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The patent EP3236831 was granted to Illinois Tool Works on Oct 1, 2025. The application was filed on Dec 16, 2015 under application number EP15820958A. The patent is currently recorded with a legal status of "Patent Maintained As Amended".

Patent oppositions filed by competitors challenge the validity of a granted patent. These oppositions are typically based on claims of prior art, lack of novelty, or non-obviousness. They are a key part of the process for determining a patent's strength and enforceability.
| Company | Opposition Date | Representative | Opposition Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WINTERHALTER GASTRONOM | Jul 30, 2021 | APPELT | WITHDRAWN |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE102007005834 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | EP0943282 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US5017852 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO03051173 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2013111170 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102005043923 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102007005834 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102009042866 |
| OPPOSITION | EP0943282 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1458273 |
| OPPOSITION | US2012097200 |
| OPPOSITION | US5017852 |
| OPPOSITION | WO03051173 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2013111170 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2014155333 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2016018780 |
The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.
Date
Description
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May 26, 2025
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May 16, 2025
May 7, 2025
Refund of fees
Appeal
May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Apr 29, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
Withdrawal of an appeal
Appeal
Mar 11, 2025
Dec 13, 2024
Dec 13, 2024
Dec 10, 2024
Dec 10, 2024
Nov 7, 2024
Jun 18, 2024
Refund of fees
Appeal
Jun 14, 2024
Jun 14, 2024
Jun 10, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jun 10, 2024
Jun 10, 2024
Jan 15, 2024
Jan 10, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jan 10, 2024
Jan 10, 2024
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Jan 9, 2024
Jan 4, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jan 4, 2024
Jan 4, 2024
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Sep 4, 2023
Sep 4, 2023
Sep 4, 2023
Aug 30, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Aug 30, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Aug 30, 2023
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(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Aug 29, 2023
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Jun 30, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jun 30, 2023
Jun 30, 2023
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Jun 29, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jun 29, 2023
Jun 29, 2023
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Apr 25, 2023
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Means of redress
OPPO
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Nov 16, 2020
Oct 8, 2020
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Sep 23, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Sep 23, 2020
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Sep 23, 2020
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Sep 23, 2020
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Jun 5, 2020
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Jun 5, 2020
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Jun 5, 2020
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Jun 5, 2020
Jun 4, 2020
May 29, 2020
Oct 30, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 30, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 30, 2019
Oct 25, 2019
Oct 16, 2019
Annexes in respect of a client data request
Search/Exam
Oct 16, 2019
General authorisation
Search/Exam
Oct 16, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 16, 2019
Oct 15, 2019
Jul 5, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 5, 2019
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Jul 5, 2019
Description
Search/Exam
Jul 5, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 5, 2019
Mar 18, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Mar 11, 2019
Examination started
Search/Exam
Jan 24, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jan 24, 2018
Jan 24, 2018
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Jan 24, 2018
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Jan 24, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 5, 2017
Aug 2, 2017
Jul 31, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jul 26, 2017
Priority search results copy provided by EPO
Search/Exam
Jul 11, 2017
Jul 4, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2017
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Jun 29, 2017
May 23, 2017
May 8, 2017
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Jul 21, 2016
Jun 30, 2016
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Jun 30, 2016
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Mar 11, 2016
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