2013年3月20日，美國威斯康辛州Briggs & Stratton Corporation及Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group, LLC(百力通)以2項專利侵害為由，對中國重慶的Chongqing RATO Power Co., Ltd.(重慶潤通動力公司)、RATO North America(潤通北美)及Denver Global Products, Inc. (合稱重慶潤通)提起專利侵權訴訟，請求法院下禁制令及要求損害賠償。
系爭專利有二，一為US 6,510,678號專利，二為US 7,107,746號專利，皆有關於懸吊式割草機。原告指稱重慶潤通所生產的系爭產品Raven MPV-710型牽引車，侵害2項系爭專利。
表一、專利基本資料
| 專利號 |
US 6,510,678 |
US 7,107,746 |
| 名稱 |
獨立懸吊割草機之負載補償調整(load compensation adjustment in lawnmower having independent suspension) |
割草機懸吊系統及方法(mower suspension system and method) |
| 申請日期 |
2001年6月12日 |
2004年7月30日 |
| 許可日期 |
2003年1月28日 |
2006年9月19日 |
| 發明人 |
David Ferris, William Shea, Henry Nordberg |
Mark J. Melone, William Decker, Brian Crossway, James Marshall, Frank Marshall |
| 原專利權人 |
Ferris Industries, Inc. |
Ferris, a division of Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc. |
Source：科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2013/3/28
圖一、Raven MPV-710型牽引車
原告百力通在1908設立，主要生產割草機引擎及小型引擎，在該領域有極高的市佔率，其他產品包括高壓清洗機、水泵及發電機等。百力通在美國紐約州設有製造廠，該廠生產獨立懸掛式割草機，以「Ferris」為品牌名。
被告重慶通潤動力公司位於中國重慶市，潤通北美為其在北美的分公司，該公司於中國主要生產摩托車、適應各地形車輛(all terrain vehicle, ATV)、發電機及營業用水泵等。另外，於2012年1月1日藉由收購具研發及生產能力的Denver Global Products, Inc.公司，借力揮軍北美市場。Denver Global Products, Inc.公司生產發電設備及工業工具，包括發電機、電鋸等。(700字；表3；圖1)
表二、系爭專利之請求項解析
| US 7107746請求項1 |
US 6,510,678請求項1 |
|
A method of compensating for load change in a lawnmower having independent suspension, the method comprising:在具有獨立懸吊的割草機上，用於負載改變之補償的方法，包含:
- providing a main frame having first and second wheels coupled to the main frame and to respective independent suspensions, each independent suspension having a spring and a load compensation adjuster, the spring having a range of compression between an uncompressed state and fully compressed state;提供一個主框架，該主框架配有連結到主框架及各自獨立的懸吊架的第一輪和第二輪，每個懸吊架配有一個彈簧及一個負載補償調整器，該彈簧能在未壓縮及完全壓縮之間的限度內縮;
- providing a seat coupled to the main frame;提供一個連結到主框架的座椅;
- applying a downward force upon the seat;對前述的座椅施加向下的力道;
- moving the seat downward in response to the downward force;對應該向下的力道向下移動座椅;
- moving the main frame downward with respect to the first wheel independently of movement of the second wheel;主框架相對第一輪向下移動但獨立於第二輪的移動;
- compressing the spring in response to movement of the main frame to a position within the range of compression between the uncompressed state and the fully compressed state;對應主框架的移動而在未壓縮及完全壓縮之間的限度內壓縮彈簧;
- exerting a first force from the spring to the main frame in response to compressing the spring;對應彈簧的壓縮從彈簧對主框架施加第一個力道;
- compressing the load compensation adjuster in response to movement of the main frame;對應主框架的移動壓縮負載補償調整器;
- exerting a second force from the load compensation adjuster to the main frame in response to compressing the load compensation adjuster; and對應負載補償調整器的壓縮從負載補償調整器對主框架施加第二力道;
- limiting compression of the spring to less than full compression by exerting the second force from the load compensation adjuster to the main frame.藉由從負載補償調整器對主框架施加第二力道以限制彈簧的壓縮使其不達到完全壓縮之狀態。
|
A mower, comprising:一個割草機，包含:
- a frame includinga front portion;一個含有前部的車架;
- a rear portion; and一個後部；及
- at least one central longitudinal beam at least partially forming the front portion of the frame, the beam being substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis passing from the front portion to the rear portion of the frame; and一個中心縱向的梁至少構成車架前部的部分，該梁與從車架前部至後部的縱向軸線實質上平行;
- first and second wheels positioned on opposite sides of the front portion of the frame and spaced to define a track width of the mower, the track width being a distance between a center portion of each of the first and second wheels, the first and second wheels being pivotably coupled to the at least one central longitudinal beam about a first longitudinal pivot axis and a second longitudinal pivot axis, respectively, for upward and downward movement independent of each other, the first and second longitudinal pivot axes being laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis between about 0% and about 20% of the track width.第一輪與第二輪位於車架前部的相對兩側且其間隔限定了割草機的軌道寬度，軌道寬度為第一輪與第二輪各自中心部分之間的距離，第一輪與第二輪以可樞轉方式連結到至少一個中心縱向梁，各自圍繞一個第一縱向樞轉軸及一個第二縱向樞轉軸，分別為獨立的向上及向下的移動，前述第一和第二縱向樞轉軸被橫向隔開於從縱向軸線起算介於0%至20%的軌道寬度。
|
Source：科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2013/3/28
表三、專利訴訟案件基本資料：Briggs & Stratton Corporation et al v. Chongqing RATO Power Co., Ltd. et al
| 訴訟名稱 |
Briggs & Stratton Corporation et al v. Chongqing RATO Power Co., Ltd. et al |
| 提告日期 |
2013/3/20 |
| 原告 |
Briggs & Stratton Corporation;
Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group, LLC |
| 被告 |
Chongqing RATO Power Co., Ltd.;
RATO North America;
Denver Global Products, Inc. |
| 案號 |
5:13-cv-00316-TJM-ATB |
| 訴訟法院 |
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York |
| 系爭專利 |
US 7107746; US 6,510,678 |
| 系爭產品 |
|
| 訴狀下載 |
 |
Source：科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2013/3/28
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