Mobile application for wheeled juvenile product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10042358-B2
Application number	US-201615130256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2016
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A mobile application runs on a mobile computing device and allows a user thereof to interact with a wheeled juvenile product, such as a stroller. The juvenile product may have a generator for generating electricity from rotation of its wheels. Through the mobile app, the user can enter a preference for how that generated electricity is used, including how much is allocated to charge the juvenile product's battery that power electronic components of the juvenile product, versus how much is allocated to a charging station that charges external electronic devices. Additionally, the juvenile product can include a memory that stores data about trips with the juvenile product, including the date and time of the trip, the duration, and the distance. Upon a request issued from the mobile app, that data can be uploaded to the mobile app so that the user can view the trip data on the user's mobile computing device. That trip data can also be uploaded to a remote server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a juvenile product comprising:
a device for generating electric power from motion of the juvenile product;
a power storage device
an electrical load powered by the power storage device;
a charging station for charging external electronic devices, wherein the external electronic devices are devices that are not permanently integrated into the juvenile product; and
a power control circuit; and

a mobile computing device that communicates with the juvenile product, wherein:
the mobile computing device receives a user's preference for distributing generated power and transmits this power distribution selection to the juvenile product; and
the juvenile product's power control circuit distributes generated power to the power storage device and/or the charging station in accordance with the received power distribution selection.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device communicates with the juvenile product via a wireless communication link.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the juvenile product comprises a wheel; and
the device for generating electric power generates the electric power from rotation of a wheel.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the juvenile product comprises a stroller.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the electrical load comprises a lighting system of the stroller.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the electrical load comprises a power resistor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging station is for charging the mobile computing device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the mobile computing device comprises a touchscreen; and
the mobile computing device receives the user's power distribution selection via the touchscreen.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the juvenile product comprises:
a memory device for recording data about trips taken by the juvenile product; and
a communication circuit for transmitting updated, user-specific trip data to the mobile computing device.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a remote server that communicates with the mobile computing device via a computer data network, wherein the mobile computing device transmits the updated, user-specific trip data to the remote server.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the mobile computing device communicates with the juvenile product via a wireless communication link;
the juvenile product comprises a stroller that comprises a wheel;
the device for generating electric power generates the electric power from rotation of the wheel of the stroller;
the mobile computing device comprises a touchscreen; and
the mobile computing device receives the user's power distribution selection via the touchscreen.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power storage device comprises a rechargeable battery.

13. A juvenile product comprising:
a device for generating electric power from the motion of the juvenile product;
a power storage device;
one or more electrical loads that are powered by the power storage device;
a charging station for charging external electronic devices coupled to the charging station, wherein the external devices are not permanently integrated into the juvenile product; and
means for distributing generated power to the power storage device and the charging station in accordance with a user's preference for distributing generated power to the power storage device and/or the charging station.

14. The juvenile product of claim 13 , wherein the means for distributing power comprise:
a control circuit for receiving, from a remote mobile computing device, the user's power distribution selection; and
a power controller in communication with the control circuit, wherein the power controller distributes the power generated by the generator to the power storage device and/or the charging station in accordance with the user's power distribution selection.

15. The juvenile product of claim 13 , wherein the charging station is for charging the mobile computing device.

16. The juvenile product of claim 13 , wherein the juvenile product comprises a stroller.

17. The juvenile product of claim 13 , further comprising:
a memory device for recording data about trips taken by the juvenile product; and
a communication circuit for transmitting updated, user-specific trip data to the mobile computing device.

18. A system comprising: a juvenile product that comprises: a generator for generating electric power from motion of the juvenile product; a power storage device; an electrical load powered by the power storage device; a charging station for charging external electronic devices, wherein the external electronic devices are devices that are not permanently integrated into the juvenile product; a power control circuit; an internal clock; a sensor for measuring a distance traveled by the juvenile product; and a memory for recording data about trips taken by the juvenile product; and a mobile computing device that communicates with the juvenile product, wherein: the juvenile product transmits updated, user-specific trip data to the mobile computing device; the mobile computing device receives a user's preference for distributing generated power and transmits this power distribution selection to the juvenile product; and the juvenile product's power control circuit distributes generated power to the power storage device and/or the charging station in accordance with the received power distribution selection.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a remote server that communicates with the mobile computing device via a computer data network, wherein the mobile computing device transmits the updated, user-specific trip data to the remote server.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the updated, user-specific trip data comprises trip data for trips during a time period from (a) a first time the mobile computing device was paired with the juvenile product under a user account for the user, to (b) a last time the user, under the user account, requested, via the mobile computing, to synchronize recorded trip data.

21. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a remote server that communicates with the mobile computing device via a computer data network, wherein the mobile computing device transmits the updated, user-specific trip data to the remote server.

22. A juvenile product comprising:
a device for generating electric power from motion of the juvenile product;
a power storage device;
an electrical load powered by the power storage device;
a charging station for charging external electronic devices, wherein the external electronic devices are devices that are not permanently integrated into the juvenile product;
an integrated user interface that receives a user's preference for distributing generated power; and
a power control circuit that distributes generated power to the power storage device and/or the charging station in accordance with the received power distribution selection.

Assignees

• Thorley Ind Llc

Inventors

• Sandbothe Erica
• Dowling Kevin
• Koes Mary J
• Joseph Suraj
• McFadden Mara
• Walker John

Classifications

• A47D13/10

  Rocking-chairs; {Indoor} Swings {; Baby bouncers} · CPC title

• A47D9/02

  with rocking mechanisms · CPC title

• G05B2219/36168

  Touchscreen · CPC title

• B60N2/2821

  having a seat and a base part · CPC title

• G05B2219/23051

  Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer · CPC title