Patent decision

BL number

O/615/19

Concerning rights in

GB1508672.1

Hearing Officer

Mr H Jones

Decision date

11 October 2019

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Leka Systems Limited

Provisions discussed

Section 1(1)(b)

Keywords

Inventive step

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The application relates to a roof structure for single storey buildings, e.g. conservatories, which is comprised of beams. Conventional beams used in conservatories are typically made from aluminium or wood. The use of these materials is said to provide certain disadvantages, such as the energy required in producing aluminium products or decay. The present invention aims to mitigate these disadvantages through the use of at least one beam that is comprised of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP).

The Hearing Officer found that the use of glass reinforced plastic as a construction material was within the common general knowledge of the skilled person, with evidence that it has been known generally for over 90 years. GRP was also shown to have been used in the same field of construction. The difference between the cited prior art and the invention was found to be the use of GRP instead of wood or plastic, and the Hearing Officer found that skilled person would consider this to be obvious. Further claims relating to cross-sectional features of the beam were also found to be obvious. The applicant was given a period of two weeks to amend the application or else it would be refused.

Full decision O/615/19 242Kb