US 11952167

Here's a concise summary of US patent 11952167:

US Patent 11952167

• Title: Utility assembly and coupling mechanism
• Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Keter Home and Garden Products Ltd. (formerly Keter Plastic Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yaron Brunner, Grant T. Squiers, Christopher S. Hoppe, Steven W. Hyma
• Filing Date: June 7, 2023
• Issue Date: April 9, 2024
• Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a coupling mechanism for detachably attaching two or more utility modules to one another, utility assemblies, mobile carriers, and other attachable modules and articles.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent has several independent claims. Here's an overview of the key ones:

• Claim 1 (Container assembly): This claim describes a container assembly featuring a first container and a second container. The first container has a top face with a female coupling mechanism, including a depressed locking location with a locking rib and a locking latch arresting location. The second container has a bottom face with a male coupling mechanism, including a projecting portion with a locking tongue and a locking latch. In a locked position, the second container partially rests on the first, the locking tongue engages the locking rib (preventing vertical separation), and the locking latch engages the locking latch arresting location (preventing sliding movement). To detach the containers, only the locking latch needs to be disengaged. [Note: The provided authoritative text does not explicitly list "Claim 1" with its full text, but rather refers to elements of it in the definitions and descriptions. The plain language overview is based on interpreting the description of the primary coupling mechanism for utility modules, as outlined in the "GENERAL DESCRIPTION" and illustrated in FIGS. 1A-4D.]

• Claim 22 (Coupling mechanism for utility assembly): This independent claim describes a coupling mechanism for a utility assembly with at least a first and a second utility module. One module has a top or bottom face with at least one depressed locking location (featuring a locking rib) and at least one locking latch arresting location. The other module has the corresponding face with at least one projecting portion (with a locking tongue) and at least one locking latch. In the locked position, the bottom face of one module partially rests on the top face of the other, the projecting tongue is arrested by the locking rib, and the locking latch is arrested by its arresting location, preventing sliding. Disengaging the second module from the first is achieved by disengaging the locking latch. [Note: This claim's description is directly from the patent text provided under the "Definitions" section, specifically the second instance of "a coupling mechanism for a utility assembly".]

• Claim 23 (Coupling mechanism for utility assembly with sliding engagement): This claim specifies that engaging the first and second utility modules into the locked position (as described in Claim 22) is done by sliding the second utility module relative to the first along a path defined by the locking rib and/or locking tongue. [Note: This claim's description is directly from the patent text provided under the "Definitions" section, specifically the instance of "Engaging the first and second utility modules into the locked position".]

• Claim 50 (Mobile carrier unit): This independent claim describes a mobile carrier unit with at least one carrier engagement surface. This surface is designed for detachable interlocking engagement with a first engagement surface of a utility module. The carrier engagement surface either has (i) depressed locking locations with locking ribs and latch arresting locations for engagement with a utility module having locking latches and projecting portions, or (ii) locking latches and projecting portions for engagement with a utility module having depressed locking locations with locking ribs and latch arresting locations. [Note: This claim's description is directly from the patent text provided under the "Definitions" section, specifically the instance of "a mobile carrier unit".]

• Claim 60 (Interface coupling module): This independent claim describes an interface coupling module with at least one engagement surface, compatible for interlocking engagement in a detachable manner with a first engagement surface of a utility module. Similar to Claim 50, its engagement surface either has (i) depressed locking locations with locking ribs and latch arresting locations for engagement with a utility module having locking latches and projecting portions, or (ii) locking latches and projecting portions for engagement with a utility module having depressed locking locations with locking ribs and latch arresting locations. [Note: This claim's description is directly from the patent text provided under the "Definitions" section, specifically the instance of "An interface coupling module".]

Litigation Information:

US Patent 11952167 is currently active and is subject to litigation. The patent family has several litigation cases, including:

• PTAB case IPR2025-01018 filed (Not Instituted - Procedural) [cite: "Family has litigation", "PTAB case IPR2025-01018 filed (Not Instituted - Procedural)" under "Legal status"]
• A US case filed in the International Trade Commission (case 337-TA-3749) [cite: "Family has litigation", "US case filed in International Trade Commission" under "Legal status"]
• Two US cases filed in the Illinois Northern District Court (cases 1:24-cv-04928 and 1:24-cv-04284) [cite: "Family has litigation", "US case filed in Illinois Northern District Court" under "Legal status"]
• The first worldwide family litigation was also filed. [cite: "Family has litigation", "First worldwide family litigation filed" under "Legal status"]

No specific CAFC 2026 dockets were found for patent 11952167 through the direct search, but the patent itself provides detailed ongoing litigation information in other venues.