Apple Inc. (AAPL) can renew its bid for a ban on U.S. sales of Samsung Electronics Co. (005930)’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer after an appeals court said it will let stand a May ruling on a patent dispute between the two device makers.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit today denied a petition by Samsung that it reconsider its ruling, which said that Apple could pursue the ban while a patent- infringement case is pending. Notice of the denial was posted on the court’s website.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, on June 4 refused to consider Apple’s request, because the case was still before the Federal Circuit. With the denial today, the appeals court will issue an order that formally sends the case back to Koh.