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

Heading: Lenco and the Accused Products

Text: Lenco designs, manufactures, and sells trim tab systems, known generally as automatic tab retractors (“ATRs”), in direct competition with Bennett. Rinker Boat Company (“Rinker”), a defendant in the district court but not involved in this appeal, manufactures and sells powerboats, some of which include ATRs made by Lenco. At issue in this appeal are two versions of Lenco’s ATRs: an initial version (the “Original ATR”) with a control wire connecting the control circuit to an engine ignition switch; and a redesigned version (the “Redesigned ATR”) with a control wire connecting the control circuit to the boat’s engine speed sensor (known as a tachometer). In the Original ATR, trim tab retraction occurs when power is removed from the control wire. In the Redesigned ATR, trim tab retraction occurs after the engine speed drops below a preset level. Both the Original and Redesigned ATRs use electrical screw-driven actuators rather than the hydraulic actuators shown in Figure 1 of the ’780 patent.