Coke oven charging device patent
Manoog B. Seron, an engineer from Joliet, Illinois receives U.S. Patent No. 1,608,962 for a charging device designed to direct coal into coke ovens while reducing waste.

Founder and inventor
Founder, Seron Mfg. Co.
Established in 1952 by Dr. Suren M. Seron, we are celebrating 74 successful years of inventing, manufacturing, and distributing quality AMERICAN MADE products used locally, nationally, and worldwide.
NSGA Hall of Fame
The National Sporting Goods Association officially inducted Dr. Suren M. Seron into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 1987. The Hall of Fame honors people whose work helped shape the sporting goods industry, placing Dr. Suren M. Seron's inventions and leadership alongside many widely recognized figures and companies in sports, retail, manufacturing, and distribution.
Read Dr. Seron's NSGA biographyHistoric company film
Seron Mfg. Co. was profiled by Industry on Parade, the nationally syndicated industrial documentary program produced by the National Association of Manufacturers. The segment shows the company's American manufacturing story and the same practical approach to product quality that continues today.
The Industry on Parade Film Collection is now part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History Kenneth E. Behring Center, and the Smithsonian finding aid lists this profile as Episode 161, originally aired November 12, 1953.

From the company archive
This magazine page shows Glass-Gard alongside Lan-Gard, Tip-Gard, and Time-Gard advertising from the company's Joliet, Illinois era.
More examples of earlier packaging, advertising, and printed materials will be added here as they are found.
View full archive imageCompany timeline
The company's major milestones include U.S. patents for Glass-Gard eyeglass holders, whistle mouthpiece covers, lanyards, plastic whistles, multiple-tone whistle designs, and breakaway lanyards, plus registered trademark protection for whistles.
Manoog B. Seron, an engineer from Joliet, Illinois receives U.S. Patent No. 1,608,962 for a charging device designed to direct coal into coke ovens while reducing waste.
Dr. Suren M. Seron, the son of Manoog B. Seron, receives his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.
Dr. Seron officially enters the sporting goods business after inventing the Glass-Gard eyeglass holder.
Seron Mfg. Co. is profiled in a nationally syndicated industrial documentary segment about American manufacturing.
US-2819650-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
US-2877598-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
US-2911694-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
US-2947456-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
The company moves its manufacturing operations into its new building at 254 Republic Ave. in Joliet, Illinois. The building was designed by architect Levon M. Seron, Dr. Suren M. Seron's brother.
US-3772740-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
US-3797075-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
US-3861813-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.
US-3874776-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
US-3979795-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
U.S. Registration 1044041 covers whistles.
US-4136934-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
US-4359961-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
The National Sporting Goods Association officially inducts Dr. Suren M. Seron into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
Suren V. Seron becomes President and CEO, carrying the company's family leadership into a new generation.
US-4790646-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
US-5027477-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
US-5092018-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
US-5251569-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
US-5495820-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
The company launches its official website www.seron.com.
US-5669119-A issued to Suren V. Seron.
The company launches a modernized, refreshed website featuring newly assembled archival history about Seron Mfg. Co., its founders, patents, trademarks, products, and American manufacturing legacy.
Patents and trademark lineage
Dr. Suren M. Seron created the original Glass-Gard and built a company around practical American-made sporting and safety goods. His son, Suren V. Seron, continued that inventive path with patents for eyeglass holders, the plastic whistle, multiple-tone whistle concepts, lanyard construction, and breakaway lanyards.
1976Seron registered trademark for whistlesU.S. Reg. 1044041 - Serial 73073349The company is proud to present the Seron family of inventors patent sheet archive. Seron patents are its story: products engineered decades ago and still relevant because Seron Mfg. Co. keeps control of its value chain: design, materials, manufacturing, fit, finish, delivery and support here in the U.S.A.
1926 - Charging device for coke ovensUS-1608962-AIssued to Manoog B. Seron
1958 - Spectacle holderUS-2819650-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1959 - Mouthpiece coverUS-2877598-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1959 - Call holderUS-2911694-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1960 - LanyardUS-2947456-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1973 - Lanyard constructionUS-3772740-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1974 - Lanyard constructionUS-3797075-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1975 - Lanyard joint constructionUS-3861813-AIssued to Dr. Suren M. Seron
1975 - Retainer for eyeglassesUS-3874776-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1976 - Decorative eyeglass holderUS-3979795-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1979 - Eyeglass holderUS-4136934-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1982 - Plastic whistleUS-4359961-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1988 - Eyeglass holderUS-4790646-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1991 - Break away lanyardUS-5027477-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1992 - Lanyard constructionUS-5092018-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1993 - Multiple tone whistleUS-5251569-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1996 - Whistle with tone changing rotatorUS-5495820-AIssued to Suren V. Seron
1997 - Cord lanyardUS-5669119-AIssued to Suren V. SeronDr. Suren M. Seron patents
Suren V. Seron patents
Founder Biography
Dr. Suren M. Seron (19 Nov 1906 – 12 January 1987) was a man of many talents, both inside and outside the sporting goods industry. He entered the sporting goods business in 1952, when he invented the Glass-Gard eyeglass holder, patented in 1958.
This eyeglass holder was the first fully adjustable model of its kind, fitting and holding to all temple sizes without slipping off. For the first time, eyeglass wearers had something that would easily fit their glasses and keep them in place comfortably. Over the years, the Glass-Gard enabled millions of eyeglass wearers to achieve greater excellence and perform to their full potential as they participated in sports of all kinds with confidence.
Under the leadership of Dr. Suren M. Seron and his wife, Blanche, Seron Mfg. Co. successfully marketed the Glass-Gard to worldwide distribution and acceptance, both as a sports accessory as well as an accessory for industrial safety glasses.
In 1959, Dr. Suren M. Seron received a patent on the Tip-Gard Whistle Mouthpiece Cover, which protected thousands of coaches and referees from damaged teeth while also allowing metal whistles to be used comfortably in cold or freezing weather. Dr. Suren M. Seron also received a patent on a new type of whistle lanyard and manufactured many specialty lanyards.
While his company continued to produce many fine products used by athletes all over the world, his accomplishments could be felt in other areas as well. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1932, was on the staff of Silver Cross Hospital for more than 25 years and served various terms on the Joliet Township, Illinois and Board of Education. Dr. Suren M. Seron was president of Seron Mfg. Co. until his death.
Direct ordering
Many stock products are available in any quantity and any color. Custom imprinted caps, printed cord, and program-specific orders can be quoted directly.