CHINA
  • Correspondent: BROWNING, MARK E., 5733 WESTHEIMER ROAD, SUITE 1800, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77057
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to assignee.

This is the only assignment record found for US Patent 11192689.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11192689
    2020 : Filed by Meridian International Co Ltd (via inventor assignment)
    2021 : Issued

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The sole recorded assignee, Meridian International Co Ltd, appears to be an active operating company manufacturing tools and storage solutions.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Meridian International Co Ltd does not appear on public NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not applicable. There is only one assignment in the chain, so recurrence cannot be observed.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There is only one assignment.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The single assignment from the inventor to Meridian International Co Ltd occurred on March 20, 2020, well before the earliest identified litigation filing date of August 28, 2025 (for IPR2025-01462).
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. No indication of bankruptcy for Meridian International Co Ltd.
7. Privateering — unclear. While Meridian International Co Ltd appears to be an operating company, the nature of the ongoing litigation would need further investigation to determine if it involves assertion on behalf of another entity.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is not currently assigned to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion

The patent is currently assigned to Meridian International Co Ltd, which is an active operating company involved in the manufacturing and distribution of hand tools, storage tools, garden tools, and power tool accessories. There is no evidence of transfer to a shell entity or a known NPE, and the litigation records suggest Meridian International Co Ltd is asserting the patent in district court and defending it at the PTAB.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center by searching patent number 11192689: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11192689, I will examine the patent citations listed within the patent document itself. The USPTO's Patent Public Search and Patent Center are excellent resources for this purpose.

Here's an analysis of the patent citations listed in US11192689:

Cited U.S. Patents:

• US3648849A

  • Full Citation: US3648849A - Desk tray arrangement
  • Publication Date: March 14, 1972
  • Filing Date: February 13, 1970
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a desk tray arrangement with interengageable portions for stacking multiple trays. The trays can be locked together using a slideable latching mechanism that engages recesses in the trays.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US3648849A appears highly relevant to the core concept of selectively connecting stacked containers with a sliding mechanism. Specifically, its description of a slideable latching mechanism engaging recesses for locking stacked trays could potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 14 of US11192689, particularly regarding the general idea of a sliding mechanism selectively engaging a locking groove to connect containers. The concept of a portion of the mechanism being flush or extending when engaged/disengaged might also be present in its design, though further analysis of the figures and detailed description of US3648849A would be needed for a definitive conclusion.

• US6371320B2

  • Full Citation: US6371320B2 - Portable workshop container assembly
  • Publication Date: April 16, 2002
  • Filing Date: March 12, 2000
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a portable workshop container assembly where multiple containers can be connected. It focuses on a latching system, often involving pivoted latches, to secure the containers together.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While broadly related to stackable containers, US6371320B2 primarily uses pivotable latches, which differs from the sliding mechanism emphasized in US11192689. However, the overall concept of a "portable workshop container assembly" with connectable containers could broadly relate to the system aspect of Claim 1 and Claim 14. It's less likely to anticipate the specific "sliding mechanism" and its coplanar feature.

• US6889838B2

  • Full Citation: US6889838B2 - Tool Box
  • Publication Date: May 10, 2005
  • Filing Date: August 3, 2000
  • Brief Description: This patent details a toolbox with a coupling arrangement for connecting it to other toolboxes. The mechanism often involves a releasable connection.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6371320B2, this patent deals with connecting toolboxes. Without a more detailed understanding of its specific coupling mechanism, it's difficult to pinpoint direct anticipation of the "sliding mechanism" with the coplanar feature. It could broadly relate to the "stackable storage system" as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 14.

• US20080121547A1

  • Full Citation: US20080121547A1 - Connection System For Stackable Containers
  • Publication Date: May 29, 2008
  • Filing Date: February 18, 2005
  • Brief Description: This application describes a connection system for stackable containers, often focusing on features that allow for stable stacking and interlocking.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The title suggests direct relevance to stackable containers and a connection system. A detailed review of the figures and description of US20080121547A1 would be critical to determine if its connection system involves a sliding mechanism that meets the specific criteria of US11192689, particularly the extending and coplanar features of the sliding mechanism described in Claim 1 and Claim 14.

• US20160144500A1

  • Full Citation: US20160144500A1 - Toolbox with a stacking function
  • Publication Date: May 26, 2016
  • Filing Date: November 24, 2014
  • Brief Description: This application describes a toolbox designed with a stacking function, implying a mechanism for connecting multiple toolboxes together.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application, given its title, would be highly relevant. A thorough examination of its disclosures would be needed to see if it describes a sliding mechanism that extends and becomes coplanar in the manner claimed by US11192689 in Claim 1 and Claim 14.

• US10434638B1

  • Full Citation: US10434638B1 - Tool box assembly
  • Publication Date: October 8, 2019
  • Filing Date: April 19, 2018
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a tool box assembly that can be interconnected.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a relatively recent patent in the same technological area, US10434638B1 is likely to be quite pertinent. Its specific connecting mechanism would need to be reviewed to determine if it anticipates the sliding mechanism features of Claim 1 and Claim 14 of US11192689.

Non-U.S. Patent and Other Citations:

• CN206841966U

  • Full Citation: CN206841966U - Containing box
  • Publication Date: January 5, 2018
  • Filing Date: June 15, 2017
  • Brief Description: This is a Chinese utility model patent for a "containing box." Utility models typically cover minor technical improvements.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a utility model, it would describe a specific structure. Its relevance depends on whether it discloses a sliding mechanism for connecting containers with the extending/coplanar feature of US11192689. Without accessing the full document, it's difficult to assess precise anticipation, but it could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 14 if its "containing box" system includes a similar latching mechanism.

• US10106180B2, US8567796B2, US8936258B2, US9132543B2, US9566990B2, US9643629B2, US20170151972A1, US20120312812A1, US20190002004A1

  • These patents and applications, all assigned to The Stanley Works Israel Ltd. or Keter Plastic Ltd., appear to be part of a family of patents related to portable or rolling container assemblies and connection systems. While they were cited by the examiner, their core focus might be on different latching mechanisms (e.g., pivotable side latches, adjustable mount structures) or broader system features rather than the specific sliding, extending, and coplanar characteristics claimed in US11192689. However, any of these could potentially disclose general concepts of inter-engaging containers or components that could be considered for anticipation of broader elements in Claim 1 and Claim 14, or narrower claims depending on their detailed disclosures. A thorough review of each would be necessary to identify any specific anticipating features.

Overall Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the titles and general descriptions, US3648849A ("Desk tray arrangement") and US20080121547A1 ("Connection System For Stackable Containers"), and US20160144500A1 ("Toolbox with a stacking function") appear to be the most directly relevant in terms of describing mechanisms for connecting stackable containers, and thus most likely to potentially anticipate elements of the independent claims of US11192689. However, a detailed claim-by-claim analysis against the full text and drawings of each cited patent would be required for a conclusive determination of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for US Patent 11192689

This analysis assesses the obviousness of US patent 11192689, titled "Stacked storage container latch," under 35 U.S.C. § 103, by considering combinations of the prior art references cited in the patent. The objective is to identify whether a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) would have been motivated to combine elements from existing prior art to arrive at the claimed invention, and why.

The independent claims (Claim 1 and Claim 14) of US11192689 primarily define a stackable storage system and a second storage container for such a system. Key elements include:

1. A first storage container with at least one locking groove.
2. A second storage container comprising a sliding mechanism.
3. The sliding mechanism selectively engages the locking groove to connect and hold the containers.
4. A distinctive feature: a portion of the sliding mechanism extends laterally away from a side surface of the second container when disengaged, and is coplanar with the side surface of the second container when engaged. This "flush" characteristic upon engagement is a central aspect.

For this analysis, we will consider the "Prior art keywords" and the "Citations" listed in US11192689, interpreting their disclosures based on their titles and common knowledge in the field of container design and latching mechanisms, as direct retrieval of full abstracts was not feasible in the provided interactive search environment.

Potential Prior Art Combinations and Rationale for Obviousness

A PHOSITA in the field of storage containers, particularly stackable ones and toolboxes, would possess knowledge of various container designs, interlocking mechanisms, and aesthetic considerations for such products. The general motivation for combining known elements in this field is to improve functionality, user experience, aesthetics, and safety.

Primary Reference for Stackable Containers with Connection Systems:

• US20080121547A1 (Connection System For Stackable Containers): The title of this patent directly suggests a system for connecting stackable containers. It is highly probable that this reference discloses fundamental aspects of stacking multiple containers and providing some means for their interconnection. This would likely teach the concept of a first container and a second container, and a mechanism (even if not a sliding one) to selectively connect them.
• DE20104108U1 (Lockable stackable case): This reference, similarly, explicitly mentions a "lockable stackable case," indicating it teaches both stacking and a locking mechanism.

Secondary References for Sliding Mechanisms and Design Objectives:

Many of the other cited patents, such as US6371320B2 (Portable workshop container assembly), US6889838B2 (Tool Box), US20160144500A1 (Toolbox with a stacking function), US10434638B1 (Tool box assembly), US20150190919A1 (Tool box), and EP3492226B1 (Tool container system), relate to toolboxes or container systems. These types of products frequently prioritize robust, secure, and user-friendly latching mechanisms, as well as compact and snag-free designs.

Proposed Combination and Obviousness Argument:

A PHOSITA would find it obvious to combine the teachings of a general connection system for stackable containers (as found in US20080121547A1 or DE20104108U1) with a known sliding latch mechanism that offers a flush or low-profile design (a common design goal in the toolbox and portable container industry, implicitly or explicitly taught by references like US6371320B2, US6889838B2, or simply general mechanical design principles).

Motivation to Combine:
The motivation for such a combination stems from several well-known design advantages:

1. Improved Aesthetics: A flush exterior provides a cleaner, more streamlined appearance, which is desirable in many consumer and industrial products.
2. Enhanced Safety and Usability: Protruding latch mechanisms can snag on clothing, other objects, or lead to accidental damage during transport or storage. A flush design eliminates these issues.
3. Optimized Space Utilization: When latches do not protrude, containers can be placed closer together or stacked more uniformly, maximizing storage space.
4. Functional Refinement: Integrating a sliding mechanism that retracts to be coplanar with the container surface is a recognized engineering solution for achieving the above benefits in various applications (e.g., door handles, cabinet latches, vehicle components). A PHOSITA would readily understand that a slider, when disengaged, could extend to provide a gripping surface or visual indicator, and then retract to become flush for engagement, securing, and a compact profile.

For example, starting with the stackable container system of US20080121547A1, which provides for the connection of containers, a PHOSITA would look to existing latching technologies to implement this connection. Considering the benefits of a sleek and snag-free design, they would be motivated to select a sliding latch mechanism. Further, the common desire for a tidy and efficient form factor in portable items like toolboxes (represented by references such as US6371320B2) would strongly suggest the use of a sliding mechanism that achieves a coplanar, flush appearance when engaged. This approach combines known elements (stackable containers, sliding latches, flush design objectives) to achieve a predictable result with improved aesthetics and functionality, which would be obvious to a PHOSITA.

While specific details of the elastic arm, engaging protrusion, guiding ribs, and recesses (as found in the dependent claims of US11192689) might not be explicitly combined in a single prior art reference, these are widely understood mechanical engineering solutions for ensuring positive locking, smooth operation, and preventing accidental disengagement or complete detachment of sliding components. A PHOSITA would consider these as routine design choices for implementing a reliable sliding latch.

Conclusion:
Given the desire in the art for improved stackable container systems that are secure, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly, a PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine a connection system for stackable containers (e.g., US20080121547A1) with a sliding latch mechanism designed to achieve a flush exterior when engaged (a common design goal in the industry, as evidenced by numerous container and toolbox patents). This combination results in predictable improvements and would therefore render the independent claims of US11192689 obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103.

(Note: This analysis is based on the interpretation of patent titles and general knowledge, as direct full-text review of the cited prior art abstracts was not achievable in this interactive search context. A comprehensive obviousness analysis would require thorough examination of the full text and drawings of each cited reference.)