Patents Examined by Kien Nguyen
  • Method of manufacturing a sword or sparring instrument
    Patent number: 9884261
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of making polymeric swords and sparring instruments having improved mechanical properties. In one embodiment, a method of making a polymeric sword includes centering a flexible support member on either a first half of a sword mold or on a second half of the sword mold; pouring a polymer mixture into the first half the sword mold and into the second half of the sword mold and closing the sword mold by clasping the first half of the sword mold to the second half of the sword mold; heating the sword mold comprising the polymer mixture in a heating apparatus; and removing the polymeric sword from the sword mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Neptune Trading Inc.
    Inventor: Margaret Lu
  • User identification and tracking system for artificial cave obstacle course
    Patent number: 9884263
    Abstract: An artificial cave has various features that resemble speleothems (e.g., stalactites, stalagmites, etc.) found in real subterranean caves. Human users may pass through the artificial cave, with each user wearing a wearable transceiver that broadcasts a signal code unique to that user. Fixed transceivers throughout the cave can detect and identify any user who is sufficiently close to that fixed transceiver. Other components of the system collect user identification information from the fixed transceivers for any of several possible purposes (e.g., identifying which user was probably responsible for inappropriate interaction with a speleothem that is adjacent to a given fixed transceiver, where all of the various user of the cave are currently located in the cave, etc.). A count of users currently in the artificial cave passageway may be maintained and used for a number of purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: David Alexander Jackson
  • Interlinking assembly device
    Patent number: 9878260
    Abstract: An interlinking assembly device for generating three-dimensional objects. The device includes a unit having a pair of wings and at least one loop. The wings have slots that can accept a wing from another unit. The at least one loop can also accept a wing from another device, allowing multiple rows to be linked and extend in three dimensions. A kit includes more than one unit and can include more than one embodiment of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Cecilia Chen
  • Wave catching shutdown lane
    Patent number: 9878254
    Abstract: An apparatus or method for draining fluid from an amusement attraction while helping prevent substantial portions of fluid from splashing out of the attraction. The apparatus may be an end component for a shutdown lane that has one or more areas or catch basins for flowing the fluid thereon or therethrough. Various sidewalls, hills, ridges, and/or drainage surfaces may be implemented by or on the end component to ideally keep water from splashing outside of the end component and to help maintain rider safety as the rider slides towards the end component. One or more stages of drainage areas or surfaces may be utilized for the end component. The apparatus may be in the form of an end component, a larger portion of an attraction, such as a shutdown lane, or discrete components that may be connected within or to a portion of an attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Whitewater West Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Claudio J. Barrera, Karl J. Carlson, Bruce R. Bradley, Andrey Khomovskiy
  • Surfing device and method
    Patent number: 9878255
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a surfing device comprising at least one energy projector for projecting energy, at least one energy recycling mechanism for recycling at least some of the projected energy, and at least one energy projecting structure. The energy projecting structure is configured for supporting the energy projector to provide a plurality of energy projecting positions for the projection of energy therefrom. The projected energy provides a simulated surfing surface, positioned a distance from the plurality of energy projecting positions. The energy projecting structure is also configured for supporting the energy recycling mechanism for projecting recycled energy from one or more recycled projection positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: WHITEWATER WEST INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Stephen Con Kriticos
  • Rotatable play device
    Patent number: 9873057
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a rotatable play device that comprises a central support post, a hub rotatably mounted to an upper end of the central support post, and a plurality of arms attached to the hub, wherein a seat is suspended from the distal end of each of the plurality of arms. Rotation of the hub about the central support post causes the plurality of seats to rotate around the central support post in a substantially circular rotation path. In addition, each of the seats may be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path. Each of the seats may also be configured to have at least a partially restricted range of motion toward the central support post, away from the central support post, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Norquist, Kim Corvin Blackwood
  • Playground equipment
    Patent number: 9868070
    Abstract: The invention relates to a playground equipment comprising a platform for a user to sit or stand on and mounted to the ground via a first shaft and a second shaft. The shafts are connected to each other at an angle and coupled in a gear transmission system. Because of the gearing between the shafts a first rotational speed of the first shaft yields a second rotational speed of the second shaft different from the first rotational speed. The gear transmission system may comprise an epicyclic gear train such as a planetary gear system. The gear transmission system may yield a gear ratio in the range of 1.5-10 such as in the range of 3-7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Kompan A/S
    Inventor: Nikolaj Maj Bentsen
  • Device for fire, light and dance performance
    Patent number: 9868074
    Abstract: The invention is a device used as a prop in dance and performances. In particular fire dancing, light performances and other performances such as belly dancing. The Specification describes the current need for a performance device that allows the user a greater freedom of movement and the ability to rapidly reconfigure the shape and function of the performance device. This device consists of a flat, crescent shaped body with a center area for gripping and two arms with attachments for wicks or lights. The device has holes in the grip area which allow the user to spin the device on a finger or thumb. The device has screw holes and, in some embodiment's, magnets, in the grip area and along the arms that allow the user to attach multiple units together to form difference shapes. Wicks or lights can easily be removed for rapid replacement or reconfiguration of props.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Milo John Wilhite
  • Electromagnetic swing
    Patent number: 9868071
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a powered children's swing. In various embodiments, the swing includes a seat, swing frame, one or more swing arms, a first magnetic component, second magnetic component, swing motion sensor, and swing control circuit. The magnetic components are configured to generate a magnetic force that drives the seat along a swing path. The swing control circuit is configured to control the magnetic components based at least on input from the swing motion sensor and generate control signals causing the seat to swing with substantially constant amplitude as specified by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: KIDS II, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Gilbert, Stephen R. Burns, Peter D. Jackson, Charles Simons, Chen Jing Ru
  • Rotating climbing unit
    Patent number: 9868069
    Abstract: A rotating playground device is presented. The rotating playground device comprises a frame configured to rotate, wherein rotation is initiated by a force applied to the frame. The rotating playground device also comprises a braking system configured to limit a speed at which the frame rotates. The rotating playground device is permanently mounted within a playground environment, wherein permanently mounted comprises a frame mounting point coupled to a ground point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Landscape Structures Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Keller
  • Easily transportable inflation and deflation assembly for a bounce house
    Patent number: 9861901
    Abstract: An assembly for an inflatable structure such as a child's bounce house, and for storing and transporting the bounce house, includes a wheeled dolly having a handle, an electric air blower mounted to the dolly near the wheels, an adapter for use in deflating the bounce house using the air blower, and a cover that is attached or attachable to the dolly for securing the bounce house in its deflated state to the dolly and for covering the bounce house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MGA ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Pierzynski, Jeffrey Paris, Glenn Yu, Joseph Chang
  • Accident preventing system for sports
    Patent number: 9861875
    Abstract: An accident preventing system for sports, for preventing an accident to a user who uses a sport facility involving movement from a first zone including a starting spot to a second zone including an arrival spot, includes a safety equipment that a user wears to use the sport facility, an entry sensing unit installed in the first zone and determining that the user enters the starting spot, a binding sensing unit installed in the first zone and determining whether the safety equipment is bound, and a controller determining whether to operate the sport facility upon receiving signals checked by the entry sensing unit and the binding sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Simjung Cho, Dugkeun Park, Hoon Lee, Taewoong Jung, Hyunjung Kim, Minjung Kim
  • Electrical toy block apparatus, system, and method for making the same
    Patent number: 9861906
    Abstract: An electrical toy block apparatus, system, and a method for making the same are provided. The electrical toy block has a housing block with a power supply housed within and an external terminal assembly for forming an electrical circuit within the electrical toy block. The electrical toy block is constructed by forming a pocket within the housing block, inserting the power supply within the pocket, securing the external terminal assembly to the housing, and connecting the external terminal assembly to the power supply in an electrically conductive relationship. The external terminal assembly of the electrical block is magnetic so that additional toy blocks can be attached to the housing block to form electrical circuits made up of various arrangements of toy blocks. An external device may then be connected to the circuit to power the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Graham Calvert
  • Dual arm child motion device
    Patent number: 9861210
    Abstract: A child motion device including a support frame, a frame hub coupled to the support frame, a gliding swing mechanism pivotally mounted to the frame hub, and a cantilevered child support portion pivotally mounted to the gliding swing mechanism. In example embodiments, the child support portion can be in the form of a child seat or a bassinet. In example embodiments, the child support portion can be oriented between multiple seat-facing orientations for providing either of a side-to-side gliding movement or a front-to-back gliding movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KIDS II, INC.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Tadipatri, Stephen Burns, Jacob Sclare
  • Pole coupling balloon system
    Patent number: 9855511
    Abstract: The invention includes methods and apparatus for bisected and/or partially bisected helium-free balloons that may be secured over an extended stationary structure such as an extended pole and/or lamp-post such that the secured balloon gives the appearance of being whole or un-bisected. Some embodiments may include an continuous and/or continuous air-fed balloon system. Additional embodiments include improved methods for elevating and/or coupling a bisected and/or partially bisected helium-free balloon an extended stationary structure such as an extended pole and/or lamp-post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BALLOON INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wicken, Gregg A. Wicken
  • Water slide system and operating method
    Patent number: 9855508
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a water slide system including an at least partly translucent or transparent slide tube which may be circumferentially closed and in which a slide surface that can be wetted with liquid extends in a slide direction. Lighting features that are visible from the interior of the slide tube are arranged on the outside of the slide tube in order to achieve optical effects in the interior of the slide tube. According to an aspect, the lighting features are pixels, for example LEDs, which are arranged in a matrix of at least one screen module. The screen module may be in the shape of a shell that extends on the outside of the slide tube and over a circumferential portion of the slide tube and which can be actuated in order to display movable two-dimensional or stereoscopic images, which may be curved in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KLARER FREIZEITANLAGEN AG
    Inventor: Stefan Klarer
  • Toy top set and launcher
    Patent number: 9849394
    Abstract: A toy top includes a pinion gear and a locking portion. A launcher includes a rack belt and a holder. The rack belt includes an elastically deformable belt portion on which rack teeth capable of intermeshing with the pinion gear are formed. The toy top is set to the holder by intermeshing the rack teeth with the pinion gear. A rotational force is then applied to the toy top by pulling the rack belt to rotate the pinion gear. A space is formed in the holder, which is disposed in a vicinity of an intermeshing portion of the rack teeth and the pinion gear. The space allows deformation of the belt portion so that the belt portion previously attached to the holder does not interrupt setting the toy top to the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Shindo
  • Velocity sport boot systems
    Patent number: 9849392
    Abstract: A velocity sport boot system/velocity sport board for performing all-weather snowboarding activity. The velocity sport boot/board system includes a velocity sport boot assembly that provides a method of practicing snowboarding on a treadmill. The velocity sport boot assembly includes a boot liner, a boot body, and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies. The plurality of ball bearing assemblies further includes shock absorbing springs for user comfort on varying surfaces. An alternative embodiment of the velocity sport boot/board system uses a common snowboarding type boot affixed to a sport board assembly that includes a sport board base, coupling straps, and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Kristine A. Scott
  • Toy top
    Patent number: 9849395
    Abstract: A toy top includes the following. A shaft unit has a shaft center with an axis that matches a rotational center. A shaft tip unit is provided at a lower end section of the shaft unit. The shaft tip unit includes a ring member provided in a movable manner centering around the axis and a member that comes in contact with a ground which is disposed at a center of the ring member and which protrudes downward than the ring member. The shaft unit includes a lower case which supports the shaft tip unit from below in a moveable manner and from which a lower end section of the shaft tip unit is exposed and an abutting member which abuts an upper side of the shaft tip unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Muraki
  • Background imagery for enhanced pepper's ghost illusion
    Patent number: 9849399
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein are directed to providing a visual effect background that may be added behind a transparent holographic projection screen (e.g., of a Pepper's Ghost Illusion system) that provides for greater scenic depth behind the holographic projection, regardless of the amount of actual physical space behind the transparent screen. The background, which may be used for projection-based holographic projections or video panel display projections, generally establishes an optical illusion of depth behind the holographic images (producing a depth perception or “perspective” that gives a greater appearance of depth or distance behind a holographic projection).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: VENTANA 3D, LLC
    Inventors: Ashley Crowder, Benjamin Conway, Troy P. Senkiewicz