Tokyo District Court, Reiwa 5 (Wa) 70449 [Fastening hardware] <Presiding Judge Takahashi>
Updated: Oct 3
Article information
Article type: Case note
Classification: Patents
Issues: Claim interpretation; Novelty
First published on this site: 2026-10-03
Court: Tokyo District Court
Case number: Reiwa 5 (Wa) 70449
Display/classification checked: 2026-10-03
Tokyo District Court, Reiwa 5 (Wa) 70449 [Fastening hardware] <Presiding Judge Takahashi>
The claim wording “for inducing deformation when an excessive load acts” does not limit the invention's configuration.
“It merely indicates the purpose to be achieved, or the effects inevitably obtained, by a configuration integrating the front portion and rear edge portion with multiple branch-like portions, and has no meaning limiting the invention's configuration.”
⇒ Lacks novelty over a design publication.
“The multiple narrow plate portions of the column-connecting fitting in the Ko 5 invention have the same shape configuration as the multiple branch-like portions of the claimed fastening hardware, and therefore inevitably produce the effects expressed as ‘for inducing deformation when an excessive load acts.’”
Revision history
Revision history is maintained by appending entries.
2026-10-03: First published on this site; classification, article information, and consultation link added.
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