Patents Represented by Attorney Lempia Braidwood LLC
  • Patent number: 7642911
    Abstract: A monitor system has at least first and second child units that can each monitor audio at a different location and can each transmit signals representative of the audio monitored. A parent unit can receive the signals from the first and second child units. In one aspect, the parent unit can have at least one multi-color notification light that can be illuminated in a first color when receiving the audio monitored by the first child unit and a second color different from the first color when receiving the audio monitored by the second child unit. In another aspect, the parent unit can emit an audible notification representing the audio monitored by each of the child units. In this aspect, a volume control is in communication with the parent unit and can be operated to adjust a volume level of the emitted audible notification for each of the child units independent of the other child units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Desrosiers, Jeffrey Swan
  • Patent number: 7622977
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are digital systems and methods for use with a ramped clock signal. The digital system includes an input element having a data input to receive a data signal, a control input to receive a control signal, and a dynamic node to be driven by the ramped clock signal. The digital system further includes a static memory element having an input at the dynamic node and is configured to reside in an operational state in accordance with the data signal and the ramped clock signal. The input element further includes a switch coupled to the control input to condition updating of the operational state based on the control signal without decoupling the ramped clock signal from the dynamic node. In this way, distribution and delivery of the ramped clock signal to the digital system is continued to facilitate recovery of clock signal energy from the digital system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Marios C. Papaefthymiou, Conrad H. Ziesler
  • Patent number: 7617550
    Abstract: A playard is movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement. The playard includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of pivot joints connected to the plurality of legs, and a plurality of slider joints engaging the plurality of legs. A plurality of cross members are arranged in pairs extending between the legs, and at least one latch mechanism is operable in a latched condition to maintain a predetermined gap along a leg between one of the slider joints and one of the pivot joints to prevent movement of the playard toward the folded arrangement. A plurality of top rail segments extend between the legs to define an upper periphery of the playard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Patent number: 7614640
    Abstract: A stroller is provided having a stroller frame supported by front and rear wheels. The frame includes a latch assembly that is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the latch assembly prevents the frame from being folded. When in the unlocked position, the latch assembly allows the frame to be folded. A cup holder is supported by the frame that can move between an extended and a retracted position. The cup holder automatically moves to the retracted position when the stroller is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Roy L. Dean, Robert T. Pike
  • Patent number: 7614641
    Abstract: A foldable stroller has a frame assembly reconfigurable between an in-use configuration and a folded configuration. The frame assembly has a left and a right frame side and each frame side includes an elongate bottom part having a front end and a back end. Each bottom part is oriented extending generally from a front to a back of the frame assembly. A fold latch is on the frame assembly and has two latch parts pivotally coupled to one another. A push arm has a lower end connected to one of the latch parts and extends upward and rearward to a handle. A front leg has a lower end pivotally coupled to a front end of the bottom part and extends upward and rearward to an upper end connected to the other of the latch parts. A support strut has an upper end pivotally coupled to the fold latch at a pivot axis and has a lower end pivotally coupled to the bottom part forward of the back end at a pivot connection. The pivot connection of the support strut in one example is positioned further forward than the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Daniel N. Newhard, Matthew J. Ransil
  • Patent number: 7614642
    Abstract: A stroller has a frame structure with spaced apart sides and is collapsible from an in-use arrangement to a compact collapsed arrangement. The stroller has a seat supported by the frame structure and has a tray assembly with a front. The tray assembly is supported between the sides of the frame structure and is spaced from the seat when the frame structure is in the in-use arrangement. A foot is provided as part of the tray assembly. The foot is in an extended position projecting outward relative to the front of the tray assembly when the frame structure is in the collapsed arrangement. The foot is in a stored position when the frame structure is in the in-use arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Product Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Dotsey, Todd D. Sorzano, Roy L. Dean
  • Patent number: 7614930
    Abstract: A child activity center has a body structure that can be deflated and inflated. The body structure has a bottom end and a top end spaced upward from the bottom end when inflated. An opening is in the top end of the body structure and a child retaining region is accessible through the opening and defined within the body structure when inflated. A sealed air space is in the body structure and an air inlet is in communication with the air space and configured to permit inflation of the body structure. A seat is suspended in the retaining region and configured to support a child in the retaining region above the bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Cindy L. Berkey, Michael A. Dotsey, Thomas J. Pollack, William B. Bellows, Brian Kincaid
  • Patent number: 7607734
    Abstract: A child motion device has a frame configured to rest on a floor surface. The device also has a drive system that drives an adjustable motion assembly. The adjustable motion assembly can include an adjustable arm that is connected between a seat holder and the frame at one of a plurality of positions. The connection position of the adjustable arm can adjust at least one motion characteristic of the device. The adjustable motion characteristics can include a gliding motion and a swinging motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, William B. Bellows, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska, David Saint, Nate Saint, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7571925
    Abstract: A stroller has a stroller frame with a child seat positioned on the stroller frame. The stroller further includes a child barrier that can be coupled to the stroller frame forward of a seat bight of the child seat. The child barrier also includes a cup holder with a central longitudinal axis. When the child barrier moves relative to the stroller frame, the cup holder pivots about the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Pike, Todd D. Sorzano, Gregory S. Sellers, Dmitriy Faktorovich
  • Patent number: 7568243
    Abstract: A playard includes a frame structure movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement. The frame structure includes a plurality of pivot joints arranged in an upper set and a lower set, each pivot joint in the upper set being positioned over a corresponding pivot joint in the lower set, and a plurality of cross members connected at respective slants to the upper and lower sets of pivot joints. The playard further includes a plurality of top rails, each top rail being attached to adjacent pivot joints in the upper set. The frame structure lacks legs to support the upper set of pivot joints at an elevation above the lower set of pivot joints. The elevation decreases as the respective slants of the cross members change to move the frame structure from the folded arrangement to the open arrangement until the top rails are under tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper, Jonathan M. Pacella
  • Patent number: D596458
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Larry T. McKinney
  • Patent number: D602192
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Tunze Aquarientechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Axel Tunze
  • Patent number: D604024
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan Chitty, Jordan Matthew Chitty
  • Patent number: D606811
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Douglas Furlong
  • Patent number: D607282
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Douglas Furlong
  • Patent number: D608153
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Douglas Furlong
  • Patent number: D608154
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Douglas Furlong
  • Patent number: D609969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Larry T. McKinney
  • Patent number: D609983
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Claypool, Jacob Connelly
  • Patent number: D610005
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Larry T. McKinney