Patents Represented by Attorney Daniel F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4594072
    Abstract: An infant's toy (20) is disclosed as being made from soft, spongy members fixed together so as to form a simulated dashboard, or the like, of an automobile. The toy includes a soft steering wheel (26), an opening and closing simulated glove compartment (48) with its own toy (58) contained therein, and held by a cord (62) to prevent loss. A pocket (38) containing keys (40) or the like is also fixed to the toy. A further cord (41) prevents loss of the keys. A soft moveable gear shift lever (30) and soft operable radio (42) are also fixed to the simulated dashboard. Soft washable fabric (24) covers the elements of the toy, and the overall configuration and make up prevents harm or damage if a child strikes the toy, or is struck by the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Cowell
  • Patent number: 4583561
    Abstract: A hair twining apparatus configured for one hand operation of a trigger, the apparatus having at least two hair clamp members carried by a sub-housing within a housing. With a switch in a first position, pumping of the trigger rotates the clamp members about the supporting shafts thereof for twisting groups of hair filaments attached to the clamp members. With the switch in a second position, pumping of the trigger causes intermittent unidirectional angular displacement of the hair clamp members to twine the strands by rotating the sub-housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ake L. Larsson
  • Patent number: 4582323
    Abstract: An electronic football game includes an insulating housing supporting a microprocessor control circuit, a plurality of user-operable keys, and a display. The user operable keys facilitate information input to the microprocessor system. The display includes a perspective view of a portion of a football field as it would be seen by a ball-carrier including a pair of merging sideline markers, an end zone, a goal standard, and several yardage markers. A plurality of illuminatable defensive player characters are arranged in three rows facing a stationary ball-carrier positioned in the center foreground of the display. Consistant with the perspective view, the defensive players in the second and third rows are progressively smaller than those of the first row. Under the control of the microprocessor, apparent movement of the stationary ball-carrier is depicted by moving the entire defensive player character illumination pattern in the direction opposite to the intended ball-carrier motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Minkoff, Peter A. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 4582074
    Abstract: A hair twining apparatus configured for one hand operation of a trigger, the apparatus having at least two hair clamp members carried by a sub-housing within a housing. With a switch in a first position, pumping of the trigger rotates the clamp members about the supporting shafts thereof for twisting groups of hair filaments attached to the clamp members. With the switch in a second position, pumping of the trigger causes intermittent unidirectional angular displacement of the hair clamp members to twine the strands by rotating the sub-housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic A. Schwager, Mark S. Wittenberg
  • Patent number: 4575350
    Abstract: A toy track (10) in the shape of a snake for use with a toy vehicle (38). The track has a tail end (12) and a head (24). The head including a top section (26) and a bottom section (28) having a mouth formed therebetween with a coiled tongue (30) therein. When a toy vehicle traveling along the track enters the head from the back, the vehicle will be allowed to exit through the mouth of the head if it has sufficient energy to completely unroll the tongue. However, if the vehicle does not have sufficient energy, the tongue will not completely unroll and will be retracted back into the mouth, to its normal rest position, pulling the toy vehicle with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Philip W. Crain
  • Patent number: 4571200
    Abstract: There are disclosed basic construction elements for forming toy modular units. The elements consist of polygonal shaped structural connecting members (10) into which the corners or one three sided opening of floor panels (14) may be inserted and held. Supporting members or columns (12) are inserted into circular openings (22) formed in the connecting members to hold the floor panels to the connecting members and to support connecting members and further floor members so as to form open modular structures (16). The structures may be easily put together by a child user, and are safe because the construction prevents children from climbing on them since the easily taken apart elements are fitted together in such a manner that a predetermined load applied to the top of an assembled structure will cause it to break apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jaime Serna
  • Patent number: 4571207
    Abstract: A simulated exercise apparatus toy having a housing with a seat portion, handlebars, rotatable simulated pedals and a simulated control panel with a window. A manually operated crank is provided with gear members within the housing rotating the pedals and simultaneously rotating a drum member with the indicia thereon appearing within the window of the simulated control panel to simulate an exercise function, such as respiration, or the like. Internal to the housing, one of the pedals is provided with first and second concentric bevel gears, one for engaging the bevel gear operated by the crank, and the second engaging a bevel gear operating the drum member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Henderson, Mark S. Wittenberg