LIFETIME PRODUCTS GRANTED FOLDING TABLE PATENT

August 14, 2002

CLEARFIELD, UTAH – Lifetime Products Inc., a worldwide leader in the folding table market, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 6,431,092 (the ‘092 patent) entitled “Portable Folding Utility Table with Center Support Assembly.”  This patent is directed towards Lifetime’s best selling folding tables with blow-molded tabletops and foldable legs.

According to Lifetime Tables and Chairs Sales Vice President Vince Rhoton, Lifetime’s newest patent is a significant patent with 115 claims.  Lifetime prides itself on its innovative and proprietary products.  Consequently, a variety of patents, trademarks, and other rights are used to protect the inventive designs of Lifetime Products.  These patents and trademarks not only recognize the innovation and distinctiveness of Lifetime, but also provide Lifetime with protection from infringement of these rights.  

Currently, Lifetime is pursing enforcement of its ‘092 patent against The Hon Company, Correll Inc., North Pole LLC, and North Pole Ltd. in order to protect infringement of Lifetime’s intellectual property.   “The issuance of the new patent is a significant step in our quest to protect the technology and products that we invented,” said Rhoton.  “The patent is a vital piece of support that will help us diligently and properly enforce our intellectual property rights against infringing products.”  

In 1998, Lifetime introduced the first blow-molded polyethylene folding banquet table.  Blow-molded polyethylene tabletops are stronger and more durable than wood, and are stain resistant.  Today, Lifetime is the world’s largest manufacturer of these polyethylene top folding tables.  

For more information, please contact Lifetime Public Relations at pr@Lifetime.com.

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About Lifetime Products: Established in 1986, Lifetime Products, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Clearfield, Utah. Lifetime Products is the world's largest manufacturer of blow-molded polyethylene folding tables and chairs, and residential basketball hoops. With products sold in 58 countries, Lifetime has been manufacturing in Utah for more than 25 years and employs 1,250 people in its Clearfield facility, and more than 2,075 people worldwide. For more information about Lifetime Products, Inc. and its products, visit www.Lifetime.com.