Patents by Inventor Joseph P. Sejnowski

Joseph P. Sejnowski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8702526
    Abstract: A convertible support apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example convertible support apparatus for supporting a seat in a first mode and a second mode includes a substantially flexible section to support the seat in a first mode, and a substantially rigid bypass. The substantially rigid bypass is positioned to selectively deactivate the substantially flexible section when the convertible support is in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Myers, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Jeff Yaschur, Bill Mussig, Dan Nelsen, Traci J. Barron, Ross G. Carl
  • Publication number: 20140103041
    Abstract: A cup is provided having a lid with a spout defined by walls tapered towards a distal end of the spout. The lid has handles extending therefrom that are preferably formed of a first and second material having different Shore A hardnesses to define a rigid portion and a gripping portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross S. Randolph, Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Publication number: 20130143681
    Abstract: A convertible support apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example convertible support apparatus for supporting a seat in a first mode and a second mode includes a substantially flexible section to support the seat in a first mode, and a substantially rigid bypass. The substantially rigid bypass is positioned to selectively deactivate the substantially flexible section when the convertible support is in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Peter J. Myers, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Jeff Yaschur, Bill Mussig, Dan Nelsen, Traci J. Barron, Carl G. Ross
  • Patent number: 8357054
    Abstract: A child entertainment apparatus is convertible between a swing mode and a jumper mode. An example apparatus includes a frame, and a seat. The seat is coupled to the frame by a substantially rigid support when the apparatus is in the swing mode, and the seat is coupled to the frame through a substantially flexible support when the apparatus is in the jumper mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises
    Inventors: Peter J. Myers, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Jeff Yaschur, Bill Mussig, Dan Nelsen, Traci J. Barron, Ross G. Carl
  • Patent number: 8272525
    Abstract: A lip-openable lid is provided for use in connection with a container or container cap having a valve seat and an opening for egress of container contents. A lip-openable container is also provided that employs the lip-openable lid. The lid is comprised of a gasket with a lip-engageable annular wall, a central portion radially inward of the wall, and a peripheral flange that is engageable with the valve seat. The lid includes a rigid support that has liquid flow openings, supports the central portion of the gasket and positions the gasket against the valve seat. The lid can also include means for securing the gasket to the support. The central portion of the gasket is comprised of a flexible elastomer and is capable of flexing and stretching to displace the flange from the valve seat when downward pressure is applied against the gasket. When downward pressure is applied, the central portion of the gasket contacts the rigid support and flexes and stretches downward from and/or over the rigid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D La Torre, Joseph P Sejnowski, Aidan J Petrie, Richard S Chomik
  • Publication number: 20110092301
    Abstract: A child entertainment apparatus is convertible between a swing mode and a jumper mode. An example apparatus includes a frame, and a seat. The seat is coupled to the frame by a substantially rigid support when the apparatus is in the swing mode, and the seat is coupled to the frame through a substantially flexible support when the apparatus is in the jumper mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Peter J. Myers, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Jeff Yaschur, Bill Mussig, Dan Nelsen, Traci J. Barron, Ross G. Cart
  • Patent number: 7878915
    Abstract: A child entertainment apparatus is convertible between a swing mode and a jumper mode. The apparatus includes a frame, and a support convertible between a swinging configuration and a bouncing configuration. In the jumper mode, the support suspends the seat from the frame by a substantially flexible section, and in the swing mode, the support suspends the seat from the frame by a substantially rigid section. A bypass section is movable between an engaged position wherein the bypass section provides a substantially rigid connection between the frame and the seat, and a disengaged position wherein the substantially flexible section of the first support provides a flexible connection between the frame and the seat. The seat may be convertible between a feet forward position for the swing mode and a feet down position for the jumper mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Myers, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Jeff Yaschur, Bill Mussig, Dan Nelsen, Traci J. Barron, Ross G. Carl
  • Patent number: 6802757
    Abstract: A toy includes a display component and an arrangement of opaque walls defining together with the display component a plurality of illuminable cavities separated from one another by the opaque walls. The opaque walls are disposed directly behind the display component. The illuminable cavities have associated light sources also disposed behind the display component and capable of illuminating the associated cavity to produce a corresponding visual effect visible from in front of the display component. At least two of the illuminable cavities are arranged to form multiple states of a single facial feature visible from in front of the display component with illumination states of the light sources of the cavities corresponding with the states of the facial feature that cooperate with other visible facial features to form a selection of discrete facial expressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: The First Years, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 6474373
    Abstract: An inflatable device with a liquid-powered air pump includes a pump housing a liquid chamber and an air chamber, each having an input port and an output port. A turbine axle extends between the liquid chamber and the air chamber. The end of the turbine axle, residing in the liquid chamber, includes a number of liquid turbine blades while the end of the turbine axle, residing in the air chamber, includes a number of air turbine blades. A nozzle, which is preferably adjustable, is connected to the input port to the liquid chamber. Introduction of liquid into the liquid input port turns the liquid turbine blades and thus the air turbine blades via the axle. Air is drawn from the air input port and forced through the air output port. The pump assembly may be connected to or integrated with an inflatable device to simultaneously fill a liquid container and a separate air bladder of the inflatable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Item New Product Development
    Inventor: Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Publication number: 20020157178
    Abstract: An inflatable device with a liquid-powered air pump includes a pump housing a liquid chamber and an air chamber, each having an input port and an output port. A turbine axle extends between the liquid chamber and the air chamber. The end of the turbine axle, residing in the liquid chamber, includes a number of liquid turbine blades while the end of the turbine axle, residing in the air chamber, includes a number of air turbine blades. A nozzle, which is preferably adjustable, is connected to the input port to the liquid chamber. Introduction of liquid into the liquid input port turns the liquid turbine blades and thus the air turbine blades via the axle. Air is drawn from the air input port and forced through the air output port. The pump assembly may be connected to or integrated with an inflatable device to simultaneously fill a liquid container and a separate air bladder of the inflatable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 6202877
    Abstract: A lip-openable lid is provided for use in connection with a container or container cap having a valve seat and an opening for egress of container contents. A lip-openable container is also provided that employs the lip-openable lid. The lid is comprised of a gasket with a lip-engageable annular wall, a central portion radially inward of the wall, and a peripheral flange that is engageable with the valve seat. The lid includes a rigid support that has liquid flow openings, supports the central portion of the gasket and positions the gasket against the valve seat. The lid can also include means for securing the gasket to the support. The central portion of the gasket is comprised of a flexible elastomer and is capable of flexing and stretching to displace the flange from the valve seat when downward pressure is applied against the gasket. When downward pressure is applied, the central portion of the gasket contacts the rigid support and flexes and stretches downward from and/or over the rigid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. La Torre, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Aidan J. Petrie
  • Patent number: 5681170
    Abstract: A talking electronic learning aid is operative for requesting one or more responses from the operator, receiving responses from the operator, and then automatically adjusting the level of difficulty of subsequent requests dependent upon the prior responses of the operator. The device consists of an electronic memory for storing a plurality of data sets, a speech synthesizer, a keyboard input device, and a micro-controller for controlling operation of the device. Each of the data sets includes speech data from which requests for operator response are derived, and further includes corresponding control data related to the appropriateness of operator responses to the requests. Each of the data sets preferably reflects a different level of intellectual difficulty. In operation, the micro-controller selects a first data set, and further randomly accesses a portion of the speech data of the selected data set from which a random request for an operator response is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Rieber, Joseph P. Sejnowski, Randolph J. Primozic, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5590876
    Abstract: A ball tossing device includes a ball tossing mechanism for mechanically tossing a ball into the air, a timer assembly, and a remote manual actuating mechanism for remotely actuating the timer assembly for releasing the ball tossing mechanism to toss the ball into the air upon the expiration of a predetermined time interval. The device further includes a launching tube which is alternatively positionable in a first position for launching the ball in a vertical direction or a second position for launching the ball in an upward and outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 5403018
    Abstract: A water toy includes a basket for receiving a ball therein, and a water mechanism for ejecting the ball from the basket. The water mechanism is operative in a first position for emitting a fine spray of water, and in a second position for emitting an upwardly directed high pressure stream of water for ejecting the ball from the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Playskool, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sejnowski, Douglas Schultheis
  • Patent number: 5312285
    Abstract: A descending ball game apparatus includes a gate deflect channel member and a pivoting ramp channel member. The gate deflect channel member includes two gates which are positioned adjacent to opposing sidewalls of a channel portion thereof and are operative for deflecting a ball back-and-forth from one sidewall of the channel portion to the other sidewall thereof as the ball descends along the channel portion. The pivoting ramp channel member includes upper and lower level channel segments and a pivoting ramp positioned therebetween. The ramp is operative for receiving a ball descending along the upper level of the channel segment and delivering the ball into the lower level channel segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Playskool, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Rieber, Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 5295701
    Abstract: A roller skate assembly includes a sole portion having longitudinally aligned front and rear rollers mounted thereon and a center roller which is mounted on the sole portion between the front and rear rollers. The center roller is alternatively positionable in a longitudinally aligned position relative to the front and rear rollers or a transversely offset position relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Playskool, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Reiber, Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: D421877
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. La Torre, Aidan John Petrie, Joseph P. Sejnowski