US 11053696

I am a technical patent analyst and will provide a concise summary of US patent 11053696.

US Patent 11053696 Summary

• Title: Panel for forming a floor covering and such floor covering
• Assignee: Champion Link International Corp
• Inventors: Thomas Luc Martine Baert, Tom Van Poyer, Sven BOON
• Filing Date: 2020-01-31
• Issue Date: 2021-07-06
• Abstract: Provided is a panel suitable for forming a floor covering. The panel has a substantially planar top side, a substantially planar bottom side, and at least four substantially linear side edges. The linear side edges have at least one pair of opposite side edges. The linear side edges may be provided with a locking means.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a floor panel that includes a core layer. This core layer contains a magnesium crystal structure with two forms: a whisker phase and a flake crystal phase. Crucially, the whisker phase is present in a higher ratio than the flake crystal phase. Additionally, the core layer contains at least one organic compound that has at least two hydroxyl groups.
• Claim 18: This claim specifies that the magnesium crystal structure in the panel, as described in claim 1, is a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Docket Search:

A search of the USPTO database confirms that US patent 11053696 is active and was granted on 2021-07-06, with an anticipated expiration date of 2040-01-31. The patent's legal status is listed as "Active".

A search for US patent 11053696 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any specific results as of the current date (April 26, 2026). This means there are no active appeals or related cases involving this specific patent number in the CAFC dockets for 2026 that were found.The user is asking for a summary of US patent 11053696, including title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, abstract, and a plain-language overview of each independent claim. I also need to search the USPTO database and CAFC 2026 dockets for this specific patent number and note any uncertainty.

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US Patent 11053696 Summary

• Title: Panel for forming a floor covering and such floor covering
• Assignee: Champion Link International Corp
• Inventors: Thomas Luc Martine Baert, Tom Van Poyer, Sven BOON
• Filing Date: 2020-01-31
• Issue Date: 2021-07-06
• Abstract: Provided is a panel suitable for forming a floor covering. The panel has a substantially planar top side, a substantially planar bottom side, and at least four substantially linear side edges. The linear side edges have at least one pair of opposite side edges. The linear side edges may be provided with a locking means.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a floor panel comprising at least one core layer. This core layer features a magnesium crystal structure that contains both a whisker phase and a flake crystal phase, where the ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase is greater than 1. Additionally, the core layer includes at least one organic compound that has at least two hydroxyl groups.
• Claim 18: This claim specifies that the magnesium crystal structure within the panel, as defined in claim 1, is a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Docket Search:

A search of the USPTO database confirms that US patent 11053696 is active and was granted on 2021-07-06, with an anticipated expiration date of 2040-01-31. The patent's legal status is listed as "Active".

A search for US patent 11053696 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any specific results as of the current date (April 26, 2026). This indicates there are no active appeals or related cases involving this specific patent number in the CAFC dockets for 2026.US Patent 11053696 Summary

• Title: Panel for forming a floor covering and such floor covering
• Assignee: Champion Link International Corp
• Inventors: Thomas Luc Martine Baert, Tom Van Poyer, Sven BOON
• Filing Date: 2020-01-31
• Issue Date: 2021-07-06
• Abstract: Provided is a panel suitable for forming a floor covering. The panel has a substantially planar top side, a substantially planar bottom side, and at least four substantially linear side edges. The linear side edges have at least one pair of opposite side edges. The linear side edges may be provided with a locking means.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a floor panel that includes a core layer. This core layer contains a magnesium crystal structure with both a whisker phase and a flake crystal phase, wherein the proportion of the whisker phase is higher than that of the flake crystal phase. Furthermore, the core layer incorporates at least one organic compound that possesses a minimum of two hydroxyl groups.
• Claim 18: This claim specifies that the magnesium crystal structure referenced in Claim 1 is a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Docket Search:

A search of the USPTO database confirms that US patent 11053696 is active and was granted on 2021-07-06. Its anticipated expiration date is 2040-01-31, and its legal status is "Active".

A search for US patent 11053696 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield any specific results as of April 26, 2026. This indicates no active appeals or related cases involving this specific patent number were found in the CAFC dockets for 2026.

As of April 26, 2026, no specific litigation involving US patent 11053696 has been identified through searches of publicly available litigation databases like Unified Patents, PACER, or the CAFC dockets. The search results primarily contained general information about patent litigation or unrelated class action lawsuits.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 11053696. The absence of PTAB activity suggests a favorable defensive posture for a defendant, as the patent claims remain untested in this forum.

Recommended next steps

Currently, there is no PTAB activity recorded for US patent 11053696. The absence of such proceedings indicates that the patent's claims have not been challenged through Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) reviews at the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, this means:

• The validity of the patent's claims has not been formally scrutinized in an AIA trial.
• All claims of US patent 11053696, including independent claims 1 and 18, remain untested by PTAB.
• An IPR or PGR petition remains a viable option for challenging the patent's validity, provided the statutory requirements and deadlines are met.

Inventors

• Thomas Luc Martine Baert (Assumed employer: Champion Link International Corp)
• Tom Van Poyer (Assumed employer: Champion Link International Corp)
• Sven BOON (Assumed employer: Champion Link International Corp)

No unusual patterns, such as inventors departing the original assignee shortly after filing, are immediately determinable from the provided patent text or its associated legal events. It is assumed the inventors were employed by the original assignee, Champion Link International Corp, at the time of filing, given the application was filed by them and an assignment from the inventors to the corporation was recorded shortly after.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Champion Link International Corp. Information regarding whether they ship a product embodying the claims, their primary line of business, or their current operational status is not readily available in the patent text. A general web search indicates "Champion Link International Corporation" is involved in flooring products, often as a manufacturer or distributor, implying they are an operating company. However, specific product information embodying the claims of US11053696 is not provided within the patent document itself.

Assignment timeline

Accessing the USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) and searching for patent number US11053696 yields the following recorded assignment:

• 2020-04-16 (executed) / recorded 2020-04-16 — Reel 051059/0556
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: BOON, SVEN; BAERT, THOMAS LUC MARTINE; VAN POYER, TOM
  • Assignee: CHAMPION LINK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP, 300 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606. This correspondent firm also appears as the correspondent for the original application filing on Google Patents.
  • Context: Internal transfer from individual inventors to the corporate entity.

As of July 13, 2026, this is the only assignment record found for US11053696 in the USPTO Assignment Center. This indicates that Champion Link International Corporation remains the current assignee of record.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11053696
    2020 : Filed by Champion Link International Corp
         : Inventors Assigned to Champion Link Intl Corp
    2021 : Issued to Champion Link Intl Corp

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. The only recorded assignment is from the individual inventors to Champion Link International Corp, which appears to be an operating company based on general web searches related to flooring products. No transfer to a known shell entity has been recorded.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. Champion Link International Corp is not listed on common NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. The correspondent, MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP, handled the initial assignment from inventors to the assignee. While they are a known law firm that handles patent prosecution and litigation, there isn't a chain of multiple assignments for this specific patent that would show a repeated correspondent in a manner indicative of an NPE pattern. Their appearance for the initial filing and assignment is standard.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There is only one recorded assignment, an initial transfer from inventors to the company.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. No litigation is indicated, and the only assignment is the initial transfer from inventors to the assignee, which occurred before issuance.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication of Champion Link International Corp undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — Not present. No evidence of a transfer to an NPE for assertion on the operating company's behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is held by Champion Link International Corp, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. The only recorded assignment for US11053696 is the initial transfer from the inventors (Boon, Baert, Van Poyer) to the original assignee, Champion Link International Corporation, executed and recorded on 2020-04-16 (Reel 051059/0556). There are no subsequent assignments that would indicate an NPE transfer or other troll-pattern signals. The patent appears to remain with its original corporate assignee.

For verification, you can search the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

The search for prior art for US patent 11053696 focuses on identifying patents that could potentially anticipate its claims, particularly Independent Claims 1 and 18. The primary inventive concept of US11053696 involves a floor panel with a core layer containing a magnesium crystal structure, characterized by a whisker-to-flake phase ratio greater than 1, and the inclusion of an organic compound with at least two hydroxyl groups to achieve this. Claim 18 further specifies this structure as magnesium oxychloride.

Based on an analysis of the cited patents, the most relevant prior art references are detailed below:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US11053696

1. US20190308914A1

• Full Citation: US20190308914A1, Assignee: Xianghua Kong, Title: Method of treating magnesium oxysulfate or magnesium oxychloride article with water soluble phosphate solution.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2018-04-06; Publication Date: 2019-10-10.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a method to enhance the durability of articles made from magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) or magnesium oxychloride (MOC) cement by treating them with a water-soluble phosphate solution. Significantly, it details the preparation of MOS articles, specifically mentioning the use of organic acids like citric acid as additives. Citric acid is noted to contain multiple hydroxyl groups. The process involves mixing light-burned magnesia with a magnesium sulfate solution and citric acid.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This reference explicitly describes the preparation of MOS articles using citric acid, an organic compound with at least two hydroxyl groups. This directly anticipates the inclusion of such a compound in a magnesium crystal structure. While it does not explicitly claim the precise "ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase is higher than 1" in the final treated article, the use of citric acid in MOS formation, which the instant patent (US11053696) identifies as a means to achieve the desired whisker phase, makes this highly anticipatory of the material composition and the mechanism for influencing crystal morphology.
  • Claim 18: This reference explicitly mentions "magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) articles," directly anticipating the magnesium oxychloride crystal structure specified in claim 18.

2. DE102012000468A1

• Full Citation: DE102012000468A1, Assignee: Falquon Gmbh, Title: Floor panel for use as e.g. Sorel cement flooring in residential building, has core including first layer that comprises mixture of magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride with aggregates, to which second and third layers are attached.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2012-01-13; Publication Date: 2013-07-18.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a floor panel for residential buildings with a core layer composed of a mixture of magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride (known as Sorel cement) with aggregates. It describes a multi-layered panel structure.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This reference teaches a "floor panel" with a "core" containing "magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride," thus embodying a magnesium crystal structure. However, it does not explicitly disclose the specific "ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase is higher than 1," nor does it mention the presence of an "organic compound comprising at least two hydroxyl groups" specifically for influencing this ratio.
  • Claim 18: This reference clearly describes a floor panel where the core comprises magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride, directly anticipating a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure.

3. US7255907B2

• Full Citation: US7255907B2, Assignee: Michael E. Feigin, Title: Magnesium oxide-based construction board.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2005-01-31; Publication Date: 2007-08-14.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a construction board formed from a composition containing magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, a binding agent (such as perlite), wood shavings, recycled board scraps, and water. The board also includes fiberglass and polyester paper sheets and is characterized by its fire and water resistance.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This reference discloses a "construction board" (which can function as a panel) with a core layer containing magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride, thereby comprising a magnesium crystal structure. While a "binding agent" is mentioned, there is no explicit disclosure of an organic compound with at least two hydroxyl groups specifically to achieve a whisker-to-flake crystal phase ratio greater than 1.
  • Claim 18: This patent directly anticipates the use of a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure in a panel, as it details a construction board made from magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride.

4. US20210372144A1

• Full Citation: US20210372144A1, Assignee: Champion Link International Corporation, Title: Panel and Method for Producing a Panel.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2020-05-26; Publication Date: 2021-12-02.
• Brief Description: This patent, from the same assignee as US11053696, describes a panel (floor, wall, or ceiling) with a core layer of magnesium oxide cement and dispersed fibers. It emphasizes high density for strength and notes that the magnesium oxide cement can include magnesium hydroxide, magnesium chloride, and/or magnesium sulfate.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This reference describes a panel with a magnesium oxide cement core, implying a magnesium crystal structure. It mentions magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride as potential components. However, it does not explicitly teach the specific "ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase is higher than 1" or the inclusion of an "organic compound comprising at least two hydroxyl groups" for specifically influencing this ratio.
  • Claim 18: This reference explicitly states that the "magnesium oxide cement comprises magnesium chloride," thus anticipating a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure.

The combination of features in Claim 1 of US11053696, specifically the high whisker-to-flake ratio in the magnesium crystal structure and the use of a hydroxyl-group-containing organic compound to achieve this in a floor panel, appears to be the most novel aspect when compared to the identified prior art. While elements are present in various references (magnesium cements, floor panels, organic additives), the explicit connection and the specific outcome (whisker-to-flake ratio > 1) are not directly and completely disclosed in any single prior art reference with high confidence.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 11053696 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis evaluates US Patent 11053696 for obviousness, focusing on independent claims 1 and 18, and relying strictly on the prior art information explicitly described or admitted within the patent text.

Understanding the Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: A floor panel comprising a core layer with a magnesium crystal structure (having both a whisker phase and a flake crystal phase), where the ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase is greater than 1, and the core layer includes at least one organic compound comprising at least two hydroxyl groups.
• Claim 18: A floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the magnesium crystal structure is a magnesium oxychloride crystal structure.

Prior Art as Described in US11053696:

The patent describes the following as "related art" or common knowledge:

1. Traditional Flooring Materials: High-density fiberboard (HDF), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), solid hardwood, veneers, ceramic, and porcelain tiles are common in the flooring industry.
2. Mineral Materials in Building: Mineral materials are known for high dimensional stability, heat resistance, and low environmental impact, making them attractive alternatives to HDF or PVC.
3. Limitations of Mineral Materials for Flooring: Despite their benefits, mineral materials, having been developed primarily as gypsum/drywall replacements, are "not as of yet particularly suitable for use as component of a floor panel" due to a lack of "bending strength, impact resistance, indentation resistance, internal cohesion and surface adhesion."
4. Magnesium Oxysulfate (MOS) Cement: MOS cement can form two crystalline phases: the 5-1-3 phase (whisker/needle-like, providing good bending strength) and the 3-1-8 phase (flaky or irregular, resulting in a weaker composition).
5. Problem with Natural MOS Cement: Under livable conditions (20-60° C), the 3-1-8 "flaky" structure is generally more stable, and naturally, at least 50% of MOS cement composition consists of these 3-1-8 crystals. This flaky structure leads to efflorescence, inferior cohesion, and low surface adhesion, making it "especially unsuitable for use as a component in a flooring panel."
6. Magnesium Oxychloride (MOC) Cement: The skilled person would commonly use MOC cement, which can also form whisker (5-1-8) and flake (3-1-8) phases. However, MOC crystals are "relatively intolerant to water," leading to a substantial loss of strength due to leaching.

Analysis of Obviousness for Claim 1 (Magnesium Oxysulfate):

• Combinations of Prior Art: A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) would have been aware of mineral materials (including MOS cement) as potential core layers for floor panels, as described in the background of US11053696. They would also know the structural differences and performance benefits of the whisker-like 5-1-3 phase of MOS cement over the flaky 3-1-8 phase. Furthermore, the need to improve the bending strength, impact resistance, indentation resistance, internal cohesion, and surface adhesion of mineral-based panels for flooring applications was recognized.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA would be motivated to address the known deficiencies of natural MOS cement for flooring applications, specifically its inherent weakness, efflorescence, and poor cohesion stemming from a high proportion of the weaker flake phase. This motivation would drive them to seek ways to increase the beneficial whisker phase in MOS cement within a floor panel core.
• Missing Link: The critical element missing from the described prior art is the teaching or suggestion to add "at least one organic compound comprising at least two hydroxyl groups" to the MOS cement mixture to specifically achieve a "ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase... higher than 1." The patent explicitly identifies this additive and its effect on crystal structure as a "second condition for the formation of the desired crystal structure" and states that "magnesium oxysulfate whiskers are not an obvious material for a skilled person to use in the core material for the purpose of the present invention and in order to form a crystal structure." Therefore, based solely on the patent's description of prior art, a POSITA would not have been motivated or enabled to combine these elements in this specific manner to arrive at Claim 1.

Analysis of Obviousness for Claim 18 (Magnesium Oxychloride):

• Combinations of Prior Art: The patent acknowledges that MOC cement is "more common" and forms both whisker and flake crystal phases. Additionally, the cited patent DE102012000468A1 ("Floor panel for use as e.g. Sorel cement flooring...") explicitly discloses a floor panel with a core layer comprising magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride (i.e., MOC cement). A POSITA would be aware of the existence of whisker and flake phases in MOC and the general desirability of improving the mechanical properties of such core materials.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA would be motivated to improve the performance of MOC-based floor panels by enhancing desirable mechanical properties, potentially by increasing the proportion of the stronger whisker phase. While the patent notes MOC's water intolerance as a drawback, Claim 18 does not specifically claim to overcome this drawback, but rather to achieve a higher whisker-to-flake ratio using the specified organic compound.
• Missing Link: Similar to Claim 1, the explicit teaching or suggestion to use "at least one organic compound comprising at least two hydroxyl groups" to specifically increase the "ratio of the whisker phase to the flake crystal phase... higher than 1" in magnesium oxychloride cement is not disclosed as prior art within the provided patent text. The patent's detailed explanation of this mechanism and its advantageous effect on crystal growth is presented primarily in the context of MOS cement, as a solution to its inherent weaknesses for flooring. While MOC is a known cement, the application of this specific additive and its effect on crystal morphology to achieve a whisker-dominant MOC for a floor panel core is not explicitly taught as obvious or known in the provided "related art." The patent explicitly states that the invention provides a "different material" instead of further additives to improve MOC.

Conclusion on Obviousness:

Based on the explicit descriptions and admissions of prior art within US Patent 11053696, neither Claim 1 nor Claim 18 appear obvious. The patent clearly identifies a problem with the natural crystal structure of magnesium oxysulfate cement (too many weak flake crystals) and presents the specific use of organic compounds with at least two hydroxyl groups to preferentially grow whisker-phase crystals (achieving a whisker:flake ratio > 1) as its novel solution. This specific teaching is not found in the background art described or admitted in the patent, nor is it suggested that a POSITA would have known to apply this method to either magnesium oxysulfate or magnesium oxychloride cements to achieve the claimed structural improvement for a floor panel.