Congoleum Notifies Rivals on Possible Patent Infri
Mercerville, NJ, September 28 – Today Congoleum announced that it has notified both IVC/Balta U.S. Inc. and Tarkett that they may be importing and selling one or more resilient flooring products that may infringe on its U.S. Patent #6, 730, 388 B2.
The patent covers Congoleum’s nylon and aluminum oxide reinforced surface, primarily used in the UltraShield wearlayer of its Ultima sheet flooring. Congoleum has requested that both IVC/Balta U.S. Inc. and Tarkett immediately cease and desist from making, using, selling, offering for sale, and importing any products that may infringe on this patent.
"Ensuring the integrity of our product lines protects the trust and value retailers continue to equate with the Congoleum brand, and reinforces our position as an industry leader with a solid, patent-protected portfolio of
innovative products,” said Roger Marcus, president and CEO of Congoleum.
"Safeguarding our patents is a strong testament to the significant investment and dedication Congoleum consistently puts forth to bring to market the most technically-advanced products available."
Congoleum received its first patent protecting the technology used in the
creation of the superior UltraShield wearlayer in 2002, marking the firs time a patent was awarded for a floorcovering utilizing texture and nanotechnology. The patent-protected wear surface is reinforced and strengthened with micro-sized nylon particles and aluminum oxide for excellent scratch resistance, superior wear, ease-of-maintenance, unequalled impact resistance and authentic texture.
In May of 2004, the company was issued a second patent, broadening the scope of technological protection for the revolutionary wear surface utilized in Ultima sheet flooring as well as its DuraStone HPF™ (High Performance Flooring) and DuraCeramic™ product lines. The second patent not only protects the wear surface and surface glaze, but continues to ensure
the unique manufacturing processes of the products also are covered.
