Njoy Inc v. Juul Labs Inc

Prosecution History analysis

Examiner Search analysis

Invalidity Framework analysis

Petition

Petition Analysis

## 1. Case Identification
- Patent #: [11,134,722](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/11134722)
- Filed: December 5, 2023
- Petitioner(s): [NJOY, LLC](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/njoy-inc) and NJOY HOLDINGS, INC.
- Patent Owner(s): [JUUL LABS, INC.](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/juul-labs-inc)
- Challenged Claims: 1, 5, 7, 9-14, and 15-21

## 2. Patent Overview
- Title: Electronic Cigarette
- Brief Description: The [’722](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/11134722) patent relates to an e-cigarette device comprising a cartomizer (containing a liquid, wicking element, and heating element) and a battery portion with a chamber to receive the cartomizer. Additional claimed features include the placement of the heating element, location of charging contacts, a magnetic connection between the cartomizer and battery, and a translucent window for viewing the liquid level.

## 3. Grounds for Unpatentability

#### Ground 1: Claims 1, 5, 7, 9-13, 15-16, and 18-21 are obvious over Pan in view of Levin.
- **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) (Patent 8,205,622) and [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) (Patent 9,427,022).
- **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** Petitioner asserted that [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024), a primary reference, disclosed the fundamental structure of a two-part vaporizer with a battery portion (inhaler) and a cartomizer (atomizer) that is insertable into a chamber. [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) taught the key elements of the cartomizer, including a liquid container, a wicking element ("heat equalizer"), and a heating element. Petitioner argued that [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003), a secondary reference, supplied the missing elements of a micro-USB charging port with a plurality of electrical contacts and a magnetic coupling mechanism, both well-known features in the art for e-vapor devices.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** Petitioner argued a POSITA would combine [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) and [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) for two primary reasons. First, to add a convenient charging method, as [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) disclosed a rechargeable battery but no external charging contacts. [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) taught using a standard micro-USB port at the distal end of the device for ease of use. Second, to replace [Pan's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) threaded or plug-type connection with [Levin's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) magnetic coupling, which was known to be easier to use, more reliable, and self-aligning compared to mechanical connections that could jam or wear out.
    - **Expectation of Success:** A POSITA would have a reasonable expectation of success because both references related to two-part e-cigarettes, and the proposed modifications involved incorporating standardized, well-understood components (micro-USB ports, magnets) into predictable locations on the device body without altering their fundamental functions.

#### Ground 2: Claims 14 and 17 are obvious over Pan and Levin, further in view of Tucker.
- **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) (Patent 8,205,622), [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) (Patent 9,427,022), and [Tucker](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1034) (Application # 2013/0192623).
- **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** This ground built upon the combination of [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) and [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) from Ground 1. Petitioner argued that the combination already taught all limitations of claims 14 and 17, which depended from claims with magnetic coupling and charging contacts, except for the "window" limitation. [Tucker](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1034) was introduced to supply this missing element, as it explicitly disclosed an e-cigarette with a transparent window in its outer shell to allow a user to see the amount of remaining liquid.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** A POSA would be motivated to add [Tucker's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1034) window to the [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024)/[Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) device to provide a convenient visual indicator for when the cartridge needs replacing. This feature prevented "dry hits" (inhaling from a depleted cartridge) and addressed a known issue in the art. The motivation was to improve user convenience and safety.
    - **Expectation of Success:** Success was expected because creating a window by using transparent plastic or cutting an opening in the device's shell was a simple and common design modification in the field, and [Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024) itself disclosed that its components could be made of plastic.

#### Ground 3: Claims 1, 5, 7, 9-13, 15-16, and 18-21 are obvious over Thorens788 in view of Thorens231 and Levin.
- **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Thorens788](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1004) (WO 2011/160788), [Thorens231](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1002) (Patent 8,794,231), and [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) (Patent 9,427,022).
- **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** Petitioner presented [Thorens788](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1004) as an alternative primary reference disclosing a two-piece aerosol generator with a housing (battery portion) and a replaceable cartomizer containing a liquid, wick, and heating coil. [Thorens231](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1002), which shared common inventors and described a similar device, was used to supplement the disclosure of a mouthpiece housing. [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) was again used to add a micro-USB charging port and a magnetic coupling mechanism, which [Thorens788](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1004) lacked.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** A POSA would combine these references for reasons similar to Ground 1. [Thorens788](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1004) and [Thorens231](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1002) would be combined as they were substantially similar devices from the same inventors. [Levin's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003) USB charging and magnetic coupling features would be incorporated to enhance convenience, ergonomics, and reliability over the simple "releasably locked" mechanism described but not detailed in [Thorens788](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1004).
    - **Expectation of Success:** There was a high expectation of success as the combination involved integrating established and predictable e-vaporizer components. Adding magnets and a standard charging port were routine modifications in the art.

- **Additional Grounds:** Petitioner asserted an additional obviousness challenge (Ground 4) for claims 14 and 17 based on the combination of [Thorens788](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1004), [Thorens231](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1002), and [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003), further in view of [Tucker](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1034), relying on the same motivation to add a viewing window as articulated in Ground 2.

## 4. Key Claim Construction Positions
- For the purposes of the petition, Petitioner adopted the Patent Owner's proposed constructions from a related ITC investigation for several key terms to demonstrate that the claims were obvious even under the Patent Owner's interpretations.
- **"wicking element":** "any material through which liquid may be drawn via capillary action."
- **"heating element":** "a conductive material shaped into a wire, coil, or flat ribbon that generates heat in response to current."
- **"window":** The parties agreed to construe this as an "opening or slit on or proximate to the shell through which the cartomizer is viewed."

## 6. Arguments Regarding Discretionary Denial
- Petitioner argued that the Board should not exercise its discretion to deny institution under §325(d). Although the asserted prior art references ([Pan](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1024), [Levin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1003), Thorens, [Tucker](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2024-00123/doc/1034)) were cited in an Information Disclosure Statement during prosecution, they were part of over 1,600 cited references. Petitioner contended that nothing in the record suggested the examiner substantively evaluated or appreciated the specific teachings of these references, as the examiner never used them as the basis for any rejection or otherwise discussed them.

## 7. Relief Requested
- Petitioner requested institution of an inter partes review and cancellation of claims 1, 5, 7, 9-14, and 15-21 of the [’722](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/11134722) patent as unpatentable.

NJOY targets JUUL's e-cigarette patent, challenging 16 claims as obvious over Pan & Levin art for adding magnetic coupling & a viewing window.

IPR2024-00267

Njoy Inc v. Juul Labs Inc