Sport Dimension Inc., which does business as Body Glove, said it has prevailed in its patent infringement case against The Coleman Company.
Sport Dimension announced hat a Federal Court in California entered a final judgment that Sport Dimension’s Child PFD does not infringe Coleman Company’s patent, D623,714 Patent (“D’714 Patent”). According to Sport Dimension, last month, the Federal Court also entered an Order that Coleman pay Sport Dimension’s bill of costs in litigation.
The lawsuit arose after Coleman sent letters to Sport Dimension that Sport Dimension’s competing Child PFD with armbands infringes Coleman’s D’714 Patent. Sport Dimension offers a Type V Child PFD, called “Paddle Pals”, a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD with an innovative life vest like design that provides shoulder and upper torso coverage and sun protection in those areas. Coleman’s purported patented device is also a Child PFD and is called “Puddle Jumper”.
In the lawsuit, Sport Dimension sought a declaratory judgment that Sport Dimension’s Child PFD does not infringe the D’714 Patent and that the D’714 Patent is invalid, according to Sport Dimension. During the course of the litigation, the Court issued a series of orders against Coleman including that Coleman’s patent expert Peter Bressler was not qualified to render expert opinions on the scope of the patent, infringement, or validity of the patent. The Court also construed the D’714 Patent as being limited in scope and ultimately issued a final judgment of non-infringement, said Sport Dimension. According to Sport Dimension’s lawyer, Yuri Mikulka, Litigation Partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, “The Court’s order explained that the final judgment effectively refutes Coleman’s possible future claims of infringement on the accused device against Sport Dimension.”
Sport Dimension’s President Kurt Rios said, “We asserted this action against Coleman to protect Sport Dimension, our business affiliates, and our customers from meritless accusations by Coleman. Sport Dimension respects intellectual property rights, but not when they are asserted without merit.”
Sport Dimension’s Paddle Pals Child PFD can be purchased at retailers throughout the U.S.
Sport Dimension’s Child PFD is distributed in the U.S. by Sport Dimension, Inc., which designs and produces innovative, quality sports equipment for brands such as Body Glove, Maui & Sons, Speedo International, Yamaha, Sea-doo®, and others. Sport Dimension’s products date back to the early 1950’s. Sport Dimension works with pioneers of surfing, scuba diving, and snow sports to design products that reflect the high level of expertise and quality that has become synonymous with Sport Dimension’s products.
