Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 1 of 7 PageID #:1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION

VOLTSTAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. f/k/a HORIZON TECHNOLOGIES. INC. CASE NO.: Plaintiff,
V.

AMAZON.COM, INC.

a Delaware corporation,

Defendant.

COMPLAINT FOR DESIGN PATENT INFRINGEMENT

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Plaintiff VOLTSTAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. f/k/a HORIZON TECHNOLOGIES,

fNC., by and through undersigned counsel, brings this civil action for patent infringement against
Defendant, and alleges as follows:

1.

This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the

United States, 35 U.S.C, $$ 271, et seq.,

to enjoin and obtain

damages resulting from

Defendant's unauthorized importation for sale, manufacture, use, and offer to sell a universal serial bus (USB) electrical charger that infringes United States Design Patent No. D587,192 entitled "Electrical Charser."

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 2 of 7 PageID #:2

PARTIES. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

2.

Plaintiff VOLTSTAR

TECHNOLOGIES,

INC. flWa

HORIZON

TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ("Voltstar")

is an Illinois corporation with its principal place of

Illinois 60173.

business at 1320 Tower Road, Schaumburg,

3. 4.

Defendant AMAZON,COM, INC. ("Amazon") is a Delaware corporation with its

principal place of business at 4I0 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109.
Pursuant to 735 ILCS 512-209, Amazon is subject to personal jurisdiction within

this judicial district and division because it operates, conducts, engages in, or carries on business

within this state, judicial district and division, and/or has an office or agency within this judicial district and division.

state,

5.

In addition, Amazon is subject to personal jurisdiction within this judicial district

and division because the unlawful conduct of Amazon took place within this judicial district and

division, and jurisdiction over Amazon

substantial justice.

will not offend traditional notions of fair play and

6. 7.
this

This Court has exclusive subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

$1338(a) under the Patent Laws of the United States.

Venue is proper

in this judicial district and division pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

$1400(b) and 28 U.S.C. $1391 (b) because Amazon has committed acts of infringement within

judicial district and division. THE PATENT-IN-SUIT

8.

Prior to November 28,2007, James W. McGinley, Donald Rimdzius, and Joseph

a new and

L, Kapushion, invented

novel ornamental design for an electrical charger.

-l
J

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 3 of 7 PageID #:3

9.

McGinley, Rimdzius, and Kapushion applied for and obtained United

States

Design Patent No. D587,192 entitled "Electrical Charger" which was duly and legally issued on February 24,2009 (the'192 Patent). A true and correct copy of the 'lg2Patent is attached
as

Exhibit A.

10.

McGinley, Rimdzius and Kapushion assigned all right, title and interest in and to
.

the '192 Patent to Plaintiff on November 30. 2007

I

l.

The '192 patent claims the following ornamental design for an electrical charger:

FIGURE

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 4 of 7 PageID #:4

FIGURE 2

INFRINGEMENT OF THE '192 PATENT

12. 13.

Amazon is the manufacturer and seller of a popular battery operated e-reader

device called the "Kindle."

On February I0, 2009, Amazon announced the Kindle

2.

The Kindle 2 used the

same USB data connection for both data transfer and battery charging. The Kindle 2 comes with
a

USB cable and an electrical charger. The electrical charger included with every Kindle 2 looks

like this:

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 5 of 7 PageID #:5

14.

From 2009 through2012, millions of Kindle devices, including the Kindle 2,the

Kindle DX, and the third, fourth and fifth generation Kindles, manufactured and sold by Amazon
were sold with the electrical charger shown above.

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 6 of 7 PageID #:6

15.

Amazon's electrical charger for the Kindle infringes the ornamental design for an

electrical charger of the 'l92Patent.

COUNT

INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. DESIGN PATENT NO. D587.192

AGAINST AMAZON

16.

Plaintiff re-alleges paragraphs I through 15 above as fully and completely as if set

forth herein verbatim.

17

Defendant Amazon makes, uses, sells, offers to sell andlor imports into the United

States for subsequent distribution, sale or use, products that infringe the

'lg2Patent.

18, 19. 20.

Without limiting paragraph 17, Amazon's manufacture and sale of the Kindle

electrical charger constitutes infringement of the 'I92Patent,

The activities of Amazon have been done and continue to be done without license

or permission from Voltstar andlor without authority of Voltstar. The activities of Amazon have been and continue to be to the injury and detriment

and irreparable harm to Voltstar.

WHEREFORE, VOLTSTAR PRAYS :

A. B. C. D.

For judgment that Amazon has infringed the

'Ig2Patent:

For an accounting and an award of damages sufficient to compensate Voltstar for

the infringement but in no event less than a reasonable royalty;

For an award of costs: and For such other and further relief as to the Court may appear just and reasonable.

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 7 of 7 PageID #:7

DEMAND F'OR JURY TRIAL Plaintiff demands atrial by jury on all claims
so triable.

DATED: August 5,2013

Schneider Rothman Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC P.O. Box 812182 Boca Raton, FL 33481-2182 Tel: 561-404-4350 Fax: 561-404-4353 Attorneys for Plaintiff

By:

/s/ Jerold I. Schneider Jerold I. Schneider j erol d. schneiderf[Dsriplaw. coni Admitted to the General Bar of the Northern District of Illinois -and-

Keith A. Vogt Takiguchi & Vogt 1415 W. 22nd Street, Tower Floor Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-2021

Tel 773.340.9469 Fax 630.423.9558

Designated Local Counsel for Plaintiff pursuant to Local Rule 83.15.

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 1 of 8 PageID #:8

E,XI]IBIT A

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 2 of 8 PageID #:9

I

lil||

liltil

ilt

ilIil

l]ilt l|il tillt ilil |lilt ilil

us00D587192S

|lilt

il]il lt ilil lill

(12)

United States Design Patent

McGinley et al.

1to; Patent No.:

ias; Date of Patent:

D425,480 6,086,395 D452,842 D456,008 D483,721 D494,138

us D587,192 S r(* Feb. 24,2009

Jokinen
Dl3/107

(54) ELECTRICAL CIIARGER (75) Inventors: James W McGinley, Barrington, IL

(US); Donald Rimdzius, Addison, IL (US); Joseph L. Kapushion, Erie, CO

(US)

Sr A* S* S+ S{ S+

5/2000

7/2000 Lloyd et zl. ..,,,..,.,.,...., 4391172 1/2002 Kajiwara et al. ,..,....,., Dl3/110 412002 Kzwatobe et al, ...,..... Dl3/ll0 l212003 Kimet al.,..,...,.,,.,,,,,. Dl3/ll0 8/2004 Adams et al, ........... DI3/138.1

(73) Assignee: Horizon

Technologies, Inc., Schaurnberg, IL (US)

14 Years

* cited by examiner
P r i m ar y E x am i ne
A ss is

(**) Tenn:
(21) (22) Filed:

r-P r abhakar Deshmukh tant E xaminer-Denick Holland (7 4) Attorney, Agent, or Finn-Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Appl. No,: 291293,500

(57)
.,,,,,,,, 13-02

CLArM

Nov.28,2007

(s1) (52) (58)

LOC (e)
U.S.

Cl.

Cr. .,,,.......,..,.

The ornarnental design for an electrical charger, as shown and described.

...

D13/110

DESCRIPTION
This application is related to application Ser. No, 291293,501 for Electrical Charger filed Nov,28,20O7 .

Field of Classificatlon Search ..........,..... D13/110,

D13ll07, 108, 118, 723, 137.7, 138.1, 199; 307 1105, 151; 3201111, 114; 363115, 76, 3631 146; 4391105, 166, 77 7-773, 218, 51 8,
4391692,956
See

FIG, L is a perspective view of the front end of an electrical charger showing ow new design; FIG. 2 is perspective view ofthe back end thereof;
FIG. 3 is ilnage; image;
a

application file for cornplete search history.

References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

(s6)

right side view thereof, the left side being

mirror

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof, the bottom being a mirror FIG. 5 is an end view ofthe back end thereof; and, FIG, 6 is an end view ofthe front end thereof.

D127,010 D338,188 S D339,563 S D350,113 S D381,624 S 6,042,400 A.

r
*
E

* * *

5/1941 Judisch D13/137.1 8/1993 Lee etal. .,,,..,,,,,,,,,,.,, D13/ll0 9/1993 Usami Dl3l107 8/1994 Nagele DI3/IIO

7/1997 Mulleretal. ..,.,.,..,.,,. D13/tl0 3/2000 Queffelecetal.,,,.,,,,,., 439/131

Claim, 6 Drawing Sheets

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 3 of 8 PageID #:10

U.S. Patent

Feb.24,2009

Sheet 1

of6

US D587,192

FIGURE

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 4 of 8 PageID #:11

U.S. Patent

Feb. 24.2009

Sheet 2 of 6

us D587.192

FIGURE 2

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 5 of 8 PageID #:12

U.S. Patent

Feb. 24,2009

Sheet 3 of 6

us

D587,192

(a

u
f,
M
c2

tL

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 6 of 8 PageID #:13

U.S. Patent

Feb.24,2009

Sheet 4

of6

us

D587,192

rf

I II

IU

:)

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 7 of 8 PageID #:14

U.S. Patent

Eeb.24,2009

Sheet 5 of 6

US D587,192

FIGURE 5

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 8 of 8 PageID #:15

U.S. Patent

Feb. 24.2009

Sheet 6 of 6

us

D587,192

FIGURE 6

Case: 1:13-cv-05570 Document #: 1-2 Filed: 08/05/13 Page 1 of 1 PageID #:16

JS

44 (Rev

09/J

t)

CIVIL COVER SHEET

6t
NEXT pA(iE Ol" i'HlS FORM.)

the civil docltet sheet. /,SEtt.INSTRUCT\ONS

I. (a) PLAINTIFFS
VOLTSTAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. f/K/A HORIZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,

DEFENDANTS
AMAZON.COM, INC.,

(b)

Counry of Residence of First Listed

Plaintifl

(EXCEPT rN Lr.S. pr,AtNlIFIr CASI,S)

CoOk

County of Residence of First Listed

(tN II. S.
p LA

Defendanc NeW CaStle

INl' I l" t'- CA
SU
S',

ONLy)

NOTE:
(CI Attornevs rliin Nunc. Addrcs.t. ad ltl,nlutt'NnmbLrt Schneider R6thman lP Law Group, 4651 N. Federal Hwy, Boca Raton,
FL 33431; 561-404-4350
A[torneys
(u Knovn)

THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED

lN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES,USETHELOCATION oF

II.

BASIS OF JURISDICTION
X3
Plaintil'f

(Ptuce un

"x"

in One uox ottty)

IIL

CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES

(l.it Dit'crsily Cases Only)
Citizen ofThis

0 l US Goveunrent

Federal Question ((1.5. (iowrnnent Nol u Pur\))

State State ofa

PTF

D J D

DEF

Itl

lrrcorporatedorPrincipalPlace
ot'Busiuess In This State
lncor por ated

etucc an "x" in onc Box lbr ptuitrrl/f and Onc Box /br Dcllndant) PTF DEF

O 4 J

D 2 US

Governrnetrl

Det'e ndan t

Diversity (ltl.licqte Citizcnshtp oJ Portie.r in ltem

Citizel ofAlother

lIl)
Citizen or Subjcct

o2 13

ard Pr incipal Place ofBusiless Tn Anothel State

O 5 D D 6 D

ForcignNation

IV. NATURE OF SUIT

D D
I

qn "X" in Onc llox

l0

[nsurance

120

Marine

tr

t30 Miller Act D [40 Negotiable Instr unrent

50 RecoveD/ ol' Ovet paymcnt & Enfor cenrent of Judgmen( D l5l Medicar e Act D I 52 Recovery ol Dclaulted S[udent Loans
[

(Excl Veterars)

D
O

ofOverpaymenl ofVeteran's Benefits 160 Stockholders' Suits

153 Recovery

l90Other Contract
|

95 Contr act Pr oduct Liability | 96 Fr anchise

PERSONALINJURY PDRSONALINJURY Airplane O 365 Persoual Tnjury AirplaneProduct ProductLiability Liabiliry O 367 ltealth Ca.e/ 320 Assault, Libel & Pharrnaceu[ioal Slandet Personal Injury 330 Federal Employers' Product Liability LiabiliLy O 368 Asbesros Personal 340 Marine lujury Procluct 345 Maine Prodnct Liability Liability PTRSONAL PROPDRTY 350 Motor Vehicle O 370 Othor Fraud 355 Motor Vehicle O 371 Truth in Lending ProductLiability D 380OtherPersonal 360 Other Personal Ptopetty Damage Iujury O 385 Proporfy Danrage 362 Personal Injury Product Liability
310 315

625 Drug Relatecl Seizure

J
881

422 Appeal 28 USC

423 Withdrawal 28 USC r57

158

D
O O

ofProporb'21 USC
690 Other

375 False Claiurs Aot 400 State Reapportionnrent

410 ADtitrust
430 450 460 470 Banks and Banking Cornnrercc

D D
ts D
710 Fair Labor Standards 830 Patcrr 840 Traderrark

D
D

Deportation Raci<eteer lnfluenced and Colrupt Organizations

Act
720 Labor/Mgm1, Relations 740 Railway Labor Act 751 Family ard Medical Leave Act 790 Other Labor Litigation 791 Enrpl Ret lnc

D D D D D

86r HIA ( t395ff) 862 Black l-ung (923) 863 Dlwc/D[ww (aos(g)) 864 SSTD Title XVT 86s Rsl (40s(g))

n D D D D D
O

480 Consunrer Creclit 490 Cable/Sat'fV 850 Securities/Conrrnodities/ Exchange 890 Othor Stat[tory Actions 891 Agriculnrral Acts 893 Environrneltai Matters 895 Freedour oflulornratior

Act
896 Arbitration 899 Adnrinistrative Procedure Aot/Review or Appeal of Agency Decisiol 950 Constitutionality Stato Stalutcs

Sccurity Act
2

l0 Land Condenrnatiou

o o

220 Foreclosure 230 Rent Lease & Ejochuent D 240 Torts to Land 245 Tort Product Liabiliry D 290 All Other Real Properry

440 Other Civil Rights O 441 Voting

D
D
870 Taxes (U S Plaintilf or DefeDdant)

510 Motions to Vacate Sctrtence

442 Enrploynrent

O 443 Flousing/
Accomtnodations 445 Anrer w/Disabilities Employmetrt D 446 Amer w/Disabilities -

il

O O O O O
O

Habeas Corpus:
530 535 540 550 555 560 General Death Penalty Mandamus & Other

D 87llRS-ThirdPaty
26 USC 7609

of

Other

O 448 Education

Civil Rights Prisor Condition Civil Detainee Conditions of Confinement

463 I{abeas Corpus Alien Detainee (Pr isoner Petition) 465 Other Imnrigr ation Actrons

V. ORIGIN
dI
original

D 2

(Pldcc an "X" in One Box Onll)

Removed

from

State Court

D 3

Remanded from

Reinstated or
Reopened
cile

Transf'en ed flonr

another

dis[rict U tr
unless diversily).

lvlulUolslilct

Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under whiclr you are filrng (Do not

VI. VII.

CAUSE OF ACTION REQUESTED IN

35 U.S.C.271

jurisdictiond stilules

Brief descnption of cause

Patent Infri

COMPLAINT:

csBcr< m rms UNDERFRCP

IS

A CLASS ACTION

DEMAND

CHECK YES only if denranded in complainl: JLIRY

DEMAND: X Yes

D No

VIIL REI,ATED CASE(S)

IF ANY
DATE

lsoe insrru"rion,l

JUDGE
SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD

DOCI(ET NUMBER

08t05t2013

/s/ Jerold l. Schneider

RECEIPT #

AMOUNT

APPLYING ]FP

ruDGE

MAG JUDGE