Patents Assigned to The Sharper Image
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Patent number: 5802865Abstract: A self-contained evaporative personal cooling device has an articulated C-shaped housing that fits conformally around a user's neck or forehead. The housing retains and urges at least one heat dissipating plate conformably against the user's neck or forehead. A sponge material within the housing contacts upper and/or lower portions of the metal plates but is spaced-apart from the plate to form a plenum. In use, the sponge material is saturated with water introduced through slots in the housing. A DC powered fan within the device draws air into the housing and circulates the air within the plenum and out through exit openings in the sponge material and housing. Moisture from the sponge material wets the plenum-facing surface of the metal plates, which surface preferably has been treated with a wicking material. Fan-circulated air promotes evaporation and heat is withdrawn by the plates from the user's neck or forehead, thus cooling the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1997Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: The Sharper ImageInventor: Ted N. Strauss
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Patent number: 5767634Abstract: A pulse action facial massager apparatus including a headset assembly for mounting to a user's head. A pair of flexible extension fingers extending from opposite sides of the headset assembly each of which is operably coupled to a vibrating device each generating an independent vibrating action. A tip portion of each extension finger is manually movable for selected contact at independent portions of the user's head. Hence, the respective vibrating device transmits the vibrating action thereof along the extension finger to the respective tip portion. Each vibrating device includes a motor that is controlled by an electronic controller mounted on the headset assembly. The controller permits user-variation of the repetition rate and duty cycle of the motors. This permits the user to vary the vibrational patterns produced by the present invention. In an automatic mode, duty cycle is automatically varied by a sawtooth waveform to produce a dynamically changing pattern of massage intensity.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: The Sharper ImageInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Blaine M. Smith
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Patent number: 5677675Abstract: A lost article detector unit includes a microprocessor programmed to execute adaptive actuation signal recognition that discerns desired activation sounds from noise. Preferably the desired activation sounds include a sequence of four adjacent spaced-apart hand claps made by the same user. A transducer provides amplified sound signals to the microprocessor, which then analyzes and stores pattern information associated with the first clap-pair. Signals from a second clap-pair are then analyzed and compared with stored pattern information from the first clap-pair, using the algorithm. The adaptive use of such pattern information permits imposing timing tolerances that are sufficiently tight to reduce false triggering, without requiring the user to memorize a rigid sequence pattern of clapping. Upon microprocessor-recognition of desired activation sounds, the microprocessor causes the transducer to audibly beep an activation sound.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: The Sharper ImageInventors: Charles Edwin Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
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Patent number: 5645173Abstract: An apparatus for organizing articles of clothing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having first and second drums rotatably mounted thereto. A belt is engaged around the first and second drums that has a plurality of first hook members for hanging articles thereon. A drive system is used for rotating one of the first and second drums, and an automatic control system activates the drive system for a period of time approximately equal to a motor delay time period. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an electric motor and a pulley and gear system for rotating one of the first and second drums. An electric switch is mounted to the housing and coupled to the electric motor. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a light bulb mounted to the housing for illuminating articles hanging on the first hook members and an automatic lighting means for providing electricity to the light bulb for approximately a lamp delay time period.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: The Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Blaine M. Smith
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Patent number: 5519292Abstract: A fingertip massager transmits a pulsating action through the fingertips of the user to an area being massaged. Vibrating pulsators are attached to the user's fingers for vibrating same. A controller attached to the user's wrist controls the vibration of the vibrating pulsators, including the vibration rate. Flexible connection tubes connect the controller and the vibrating pulsators. The pulsating circuit includes variable square wave circuitry for producing dual alternating voltage outputs and pulsating circuitry for producing a vibrating motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1994Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: The Sharper ImageInventors: Charles Taylor, Blaine Smith
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Patent number: 5474187Abstract: An apparatus for organizing articles of clothing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having first and second drums rotatably mounted thereto. A belt is engaged around the first and second drums that has a plurality of first hook members for hanging articles thereon. A drive system is used for rotating one of the first and second drums, and an automatic control system activates the drive system for a period of time approximately equal to a motor delay time period. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an electric motor and a pulley and gear system for rotating one of the first and second drums. An electric switch is mounted to the housing and coupled to the electric motor. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a light bulb mounted to the housing for illuminating articles hanging on the first hook members and an automatic lighting means for providing electricity to the light bulb for approximately a lamp delay time period.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1993Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: The Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Blaine M. Smith
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Patent number: 5458105Abstract: An anti-snore apparatus and method of stopping a person from snoring are disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a housing that is wearable on a person's limb and a strap for securing the housing to a person's limb. Means are contained within the housing for receiving a power supply. A motor is secured to and contained within the housing. A weight is secured to an output shaft of the motor. The output shaft extends through the weight at a point outside of a center of gravity of the weight so that rotation of the weight by the output shaft produces a vibratory motion in the housing. A microphone is contained within the housing for detecting audible snoring and for producing a microphone output signal in response to such detected snoring. An audio amplifier amplifies the microphone output signal to produce an amplified microphone output signal. A comparator produces a comparator output signal in response to the amplified microphone output signal exceeding a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1993Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: The Sharper Image CorporationInventors: Charles E. Taylor, Blaine M. Smith