Invalidity dossier
US 7195372
Master-satellite retrofit assembly and method of retrofitting recessed strip lighting fixtures
Current assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC
Added 9/23/2026, 12:18:22 PM
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Patent summary
Title, assignee, inventors, filing/issue dates, abstract, and a plain-language overview of the claims.
Patent Overview — US 7,195,372 B2
Title: Master-satellite retrofit assembly and method of retrofitting recessed strip lighting fixtures
Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (original and current assignee)
Inventor: Carlton B. Plunk
Key dates (per source): Priority date 2000-06-07; application US 11/057,506 filed 2005-02-14; granted/publication date 2007-03-27; anticipated expiration 2021-05-25. Status listed as "Expired – Fee Related."
Purpose: Existing recessed strip fixtures typically used T-12 lamps in 8-foot lengths installed in inverted "T" (NEMA "G") ceiling systems. Newer-technology lamps require different lamp holders and ballasts, so they cannot simply be installed in the old fixtures. The patent addresses retrofitting without disturbing the ceiling or plenum (avoiding asbestos and related issues), and without accessing the plenum to run wiring between fixtures.
Plain-language scope: The claimed assembly retrofits two existing recessed strip fixtures arranged end to end and separated by a T-bar support member. It includes a master retrofit fixture, a satellite retrofit fixture, and a wire cover bracket. The master fixture holds a master retrofit reflector with the ballast attached and a master wiring opening; the satellite fixture has a satellite retrofit reflector with lamp sockets and a satellite wiring opening. Lamp power wiring runs from the master ballast, under the T-bar member, to the satellite lamp sockets on the room side. The wire cover bracket has at least one wall extending from the master wiring opening, under the T-bar member, to the satellite wiring opening, covering or enclosing the wiring. A corresponding method of retrofitting is also described. Fixtures may be pre-wired and pre-lamped at the factory.
Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7195372/en
What the excerpt does not establish: The supplied text is explicitly marked "[Excerpt only; consult the source for omitted text.]" It omits the full claim set and claim language, most of the detailed description, drawing content, and any complete listing of cited prior-art references. Therefore this overview cannot confirm specific claim limitations, claim count, or independent/dependent claim structure. No litigation, ownership-transfer, validity, or prior-art research is included. Dates and legal status are presented as stated by the source, which itself notes that legal status and priority dates are assumptions, not legal conclusions.
Generated 10/1/2026, 9:53:41 PM
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Litigation summary
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Proceedings on file (0)
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PTAB challenges
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Assignment history
Inventors, original assignee, and the chain of ownership recorded with the USPTO — including the correspondent attorney who recorded each assignment, since shell-LLC chains often share one repeat-player attorney even when the entity names look unrelated. Surfaces NPE / patent-troll patterns: shell-entity transfers, known asserters in the chain, repeat correspondent fingerprints, pre-litigation assignments, and bankruptcy fire-sales.
Prior art
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Obviousness
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Extensions
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Derivative works
Defensive disclosure: derivative variations of each claim designed to render future incremental improvements obvious or non-novel.