TriMas' Cequent Performance Products Enforces Protection Of Intellectual Property Rights

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) – a diversified global manufacturer of engineered and applied products – today announced that Cequent Performance Products reached an agreement with Pacific Rim International, LLC and Curt Manufacturing, LLC that protects Cequent's intellectual property rights for its Bulldog® brand collar lock coupler design.

Cequent owns the patent that protects its Bulldog® collar lock coupler, which is the leading design in the medium weight industrial and livestock trailer markets. Cequent's patented Bulldog® coupler includes a proprietary hollow, circular cross-section that provides substantial weight savings and improved function in securing a "bumper pull" trailer to the hitch ball on a truck.

Cequent discovered that Pacific Rim and Curt sold couplers nearly identical to the patented technology in Cequent's Bulldog® couplers, and filed a patent infringement suit against them. In response, Pacific Rim and Curt agreed to settle the dispute with Cequent. As part of the settlement, Pacific Rim agreed to pay Cequent an undisclosed sum and sell off its remaining, minimal inventory by August 31, 2012. Pacific Rim and Curt further agreed to stop manufacturing or selling any further couplers having Cequent's proprietary hollow, circular cross-section as of August 31, 2012. The Court agreed to retain jurisdiction over the terms of the settlement.

About Cequent Performance Products

Cequent is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of accessories for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, recreational vehicles, passenger cars and trailers of all types. Products include cargo management and rack systems, towing and hitch systems, and trailer and electrical brake systems. Cequent draws upon a 75-year-old heritage of superior cargo management and recreational accessory brands, including: Bulldog®, ROLA®, Highland®, The Pro's Brand®, Draw-Tite®, Reese®, Hidden Hitch®, Fulton®, Wesbar®, and Tekonsha®.

About TriMas

Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) provides engineered and applied products for growing markets worldwide. TriMas is organized into five strategic business segments: Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components, and Cequent. TriMas has approximately 4,500 employees at more than 60 different facilities in 15 countries. For more information, visit www.trimascorp.com.

SOURCE TriMas Corporation