UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C.
`
`Before the Honorable Clark S. Cheney
`Administrative Law Judge
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN TOBACCO HEATING
`ARTICLES AND COMPONENTS
`THEREOF
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1199
`
`RESPONDENTS’ JOINT DISCLOSURE OF FINAL CONTENTIONS IN RESPONSE
`TO INDIVIDUAL INTERROGATORY NO. 12
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`Respondents Altria Client Services LLC, Altria Group, Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., Philip
`
`Morris International Inc., and Philip Morris Products S.A. (collectively, “Respondents”) provide
`
`the following final contentions in response to Individual Interrogatory No. 12.
`
`Complainants assert claims from U.S. Patent No. 9,839,238 (“the ’238 patent”); U.S. Patent
`
`No. 9,930,915 (“the ’915 patent”); and U.S. Patent No. 9,901,123 (“the ’123 patent”) (collectively,
`
`“the Asserted Patents”). In particular, Complainants allege that Respondents infringe claim 19 of
`
`the ’238 patent; claims 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the ’915 patent; and claims 27-30 of the ’123 patent
`
`(collectively, “the Asserted Claims”). Complainants also contend that their Domestic Industry
`
`Products practice claims 1-3, 5-11, 13, 15-16, 18-21 of the ’238 patent; claims 1-4 of the ’915
`
`patent; and claims 1-7, 9, 11-19, 21, 23-26 of the ’123 patent (collectively, “the Domestic Industry
`
`Claims”). Respondents’ final contentions address the Asserted Claims and the Domestic Industry
`
`Claims of the Asserted Patents.
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1036
`PMP v. RAI
`IPR2020-00919
`
`Ex. 1036-001
`
`

`

`which the patentee claims priority. See PowerOasis, Inc., 522 F.3d at 1304-06; see also Research
`
`Corp. Techs., Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., 627 F.3d 859, 870 (Fed. Cir. 2010). As explained below in
`
`Sections IV.C.2 and IV.C.3, the validity of the Domestic Industry Claims hinges on the priority
`
`date of the Domestic Industry Claims of the ’123 Patent in view of at least the Hon ’957 prior art
`
`reference and VUSE Vibe prior art system. See Ex. C6 (Hon ’957) and Compl. Ex. 42 (VUSE
`
`Vibe). Accordingly, the burden relating to the ’123 patent’s priority shifts to Complainants, and
`
`Complainants must prove that the ’123 Patent Domestic Industry Claims are entitled to claim
`
`priority to the ’634 Application.
`
`Respondents further note that even if the claims of the ’123 patent are not subject to the
`
`AIA (they are), Complainants bear the burden of proving earlier conception and/or reduction to
`
`practice on a claim-by-claim basis. Complainants have not done so. To date, Complainants have
`
`merely stated in conclusory fashion that the ’123 patent “is entitled to a priority date of at least as
`
`early as October 18, 2006.” Complainants’ Responses to Respondents’ First Set of Interrogatories
`
`(No. 8) (May 28, 2020). If Complainants can carry their burden of proving that the Asserted and/or
`
`Domestic Industry claims are entitled to claim priority to this date, and also argue that any of the
`
`Asserted Claims and/or Domestic Industry Claims of the ’123 patent have an earlier conception or
`
`reduction to practice date, then Respondents reserve the right to respond, including by identifying
`
`additional prior art and contentions.
`
`Respondents reserve the right to supplement their final contentions through expert
`
`discovery.
`
`2.
`
`Prior Art Patents, Patent Applications, and Publications
`
`The patents, patent applications, and publications identified in the table below are prior art
`
`to the ’123 patent, and they anticipate and/or render obvious the Asserted and/or Domestic Industry
`
`Claims of the ’123 patent.
`
`72
`
`Ex. 1036-002
`
`

`

`Prior Art
`U.S. Patent No. 5,249,586
`(“Morgan”)
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`WO 95/27412 (“Hajaligol”)
`
`Chinese Patent No. 2719043
`(“Hon ’043”)
`Chinese Patent No. 1775123
`(“Yang”)
`U.S. Patent No. 8,375,957
`(“Hon ’957”)
`U.S. Patent Application
`Publication No.
`2007/0102013 (“Adams”)
`U.S. Patent No. 5,144,962
`(“Counts-962”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,947,874
`(“Brooks”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,060,671
`(“Counts-671”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,692,525
`(“Counts-525”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,095,921
`(“Losee”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,591,368
`(“the ’368 patent”)
`
`Issuing
`Country
`U.S.
`
`WIPO
`
`China
`
`China
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`WO 96/32854 (“Baggett”)
`
`WIPO
`
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Date
`Oct. 5, 1993 Morgan, Constance H.
`Nichols, Walter A.
`Oct. 19, 1995 Hajaligol, Mohammad
`R.
`Fleischhauer, Grier S.,
`et al
`Lik, Hon
`
`Aug. 24,
`2005
`May, 24,
`2006
`May 16, 2006 Lik, Hon
`
`Yinhai, Yang
`
`Sept. 28,
`2006
`
`Adams, John M.
`Crowe, William J., et al.
`
`Aug. 14,
`1990
`
`Sept. 8, 1992 Counts, Mary E.
`Hajaligol, Mohammad
`R., et al.
`Brooks, Johnny L.
`Roberts, Donald L.
`Simmons, Jerry S.
`Oct. 29, 1991 Counts, Mary E.
`LaRoy, Bernard C., et al
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Mar. 17,
`1992
`
`Jan. 7, 1997
`
`Counts, Mary E.
`Houck, Willie G., Jr. et
`al
`Losee, Bruce D.
`Morgan, Constance H.,
`et al
`Fleischhauer, Grier S.
`Hayes, Patrick H., et al
`
`Oct. 24, 1996 Baggett, James D., Jr.
`Clark, David A., et al
`
`73
`
`Exhibit
`C1
`
`C2
`
`C4
`
`C5
`
`C6
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Ex. 1036-003
`
`

`

`Prior Art
`Korean Patent No. 10-
`0636287 (“Park”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,498,855
`(“Deevi-855”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,510,950
`(“Keritsis”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 2,104,266
`(“McCormick”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,865,185
`(“Collins-185”)
`
`U.S. Patent Application
`Publication No.
`2007/0215167 (“Crooks”)
`U.S. Provisional
`Application Serial No.
`60/722,036
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,498,855
`(“the ’855 patent”)
`
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 1 (“Bullet
`Heater”)
`
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 2 (“Bullet
`Shape Design”)
`
`Issuing
`Country
`Korea
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Date
`Oct. 12, 2006 Park, Dae Geun
`Lee, Yung Taek
`Lee, Dong Wook
`Deevi, Seetharama C.
`Lilly, A. Clifton, Jr.
`
`Mar. 12,
`1996
`
`Apr. 16, 1985 Keritisis, Gus. D.
`Nichols, Walter A.
`
`Jan. 4, 1938 McCormick, W.J.
`
`Feb. 2, 1999
`
`Mar. 16,
`2006
`
`Sept. 30,
`2005
`
`Mar. 12,
`1996
`
`Collins, Alfred L.
`Counts, Mary Ellen, et
`al
`Crooks, Evon Llewellyn
`Conner, Billy Tyrone, et
`al
`Adams, John M.
`Baggett, James D., Jr.
`Crowe, William J.
`Deevi, Seetharama C.
`Lilly, A. Clifton, Jr.
`
`February 1,
`2002
`
`Hajaligol, Mohammad
`R.
`
`Exhibit
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`U.S.
`
`December 4,
`2014
`
`Hajaligol, Mohammad
`R.
`Higgins, Charles
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`74
`
`Ex. 1036-004
`
`

`

`Issuing
`Country
`U.S.
`
`Date
`February 1,
`2002
`
`Prior Art
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 3 (“Cigarette
`Brainstorming Team
`Number 2”)
`
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 4 (“Heater
`Development”)
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 5 (“An Outline
`of a Permanent Heater”)
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 6 (“Philip
`Morris Unpatented
`Invention Disclsoures”)
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 7 (“Project Beta
`Core Teams”)
`UCSF Declaration of
`Custodian Records,
`Attachment 8 (“Beta Patent
`Review Meet Agenda”)
`The Lady Smokes,
`www.theladysmokes.com
`(archived at
`web.archive.org, 2006-
`2007)
`European Patent Publication
`0 845 220 (“Susa”)
`
`U.S.
`
`February 1,
`2002
`
`U.S.
`
`July 9, 2002
`
`LaRoy, B.
`Utsch, F.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`December 9,
`2002
`
`Philip Morris USA
`
`December 9,
`2002
`
`Philip Morris USA
`
`June 15, 2004 Philip Morris USA
`
`Nov. 7, 2006
`
`The LadySmokes
`
`Europe
`
`June 3, 1998
`
`Susa, Masayuki
`Takeuchi, Manabu, et al
`
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Jones, Jan
`Clark, Dave
`Pham, Xuan
`Hates, Pat
`Smith, Cecil
`Raymond, Wynn
`Amick, Debbie
`Watkins, Mike
`Philip Morris USA
`
`Exhibit
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`75
`
`Ex. 1036-005
`
`

`

`Issuing
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Date
`Country
`Europe Mar. 8, 2004 Hon, Lik
`
`Exhibit
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Ingebrethsen, Bradley J. Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`April 5, 1988 Gerth, Donald L.
`Muckenfuhs, Delmar R.
`
`Feb. 14, 1995
`
`Oct. 13, 1936 Whittemore, C.L., Jr.
`
`May 22, 1984 Mays, Charles D.
`Wagoner, Max A.
`Williard, Daniel G
`Aug. 7, 1990 Gori, Gio B.
`
`Prior Art
`European Patent Publication
`1,618,803 (“Hon ’803”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217
`(“Gerth”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,388,574
`(“Ingebrethsen”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 2,057,353
`(“Whittemore”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,449,541
`(“Mays”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,945,931
`(“Gori”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,284,089
`(“Ray”)
`
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`2004/095955 (“Hon ’955”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,155,268
`(“Takeuchi”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,331,981
`(“Tamaoki”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,101,839
`(“Jakob”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,793,365
`(“Sensabaugh”)
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`WIPO
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`Aug. 18,
`1981
`
`Nov. 11,
`2004
`
`Ray, Jon P.
`
`Hon, Lik
`
`Dec. 5, 2000
`
`Takeuchi, Manabu
`
`Apr. 7, 1992
`
`July 26, 1994 Tamaoki, Akimichi
`Suhara, Shizuo
`Kondoh, Morio
`Jakob, Stephen W.
`Shannon, Michael D., et
`al
`Dec. 27, 1988 Sensabaugh, Andrew J.,
`Jr.
`Ridings, Henry T.
`Reynolds, John H., IV
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`76
`
`Ex. 1036-006
`
`

`

`Prior Art
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`2004/080216
`U.S. Patent No. 6,739,700
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,533,395
`
`U.S. Patent No. 1,968,509
`(“Tiffany”)
`
`U.S. Patent Application
`Publication No.
`2005/016550
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`2007077167 (“Martzel”)
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`2007078273 (“Zhen”)
`Chinese Patent No.
`2,777,995 (“Hon ’955”)
`
`International Patent
`Application Publication No.
`2005/099494 (“Hon ’494”)
`European Patent Publication
`No. 0 295 122
`
`European Patent Publication
`No. 1 154 815
`
`Issuing
`Country
`WIPO
`
`Date
`Sept. 23,
`2004
`
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Hon, Lik
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`May 25, 2004 Dante, Henry M.
`Lilly, A. Clifton, Jr.
`
`Mar. 18,
`2003
`
`Dante, Henry M.
`Lilly, A. Clifton, Jr.
`
`July 31, 1934 Tiffany, Frank E.
`
`Jan. 27, 2005 Katase, Makoto
`
`WIPO
`
`July 12, 2007 Martzel, Didier Gerard
`
`WIPO
`
`July 12, 2007 Liu, Zhen
`
`China
`
`May 10, 2006 Lik, Hon
`
`WIPO
`
`Oct. 27, 2005 Lik, Hon
`
`Europe
`
`Europe
`
`Jan. 22, 1992 Chard, Brian Chester
`Bale, Christopher
`Ralph, et al
`July 21, 2004 Voges, Robert Martin
`
`European Patent Publication
`No. 0 706 352
`
`Europe Mar. 20,
`2002
`
`Voges, Robert Martin
`
`Exhibit
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`77
`
`Ex. 1036-007
`
`

`

`Prior Art
`U.S. Patent No. 3200819
`(“Gilbert”)
`
`Chinese Patent No.
`2,870,485 (“Hon ’485”)
`
`Chinese Patent No.
`1,931,042
`
`Chinese Patent No.
`1,931,040
`
`Chinese Patent No.
`2,819,833
`
`Chinese Patent No.
`1,135,860 (“Du”)
`
`Japanese Patent No.
`11,075,807 (“Motoshi”)
`
`Japanese Patent No.
`9,075,058 (“Masaya”)
`
`German Patent No.
`2,653,133 (“Lorant”)
`
`Issuing
`Country
`U.S.
`
`Date
`Aug. 17,
`1965
`
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Gilbert, Herbert A.
`
`China
`
`China
`
`China
`
`China
`
`China
`
`Japan
`
`Japan
`
`Feb. 21, 2007 Lik, Hon
`
`Sept. 29,
`2006
`
`Sept. 29,
`2006
`
`Sept. 27,
`2006
`
`Nov. 20,
`1996
`
`Mar. 23,
`1999
`
`Mar. 25,
`1997
`
`Xiangbin, Feng
`Zhongqiang, Yin
`
`Xiangbin, Feng
`Zhongqiang, Yin
`
`Lin, Yang
`
`Du, Xu
`Zhang, Zegang
`
`Motoshi, Moriya
`
`Masaya, Nagai
`
`Germany May 24, 1978 Lorant, Kovacs
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No.
`2014/0305453 (“Hon ’453”)
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No.
`2012/0279512 (“Hon ’512”)
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No.
`2015/0245659
`(“Depiano ’659”)
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`U.S.
`
`Oct. 16, 2014 Hon, Lik
`
`Nov. 8, 2012 Hon, Lik
`
`Sept. 3, 2015 Depiano, John
`Smith, David, et al
`
`Exhibit
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`78
`
`Ex. 1036-008
`
`

`

`Prior Art
`U.S. Patent Publication No.
`2014/0261495 (“Novak”)
`
`Issuing
`Country
`U.S.
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No.
`2014/0270730
`(“Depiano ’730”)
`
`U.S.
`
`Date
`Sept. 18,
`2014
`
`Sept. 18,
`2014
`
`Inventor(s)/Author(s)
`Novak, Charles Jacob
`Galloway, Michael
`Ryan, et al
`Depiano, John
`Smith, David, et al
`
`Exhibit
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`Addressed
`as
`appropriate
`
`Respondents further incorporate by reference, as if set forth above, all prior art cited during
`
`the prosecution of the ’123 patent. Respondents reserve the right to supplement their final
`
`contentions through expert discovery.
`
`3.
`
`Prior Art Systems
`
`The following systems are prior art to the ’123 patent, in view of public knowledge, uses,
`
`sales, and/or offers for sale of products and services:
`
`Prior Art System
`The Philip Morris Accord
`
`Date of first sale, offer for sale, public use, or
`knowledge
`E3/E4 Series known and used by others in the U.S. in
`or around 1998; JLI Series known and used by others
`in the U.S. in or around 2002; K series known and
`used by others in the U.S. at least as early as 2004
`
`Corroborating witnesses: Mohammad R. Hajaligol and
`Mr. Doug Burton.
`
`Exhibit
`
`C3
`
`RPHYS014
`RPHYS017
`
`79
`
`Ex. 1036-009
`
`

`

`Prior Art System
`Ruyan Electronic Cigar
`(“Ruyan e-Cigar”)
`
`Ruyan Electronic
`Cigarette (“Ruyan e-
`Cigarette”)
`
`VUSE Vibe
`
`Date of first sale, offer for sale, public use, or
`knowledge
`Known and used by others in the United States at least
`as early as 2005 through activities conducted and/or
`directed by Mark Weiss, Burton Bentley, Keith Moon,
`Steve Bowers, and Ruyan American International, Inc.
`in Arizona including, but not limited to: purchased in
`Arizona by Mark Weiss on April 21, 2006; sample
`provided to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
`Bureau on December 1, 2005 and subsequent
`inspection and testing of that device; sample provided
`to Customs and Border Patrol Officials on July 20,
`2006 and subsequent publication of a letter dated
`August 22, 2006; known, used, and sold by Steven
`Dworkin in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina in
`August 2006; available to the public through Beijing
`SBT Ruyan Technology and Development Company
`Ltd. website at least as early as December 16, 2005;
`described in Hon ’043.
`Known by Jack Leadbeater, Ron McDonald, and Mark
`Weiss at least as early as April 2006; described in
`CN200620090805
`
`Offered for sale in the United States no later than April
`2015
`
`Exhibit
`
`C7
`
`C9
`
`RPHYS015
`
`RPHYS016
`
`C8
`
`Complainants’
`Domestic
`Industry
`Contentions,
`Ex. F.
`
`a.
`
`The Accord System
`
`The Accord system qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a), 102(b) and/or
`
`102(g)(2) (pre-AIA) as well as 35 USC § 102 (a). Accord E3/E4, JLI, and K versions are depicted
`
`below in Figures 1-3, respectively.
`
`80
`
`Ex. 1036-010
`
`

`

`contend that
`
`the VUSE Vibe practices the Domestic Industry Claims of the ’123 patent.
`
`Consequently, under Complainants’ own contention, the VUSE Vibe anticipates those claims.
`
`4.
`
`35 U.S.C. §§ 102, 103 (pre-AIA and AIA)
`
`a.
`
`Anticipation & Obviousness
`
`Prior art references and systems that anticipate and/or render obvious the Asserted and
`
`Domestic Industry Claims of the ’123 patent are identified above and in accompanying exhibits,
`
`which, as noted, are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The exhibits provided
`
`identify how the prior art discloses and/or renders obvious each and every element of the Asserted
`
`and/or Domestic Industry Claims of the ’123 patent, and discloses and/or renders obvious those
`
`claims as a whole. To the extent an element or claim is not anticipated, the claim is rendered
`
`obvious by combination with one or more other prior art references identified, including as mapped
`
`in the accompanying exhibits.
`
`Furthermore, to the extent a finder of fact determines that a limitation of any of the Asserted
`
`and/or Domestic Industry Claims of the ’123 patent is not disclosed by one of the references,
`
`products, and/or systems identified above, the claims are nevertheless unpatentable as obvious
`
`because they contain nothing that constitutes patentable innovation. No asserted claim goes
`
`beyond combining familiar elements according to known methods to achieve predictable results,
`
`or does more than choose between clear alternatives known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
`
`The Asserted and/or Domestic Industry Claims would have been obvious to a POSA over
`
`at least the following combinations:
`
`(cid:120)
`
`(cid:120)
`
`(cid:120)
`
`The Accord in combination with the Bullet Heater, Hajaligol, Adams, Morgan,
`and/or Park
`Ruyan e-Cigar alone or in combination with Hon ’043, Whittemore, Tiffany, Susa,
`Mays, Gori, Ray, Hon ’955, Takeuchi, Tamaoki, Sensabaugh, and/or Jakob
`Ruyan e-Cigarette alone or in combination with Hon ’957, Hon ’043, Whittemore,
`Tiffany, Susa, Mays, Gori, Ray, Hon ’955, Takeuchi, Tamaoki, Sensabaugh, and/or
`
`92
`
`Ex. 1036-011
`
`

`

`Jakob
`
`(cid:120)
`(cid:120)
`(cid:120)
`
`Hajaligol alone or in combination with the Bullet Heater, Adams, and/or Brooks
`Morgan alone or in combination with the Bullet Heater
`Hon ’043 alone or in combination with Whittemore, Tiffany, Susa, Mays, Gori,
`Ray, Hon ’955, Takeuchi, Tamaoki, Sensabaugh, and/or Jakob
`Yang alone or in combination with Hon ’043, Whittemore, Tiffany, Susa, Mays,
`Gori, Ray, Hon ’955, Takeuchi, Tamaoki, Sensabaugh, and/or Jakob
`Hon ’957 alone or in combination with Hon ’043, Whittemore, Tiffany, Susa,
`Mays, Gori, Ray, Hon ’955, Takeuchi, Tamaoki, Sensabaugh, and/or Jakob
`Reasons a person of ordinary skill in the art would have known and been motivated to make these
`
`(cid:120)
`
`(cid:120)
`
`and other combinations are discussed more immediately below, in Section IV.C.4.b.
`
`With respect to claim 27, Complainants appear to contend that the prior art does not
`
`disclose “the elongated portion of the resistance heating element positioned proximal to the center
`
`of the outer housing.” Instead, Complainants allege the prior art heating elements are “away” from
`
`the center, not “at or near” the center as they interpret the claim limitation to require. However,
`
`Complainants provide no criteria for drawing this distinction, and provide no explanation for how
`
`they interpret the scope of this claim. The ’123 patent also provides no guidance whatsoever to
`
`determine whether the elongated portion of the heater is “proximal” to the center of the outer
`
`housing. As named co-inventor Billy Conner testified, Complainants appear to simply “eyeball[]
`
`it.” Conner Dep. Tr. at 110:1-117:1. To the extend Complainants’ criteria provides reasonable
`
`certainty as to the scope of this claim, Respondents’ prior art meets this limitation.
`
`With respect to claims 1 and 15, Complainants appear to contend that the “carrier device
`
`is operatively positioned such that … the mixture … can be wicked into contact with the electrical
`
`resistance heater” requires direct contact between the tobacco extract and aerosol-forming material
`
`mixture and the electrical resistance heater. However, claims 14, 24, and 25 recite that the wicking
`
`material may be in proximity to the heater or in contact with the heater. Because claims 14, 24,
`
`93
`
`Ex. 1036-012
`
`