Revolution Eyewear, Inc. v. Aspex Eyewear, Inc. , 175 F. App'x 350 ( 2006 )

NOTE: Pursuant to Fed. Cir. R. 47.6, this disposition
is not citable as precedent. It is a public record.
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
05-1329
REVOLUTION EYEWEAR, INC.,
Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant-
Appellant,
and
GARY MARTIN ZELMAN,
Counterclaim Defendant,
v.
ASPEX EYEWEAR, INC. and NONU IFERGAN,
Defendants/Counterclaimants-
Appellees.
__________________________
DECIDED: March 30, 2006
__________________________
Before NEWMAN, SCHALL, and GAJARSA, Circuit Judges.
SCHALL, Circuit Judge.
DECISION
Revolution Eyewear, Inc. (“Revolution”) sued Aspex Eyewear, Inc. (“Aspex”) in
the United States District Court for the Central District of California for infringement of
U.S. Patent No. 6,550,913 B2 (“the ’913 patent”). On March 8, 2005, the district court
granted summary judgment in favor of Aspex, after interpreting the relevant claim
limitations and determining that claims 1-6 of the ’913 patent were invalid by reason of
anticipation. Revolution Eyewear, Inc. v. Aspex Eyewear, Inc., No. 03-5965, slip op.
(C.D. Cal. Mar. 8, 2005) (“Summary Judgment Decision”). Revolution now appeals the
district court’s decision. For the reasons set forth below, we vacate the grant of
summary judgment and remand the case to the district court for further proceedings.
DISCUSSION
I.
The claims of the ’913 patent relate to auxiliary eyeglasses, also known as clip-
on glasses. Claim 1 is an independent claim directed to a method of attaching auxiliary
eyeglasses to conventional eyeglasses, also known as primary eyeglasses. It reads as
follows:
A method of attaching auxiliary eyeglasses to conventional eyeglasses
comprising;
[1] forming sockets on temple extensions on either side of said
conventional eyeglasses;
[2] mounting magnets in said sockets on said conventional eyeglass
temple extensions;
[3] forming appendages extending from either side of said auxiliary
eyeglasses constructed and arranged to fit below said temple extensions
of said conventional eyeglasses;
[4] forming sockets on said appendages on said auxiliary eyeglasses;
[5] mounting magnets in said sockets on said auxiliary eyeglass
appendages;
[6] orienting said magnets in said sockets on said conventional eyeglass
temple extensions and said magnets in said sockets on said auxiliary
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eyeglass appendages with the maximum magnetic attractive force
approximately parallel to the plane of lenses in said conventional
eyeglasses when said auxiliary eyeglasses are mounted on said
conventional eyeglasses;
[7] positioning said appendages on said auxiliary eyeglasses below said
extensions on said conventional eyeglasses so said magnets in said
appendages mate with said magnets on said conventional eyeglass
extensions;
[8] whereby said auxiliary eyeglasses are prevented from moving
downward and being becoming detached when mounted on said
conventional eyeglasses by a maximum attractive force between said
magnets on said auxiliary eyeglasses and said conventional eyeglasses.
’913 patent, claim 1. Claim 2 depends from claim 1, while claim 3 depends from claim
2. ’913 patent, claims 2 & 3. Claim 4 is an independent claim directed to the apparatus.
It reads as follows:
Apparatus for attaching auxiliary eyeglasses to conventional eyeglasses
comprising;
[1] temple extensions attached to either side of a frame of said
conventional eyeglasses for attaching hinged temple pieces;
[2] a socket attached to each of said temple extensions;
[3] a magnet mounted in each of said sockets;
[4] an appendage attached to each side of said auxiliary eyeglasses;
[5] a socket attached to each of said appendages;
[6] a magnet mounted in each of said sockets;
[7] said appendages constructed and arranged to fit below said temple
extensions on said conventional eyeglasses with said magnets in said
sockets on said appendages mating with said magnets in said sockets on
said extension of said conventional eyeglass frame;
[8] said magnets on said auxiliary eyeglasses and said magnets on said
conventional eyeglasses being oriented with their maximum magnetic
attractive force parallel to lenses in said conventional eyeglasses;
[9] whereby said magnets on said auxiliary eyeglasses when mated with
said magnets on conventional eyeglasses provide maximum resistance to
downward movement of said auxiliary eyeglasses thereby preventing
accidental detachment of said auxiliary eyeglasses from said conventional
eyeglasses.
’913 patent, claim 4. Claim 5 depends from claim 4, while claim 6 depends from claim
5. ’913 patent, claims 5 & 6.
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The Abstract of the ‘913 patent explains that, in the invention, the auxiliary
eyeglasses fit beneath conventional eyeglasses “solely by the magnetic attractive
force.” ’913 patent, abstract. It explains that, in a modification of the preferred
embodiment, a clip on the auxiliary eyeglasses can be fitted over the bridge of
conventional eyeglasses or clips on the auxiliary eyeglasses can be fitted over a
conventional frame. Id. The Background of the ‘913 patent explains that one object of
the invention in the ‘913 patent is to provide an improved method for attaching auxiliary
lenses “without any need for additional support.” ’913 patent, col. 2, ll. 22-25. It notes,
though, that additional supporting clips may be used. ’913 patent, col. 2, ll. 40-47. The
Brief Description of the Invention likewise explains that the invention can hold the
auxiliary eyeglasses on conventional eyeglasses “without the need for any additional
support.” ’913 patent, col. 3, ll. 10-16. The preferred embodiment of the ‘913 patent
shows magnets mounted on the appendages of the auxiliary eyeglasses that fit beneath
and attach to the magnets mounted on the temple extensions of conventional
eyeglasses. ’913 patent, fig. 1. In the “optional but less preferred embodiment” in
Figure 4, the ‘913 patent explains that a clip constructed to extend over and mount on a
conventional eyeglass bridge “will provide additional support for auxiliary eyeglasses 10’
for use in extremely strenuous activity.” ’913 patent, col. 6, ll. 55-65 & fig. 4. In Figure
7, another “optional but less preferred embodiment,” magnets in the bridge of the
auxiliary eyeglass lenses attach to magnets in the bridge of conventional eyeglasses,
and the auxiliary eyeglasses have clips that fit over the eyeglasses of the conventional
eyeglasses. ’913 patent, col. 6, ll. 5-17 & fig. 7.
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II.
On November 2, 1998, inventor Gary Zelman filed Patent Application No.
184,694 (“the ‘694 application”), which eventually issued as the ‘913 patent. During
prosecution of the ‘913 patent, Mr. Zelman elaborated on what the ‘913 patent claimed.
He repeatedly distinguished his invention over the prior art, including U.S. Patent No.
5,568,207 (the “Chao patent”). The Chao patent is directed to magnetic clip-on
eyewear where the sole arm of the auxiliary eyeglasses has a magnet and is
constructed to sit on top of a conventional frame’s arm. Chao patent, abstract, figs. 1-6.
The Chao patent explains that the prior art eyeglasses have “no supporting members
for preventing the auxiliary lenses from moving downward,” but in the Chao patent the
arms of the auxiliary eyeglasses act as both a top support member and a magnetic
force member. Chao patent, col. 1, ll. 10 to col. 2, l. 10.
III.
On August 21, 2003, Revolution sued Aspex in the Central District of California
for infringement of the ’913 patent. On January 31, 2005, Aspex moved for partial
summary judgment that claims 1-6 of the ‘913 patent were invalid as anticipated under
35 U.S.C. § 102(a) as “known or used by others” and § 102(b) as “on sale” based on
prior art Takumi 970 Series frames (the “Takumi frames”). In the Takumi frames, which
allegedly were displayed and sold in 1997 by Manhattan Design Studio, Inc. (“MDS”),
(1) the conventional eyeglasses had a magnet pointing down and (2) the lower arms of
the auxiliary eyeglasses included a magnet pointing up, while the upper arms did not
include a magnet.
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On March 8, 2005, the district court granted Aspex’s summary judgment motion
for invalidity without a hearing. Summary Judgment Decision, slip op. at 1. Before
considering the issue of anticipation, the court first interpreted the claim language. Id.,
slip op. at 13. Revolution urged that the claims of the ‘913 patent were limited to
eyewear in which the arms of the auxiliary frame attach to the primary frame only from
below with no other means of attachment. The court rejected Revolution’s claim
construction. The court held that the language of claims 1-6 was not ambiguous, as “it
does not require that the auxiliary eyeglass[] frames be held in place solely by bottom-
mounted magnets and by ‘no other means of mechanical attachment.’” Id., slip op. at
14. The court then pointed to the specification, which states that the invention is not to
be limited by the drawings or written description—demonstrating that there is nothing in
the specification to limit the claims. Id., slip op. at 16. The court also referred to the
less preferred embodiments, which use clips to bolster support, and stated that “[i]f the
claims precluded additional means of support, these embodiments would be outside the
limitations in the claims.” Id.
The court held that the prosecution history did not limit the invention in the ‘913
patent to auxiliary eyeglasses that are attached solely by bottom-mounted magnets. Id.,
slip op. at 16. “All the evidence in the prosecution record relied on by [Revolution]
distinguishes [Revolution’s] invention from one in which the magnets are mounted on
top of the arms of the primary frames. None of the evidence distinguishes
[Revolution’s] invention from another bottom-mounted configuration that contains
additional supportive elements.” Id. The court pointed out that the claims that would
have supported Revolution’s position—ones where the auxiliary eyeglasses were held
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in position and prevented from being displaced downwardly “solely by the attractive
magnetic forces of the downwardly and upwardly oriented magnets”—were cancelled
during prosecution. Id.
After construing the claims, the court focused on the issue of anticipation. The
court considered (1) the declaration of Aspex’s expert, David Yinkai Chao, the Director
of International Sales at Contour Optik Inc., an eyeglasses design, manufacturing, and
sales company, who said the ‘913 patent was anticipated; and (2) the declaration of
Revolution’s expert, Julie Madison, a former MDS sales agent. Id., slip op. at 17. Ms.
Madison stated that the upper appendages on the auxiliary eyeglasses on the prior art
Takumi frames were functional and essential, thereby rendering the Takumi frames
different from the auxiliary eyeglasses claimed in the ‘913 patent and making them non-
anticipating. Id. The court concluded that “a triable issue of fact [was] not raised”
because Ms. Madison’s declaration did not contradict Mr. Chao’s declaration: “It does
not negate the conclusion that all the elements of claims one through six of the ‘913
patent are present in the Takumi 970 eyewear; it only says, in effect, that the Takumi
970 eyewear possesses elements additional to those contained in claims one through
six.” Id.
Revolution timely appealed the district court’s decision. We have jurisdiction
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(1).
IV.
This court reviews a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo.
TorPharm Inc. v. Ranbaxy Pharms., Inc., 336 F.3d 1322, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2003). “When
ruling on a motion for summary judgment, all of the nonmovant’s evidence is to be
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credited, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in the nonmovant’s favor.”
Caterpillar Inc. v. Deere & Co., 224 F.3d 1374, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2000). “Where the
evidence is conflicting or credibility determinations are required, the judgment should be
vacated rather than reversed, and the case should be remanded for further
proceedings.” Jones v. Hardy, 727 F.2d 1524, 1531 (Fed. Cir. 1984).
A patent claim is invalid as anticipated if every limitation in a claim is found in a
single prior art reference, either explicitly or inherently. See MEHL/Biophile Int’l Corp. v.
Milgraum, 192 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 1999). The first step of an anticipation
analysis is claim construction; the second step in the analysis involves a comparison of
the construed claim to the prior art. Helifix, Ltd. v. Blok-Lok, Ltd., 208 F.3d 1339, 1346
(Fed. Cir. 2000).
V.
On appeal, Revolution argues that the district court erred in ruling that the
Takumi frames anticipate claims 1-6 of the ‘913 patent because the court failed to
correctly construe the claims in view of the prosecution history. It asserts “[t]he
prosecution history leads to an inescapable conclusion that the claims of the ‘913 patent
are limited to eyewear in which the magnets of the auxiliary appendages fit below the
magnets of the conventional eyeglasses and the attraction between the magnets is the
only source of support holding the two frames together.” (Emphasis in original). Based
on the prosecution history, Revolution asserts that the claims “must be limited to
eyewear where the auxiliary frame’s magnets engage only from the bottom of the
conventional frame and where the two frames are held together by no additional top
attachment”. (Emphasis in original). It argues that the district court erred in ruling that
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the language relating to a preferred embodiment immediately preceding the claim
language precludes Revolution’s proposed construction because the disclaimer in the
prosecution history is clear. According to Revolution, the less preferred clip-on
embodiments depicted in Figures 5-9 of the specification were disavowed during the
prosecution history. Revolution concludes that the Takumi frames do not anticipate the
‘913 patent because the “auxiliary frame in Takumi contains top support arms in
addition to magnets,” while the ‘913 patent is limited to bottom-only attraction
eyeglasses.
Aspex responds that the district court properly construed the claims and, even if
it did not, the claims are still invalid. First, Aspex argues the district court properly
construed the claims to not include an additional limitation requiring that magnets
provide the “sole means of support” for the auxiliary eyeglasses. According to Aspex,
this is because (1) the plain language of the claims controls; (2) it is improper to re-write
claims; (3) the district court properly considered the prosecution history; and (4) if
Revolution is correct, the patent may be invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 112.
VI.
We agree with Revolution that the district court erred in construing the claims of
the ‘913 patent. While the court was correct that the ordinary meaning of the claim
language and the specification do not limit the scope of the invention to devices without
any help from other supporting members, during prosecution Mr. Zelman clearly
disclaimed the use of other supporting members.
“[T]he prosecution history (or file wrapper) limits the interpretation of claims so as
to exclude any interpretation that may have been disclaimed or disavowed during
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prosecution in order to obtain claim allowance.” Standard Oil Co. v. Am. Cyanamid Co.,
774 F.2d 448, 452 (Fed. Cir. 1985). For prosecution disclaimer to arise, “the alleged
disavowing actions or statements made during prosecution [must] be both clear and
unmistakable.” Omega Eng’g, Inc. v. Raytek Corp., 334 F.3d 1314, 1326 (Fed. Cir.
2003).
In this case, Mr. Zelman repeatedly distinguished the invention in the ‘913 patent
from the prior art on two grounds. First, he distinguished the prior art because in his
invention the magnets were bottom-mounted. He stated that “[f]or the first time an
auxiliary eyeglass frame having bottom mounted magnets with the minimum
requirements was successfully invented.” (Emphasis added). He also stated that the
Chao patent “describes mounting the auxiliary frame over the temples.” (Emphasis in
original).
Second, Mr. Zelman distinguished the prior art on the ground that in his invention
no additional support was required. With respect to the additional support argument,
during prosecution Mr. Zelman stated:
• The “possibility of mounting auxiliary frames on conventional eyeglasses with the
sole support being provided by mutually attractive magnets . . . is not taught by
any of the prior art references.”
• “Applicant in his research into the use of magnets to support auxiliary eyeglasses
discovered that with properly positioned and oriented magnets . . . they would
sufficiently support eyeglasses without any help from other supporting members.”
• “The references relied on by the Examiner . . . emphasize repeatedly that
magnets alone are insufficient to support auxiliary lenses.”
• “They [references cited by the Examiner] repeatedly refer to and describe
supporting members in addition to the magnets.”
• “The references relied on [by the Examiner] all teach that there must be
additional support.”
• “[T]hese [prior art] references also teach that magnets have attractive force but
they also teach that that magnets alone are not enough to securely support
auxiliary eyeglasses and some additional support is needed.”
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• “[The prior art references] all teach the same thing; that is, that additional support
is needed.”
• “The references teach magnets attract but also teach that that force is not
enough and additional support is needed.”
• “Isn’t the fact that the [prior art] references teach the necessity for additional
support show there would be no motivation to produce applicant’s claimed
invention?”
• “Chao and several other references clearly teach that there must be some
mechanical support in addition to the magnets.”
• “[T]he references teach or suggest a contrary construction of mechanical support
in addition to the magnets.”
• “[T]he entire thrust of the Chao patent is to provide additional support in addition
to the magnets.”
• “The only support for auxiliary eyeglasses 10 is a mutual attraction of magnets 26
and 30, the magnets are oriented in a direction that provides maximum magnetic
attraction in opposition to any dislodging force.”
• “The difference between the prior art references and the claims at issue is that
the auxiliary glasses are attached underneath the primary glasses. As such the
auxiliary glasses are not supported on the primary glasses.”
• “Although the Examiner has concluded that the magnetic attractive force is the
same above or below the temples, this would not explain or teach why it would
have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to mount the extension
beneath the temples without any support other than the magnets, particularly
when the [Chao] reference repeatedly refers to need for additional support in
addition to the magnets.”
• “Chao repeatedly indicates that additional support of the auxiliary lens is
necessary. Chao describes the disadvantage of using magnets alone.”
• “The scope and thrust of the Chao patent is that magnets alone are insufficient to
support the auxiliary lenses and additional support is required. Applicant by
contrast teaches that no such support is required.”
(Emphasis added). Mr. Zelman thus stated no less than seventeen times that in his
invention, unlike the prior art, no additional support was needed. Even if the Examiner
was only persuaded to allow the ‘913 patent based on the fact that the prior art had
bottom-mounted magnets and was not concerned about the fact that the prior art
required additional support, Mr. Zelman repeatedly asserted the prior art required
additional support. With these statements, Mr. Zelman clearly disclaimed coverage
over a device with additional support. It is irrelevant what the Examiner thought Mr.
Zelman was disclaiming. It was Mr. Zelman’s own statements that created the
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disclaimer. See Springs Window Fashions LP v. Novo Indus., L.P., 323 F.3d 989, 994-
95 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Laitram Corp. v. Morehouse Indus. 143 F.3d 1456, 1462 (Fed. Cir.
1998).
The district court focused on the fact that, during prosecution, Mr. Zelman
attempted to add two claims that would have more clearly claimed auxiliary eyeglasses
with bottom-mounted magnets held up “solely by the attractive magnetic forces” or
“solely by said attractive force.” Those claims were never entered, as the Examiner
found they would require additional searching and would not simplify issues for appeal.
The Examiner did not suggest, however, that the proposed claims raised new matter.
While the district court is correct that the claims were later cancelled by Mr. Zelman
during prosecution, the claims were not cancelled because Mr. Zelman was abandoning
the subject matter, but because the Examiner would not allow them to be entered.
In sum, Mr. Zelman’s statements clearly and unmistakably disclaimed coverage
of a device with additional support. Although under this interpretation some of the
preferred embodiments will be read out of the ‘913 patent, this court has recognized that
when there is a clear disclaimer during the prosecution history, it may be appropriate to
read out the preferred embodiments. See N. Am. Container, Inc. v. Plastipak
Packaging, Inc., 415 F.3d 1335, 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2005); Rheox, Inc. v. Entact, Inc., 276
F.3d 1319, 1320-27 (Fed. Cir. 2002); Elekta Instrument S.A. v. O.U.R. Sci. Int’l, Inc.,
214 F.3d 1302, 1308 (Fed. Cir. 2000). This is such a case.
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VII.
In sum,
(1) We hold that, in granting summary judgment in favor of Aspex, the district
court erred as a matter of law by misconstruing the claims to cover additional support.
Under the correct interpretation, the ‘913 patent covers auxiliary eyeglasses to be held
in place solely by bottom-mounted magnets and without any help from other supporting
members.
(2) Under this interpretation, we hold that genuine issues of material fact exist
as to whether the claims are invalid as anticipated by the Takumi frames.1
(3) We consequently vacate the decision of the district court and remand the
case for further proceedings on the issue of anticipation, and, if necessary, proceedings
on the issues of infringement, validity, and damages.
Each party shall bear its own costs.
1
We thus reject Aspex’s argument that it is entitled to summary judgment
even under the claim construction urged by Revolution.
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