Minnesota-based Horton, Inc. has reached a settlement with Concepts NREC regarding the pending litigation against Concepts claiming infringement of three U.S. patents.
Concepts has agreed to discontinue sales of these products, which include two-speed clutches and add-on kits that incorporate an eddy current drive used in conjunction with a pneumatic on/off fan clutch. Complete terms of the settlement agreement were not disclosed.

Horton initiated patent infringement litigation against Kit Masters Inc. and Concepts NREC in 2008, seeking damages and injunctions against both companies. The litigation remains ongoing against Kit Masters. Recently, Horton received a Notice of Intent to Issue Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate in U.S. Patent No. 5,636,719, in response to a request for reexamination of this patent by counsel for Kit Masters Inc. and Concepts NREC. The Notice indicates that a Reexamination Certificate will be issued that confirms the patentability of all of the reexamined claims of the patent, and also of the additional claims that were added during the reexamination proceeding.

Reexamination Certificates have already been issued for two other patents, confirming the patentability of all of the claims of those patents.