PlasDECK News
July 22, 2010 - INJUNCTION ON PlasDECK IS TERMINATED
DUE TO THE REJECTION OF PATENT USED BY FLEXITEEK.
PlasDECK extends gratitude to their customers and
installers for their support!
Akron, OH, USA: Another chapter unfolds in the “David
versus Goliath” patent case between two competing
companies, PlasDECK and Flexiteek. PlasDECK, Inc.
recently received notice that the injunction placed on
the company’s synthetic teak decking material has been
terminated by the U.S. District Court Judge in Southern
Florida because the U.S. Patent Office has rejected the
Whitaker patent used by Flexiteek (#6,895,881 a.k.a. the
“’881 Patent”). The patent was rejected on two counts.
The first count states that the patent was anticipated
by an earlier patent, and the second states that it is
obvious in view of three other patents.
This decision has been awaited by PlasDECK. Because the
issues in this patent case refer to the underside of the
decking material, PlasDECK has been offering a product
with an embossed bottom to eliminate any remote
possibility of infringement. However, the removal of the
injunction will allow PlasDECK to manufacture, sell, and
install any of their products, worldwide. After the
lengthy and expensive court case with Flexiteek
International AS, a large multi-national corporation
from Norway, PlasDECK is pleased that their position has
been recognized by the U.S. Patent Office and the
Federal District Court.
“We would like to publicly extend our gratitude to our
customers and installers for their support and patience
over the past year as we have been working to resolve
these issues. We haven’t lost a single OEM customer and
the list of boat manufacturers that use our products
continues to grow.” says Bill Gribble, President of
PlasDECK, Inc. “It’s been a real battle of David and
Goliath, but the public’s support for our company has
helped us through these trying times.”
PlasDECK comes from the makers of PlasTEAK, a small
family-owned U.S. company that has worked hard to earn
its place in the marine industry over the past fifteen
years. PlasDECK, the only synthetic teak decking that’s
made in the USA, now has two U.S. Patents (#7,578,251
and #7,617,791) that successfully validate the unique
state-of-the-art properties of their decking material.
PlasDECK has always remained confident of the innovative
design and formula of their product and will keep
working to improve their material.
April 2010
-PLASDECK INC. IS FEATURED IN "PONTOON & DECK BOATS MAGAZINE"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE
February 8, 2010
-U.S. PATENT OFFICE REJECTS THE
WHITAKER PATENT USED BY FLEXITEEK
Akron, OH, USA: PlasDECK, Inc.
has recently received notice from the U.S. Patent Office stating
that the U.S. patent held by Derek Whitaker and used by the
Norwegian synthetic decking company, Flexiteek International AS,
has been rejected. Upon re-examination of this patent, the U.S.
Patent Office has rejected patent #6,895,881 (the “’881 Patent”)
with the conclusion that the patent does not provide sufficient
parameters to demonstrate any uniqueness or originality of their
product.
On January 29, 2010, the patent was rejected by the U.S. Patent
Office on two counts. The first count (per 35 USC 102) states
that the patent was anticipated by an earlier pre-existing
patent, Kemerer #4,290,248, and therefore the ‘881 Patent is not
unique. The second count (per 35 USC 103) states that the
rejection of Flexiteek’s patent is obvious in view of three
other patents: Baldwin #329,616; Stucky #6,344,268; and Muller
#6,527,532. These patents describe products that are considered
to be “prior art” because they were released before the ‘881
Patent. Each patent contains elements of the Whitaker’s patent.
Because Flexiteek will no longer have a valid U.S. patent to
infringe upon, PlasDECK and PlasTEAK expect that this ruling
will exonerate them from the patent litigation that Flexiteek
has been pursuing against them. In the meanwhile, since the
issues in this patent case refer to the underside of the decking
material, PlasDECK will be offering a product with an embossed
bottom to eliminate any remote possibility of infringement.
“It’s been a real battle of David versus Goliath,” says Bill
Gribble, President of PlasDECK, Inc. “From the first days of its
development, we have created PlasDECK to be the next generation
of synthetic decking, to be completely different from anything
else on the market, and to perform better than the first
generation products. We did not infringe and we believe that the
latest ruling against Flexiteek represents a clear victory for
our company, for our customers and installers, and for the
continuation of free and competitive markets in the marine
industry in the U.S. and internationally.”
PlasDECK, the only synthetic teak decking that’s made in the USA
and now has two U.S. Patents, comes from the makers of PlasTEAK,
a small family-owned U.S. company that has worked hard to earn
its place in the marine industry over the past fifteen years.
PlasDECK has always remained confident of the innovative design
of their decking material. After the lengthy and expensive court
case with Flexiteek, a large multi-national corporation from
Norway, PlasDECK is pleased that their position has been
recognized by the U.S. Patent Office. PlasDECK has been issued
two U.S. patents (#7,578,251 and #7,617,791) that successfully
validate the unique state-of-the-art properties of their decking
material. The granting of these patents recognizes that PlasDECK
is considerably different from competing products. PlasDECK
continues to be confident of the uniqueness of their decking
material and will keep working to improve their product.
Click here to read the official notice from the US Patent
Office.
-###-
December 23, 2009 - PlasDECK receives a patent in
South Africa
Akron,
OH, USA: PlasTEAK
Inc. has received a patent in South Africa for their
synthetic teak decking material, PlasDECK. PlasDECK has been
granted South
African patent #2008/09157. The company looks forward to
promoting its decking to the South African marine industry
and will begin to seek distributors of PlasDECK in that
country.
December 2, 2009 -
The
U.S.
patent office issues another patent for
PlasDECK
PlasDECK has
U.S.
patents 7,578,251 and
7,617,791
Akron,
OH, USA:
The U.S. Patent Office has issued a second patent for
PlasDECK, the only USA manufacturer of synthetic teak
boat decking.
PlasDECK’s patents have been pending and the issuance of
this second patent validates the unique state-of-the-art
properties of their decking material. The granting of
the patent recognizes that PlasDECK is considerably
different from competing products. The patent declares
that PlasDECK has a unique formulation of PVC that
allows it to become a peel-and-stick product with a
pressure sensitive adhesive backing.
PlasDECK
comes from the makers of PlasTEAK, a small family-owned
US company who has worked hard to earn its place in the
marine industry over the past fifteen years.
“We are
pleased that both of our patents have been issued,” says
Bill Gribble, President of PlasDECK. “It’s the distinct
differences in PlasDECK’s material that have given us a
competitive edge in the decking market in comparison to
earlier products. That’s why we have marketed PlasDECK
as the next generation of synthetic decking.”
PlasDECK has promoted itself as the next generation of
synthetic boat decking because it has been formulated
specifically to eliminate many of the problems
encountered with synthetic decking in the past. The
makers of PlasDECK have gone to the base material and
improved it from the inside out by using a unique
proprietary process involving non-migrating plasticizers
which prevent the plastic from drying out. PlasDECK also
contains the highest UV protection to prevent fading,
anti-fungal agents to stop mildew, and an
embossed bottom
that will ensure maximum adhesion and will not trap air
like decking products with grooved bottoms. The color
and graining of PlasDECK gives the material its unique
and realistic appearance. PlasDECK looks more like
freshly oiled natural teak wood.
PlasDECK
is confident of the uniqueness of their decking material
and will keep working to improve their product. The
company is currently developing a new boat decking
product called CoolTEAK which will feel cooler than
existing products even in hot summer sun.
September 15, 2009 - PlasTEAK opens new
facility to showcase their recycled plastic products.
PlasTEAK, Inc. has officially opened a larger facility
in Akron, OH to help them meet the increased demand for
their recycled plastic lumber and products. Previously
located at 3563 Copley Road in Akron, PlasTEAK’s new
location is at 3489 Sawmill Road where they have spent
the past few years renovating an old factory building.
The remodeled 43,000 square foot building will help
PlasTEAK to better serve their customers since the
company had outgrown their previous facility. Sawmill
will be the new headquarters for PlasTEAK, Inc. and
includes all of their offices and all of their
manufacturing space. All of PlasTEAK’s products are made
in the USA and the majority of the products that they
build are crafted locally, in Akron.
PlasTEAK has been in business for the past
fifteen years. As an innovator in recycled plastic
products for the marine industry, PlasTEAK offers a
variety of boat products, specializing in the
replacement of natural teak. In the marine industry, the
name PlasTEAK has become synonymous with synthetic teak
products. They offer swim platforms, bow pulpits, custom
teak duplication, handrails, interior teak & holly
flooring, boat decking, and other durable
maintenance-free alternatives to natural wood.
June
8, 2009 - PlasDECK is featured on Pleasure Boater.
On
June 8, 2009, television viewers were able to watch the
debut of a PlasDECK installation on the popular boating
TV show, Pleasure Boater. Pleasure Boater provides a
half hour packed with some of the most beautiful
motoryachts and boats in the marine industry. Combine
that with highlights of the most innovative products
available in the boating industry, such as PlasDECK, and
Pleasure Boater is a must see for boating enthusiasts
throughout the country. The June 8 episode of Pleasure
Boater features the President of PlasDECK, Bill Gribble,
as he walks the viewer through a step-by step
installation of PlasDECK synthetic decking.
CLICK HERE TO
WATCH THE VIDEO!
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