Interlocking/Brick Layers

[ciprianursu1]

I know there have been posts about it but I still do not know whether it is legal for a slicer to have this option as it has been patented in 2020 again (US11331848B2). This is a really easy to implement feature and it is for sure beneficial to most of us. To prove myself how easy to implement it is, I created an oversimplified post processing script in python only for inner walls which actually worked and there definitely were improvements in the strength of the part.
brick_layers.zip
Here is the script if anyone is interested (i know it is pretty bad). I'd like to know what you think of this

[hexsmith]

Patents last 20 years. If this technique were patented prior to 2004 (or published and not patented), then that should stand as prior art.

You cannot re-patent anything. But you can file for amended patents that build on prior patents. Often, this can serve to "extend" the patent, but if you stuck to the terms of a patent that has expired but a new patent derives from it, you should be free to use the design.