I do not think you guys understood what I was trying to say. I was not questioning when the patent expires. That is a matter of public record; easily searched anywhere. I am talking about the idea that YYJ owns the design of dense rims on a yoyo. The new YYF Space Cowboy seems to violate these long-held opinions and begs the question whether the days of this being YYJ exclusive design territory may be coming to and end.
I am assuming that YYF/Ben would never pay licensing fees to YYJ. Perhaps I am wrong. But assuming that YYF is not paying license fees; how will YYJ respond? Clearly in YYF we finally have someone with the $ to challenge this silly interpretation of this set of claims. I think Ben and YYF realize this patent is un-defendeble and are simply ignoring YYJ’s claims.
More importantly, I think this is a sign that the entire industry will be moving in this design direction. Why else would YYF make this yo-yo? Why take this chance? … Loophole in the patent - I doubt it. Again, I think they are going to challenge this interpretation in the marketplace and perhaps the courts. It will now be up to YYJ to respond or not. Is the suit worth the legal fees and the prospect of losing?
I have read the patent in question. I do not believe that the claims made by YYJ to have patented dense rims is what is in the patent at all. This patent is about how the plastic half and the metal half are put-together. Noting that the denser metal will contribute to spin and stability seems to be an afterthought; a bonus that comes with their construction technique.
I also wonder whether this patent only applies to plastic/metal. In the patent, they specifically cite the metal half being “molded” into the lighter plastic half. Metal/Metal, however, is not molded. It is machined. I see no evidence that YYJ is seeking to patent the idea of denser rims. If so, why cite “molding” why not just say "joined?