Gear-Patent Suit Goes Forward.

Last year Gleason Works had brought suit against two gearcutting-machine builders, Oerlikon Geartec A.G. (Zurich, Switzerland) and Liebherr-America, Inc. (Newport News, Va.), alleging infringement on its U.S. patent on generating bevel and hypoid gear geometries using CNC.

Oerlikon sought a dismissal, saying the U.S. District Court in New York lacked jurisdiction. Recently, the court rejected Oerlikon's motion.

Gleason's patent, No. 4,981,402, describes technology used in its Phoenix machines, and it expires in 2008. Last month a European patent panel upheld a corresponding European patent (see M.I.R. 7/7/99).

Gleason Corp., Rochester, N.Y. 716-473-1000.