Hammar wins patent infringement

“The unanimous decision of the court upholds the patent that Mr Hammar took out on his development of the new stabiliser legs introduced on the Hammar 195 sideloader in 1998,” says Fred Sandberg, managing director of Hammar New Zealand.

The company states that the key to the success of the 195 sideloader is that the stabiliser leg is folded in a negative inclination beyond the horizontal position, thus saving space. When deployed, it can reach out much further, significantly increasing stability.

In 2004 Steelbro introduced its SB361 and 401 sidelifters using the same design as Hammar’s patent. Hammar took Steelbro to the High Court in 2008 claiming, among other things, patent infringement. The verdict was appealed but the Appeal Court judges unanimously dismissed a cross-appeal by Steelbro.