Patents by Inventor Thomas Norquist
Thomas Norquist 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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Publication number: 20260097320Abstract: Playground spinning devices that provide children with a unique play experience that includes a combination of (a) rotation of a base relative to a support structure about a first axis of rotation and (b) rotation of a bowl relative to the base about a second axis of rotation. While the rotation of the base about the first axis of rotation is shared by all users of the spinning device, each user also experiences an individual second rotation of the bowl in which he or she sits.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2025Publication date: April 9, 2026Inventors: Paul Hoenigmann, Thomas Norquist, Lloyd Reese
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Patent number: 11911707Abstract: 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 an arm assembly attached to the hub and comprising a plurality of arms, a seat being 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. Each of the seats may also be configured to move up and down by way of a spring assembly or a plurality of springs. Two or more seats may share the up-and-down movement in an alternating manner or each seat may be configured to have an independent up-and-down movement. In addition, each of the seats may optionally be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path and/or to swing outward due to centripetal forces created by the circular rotation path.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN, INC.Inventors: Brian Henry, Kim Blackwood, Emily Mauermann, Thomas Norquist
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Publication number: 20220314131Abstract: 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 an arm assembly attached to the hub and comprising a plurality of arms, a seat being 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. Each of the seats may also be configured to move up and down by way of a spring assembly or a plurality of springs. Two or more seats may share the up-and-down movement in an alternating manner or each seat may be configured to have an independent up-and-down movement. In addition, each of the seats may optionally be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path and/or to swing outward due to centripetal forces created by the circular rotation path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Brian Henry, Kim Blackwood, Emily Mauermann, Thomas Norquist
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Patent number: 11364445Abstract: 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 an arm assembly attached to the hub and comprising a plurality of arms, a seat being 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. Each of the seats may also be configured to move up and down by way of a spring assembly or a plurality of springs. Two or more seats may share the up-and-down movement in an alternating manner or each seat may be configured to have an independent up-and-down movement. In addition, each of the seats may optionally be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path and/or to swing outward due to centripetal forces created by the circular rotation path.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN, INC.Inventors: Brian Henry, Kim Blackwood, Emily Mauermann, Thomas Norquist
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Publication number: 20210146263Abstract: 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 an arm assembly attached to the hub and comprising a plurality of arms, a seat being 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. Each of the seats may also be configured to move up and down by way of a spring assembly or a plurality of springs. Two or more seats may share the up-and-down movement in an alternating manner or each seat may be configured to have an independent up-and-down movement. In addition, each of the seats may optionally be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path and/or to swing outward due to centripetal forces created by the circular rotation path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Brian Henry, Kim Blackwood, Emily Mauermann, Thomas Norquist
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Patent number: 10881971Abstract: 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 an arm assembly attached to the hub and comprising a plurality of arms, a seat being 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. Each of the seats may also be configured to move up and down by way of a spring assembly or a plurality of springs. Two or more seats may share the up-and-down movement in an alternating manner or each seat may be configured to have an independent up-and-down movement. In addition, each of the seats may optionally be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path and/or to swing outward due to centripetal forces created by the circular rotation path.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN, INC.Inventors: Brian Henry, Kim Blackwood, Emily Mauermann, Thomas Norquist
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Publication number: 20200078692Abstract: 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 an arm assembly attached to the hub and comprising a plurality of arms, a seat being 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. Each of the seats may also be configured to move up and down by way of a spring assembly or a plurality of springs. Two or more seats may share the up-and-down movement in an alternating manner or each seat may be configured to have an independent up-and-down movement. In addition, each of the seats may optionally be configured to swing in substantial alignment with the circular rotation path and/or to swing outward due to centripetal forces created by the circular rotation path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Brian Henry, Kim Blackwood, Emily Mauermann, Thomas Norquist
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Publication number: 20170291799Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for lifting one or more persons, such as a person having a mobility restriction, from a first level to a second level, such as onto a raised level of a play structure. In some embodiments, the system may also be configured so that an able-bodied person may enter and exit the platform even while the platform is being raised or lowered. In this way, the system may also comprise a play element by which able-bodied children are provided with a continuous play pathway. In some embodiments, the system is configured so that the platform rotates, thereby providing a fun experience that may be shared by persons having mobility restrictions and able-bodied persons.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Thomas Norquist, Kim Blackwood, Edgar Montague, Kurt Rampton, William Riley, Jereme Gilbert
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Patent number: D386237Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1995Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Game Time, Inc.Inventors: Kert E. Artwick, Gary Max, Wesley D. Sutton, Thomas Norquist, Hollis Gentry