BinSentry Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against BarnTools, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
The complaint alleges that BarnTools infringes U.S. Patent No. 12,359,958, titled “Bin Level Monitoring System,” through its BinTalk and BinTalk Pro products. The patent, issued on July 15, 2025, covers a bin level monitoring system that includes a optical sensor with mounting bracket, a transmitter, a circuit board, an enclosure, and a transmitter for collecting, processing, and transmitting feed-bin level data.
BinSentry develops agricultural feed bin level monitoring equipment. The company’s CEO, Ben Allen, said BinSentry built its business model on proprietary technology that delivers quantifiable value to customers.
“As a technology company, innovation is one of our core values and we must protect our intellectual property,” Allen said.
The complaint alleges that BarnTools’ own patent filings cited BinSentry’s published patent materials related to the technologies in question. Despite knowledge of BinSentry’s then-pending patent application, BarnTools continued to develop and market products that allegedly infringe BinSentry’s patent rights, according to the complaint.
Allen said the lawsuit is about protecting BinSentry’s innovation and supporting a fair and competitive marketplace. The company’s technology platform helps protein producers and feed millers transition from manual systems to automated, real-time feed inventory management.
