Patents by Inventor Ashley G. Howden

Ashley G. Howden 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: 4668060
    Abstract: An improved audio-visual toy is provided by a housing assembly configured to simulate a portable television set. A magnetic deck assembly reads the signals on a magnetic tape element to produce an audio transmission that describes a story. Concurrently, the signals tell the user when to activate a pneumatic system that houses a clutch and ratchet system to advance a film element for producing a sequence of projected images that also describe the story.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: California R&D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Paul J. Ishikawa, Ashley G. Howden
  • Patent number: 4534745
    Abstract: A toy vehicle and track assembly is provided for the detonation of toy percussion caps. A striker member is pivotally mounted within a housing that is biased to rotate in a predetermined direction. The striker member is retained by a keeper member than can be selectively released. A door can be connected to the housing for positioning an anvil that is capable of mounting the toy cap within striking movement of the striker member for detonating the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: California R&D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, R. Stephen Lee, Walter Moe, Ashley G. Howden, Paul J. Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 4527688
    Abstract: A case for storing a collection of toy vehicles or models which simulates the appearance of the steering wheel of a vehicle. The case includes top and bottom members, each having a circular profile, which mate in a clamshell manner. The members are connected together by a hinge mechanism which is secured in a closed position by a latch. An opening extends through the top and bottom members to form a carrying handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Universal International Holdings (USA)
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, R. Stephen Lee, Walter Moe, Ashley G. Howden, Paul J. Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 4443967
    Abstract: A toy vehicle is provided that can be manually activated to store kinetic energy. The rear wheels of the vehicle can be positioned so that upon tilting and movement of the vehicle, a gear assembly provides a high gear ratio to rotate a flywheel held off of the support surface. Subsequently, upon release of the toy vehicle, the contact of the flywheel with a support surface drives the car with the rear wheels held off of the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: California R & D
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden
  • Patent number: 4357488
    Abstract: A voice discriminating system is disclosed which includes input circuitry for a pair of microphones, circuitry for detecting the presence of voiced sounds inputted to the microphones, selectively enabled circuitry for detecting the presence of unvoiced sounds inputted to the microphones, and a microcontroller which executes functions under the control of the presence or absence of voiced or non-voiced sounds inputted to the microphones. The disclosed system further includes a display circuit and a sound circuit that are controlled by the microcontroller for the purpose of playing games wherein the players provide spoken commands to the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Mark S. Knighton, Charles H. Fuller, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, L. C. James Kingsbury, Lawrence T. Jones
  • Patent number: 4333261
    Abstract: A toy car adapted to travel on a track assembly is disclosed. The toy car includes a motor coupled to a drive train which drives the car forwards regardless of a direction of rotation of an output shaft of the motor. The drive train includes a first set of gears coupled with a first one-way clutch to drive an axle of the car when the output shaft of the motor rotates in a first direction. The drive train also includes a second set of gears coupled with a second one-way clutch to drive the axle when the output shaft rotates in a second direction. The first set of gears represent a higher gear reduction ratio from the output shaft to the axle than the second set of gears whereby a speed of the forward motion of the car may be altered by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor. The motor of the car draws electric power from the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, Mark S. Knighton, L. C. James Kingsbury, Richard F. M. Conroy
  • Patent number: 4307533
    Abstract: A toy configured to simulate an insect with wings is disclosed. The toy has a main body section to which a tail and a head section are attached to form an insect body. Two wings are rotatably mounted for disposition on both lateral sides of the main body section. A mechanism is provided to cause simultaneous flapping of all the wings. A cavity having a pivotable cover plate is provided in the head section. Various toy appendages such as a toy doll may be placed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Anson Sims, Lawrence T. Jones, Ashley G. Howden, Robert S. Lee
  • Patent number: 4298788
    Abstract: A toy oven assembly having a light bulb acting as a light and a heat source, is disclosed. The toy oven includes two identical component parts which are assembled to one another. In their assembled form they incorporate a substantially circular opening on a substantially horizontal top surface of the assembly. The circular opening is surrounded by a rim. A translucent or transparent dome shaped member is disposed above a heating chamber of the toy oven assembly and is held by the rim so that during operation of the toy oven assembly the dome shines with light giving the toy an interesting science fiction like appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, Mark S. Knighton, LC James Kingsbury
  • Patent number: 4248006
    Abstract: A toy having an upper and a lower body section is disclosed. The lower body section is operatively attachable to the upper body section in a plurality of configurations. A container capable of holding a liquid is included in the upper body section. A compressable bellow, and a nozzle is operatively connected to the container whereby the liquid may be squirted out from the toy at the option of a player. The lower body section includes an electric motor and a track assembly which is capable of locomoting the toy in any of the possible configurations assembled at the option of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, Robert S. Lee
  • Patent number: 4214674
    Abstract: A toy water gun assembly capable of ejecting water in bursts or in a continuous manner, is disclosed. A separate, pressurizable water container is connected by a flexible hose, to a pistal shaped member. A section of the flexible hose, mounted in the pistol shaped member, is continuously clamped by a lever. A spring biases the lever to prevent the release of a water stream through a nozzle which is mounted on the front of the pistol shaped member. A trigger member having a pointed pawl pivotably mounted thereto, is operatively connected to the lever. An initial movement of the pawl member caused by a quick pull on the trigger member momentarily removes the lever from its position clamping the hose. Additional movement of the pawl causes it to slide off the lever, thereby allowing the lever to return to its regular position wherein the hose is clamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden
  • Patent number: 4163341
    Abstract: Miniature vehicles operable on a slotless track have their front wheels disposed on a tie bar assembly mounting a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is disposed to be attracted to either the right or left pole piece of a solenoid. First and second operator applied steering voltages activate a zener diode to switch current through the solenoid to effect right or left steering and lane changing by the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1979
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, Michael J. Geery
  • Patent number: 4136485
    Abstract: A toy vehicle including a chassis member mounting an electric motor and rear wheels driven by the motor is provided. A unitary steering block is pivotally and floatably mounted at a hitching point on the front of the chassis and bears the vehicle front wheels and receptacles for floatably mounting electrical pickups. Mounted within the pick-ups are small springs which insure electrical contact to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Assignee: California R&D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden
  • Patent number: D262299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, Mark S. Knighton, LC James Kingsbury
  • Patent number: D272925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: California R&D
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Anson Sims, Ashley G. Howden, Mark S. Knighton, L. C. James Kingsbury
  • Patent number: D287256
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, R. Stephen Lee, Paul J. Ishikawa, Ashley G. Howden
  • Patent number: D290479
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, R. Stephen Lee, Paul J. Ishikawa, Ashley G. Howden
  • Patent number: D292602
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: California R & D Center
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Jones, R. Stephen Lee, Paul J. Ishikawa, Ashley G. Howden