Common Sense Prevails By Joseph Herndon — B/E Aerospace, Inc. appealed a final written decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that found certain claims of B/E’s aircraft lavatory-related patents obvious. B/E contended that the Board’s decision is erroneous because the Board incorporated a claim limitation that is not present in the prior art. Ultimately, the Federal Circuit affirmed the Board’s findings holding the patents invalid. Background This appeal arises from an inter partes review (“IPR”) proceeding in which C&D Zodiac, Inc. (“Zodiac”) challenged two patents owned by B/E Aerospace, Inc. (“B/E”): U.S. Patent Nos. 9,073,641 and 9,440,742….
