United States

Secretary of Labor v. Knight Hawk Coal - MSHA Settlement Authority Interlocutory Review

The D.C. Circuit dismissed petitions for review filed by the Secretary of Labor seeking interlocutory review of Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission orders. The court held that nonfinal Commission orders denying the Secretary's motions to settle or modify MSHA citations are not immediately appealable under the collateral-order doctrine. The Secretary must await final decisions before seeking appellate review.

World Shipping Council v. FMC - Vessel Space Rule Challenge Denied

The DC Circuit denied the World Shipping Council's petition challenging the FMC's final rule defining 'unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate' regarding vessel space accommodations. The court upheld 46 C.F.R. § 542.1, finding the rule within the Commission's statutory authority and not arbitrary or capricious. The rule remains in effect for ocean common carriers operating in U.S. foreign commerce.

Lithium ion secondary battery and method for producing same

USPTO granted Patent US12592412B2 to Vehicle Energy Japan Inc. for a lithium ion secondary battery featuring an electrode with an insulating layer containing ceramic particles and holes with diameters of 2.5 μm or more. The patent includes 15 claims and covers the battery structure designed to improve output and responsiveness while maintaining electrolyte replaceability near the active material.

Compression apparatus for electrochemical stacks

The USPTO granted Patent No. US12592410B1 to Electric Hydrogen Co. for a compression apparatus designed for electrochemical stacks. The invention includes spring compression bars, fasteners, and springs positioned around the circumference of each second fastener to secure electrochemical cells between plates.

Apparatus for a Prismatic Battery Cell with Built-in Springs

The USPTO granted GM Global Technology Operations LLC Patent US12592409B2 for an apparatus of a prismatic battery cell with built-in springs. The invention includes a hard outer case, electrode stack with anode and cathode layers, and a spring mechanism pressing perpendicular to electrode planar surfaces. The patent lists inventors Liang Xi, Binsong Li, and Srilakshmi Katar, with 20 claims.

Wound Electrode Method for Battery Manufacturing

USPTO granted patent US12592408B2 to Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc. on March 31, 2026 for a wound electrode method in battery manufacturing. The patent covers a process of winding electrodes around a core to produce flat battery components with high productivity, invented by Tomoyuki Yamada, Takashi Hosokawa, and Ryoichi Wakimoto. The grant includes 9 claims and provides exclusive rights to the assignee.

Cell Stack and Redox Flow Battery Patent Grant

The USPTO granted patent US12592406B2 to Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. covering a cell stack design for redox flow batteries with improved electrolyte flow management through specific groove configurations. The patent, filed on October 6, 2020, contains 8 claims and specifies permeation resistance ratios (R2/R1) between 7×10⁻¹¹ and 2×10⁻⁴ for optimal electrolyte distribution.

Redox battery cell connections

USPTO granted patent US12592405B2 to Standard Energy Inc. covering redox battery cell connections with positive and negative bus bars that electrically connect stacked cells in parallel while mechanically fastening the stack. The patent names Dongyoung Lee, Bugi Kim, and Kihyun Kim as inventors.

Kolon Industries fuel cell humidifier system patent granted

The USPTO granted patent US12592403B2 to Kolon Industries, Inc. on March 31, 2026, covering a fuel cell humidifying system with humidifying modules, hollow fiber membrane cartridges, and wet gas supply/discharge components. The patent contains 6 claims and was filed on November 9, 2021.

Fuel Cell Humidifier Patent Grant

The USPTO granted patent US12592402B2 to Kolon Industries for a fuel cell humidifier designed to prevent gas leaks during repeated operations and shutdown cycles. The patent covers both the humidifier structure and its manufacturing method, featuring a humidification module with hollow fiber membranes, fixation layers, and packing members for improved sealing. The invention aims to reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining high productivity.