Patents by Inventor Joshua E. Clapper
Joshua E. Clapper 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).
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Patent number: 7918742Abstract: A child motion device includes a motor, a drive system coupled to the motor to produce movement along a motion path having reciprocating strokes, and a sensor responsive to the movement to generate feedback information indicative of the movement. The child motion device further includes a motor control circuit coupled to the sensor to determine, based on the feedback information, when to apply power to the motor during each reciprocating stroke. In some cases, the feedback information is indicative of a position of the motor such that the motor control circuit applies the power to the motor for a duration of time that begins after an end of each reciprocating stroke.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska
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Patent number: 7908686Abstract: A changing table for use with a playard includes a platform that is sized to support a child and at least one changing table mount arranged relative to the platform to releasably engage the platform to the playard. The changing table mount includes a release actuator. When the changing table is engaged with the playard, the changing table is configured to remain engaged with the playard when a force of less than or equal to 25 pounds is applied to a location on the changing table other than the release actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2005Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Jeffrey David Swan, Neil C. Penza, Todd D. Sorzano, Matthew J. Ransil, Thomas J. Pollack, Jonathan M. Pacella, Robert T. Pike, Michael A. Dotsey
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Patent number: 7824273Abstract: A child motion device has a frame assembly configured to rest on a floor surface. A support arm assembly is coupled to and cantilevered from part of the frame assembly above the floor surface. A child supporting device is supported by the support arm assembly. A bounce mechanism of the device is employed to reciprocally bounce the child supporting device above the floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, William B. Bellows, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska, David Saint, Nate Saint, legal representative
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Publication number: 20100201171Abstract: A child motion device includes a frame providing a structural support relative to a reference surface and including an arm pivotably coupled to the structural support for reciprocating movement with a resonant frequency, a child supporting device coupled to the arm and spaced from the reference surface by the frame, and a drive system including a motor configured to drive the arm such that the child supporting device reciprocates along a motion path at a frequency matched to the resonant frequency. The drive system is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the motor to control a speed at which the child support device moves along the motion path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Matthew Velderman, Joshua E. Clapper
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Publication number: 20100159428Abstract: A children's development device has a carrier coupled to a juvenile product and elevated above a support surface. The carrier defines an x-y-z axis system including a generally vertical z-axis, a generally horizontal x-axis and a generally horizontal y-axis oriented normal or perpendicular to the x-axis. A child seat is coupled to the carrier and positionable such that feet of an occupant of the seat can contact a launching surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Grasing, Joshua E. Clapper
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Patent number: 7727078Abstract: A juvenile product includes a seat having a seating area supported by a part of the juvenile product, a canopy positionable over at least a portion of the seating area and having an underside that faces the seating area, and a projection system carried on the juvenile product. The projection system has a projector configured to project visible stimuli either above the seating area or onto at least part of the underside of the canopy. These and other aspects of the disclosure are directed to providing a soothing and entertaining environment that may also be adjustable or customizable to address the changing interests and developmental levels of a child occupant.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: John (Jason) C. Arnold, IV, Joshua E. Clapper, Brian Kincaid, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska
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Patent number: 7617550Abstract: A playard is movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement. The playard includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of pivot joints connected to the plurality of legs, and a plurality of slider joints engaging the plurality of legs. A plurality of cross members are arranged in pairs extending between the legs, and at least one latch mechanism is operable in a latched condition to maintain a predetermined gap along a leg between one of the slider joints and one of the pivot joints to prevent movement of the playard toward the folded arrangement. A plurality of top rail segments extend between the legs to define an upper periphery of the playard.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper
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Patent number: 7607734Abstract: A child motion device has a frame configured to rest on a floor surface. The device also has a drive system that drives an adjustable motion assembly. The adjustable motion assembly can include an adjustable arm that is connected between a seat holder and the frame at one of a plurality of positions. The connection position of the adjustable arm can adjust at least one motion characteristic of the device. The adjustable motion characteristics can include a gliding motion and a swinging motion.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, William B. Bellows, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska, David Saint, Nate Saint, legal representative
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Patent number: 7568243Abstract: A playard includes a frame structure movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement. The frame structure includes a plurality of pivot joints arranged in an upper set and a lower set, each pivot joint in the upper set being positioned over a corresponding pivot joint in the lower set, and a plurality of cross members connected at respective slants to the upper and lower sets of pivot joints. The playard further includes a plurality of top rails, each top rail being attached to adjacent pivot joints in the upper set. The frame structure lacks legs to support the upper set of pivot joints at an elevation above the lower set of pivot joints. The elevation decreases as the respective slants of the cross members change to move the frame structure from the folded arrangement to the open arrangement until the top rails are under tension.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper, Jonathan M. Pacella
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Publication number: 20090019637Abstract: A playard is movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement. The playard includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of pivot joints connected to the plurality of legs, and a plurality of slider joints engaging the plurality of legs. A plurality of cross members are arranged in pairs extending between the legs, and at least one latch mechanism is operable in a latched condition to maintain a predetermined gap along a leg between one of the slider joints and one of the pivot joints to prevent movement of the playard toward the folded arrangement. A plurality of top rail segments extend between the legs to define an upper periphery of the playard.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper
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Publication number: 20080289103Abstract: A playard includes a frame structure movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement. The frame structure includes a plurality of pivot joints arranged in an upper set and a lower set, each pivot joint in the upper set being positioned over a corresponding pivot joint in the lower set, and a plurality of cross members connected at respective slants to the upper and lower sets of pivot joints. The playard further includes a plurality of top rails, each top rail being attached to adjacent pivot joints in the upper set. The frame structure lacks legs to support the upper set of pivot joints at an elevation above the lower set of pivot joints. The elevation decreases as the respective slants of the cross members change to move the frame structure from the folded arrangement to the open arrangement until the top rails are under tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper, Jonathan M. Pacella
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Publication number: 20080240483Abstract: A child soothing device includes a frame comprising a structural support, a housing coupled to the structural support and comprising a cover with an opening, and a speaker including a speaker driver and a speaker chamber. The speaker driver has a diaphragm disposed relative to the opening in the cover for external sound wave propagation via displacement of the diaphragm, and the speaker chamber has a volume defined by the housing and in communication with the diaphragm for internal sound wave propagation via the displacement of the diaphragm. The device further includes a partition within the housing to further define the volume of the speaker chamber. The volume may include a region obliquely oriented relative to the diaphragm to support a low frequency response of the speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: James E. Godiska, Joshua E. Clapper, Nick Efthemios Papageorge
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Publication number: 20080217974Abstract: A child motion device includes a frame that provides a structural support relative to a reference surface and that includes an arm pivotably coupled to the structural support. A child supporting device is coupled to the arm and spaced from the reference surface by the frame. A drive system is configured to move the arm such that the child supporting device reciprocates along a motion path at a frequency within a range from about 0.37 Hz to about 0.62 Hz. In some cases, a further drive system is configured to oscillate the child supporting device generally along the axis of rotation at a frequency in a range from about 2.85 Hz to about 3.15 Hz.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Matthew Velderman, William B. Bellows, Joshua E. Clapper, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska, Baku Kakuda
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Patent number: 7418746Abstract: A collapsible frame structure for a playard. The collapsible frame structure includes a plurality of legs, and a plurality of cross members arranged so that at least one cross member extends between, and is pivotally connected to, respective adjacent legs to form a side of the playard. The frame structure also includes a plurality of slider joints, each slider joint slidingly engaging a respective one of the legs, and a plurality of pivot joints, each pivot joint on a respective one of the legs. The frame structure also includes at least one latch mechanism configured to selectively engage at least one of the slider joints with its respective leg, wherein each cross member is mounted to the respective adjacent legs by the slider joint on a first of the respective adjacent legs and by the pivot joint on a second of the respective adjacent legs.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper, Jonathan M. Pacella
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Patent number: 7401367Abstract: A collapsible frame structure, movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement, includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of cross members arranged in pairs, a plurality of slider joints and pivot joints, and at least one latch mechanism. Each pair of cross members is located between respective adjacent legs to form sides of the collapsible frame structure that define an interior of the collapsible frame structure. Each slider joint slidingly engages a respective one of the legs and pivotably attaches to two adjacent cross members. Each pivot joint is at a respective one of the legs to pivotably attach two adjacent cross members. The latch mechanism, which is mounted to another frame component of the collapsible frame structure, remains so mounted in both the open arrangement and the folded arrangement. Nonadjacent legs and nonadjacent sides of the collapsible frame structure remain unconnected across an interior of the collapsible frame structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Arthur L. Gehr, Michael L. Longenecker, Robert T. Pike, Gregory S. Sellers, Joshua E. Clapper
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Publication number: 20080143155Abstract: A juvenile product includes a seat having a seating area supported by a part of the juvenile product, a canopy positionable over at least a portion of the seating area and having an underside that faces the seating area, and a projection system carried on the juvenile product. The projection system has a projector configured to project visible stimuli either above the seating area or onto at least part of the underside of the canopy. These and other aspects of the disclosure are directed to providing a soothing and entertaining environment that may also be adjustable or customizable to address the changing interests and developmental levels of a child occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: John (Jason) C. Arnold, Joshua E. Clapper, Brian Kincaid, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska
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Publication number: 20080136236Abstract: A child device capable of implementing a plurality of device functions includes a plurality of operational components, each operational component being configured to implement at least one of the plurality of device functions. The child device further includes a control circuit coupled to the plurality of operational components to direct operation of each operational component, and a memory in communication with the control circuit. The memory is configured to store data indicative of an operational mode, the data specifying a plurality of operational settings for the plurality of operational components, respectively. The child device still further includes a user interface coupled to the control circuit and configured to detect an operator interaction resulting in selection of the operational mode. The control circuit directs the plurality of operational components in accordance with the plurality of operational settings in response to the selection of the operational mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Brian Kincaid, Matthew J. Ransil, William B. Bellows, James E. Godiska, Joshua E. Clapper
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Publication number: 20080136229Abstract: A child motion device has a frame assembly and a seat supported by the frame assembly and capable of movement with a child occupying the seat. A housing is provided on a part of the frame assembly. A receptacle is provided in the housing and is positioned spaced from and faces away from the seat. A storage tray is located in the compartment and defines a storage space on the tray. The tray is movable between an opened position with the storage space and the tray extending outside the housing away from the seat and a closed position with the tray and storage space within the receptacle in the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Nick Efthemios Papageorge, William B. Bellows, Joshua E. Clapper
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Publication number: 20080139327Abstract: A child motion device includes a motor, a drive system coupled to the motor to produce movement along a motion path having reciprocating strokes, and a sensor responsive to the movement to generate feedback information indicative of the movement. The child motion device further includes a motor control circuit coupled to the sensor to determine, based on the feedback information, when to apply power to the motor during each reciprocating stroke. In some cases, the feedback information is indicative of a position of the motor such that the motor control circuit applies the power to the motor for a duration of time that begins after an end of each reciprocating stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Matthew J. Ransil, James E. Godiska
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Patent number: 7003821Abstract: A child containment structure includes a floor and a sidewall connected to the floor and defining a unitary structure with the floor. The sidewall includes at least one side panel formed at least partially of an air-restricting material and at least one ventilation panel positioned between the floor and the side panel. The ventilation panel has a maximum height smaller than that of the side panel, and the ventilation panel permits air flow between an interior of the containment structure and an exterior of the containment structure along a sleeping surface of the child containment structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Inventors: Jon J. DeHart, Jonathan M. Pacella, Joshua E. Clapper, Cindy Berkey