Patents by Inventor Christopher F. Lucas

Christopher F. Lucas 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: 8348285
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20110312448
    Abstract: An adjustable basketball device includes a support, a backboard coupled to the support, a mounting structure coupled to the backboard, an adjustment mechanism movably coupled to the mounting structure, and an adjustable rim supported by the mounting structure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism. The adjustable rim is adjustable between a first configuration in which the rim defines an opening with a first diameter, and a second configuration in which the opening of the rim defines an opening with a second diameter different than the first diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Mcilvain, Christopher F. Lucas, David E. Moomaw
  • Publication number: 20110221260
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20110124266
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded wheel body that is configured to rotate about an axis and has a tread surface that extends circumferentially around the wheel body and may have a circumferential profile that is defined as the locus of points at which the radial distance from the axis to the tread surface is greatest at each position around the circumference of the tread surface. The radial distance from the axis to the circumferential profile may change from a first radius to a second radius that is larger than the first radius at a plurality of spaced-apart positions along the circumferential profile. The method for producing the blow-molded wheels may include providing a mold with pinch-off rings that have an opening configured to form the circumferential profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lucas, John Rhein, Gerald P. Sitarski, Steven R. Drosendahl
  • Patent number: 7939008
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7905305
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded wheel body that is configured to rotate about an axis and has a tread surface that extends circumferentially around the wheel body and may have a circumferential profile that is defined as the locus of points at which the radial distance from the axis to the tread surface is greatest at each position around the circumference of the tread surface. The radial distance from the axis to the circumferential profile may change from a first radius to a second radius that is larger than the first radius at a plurality of spaced-apart positions along the circumferential profile. The method for producing the blow-molded wheels may include providing a mold with pinch-off rings that have an opening configured to form the circumferential profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lucas, John Rhein, Gerald P. Sitarski, Steven R. Drosendahl
  • Publication number: 20100025948
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7621543
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7487850
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having improved shifter assemblies. The vehicles include a drive assembly comprising a velocity control assembly that selectively configures the drive assembly within a plurality of drive configurations and which includes a switch assembly adapted to be selectively configured between a plurality of velocity settings. Each velocity setting configures the drive assembly to a predetermined drive configuration. The velocity control assembly may include an actuator assembly that receives user inputs via a shifter handle moveable between a plurality of shift positions along a plurality of shift paths. Each shift position configures the switch assembly to a particular velocity setting. At least two of the shift paths have non-linear relative orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lucas, John Rhein
  • Publication number: 20080048406
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20080006456
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded wheel body that is configured to rotate about an axis and has a tread surface that extends circumferentially around the wheel body and may have a circumferential profile that is defined as the locus of points at which the radial distance from the axis to the tread surface is greatest at each position around the circumference of the tread surface. The radial distance from the axis to the circumferential profile may change from a first radius to a second radius that is larger than the first radius at a plurality of spaced-apart positions along the circumferential profile. The method for producing the blow-molded wheels may include providing a mold with pinch-off rings that have an opening configured to form the circumferential profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lucas, John Rhein
  • Patent number: 6439949
    Abstract: An apparatus including an appendage coupled to a body and a drive. The drive produces a force that causes the appendage to move with respect to the body. When the apparatus is resting on a support surface, the force produced by the drive is insufficient to overcome the force produced by the weight of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lucas, James R. Bauman