An image of HP’s granted patent
The OEM has been granted a patent for an inkjet cartridge that could affect both remanufacturers and compatible manufacturers.
The document, EP 2 271 498 B1, refers to the construction of an inkjet cartridge, with references to the air flows and sealing member that “covers the air vent” preventing air from getting in or out of the cartridge.
This sealing member, crucially, is “heat staked” to the body of the cartridge, and the patent goes on to refer to and thus protect the manufacturing method for the cartridge, including references to the application of the sealing member.
Details are given as to how to bind the sealing member to the cartridge, with the document noting where heat should not be applied, with the member finally said to be “hermetically sealed” to the body of the cartridge.
From both a remanufacturing and compatible manufacturing point of view, this patent allows HP to sue for infringement when the cartridge’s sealing member is either replaced during the remanufacturing process or fitted to a compatible cartridge following the design of the model in the patent.