41 Fed. Cl. 776 | Fed. Cl. | 1998
OPINION
This patent case is presently before the court following a trial on the merits. Plaintiff seeks compensation from defendant for the unauthorized use of plaintiffs invention, entitled “High Reverse Pressure Resistant Low Forward Burst Pressure Rupture Disc Assembly” (rupture disc assembly).
Factual Background
In the late 1970’s, defendant began to seek a replacement for the Dragon missile, which by that time period, had become ineffective against the then-current tanks of the Soviet Union.
Specifically, the forget and fire capabilities would allow an infantryman to press the firing mechanism of the launch unit and immediately take cover, thus minimizing the infantryman’s exposure to hostile fire. The soft launch capability of the missile would allow the weapon to be fired out of a fox hole, or from a covered fighting position, without injuring the infantryman. In addition, defendant desired a missile that possessed a high lethality, having the ability to climb quickly, and then dive on top of the tank where the armor is generally thinnest.
During the early 1980’s, Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory, the Aerospace Division of Hercules, Inc. (Hercules), worked with Texas Instruments on a proof of principle (POP) program where Hercules was responsible for the missile motor and Texas Instruments was responsible for the guidance and warhead portion of the missile.
Hercules met with plaintiffs sales engineer regarding its need for a rupture disc to separate the flight and motor stages of the missile motor under development by Hercules. Hercules advised plaintiff that the rupture disc was required to withstand a high back pressure on the launch-side of 4500 pounds per square inch (psi), and a significantly lower burst pressure on the flight-side of approximately 1000 psi. The required withstand pressure was later increased to 7000 psi and the burst pressure reduced to 300 psi.
Plaintiff prepared a number of sketches regarding Hercules’ requirements. Among them, Sketch (SK) 747-2, sought to utilize an unsupported single-bulge disc,
On May 14, 1983, Mr. Hinrichs assigned his interest in the rupture disc assembly to plaintiff.
The patent describes the invention as “broadly concerned with a rupture disc assembly having the characteristics of resistence to high burst pressure in one direction, while permitting rupturing under the influence of relatively low burst pressure in the opposite direction.”
Specifically, the claims of the ’180 patent include, in pertinent part:
1. A rupture disc assembly, comprising: a frangible disc presenting a low pressure face, an opposed high pressure face, and scoring on said high pressure face disposed at least partially about a rupture region for the disc; and a backing member adjacent said low pressure face, including:
web means in substantial alignment with said scoring and in close proximity to said low pressure face for preventing rupturing of said disc under the influence of relatively high burst pressures directed against said high pressure face; and structure defining an opening through said backing member for exposing an area on said low pressure face corresponding to said rupture region to burst pressures, and for rupturing of said disc along said scoring under the influence of relatively low burst*780 pressures directed against said low pressure face.
4. The assembly of claim 1, there being a plurality of burst regions on said disc, said backing member having an opening there-through, for each burst region.
5. The assembly of claim 4, each of said burst regions having a concavo-convex face of each portion extending into the corresponding backing member opening.
Figure 4 of the patent shows a sectional view of the rupture disc assembly:
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The preferred embodiment of plaintiffs patent discloses a rupture disc assembly 22 comprising a frangible disc 26 having a low pressure face, an opposed and scored high pressure face 32, and a backing member 28 adjacent to the low pressure face. This rupture disc assembly 22 is positioned within a projectile between an initial propellant charge and a secondary propellant charge. During firing of the initial propellant charge, a relatively high burst pressure is developed in the initial charge zone, which exerts pressure against the high pressure side of the disc 32, but yet does not burst the disc 26.
The disc contains a plurality of burst regions defined by the score lines 36,38. The burst regions of the rupture disc include concavo-convex portions 40,42,44,46 with the convex faces forming a part of the low pressure face and extending into corresponding openings 54,56,58,60 through the adjacent backing member 28. Importantly, the rupture disc 26 remains intact because the backing member 28 of the assembly 22 includes web means 50,52 aligned with the disc scoring 36,38 and engage the low pressure face of the disc 26, thus preventing rupturing of the disc when pressure is exerted against the high pressure face of the disc 32.
Within less than a second of the initial charge, the secondary charge is ignited and exerts a relatively low pressure against the low pressure face of the disc. The pressure created by the secondary charge ruptures the disc 26 along the score lines 36,38 as the score lines are not hindered by the presence of any reinforcing structure adjacent to the high pressure face of the disc 32. The rupturing of the disc along the score lines 36,38 then allows products of combustion to pass through the openings of the backing member 54,56,58,60 and through the chamber containing the initial propellant charge.
At approximately the same time period that the PTO issued the patent to plaintiff, defendant decided to discontinue its search for a replacement for the Dragon missile and, thus, terminated the Hercules and Texas Instruments POP program. The effort to replace that missile resumed, however, in the
ARC conducted a number of preliminary design studies for the project and determined that a rupture disc assembly similar to plaintiffs design used by Hercules in its POP program would be the most beneficial to the project. During the latter part of 1989, ARC mailed requests for quotations for rupture disc assemblies to plaintiff, Continental Disc Corporation (Continental), and BS & B Safety Systems (BS & B). Initially, only plaintiff and BS & B responded. Plaintiffs proposal was based on the ’180 patent and was found to be the only technically acceptable source. BS & B submitted a proposal based on a design including a scored single-domed disc with a back-up structure. ARC determined that this design, however, did not meet its technical requirements and rejected the proposal. Initially, Continental did not submit a proposal because it was concerned about infringing plaintiffs ’180 patent.
Nevertheless, on January 29, 1990, Continental submitted a bid to ARC, allegedly basing its bid on plaintiffs patented design. ARC accepted Continental’s bid and has, to date, acquired substantially all of its requirements for rupture disc assemblies from Continental.
On January 25, 1995, plaintiff filed suit in this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1498(a) (1994), alleging infringement of its ’180 patent.
Discussion
I. Claim Interpretation
Before the validity of the 180 patent can be determined, the court must define the meaning of its claims.
If the evidence gathered is insufficient to enable the court to determine the meaning of the asserted claims, extrinsic evidence may be relied upon to understand the technology and construe the claims. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1584. “Extrinsic evidence consists of all evidence external to the patent and prosecution history, including expert and inventor testimony, dictionaries, and learned treatises.” Markman, 52 F.3d at 980; see also Eastman Kodak Co. v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 114 F.3d 1547, 1552 (Fed.Cir.1997). “Extrinsic evidence is to be used for the court’s understanding of the patent, not for the purpose of varying or contradicting the terms of the claims.” Markman, 52 F.3d at 981 (citing U.S. Indus. Chems., Inc. v. Carbide & Carbon Chems. Corp., 315 U.S. 668, 678, 62 S.Ct. 839, 86 L.Ed. 1105 (1942)).
At the trial conducted in this matter, defendant presented expert testimony from Dr. John E. Cochran, a professor and head of the Aerospace Engineering Department at Auburn University. Dr. Cochran received his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University, and his Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas. He also holds a law degree from the Jones Law Institute.
Dr. Cochran’s area of specialty includes dynamics and control, stability and control of aircrafts, and flexible spacecraft attitude dynamics and control. He has authored and co-authored numerous papers and publications, and has done considerable consulting work in dynamics and control. According to Dr. Cochran, the area of dynamics and control relates to “bodies which are not rigid,” and that most of his work concerns flexible missiles and spacecrafts.
Plaintiff provided expert testimony from Charles F. Laitner, Senior Vice President of Engineering for plaintiff. Mr. Laitner has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Bradley University. Since joining plaintiff in 1990, Mr. Laitner has acquired extensive experience in the design, manufacture, and testing of rupture disc assemblies.
The first claim interpretation issue that must be resolved involves the meaning of the term “scoring” as used in claim 1. Specifically, claim 1 provides for “scoring on [the] high pressure face disposed at least partially about a rupture region for the disc.”
A claim must be read in view of the specification. Markman, 52 F.3d at 979. “The specification contains a written description of the invention that must enable one of ordinary skill in the art to' make and use the invention.” Id. Moreover, in interpreting a claim term, that term is generally given its ordinary and customary meaning. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582; see also Wright Medical Technology, Inc. v. Osteonics Corp., 122 F.3d
Neither the claims nor the specification of the ’180 patent provides a definition for scoring. The prosecution history is equally unhelpful. The Metals Handbook, Eighth Edition, however, defines scoring as “[rjeducing the thickness of a material along a line to weaken it purposely along that line.”
Mr. Laitner narrowed the definition by stating that “[s]coring is a coining process ... carried out typically with a flat anvil and a die that may have a knife[-]blade type member and is straight shape or in a curved shape.”
Dr. Cochran confirmed this distinction upon cross examination, where the following exchange took place:
Q. Cutting of a groove in metal would be removal [of] that metal. Is that not true?
A. That might be true. It might be cut with a knife blade, which would be akin to scoring. Grinding, of course, implies removal of material. Cutting implies cutting, which may imply forcing material away from its original position.
Q. Chemical etching would be removing the material, correct?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Spark erosion would be removal of the material?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Grinding would be removal of the material?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And scoring is not removal of the material. Is that not true?
A. Scoring is displacement of the material—
Q. And not removal?
A. —and compression of the material.
Q. Are you saying now that cutting metal means scoring? Those skilled in the art would know that when you say to cut the metal and give examples of etching, spark erosion and grinding, that that would mean scoring ?
A. It might mean that, but it appears that the cutting would refer to the removal of material.25
The difference between grooving and scoring was expanded further when Mr. Laitner made the following comment:
[When grooving in terms of removing material, the] material that remains has the original characteristics of the metal, whereas when you score, you not only impress a shape into the metal, a precise shape, but you work harden[] the metal underneath the score.26
Considering the testimony provided, it is difficult to adopt defendant’s expansive defi
The second claim interpretation issue that must be resolved involves the meaning of the term “web means” as used in claim 1. In this regard, claim 1 discloses a “web means in substantial alignment with said scoring and in close proximity to said low pressure face for preventing rupturing of said disc under the influence of relatively high burst pressures directed against said high pressure face.”
The web means of the ’180 patent must be construed in light of the means plus function limitation of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. The court interprets such language “to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.” Id. The device must perform the identical function as specified in the claims of the patent in suit. King Instruments Corp. v. Perego, 65 F.3d 941, 945-46 (Fed.Cir.1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1188, 116 S.Ct. 1675, 134 L.Ed.2d 778 (1996); see also In re Donaldson Co., 16 F.3d 1189, 1195 (Fed.Cir.1994).
The claims language of the ’180 patent is silent as to the exact configuration of the web means. Both parties, however, proffered testimony which explained that the web means are solid areas of the support member that: (1) span from perimeter to perimeter of the support assembly; (2) are wider than the score lines; and (3) are substantially aligned with these score lines in order to prevent rapture upon the application of a high pressure against the high pressure face of the disc.
The only reference to a preferred configuration relating to perpendicular web means is found in the specification. In describing the preferred embodiment for the invention, it recites, in pertinent part:
The backing member [ ] includes a threaded sidewall [] permitting installation of assembly [ ] within projectile [ ], a pair of intersecting, relatively perpendicular, elongated web sections [ ], and a total of four openings [ ] therethrough [ ].32
Although “[r]eferences to a preferred embodiment, such as those often present in a specification, are not claim limitations,” Laitram Corp. v. Cambridge Wire Cloth Co., 863 F.2d 855, 865 (Fed.Cir.1988), the court “look[s] to the specification for assistance in construing a claim.” Carroll Touch, Inc. v. Electro Mechanical Sys., Inc., 15 F.3d 1573, 1577 (Fed.Cir.1993). Nevertheless, “particular embodiments and examples appearing in the specification will not generally be read into the claims.” Constant v. Advanced Micro-Devices, Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1571 (Fed.Cir.1988); see also Specialty Composites v. Cabot Corp., 845 F.2d 981, 987 (Fed.Cir.1988) (“What is patented is not restricted to the examples, but is defined by the words in the claims....”). Indeed, as the United States
It is entirely proper to use the specification to interpret what the patentee meant by a word or phrase in the claim. But this is not to be confused with adding an extraneous limitation appearing in the specification, which is improper.... “Where a specification does not require a limitation, that limitation should not be read from the specification into the claims.”
E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 849 F.2d 1430, 1433 (Fed.Cir.1988) (citation omitted) (quoting Specialty Composites, 845 F.2d at 987).
The court does not agree with plaintiff that the web means, as used in the ’180 patent, are limited to perpendicular cross members. The court will not incorporate the reference to perpendicular web means from the specification into the claims language. Rather, the claims language will apply to a structure in the support member that extends from perimeter to perimeter and whose function is to prevent rupture of the disc upon the application of a high pressure against the high pressure face of the disc.
The third claim interpretation issue involves the numerical relationship of burst regions of the rupture disc with the number of openings in the support member. With regard to this relationship, claim 4 states, in pertinent part: “there being a plurality of burst regions on said disc, said backing member having an opening therethrough/or each burst region.”
Dr. Cochran testified that the word “an” in a patent claim generally means “at least one.”
As stated above, in construing claims, the court begins with the language of the claims. ZMI Corp. v. Cardiac Resuscitator Corp., 844 F.2d 1576, 1579 (Fed.Cir.1988). Claim 4 specifically refers to “an opening” for “each burst region.” There is no reference to “openings” for “each burst region,” or “an opening” for “the burst regions.” Moreover, “[w]hile it is generally accepted in patent parlance that ‘a’ [or ‘an’] can mean one or more, ... there is no indication in the patent specification that the inventor[ ] here intended it to have other than its normal singular meaning.” North American Vaccine, 7 F.3d at 1575-76 (citing Robert C. Faber, Landis on Mechanics of Patent Claim Drafting 531 (3d ed.1990)).
Indeed, the summary of the invention provides that the backing member “includes structure defining an opening through the backing member for exposing an area on the low pressure face corresponding to the rupture region.”
II. Validity
A patent is presumed valid. 35 U.S.C. § 282 (1994). The presumption of validity places the burdens of going forward and of persuasion upon the party asserting invalidity. Checkpoint Sys., Inc. v. United States Int’l Trade Comm’n, 54 F.3d 756, 761 (Fed.Cir.1995); SSIH Equip. S.A. v. United States Int’l Trade Comm’n, 718 F.2d 365, 375 (Fed.Cir.1983). The party asserting invalidity bears the burden of establishing, by clear and convincing evidence, facts which support the ultimate legal conclusion of invalidity. National Presto Indus. v. West Bend Co., 76 F.3d 1185, 1189 (Fed.Cir.1996); see also Checkpoint, 54 F.3d at 761; Innovative Scuba Concepts, Inc. v. Feder Indus., 26 F.3d 1112, 1115 (Fed.Cir.1994); Ryko Mfg. Co. v.
Proof by clear and convincing evidence is an intermediate standard which imposes a heavier burden than proof by preponderant evidence and a somewhat lighter burden than that imposed by requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Price v. Symsek, 988 F.2d 1187, 1191 (Fed.Cir.1993); see also Buildex Inc. v. Eason Indus., 849 F.2d 1461 (Fed.Cir.1988). Clear and convincing evidence produces in the mind of the trier of fact “an abiding conviction that the truth of [the] factual contentions are ‘highly probable.’ ” Intel Corp. v. United States Int’l Trade Comm’n, 946 F.2d 821, 830 (Fed.Cir.1991) (quoting Colorado v. New Mexico, 467 U.S. 310, 316, 104 S.Ct. 2433, 81 L.Ed.2d 247 (1984)).
A. Anticipation
Defendant first argues that claims 1 and 4 of the ’180 patent are anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 3,845,879 (Dernbach). According to defendant, each and every element as set forth in these claims is found in Dernbach. Plaintiff contends that neither claim is anticipated. In particular, plaintiff maintains that claim 1 of the ’180 patent calls for scoring of the high pressure face of the disc while Dernbach calls for grooves created by methods of cutting metal, such as chemical etching, spark erosion, or grinding. A copy of the Dernbach patent is located in Appendix B to the court’s opinion.
Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) requires each and every element of the patent in suit to be found in a single prior art. Kegel Co. v. AMF Bowling, Inc., 127 F.3d 1420, 1429 (Fed.Cir.1997); see also Glaxo Inc. v. Novopharm Ltd., 52 F.3d 1043, 1047 (Fed.Cir.1995); Lewmar Marine, Inc. v. Barient, Inc., 827 F.2d 744, 747 (Fed.Cir.1987). Anticipation is a question of fact. Glaverbel Societe Anonyme v. Northlake Mktg. & Supply, Inc., 45 F.3d 1550, 1554 (Fed.Cir.1995). “‘[C]laims must be interpreted and given the same meaning for purposes of both validity and infringement analyses.’ ” Kegel Co., 127 F.3d at 1429 (quoting SmithKline Diagnostics v. Helena Laboratories Corp., 859 F.2d 878, 882 (Fed.Cir.1988)).
In an anticipation analysis, “the claims are read in the context of the patent specification in which they arise and in which the invention is described.” Glaverbel, 45 F.3d at 1554. To anticipate a claim, a prior art reference must, either expressly or inherently, disclose each limitation of the claim. Rowe v. Dror, 112 F.3d 473, 478 (Fed.Cir.1997). If even one element is missing from the prior art, there can be no finding of anticipation. Tate Eng’g, Inc. v. United States, 201 Ct.Cl. 711, 477 F.2d 1336, 1342 (1973); see also Kloster Speedsteel AB v. Crucible Inc., 793 F.2d 1565, 1571 (Fed.Cir.1986) (“[A]bsence from the reference of any claimed element negates anticipation”).
Dernbach concerns a safety fitting for pipes or vessels that withstands a relatively high pressure from one direction and ruptures at a relatively low pressure from the opposite direction. The preferred embodiment of the patent discloses an application in a typical cooling system for a water-moderated and water-cooled nuclear reactor. Within the cooling system of the reactor, the grooved rupture disc is placed on the normal system side and is supported by a backing member located on the emergency system side. The backing member contains a plurality of holes, wherein the pattern of the holes is situated so as to leave solid areas which provide support for the grooved portions of the disc. Dernbach further provides:
As long as normal pressure is maintained the disc is kept from rupturing. However, if a small differential pressure exists such that the emergency pressure is higher than the normal pressure, the disc will rupture and permit the fluid from the emergency system to flow into the normal system.37
Specifically, the claims of Dernbach state, in pertinent part:
1. A safety fitting for use in pipe lines and the like comprising:
a. a substantially flat rupture disc containing a plurality of radial grooves*787 extending from the center to a predetermined distance from the rim of the disc thereby leaving an [sic] annular area of undiminished cross sections near the rim;
b. a support member having a plurality of holes therein patterned so as to provide solid areas corresponding to the location of the grooves in said rupture disc; and
c. means to support said rupture disc and said support member within a pipe line with said rupture disc resting against said support member with its grooves aligned with the sold areas of said support member, and facing the side of said pipe line in which a normally higher pressure is expected, whereby a higher pressure on said normal side of said line will press said rupture disc against said support member and prevent flow through the safety fitting but a higher pressure on the support member side of said safety fitting will cause said disc to rupture along said grooves and permit a flow through said safety fitting.38
Claim 1 of the ’180 patent calls for a frangible disc presenting a low pressure face, an opposed high pressure face, and a backing member adjacent to the low pressure face. Dernbach similarly discloses such a configuration. Specifically, Dernbach provides for a rupture disc which separates a normal pressure cooling system from an emergency pressure cooling system, and is “backed by a support member with the disc on the normal system [side].”
Claim 1 further calls for “scoring on said high pressure face.”
Grooves [] may be made by any of the known methods of cutting metals. Chemical etching and spark erosion methods have been found to be particularly suitable. However, grinding is also possible.42
Dr. Cochran conceded that these methods of grooving, or cutting, all involve the removal of material from the disc.
Claim 1 of the 180 patent also provides for “web means in substantial alignment with said scoring and in close proximity to said low pressure face for preventing rupturing of said disc under the influence of relatively high burst pressures against said high pressure face.”
Mr. Laitner explained that the web means support the disc from deflecting in response to high pressure and “support respective
As the court noted earlier, this portion of claim 1 applies to a structure in the support member that extends from perimeter to perimeter and whose function is to prevent rupture of the disc upon the application of a high pressure against the high pressure face of the disc. The court is thus satisfied that the solid areas of the support member in Dernbach perform the same function as the web means of the ’180 patent.
Nevertheless, this portion of claim 1 is not anticipated by Dernbach. Significantly, claim 1 of the ’180 patent provides that the web means shall be in substantial alignment with the scoring. As the court concluded above, however, Dernbach does not disclose scoring. Thus, Dernbach can not provide web means in substantial alignment with the referenced scoring. Accordingly, claim 1 of the ’180 patent is not anticipated by Dernbach.
Defendant next argues that claim 4 of the ’180 patent is anticipated by Dernbach. Claim 4 provides for “a plurality of burst regions on said disc, said backing member having an opening therethrough for each burst region.”
Dernbach claims “a support member having a plurality of holes therein patterned so as to provide solid areas corresponding to the location of the grooves in said rupture disc.”
The specification of Dernbach furnishes direction in determining this relationship. Specifically, the preferred embodiment calls for a support member “containing] a plurality of holes [ ] causing it to have a sieve like appearance. The pattern of holes [ ] is such that there are solid areas upon which the grooved portions of the rupture disc ... may rest.”
A sieve is defined as: “a device with meshes or perforations through which finer particles of a mixture ... of various sizes are passed to separate them from coarser ones....” Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 1078 (G. & C. Merriam Co.1977). In calling for the holes in the support member to have a “sieve like” appearance, the specification teaches toward a configuration where a number of holes correspond to each burst region. Indeed, it would take more than one hole in each burst region in order to give the appearance of being “sieve like.” See E.I. du Pont de Nemours, 849 F.2d at 1433 (“It is entirely proper to use the specification to interpret what the patentee meant by a word or phrase in the claim”). Thus, the court concludes that Dernbach calls for more than a 1:1 relationship of holes in the support member for each burst region. Accordingly, claim 4 of the ’180 patent is not anticipated by Dernbach.
Defendant next argues that claims 1 and 4 of the ’180 patent are anticipated by a disc assembly manufactured by Starline Engineering Company (Starline) in 1965. An inventor loses the right to his patent if he has placed his invention “in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the appli
The determination that a product was placed on sale under § 102(b) is a question of law, based on underlying facts. Manville Sales Corp. v. Paramount Sys., Inc., 917 F.2d 544, 549 (Fed.Cir.1990); Ferag AG, 45 F.3d at 1566. Although a wide variety of factors may influence the on-sale determination, no single one factor controls the application of § 102(b); the ultimate conclusion depends on the totality of the circumstances. Ferag AG, 45 F.3d at 1566. “That the offered product is in fact the claimed invention may be established by any relevant evidence, such as memoranda, drawings, correspondence, and testimony of witnesses.” RCA Corp. v. Data Gen. Corp., 887 F.2d 1056, 1060 (Fed.Cir.1989).
In 1965, Rocketdyne, a division of North American Aviation, Inc., ordered twenty disc assemblies from Starline. These units, called “line mounted diaphragm assemblies,” were ordered for use in a Navy missile called “Project Condor.” Starline invoiced Rocketdyne for the assemblies in January 1965. Moreover, the invoice provided by Starline referenced an assembly numbered 65A725.
Defendant argues that Starline assembly number 65A725, in conjunction with a number of other Starline drawings, anticipate the patent in suit. Specifically, defendant maintains that all the elements of claims 1 and 4 of the ’180 patent are found either expressly or inherently in the disc assembly manufactured by Starline. Plaintiff counters that the Starline assembly should not be considered prior art “because it [is] impossible to determine the nature of the assembly allegedly offered for sale.”
The court notes that a physical embodiment is not required for an on-sale bar analysis. Pfaff v. Wells Electronics, Inc., 124 F.3d 1429, 1434 (Fed.Cir.1997), cert. granted, — U.S. —, 118 S.Ct. 1183, 140 L.Ed.2d 315 (1998); Robotic Vision Sys., Inc. v. View Eng’g, Inc., 112 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed.Cir.1997). Instead, the court looks to whether the invention was substantially complete at the time of sale. See Micro Chem., Inc. v. Great Plains Chem. Co., 103 F.3d 1538, 1545 (Fed.Cir.1997), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 117 S.Ct. 2516, 138 L.Ed.2d 1018 (1997) (“[A] sale or a definite offer to sell a substantially completed invention, with reason to expect that it would work for its intended purpose upon completion, suffices to generate a statutory bar”). Indeed, the invention need not even “be in a commercially satisfactory stage of development.” Scott v. Finney, 34 F.3d 1058, 1061-62 (Fed.Cir.1994). In order for a patent to be invalid under § 102(b), the claimed invention asserted to have been on sale must be substantially completed with reason to expect it would work for its intended purpose. Micro Chem., 103 F.3d at 1545. Thus, notwithstanding plaintiffs argument that Starline does not constitute prior art, the court will consider the Starline drawings to determine whether they invalidate plaintiffs patent. The Starline drawings, numbers: (i) 65A722, (ii) 65A724, and (iii) 65A725 are located in Appendix C to the court’s opinion.
Dr. Cochran testified extensively in describing the claims of the ’180 patent and how they are found in the Starline drawings. With regard to claim 1, Dr. Cochran explained that the rupture disc assembly can be found in drawing number 65A725, whereby the disc “is represented by the parallel verti
With respect to these score lines, Dr. Cochran referred to U.S. Patent No. 3,195,-769, (’769 patent) which was referenced in drawing number 65A724.
The score pattern here is what is referred to in the art as the double leaf pattern. It contains a partial circumferential — it is composed of a partial circumferential scoring around the circumference of the disc a certain distance in from the edge of the disc and in such a way that solid areas are left in this circumferential scoring for hinges for two leaves, if you will, that open up.58
He further testified that drawing number 65A724 demonstrates that the scoring is disposed at least partially about a rupture region, delineating two rupture regions, one at the top and one at the bottom of the disc.
With regard to the web means of claim 1, Dr. Cochran testified that, in drawing number 65A722, the web means are the solid portions of the backing member that extend horizontally. He further elaborated that the web means of the Starline assembly include “the annulus or annular region around the edge ... because it supports the partially circumferential grooves that are in the rupture disc.”
Drawing number 65A722, however, includes a solid portion extending vertically through the backing member that is both perpendicular, and identical, to the horizontal web means identified by Dr. Cochran. Interestingly, he did not identify this member as a web means. Nevertheless, the court considers this portion of the backing member to be a portion of the web means. As the court stated earlier, the web means include a structure in the support member that extends from perimeter to perimeter and whose function is to prevent rupture of the disc upon the application of a high pressure against the high pressure face of the disc. Because the vertical and horizontal cross members are indistinguishable, the court considers both to be part of the web means.
Dr. Cochran further testified that the web means of the Starline assembly are in substantial alignment with the scoring on the disc. In particular, he stated that “[t]he scoring which cuts across the face of the disc that is shown in [drawing number] 65A725 is supported by the web means shown in [drawing number] 65A722, which goes across from left to right of the downstream phase of the support member.”
The ’180 patent requires “web means in substantial alignment with said scoring.”
Dr. Cochran also testified that claim 4 of the 180 patent is found in the Starline assembly. According to Dr. Cochran:
[there are] four openings as shown in [d]rawing [number] 65A722 ... [and there] are two rupture regions [in the disc] at least partially delineated by coin grooves.... We have two leaves or petals*791 which open up in the rapture disc. For each of the rapture regions, you have actually in this design two openings as you would see if you took the disc, which is shown in [drawing number] 65A724, and placed it upon the support member shown in [drawing number] 65A722.63
Dr. Cochran’s explanation results in a 1:2 relationship of burst regions on the disc to openings in the support member. The court has already concluded that claim 4 of the T80 patent requires a 1:1 relationship. Thus, claim 4 is not invalidated by the Starline assembly.
B. Obviousness
Defendant next argues that claim 5 of the ’180 patent is invalid for obviousness in light of the Dernbach patent, the Starline assembly, and U.S. Patent No. 3,484,817 issued to L.E. Wood (the Wood ’817 patent).
A patent is invalid for obviousness if the differences between the claimed invention as a whole and the prior art “are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art.” 35 U.S.C. § 103. Obviousness is a determination of law based on underlying determinations of fact. See Richardson-Vicks Inc. v. Upjohn Co., 122 F.3d 1476, 1479 (Fed.Cir.1997). These factual determinations include: (1) the scope and content of the prior art; (2) the level of ordinary skill in the art; (3) the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art; and (4) secondary considerations, if any, of non-obviousness. See Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17-18, 86 S.Ct. 684, 15 L.Ed.2d 545 (1966). These factual findings guide the determination of whether the patented subject matter would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. Lear Siegler, Inc. v. Aeroquip Corp., 733 F.2d 881, 890 (Fed.Cir.1984).
The scope of the relevant prior art includes art “‘reasonably pertinent to the particular problem with which the inventor was involved.’ ” In re GPAC Inc., 57 F.3d 1573, 1577 (Fed.Cir.1995) (quoting Stratoflex, Inc. v. Aeroquip Corp., 713 F.2d 1530, 1535 (Fed.Cir.1983)). “References that are not within the field of the inventor’s endeavor may also be relied on in patentability determinations, and thus are described as ‘analogous art’, when a person of ordinary skill would reasonably have consulted those references and applied their teachings in seeking a solution to the problem that the inventor was attempting to solve.” Id. (quoting Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG v. Hantscho Commercial Prods., Inc., 21 F.3d 1068, 1071 (Fed.Cir.1994) (citation omitted)).
In the case at bar, the inventor was conironted with the problem of developing a disc that possessed the seemingly inconsistent characteristic of being able to withstand a relatively high pressure in one direction, and then burst upon the application of a relatively low pressure from the opposite direction. Both the Dernbach patent and the Starline assembly possess this characteristic.
The Wood ’817 patent also possesses this characteristic. In this regard, the Wood ’817 patent concerns “[a] safety relief device including a concave-convex rapture disc with lines of weakness on its concave or convex side.”
The testimony elicited at trial indicates that the level of ordinary skill in rupture disc art, as of the early 1980’s, would include someone who may or may not have a Bachelor’s Degree.
The court notes, however, that in developing this construct, Dr. Cochran acknowledged that he had limited experience in the rupture disc art. Specifically, Dr. Cochran confirmed this lack of experience upon cross examination, where the following exchange took place:
Q. [Y]ou have not conducted or participated in any tests regarding rupture disc assemblies at all? Is that a fair statement?
A. That’s a fair statement, yes.
* * * #
Q. Is it fair to also say that you have not consulted with anyone skilled in the rupture disc art in preparation for your testifying here at trial?
A. I haven’t consulted with anyone directly who is in the business of making rupture disc and rupture disc assemblies. No, sir.
$ $ $ $
Q. Have you consulted with anyone that you would deem to be skilled in the rupture disc art? Have you consulted with anyone in preparation for your testimony here at tidal? Consulted? Talked with them?
A. No sir, not that I can think of.73
Based upon this exchange, the court finds Dr. Cochran’s testimony less credible on the issue of obviousness than that of Mr. Laitner, who, by contrast, testified that he has extensive experience in the rupture disc art, and has consulted with numerous artisans who are individuals of ordinary skill in the art. See Amstar Corp. v. Envirotech Corp., 823 F.2d 1538, 1545-46 (Fed.Cir.1987) (credibility determinations of competing expert witnesses is left to the discretion of the trial court); see also Moxness Prods., Inc. v. Xomed, Inc., 891 F.2d 890, 893 (Fed.Cir.1990) (“the court [is] free to weigh the evidence and assess witnesses’ credibility”).
With regard to the differences between claim 5 and the prior art, it is beyond dispute that the prior art does not include a preformed, multi-bulged, and scored rupture disc with each bulge protruding into a corresponding opening in the backing member. Nevertheless, Dr. Cochran testified “that a person of ordinary skill in the art would know that when high pressure is applied to a thin rupture disc, then the disc will bulge in
Moreover, Dr. Cochran explained that the German version of the Dernbach patent (German Dernbach patent) teaches that “the disc will deform to some extent into the openings.”
would know that bulges would form, and they would form based on the amount of withstand pressure in the material of the disc and the size of the holes and some other design parameters. If they chose certain types of materials for certain operating pressures and they had certain sizes of openings, then they would know that a fairly substantial bulge might form, and then they would pre-bulge.77
By contrast, Mr. Laitner proffered testimony regarding the unique characteristics of the rupture disc as embodied in claim 5. Specifically, he explained that the purpose of the bulging is to create pressure between the flat, scored portion of the disc with the adjacent web means. With respect to this pressure, he expounded:
This high pressure loading essentially causes the bulges to lock into those openings and causes the force from the response to pressure to be applied against the disc perimeter through the perimeter support and against the disc assembly through the web means ... with essentially no stress at the scored portion of the disc because of the design of the disc.78 Mr. Laitner further clarified this explanation by stating: “the bulge provides a significant stiffening of that very thin disc in the rupture region.”79 In addition, Mr. Laitner distinguished the teachings of the German Dernbach patent, and testified that the patent actually teaches away from pre-bulging a rupture disc.
The German Dernbach patent provides that “the rupture disc is preferably flat---The thickness of the rupture disc and the diameter of the bore holes of the support are dimensioned in such a manner that under operating pressure and temperature of the rupture disc will form at most a slight knob above the bore holes, but will not crack.”
Both are dimensioned, the thickness of the disc and the diameter, in such a manner that under operating pressure and temperature the rupture disc will form at least slight knobs above the bore holes, but will not crack. The significant thing they are teaching is it will not crack.... They are teaching [to] stay away from that where you get bulges.... [The disc] has to be strong enough that it doesn’t punch through. How strong does it have to be? Well, at least thick enough and strong enough that at the most you’ll get very slight knobs. Don’t go beyond that or you’re going to be in trouble because if you get bulges you’re going to have problems with your disc.81
In order for a claim to be invalid for obviousness over a combination of references, there must have been a motivation to combine the prior art references to produce the claimed invention. Lindemann Maschinenfabrik GMBH v. American Hoist & Derrick Co., 730 F.2d 1452, 1462 (Fed.Cir.1984). There must be some teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references. In re
With regard to these burst characteristics, Mr. Laitner testified:
The bulges in the [’]180 patent are so unique in the way they respond compared to the prior art. In the prior art, if you had a bulge that was in a forward acting disc and you applied pressure on the concave side to create a tension in the dome of the disc and you expected the dome to burst, that would be one thing. That is what people were familiar with.
To use the ’180 patent and have a dome that does not respond to pressure and does not burst was completely opposite of what people with ordinary skill in the art would think of.83
The court is persuaded that pre-bulging the disc in the manner disclosed in claim 5 was not obvious to those skilled in the art. Although defendant has proffered testimony establishing that bulging and scoring were known to those skilled in the art in the early 1980’s, it has not shown, by clear and convincing evidence, that claim 5 is invalid for obviousness. Indeed, defendant has not proffered any testimony teaching that preforming multiple bulges in a disc, as disclosed in claim 5, creates the unique burst characteristics of the ’180 patent.
The final criterion the court must consider in an obviousness analyses is objective evidence of nonobviousness. Objective evidence of nonobviousness must be considered, if present. This type of evidence includes: (1) the commercial success of the patented invention; (2) whether the invention addresses “long felt but unsolved needs;” and (3) the failure of others to produce alternatives to the patented invention. GPAC, 57 F.3d at 1580 (quoting Graham, 383 U.S. at 17-18, 86 S.Ct. 684).
The commercial success of the ’180 patent is evident from defendant’s use of the rupture disc assembly in the Javelin missile. Moreover, although defendant maintains that the ’180 patent does not address a “long felt but unresolved need,” that assertion is belied by the extensive testing and experimentation involved in the ’180 patent. Specifically, defendant argues that “no need existed prior to the Javelin missile application^ and when] the need arose for a device that could withstand a relatively high pressure from one direction and rupture at a relatively low pressure from the opposite direction, that need was readily satisfied.”
This argument has little merit. Lester L. Fike, Jr., chief executive officer and chairman of the board for plaintiff, who has extensive experience in the rupture disc field, testified regarding his reaction when he learned about the rupture disc assembly designed by Mr. Hinrichs:
I became very excited because I had never seen a rupture disc that could withstand a back pressure of 30 to one. That was pretty, pretty darn exciting.85
Mr. Fike further testified that this thirty to one ratio was a tremendous improvement as compared with earlier rupture discs, which had a ratio of “something with maybe a three to one ratio.”
Defendant has not demonstrated that claim 5 would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. Indeed, the court is persuaded that it would not have been obvious to prebulge and score the rupture disc in order to attain the high withstand to burst pressure ratio as embodied in the ’180 patent. Accordingly, the court concludes that the 180 patent is not invalid for obviousness.
C. Best Mode Requirement
Finally, defendant asserts that plaintiff failed to disclose a preferred method of practicing its invention at the time the patent application was filed. Defendant maintains that, in producing the rupture disc, plaintiff was aware that it was important to bulge the disc before scoring it. According to defendant, reversing the process could weaken the disc and may prevent it from satisfying various performance requirements. Despite this knowledge, defendant asserts that the specification of the 180 patent does not adequately disclose the best mode in sufficient detail to allow those with ordinary skill in the art to practice it.
The specification must “set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.” 35 U.S.C. § 112. “[T]he sole purpose of the best mode requirement ‘is to restrain inventors from applying for patents while at the same time concealing from the public preferred embodiments of their inventions which they have in fact conceived.’ ” Glaxo Inc. v. Novopharm Ltd., 52 F.3d 1043, 1049 (Fed.Cir.1995) (quoting Chemcast Corp. v. Arco Indus., 913 F.2d 923, 926 (Fed.Cir.1990)). A determination of whether a patent complies with the best mode requirement involves a two-step inquiry:
The first is whether, at the time the inventor filed his patent application, he knew of a mode of practicing his claimed invention that he considered to be better than any other. This part of the inquiry is wholly subjective, and resolves whether the inventor must disclose any facts in addition to those sufficient for enablement. If the inventor in fact contemplated such a preferred mode, the second part of the analysis compares what he knew with what he disclosed — is the disclosure adequate to enable one skilled in the art to practice the best mode or, in other words, has the inventor “concealed” his preferred mode from the “public”? Assessing the adequacy of the disclosure, as opposed to its necessity, is largely an objective inquiry that depends upon the scope of the claimed invention and the level of skill in the art.
Chemcast, 913 F.2d at 927-28; see also United States Gypsum Co. v. National Gypsum Co., 74 F.3d 1209, 1212 (Fed.Cir.1996).
The patent need not disclose “production details.” Young Dental Mfg. Co. v. Q3 Special Prods., Inc., 112 F.3d 1137, 1144 (Fed.Cir.1997) (quoting Wahl Instruments, Inc. v. Acvious, Inc., 950 F.2d 1575, 1579-80 (Fed.Cir.1991)). Rather, the “inventor need only disclose information about the best mode that would not have been apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Because routine details are apparent to one of ordinary skill, they need not be disclosed.” Id.
The parties stipulate that “[Mr.] Hinrichs was aware that by scoring the disc after prebulging, there would not be any movement in the material after scoring which could crack the score and cause a leak in the score line, thus making it important to score the disc after pre-bulging.”
In support of this position, Dr. Cochran testified regarding U.S. Patent No. 5,160,070 (the ’070 patent), which is owned by plaintiff.
The specification of the ’180 patent does not specifically disclose the order of bulging and scoring as it relates to the disc. Routine production details that are known to those skilled in the art, however, need not be disclosed. In this regard, plaintiff proffered testimony from two individuals with extensive experience in the rupture disc art. Specifically, plaintiff presented the deposition testimony of Robert J. Doelling, vice president of Engineering for Continental. Mr. Doelling stated that:
It is pretty much common practice to always bulge a solid metal tension type disc at a pressure higher than what is expected to see in service. So that in a service condition you would not be moving it further. In this ease it goes beyond that. In fact, we want to do that operation prior to forming, impressing the scores into the disc, such that we’re trying to move or stretch the material after it has been scored. We do all that forming prior to scoring.92
In addition, Mr. Laitner testified that it was routine practice in 1982 to bugle a disc and then score it. Mr. Laitner explained, rather persuasively:
The major metal deformation from the bulging would tend to pull metal towards the dome as the bulging takes place. If there was already a score in the flat of the disc, it would tend to put strain on the score and potentially break it or certainly weaken it, so the preferred method would be to do the major metal deformation, the draw or the bulge, first and then to score.93
In support of this explanation, Mr. Laitner referred to the Metals Handbook, 8th Edition, which explains that, as far back as 1969, “in bulging and scoring a disc you would typically do the major metal deformation first, the bulge, and then it would be routine to do the coining or the scoring after that.”
Defendant must demonstrate that the ’180 patent fails to disclose the best mode by clear and convincing evidence. See Nobelpharma AB v. Implant Innovations, Inc., 141 F.3d 1059, 1064 (Fed.Cir.1998). Defendant has not met its burden. Notwithstanding defendant’s argument that the prior art references confuse the issue of whether to bulge and then score, or vice versa, the court is persuaded that a routine production detail indeed existed in the art. Someone of ordinary skill in the art would have known that bulging the disc should be done prior to scoring. Thus, it was not necessary for the specification to disclose this sequence. Accordingly, the ’180 patent is not invalid for failure to disclose the best mode.
Conclusion
For the above reasons, the court concludes that plaintiffs patent is valid. The parties are directed to file a joint status report by October 1, 1998, indicating further proceedings in this case.
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. Joint Trial Exhibit (Jt.Ex.) 1.
. Stipulation, Filed Oct. 24, 1997, (Stip.) at ¶ 12.
. See Trial Transcript (Tr.) at 50.
. Defendant initially sought to replace the Dragon with a missile first known as the "Rattler.” The missile's name was subsequently changed to the "Advanced Antitank Weapon System-Medium,” and later again changed to the "Javelin.”
. Jt. Ex. 36.
. Jt. Ex. 37.
. Plaintiff's Trial Exhibit (Pl.’s Ex.) 1.
. Jt. Ex.1, col. 1, Ins. 8-13.
. Id., col. 1, Ins. 13-18.
. Id., col. 4, Ins. 53-58.
. In September 1994, Martin Marietta merged with Lockheed to form Lockheed Martin.
. See Tr. at 317.
. 28 U.S.C. § 1498(a) (1994) states, in pertinent part:
Whenever an invention described in and covered by a patent of the United States is used or manufactured by or for the United States without license of the owner thereof or lawful right to use or manufacture the same, the owner’s remedy shall be by action against the United States in the United States Court of Federal Claims for the recovery of his reasonable and entire compensation for such use and manufacture.
. The parties stipulate that claim 5 of the ’180 patent is dependent upon claim 4, which is dependent upon claim 1. In this regard, the parties also stipulate that claim 5 includes all the limitations of claims 1 and 4. Stip. at ¶¶ 13, 14, 19.
. Dr. Cochran’s resume is located at Jt. Ex. 6.
. Tr. at 156.
. Mr. Laitner’s resume is locate at Pl.’s Ex. 97.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 4, Ins. 62-64.
. Defendant’s Trial Exhibit (Def.’s Ex) 99A, at 9699.
. Tr. at 414, 423-24.
. Id. at 414.
. Id.
. Id. at 712.
. Id. at 713.
. Id. at 542-43 (emphasis added).
. Id. at 713.
. See id. at 545, 713.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 4, In. 67, through col. 5, In. 4.
. Plaintiff's Post-Trial Brief (Pl.’s Br.) at 15.
. Defendant's [Post-Trial] Reply Brief at 3.
. See Tr. at 427-31, 700-02.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 3, Ins. 41-45.
. Id., col. 6, Ins. 4-6 (emphasis added).
. Tr. at 433.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 2, Ins. 21-24.
. See Tr. at 728, 731.
. Jt. Ex. 2, col. 1, Ins. 39-44.
. Id., col. 6, Ins. 2-25.
. Id., col. 2, Ins. 45-47.
. See Tr. at 169-70.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 4, Ins. 62-63.
. Jt. Ex. 2. col. 4. Ins. 34-38.
. See Tr. at 542-43.
. See id. at 541.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 4, In. 67, through col. 5, In. 3.
. See Tr. at 702.
. Id. at 430.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 6, Ins. 4-6.
. Jt. Ex. 2, col. 6, Ins. 9-12.
. Id., col. 4, Ins. 50-54 (emphasis added).
. Id. at Fig. 5.
. Def.’s Ex. 128.
. Pl.’s Br. at 19.
. Id.
. Tr. at 454.
. Id.
. See Jt. Ex. 45.
. Tr. at 455.
. Id. at 458.
. Id. at 460.
. Id. at 461.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 4, Ins. 67-68.
. Tr. at 463.
. See Jt. Ex. 46.
. Jt. Ex. 1, col. 6, Ins. 7-9.
. Jt Ex. 46, col. 1, Ins. 12-14.
. Tr. at. 763-64.
. Id. at 563.
. Id. at 181, 741.
. Id. at 181.
. Id. at 741.
. Id. at 800-01.
. Id. at 516-19. Dr. Cochran did, however, state:
I have read depositions of people who were involved in making rupture discs, selling rupture discs and developing rupture disc business and all these things. I have taken what they said about people having ordinary skill in the art, and that plays a big role in what I have in my own mind as a composite person that fills that role.
Id. at 520.
. Id. at 434.
. See id. at 438-39.
. Id. at 944.
. Tr. at 945-46.
. Tr. at 716.
. Id. at 720.
. Def.’s Ex. 3, at 9604.
. Tr. at 756-57 (emphasis added).
. Id. at 760.
. Id. at 763.
. Defendant’s Post-Trial Brief at 25.
. Tr. at 661.
. Id. at 662.
. Stip. at ¶ 39.
. Def.’s Ex. 5.
. Id., col. 2, Ins. 13-25.
. Jt. Ex. 54.
. Tr. at 484.
. Deposition of Robert J. Doelling, filed January 14, 1998, at 66-67 (emphasis added).
. Tr. at 791.
. Id. at 793; see also Def.'s Ex. 99B, at 9735.
