Patents by Inventor Douglas Tharalson

Douglas Tharalson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6687927
    Abstract: A toy storage cover for a portable play yard is described. The toy storage cover includes four outer panels shaped to surround the outer walls of the play yard attached at their top edges to four inner panels shaped to line the play yard. A floor panel joins the inner panels and is secured to the floor of the play yard by a mattress pad shaped to fit within the inner panels above the floor of the play yard. A series of pockets are attached to the outer panels of the cover. The pockets have smaller pockets within them or on their outer surfaces. Tie-down straps, fitted foot pockets or attachments through the play yard walls are used to secure the cover to the play yard. The toy storage cover may be adapted to play yards of various designs, cribs or other open topped containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Arms Reach Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson, Bruce Martin
  • Publication number: 20030196264
    Abstract: A co-sleeper is convertibly adapted for use as a changing table. The invention includes a frame designed to support a mattress pad or an enclosure at a predetermined height. The enclosure is sized and shaped to fit over the frame. The surrounding walls of the enclosure are of a first height while the front wall is of a lower height. The floor of the enclosure is slightly lower that the top surface of a parental bed. A mattress pad fits within the enclosure. A strapping means holds the co-sleeper to the parental bed. Support means for the mattress pad or enclosure include support bars that attach to the frame, a series of hangers that support horizontal bars while hanging from top rails of the frame, and panels and support rods fitted into pockets on the underside of the enclosure. The co-sleeper is height adjustable for variations in parental bed height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson, Bruce Martin
  • Publication number: 20030126681
    Abstract: A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table, bassinet or play yard is described. The invention includes a first rigid enclosure that has four walls and a floor with the front wall capable of being positioned at an upper level equal to the remaining walls or at a second lower level. The first enclosure is capable of supporting a second enclosure within it that has four walls, a floor and can support a mattress. The co-sleeper is secured at one side of a parental bed with the co-sleeper mattress positioned a short distance below the level of the mattress of the parental bed. The front wall of the invention is placed in the second, lowered position for use as a co-sleeper or changing table and positioned at the upper level when the invention is used as a play yard or bassinet. The front wall has a fixed lower portion and a raisable upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson, Bruce Martin
  • Patent number: 6578211
    Abstract: A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table is described. The invention includes a collapsible rigid frame designed to support an enclosure at a predetermined height. The enclosure has padded walls and is sized and shaped to fit over the rigid frame. The back, first and second side walls of the enclosure are of a first height above a floor of the enclosure while the front wall is of a lower height. The floor of the enclosure is designed to be slightly lower that the top surface of a parental bed. A mattress pad is sized and shaped to fit within the enclosure and is segmented to use as a containing cover for the co-sleeper when the frame is collapsed. A strapping member is provided to hold the co-sleeper to the parental bed. A number of variations of this strapping member are provided. Several styles of support members for the enclosure are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Arms Research Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson, Bruce Martin
  • Patent number: 6550082
    Abstract: An adjustable co-sleeper nest is described. The invention, in a first embodiment, comprises a baby crib having a removable front wall and four supporting rails attached to the back and side walls of the crib structure. A platform having a back wall, first and second side walls, and a reduced height front wall formed of flexible material is adjustably suspended from the supporting rails. A mattress pad is supported upon the platform structure within the walls of the platform. The platform and mattress pad extend beyond the side walls of the crib for a predetermined distance so that the mattress will fit snugly against the edge of a parental bed. Devices are provided for adjusting and securing the height of the co-sleeper platform. Straps are provided for securing the crib to the side of the parental bed. In a second embodiment, the co-sleeper nest is free-standing within an existing crib, bearing against the rear wall of the crib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Arms Reach Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson
  • Publication number: 20020152550
    Abstract: A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table is described. The invention includes a collapsible rigid frame designed to support an enclosure at a predetermined height. The enclosure has padded walls and is sized and shaped to fit over the rigid frame. The back, first and second side walls of the enclosure are of a first height above a floor of the enclosure while the front wall is of a lower height. The floor of the enclosure is designed to be slightly lower that the top surface of a parental bed. A mattress pad is sized and shaped to fit within the enclosure and is segmented to use as a containing cover for the co-sleeper when the frame is collapsed. A strapping means is provided to hold the co-sleeper to the parental bed. A number of variations of this strapping means are provided. Several styles of support means for the enclosure are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson, Bruce Martin
  • Publication number: 20020083524
    Abstract: An adjustable co-sleeper nest is described. The invention, in a first embodiment, comprises a baby crib having a removable front wall and four supporting rails attached to the back and side walls of the crib structure. A platform having a back wall, first and second side walls, and a reduced height front wall formed of flexible material is adjustably suspended from the supporting rails. A mattress pad is supported upon the platform structure within the walls of the platform. The platform and mattress pad extend beyond the side walls of the crib for a predetermined distance so that the mattress will fit snugly against the edge of a parental bed. Various means are provided for adjusting and securing the height of the co-sleeper platform. Strapping means are provided for securing the crib to the side of the parental bed. In a second embodiment, the co-sleeper nest is free-standing within an existing crib, bearing against the rear wall of the crib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson
  • Patent number: 6325259
    Abstract: A hip pouch storage device that converts easily to a secure baby carrier. The hip pouch has a first end, a second end, a top surface, an inner surface and an outer surface. The hip pouch includes an adjustable length waist strap that attaches to the first and second ends of the hip pouch. The hip pouch includes a first pocket located on the inner surface of the pouch. A support sling that has an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side, a second side, a lower attachment point and first and second upper attachment points is provided. The support sling is fixedly attached to the interior surface of the first pocket and includes an adjustable length neck strap attached to the first and second upper attachment points of the support sling. A neck pad may be provided to fit slidably upon the neck strap. In use, the hip pouch is attached to the wearer about the waist with the waist strap and the support sling is extended from the first pocket and the neck strap placed over the wearer's head about the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Arms Reach Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Tharalson, Diana M. Tharalson, Dan Peterson
  • Patent number: 6148456
    Abstract: A first playpen enclosure that converts easily to a bassinet, changing table or bed-side crib or "co-sleeper" that attaches securely to the parents' bed. A second enclosure support system maintains a padded enclosure and rigid floor panel at one or more predetermined levels below the top of the playpen to form the bassinet and co-sleeper. The second enclosure has a back, two sides, a bottom and a front flap that converts into a front wall for use in the bassinet mode and overhangs the front horizontal rail for use in the co-sleeper mode. The upper front corners are segmented into a movable section and a fixed section to facilitate lowering the front horizontal rail to at least one lower second position to accommodate various parental bed heights. Extensions of the fixed section are affixed to the front vertical rails and accept the movable sections in several positions to secure the rail in the second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana Tharalson, Bruce Martin
  • Patent number: 6112347
    Abstract: A bedside crib (hereinafter "co-sleeper") that attaches to the parental bed that may be easily converted for use as a child's easel, couch, bassinet or toy display/storage device. The co-sleeper provides a rigid enclosure formed of a pair of sides, front and rear leg portions, a removable back, a mattress base with front retaining lip, and at least one removable shelf. The mattress base is hingedly attached to the front leg portion to tilt upwardly at an acute angle to a ground surface to serve as a child's easel. When the mattress base is tilted at a right angle to the ground surface and the back of the co-sleeper is removed, the latter may serve as a toy storage/display device. A removable front allows the enclosure to function as a bassinet. Height-adjustable leg extensions attach to the sides to adjust the co-sleeper to different heights for use with various beds and to raise or lower the co-sleeper for use in alternative modes (bassinet, couch, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventors: Douglas Tharalson, Diana M. Tharalson