Patents Assigned to Graco Children's Products Inc.
  • Patent number: 7971897
    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. The frame is connected to an ergonomically friendly handlebar having discrete outer ends. The handlebar includes a latch release handle that is operably connected to the latch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Pike, Michael A. Dotsey, Roy L. Dean, Andrew Serbinski
  • Publication number: 20110156469
    Abstract: A harness system for a child seat has a shoulder strap, a chest clip, and a harness cover. The harness cover has an upper section coupled to the shoulder strap and positioned above the chest clip and a lower section coupled to the shoulder strap and positioned below the chest clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jason A. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7938731
    Abstract: A child motion device has a frame assembly and a seat supported by the frame assembly and capable of movement with a child occupying the seat. A housing is provided on a part of the frame assembly. A receptacle is provided in the housing and is positioned spaced from and faces away from the seat. A storage tray is located in the compartment and defines a storage space on the tray. The tray is movable between an opened position with the storage space and the tray extending outside the housing away from the seat and a closed position with the tray and storage space within the receptacle in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Efthemios Papageorge, William B. Bellows, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Patent number: 7938433
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are soft goods attachment designs and techniques for a stroller. The stroller includes a frame having a section, and further includes a soft goods component with an edge having a loop that forms a tunnel running along the edge. The soft goods component is attached to the section of the frame at the edge. A support strip is inserted in the tunnel and shaped to extend along the edge of the soft goods component and follow the section of the frame to facilitate attachment of the soft goods component to the frame. In some cases, a set of fasteners extends through the support strip to secure the soft goods component to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Pike, Sharon L. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 7918742
    Abstract: A child motion device includes a motor, a drive system coupled to the motor to produce movement along a motion path having reciprocating strokes, and a sensor responsive to the movement to generate feedback information indicative of the movement. The child motion device further includes a motor control circuit coupled to the sensor to determine, based on the feedback information, when to apply power to the motor during each reciprocating stroke. In some cases, the feedback information is indicative of a position of the motor such that the motor control circuit applies the power to the motor for a duration of time that begins after an end of each reciprocating stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska
  • Patent number: 7909353
    Abstract: A stroller frame has a front, a back, and a ready for use configuration. The stroller frame includes a spine having a forward end, a rear end, an underside, and a top side. The spine is positioned generally along a center lengthwise axis of the stroller frame with the forward end coinciding with the front of the stroller frame and the rear end elevated above the forward end and coinciding with the back of the stroller frame. A pair of rear legs each has a proximal end coupled to the spine and a distal end located below, laterally outward, and rearward of the respective proximal end. The proximal ends are laterally spaced apart from one another. A pair of support arms each has a proximal end coupled to the spine. Each support arm has a distal end portion located above, laterally outward, and forward of the respective proximal end. A seat is frame coupled to the stroller frame and positioned on the top side of the spine. The stroller can be collapsible in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Nolan, Michael A. Dotsey
  • Patent number: 7908686
    Abstract: A changing table for use with a playard includes a platform that is sized to support a child and at least one changing table mount arranged relative to the platform to releasably engage the platform to the playard. The changing table mount includes a release actuator. When the changing table is engaged with the playard, the changing table is configured to remain engaged with the playard when a force of less than or equal to 25 pounds is applied to a location on the changing table other than the release actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Jeffrey David Swan, Neil C. Penza, Todd D. Sorzano, Matthew J. Ransil, Thomas J. Pollack, Jonathan M. Pacella, Robert T. Pike, Michael A. Dotsey
  • Publication number: 20110048867
    Abstract: A brake assembly for a stroller has a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis and a plurality of pockets on the wheel spaced from and circumferentially around the wheel axis. A brake lever has an actuator arm and a link arm fixedly connected to one another and is movable between a braking orientation and a released orientation. A boss is driven by the link arm between a braking position and a released position corresponding respectively to the braking and released orientations of the brake lever. A biasing mechanism is configured to bias and retain the boss into engagement with one of the plurality of pockets when the brake lever is moved to the braking orientation and to bias and retain the boss out of engagement with the plurality of pockets when the brake lever is moved to the released position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Solinski, Todd D. Sorzano, Robert T. Pike, Michael A. Dotsey
  • Patent number: 7884710
    Abstract: A method of controlling a child motion device includes the steps of determining data indicative of motion of the child motion device, and controlling an audio output of the child motion device in accordance with the data. In some cases, the controlling step includes the step of modulating the audio output in accordance with the data. For example, the modulating step may involve applying a modulation effect to an audio track available to the child motion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Product Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Godiska, William B. Bellows, John (Jason) C. Arnold, IV
  • Patent number: 7883426
    Abstract: A child motion device has a frame assembly configured to rest on a floor surface. The device also has a drive system that defines a generally vertical axis of rotation. An arm extends from part of the device and is cantilevered from the axis of rotation. The arm is supported above the floor surface and has a driven end coupled to and movable by the drive system and a distal end opposite the driven end. The drive system is configured to pivotally reciprocate the arm through a partial orbit around the axis of rotation. A child seat is supported on the distal end of the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Bellows, James Godiska, Baku Kakuda, Matthew J. Ransil
  • Patent number: 7874927
    Abstract: A child motion device includes a motor to drive motion, a capacitive sensor array responsive to the motion to generate feedback information indicative of the motion, a control circuit coupled to the capacitive sensor array to control the motor based on the feedback information, and a user interface having a capacitive sensor element configured to recognize operator interaction with the user interface. The control circuit is coupled to the capacitive sensor element to control operation of the child motion device in accordance with the operator interaction. With the control circuit coupled to both the capacitive sensor array and the capacitive sensor element, the same control circuitry can be utilized in connection with both user interface and motor control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Godiska
  • Publication number: 20100308551
    Abstract: A stroller has a frame structure with two laterally spaced apart sides and a frame extension on each side. Each frame extension projects rearward and terminates at a free end. The frame structure is collapsible laterally from a side-to-side in-use spacing between the frame extensions to a side-to-side compact spacing less than the in-use spacing between the frame extensions. A push handle is on the free end of each frame extension. A cross-brace extends between and interconnects the frame extensions. The cross-brace has a central section and a pair of flanking sections pivotally connected to one another. The cross brace is selectively reconfigurable from a stiff condition to a loose condition with the frame extensions in the in-use spacing. The stiff condition maintains the in-use spacing between the frame extensions and the loose condition permits the frame extensions to collapse to the compact spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Dotsey, Todd D. Sorzano, Roy L. Dean
  • Patent number: 7832755
    Abstract: A modular chassis of a stroller system includes a body, a front wheel mount on the body, a rear wheel mount on the body, and at least one stroller frame mount on the body. The stroller frame mount is configured to couple releasably and interchangeably a first stroller frame configuration and a second stroller frame configuration different from the first stroller frame configuration to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Nolan, Michael A. Dotsey
  • Patent number: 7824273
    Abstract: A child motion device has a frame assembly configured to rest on a floor surface. A support arm assembly is coupled to and cantilevered from part of the frame assembly above the floor surface. A child supporting device is supported by the support arm assembly. A bounce mechanism of the device is employed to reciprocally bounce the child supporting device above the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    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
  • Publication number: 20100263121
    Abstract: A convertible bassinet has a frame with a bottom and spaced apart sides extending from the bottom. A first chamber is attachable to the frame and has a first bottom panel and a first plurality of walls with a first minimum wall height. A second chamber is attachable to the frame and has a second bottom panel and a second plurality of walls with a second minimum wall height. The frame can be arranged in a first position resting on one of the sides and supporting the first chamber and in a second position resting on the bottom and supporting the second chamber. The second minimum wall height in one example is greater than the first minimum wall height. A first elevation of the first bottom panel is greater than a second elevation of the second bottom panel in another example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: John (Jason) C. Arnold, IV, Thomas J. Pollack, Rachel Eirich
  • Publication number: 20100259021
    Abstract: A stroller has a frame assembly, a seat assembly mounted to the frame assembly, and a hub assembly carried by the seat assembly. The hub assembly has a hub axis, a first hub part connected to the stroller, and a second hub part connected to the first hub part and to the seat assembly. A cup holder is connected to the first hub part. The second hub part and the seat assembly can be rotated about the hub axis relative to the first hub part to adjust a recline position of the seat assembly while the cup holder does not rotate therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Childrens Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Ahnert, Patrick W. Laffan, Robert T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20100256529
    Abstract: A prenatal listening device includes first and second handheld units. The first handheld unit includes a cup-shaped body that defines an acoustic cavity. The first handheld unit further includes a microphone mounted to the body in the acoustic cavity to capture fetal sounds collected by the acoustic cavity. The second handheld unit is spaced from and communicatively coupled to the first handheld unit. The second handheld unit includes a controller to process signals from the microphone indicative of the captured fetal sounds, a housing to enclose the controller, and an audio output to reproduce the captured fetal sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Grasing, Joshua Clapper, Craig Desrosiers
  • Patent number: 7806472
    Abstract: A seat pad assembly is disclosed including a body pad for placement on the seating surface of a child seating device. The body pad has a front side, a back side, and two spaced apart vertical slots through the pad. The seat pad assembly has a head support with a connecting strip extending between a pair of laterally spaced apart cushions. The head support is generally H-shaped and installed on the pad through the slots with the pair of cushions on one side of the pad and the connecting strip on the other side. The head support is slidable along the slots to adjust the vertical position of the cushions. The seat pad assembly can be used on a child seating device such as a children's car seat, an infant carrier, a stroller, an infant swing, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Runk, Sharon L. Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20100244408
    Abstract: A foldable stroller has a frame assembly with a frame fold joint and is reconfigurable between an in-use configuration and a folded configuration. A child support structure is repositionable between a usable state on the frame assembly in the in-use configuration and an unusable state not suitable to support a child on the frame assembly. An interlock mechanism cooperates with the child support structure and is movable between a locked state preventing the frame assembly from being folded from the in-use configuration to the folded configuration and an unlocked state permitting the frame assembly to be folded. With the frame assembly in the in-use configuration and the child support structure on the frame assembly in the usable state, the interlock mechanism is retained in the locked state. The interlock mechanism is unlocked when the child support structure is moved to the unusable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Roy L. Dean, Stephen Ahnert, Robert Pike, Damaso Lamos, Daniel Newhard, Todd Grintz, Branden McCorkel
  • Publication number: 20100244519
    Abstract: An infant car seat base assembly has a base section with a top side, a bottom side, an upright base panel on a first end, and first and second openings vertically spaced apart on the upright base panel. A foot is attached to the first end and is slidable along the upright base panel in a direction generally normal to a plane of the bottom side between a first position and a second position. The foot has a foot body and a resilient, flexible leg extending up from the foot body. The flexible leg is exposed on an exterior of the base section and has a back side facing the upright base panel. The foot has a guide leg extending up from the foot body adjacent the flexible leg and positioned behind the upright base panel. A tab protrudes from the back side of the flexible leg and is sized to selectively seat in each of the first and second openings. The flexible leg biases the tab toward the upright base panel to seat in a selected one of the first and second openings when aligned therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Noah Dingler, Jason Arnold, Craig Weber