Patents Assigned to Sharper Image
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Publication number: 20030049098Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot can be manipulated remotely.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Parker, Charles E. Taylor, John Paul Reeves
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Publication number: 20030042216Abstract: A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of interconnected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Applicant: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Tristan M. Christianson, Edward C. McKinney
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Patent number: 6520347Abstract: A motorized rack for holding the jewel cases or containers of CDs (or the CDs themselves) in a very compact manner includes a continuous loop formed of holders for the CD cases or other retainers which is driven by a pair of sprockets on which the holders are mounted for rotation. High density storage is provided by spacing the holders and their associated CD containers contiguously to one another and then removal is facilitated by allowing the holders and containers to fan out at the top the vertical tower for manual removal.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: David Caplan, Charles E. Taylor
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Patent number: 6507773Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, two arms, two legs, several sensors, an audio system, a light assembly, and a video device. The sensors located throughout the body of the robot combined with an edge detection sensor allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video device allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes which allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot can be manipulated remotely.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Parker, Edward C. McKinney, Jr., Tristan M. Christianson, Richard J. Thalheimer, Shek Fai Lau, Mark Duncan, Charles E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20030009261Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot can be manipulated remotely.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Parker, Edward C. McKinney, Tristan M. Christianson, Richard J. Thalheimer, Shek Fai Lau, Mark Duncan, Charles E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20030004611Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot can be manipulated remotely.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Edward C. McKinney, Tristan M. Christianson, Shek Fai Lau
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Publication number: 20020190012Abstract: A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Charles E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20020174876Abstract: A brush includes a self-contained ion generator that subjects material being brushed to an outflow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises at least one metal pin spaced coaxially-apart from a metal ring-like structure. Alternatively, the first array may comprise one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is directed between the brush bristles onto the material being brushed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: THE SHARPER IMAGEInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
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Patent number: 6481104Abstract: A shaving system for use with mechanical hand-held shavers includes a housing in which is disposed a DC motor, an eccentric weight coupled to a shaft of the motor, and a DC power source. The eccentric weight and motor shaft are oriented such that the axis of vibrations produced by the motor are parallel to an axis of the cutting edge of a razor blade attached to a handle in mechanical vibratory communication with the motor. The result is vibratory displacement of the razor blade, typically back-and-forth, over a range approximating the dimension of a human hair. In one embodiment a housing accepts the handle of a generic shaver, and in a second embodiment the housing is bifurcated and the handle of a shaver.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Andrew Parker, Charles E. Taylor
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Patent number: 6464088Abstract: A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: David Caplan, Charles E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20020141914Abstract: A system massages a user's feet and generates an electro-kinetic airflow that contains safe amounts of ozone that can deodorize the user's feet or socks. The system includes an ion generator comprising a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between left and right first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first electrode array includes first and second pointed electrodes, and the second electrode array includes annular-like electrodes having a central opening coaxial with the associated pointed electrode. Preferably the annular-like electrodes are formed from a single sheet of metal by extrusion or punching such that the surface of the annular-like electrodes is smooth and continuous through the opening and into a collar region through which the air flows. Particulate matter in the ambient air electrostatically adheres to the smooth continuous surface of the annular-like electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2002Publication date: October 3, 2002Applicant: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Parker
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Patent number: 6451266Abstract: A system massages a user's feet and generates an electro-kinetic airflow that contains safe amounts of ozone that can deodorize the user's feet or socks. The system includes an ion generator comprising a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between left and right first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first electrode array includes first and second pointed electrodes, and the second electrode array includes annular-like electrodes having a central opening coaxial with the associated pointed electrode. Preferably the annular-like electrodes are formed from a single sheet of metal by extrusion or punching such that the surface of the annular-like electrodes is smooth and continuous through the opening and into a collar region through which the air flows. Particulate matter in the ambient air electrostatically adheres to the smooth continuous surface of the annular-like electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Parker
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Patent number: 6431719Abstract: A self-contained night light is disposed in a housing containing spaced-apart male AC prongs the mate with an AC socket. The housing contains an array of differently colored, preferably light emitting diode. Light sources that can dynamically output different patterns of differently colored light in response to drive signals. A microcontroller executes a sequence of instructions causing the controller to output different sequences of signals that are coupled to a driver unit that drives the light sources. The result is that the array dynamically produces different patterns of differently colored light. A user operable control allows a viewer to “freeze” any desired pattern of light, such that until reset, the night light will continue to output a static pattern of colors. The night light may include a manual or light-sensing ON/OFF switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Shek Fai Lau, Edward C. McKinney, Jr., Richard J. Thalheimer
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Publication number: 20020100488Abstract: A brush includes a self-contained ion generator that subjects material being brushed to an outflow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises at least one metal pin spaced coaxially-apart from a metal ring-like structure. Alternatively, the first array may comprise one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is directed between the brush bristles onto the material being brushed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2000Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: SHARPER IMAGE CORPORATIONInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
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Patent number: D461179Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Tristan M. Christianson
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Patent number: D462430Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Tristan M. Christianson
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Patent number: D464091Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Tristan M. Christianson
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Patent number: D465484Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Tristan M. Christianson
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Patent number: D469573Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
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Patent number: D470314Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Sharper Image CorporationInventor: Tristan M. Christianson