ex991.htm
TEMPUR-PEDIC
FILES PATENT INFRINGEMENT SUIT
LEXINGTON, KY, June 10, 2009 –
Tempur-Pedic International Inc. (NYSE: TPX), the leading manufacturer, marketer
and distributor of premium mattresses and pillows worldwide, today announced
that two of its subsidiaries, Tempur-Pedic Management, Inc. and Tempur-Pedic
North America, LLC (collectively “Tempur-Pedic”), have filed a lawsuit against
companies who they believe are violating their patent protecting the proprietary
design and construction of Tempur-Pedic’s mattresses. The lawsuit, which was
filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia,
outlines patent infringement claims against each of the defendant
companies.
On March
24, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Patent Number
7,507,468, titled “Laminated Visco-Elastic Support,” to Tempur-Pedic. This
patent is directed to a variety of mattress constructions utilizing
layers of visco-elastic and other foam materials. The patent grants
Tempur-Pedic exclusive rights to make, use and sell products incorporating the
inventions claimed in the ‘468 patent.
“Tempur-Pedic
is committed to making significant investments to enhance the performance and
durability of our products. As part of our long-standing investment
strategy, we work diligently to protect our proprietary technologies and we will
vigorously defend our intellectual property from infringement,” said Matt Clift,
Tempur-Pedic Executive Vice President of Global Operations, head of
Tempur-Pedic’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Group.
The
companies named in the suit are Anatomic Global Inc., Bragada Inc., Carpenter
Co., Classic Sleep Products, Inc., Englander Sleep Products, LLC, Essentia
U.S.A., LLC, IR Specialty Foam, LLC, Jeffco Fibres, Inc., Sealy Corporation,
Serta Inc., Serta Restokraft Mattress Co., Sleep Products, Inc., Simmons Bedding
Company, Spirit Sleep Products, LLC, The Simmons Manufacturing Co., LLC,
WCW, Inc., and World Sleep Products, Inc.
The
patent and lawsuit referred to above are not related to the formulation of
proprietary TEMPUR® material.
About
the Company
Tempur-Pedic
International Inc. (NYSE: TPX) manufactures and distributes
mattresses and pillows made from its proprietary TEMPUR® pressure-relieving
material. It is the worldwide leader in premium and specialty sleep. The Company
is focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing advanced sleep surfaces
that help improve the quality of life for people around the world. The Company’s
products are currently sold in over 70 countries under the TEMPUR® and
Tempur-Pedic® brand names. World headquarters for Tempur-Pedic International is
in Lexington, KY. For more information, visit http://www.tempurpedic.com or call
800-805-3635.
Contact:
Barry
Hytinen
Vice
President
800-805-3635