Case: Patents/Obviousness (P.T.A.B.)

Challenged claims of Oil-Dri Corporation of America’s patent that relates to cat litter products and, in particular, litter products using swelling clay made of sodium bentonite and various fillers, aren’t unpatentable as obvious over prior art, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board said, in an inter partes review by Pioneer Pet Products LLC. According to the court, the challenged claims aren‘t obvious over various combinations of prior art, including prior art that discloses a clumping animal litter containing up to 60% sodium bentonite and a non-swelling clay filler, a litter containing a mixture of particles coated with a swelling clay ...