The Massca Viking Arm has been on the market for several years.
Irwin, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, recently launched a Quick-Lift construction jack.
In a press release issued last month, Viking Arm says:
In light of Stanley Black & Decker Inc and its group companies’ refusal to cease and desist with a lowering mechanism for a hand held jacking tool that they now are offering and placing on the markets across the globe, therein including the UPC Member States, and which Viking Arm AS is of the opinion infringes upon EP’541, Viking Arm AS has commenced infringement action against Stanley Group before the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division of UPC.
The suit concerns Viking Arms’ Unitary Patent EP 3953541 (details via PDF), which covers a Lowering Mechanism for Hand Held Jacking Tool.
At this time, the Viking Arm is currently on sale at Amazon for $180, and the Irwin Quick-Lift is also available at Amazon for $99.
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Discussion
There are countless Viking Arm clones on Amazon and other online market places, with many bearing strong resemblances to the Viking Arm design and construction.
Simply put, there are knockoffs everywhere.
The Irwin Quick-Lift can fulfill similar functions as the Viking Arm, but appears to have a very different mechanism.
Viking Arm’s patent, in the opening Field of Invention section, says:
The invention relates to a hand held jacking mechanism, more specifically to a lowering mechanism for a hand held tool for jacking and levelling of objects using a caulking gun jacking mechanism.
Under the Summary of Invention:
The invention describes a lowering mechanism for a hand held jacking tool comprising a jacking frame a jacking shaft and a caulking gun jacking mechanism
Clamps with reversable jaws have previously been used as spreaders and in some cases lifting jacks.
The FastCap Jack of All Trades, available at Amazon in a 2-pack for $70, has been around for quite some time.
Viking Arm, in their announcement about the infringement suit, says their Viking Arm launched in 2019.
FastCap promoted their updated Jack of All Trades product on YouTube in 2016. The preceding FastCap Jack product was available earlier.
The idea of a trigger clamp-style lifting jack is not unique to Massca or the Viking Arm.
Viking Arm’s patent seems centered around the caulk gun-style lowering mechanism.
In my opinion, and keep in mind I am NOT a lawyer or well-versed in patent law nuances, the Irwin product appears to be distinct and dissimilar to the Viking Arm product.
At this time, it looks like a patent infringement action has only been brought before the Unified Patent Court in Europe, with case number ACT_19392/2024.
Stanley Black & Decker undoubtedly conducted a patent review during development of the Irwin Quick-Lift jack.
The patent in question concerns the lowering mechanism, which Irwin seems to approach in a very different way compared to the Viking Arm’s caulk gun-like design.
In my opinion, from what I can see, there’s no infringement. I don’t see any wrongdoing.
Viking Arm has already been facing competition against significantly lower-priced knock-offs, and now there will be competition from Stanley Black & Decker brands. It is understandable that they are seeking to defend their patent. It will be up to the EU patent court to determine whether there’s basis for a complaint or not.