Introduction
Ralph Osterhout is an American inventor, designer and entrepreneur and CEO of Osterhout Design Group. During his career he has developed a range of products spanning toys, consumer electronics, dive equipment, furniture to devices for the Department of Defense. Ralph is named as inventor on 260 patents and patent applications. Since 2009 he has been highly focused on developing products and technologies in the head-worn computing field.
Early life
Ralph Osterhout was born in Seattle, Washington in 1946 and moved to Santa Cruz, California at the age of 1. He attended Soquel High School graduating in 1964 and later went on to San Jose State University graduating in 1969.
A pivotal point in Osterhout’s life was at the 1969 boat show, where he showcased the first of a kind diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) named the MK I. The Navy subsequently purchased the MK II in 1970.
With the purchase of the DPV, Osterhout founded the scuba equipment company Farallon Industries and began a career in product development and design.
Films and television
Osterhout designed and built equipment that appeared in or on:
- James Bond: The Spy Who Loved Me, propulsion system on submarine car and chase mini-subs.
- James Bond: Never Say Never Again, underwater vehicles that transported bad guy’s atomic warheads.
- How Its Made: Season 8 Episode 3 - Flashlights
- ABC World News Tonight
Lectures
- D.I.C.E. Summit
- The Electric Playground Interview
- Entertainment Gathering Conference
- National Conference, Industrial Designer’s Society of America
- Stanford Design Forum
Patents
U.S. Utility Patents
- US Patent No. 4523379 Knife with retractable sheath
- US Patent No. 5672108 Electronic game with separate emitter
- US Patent No. 5495357 Apparatus and method for recording, transmitting, receiving and playing sounds
- US Patent No. 4466283 Divers console with knife and sheath
- US Patent No. 4876632 Flashlight with battery life indicator module
- US Patent No. 4738044 Light beam target designator
- US Patent No. 4753117 Decompression and air consumption computer
- US Patent No. 5313557 Pen recorder
- US Patent No. 5019951 Spotlight with adjustable handle
- US Patent No. 4734832 Spotlight with interchangeable handle
- US Patent No. 6390640 Lighted mask for underwater divers
- US Patent No. 4821156 Flashlight with focusing beam assemble
- US Patent No. 7064498 Light-emitting diode based products
- US Patent No. 4794803 Decompression and air consumption computer
- US Patent No. 6055032 Plush toy with selectively populated display
- US Patent No. 7186003 Light-emitting diode based products
- US Patent No. 11742697 Wireless Lighting Control Methods and Apparatus
- US Patent No. 11742697 Methods and apparatus for enhancing inflatable devices
- US Patent No. 4203150 Rechargeable modular component light with quick-disconnect connection
- US Patent No. 3828611 Portable underwater indicating instrument for divers
- US Patent No. 3844281 Customized mouthpiece retainer for an underwater breathing apparatus
- US Patent No. 3978537 Swim fin including means for maintaining foot and leg in fixed relationship
- US Patent No. 4017925 Swim fin including means for restricting ankle movement
- US Patent No. 4136689 Customized mouthpiece retainer for an underwater breathing apparatus
- US Patent No. 3929548 Method for customizing mouthpiece retainer for an underwater breathing apparatus
- US Patent No. 4219017 Pilot regulator
- US Patent No. 4107996 Pressure gauge
- US Patent No. 3933049 Decompression indicating instrument for divers
- US Patent No. 4066077 Mouthpiece retainer tabs
- US Patent No. 3888127 Portable underwater indicating instrument for divers
U.S. Design Patents
- D380501- Hand-held electronic game housing
- D376822- Hand-held electronic game housing
- D364648- Hand-held electronic game housing
- D367890- Hand-held electronic game housing
- D364641- Pen recorder housing
- D301752- Spotlight
- D302046- Spotlight
- D287105- Combined packaging and display container
- D300112- Pocket knife with removable cap
- D288898- Retractable knife
- D304154- Foldable knife
- D336688- Flashlight
- D457974- Accent light
- D457667- Accent light
- D458395- Accent light
- D457669- Novelty light
- D312168- Fin sock
- D330265- Adjustable lamp