Ex Parte 6964688 et alDownload PDFBoard of Patent Appeals and InterferencesSep 23, 201190009387 (B.P.A.I. Sep. 23, 2011) Copy Citation UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 90/009,387 01/20/2009 6964688 OHI 1717-063G 9092 8698 7590 09/26/2011 STANDLEY LAW GROUP LLP 6300 Riverside Drive Dublin, OH 43017 EXAMINER DAWSON, GLENN K ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3993 MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE 09/26/2011 PAPER Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE BOARD OF PATENT APPEALS AND INTERFERENCES ____________ Ex parte OHIO WILLOW WOOD COMPANY Appellant ____________ Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 Technology Center 3900 ____________ Before ROMULO H. DELMENDO, SALLY G. LANE, and RICHARD M. LEBOVITZ, Administrative Patent Judges. DELMENDO, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 2 Ohio Willow Wood Company, the owner of the patent under reexamination, 1 appeals under 35 U.S.C. §§ 134(b) and 306 from a final rejection of claims 1-13, 16-32, 35-51, and 54-71 (Appeal Brief filed December 6, 2010, hereinafter “App. Br.,” at 4; Final Office Action mailed April 26, 2010). 2 We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. §§ 134(b) and 306. We REVERSE. STATEMENT OF THE CASE The current reexamination of the „688 Patent was ordered on April 7, 2009 based on a Third-Party Request for Reexamination filed by Dr. Aldo A. Laghi on January 20, 2009. In addition to the three earlier merged reexamination proceedings, the „688 Patent is (or has been) the subject of several civil actions, namely: The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. ALPS South Corp., Case No. 2:05-cv-01039 (S.D. Ohio); The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. DAW Industries, Inc., Case No. 2:05- cv-01038 (S.D. Ohio); ALPS South Corp. v. The Ohio Willow Wood Co., Case No. 2:09-cv-1027 (S.D. Ohio); and The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. Fillauer Cos., Inc., et al., 2:06-cv-00108 (S.D. Ohio) (App. Br. 2-3). 1 United States Patent 6,964,688 C1 originally issued to Bruce G. Kania on November 15, 2005 based on Application 09/418,505 filed October 15, 1999 (hereinafter the “„688 Patent”). A Reexamination Certificate was issued on January 13, 2009 based on three earlier merged reexamination proceedings – namely, Reexamination Control Nos. 90/008,271 filed October 5, 2006, 90/008,578 filed May 9, 2007, and 90/008,979 filed January 2, 2008. 2 The Examiner indicated that claims 14, 15, 33, 34, 52, 53, and 72 recite patentable subject matter (Final Office Action at 33-34). Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 3 We heard oral arguments on July 20, 2011, a written transcript of which was entered into the record on August 8, 2011. 3 At oral argument, the Patent Owner‟s counsel produced various specimens including three versions of the ICEROSS prior art product solely as a visual aid (Hr‟g. Tr. 4, 11-12). The invention claimed in the „688 Patent relates to a tube-shaped covering for enclosing a limb amputation stump. To aid in visualizing the invention, we reproduce below an embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 12 of the „688 Patent: 3 Oral arguments for the current appeal were consolidated with arguments for two other reexamination appeals, namely 2011-007063 (Control 90/009,310; United States Patent 7,291,182 B1) and 2011-010158 (Control 90/009,268; United States Patent 5,830,237 C1). Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 4 Figure 12 above depicts a “cushion locking liner with reinforcement” including an adapter (in this case a threaded insert) that is secured (in this case by molding) to a fabric using urethane polymer (col. 6, ll. 1-2; col. 9, ll. 14-21). Claim 1 on appeal read as follows: 1. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end, said covering comprising fabric having a coating of polymeric material residing on only an interior surface thereof, said polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with a limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, and an adapter secured to said fabric at said closed end of said covering, said adapter for coupling said covering to a socket portion of a prosthesis. Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 5 (App. Br. 43, Claims App‟x.) The Examiner relied upon the following as evidence of unpatentability (Examiner‟s Answer mailed February 1, 2011, hereinafter “Ans.,” 3-4, 6): Peterson 2,202,598 May 28, 1940 Klasson 4,923,474 May 8, 1990 Rudy 5,083,361 Jan. 28, 1992 Caspers 5,258,037 Nov. 2, 1993 Quantrille 5,334,446 Aug. 2, 1994 Faulkner 5,376,129 Dec. 27, 1994 Zook 5,497,789 Mar. 12, 1996 Pohlig 5,507,836 Apr. 16, 1996 Chen 5,633,286 May 27, 1997 Haberman 5,888,216 Mar. 30, 1999 O. Kristinsson, The ICEROSS Concept: A Discussion of a Philosophy, 17 PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS INTERNATIONAL 49-55 (1993) (hereinafter “ICEROSS”). The Patent Owner‟s “admitted prior art [regarding the Silosheath commercial product] as explained in the court decision” attached to the Examiner‟s Answer. 4 4 The record is unclear as to which specific Silosheath printed publication, if any, forms the subject of the Patent Owner‟s “admitted prior art.” The district court‟s “Order Granting Defendant‟s Motion for Summary Judgment” (page 5) refers to a “Court‟s Ex. 1,” which “is representative of a Silosheath sold in 1994” (emphasis added), but the Examiner has not identified when and where “Court‟s Ex. 1” was entered into the current proceeding. We have located in the electronic record of this proceeding at least three printed publications in the form of what appear to be advertisements or product brochures describing “Silosheath,” but we are unsure whether any of these correspond to “Court‟s Ex. 1.” In reviewing the district court‟s “Document 103” (copy attached), it appears that “Court‟s Ex. 1” refers to a physical specimen. Adding to the confusion, the Patent Owner submits what it prepared and identified as “Exhibit R1” (Reply Brief filed Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 6 The Patent Owner relied upon the following in rebuttal (Evid. App‟x, App. Br. 55): Ex. A – Request for Reexamination filed January 20, 2009. Ex. B – Excerpts from the Trial Transcript of The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. Thermo-Ply, Inc., Case No. 9:07cv274 (E.D. Tex.). Ex. C – Notice of Intent to Issue Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate in Reexamination Control Nos. 90/008,578, 90/008,271, and 90/008,979. Ex. D – Excerpts from Deposition Testimony of Jean-Paul Comtesse in The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. ALPS South Corp., Case No. C2 04 1233 (S.D. Ohio). Ex. E – ICEROSS. Ex. F – Decl. of Bruce Kania filed July 26, 2007 in Reexamination Control 90/008,271. Ex. G – Excerpts from Decl. of Robert Arbogast filed in The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. Thermo-Ply, Inc., Case No. 9:07-CV- 00274 (E.D. Tex.). The Examiner rejected the claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as follows: I. Claims 1, 2, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 50, 51, 55, 56, 61-63, 65, and 69 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS” (Ans. 6-13); II. Claims 3, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 44, 70, and 71 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of April 1, 2011 at 10), which includes a small, grainy drawing or photograph of what is identified as “SILOSHEATH” and argumentations below it. Therefore, it is difficult for us to evaluate the relied-upon admissions in the proper context of the actual underlying prior art forming the basis of the Examiner‟s rejections. Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 7 Klasson/ICEROSS, as applied above and further in view of either Pohlig or Peterson” (Ans. 13-15); III. Claims 4, 6, 7, 25, 35, 39, 40, 43, and 64 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claims 1and 2 above, and further in view of Rudy” (Ans. 15-18); IV. Claims 5 and 38 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Chen and Rudy” (Ans. 18- 19); V. Claims 8, 9, 41, and 42 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Faulkner”- 5376129” (Ans. 19-20); VI. Claims 10 and 54 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Faulkner” (Ans. 20-21); VII. Claims 11 and 48 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Quantrille” (Ans. 21); VIII. Claims 17, 21, 22, 57, 59, and 60 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and Rudy as applied to claim 4 above, and further in view of Faulkner” (Ans. 22); Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 8 IX. Claims 20 and 58 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS, Chen and Rudy, as applied to claim 5 above, and further in view of Faulkner” (Ans. 23); X. Claim 27 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 2 above, and further in view of Caspers” (Ans. 23-24); XI. Claims 28, 29, 67, and 68 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICESROSS as applied to claim 2 above, and further in view of Haberman or Zook” (Ans. 24); XII. Claim 45 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Caspers” (Ans. 25-26); XIII. Claims 46 and 47 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Haberman or Zook” (Ans. 26-27); XIV. Claim 49 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Quantrille” (Ans. 27); and Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 9 XV. Claim 66 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Caspers” (Ans. 28). ISSUES Referring to The Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. Thermo-Ply, Inc., Case No. 9:07-CV-00274 (E.D. Tex.), the Examiner asserts (Ans. 6): [P]atentee has admitted that the Silosheath (courts ex. 1 – Document 103) is prior art and that it teaches two elements of claim 1: the sheath is for enclosing an amputation stump or residual limb; the sheath has an open end for introduction of a stump and an opposite closed end; Patentee also admitted that the Silosheath had a gel which substantially conforms to the shape of the stump when worn. The Examiner acknowledges, however, that the Silosheath prior art differs in two respects. First, the Examiner states that “the gel [in Silosheath] appears to be both on the inner surface of the nylon fabric material and also bleeds through to the outer surface of the fabric material” (Ans. 7). Second, the Examiner acknowledges that the “Silosheath also fails to disclose an adapter secured . . . to an exterior surface of the fabric covering at the closed end of the covering for coupling the covering to a socket of a prosthesis” (Ans. 10). Regarding the adapter secured to the fabric (second difference), the Examiner relied on the discussion of the prior art in the „688 Patent at column 9, lines 19-47, and Klasson‟s teachings (Ans. 10). On these bases, the Examiner concluded that “[w]hen the outer layer of the liner is fabric, as is the case with the combination of the Silosheath and Klasson/ICEROSS, the securing . . . of the adapter to the fabric is nothing more than an application of a known technique to known prior art” (Ans. 10). Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 10 As a procedural matter, the Patent Owner first argues that “the Silosheath in view of the Klasson patent . . . and the commercial embodiment of the Klasson patent known as the ICEROSS sleeve fails to raise a SNQP [substantial new question of patentability] as to the rejected claims of the „688 patent” (App. Br. 13). On the substantive merits, the Patent Owner contends, inter alia, that “one of ordinary skill in the art could not have combined the elements as claimed by known methods because . . . there were no known methods for attaching a claimed insert to a fabric covering” (App. Br. 17). According to the Patent Owner, “[t]here is absolutely no support in any of the references, alone or combined, for [the Examiner‟s] conclusion [that attaching an adapter to the fabric would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art] – and the Examiner has offered none” (Reply Brief filed April 1, 2011 at 17). Based on these contentions, the dispositive issue in this appeal is: Did the Examiner identify a reason that would have prompted a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the prior art elements in the manner claimed in the „688 Patent – i.e., secure an adapter (for coupling the claimed covering to a socket portion of a prosthesis) to the fabric of the claimed covering? FINDINGS OF FACT (“FF”) 1. The „688 Patent states that “the invention cushion locking liner comprises docking means for attaching an external device, etc. to the liner” (col. 9, ll. 9-11): Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 11 2. According to the „688 Patent, “[s]uch docking means includes pins, cables, straps, Velcro ® (hook and loop type fasteners), snaps, buckles, buttons, etc. and typically those which help to attach and support a prosthetic device” (col. 9, ll. 11-14) . 3. Regarding the “docking means,” the „688 Patent states (col. 9, ll. 14-23; emphasis added): Some of these docking means are known in the art and are preferably incorporated in the cushion locking liner by means of direct molding, meaning the molding of an adapter into the fabric possibly by injection, compression, etc. molding, etc. using, preferably, urethane such as an 80 Shore A urethane (Smooth-On PMC-780) after the gel is molded to the fabric. See FIG. 12. Such docking means, including distal inserts, can be centered or can be offset to accommodate individual residual limb geometries. 4. The „688 Patent describes additional embodiments in which a docking means (e.g., VELCRO ® ) is provided on the side of the covering (col. 9, ll. 23-47; element 3 of Figure 12). 5. Figure 9 of the „688 Patent is reproduced below: Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 12 Figure 9 above depicts a “locking liner with docking means at the distal end thereof,” where the insert is molded to fabric disposed on the exterior of the liner (i.e., covering) at a closed end of the tube-shaped covering (col. 5, ll. 61-62). 6. Klasson‟s Figure 1 is reproduced below: Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 13 Klasson‟s Figure 1 above illustrates a substantially frusto- conical sleeve 1 adapted to be applied to, for example, the stump of an amputated arm or leg, where 2 denotes a coupling means for coupling of the sleeve 1 at the distal end with a prosthesis, if desired (col. 6, ll. 9-20) 7. Klasson teaches that the sleeve 1 is “made of a relatively highly elastic material, e.g., silicone (silicone is a term for so-called silicon plastics or polysiloxanes)” (col. 6, ll. ll. 11-13). 8. According to Klasson, “reinforcement 4 and/or other inelastic reinforcement may, if desired, completely or partially be applied to the outside of the sleeve, which will prevent longitudinal stretching “ and “such an outer reinforcement layer may be made friction reducing for the sleeve to be more easily inserted into a prosthetic sleeve or the like” (col. 6, l. 63 to col. 7, l. 2). Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 14 PRINCIPLES OF LAW The Supreme Court of the United States explained that “a patent composed of several elements is not proved obvious merely by demonstrating that each of its elements was, independently, known in the prior art.” KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 418 (2007). “Although common sense directs one to look with care at a patent application that claims . . . the combination of two known devices according to their established functions, it can be important to identify a reason that would have prompted a person of ordinary skill . . . to combine the elements in the way the claimed new invention does.” Id. While the Supreme Court warned against “[r]igid preventative rules that deny factfinders recourse to common sense,” it also stated that the “factfinder should be aware . . . of the distortion caused by hindsight bias and must be cautious of arguments reliant upon ex post reasoning.” Id. at 421. “It is necessary to consider everything appellants have said about what is prior art to determine the exact scope of their admission.” In re Nomiya, 509 F.2d 566, 571 (CCPA 1975). ANALYSIS We cannot affirm the Examiner‟s rejections. Each of the claims on appeal requires an adapter secured to the fabric at a closed end of the claimed covering for the purpose of coupling the covering to a socket portion of prosthesis. Such an adapter may be provided in the form of a distal insert or docking means as shown in Figure 9 (FF 5) or a threaded insert as shown in Figure 12, both reproduced above. Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 15 In concluding that a person of ordinary skill in the art would have found it obvious to modify Silosheath to include an adapter secured to fabric, the Examiner appears to have misunderstood the inventor‟s discussion regarding the adapters or docking means. Specifically, the „688 Patent enumerates exemplary docking means that may be used to couple the liner (covering) with a prosthetic device (FF 1, 2). The „688 Patent does acknowledge that “[s]ome of the docking means are known in the art” (FF 3). But that is the extent of the inventor‟s admission (FF 3). The relied- upon disclosure of the „688 Patent does not say that the securement of such known docking means to the fabric of a covering was also known in the art. Nomiya, 509 F.2d at 571. The Examiner asserts that “[t]here would have been a myriad of different attachment techniques available to the skilled artisan and the examiner concludes that molding the insert to the fabric would have been an obvious attachment method at the time of the invention” (Ans. 36). The Examiner, however, has not directed us to sufficient evidence or other reasoning to support a finding that such “myriad of different attachment techniques” to the fabric of the sleeve were known to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. The Examiner concluded that attachment to the fabric would have been obvious, but did not provide an adequate evidentiary basis for this conclusion. Absent such evidence or reasoning, we cannot say that the Examiner “identif[ied] a reason that would have prompted a person of ordinary skill . . . to combine the elements in the way the claimed new invention does.” KSR, 550 U.S. at 418. Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 16 The Examiner‟s reliance on the „688 Patent disclosure at column 9, lines 23-47 does not cure the deficiency in the proposed combination of references. That disclosure has not been shown to be an admission (FF 4). Moreover, the relied-upon disclosure relates to alternative embodiments that are not particularly relevant to an adapter that is secured to fabric at a closed end of the covering. The relied-upon disclosure of Klasson is equally unavailing. While Klasson does teach the provision of coupling means 2 disposed at a closed end of a conical sleeve, the Examiner has not identified sufficient evidence that a person of ordinary skill in the art would have reasonably expected that such a coupling means could successfully be secured to fabric. For these reasons, we conclude that the Examiner erred in failing to identify a reason that would have prompted a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the prior art elements in the manner claimed in the „688 Patent. Because we have reversed the rejections on the merits, we need not address the SNQP question. CONCLUSION The Examiner‟s rejections of: I. Claims 1, 2, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 50, 51, 55, 56, 61-63, 65, and 69 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS” (Ans.6-13); Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 17 II. Claims 3, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 44, 70, and 71 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS, as applied above and further in view of either Pohlig or Peterson” (Ans. 13-15); III. Claims 4, 6, 7, 25, 35, 39, 40, 43, and 64 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claims 1and 2 above, and further in view of Rudy” (Ans. 15-18); IV. Claims 5 and 38 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Chen and Rudy” (Ans. 18- 19); V. Claims 8, 9, 41, and 42 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Faulkner”- 5376129” (Ans. 19-20); VI. Claims 10 and 54 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Faulkner” (Ans. 20-21); VII. Claims 11 and 48 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath as modified by Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Quantrille” (Ans. 21); VIII. Claims 17, 21, 22, 57, 59, and 60 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and Rudy as Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 18 applied to claim 4 above, and further in view of Faulkner” (Ans. 22); IX. Claims 20 and 58 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS, Chen and Rudy, as applied to claim 5 above, and further in view of Faulkner” (Ans. 23); X. Claim 27 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 2 above, and further in view of Caspers” (Ans. 23-24); XI. Claims 28, 29, 67, and 68 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICESROSS as applied to claim 2 above, and further in view of Haberman or Zook” (Ans. 24); XII. Claim 45 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Caspers” (Ans. 25-26); XIII. Claims 46 and 47 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Haberman or Zook” (Ans. 26-27); XIV. Claim 49 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS and either Pohlig or Peterson as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Quantrille” (Ans. 27); and Appeal 2011-008483 Reexamination Control 90/009,387 Patent 6,964,688 C1 19 XV. Claim 66 as “unpatentable over the Silosheath in view of Klasson/ICEROSS as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Caspers” (Ans. 28), are reversed. Therefore, the Examiner‟s decision to reject claims 1-13, 16-32, 35- 51, and 54-71 is reversed. Requests for extensions of time in this ex parte reexamination proceeding are governed by 37 C.F.R. § 1.550(c). See 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(f). REVERSED rvb PATENT OWNER: ERIC M. GAYAN STANDLEY LAW GROUP LLP 6300 RIVERSIDE DRIVE DUBLIN, OHIO 43017 THIRD-PARTY REQUESTER: DR. ALDO A. LAGHI c/o RONALD A. CHRISTALDI SHUMAKER, LOOP & KENDRICK, LLP 101 EAST KENNEDY BLVD., SUITE 2800 TAMPA, FL 33602 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS LUFKIN DIVISION THE OHIO WILLOW WOOD COMPANY Plaintiff, v. THERMO-PLY, INC. Defendant. § § § § § § § § § § Civil Action No. 9:07-CV-274 JUDGE RON CLARK ORDER On April 17, 2009, a Silosheath was jointly submitted, at the court’s request, by Plaintiff The Ohio Willow Wood Company, Defendant Thermo-Ply, Inc., and Intervenor Coastal Liners, Inc. See Doc. # 73. According to the parties, this Silosheath was continuously in the custody of OWW or its counsel between February 27, 1998 and the date it was submitted to the court. Id. at p. 1. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that this Silosheath be labeled as “Court’s Ex. 1” and shall be part of the record in this case. Case 9:07-cv-00274-RC Document 103 Filed 11/18/2009 Page 1 of 1 Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation