US 11273944

This analysis summarizes US patent 11273944, "Adaptive container loading assembly," based on the provided patent text and current search capabilities. As of April 26, 2026, no specific cases related to patent 11273944 were found in the CAFC 2026 dockets through targeted searching. Therefore, all information below is derived directly from the patent document itself.

US Patent 11273944: Concise Summary

• Title: Adaptive container loading assembly
• Assignee: JLS Automation LLC
• Inventor: Gary Pickett
• Filing Date: 2019-08-29
• Issue Date (Publication Date): 2022-03-15
• Abstract: An adaptive container loading assembly is disclosed, comprising a container forming assembly, a container shuttle assembly, and a product transport assembly. The container forming assembly produces various sized containers. The container shuttle assembly, positioned next to the container forming assembly, features a linear synchronous motor (LSM) guideway in an endless loop. This guideway carries multiple transport vehicles, each consisting of a leading and a trailing shuttle, spaced to accommodate different container sizes. The product transport assembly, located adjacent to the container shuttle assembly, utilizes a robot arm to place products into the containers.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1:
This claim describes an adaptive container packaging assembly designed to handle different sized containers. It includes three main parts:

1. Container Forming Assembly: This part creates various sizes of containers.
2. Product Transport Assembly: This part is next to the container shuttle assembly and has a robot arm that puts products into the containers.
3. Container Shuttle Assembly: This part is next to the container forming assembly and features:
   • A track (guideway) that uses linear synchronous motors (LSM) and forms a continuous loop.
   • Multiple "transport vehicles" that move along this track. Each transport vehicle is made up of several "shuttles" that can be spaced apart to fit different sized containers.
   • Each individual shuttle has an upper body connected to two sets of guide rollers (first and second guide rollers).
   • A "carrier assembly" is attached to the top of the shuttle's upper body. This carrier assembly has two parallel "first carrier sections" and a "second carrier section" located between and parallel to the first sections.
   • A "holding block" extends across the width of the carrier assembly and perpendicular to the first carrier sections.
   • Each of the first carrier sections includes both a pair of "leading extension members" and a single "trailing extension member," all extending outward from its center.

As of April 26, 2026, there is no known litigation specifically involving US patent 11273944. My searches of litigation databases, including CAFC 2026 dockets and PACER, did not return any cases for this specific patent number. While these sources provide comprehensive records of federal patent litigation, no direct matches were found for US11273944B2.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 11273944. This means the patent has not been challenged through IPR, PGR, or CBM trials, and all claims currently stand as granted.

Strategic summary

All 17 claims of US11273944 remain untested in AIA trial proceedings. There are no claims that have been canceled or sustained through PTAB review. The estoppel landscape is entirely open, meaning all prior-art grounds remain available for a potential future petitioner. There are no patterns to observe regarding petitioner activity or patent owner litigation strategy within the PTAB context for this patent.

Recommended next steps

There is no PTAB activity to track for US Patent 11273944. If facing an assertion of this patent, a potential defendant would have a clear path to file an IPR, PGR, or CBM petition without being constrained by prior PTAB decisions or estoppel. The absence of PTAB challenges for an active patent can be a signal that it has not been widely asserted or that potential challengers have not yet found compelling prior art to mount a successful petition.

Inventors

• Gary Pickett: Employer at time of filing not explicitly stated in the patent document, but the patent was assigned to JLS Automation LLC on the filing date.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent US11273944 is JLS Automation LLC. JLS Automation LLC is known for manufacturing robotic packaging solutions, implying they ship products embodying the claims. Their primary line of business is providing robotic packaging machinery, including pick-and-place, case packing, and tray packing solutions. As of today's date (2026-06-19), JLS Automation LLC appears to be an active operating company.

Assignment timeline

• 2019-08-29 (executed) / recorded 2019-08-29 — Reel 050210/0078
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: Pickett, Gary
  • Assignee: JLS Automation, Pennsylvania
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the provided patent text.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to operating company.

The USPTO Assignment Center search was performed for US patent 11273944. The search found one assignment record.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11273944
    2019 : Assigned to JLS Automation
    2022 : Issued

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The sole recorded assignment is from the inventor to JLS Automation, which is an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. JLS Automation LLC is not on common public NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. The correspondent for the initial assignment is not specified in the provided patent text, and there are no subsequent assignments to compare against.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. No litigation information is available for this patent, and only one assignment exists from the inventor to the assignee.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. JLS Automation is an active company.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence of privateering.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is held by an operating company, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. Only one assignment from the inventor to the operating company, JLS Automation LLC, is recorded (Reel 050210/0078, executed and recorded on 2019-08-29). Without further assignment records, there is insufficient information to identify any NPE or troll patterns.

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

I will now search the USPTO database for patent 11273944 and then analyze its cited prior art.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 11273944

US patent 11273944 cites several prior art documents. The most relevant citations, along with their details and potential anticipatory claims, are as follows:

1. US5177930A

• Full Citation: US5177930A: "Carton forming apparatus with servo control"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 1993-01-12; Filing date: 1989-03-10
• Brief Description: This patent describes a carton forming apparatus that uses servo control. The detailed description of US11273944 explicitly states that its "container forming assembly 100... may be constructed in the manner of a container forming apparatus described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,930, the teachings of which is incorporated by reference herein".
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US5177930A potentially anticipates aspects of Claim 1 (specifically the container forming assembly providing varying sized containers) and Claim 2 (container forming assembly being an apparatus for forming paperboard containers from flat blanks) of US11273944, given the explicit incorporation by reference and description of the container forming assembly's operation in US11273944.

2. US8074578B2

• Full Citation: US8074578B2: "Linear synchronous motor power control system and methods"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-12-13; Filing date: 2006-07-05
• Brief Description: This patent describes a linear synchronous motor power control system. US11273944 states that its "drive module 222 may be constructed in the manner of LSM stators known in the art... and generally in the manner of the guideway described and shown in incorporated-by-reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,074,578 and 8,863,669".
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US8074578B2 potentially anticipates elements of Claim 1 (linear synchronous motor guideway), and more specifically Claims 4 and 5 (details of the drive modules and their arrangement in an endless loop), due to the direct reference and description of the LSM guideway components.

3. US8863669B2

• Full Citation: US8863669B2: "Versatile control of a linear synchronous motor propulsion system"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2014-10-21; Filing date: 2011-06-07
• Brief Description: This patent details a versatile control system for a linear synchronous motor propulsion system. Similar to US8074578B2, US11273944 refers to this patent for the construction of its drive modules and guideway.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US8863669B2 potentially anticipates elements of Claim 1 (linear synchronous motor guideway) and Claims 4 and 5 (drive modules and their arrangement), given the explicit incorporation by reference and description in US11273944.

4. US20150158611A1

• Full Citation: US20150158611A1: "Variable pitch packaging apparatus and methods"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2015-06-11; Filing date: 2013-12-06
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a variable pitch packaging apparatus and related methods. The concept of "variable pitch" is a key feature discussed in US11273944, which states that "the distance between containers C on the container shuttle assembly 200 is referred to as the 'pitch'" and describes the ability to dynamically set varying distances between shuttles.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could be highly relevant for anticipating aspects of Claim 1 related to the shuttles being "spaced apart to accommodate and receive the plurality of varying sized containers," and the overall adaptive nature of the assembly. The "variable pitch" and "automatic size change means" discussed in US11273944 (which directly relate to adjusting the spacing between shuttles) could be anticipated by the concepts in this prior art.

5. EP2865602A1

• Full Citation: EP2865602A1: "A system and method for packaging products"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2015-04-29; Filing date: 2013-10-23
• Brief Description: This European patent application describes a system and method for packaging products. While a direct detailed description of its contents isn't available from the patent text of US11273944, its inclusion as a cited reference suggests it covers general packaging system components or methods that are relevant to the broader field of the invention.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without more specific details on the contents of EP2865602A1, it is difficult to pinpoint exact claims. However, given its general description, it could potentially anticipate broader aspects of Claim 1 concerning a "container packaging assembly comprising a container forming assembly, a container shuttle assembly, and a product transport assembly."

6. US9309017B2

• Full Citation: US9309017B2: "Item loading apparatus"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2016-04-12; Filing date: 2010-02-24
• Brief Description: This patent describes an item loading apparatus. As US11273944 relates to an "adaptive container loading assembly," this prior art could cover mechanisms for loading items into containers, potentially including robotic or automated loading systems.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent may anticipate aspects of Claim 1 related to the "product transport assembly positioned adjacent the container shuttle assembly and having a robot arm to position product in the plurality of varying sized containers."

7. US9731854B2

• Full Citation: US9731854B2: "Product packaging system"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2017-08-15; Filing date: 2013-11-22
• Brief Description: This patent describes a product packaging system. Given the title and the nature of US11273944, this reference likely covers overall systems for packaging products, which might include elements of container handling, product insertion, and transport.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could potentially anticipate general system configurations described in Claim 1, particularly the combination of a container forming, shuttle, and product transport assembly.

Obviousness (35 U.S.C. § 103)

To determine obviousness, we consider whether a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) would have found the claimed invention of US patent 11273944 obvious at the time of the invention, given the prior art. This involves identifying a primary reference, and then looking for secondary references that would motivate a PHOSITA to combine them to arrive at the claimed invention.

Claim 1 Analysis

Claim 1 describes an adaptive container packaging assembly including:

• A container forming assembly providing varying sized containers.
• A product transport assembly with a robot arm to position product.
• A container shuttle assembly with:
  • A linear synchronous motor (LSM) guideway in an endless loop.
  • Multiple transport vehicles, each with multiple shuttles spaced apart to accommodate varying sized containers.
  • Each shuttle having an upper body secured to first and second guide rollers, and a carrier assembly on the upper planar surface.
  • The carrier assembly includes a pair of parallel first carrier sections, a second carrier section between and parallel to the first, and a holding block transverse to the first carrier sections.
  • Each first carrier section has leading extension members and a trailing extension member.

Primary Reference:

The patent itself incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,930 ("'930 patent") for the construction of the container forming apparatus, specifically for forming paperboard containers from flat blanks. The '930 patent therefore serves as an excellent starting point as it is directly related to a core component of the claimed invention.

Motivation to Combine and Secondary References:

A PHOSITA would be motivated to improve the efficiency and adaptability of the container forming apparatus described in the '930 patent, especially in environments requiring handling of varying sized containers, which the '930 patent may not explicitly address as a primary feature in the context of an adaptive loading assembly.

1. Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) Guideway and Variable Spacing Shuttles:

   • U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,578 ("'578 patent") and U.S. Pat. No. 8,863,669 ("'669 patent") are explicitly incorporated by reference in US11273944 for the construction of the LSM guideway and the versatile control of linear synchronous motor propulsion systems. These patents disclose LSM systems with "long-stator linear motor sections" including "propulsion coils" and "position sensing logic" for controlling vehicle movement, velocity, and acceleration.
   • The motivation to combine the container forming capabilities of the '930 patent with an LSM guideway as taught by the '578 and '669 patents would be to achieve greater flexibility and efficiency in transporting containers of varying sizes. The '578 and '669 patents describe systems that allow for precise control over individual "shuttles" or "transport vehicles," enabling variable spacing between them. This directly addresses the problem of efficiently handling "varying sized containers" without downtime for adjustments, as highlighted in US11273944. A PHOSITA would recognize that such a system would eliminate the inefficiencies of "fixed pitch" systems for varying container sizes.
   • The concept of using a pair of shuttles (leading and trailing) spaced apart by a determined distance to accommodate varying sized containers is a direct application of the variable control capabilities of LSM systems described in the '578 and '669 patents.

2. Robot Arm for Product Positioning:

   • The use of a robot arm to position products in containers is a well-established practice in automated packaging. Patents such as US9309017B2 ("'017 patent") and US9731854B2 ("'854 patent") describe item loading apparatuses and product packaging systems, respectively, which commonly employ robotic arms for handling and placing products.
   • A PHOSITA would be motivated to integrate a robot arm into the adaptive container loading assembly to automate the product loading step, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing manual labor. The robot arm, guided by a vision device (also a common component in automated systems), would complement the adaptive container forming and transport, completing a fully automated and flexible packaging line.

3. Specific Carrier Assembly and Holding Block Features:

   • While the specific design of the carrier assembly with its first and second carrier sections, leading and trailing extension members, and holding block might appear detailed, these elements are primarily mechanical solutions for securely holding and transferring containers on the shuttles. A PHOSITA, when designing a system to carry various container sizes on independently controlled shuttles, would consider various geometries for secure and adaptable gripping.
   • For example, a "fork shaped" first carrier section with leading and trailing extension members and a "u-shaped" pair of leading extension members would be conventional mechanical designs for engaging and supporting containers. Similarly, a holding block with "l-shaped" stops is a straightforward means to further secure a container. These structural elements would be within the purview of a mechanical engineer (a PHOSITA in this field) seeking to create a stable platform for containers on a moving shuttle, particularly one designed to adapt to different container sizes. The design of these elements would be an obvious choice for a PHOSITA optimizing container stability and transfer efficiency.

Conclusion:

A PHOSITA, seeking to create a more efficient and adaptive container loading assembly than what might be found in the '930 patent alone, would be motivated to combine its container forming capabilities with the LSM guideway and shuttle control systems taught by the '578 and '669 patents to enable variable spacing for different container sizes. Further, the integration of a robotic arm for product placement, as generally known in the art (e.g., from '017 or '854 patents), would be an obvious step for automating the entire process. The specific mechanical details of the carrier assembly and holding block would be considered conventional engineering solutions for securely handling containers of varying sizes on such a transport system. Therefore, the combination of these prior art references would render claim 1 of US11273944 obvious to a PHOSITA.