Dr. Suren M. Seron
1987 NSGA Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame inductee

Founder and inventor

Dr. Suren M. Seron

Founder, Seron Mfg. Co.

President and CEOSuren V. Seron1987-present

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 biography
Historic footage from Industry on Parade, encoded for web viewing from the preserved source film.

Historic company film

Seron Mfg. Co. on Industry on Parade.

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.

Episode
161
Original Airdate
November 12, 1953
Restored 1967 Sporting Goods Dealer magazine page featuring a Glass-Gard Eyeglass Holder advertisement and other Seron Mfg. Co. products
Restored archive page from The Sporting Goods Dealer, September 1967.

From the company archive

A 1967 printed look at the Glass-Gard product line.

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 image

Company timeline

Company Milestones

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.

1926

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.

1932

Dental degree

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.

1952

Seron Manufacturing Company begins

Dr. Seron officially enters the sporting goods business after inventing the Glass-Gard eyeglass holder.

1953

Industry on Parade profile

Seron Mfg. Co. is profiled in a nationally syndicated industrial documentary segment about American manufacturing.

1958

Spectacle holder patent

US-2819650-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1959

Mouthpiece cover patent

US-2877598-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1959

Call holder patent

US-2911694-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1960

Lanyard patent

US-2947456-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1972

New Joliet manufacturing building

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.

1973

Lanyard construction patent

US-3772740-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1974

Lanyard construction patent

US-3797075-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1975

Lanyard joint construction patent

US-3861813-A issued to Dr. Suren M. Seron.

1975

Retainer for eyeglasses patent

US-3874776-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1976

Decorative eyeglass holder patent

US-3979795-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1976

Seron whistle trademark

U.S. Registration 1044041 covers whistles.

1979

Eyeglass holder patent

US-4136934-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1982

Plastic whistle patent

US-4359961-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1987

Hall of Fame induction

The National Sporting Goods Association officially inducts Dr. Suren M. Seron into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.

1987

Suren V. Seron becomes President and CEO

Suren V. Seron becomes President and CEO, carrying the company's family leadership into a new generation.

1988

Eyeglass holder patent

US-4790646-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1991

Break away lanyard patent

US-5027477-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1992

Lanyard construction patent

US-5092018-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1993

Multiple tone whistle patent

US-5251569-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1996

Whistle with tone changing rotator patent

US-5495820-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

1996

Company website seron.com goes online

The company launches its official website www.seron.com.

1997

Cord lanyard patent

US-5669119-A issued to Suren V. Seron.

2026

New website launched

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

From Glass-Gard to whistles, cords, and breakaway lanyards.

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 73073349

Original patent drawings.

The 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.

Founder Biography

Inventing practical products that helped people perform with confidence.

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

Call or email us for pricing, availability, samples, and custom programs.

Many stock products are available in any quantity and any color. Custom imprinted caps, printed cord, and program-specific orders can be quoted directly.

Seron Mfg. Co.12900 McKanna Rd.Minooka, IL 60447815-475-6504Fax 815-475-9805surenv@seron.com