The link posted clearly shows it as an Application, and the link appears to be from the US patent office website (of course, it could be a bogus website and I didn't look into that). Can't speak to any other documents not posted, but will be glad to read them if somebody posts them. The word "application" is on the document, and some key spaces are left blank that would be filled in if the patent was issued.
It's been a historical position that Eco has taken for years. Every time they FILE for a patent, they represent it as a patent. Applying for one only has value if you are subsequently issued a patent. Your dog can probably apply for a patent for the business it left on the lawn, but unlikely the patent would be granted.
In a previous Eco patent application, the patent office came back with a laundry list for Eco to follow-up on for further consideration, according to Eco SEC filings at the time. Apparently they never followed up because THAT patent was never issued.
