Patents Assigned to The First Years Inc.
  • Patent number: 8079975
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast includes a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive the human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough. The receiving member has an inner surface defining a recess located in the inner receiving portion and a passageway extending from the recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the recess and the opening during use. The passageway provides fluid communication between the recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be generated between the recess and the breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Britto, Shiu Hung Li
  • Patent number: 7810181
    Abstract: A device for stabilizing the position of an infant while sleeping features a shell assembly including a base panel having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides, an end wall extending generally upwardly from one of the lateral sides, two side walls extending generally upwardly from the longitudinal sides, a shell cover comprising an outer surface and conforming generally to the shell assembly, and a removable positioner insert disposed atop the base panel and comprising left and right nacelles attached to an insert base and separated by a distance selected to accommodate the width of an infant placed between the nacelles, to inhibit lateral motion of the infant while sleeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Brewin, Antonio S. Fernandes, Bryan R. Hotaling, Lawrence J. Salvo
  • Patent number: 7610633
    Abstract: A child bath seat, adapted for use with a bathtub, includes a seat body that includes both a seat and a retaining structure extending above the seat for laterally retaining a child seated in the seat body. The seat also includes a bracing structure that holds the seat body in an upright position. The bracing structure has a first end attached to the seat body, and a second end, defining a recess, for receiving an upper edge of a side of the bathtub. The seat also includes a foot structure attached to the bracing structure and capable of being placed in contact with a predominantly horizontal surface outside the bathtub. The child bath seat can be adjustable to accommodate varying bathtub side widths and varying bathtub depths and can be suspended above or a portion of the bath seat can rest on the bottom surface of the bathtub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Zanardelli, James M. Buckley, Bruce P. Popek, Craig Bures, Thomas McDonald
  • Patent number: 7569031
    Abstract: A portable pumping device for drawing milk from a human breast includes a breast shield adapted to fit over a nipple of a breast and a flow line coupled to the breast shield. The flow line is adapted to allow air to flow there through a pump coupled to the breast shield via the flow line. The pump includes a pump intake and a pump exhaust and is operable to create a pressure drop between the nipple and the pump, wherein the pressure drop creates a suction at the breast shield by lowering the pressure of air in the flow line. A blow-back valve is disposed between the flow line and the pump. The blow-back valve has a valve piston disposed in a valve housing The valve housing includes a flow line aperture that communicates via the flow line with the breast shield, a valve inlet adapted to communicate external to the flow line, and a valve exhaust adapted to communicate external to the flow line. The valve piston is adapted to alternatively seal the valve inlet and the valve exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: James Joseph Britto
  • Patent number: 7444694
    Abstract: A device for stabilizing the position of an infant while sleeping features a shell assembly including a base panel having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides, an end wall extending generally upwardly from one of the lateral sides, two side walls extending generally upwardly from the longitudinal sides, a shell cover comprising an outer surface and conforming generally to the shell assembly, and a removable positioner insert disposed atop the base panel and comprising left and right nacelles attached to an insert base and separated by a distance selected to accommodate the width of an infant placed between the nacelles, to inhibit lateral motion of the infant while sleeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Brewin, Antonio S. Fernandes, Bryan R. Hotaling, Lawrence J. Salvo
  • Patent number: 7396339
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast includes a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive the human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough. The receiving member has an inner surface defining a recess located in the inner receiving portion and a passageway extending from the recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the recess and the opening during use. The passageway provides fluid communication between the recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be generated between the recess and the breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Britto, Shiu Hung Li
  • Publication number: 20070294820
    Abstract: A child bath seat, adapted for use with a bathtub, includes a seat body that includes both a seat and a retaining structure extending above the seat for laterally retaining a child seated in the seat body. The seat also includes a bracing structure that holds the seat body in an upright position. The bracing structure has a first end attached to the seat body, and a second end, defining a recess, for receiving an upper edge of a side of the bathtub. The seat also includes a foot structure attached to the bracing structure and capable of being placed in contact with a predominantly horizontal surface outside the bathtub. The child bath seat can be adjustable to accommodate varying bathtub side widths and varying bathtub depths and can be suspended above or a portion of the bath seat can rest on the bottom surface of the bathtub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Zanardelli, James Buckley, Bruce Popek, Craig Bures, Thomas McDonald
  • Patent number: 7243380
    Abstract: A child bath seat, adapted for use with a bathtub, includes a seat body that includes both a seat and a retaining structure extending above the seat for laterally retaining a child seated in the seat body. The seat also includes a bracing structure that holds the seat body in an upright position. The bracing structure has a first end attached to the seat body, and a second end, defining a recess, for receiving an upper edge of a side of the bathtub. The seat also includes a foot structure attached to the bracing structure and capable of being placed in contact with a predominantly horizontal surface outside the bathtub. The child bath seat can be adjustable to accommodate varying bathtub side widths and varying bathtub depths and can be suspended above or a portion of the bath seat can rest on the bottom surface of the bathtub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Zanardelli, James M. Buckley, Bruce P. Popek, Craig Bures, Thomas McDonald
  • Patent number: 7237285
    Abstract: A safety bed rail for preventing an individual from falling out of a bed including a frame of sufficient width to span a width of the bed and having left and right portions adjustably connected by a releasable latch defining a plurality of discrete frame widths corresponding to standard bed sizes. A bed rail panel is attached to one side of the frame and extends up from the frame a sufficient height to extend above a mattress placed over the frame. The frame includes side flanges that engage sides of one of the mattress and an underlying mattress support of similar width to the mattress with frame disposed between the mattress and the support. The flanges are widthwise adjustable to adjust the width of the frame over a limited distance with the latch connecting the left and right frame portions in a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Brewin, Bryan R. Hotaling, Lawrence J. Salvo, Tyrone Young
  • Publication number: 20070145060
    Abstract: A disposable child's drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: THE FIRST YEARS INC.
    Inventors: James Connors, David Medeiros, George Dys, James Britto, John Hession
  • Publication number: 20070145058
    Abstract: A disposable child's drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: THE FIRST YEARS INC.
    Inventors: James Connors, David Medeiros, George Dys, James Britto, John Hession
  • Patent number: 7210591
    Abstract: A nipple for a baby bottle includes both inner and outer separable members. The inner member defines a valve passage that can be selectively obstructed by a flap of the outer member. The outer and inner members have respective flexible membranes that define a holding chamber having the valve passage as an inlet and an aperture at the tip of the outer member as an outlet. The flap inhibits flow from the holding chamber through the valve passage when the outer member is compressed, and deflects away from the valve passage to allow the holding chamber to receive a fluid through the valve passage when the outer member is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Goldman, Malcolm E. Taylor, James J. Britto, John Depiano, Tuan A. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7211102
    Abstract: A teething device is provided which includes a fluid-filled membrane sized to be at least partially received in the mouth of a child, a housing attached to the fluid-filled membrane, a handle sized to be grasped by a child, a vibrator configured to impart vibration to the fluid-filled membrane and a pressure switch selectively connecting the vibrator to a power source when a threshold pressure is applied to an outer surface of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Vasco DeSousa, Joseph F. Brewin, James J. Britto, Lawrence J. Salvo, Marsha Merianos
  • Patent number: 7196293
    Abstract: An electric adapter for providing output power to an accessory includes an adapter housing having a projection configured for insertion into a DC power accessory port, the projection carrying an electrical input conductor, a power outlet cord extending from the housing, a manually operable power switch mounted on the housing, the switch operable to electrically connect the electrical input conductor to the power outlet cord, and a timer circuit contained within the housing and configured to electrically disconnect the input conductor from the power outlet cord after a predetermined cycle time period, without removing the projection from the DC power accessory port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Britto
  • Patent number: 7185784
    Abstract: A disposable child's drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Connors, Jr., David E. Medeiros, George S. Dys, James J. Britto, John A. Hession
  • Patent number: 7178792
    Abstract: A child safety gate includes a flexible barrier that is retractable into a housing and extendable across a passageway to inhibit passage by a child. An electrically operable extension lock solenoid inhibits barrier extension until activated by a parent. The gate includes a motion sensor, a night light, a child monitor and an interactive audio-visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Monahan, Ronald J. Sidman, Jon R. Rossman, Bryan R. Hotaling, Thomas A. Hagerty
  • Patent number: 7178685
    Abstract: A lids for a child's drinking cup has a projection extending integrally from an underside of the lid, the projection defining, in an upper surface of the lid body, a straw receptacle. The projection defines a plurality of break lines, such as slits, terminating at break line ends and defining separable segments of the projection. The break line ends are spaced from the base of the projection in a region of the straw receptacle having a cross-section approximately equal in extent to a cross-section of a corresponding drinking straw, such that inserting the straw into the straw receptacle and through the projection forces the projection segments apart, the segment bases engaging an outer surface of the inserted straw to inhibit leakage. Some of the projections include molded stiffening ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Hidalgo, Thomas J. Powers, Alexander J. Sinton, Joseph F. Brewin, John A. Hession
  • Patent number: D544704
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Kenny
  • Patent number: D568604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Kenny
  • Patent number: D586112
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Kenny