DCT

1:25-cv-00644

Go Fan Yourself LLC v. Uv Partners Inc

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I. Executive Summary and Procedural Information

  • Parties & Counsel:
  • Case Identification: 1:25-cv-00644, W.D. Mich., 06/10/2025
  • Venue Allegations: Plaintiff alleges venue is proper in the Western District of Michigan because Defendant is a Michigan corporation with its principal place of business in the district, and has a regular and established place of business there.
  • Core Dispute: Plaintiff alleges that Defendant’s UV Angel Clean Air line of products infringes six U.S. patents related to ceiling-mounted air circulation and purification systems that utilize enclosed ultraviolet (UV) light.
  • Technical Context: The technology concerns self-contained air treatment units, designed to fit within standard ceiling tile grids, that use fans and germicidal UV-C light to disinfect air in occupied indoor spaces.
  • Key Procedural History: The complaint alleges that Plaintiff provided Defendant with pre-suit notice of infringement on February 5, 2024, including claim charts detailing alleged infringement of four of the six patents-in-suit, which may form the basis for allegations of willful infringement.

Case Timeline

Date Event
2016-12-28 Earliest Priority Date for all Patents-in-Suit
2019-03-05 U.S. Patent No. 10,221,857 Issues
2019-06-11 U.S. Patent No. 10,316,141 Issues
2020-06-02 U.S. Patent No. 10,670,026 Issues
2021-06-08 U.S. Patent No. 11,028,223 Issues
2022-02-22 U.S. Patent No. 11,255,336 Issues
2022-05-17 U.S. Patent No. 11,332,573 Issues
2024-02-05 Plaintiff sends pre-suit notice letter to Defendant
2025-06-10 Complaint Filed

II. Technology and Patent(s)-in-Suit Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 10,316,141 - "Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism and UV Air Purifying Device"

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 10,316,141, titled “Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism and UV Air Purifying Device,” issued June 11, 2019.

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: The patent’s background section identifies the need for a self-contained “virus or bacteria kill chamber” that can circulate and purify air within a closed environment, such as an office or hospital room, and operate separately from a building’s primary HVAC system while fitting within the footprint of a typical ceiling tile (’141 Patent, col. 2:40-49).
  • The Patented Solution: The invention is an air purifying device housed within a ceiling-tile-sized fixture. A fan draws room air into an internal chamber where baffles guide the airflow through a “kill zone” created by a UV-C light source. This structure is designed to decontaminate the air before returning it to the room while safely containing the UV radiation within the device (’141 Patent, Abstract; col. 3:17-44).
  • Technical Importance: This design provides a modular, retrofittable unit for improving air quality in sensitive environments without requiring expensive modifications to a building's central HVAC infrastructure (Compl. ¶20, 26).

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint asserts independent claims 1 and 11, as well as dependent claims 3 and 12-13 (Compl. ¶44). The allegations focus on claim 11.
  • Independent Claim 11 requires:
    • An air purifying device comprising:
    • a lower baffle configured the size of a ceiling tile, wherein the lower baffle includes a fan portion and a vent portion;
    • an upper baffle adjacent the lower baffle configured to form an air chamber between the lower baffle and the upper baffle;
    • a fan positioned in the fan portion of the lower baffle, wherein said fan directs air between the air chamber and the vent portion; and
    • a UV-C light fixture positioned in the air chamber wherein the UV-C light fixture emits UV light to form a kill zone within the air chamber capable of killing bacteria, viruses or microbes contained in air passing through the kill zone.

U.S. Patent No. 10,670,026 - "Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism"

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 10,670,026, titled “Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism,” issued June 2, 2020.

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: The patent addresses the need for a supplemental air circulation system, separate from a building’s HVAC, that can safely incorporate a germicidal UV light source within a self-enclosed “kill chamber” designed to prevent UV light from escaping into the room (’026 Patent, col. 2:40-49).
  • The Patented Solution: The patent describes an air circulation device with a housing shaped like a ceiling tile. The device contains a fan, a vent, and a baffle that defines an airway between them. A UV kill chamber is mounted within this airway and includes a UV light source and a "UV-shield" specifically adapted to block the UV light from exiting the device (’026 Patent, Abstract; col. 4:24-30).
  • Technical Importance: The invention's explicit inclusion of a "UV-shield" addresses the critical safety challenge of containing potentially harmful UV-C radiation, which is necessary for the technology's deployment in continuously occupied spaces (Compl. ¶21).

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint asserts independent claim 1, as well as dependent claims 2 and 7-16 (Compl. ¶71). The allegations focus on claim 1.
  • Independent Claim 1 requires:
    • An air circulation device, comprising:
    • a housing configured in the shape of a housing ceiling tile;
    • a first fan mounted to the housing;
    • a first vent in the housing;
    • a baffle, mounted to the housing, and defining at least a first airway between the fan and the first vent;
    • a UV kill chamber mounted in the first airway; and
    • the UV kill chamber includes a UV light source and a UV-shield adapted to block UV light generated by the UV light source from exiting the first airway.

Other Patents-in-Suit

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 10,221,857, titled “Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism,” issued March 5, 2019 (Compl. ¶12).

  • Technology Synopsis: This patent describes an air purifying device integrated into a ceiling tile. The device includes a fan, a baffle defining an airway, and a UV light source mounted in the airway. The invention specifies that the airway accommodates a UV-reflective material and includes a UV-screen to block light from exiting (’857 Patent, Abstract; Compl. ¶141).

  • Asserted Claims: Claim 10 (Compl. ¶140).

  • Accused Features: The complaint alleges that the UV Angel Clean Air device is an air purifying device that fits into a ceiling grid and uses a fan, baffle, and a UV light source within an airway to purify air (Compl. ¶¶142-147).

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 11,028,223, titled “Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism and UV Air Purifying Device,” issued June 8, 2021 (Compl. ¶15).

  • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims an air purifying device comprising a face-plate configured to the size of a ceiling tile, a cover forming an air chamber, a fan, a UV-C light fixture creating a kill zone within the chamber, and a baffle to direct air and prohibit UV light from exiting. The claims focus on the arrangement of a face-plate and cover to form the air chamber (’223 Patent, Abstract; Compl. ¶94).

  • Asserted Claims: Claims 1-7 and 14-17 (Compl. ¶93).

  • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the accused device has a face-plate sized as a ceiling tile, a cover forming an air chamber, a fan, a UV-C light fixture, and a baffle in the form of a "sealed chamber" that directs air and contains UV light (Compl. ¶¶95-100).

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 11,255,336, titled “Ceiling Tile with Built-in Air Flow Mechanism,” issued February 22, 2022 (Compl. ¶16).

  • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims an air circulation device with a housing configured to be joined to a building structure. It includes a fan, vent, baffle defining an airway, and a UV kill chamber with a light source and a UV-shield. The claim scope is broad, covering a housing joined to a "structure of a building" rather than being limited to a ceiling tile shape (’336 Patent, Claim 1; Compl. ¶117).

  • Asserted Claims: Claims 1-2, 7, and 10-16 (Compl. ¶116).

  • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the accused device has a housing that is joined to a building's ceiling grid, along with the fan, vent, baffle, and UV kill chamber with a UV shield (Compl. ¶¶118-124).

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 11,332,573, titled “Combination Built-in Air Flow Mechanism,” issued May 17, 2022 (Compl. ¶17; ’573 Patent, Date of Patent).

  • Technology Synopsis: This patent is directed to an air purifying device in a "recessed fixture" configured to fit into a ceiling. The housing portion, including upper and lower baffles, forms a UV-C kill chamber. The invention also claims a "light protection plate" positioned at the exit of the kill chamber to prohibit UV light from escaping (’573 Patent, Abstract; Compl. ¶164).

  • Asserted Claims: Claims 1-2, 13, and 14-19 (Compl. ¶163).

  • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the accused device is a recessed fixture for a ceiling that includes a housing with upper and lower baffles forming a UV-C kill chamber, a fan, a UV-C light fixture, and a light protection plate (Compl. ¶¶165-173).

III. The Accused Instrumentality

Product Identification

  • The UV Angel Clean Air devices ("Accused Devices") (Compl. ¶29).

Functionality and Market Context

  • The complaint describes the Accused Devices as air purification units designed for installation into the ceiling tile grid of a building (Compl. ¶32). They allegedly operate by using fans to draw ambient air into a "sealed UV-C air chamber" where it is treated with "enclosed high-intensity UV-C light" to reduce the concentration of bacteria, viruses, and fungi (Compl. ¶30, 33). An image from Defendant's materials shows the device installed in a ceiling grid with arrows illustrating the intake of untreated air and the expulsion of treated air (Compl. p. 7). The complaint alleges these devices are marketed for use in hospitals, corporate offices, retail locations, and hotels, and that they operate independently of a building’s main HVAC system (Compl. ¶32, 37).

IV. Analysis of Infringement Allegations

10,316,141 Patent Infringement Allegations

Claim Element (from Independent Claim 11) Alleged Infringing Functionality Complaint Citation Patent Citation
a lower baffle configured the size of a ceiling tile, wherein the lower baffle includes a fan portion and a vent portion; The Accused Device is allegedly "Designed directly into a traditional ceiling light fixture" and includes a fan and a vent as part of its lower structure. An annotated, exploded-view diagram identifies a "Lower Baffle." ¶47, 48, p. 13 col. 5:48-51
an upper baffle adjacent the lower baffle configured to form an air chamber between the lower baffle and the upper baffle; The Accused Device allegedly has an upper baffle and a lower baffle that form an air chamber. An annotated diagram identifies an "Upper Baffle" and the "Air Chamber" it forms with the lower baffle. ¶49, 50, p. 13 col. 6:49-52
a fan positioned in the fan portion of the lower baffle, wherein said fan directs air between the air chamber and the vent portion; The Accused Device allegedly includes a fan in its lower portion that directs air into and through the air chamber towards the vent portion. ¶51, 52 col. 6:49-54
a UV-C light fixture positioned in the air chamber wherein the UV-C light fixture emits UV light to form a kill zone within the air chamber capable of killing bacteria, viruses or microbes... The Accused Device allegedly has a "high-intensity UV-C light" inside a "completely sealed chamber" that creates a UVC "kill zone" to inactivate bacteria, viruses, and microbes in the passing air. ¶53, 54, 55 col. 3:31-34

10,670,026 Patent Infringement Allegations

Claim Element (from Independent Claim 1) Alleged Infringing Functionality Complaint Citation Patent Citation
a housing configured in the shape of a housing ceiling tile; The Accused Device is allegedly an air circulation device with a housing designed for installation in a ceiling tile grid. An annotated image depicts "A Housing Configured in the Shape of a Housing Ceiling Tile." ¶73, 74, p. 19 col. 6:8-11
a first fan mounted to the housing; The Accused Device allegedly includes a fan mounted within its housing. ¶75 col. 5:31-32
a first vent in the housing; The Accused Device allegedly includes a vent within its housing through which treated air is returned to the room. ¶75 col. 6:55-56
a baffle, mounted to the housing, and defining at least a first airway between the fan and the first vent; The Accused Device allegedly has internal structures (baffles) that define an airway for air to travel from the fan to the vent. An annotated diagram shows the "Fan" and "First Airway." ¶75, p. 19 col. 2:52-54
a UV kill chamber mounted in the first airway; The Accused Device allegedly has a "UV Kill Chamber" mounted in the first airway where air treatment occurs. ¶76 col. 4:26-27
the UV kill chamber includes a UV light source and a UV-shield adapted to block UV light... from exiting the first airway. The Accused Device's "UV Kill Chamber" allegedly includes a UV light source and is a "completely sealed chamber," which allegedly functions as a UV-shield to block UV light from exiting. ¶77, p. 20 col. 13:40-44
  • Identified Points of Contention:
    • Structural Identity Questions: The infringement allegations for the ’141 Patent depend on mapping the claim terms "lower baffle" and "upper baffle" onto the accused product's structure. Defendant may argue that its product has a single integrated housing or chamber, not the distinct upper and lower baffle components required by claim 11. The complaint attempts to preempt this by labeling parts of an exploded diagram as "Upper Baffle" and "Lower Baffle" (Compl. p. 13).
    • Scope Questions: For the ’026 Patent, a central issue may be the interpretation of "UV-shield." The complaint alleges that the "completely sealed chamber" of the accused product serves as the claimed shield (Compl. ¶77). The question for the court will be whether a general housing that contains light meets the definition of a "UV-shield adapted to block" light, or if the claim requires a more specific or distinct component dedicated to that shielding function, such as the "UV-screen" disclosed in patent embodiments (’026 Patent, col. 13:40-41).

V. Key Claim Terms for Construction

  • The Term: "baffle" (’141 Patent, claim 11)

  • Context and Importance: Claim 11 requires both a "lower baffle" and an "upper baffle" that cooperate to form an "air chamber." The viability of the infringement allegation will depend on whether the single housing of the accused device can be interpreted as comprising these two separate baffle elements. Practitioners may focus on this term because the complaint's visual evidence appears to conceptually divide a single housing into two "baffles" to meet the claim language (Compl. p. 13).

  • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:

    • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The specification provides functional descriptions, stating a baffle is "configured to direct air to the kill zone" (’141 Patent, col. 18:19-20, from claim 14 of the family). This could support an argument that any surface within the device that directs airflow serves as a "baffle."
    • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: Figures in the patent family depict distinct upper (1610) and lower (1620, 1621) structures (’141 Patent, Fig. 16A). This may support an argument that the term "baffle" as used in claim 11 requires physically separate or distinct components as shown in the preferred embodiments, not just different surfaces of a unitary housing.

  • The Term: "UV-shield" (’026 Patent, claim 1)

  • Context and Importance: The infringement reading hinges on whether the accused product's "sealed chamber" meets the "UV-shield" limitation. If the term is construed to require a separate component distinct from the main housing, the infringement argument may be weakened.

  • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:

    • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The claim describes the shield functionally as being "adapted to block UV light...from exiting the first airway" (’026 Patent, col. 18:61-63). This language could support a broad interpretation where any part of the housing that performs this blocking function constitutes the "shield."
    • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: The specification discloses a specific embodiment of this element as a "UV-screen in the form of flange 1650" which is attached to the end of the airway to "shield UV rays from exiting" (’026 Patent, col. 13:40-44). This could support a narrower construction limited to a screen-like or flange-like structure placed at an exit point, rather than the entire opaque housing.

VI. Other Allegations

  • Indirect Infringement: The complaint alleges induced infringement for each of the six asserted patents, stating that Defendant induces use of the infringing products by its customers (e.g., Compl. ¶61, 83, 106). The complaint does not cite specific instructional materials, user manuals, or marketing that allegedly instruct on an infringing use.
  • Willful Infringement: Willfulness is alleged for all six patents. The allegations are based on Defendant's alleged knowledge of the patents and their infringement since at least February 5, 2024, the date Plaintiff sent a notice letter that allegedly included claim charts for four of the patents (’141, ’026, ’223, and ’336 Patents) (Compl. ¶38, 57, 62). Plaintiff alleges that Defendant’s continued infringement after receiving this notice was deliberate and objectively reckless.

VII. Analyst’s Conclusion: Key Questions for the Case

  • A central issue will be one of structural correspondence: does the accused product's integrated "sealed UV chamber" embody the distinct structural elements recited in the claims, such as separate "upper" and "lower" baffles (’141 Patent) and a "UV-shield" (’026 Patent), or is there a fundamental mismatch between the claimed architecture and the accused product's design?
  • A key question of claim construction will be definitional scope: should claim terms like "baffle" and "shield" be interpreted broadly based on their stated function (e.g., any surface that directs air or blocks light), or should their meaning be narrowed by the more specific physical structures disclosed in the patents' written descriptions and figures?
  • An evidentiary question will center on willfulness: what was the specific content of the February 5, 2024 notice letter, and does the evidence show that Defendant acted with objective recklessness by continuing its allegedly infringing conduct after being put on notice of Plaintiff’s specific allegations?