Guardian Sports LLC

Guardian Sports LLC is a private company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. The company was started by Erin and Lee Hanson, who have a background in material sciences. Guardian Sports is a sporting goods manufacturer with an estimated 21 to 50 employees and an estimated annual revenue of $7.6 million. In August 2025, the company was ranked No. 1,071 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

The company's mission is to protect athletes by developing superior and innovative sports equipment. Its flagship product is the Guardian Cap, a soft-shell, impact-reducing helmet cover launched in 2012. The Guardian Cap is used by youth, high school, and college sports programs, and has been mandated for use in NFL practices since 2022. The company's product lines also include PEARL lacrosse balls, which are engineered not to grease or harden; the LOOP, a 5-STAR-rated protective headband for non-helmeted sports like flag football; the FLEX Chinstrap; and a USDA-certified bio-based infill for synthetic turf fields.

As a defendant in its only tracked patent case, Guardian Sports is an operating company defending its business. This posture is consistent with a manufacturer of goods being sued for alleged patent infringement, rather than a non-practicing entity (NPE) that primarily asserts patents. The single case was filed in the Northern District of Georgia, where the company is headquartered, which is not a venue known for attracting a high volume of patent assertion lawsuits.

The only tracked litigation is a patent infringement case filed against the company on April 22, 2026, by Shane Michael Johnston in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The case is in its early stages, with a complaint having been filed. Guardian Sports actively develops and partners on new products, including a collaboration with Schutt, a subsidiary of Certor Sports, to create the next generation of the LOOP multi-sport headgear.