Patents by Inventor Tom Grimm

Tom Grimm 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: 9266014
    Abstract: A mechanical ball launcher for a table game is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the mechanical ball launcher has a body that rotates about a first axis. The body has a launch arm that extends along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The launch arm has a ball receptacle at a terminal end. The mechanical ball launcher has a supporting plate supporting the body and a mechanical spring connected between the body and the supporting plate. The mechanical spring is placed in a loaded position when the launch arm is pulled back. A launch angle, a lateral angle, and a speed of the ball are adjusted as the ball is launched from the ball receptacle of the mechanical ball launcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ThrowMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Aditya Dayal, Tom Grimm, Seth Heltsley
  • Publication number: 20150251084
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a table game are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a playing field, a ball launcher mechanism launching a ball into the playing field, and the ball launcher mechanism allows a first player to select one or more attributes affecting a ball trajectory. The apparatus further comprises a ball striker mechanism controlling a ball striker. The ball striker placed at a distance from the ball launcher mechanism in the playing field has a bat to hit a ball launched by the ball launcher mechanism and is controlled by a second player. One or more sensors are placed in predetermined locations in the playing field. The electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors are used to update a status of a game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Aditya Dayal, Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: 9033344
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a table game are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a playing field, a ball launcher mechanism launching a ball into the playing field, and the ball launcher mechanism allows a first player to select one or more attributes affecting a ball trajectory. The apparatus further comprises a ball striker mechanism controlling a ball striker. The ball striker placed at a distance from the ball launcher mechanism in the playing field has a bat to hit a ball launched by the ball launcher mechanism and is controlled by a second player. One or more sensors are placed in predetermined locations in the playing field. The electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors are used to update a status of a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ThrowMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Aditya Dayal, Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: 8668546
    Abstract: A hand held remote controlled toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a motor that can be activated by a wireless signal. The motor is coupled to a drive wheel by a drive gear assembly. Activation of the motor turns the drive wheel and propels the vehicle. The drive gear assembly can be de-coupled from the drive wheel so that the toy vehicle can be manually propelled in a free-wheeling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rudell Design, LLC
    Inventors: Elliot Rudell, Tom Grimm
  • Publication number: 20140035226
    Abstract: A mechanical ball launcher for a table game is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the mechanical ball launcher has a body that rotates about a first axis. The body has a launch arm that extends along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The launch arm has a ball receptacle at a terminal end. The mechanical ball launcher has a supporting plate supporting the body and a mechanical spring connected between the body and the supporting plate. The mechanical spring is placed in a loaded position when the launch arm is pulled back. A launch angle, a lateral angle, and a speed of the ball are adjusted as the ball is launched from the ball receptacle of the mechanical ball launcher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: ThrowMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Aditya Dayal, Tom Grimm, Seth Heltsley
  • Patent number: 8360435
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a table game are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a playing field, a ball launcher mechanism launching a ball into the playing field, and the ball launcher mechanism allows a first player to select one or more attributes affecting a ball trajectory. The apparatus further comprises a ball striker mechanism controlling a ball striker. The ball striker placed at a distance from the ball launcher mechanism in the playing field has a bat to hit a ball launched by the ball launcher mechanism and is controlled by a second player. One or more sensors are placed in predetermined locations in the playing field. The electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors are used to update a status of a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: ThrowMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Aditya Dayal, Tom Grimm
  • Publication number: 20100133746
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a table game are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a playing field, a ball launcher mechanism launching a ball into the playing field, and the ball launcher mechanism allows a first player to select one or more attributes affecting a ball trajectory. The apparatus further comprises a ball striker mechanism controlling a ball striker. The ball striker placed at a distance from the ball launcher mechanism in the playing field has a bat to hit a ball launched by the ball launcher mechanism and is controlled by a second player. One or more sensors are placed in predetermined locations in the playing field. The electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors are used to update a status of a game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Aditya Dayal, Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: 7669857
    Abstract: An electronic game that awards the last player to correctly answer a question before the expiration of a timer. The game includes a plurality of buttons and corresponding indicators coupled to a housing. A question is provided to the players. A timer counts to a time interval. The controller activates an indicator associated with a button that was depressed last by a player that provides a correct answer to the question at the expiration of the timer. The last player can then move a token on a board. The player that moves their token to the end of the board wins the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Rudell Design
    Inventors: Julio Sandoval, George T. Foster, Tom Grimm
  • Publication number: 20070284827
    Abstract: An electronic game that awards the last player to correctly answer a question before the expiration of a timer. The game includes a plurality of buttons and corresponding indicators coupled to a housing. A question is provided to the players. A timer counts to a time interval. The controller activates an indicator associated with a button that was depressed last by a player that provides a correct answer to the question at the expiration of the timer. The last player can then move a token on a board. The player that moves their token to the end of the board wins the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Julio Sandoval, George T. Foster, Tom Grimm
  • Publication number: 20040209545
    Abstract: A hand held remote controlled toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a motor that can be activated by a wireless signal. The motor is coupled to a drive wheel by a drive gear assembly. Activation of the motor turns the drive wheel and propels the vehicle. The drive gear assembly can be de-coupled from the drive wheel so that the toy vehicle can be manually propelled in a free-wheeling mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Elliot Rudell, Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: 6341320
    Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking station having connection means for coupling to an external monitor and an external keyboard, means for connecting the portable computer to the docking station, and at least one PCMCIA option card slot in the docking station. In a preferred embodiment, the computer docking station further includes a controller in the docking station to provide the necessary hardware interface between the PCMCIA cart slot and the portable computer and software means for providing the necessary driver support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: LaVaughn F. Watts, Jr., Gary Verdun, Randall E. Juenger, Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: 6285911
    Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking system and method for connecting a portable computer to a docking station and method for coupling the docking station to an external monitor and an external keyboard and a technique for customizing the hardware configuration in the docking station for optimum performance. In a preferred embodiment, the technique for customizing the program hardware in the docking station is capable of customizing common hardware in various docking stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: LaVaughn F. Watts, Jr., Kevin D. Davis, Robert E. Tonsing, Tom Grimm, Larry Mitcham, Robert Moore, Gary Verdun
  • Patent number: D626610
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: D629056
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Tom Grimm
  • Patent number: D402028
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Invasatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Grimm, Doug Duchon, Vince Copa