Clinch LED´s

I'm not sure what the law is, but sticking a lead through a wire and bending it doesn't sound like a patentable process.

Agree with bhankiii's initial reaction. Sounds like something you could do with a hefty pair of pliers. I'm sure covering any kind of joint with a bit of heatshrink is public domain stuff.

Bit confused, though, when you talk about "clinching pins of the LED´s on the backside of the cable"

Can you give us a photo or sketch of exactly what you're doing?

It sounds like he's pushing the two LED leads through the two wires to make the electrical connection, then bending the pins over at 90 degrees - flush with the back of the wire to hold the LED in place, then sliding a plastic sleeve over the whole cable so you get something that looks like that light-up rope you see in theaters. That's my take on it anyway. It's a rather clever idea - I may use it myself.

Here is a photo. I made a new attemp with the topic "clinch" and tried to explain my problem a little better. Thanks for your effort.

Thanks for the photo, it helped a lot.

I am personally of the opinion that this could not (in a proper world) be patented....or someone will patent boring holes in a PCB and soldering in resistors and capacitors etc etc etc.....

Get back at this Guy and send him a letter from your "Rechanwalt" asking for full and immediate details of his patent. I seriously doubt if he has any.

It may be a good idea (just for fun) for you to also try and patent it and see what you get for an answer from the German Patent office!!! If someone has had a patent issued, yours will be denied!!!

Good answer, I have also rated it so.....

I would say that the process could not be patented......he may be pulling your leg!!

I don't claim to understand patent law but, if you could show that your use of this technique predates his patent, would that invalidate his claim?

Yes, it would invalidate his claim. But his patent is older (Year 2003) and I use this technique since 2004. Now I have to prove, that this technique (like as a retaining clip, staple, paper-fastener) was used before 2003 by someone in the production of mounting SMD´s on boards e.g. with the clinch technique.

A photo would help us all.....its not going to harm you anymore is it?

See No.: 19 in response to No.: 2

Please see No.: 19. Thanks for your effort. Maybe this gives you an idea.

Go to the place where they sell these and look on the package for a patent or patent pending. Normal assembly processes are not covered by patents. Did a quick Google and found no LED/cable patents. Guy sounds like he does not want competition!

Go for it

Again, not really my area but that's never stopped me commenting before, don't you get special cutters that crop the lead of a component inserted in a PCB & bend the lead in one operation to retain it? Surely that's the same concept.

I do agree with Gwen. Unfortunately, here is so strange trend to patent even numbers of PC mouse clicks. But in a nutshell, here is a classic rule for engineering applications what can anyone claim as invention. It is whether new device either new method or both in/of one. Abstract idea can't be patented. At least I was taught so by my teachers.

But nowadays practice to apply patent laws is some blurred and clouded to get clear answer.

It is not clear from your description the issue. What exactly way how did your competitor has accused. If he is inventor --- he has needed docs and could show you at least copy or give you its registered number. I suppose you know at least his name and it's so easy to find his name in line of inventors over patent papers.

Had been launched official juridical process? If there were only sounded out threats, you can relax for a while and surf here http://search.globalspec.com/Search?show=total&query=clinching%20pins%20of%20LED&fromtoolbar=1. I couldn't find patent itemized "clinching pins for LED". Google.de has patent section search as well. Treat one or other one.

At last having ruled a principle of "Innocence presumption" --- your competitor has to looking for any evidences but not you.

Next time publish your ideas before applying (even in local newspaper). Published works can't be claimed as invention.

The very good luck to you.

It sounds like he is trying to litigate you. He is betting his lawyers can cause you to financially fail before he runs out of money. Big companies do this to little companies and buy their art for pennies on the dollar.

Make him produce his Patent, then attack it for prior art and an patentable concept. I'm sure if you search you can find the use of wires threw wires soldered or otherwise. The patent on a staple is long out of date. So your using a staple formed by the lead of an LED. The idea is to litigate him for frivolous use of the system.

The machine that does this is what should be patentable, not the product. The patent laws are in a restructuring last I knew so be careful of the changing dynamics.

Sorry this may not apply to Germany but it should be similar.

Keep your options open

Brad

I found this patent for clinching leads online;

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3986533.html

Patent #3986533

This sounds more like a process to bend SM leads when the component is being manufactured and not at all like what you are doing.

I am a German that lives in the US.

Well found, Gerwoman; I searched FPOL for a while without success. Don't think this is the patent in question, though.

LED guy - to me, it looks as if this patent relates to a mechanism (i.e. a device/machine/tool etc.) for doing the job, not the actual technique. Do you know if your adversary has a mechanism (on which he's relying), or is it just the method he's protecting?

I admit I don't know the jargon (how do patent guys define a mechanism?). Hope someone else here can help - failing that, you'll probably have to stump up to get ½hr from a patents lawyer.

Or have you actually invented a method that bends the pins for you, if that is the case you may be copying existing technology. The following link has a nice video showing how it works;

http://www.chadindustries.net/circuit_board_assembly/odd_form_electronic_component_clinching.htm

To quote an ex-boss of mine, a patent is worthless in that it is in the public domain. Any bright young fellow can get a copy of the patent and find out a different way to do it. Of course I am not familiar with German patent law, but get a copy of the patent and read it closely. You might be able to get around it by using a different gauge wire or something just as silly... or using what we in the US use for power cord, rather than speaker wire... (different insulation and voltage rating). Use his patent against him, and build a better mouse trap. (US slang)

Bill