SACRAMENTO – A Redding man alleges several companies have infringed his patent for a tool.
Elden Williams filed a complaint on July 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against Mueller-Kueps LP, Mueller-Werkzeug GmbH, Matco Tools Corp. and Does 1-50 alleging patent infringement.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff applied for Patent '596, titled Hand Wrench Torque Enhancing Device, in 1998 and it was awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2001. He alleges he sold devices to the Mueller defendants under the patent during 2002 to 2006.
The suit states the patent was terminated in 2009 for failure to pay maintenance fees and reinstated in 2017. The plaintiff alleges the defendants are manufacturing and selling devices that infringe his patent.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against the defendants for declaratory relief, damages, interest, attorney's fees, costs, and further relief as the court deems just. He is represented by Michael L. Schulte of Michael L. Schulte Attorney at Law in Fresno.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California case number 18-cv-01946