Jarden Consumer Solutions (Europe) Ltd v SEB SA & Anor [2014] EWCA Civ 1629 (17 December 2014)

Jarden Consumer Solutions (Europe) Ltd v SEB SA & Anor [2014] EWCA Civ 1629 (17 December 2014)

The judge erred in allowing reference numerals to influence claim construction. Proper purposive construction of the patent claims, considering the language and context, shows 'main body' does not include the lid. Claim 9 does not cover a fryer where the main heater means is mounted entirely on the lid. Therefore, the Halo fryer does not infringe claims 10, 11, or 13.

Citation
[2014] EWCA Civ 1629
Parties
Claimant/appellant: Jarden Consumer Solutions (Europe) Limited; Defendant/part 20 Claimant/respondent: SEB SA; Part 20 Claimant/respondent: Groupe SEB UK Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
17 December 2014
Procedural Posture
Patent Infringement and Validity Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
Appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Patent Construction, Patent Infringement, Patent Validity, Obviousness, European Patent Convention, Reference Numerals in Claims
Intellectual Property Patent Law Patent Construction Patent Infringement Patent Validity Obviousness European Patent Convention Reference Numerals in Claims

Case Brief

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Parties

Jarden Consumer Solutions (Europe) Limited

Claimant/appellant

SEB SA

Defendant/part 20 Claimant/respondent

Groupe SEB UK Limited

Part 20 Claimant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Patent Infringement and Validity Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Proper construction of 'main body' in patent claims
  2. 2 Whether main heater means mounted on the lid infringes claim 9
  3. 3 Obviousness of claims 10, 11, 13, and 15 over prior art (Vogt)

Ratio Decidendi

The judge erred in allowing reference numerals to influence claim construction. Proper purposive construction of the patent claims, considering the language and context, shows 'main body' does not include the lid. Claim 9 does not cover a fryer where the main heater means is mounted entirely on the lid. Therefore, the Halo fryer does not infringe claims 10, 11, or 13.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed

Orders

  • Judge's construction of 'main body' overturned; 'main heater means' mounted on the lid does not infringe claim 9.
  • Halo fryer does not infringe claims 10, 11, or 13.