Patents by Inventor Eric Thomas Shuler

Eric Thomas Shuler 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: 8952887
    Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glenn Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Patent number: 7916124
    Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glenn Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Publication number: 20080145823
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of interacting with a user is described. The method includes identifying a structure coupled to a base unit, wherein the structure includes a visual identifier. A sound is generated using a speaker of the base unit, wherein the sound is associated with the visual identifier of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Shuler, Jorge Soto, Petra Ute Trimmel
  • Patent number: 7106309
    Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Patent number: 6905391
    Abstract: An interactive shopping role-play toy comprises a toy item bin, a first set of toy items replicating shopping items, an input device adapted to uniquely identify each of the toy items; and an audio playback device adapted to play an audio acknowledgment associated with the identified toy item. The audio acknowledgement is uniquely associated with the identified toy item. The input device is configured to uniquely identify a toy item when the toy item is within physical proximity of the input device. Each toy item includes an RF identification tag corresponding to a unique electronic identification, and the input device includes an RF identification tag reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Gabriel Soto, Kathleen Campisano, Richard Glen Freeman, Eric Thomas Shuler
  • Publication number: 20040104890
    Abstract: Interactive books are disclosed. An example includes a front cover and a rear cover. At least one page is between the front and rear covers. A binder couples the front cover, the rear cover, and the at least one page together. An antenna is in the rear cover. A stylus is coupled to either the front or the rear cover, and an output device such as a speaker is coupled to the front or the rear cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Caldwell, Larry Lynch, L. James Marggraff, Eric Thomas Shuler
  • Publication number: 20030218604
    Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Patent number: 6641401
    Abstract: An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interactive apparatus includes a base unit. The base unit can has a surface and an array of electrical elements under the surface. A removable template is placed on the base unit and is positioned over the surface. The removable template has a movable element that the user can move and a speaker in the apparatus can produce an audio output in response to the movement of the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Publication number: 20030171063
    Abstract: An interactive shopping role-play toy comprises a toy item bin, a first set of toy items replicating shopping items, an input device adapted to uniquely identify each of the toy items; and an audio playback device adapted to play an audio acknowledgment associated with the identified toy item. The audio acknowledgement is uniquely associated with the identified toy item. The input device is configured to uniquely identify a toy item when the toy item is within physical proximity of the input device. Each toy item includes an RF identification tag corresponding to a unique electronic identification, and the input device includes an RF identification tag reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Gabriel Soto, Kathleen Campisano, Richard Glen Freeman, Eric Thomas Shuler
  • Patent number: 6608618
    Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Publication number: 20030153413
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sports toy with multiple instructional modalities which combine auditory, visual, and kinesthetic stimulation to teach and reinforce language skills. In one embodiment, a sports toy comprises a goal defining an aperture and a switch associated with the goal for indicating that a goal has been scored. A memory is operatively associated with the switch. A voice synthesizer is operatively associated with the memory and a speaker is in turn operatively associated with the voice synthesizer. Code stored in the memory causes sounds associated with language to sound from the speaker after the switch is activated. The sounds associated with the language include letter names, letter sounds, words, or phonics. The sports toy may also comprise an electronic visual display operatively associated with the memory for displaying stored images, such as letters or words, after the switch is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Eric Thomas Shuler, Jorge Gabriel Soto
  • Publication number: 20030129572
    Abstract: Infants and toddlers are introduced to learning through musical sounds and visual stimulation related to different fields of experience. A learning center table includes a hinged book moveable to display a first or a second page. Turning the page selects between a first and a second mode of operation. In one embodiment, the first page illustrates learning indicia such as letters or numbers, with child/toy interaction giving rise to stimulus related primarily to the concepts to be learned. In a second mode, the second page illustrates musical indicia such as instruments and notes, and child/toy interaction gives rise to stimulus related primarily to musical concepts such as timbre, melody, and rhythm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Shuler, Kathleen Campisano, Stephanie Elias, Christa McClintock
  • Publication number: 20020197587
    Abstract: An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interactive apparatus includes a base unit. The base unit can has a surface and an array of electrical elements under the surface. A removable template is placed on the base unit and is positioned over the surface. The removable template has a movable element that the user can move and a speaker in the apparatus can produce an audio output in response to the movement of the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Publication number: 20020197588
    Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
  • Patent number: D489367
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Lynch, Eric Thomas Shuler, George Heropoulos
  • Patent number: D500316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Lynch, Eric Thomas Shuler, George Heropoulos