Target Accused of Infringing ‘Sleek Socket’ Patent in New Suit

Socket Solutions, LLC, is alleging Target Corp. infringed its patent for a wall-socket covering that connects to a power strip, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

The Houston-based company’s suit seeks to protect its intellectual property rights related to US Patent No. 9,509,080, issued in November 2016 for a thin outlet cover that allows for easier use of outlets positioned behind furniture, according to the complaint filed in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The invention is embodied by the company’s Sleek Socket products, which account for about $20 million in annual gross revenues, according ...