Cablz, Inc. has filed patent infringement lawsuits alleging Chums, Inc. and Croakies infringed on its patent for an off-the-neck eyewear retainer. 
 

In two lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Cablz seeks redress for the infringement of U.S. Patent 8,366,268, which protects an eyewear retainer system invented by Cablz founder Ron Williams. The patent covers “an eyewear retention device that comprises two temple retainers connected by a resilient member, such that when the temple retainers are attached to a pair of eyeglasses and the eyeglasses are worn over the ears of a wearer, the resilient member extends rearward from the head of the Wearer and is suspended off the neck of the Wearer. The resilient member may be cabling With a smooth plastic outer sheath.”

 

The complaint against Chums alleges its Chum's Orbiter, Adjustable Orbiter and Mono Orbiter, as well as private-label versions C-Line and C-Mono, infringe the patent. A separate complaint alleges Croakies Arc System of retainers also infringe on the Cablz patent.

 

 

“Cablz is the sole originator of, and holds patents for, its unique Cablz eyewear retention system,” stated Cablz Inventor and CEO Ron Williams in a statement release to the media about the company's suit against Chums. “We take our intellectual property rights very seriously. We therefore intend to take the steps necessary to protect our patents from any company or party that seeks to profit from those patents without authorization. We are confident Cablz will prevail in this lawsuit and, if so, Chums and its retailers could be liable for damages, and Chums could be enjoined from manufacturing or selling infringing products.”



The Cablz Original retainer shown above uses a stainless steel strap so that when the user wears the eyeglasses the strap is pushed backward off their neck and collar.   

 

 

A U.S. patent holder has the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States, according to U.S. patent law.

 

 

Cablz is the startup company which changed eyewear retainer design beginning in 2008 with the original Cablz retainer. In 2009, Cablz won “Best New Product” Award at ICAST. Continuing to expand its line, Cablz introduced an adjustable model known as Cablz Zipz to the marketplace in 2012. Since then, Cablz has grown as a company, developing and expanding its products and also acquiring several U.S. and foreign patents on these designs.

 

In addition to U.S. Patent, 8.366.268, Cablz holds U.S. Patent 7,467,867, with other patents pending.