Patents Examined by Jamila Williams
  • Patent number: 6685532
    Abstract: A plush assembly is stuffed with filler material to form a stuffed product. The plush assembly includes a plush defining an exterior and an aperture for receiving the filler material therein. The aperture is opened and closed or sealed with a zipper. The zipper includes a slide that is movable therealong. The slide includes a lock extendable out from the slide that engages the zipper to lock the slide in a position along the zipper. A string is used to prevent the slide from being locked until the plush is filled and the aperture is closed. Then the string is removed by cutting it, maintaining the slide in a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald J. McLean
  • Patent number: 6685531
    Abstract: A system comprising a rotating device and a support structure for the rotating device, wherein the support structure provides the power to the rotational device than is required to maintain spin. The rotating device has a housing with a base upon which the housing spins. An electric motor is contained within the housing that causes the housing to spin when the motor is activated. The base of the rotating device can be selectively placed on a support structure. The support structure can promote spinning in the rotating device in one of two ways. In the first way, the support structure provides electricity to the rotating device that powers the motor in the rotating device. In the second way, the support structure can generate a magnetic field that reinforces the magnetic field created by the motor in the rotating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Simeon Tiefel, Webb Nelson
  • Patent number: 6682570
    Abstract: A bubble generating assembly has a housing having a front opening, with a bubble generating ring and a nozzle positioned adjacent the front opening. The assembly has a first container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, and a second container coupled to the housing and retaining a liquid (e.g., water). The first and second containers can be positioned next to each other. The assembly also has a first trigger, and a second trigger positioned next to the first trigger so that a user can simultaneously actuate the first and second triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6681945
    Abstract: A child resistant overcap and container device is specifically for containers having non-round bodies, at least non-round upper bodies, with round necks, especially oval shaped containers. The container has a round neck for attachment of an inner cap. The shape of the container is such that it is wider than it is deep, to create side to side shoulders. There is also a collar permanently attached to the neck that has an open, central circular portion and a pair of opposite shoulders extending outwardly from side to side above the shoulders of the container. The collar has either at least one J-slot or at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located on at least one of its front and back. There is also an overcap having a front and back and opposing sides, and having a hollow inside. The overcap has an outside footprint substantially corresponding to the footprint of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Valley Design, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Harrold
  • Patent number: 6682385
    Abstract: A toy building element comprising one or more first beam-like parts (23, 24) with a plane internal face and an external face, and one or more other beam-like parts (21, 22) with a plane internal face and an external face. The beam-like parts are assembled in at least one corner whereby two internal faces are caused to form an angle of less than 180° relative to each other. At least the first beam-like part (23, 24) is/are provided with an opening (7) that extends transversally thereto from the external face to the internal face, and the opening (7) is arranged so far towards the corner that the plane for the face of the plane internal face (4) of the second beam-like part (21, 22) intersects the opening in the plane for the face of the plane internal face (3) of the first beam-like part (23, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Interlego AG
    Inventors: Bent Atzen, Sten Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6679751
    Abstract: A stackable articles toy including a number of articles that can be coupled together or coupled to a support and which also generates sensory output upon interaction by the infant with the toy to prolong the infant's enjoyment of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Maxwell, Jerry A. May
  • Patent number: 6672816
    Abstract: There is provided a bookbinding device for binding a plurality of sheets together by pressure-deforming a twin-ring inserted through each of holes in the sheets, comprising: an anvil; a press section for pressurizing the twin-ring between it and the anvil; a power transmission section for sliding the,press section; and an operating section for sliding the power transmission section, wherein the power transmission section is moved along the length of the twin-ring; and the press section is moved in a direction perpendicular to the length of the twin-ring. The rotational motion of the operating section is converted to a sliding motion of the power transmission section by the engagement of the rack and pinion and the sliding directions of the power transmission section and the press section are converted at respective inclined planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Carl Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Mori, Hideyuki Suzuki, Tomoyoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6669526
    Abstract: A plurality of connecting bodies are formed in various shapes of a resilient material such as molded plastic or other resilient material. The connecting bodies each define a plurality of inwardly extending slots which form receiving mechanisms for the edge portions of a plurality of cooperating generally planar plate members. The plate members are assembled to form more complex structures utilizing the connecting bodies to form interconnection therebetween. In alternate embodiments, a complex structure for the inwardly extending slots includes flexible ribs on each side of the slots together with relief slots adjacent the ribs. In further alternate embodiments, the connecting bodies and plate members may be assembled to form complex fanciful figures utilizing specialized elements such as a fanciful head member which bears a fanciful face and leg elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Manville, James P. Mills-Winkler, Armen Danielian
  • Patent number: 6669527
    Abstract: An interactive electronic doll or toy character comprises receiving means to receive and distinguish normal human speaking voices from whispered human speaking voices, and communication means to communicate to the human speaker that either a normal or a whispered voice has been recognized. The doll or toy character may also comprise sound generation means by which simulated whispered human speech may be generated, and trigger means located on the doll or toy character to trigger the generation of such speech. Normal speech and other sounds can also be generated by the doll of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Thinking Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Wai Tai Chan
  • Patent number: 6666743
    Abstract: A hollow rotatable member preferably made from a clear plastic material and a hollow cover are attached to each other in a spinning top. A ring is disposed within the top on the cover at a position of the top's substantially maximum diameter to provide stability and inertia to the top during the top's rotation, thereby significantly increasing the top's spinning time. A cap fits tightly on the upper portion of the rotatable member. A strap having teeth defining a rack gear extends through an aperture in the cap and engages a pinion gear in the aperture. When the strap is pulled from the aperture, the pinion gear rotates and causes the top to spin. Because of the tight fit between the top and the cap, the top can be thrown outwardly and downwardly toward a support surface and can be spinning as it reaches the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sport Fun, Inc.
    Inventors: Carrie L. Polare, Daniel T. Hoffman, Paul B. Thomas, Robert D. Leventhal
  • Patent number: 6666782
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a blinking spherical toy, comprising an internal sphere composed of an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere, and the lower hemisphere having a circuit board with a circuit connecting to at least one lamp and one battery module, and two electrode rods passing through the bottom of the lower hemisphere; an external sphere having a size larger than the internal sphere and composed of a bottom hemisphere and a top hemisphere for accommodating the internal sphere, and a contact end disposed on both sides of the bottom axial line of the bottom sphere and passing through and being exposed from the bottom hemisphere. A non-conductive liquid is injected into the external sphere to fill the space between the internal sphere and the external sphere. By means of the gravitational force of the internal sphere, its upper sphere finally faces upward, and the two electrode rods of its lower sphere touch both contact ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Li-Hsiung Wu
  • Patent number: 6659835
    Abstract: An interactive toy phone includes a handset having a keypad, microphone, and speaker. A CPU connected to a memory module is positioned in the handset, the memory module having a plurality of message storage locations corresponding to the keys of the keypad. The toy phone includes recording and playback modules for recording audio messages in selectable memory locations and for selectively playing those messages stored in memory. The toy phone includes an interface for connecting the handset with a conventional telephone base or telephone line so as to receive conventional telephonic signals. These signals may be selectively recorded for future playback upon actuation of a key corresponding to the memory location in which the message was recorded. The toy phone is programmed to include educational games using recorded message in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Kathy L. Allen
  • Patent number: 6659831
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of delivering bubble solution to a bubble solution dipping container includes a bubble solution dipping container having a wall that defines a chamber. The apparatus also has a bottle having a wall that defines an interior that contains bubble solution. The bottle is releasably connected to the container, and a supply tube is provided to establish a fluid connection between the interior of the bottle and the chamber of the dipping container. The user can then apply pressure to the wall of the bottle to deliver the bubble solution from the interior of the bottle to the chamber of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6659837
    Abstract: A remote control car made of plastic sheet has an body with fixed wheels and a remotely controlled electromechanical drive unit with rotatable wheels in a cavity in the bottom of the inflatable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Alvimar Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Marvin S. Lieberman
  • Patent number: 6659840
    Abstract: A set of dolls for simulating a universal beauty pageant, including a plurality of female dolls each being distinguishable from one another. Each of the dolls is wearing a dress with an identifying ribbon thereon. A plurality of educational cards correspond with each of the female dolls. Each of the cards have information thereon relating to a corresponding female doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventors: Perry R. Chastain, Stacey T. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6659834
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of delivering bubble solution to a bubble solution dipping container includes a bubble solution dipping container having a wall that defines a chamber. The apparatus also has a bottle having a wall that defines an interior that contains bubble solution. The bottle is releasably connected to the container, and a supply tube is provided to establish a fluid connection between the interior of the bottle and the chamber of the dipping container. The user can then apply pressure to the wall of the bottle to deliver the bubble solution from the interior of the bottle to the chamber of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6656009
    Abstract: A lounger, bed, cradle, swing or the like for dolls or infants. The lounger includes a basic body, a casing therefor and a structure for correctly positioning the lounger when in use. The basic body has a shell-like design and is made of a soft foam material. The basic body has a substantially hollow ellipsoid shape. Thus, the basic body is rounded underneath on all sides and has an elliptical-shaped rim with two somewhat elongated long sides and rounded end sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Astrid Epping
  • Patent number: 6656010
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on further includes one or more steerable wheel and one or more driven wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Bienz, Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: 6652345
    Abstract: A yo-yo bubble toy mainly comprises a bubble container, a symmetrical shell, a fluid tube and a pulling rope where the bubble container is integrally formed with huge hollow chamber inside. The container has a projected mouth to accept the bubble fluid supplied by the fluid tube and an axially extended shaft tube. The symmetrical shell is in cap form having an opening linked to a bottom cover. The bottom cover has an upward extended connector to accept the insert of shaft tube projected out from the container. The outer wall of the shaft tube has a plurality of lock ring, which can be caught in the lock grooves in same number of the lock rings on the connector so to secure the container to the symmetrical shell, which expands the capacity of the bubble container and allow the fluid tube to penetrate deeply into bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Mon-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 6648725
    Abstract: A toy comprises: a first part and a second part, the parts being adapted to be placed into registration, the first part comprising short-range sensor means, the second part comprising one or more reflective areas adapted to be sensed and/or one or more non-reflective areas adapted not to be detected by the sensor means, such that when the second part is placed into registration with the first part, a sensor signal is generated specific to the area or areas sensed; and processing means in the first part adapted to receive said signal and to general an appropriate response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Thinking Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Wai Tai Chan