Patents Examined by Kien Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9400130
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a skating rink that includes a skating area, a wall at least partially surrounding the skating area, and a visible mark extending along a perimeter region of the skating area to indicate to a skater traveling head first toward the wall that the skater should look up and to related methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: The Thomas E. Smith Fight to Cure Paralysis Foundation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Smith
  • Patent number: 9396618
    Abstract: An entertainment venue, amusement attraction, or interactive play center configured to provide a variety of activities for users. The attraction may include blaster cannons, sorting stations, fountain components, registration stations, video monitors, targets, and other interactive elements. Several of these components may receive and/or propel elements (such as foam balls, water, light or lasers, etc.) and accumulate points for users based upon this activity. A registration and tracking system can keep track of specific users and their activities for the purpose of generating or compiling statistics or generating a score for the users. A mobile application associated with the interactive play center may be used during play to indicate additional information or features about the amusement attraction or to allow for continued entertainment by users even after they have left the entertainment venue or interactive play center. This may be conveyed via augmented reality or other visual/audible notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Whitewater West Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Weston, Denise Weston, Rick Briggs
  • Patent number: 9393497
    Abstract: An entertainment device includes a screen on which a film can be shown, a movable simulation platform, a multiplicity of audience places or locations disposed on the simulation platform, each place or location having a supporting element for spectators to lean against, a drive device for moving the simulation platform, and a controlling or regulating unit for controlling or regulating the movement of the simulation platform. The movable simulation platform can be moved by the drive device under control of the controlling or regulation unit in dependence on a motion data track corresponding to the film. The simulation platform is suspended from cables which can be moved by the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventors: Saskia Valtiner-Zuegg, Martin Valtiner
  • Patent number: 9387412
    Abstract: A modular combination toy and desktop writing accessory apparatus comprising a plurality of structural elements each having at least one nodal connector portion to which a complementary connector portion of another structural element can be coupled. The structural elements can be assembled into a barrel-like form that is configured with a passageway for carrying a writing component of the invention. The writing component can be a pen, pencil, marker, crayon, eraser or the like. The modular combination toy and writing instrument has multiple functions in playtime as well as in everyday desk-bound activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hermes Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Csaba Truckai
  • Patent number: 9387409
    Abstract: A people moving system having a people pod and a cable support system attached to the people pod. The cable support system supports the people pod in the air and includes cables that are each connected at one end to the people pod and each connected to their own respective motor/winch system at the other ends. A computer control system is in signal communication with the motor/winch systems and allows the same to move the people pod in three (3) dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Jordan Michael Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9384887
    Abstract: A first device may be paired to a second device, with the first and second devices including inductive elements, the devices may be paired by aligning a first magnetic element of a first device and a second magnetic element of a second device. At least one additional magnetic element is used to redirect magnetic fields generated by the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element away from the inductive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leyland, John Reine
  • Patent number: 9375652
    Abstract: A confetti cannon includes a one-piece housing. The one-piece housing has a confetti hopper, a launch tube, and a valve housing. The valve housing has an inlet connected to an internal valve. Whereby, the confetti hopper, the launch tube, and the valve housing are integrally formed to create the one-piece housing. The internal valve can be an electric solenoid valve for controlling the confetti cannon remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Willett
  • Patent number: 9376773
    Abstract: What is disclosed is removable outdoor sport flooring consisting of a plurality of floor elements that in turn have a layer of load distribution elements on which a cover layer is applied. The floor elements lie on a damping layer, the load distribution elements, the cover layer and the damping layer being implemented so as to be water-resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke GmbH
    Inventors: Falko Wepner, Friedrich-Wilhelm Struve, Stefan Kuner, Peter Hamberger
  • Patent number: 9375646
    Abstract: A wind tunnel may comprise: a flight chamber; a plurality of diffusers; a plurality of expanding corners, wherein the plurality of expanding corners comprises a first expanding corner and a second expanding corner; and a return, the return configured to have disposed therein a fan operatively coupled with a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Airborne America, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Lurie
  • Patent number: 9370259
    Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises a drive mechanism that includes a motor configured to impart torque to the at least one swing arm so that a child seat moves in an arcuate path. A phase control subsystem generates a motor drive signal configured to maintain a desired lead angle between a phase of the drive mechanism and a phase of the swing arm. An amplitude control subsystem configured to steer the phase control subsystem based on a correlation of an actual height of the child seat to a selected height of the child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Pyrce, James P. Meade, Mark Alan Wollen, James Paul Baker, James A. Bishop, Jr., Ross Allan Niver
  • Patent number: 9364764
    Abstract: A portable toddler swing is provided. The swing includes a compliant shell, an upper adjustable strap, a fastener coupled to the upper adjustable strap, a lower adjustable strap, a pair of support straps and a pair of safety fasteners. The shell defines an inner cavity, including an upper portion defining a top opening, a circumferential passage and a strap opening connected to the circumferential passage, a bottom portion, a front portion defining a pair of leg openings, a back portion, and a pair of side portions. The upper adjustable strap is disposed within the circumferential passage, and adjusts the size of the top opening of the shell. The lower adjustable strap is connected to the bottom portion of the shell, and secures the shell to a playground swing seat. The pair of safety fasteners are coupled to upper portions of the support straps, and secure the support straps to the playground swing chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYBEE CHILD LLC
    Inventors: Jill P. Koziol, Katherine C. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9358477
    Abstract: A fixed support includes an elevated foot platform and one or more handles allowing a live person to stand on the elevated foot platform, and a background member configured to receive a portion of the fixed support and support a cutout image of a person substantially orthogonal to the live person standing on the foot platform. A picture of the live person standing on the foot platform along with the background creates the illusion in the photograph that the cutout image of the person is levitating the live person standing on the foot platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: David Copperfield
  • Patent number: 9360093
    Abstract: A platform is provided, which platform is adapted to engage a base through a multiplicity of pulley engaging cables. A first end of each cable is attached to a cam follower assembly located on the base and a second portion of the cable is attached to the platform. A motor driving the multiplicity of cams, cam followers, and cables will move the platform, the platform typically being suspended above the base on the cables or the cables and compression springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Brian A. Garner
  • Patent number: 9358473
    Abstract: An interactive amusement attraction includes a track arranged inside a building and a transportation system having ride vehicles configured to move along the track. There are screens secured inside the building and projectors configured to display video content along the track on the screens. There are also input devices associated with passenger seats of the ride vehicles, which are configured to receive visitor inputs. The attraction also includes a controlling system configured to determine a location of the ride vehicle or visitors on the track, receive the visitor inputs from the input devices, and cause modifying and displaying of the video content based on the visitor inputs and the location of ride vehicle or visitor. The controlling system further causes the transportation system to move the ride vehicle based on the visitor inputs and the location of ride vehicle or visitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: Anthony Frolov
  • Patent number: 9353488
    Abstract: A ground covering for sports areas, in particular tennis courts. In order to provide a ground covering for sports areas and in particular for tennis courts which has not only the advantageous play properties of a sand court but also the care and maintenance properties of a hard court, there is provided at least one layer (4) having a first, mineral particle material (1) which is doubly crushed and a second particle material (3) and also a binder (2), wherein an average particle size of the second material (3) is less than an average particle size of the first material (1), and the second material (3) is arranged at least partially in depot zones (5) formed by the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Sportek OHG
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Schneider
  • Patent number: 9352236
    Abstract: A floating entertainment and communication system is a floating multipurpose apparatus for use in conjunction with personal electronic devices while floating on a body of water. The system is designed to amplify audio from various audio sources such as personal music players and display video from video players that are able to be docked in one of the waterproof docking stations in the center column. The system has capabilities to have 2-way communication with a remote transreceiver for convenience and for rapid response in water related emergencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Kari Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9352245
    Abstract: A system and method of performing a mystical card flying illusion or ‘trick’ is provided. In accordance with the innovation, an invisible (or near invisible) levitation means (e.g., string, thread, etc.) can be used to create the illusion of a levitating and/or spinning playing card. The levitation means can be pre-attached or fixedly attached to an ear piece that is configured to fit over and behind a user's ear. Further, an illumination system can be provided in connection with the levitation illusion system. Moreover, spinning aides can be provided to assist a user in rotating or spinning a levitation item (e.g., card).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Carl Zealer
  • Patent number: 9352235
    Abstract: The clamped slide assembly comprises a slide, a main body, at least one inner clamping panel, and a clamping unit. The slide has a platform. The main body is securely mounted on the platform. The at least one inner clamping panel is securely mounted on the platform. The clamping unit is movably mounted on the main body and has an outer clamping panel, a screwing rod, and a spanner. The outer clamping panel is spaced apart from the inner clamping panel. The screwing rod is screwed with the main body. The screwing rod is mounted through the outer clamping panel. The spanner is rotatably and eccentrically mounted around the screwing rod, and the outer clamping panel is pushed towards the main body and the inner clamping panel to fasten on an open riser stair, and the clamped slide assembly can achieve the goal of saving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: T. K. CHIN COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Howard Chin
  • Patent number: 9339735
    Abstract: System, methods and figures having rotating joints including a first component comprising a face and an aperture within the face, a second component comprising a face and an aperture within the face, and a connector comprising a panel, wherein the panel comprises an elongated sheet having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion, wherein the central portion is narrower than the first and second end portions. The connector is configured to fit within the apertures of the first and second components to securely adjoin the first component to the second component such that the first and second components are rotatable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Foldems LLC
    Inventors: Joel Orrie Morris, Connors Lau
  • Patent number: 9327202
    Abstract: A wind tunnel may comprise: a flight chamber; a plurality of diffusers; a plurality of expanding corners, wherein the plurality of expanding corners comprises a first expanding corner and a second expanding corner; and a return, the return configured to have disposed therein a fan operatively coupled with a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Airborne America, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Lurie