Patents Assigned to Sharper Image
  • Publication number: 20030049098
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Parker, Charles E. Taylor, John Paul Reeves
  • Publication number: 20030042216
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Tristan M. Christianson, Edward C. McKinney
  • Patent number: 6520347
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: David Caplan, Charles E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6507773
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Parker, Edward C. McKinney, Jr., Tristan M. Christianson, Richard J. Thalheimer, Shek Fai Lau, Mark Duncan, Charles E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20030009261
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Parker, Edward C. McKinney, Tristan M. Christianson, Richard J. Thalheimer, Shek Fai Lau, Mark Duncan, Charles E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20030004611
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. McKinney, Tristan M. Christianson, Shek Fai Lau
  • Publication number: 20020190012
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Charles E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20020174876
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: THE SHARPER IMAGE
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: 6481104
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parker, Charles E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6464088
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: David Caplan, Charles E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20020141914
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Parker
  • Patent number: 6451266
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Parker
  • Patent number: 6431719
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Shek Fai Lau, Edward C. McKinney, Jr., Richard J. Thalheimer
  • Publication number: 20020100488
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: SHARPER IMAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: D461179
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D462430
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D464091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D465484
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D469573
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D470314
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson