Patent Office Rejects Blind Fastener Challenge
Director John Squires dismisses a patent petition due to undisclosed real parties of interest.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Remote Work
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Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires ruled against Meishan CRRC Fastening System Co. in its challenge to a blind fastener patent. The agency determined the petitioner failed to disclose all necessary parties involved in the legal action.
Why it matters
The ruling upholds the validity of the intellectual property held by Howmet Aerospace Inc. after the agency identified procedural omissions in the filing.
The decision concerns US Patent No. 11,885,358, a specific blind fastener design owned by Pittsburgh-based Howmet Aerospace Inc. The case was brought before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
The players
John Squires
John Squires is the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office who issued the decision.
Howmet Aerospace Inc.
Howmet Aerospace Inc. is a company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that owns the blind fastener patent.
Meishan CRRC Fastening System Co.
Meishan CRRC Fastening System Co. is the petitioner that challenged the patent validity.
Patent Trial and Appeal Board
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board is the administrative tribunal within the United States Patent and Trademark Office that reviews patent validity.
The details
Director John Squires found that the petition filed by Meishan CRRC Fastening System Co. did not meet disclosure requirements regarding real parties of interest. This procedural failure resulted in the rejection of the challenge against the existing patent.
Timeline
October 23, 2026: John Squires issued the decision regarding the patent challenge.
Market Landscape
This decision reflects the rigorous application of disclosure rules mandated by 37 CFR 42.8(b)(1) for parties challenging existing patents. The ruling underscores the importance of transparency in corporate litigation within the competitive fastener manufacturing sector.
The decision maintains the current ownership of the blind fastener technology without disruption to the market. Customers and partners of the involved companies can expect no immediate changes to supply chain availability or pricing.
The takeaway
Transparency in identifying all parties of interest is a critical requirement for any entity initiating a formal patent challenge. Failure to adhere to these procedural standards can lead to the outright dismissal of legal claims, regardless of the merits of the underlying argument.
Further reading
For more information on legal and corporate procedural developments, visit the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloomberglaw.
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