Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Elkhart, Indiana – MORryde International, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Airxcel, Inc., doing business as Suburban, claiming patent infringement. The case centers around three patents (US Patent Nos. 9,903,121, 10,519,671, and 11,739,534), allegedly owned by MORryde, that relate to folding staircases for vehicles like RVs and trailers. These patents—supposedly issued in 2018, 2019, and 2023—cover features such as spring-assisted folding and adjustable legs designed to improve safety and ease of use when entering and exiting a vehicle.
MORryde;s ‘671 Patent
MORryde contends that Suburban’s products, specifically the Stow Away Steps and the Lift Assist Step, unlawfully use the technology protected under MORryde’s patents. According to the complaint, these Suburban products are designed in a way that mimics MORryde’s patented features, including folding mechanisms and mounting systems similar to those described in the patent documents. MORryde claims it first raised conc
Suburban’s Stow Away with Lift Assist Step
erns with Suburban in November 2023 and shared detailed explanations—called claim charts—highlighting how Suburban’s products allegedly infringed the patents. Despite a series of emails and even a phone meeting, MORryde says that Suburban continued to sell the disputed products.
By March 2025, MORryde had expanded its claim to include both of Suburban’s product lines and again asked Suburban to stop selling the products. MORryde also pointed out that both companies’ products directly compete in the same market, suggesting that MORryde has lost sales as a result of Suburban’s continued activities. They also claim that Suburban has distributed user manuals and installation instructions for their products online, further contributing to the alleged infringement.
MORryde is now asking the court to rule that Suburban has infringed on all three of its patents, that the infringement was willful, and that MORryde should receive financial compensation. They’re also asking the court to block Suburban from continuing to sell or promote the products in question and to order Suburban to cover legal fees and other related costs.
The case has been assigned to Judge Cristal C. Brisco and Magistrate Judge Scott J. Frankel in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana Case No. 3:25-cv-00271.