Xiamen Tingken Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. v. Bala Bangles, Inc. began with a complaint filed April 26, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-02481. The complaint describes the plaintiff as a Chinese company in Xiamen that sells weight bands on Amazon as NOONCRAZYPRO Store, and alleges, on information and belief, that Bala Bangles is a Delaware corporation. Jurisdiction is pleaded under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a), and 2201, and venue under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and 1400(b). The plaintiff demands a jury trial.

The patent

U.S. Design Patent D888,167, titled Weighted Exercise Band, issued June 23, 2020 from application 29/641,509, filed March 22, 2018. The complaint describes the claimed design as a weight band with eight abutting weight bars, each decorated with rectangles on the top surface.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint says Bala Bangles filed a complaint with Amazon against the plaintiff on May 12, 2025 based on the '167 patent, which locked down the plaintiff's listings and stopped its sales, and that Bala Bangles continues to threaten further action. It contends that its weight bands differ in their decoration, with parallel lines across the top surface and into part of the end surfaces (five on each bar's flat surface), gaps between certain bars, and removable bars, and that an ordinary observer would not mistake them for the patented design. It points to U.S. Design Patent D1,039,628, titled Wrist Ankle Weights, which it calls the plaintiff's patent, and says the examiner allowed it in view of the '167 patent. That patent, filed April 11, 2024 and granted August 20, 2024, lists Honghong Sun as inventor and a different Xiamen company as applicant, and lists the '167 patent among the references cited. It also cites Korean Design Registration 30-0934806 as prior art.

The counts

  • Count I seeks a declaratory judgment that the plaintiff's weight band products do not infringe any valid claim of the '167 patent, with costs including attorney's fees.
  • Count II alleges tortious interference with the plaintiff's business relationships with Amazon and with its New York customers through the Amazon complaint, and seeks money damages, including lost sales, storage fees for unsold goods, shipping costs, handling fees, removal fees and the costs of the action, plus punitive and exemplary damages.

Partial dismissal and transfer

In the Eastern District of New York, Bala Bangles requested a pre-motion conference on June 30, 2026, and the case was reassigned to Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. on July 10, 2026. At a pre-motion hearing on September 21, 2026, Judge Reyes deemed Bala Bangles' motion to dismiss made on the pre-motion letters, granted the motion in part, and transferred the case to the Central District of California, citing 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b). The Central District of California received the case on October 16, 2026, assigned it No. 2:26-cv-12086, and issued a notice of assignment to District Judge Hernan D. Vera.

Motion to dismiss Count II

On October 30, 2026, Bala Bangles filed a motion to dismiss Count II of the complaint, set for hearing on December 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vera. The docket also shows a request to substitute plaintiff's counsel and a pro hac vice application for Bala Bangles. Watch for the plaintiff's opposition and the ruling on the motion. The case can end at any time, including by settlement or voluntary dismissal.