Opinion ID: 1041291
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bennett and the ’780 Patent

Text: Bennett designs, manufactures, and sells trim tab systems for use on powerboats. Trim tabs are large plates connected to actuators at the stern of a boat that, when extended into the water, adjust the orientation of the boat for more efficient cruising. Bennett owns the patent at issue, U.S. Patent No. 5,113,780 (the “’780 patent”), which discloses a trim tab control system that automatically returns the trim tabs to a fully retracted position (i.e., out of the water) upon removal of power to the boat engine. By automatically retracting the trim tabs, the system leaves the tabs in a known position for the boat’s next use and decreases the risk of damage to various system components. ’780 patent col. 1 ll. 27–36. Figure 1 from the ’780 patent, reproduced below, shows an embodiment of the invention with a pair of hydraulic actuators 24, 26 connected to a pair of trim tabs 12, 14, which are mounted to the stern 20 of a boat hull 22 via a pair of hinges 16, 18. Id., col. 2 ll. 34–40. 4 BENNETT MARINE, INC. v. LENCO MARINE, INC. Based on the flow of hydraulic fluid from a pair of control valves 32, 34 and a fluid pump 28, the hydraulic actuators extend or retract to adjust the position of the trim tabs relative to the hull. Id., col. 2 ll. 40–44. Using a switch 40, an operator can selectively adjust the position of the trim tabs to control the pitch of the boat. Id., col. 2 ll. 47–51. The ’780 patent discloses: “It will be appreciated, of course, that the principles of the invention apply to electrical and pneumatic actuators of trim tabs, in addition to the preferred hydraulic implementation.” Id., col. 3 ll. 53–56. In addition, the ’780 patent discloses a control circuit 42, which causes the actuators (and thus the connected trim tabs) to automatically retract upon removal of power to the engine ignition control 37, via switch 36. Id., col. 2 ll. 55–59. Figure 1 depicts the control circuit as a block labeled “Automatic Tab Retractor.” Figure 2, reproduced below, shows a particular embodiment of control circuit 42, in the form of a schematic diagram: BENNETT MARINE, INC. v. LENCO MARINE, INC. 5 In the ’780 patent, the applicants describe in detail the various components comprising the particular embodiment shown in Figure 2. See ’780 patent col. 2 l. 59 – col. 3 l. 47. During prosecution, certain claims were rejected as anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 4,762,079 to Takeuchi (“Takeuchi”). To overcome the rejection, the applicants amended the claims and asserted that Takeuchi does not disclose all the recited limitations.