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Stant Manufacturing, Inc. Gains Major Victory in Automotive Fuel Cap Patent Infringement Lawsuit

29 July 1997

Stant Manufacturing, Inc. Gains Major Victory in Automotive Fuel Cap Patent Infringement Lawsuit

    CONNERSVILLE, Ind., July 29 -- Stant Manufacturing, Inc.
(SMI), has announced that it has won a dramatic victory in U.S. District Court
July 3, 1997, against Blau Division of Tesma International, Inc., for
infringement of Stant's patented fuel cap technology.
    SMI, a division of Stant Corporation , is the largest U.S.
manufacturer of automotive closure caps including fuel tank, radiator and oil
filler caps, fuel vapor control valves, other heating and cooling system
products and testers.
    Jurors took just two hours to uphold three patents held by SMI, ruling
that Blau had willfully infringed eight claims of SMI's three patents.  The
patents, issued in 1979, 1995 and 1996, involve mechanisms that serve as fuel
cap safety features.  The designs minimize the chance that gasoline will spill
from the tank in the event of collision.
    According to attorneys in the case, a finding of willful infringement is
especially rare and requires the jury to find "clear and convincing" evidence
that the defendant knew what it was doing and had no legitimate excuse for
infringement.
    "Most people don't see a fuel cap as a high technology device," explained
Bob Harris, vice president of R&D for SMI, "but the accident potential for
vehicles on cluttered highways and the air pollution potential from gasoline
vapors make our product a technology item that affects both highway safety and
the environment.  This is a very important victory for us because it reaffirms
our belief in the U.S. patent system as a means of protecting our intellectual
property and design innovations."
     No financial award has been set, but will be determined in a separate
proceeding to take place at a later time.
    The defendant in the case, Blau Division was founded in Germany and is a
long-time supplier of fuel caps to European automobile manufacturers.  Tesma
International, a Canadian corporation, acquired Blau in July of 1995.  In
1996, Blau began supplying fuel caps manufactured in Canada to General Motors
for automobiles manufactured in the U.S. for the 1997 model year.
    For additional information about the original equipment-quality Stant(R)-
brand fuel caps or any product from SMI, contact Customer Service Department,
Stant Manufacturing Inc., 1620 Columbia Ave., Connersville, IN 47331-1696.
    Stant Corporation is a leading manufacturer of parts and systems for the
original equipment and replacement automotive, heavy duty and industrial
markets.  In addition to closure caps, thermostats and heaters from SMI, Stant
products include:  windshield wiper systems and products from Trico Products
Corporation and Roberk(R) wiper blades and refills; Ideal(R) clamps and
hazard warning flashers; Plews(R) lubrication tools and specialty mechanics
tools; LubriMatic(R) lubrication tools, greases and oils; Tru-Flate(R) tire
hardware and accessories; and Edelmann(R) automotive fittings, power steering
hose and remanufactured power steering units.  Stant-manufactured products
also are sold under various private label names.

SOURCE  Stant Manufacturing, Inc.