Patents Assigned to Sharper Image
  • Patent number: 6182671
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: 6176977
    Abstract: An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and 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 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. A bias electrode, electrically coupled to the second array electrodes, affects net polarity of ions generated. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is thus conditioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: 6163098
    Abstract: An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone. The conditioner may be sized to condition air in a closet, or may include an illumination source and be sized to be attached to an AC wall outlet to provide a night light function as well as a conditioning function. 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 one or more pin-like electrodes and the second array comprises one or more washer-like 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: 6152146
    Abstract: A hair brush includes a self-contained ion generator that subjects the hair and scalp 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: 6125636
    Abstract: A self-contained personal cooling and/or heating device includes a heat dissipating member that fits around a portion of the user's body to be thermally regulated. A Peltier thermo-voltaic module operated with low voltage at relatively low current is thermally coupled to the rear surface of the member, and the rear surface of the module is provided with a large surface area, preferably augmented by a heat sink. A fan directs ambient air onto this rear module surface or heat sink. The device preferably is controlled by a microprocessor that biases the module with a pulse train, samples temperature across the module during an off-portion of the pulse train, and used sampled signals to vary duty cycle and/or amplitude of the voltage across the module to finely control temperature. The device preferably is controlled by a self-contained battery source whose polarity across the module is user-changeable, causing the device to heat or cool the user as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: D435870
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D437453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Sharper Image
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D437661
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D438513
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D440290
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D440456
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D427300
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: The Sharper Image
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D428449
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corp.
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D429502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D431857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: The Sharper Image
    Inventor: Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D433023
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: The Sharper Image
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D433494
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Sharper Image
    Inventors: Rene C. Pinchuk, Tristan M. Christianson
  • Patent number: D434209
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corp.
    Inventor: Edward C. McKinney
  • Patent number: D434483
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventor: Rene C. Pinchuk
  • Patent number: D435079
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Sharper Image
    Inventor: Charles E. Taylor