CANTON, MA (BRAIN)—Schlage Lock Co., owner of the Kryptonite brand of locks, and Todson, distributor of the OnGuard brand of locks, have settled a patent dispute involving a lock mounting bracket. The companies signed a settlement agreement March 7.
Schlage alleged that certain OnGuard bicycle locks infringed on Schlage’s U.S. Patent No. 5,647,520 (the ‘520 patent) entitled “Bicycle Lock Bracket With Splines.” The patent covers a bracket system that attaches a lock to a bicycle frame.
“We hold a lot of different patents and keep watch on them,” said Donna Tocci, marketing manager for Kryptonite. “It’s something that we’re always conscious of and looking at.”
Tocci said Kryptonite feels the issue has been resolved satisfactorily.
Todson denies that any of its locks infringe on the ‘520 patent, but in order to resolve the dispute entered into a settlement agreement with Schlage regarding certain models of OnGuard bicycle locks. These include certain lot numbers of the Brute, Pitbull, Bulldog and Doberman series locks that were sold with a splined bracket system to mount the locks on a bicycle.
Under the terms of the settlement, Todson and its affiliates have agreed not to directly or indirectly sell, distribute, repair or replace locks with a splined bracket system.
“This was a bracket that was used in a very short window of time, maybe a few months last year,” said Neal Todrys, owner of Todson. “It came with some models, but we didn’t like the bracket and even before we got the notice about possible infringement we had discontinued it. We don’t know if it did infringe, but we wanted to settle it amicably and move on. It’s better for everyone.”
Todrys said OnGuard has replaced the splined bracket with a different bracket being sold with current models.
—Megan Tompkins
