Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 11761390, I will analyze the "Citations" section directly from the patent document. The USPTO's Patent Public Search tool (or Google Patents, which draws from the same data) provides this information. [cite: US11761390B2, 7]

Here is an analysis of the prior art cited in US Patent 11761390:

Patent Citations (8) [cite: US11761390B2]

1. US3696333A

   • Full Citation: US3696333A, "Automatic engine starter" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: October 3, 1972 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an automatic engine starter. While related to engines, its primary focus is on the starting mechanism, which is distinct from the dual fuel selection and interlock mechanism of US11761390. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to anticipate the core claims of US11761390 (Claims 1 and 11) directly, as US3696333A does not appear to teach a dual fuel selector switch with an interlock mechanism that prevents simultaneous fuel flow. It might be relevant for general engine control or starting systems but not the specific dual-fuel safety feature.

2. US4297742A

   • Full Citation: US4297742A, "Engine and fuel shutdown control" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: October 27, 1981 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent relates to engine and fuel shutdown control. This could be broadly relevant to the carburetor solenoid switch mentioned in US11761390, particularly in Claim 1 which discusses a fuel solenoid. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 related to fuel solenoids and their control, especially if it describes a solenoid shutting off fuel flow. However, it's unlikely to anticipate the specific mechanical interlock mechanism of Claim 11 that prevents simultaneous activation of two fuel sources.

3. US4489699A

   • Full Citation: US4489699A, "Control mechanism for selectively operating an internal combustion engine on two fuels" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: December 25, 1984 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent directly addresses a control mechanism for selectively operating an engine on two fuels. This is highly relevant to the subject matter of US11761390. It would describe a system for choosing between two fuel types. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is a strong candidate for anticipating elements of both Claim 1 and Claim 11, particularly the concept of a "fuel selector" and mechanisms for choosing between two fuels. The key differentiator for US11761390 would be whether US4489699A specifically teaches an interlock that physically prevents simultaneous activation of both fuel flows, as described in Claim 11, or the specific solenoid control as in Claim 1.

4. US20020125115A1

   • Full Citation: US20020125115A1, "Full power switch assembly for portable generators" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: September 12, 2002 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This publication describes a full power switch assembly for portable generators. Its relevance to dual fuel selection and interlocks would depend on whether this "full power switch" also incorporates fuel selection or safety mechanisms for multiple fuel types. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without more detail on the specific function of the "full power switch" regarding fuel selection, it's less likely to directly anticipate the specific interlock or dual-fuel solenoid control of US11761390.

5. US20040240141A1

   • Full Citation: US20040240141A1, "Electronic fuel selection switch system" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: December 2, 2004 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This publication describes an electronic fuel selection switch system. This is highly relevant as it explicitly deals with selecting fuel electronically. This could overlap with the "selector switch" concept in US11761390. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1, particularly if it describes a selector switch that controls fuel flow and involves a solenoid. The distinction might lie in whether it teaches the specific mechanical interlock of Claim 11 or the precise interaction between the selector switch, solenoid switch, and fuel solenoid in Claim 1.

6. US20040246118A1

   • Full Citation: US20040246118A1, "System and method for indicating fluid condition" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: December 9, 2004 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This publication pertains to a system and method for indicating fluid condition. While fuels are fluids, this reference appears to focus on sensing or indicating conditions rather than actively controlling and interlocking fuel flow mechanisms as described in US11761390. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to directly anticipate the claims of US11761390, as its focus is on fluid condition indication rather than dual fuel selection and interlock.

7. US20070137591A1

   • Full Citation: US20070137591A1, "Engine operated generator" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: June 21, 2007 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This publication describes an engine-operated generator. Its relevance would depend on whether it details any specific dual fuel systems or safety interlocks, which is not immediately apparent from the title. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to anticipate the specific dual-fuel selector and interlock claims of US11761390 without more specific disclosures related to these features.

8. US20060169238A1

   • Full Citation: US20060169238A1, "Engine generator" [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Publication Date: August 3, 2006 [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Brief Description: This publication also describes an engine generator. Similar to US20070137591A1, its direct relevance to the dual fuel selector switch and interlock would require more detailed examination of its specification. [cite: US11761390B2]
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to anticipate the specific dual-fuel selector and interlock claims of US11761390 without more specific disclosures related to these features.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the titles and brief descriptions, US4489699A ("Control mechanism for selectively operating an internal combustion engine on two fuels") and US20040240141A1 ("Electronic fuel selection switch system") appear to be the most relevant prior art. [cite: US11761390B2] US4489699A directly addresses the core problem of operating an engine on two fuels, while US20040240141A1 describes an electronic system for fuel selection. A detailed comparison of the specific interlock mechanism and solenoid control described in US11761390 against the disclosures of these two patents would be necessary to determine the extent of anticipation or obviousness.