Patents by Inventor Francis Ponton
Francis Ponton 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).
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Patent number: 7731064Abstract: A water gun may comprise a body having a front surface, a nozzle mounted on and extending from the body, an actuator, at least one fluid reservoir, and a pump. The nozzle may have at least a nozzle portion adapted to move between an extended position spaced away from the front surface and a retracted position closer to the front surface than the extended position. The actuator may be adapted to be moved relative to the body, and mechanically coupled to the nozzle for moving the nozzle between the retracted and extended positions when the actuator is moved between first and second positions. The fluid reservoir may comprise first and second end portions and a generally uniform elongate intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions, which may have volumes that are larger than the volume of the intermediate portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Peter Chuang, George Eden, Kevin Hou, Francis Ponton, Chiu Wah Wong
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Publication number: 20070012721Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fluid squirt gun. The fluid squirt gun including a body including a first member and a second member, at least one of the members being configured to move between a first position in which the first and the second member are adjacent to each other, and a second position in which at least a portion of the first member and at least a portion of the second member are spaced from each other; a fluid output mechanism operatively attached to the body; and a trigger mechanism operatively connected to the fluid output mechanism, and configured to selectively eject one or more streams of fluid from the fluid output mechanism and to selectively move at least one of the first member and the second member between the first position and the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Inventors: Peter Chuang, Francis Ponton
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Publication number: 20060226262Abstract: A water gun may comprise a body having a front surface, a nozzle mounted on and extending from the body, an actuator, at least one fluid reservoir, and a pump. The nozzle may have at least a nozzle portion adapted to move between an extended position spaced away from the front surface and a retracted position closer to the front surface than the extended position. The actuator may be adapted to be moved relative to the body, and mechanically coupled to the nozzle for moving the nozzle between the retracted and extended positions when the actuator is moved between first and second positions. The fluid reservoir may comprise first and second end portions and a generally uniform elongate intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions, which may have volumes that are larger than the volume of the intermediate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2006Publication date: October 12, 2006Inventors: Peter Chuang, George Eden, Kevin Hou, Francis Ponton, Chiu Wong
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Patent number: 6896574Abstract: A magnetic coupling for toy vehicles includes a stationary protruding member and a retractable member, each having a rounded end piece. One of the end pieces is at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the other is at least partially formed of a non-magnetic, magnetically attractive material. A separate end piece can be provided on each of a pair of toy vehicles or each vehicle can be provided with both. The retractable member can be configured to receive the protruding member in a mechanical coupling.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Needham, Adam Tooby, Julian Richard Payne, Francis Ponton, Jr., Gregory John Sisolak, Robert Alan Butkiewicz, Anthony Peter Monzo
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Publication number: 20050106993Abstract: An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle includes a first wheeled vehicle portion and a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled thereto. A steering lever has a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion and operably coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion. Rotation of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Mary Fosbenner, Jean Newton, Robert Butkiewicz, Jeffrey Osnato, Francis Ponton, Jeremy Robotham
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Publication number: 20040023593Abstract: A magnetic coupling for toy vehicles includes a stationary protruding member and a retractable member, each having a rounded end piece. One of the end pieces is at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the other is at least partially formed of a non-magnetic, magnetically attractive material. A separate end piece can be provided on each of a pair of toy vehicles or each vehicle can be provided with both. The retractable member can be configured to receive the protruding member in a mechanical coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Needham, Adam Tooby, Julian Richard Payne, Francis Ponton, Gregory John Sisolak, Robert Alan Butkiewicz, Anthony Peter Monzo
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Publication number: 20040009734Abstract: A composite toy includes a first component vehicle and a vehicle accessory. The first component vehicle includes a chassis with wheels and an integral cab portion and a first coupling member configured for releasable coupling to another component vehicle. The vehicle accessory is configured for releasable attachment to the first component vehicle so as to create a new vehicle having a modified appearance relative to the first component vehicle. In an alternate embodiment, the composite vehicle further includes a second component vehicle including a chassis with an integral cab portion and a second coupling member configured for releasable coupling to another component vehicle either longitudinally or laterally.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Needham, Adam Tooby, Julian Richard Payne, Francis Ponton, Gregory John Sisolak, Robert Alan Butkiewicz, Anthony Peter Monzo
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Patent number: 6508179Abstract: A play set for use with unpowered (e.g. {fraction (1/64)} scale) toy vehicles having non-steerable, free rotating wheels includes a closed loop track with a conveyor that raises such unpowered toy vehicles from a lower end to an upper, elevated end and a driven, tilting roadway that randomly directs toy vehicles from the upper level to either of two track branches. At least part of each track branch can be opened to release a toy vehicle from the track. A merge track section joins together a lower level end of each of the two track branches and leads to the lower end of the conveyor. The upper end of the conveyor and the tilting roadway are simultaneously supported by a single and driven by a single motor.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Robert Annis, Daniel Gleason, Trevor J. Hayes, Robert A. Butkiewicz, Julian R. Payne, Jeremy S. Robotham, Francis Ponton
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Publication number: 20020108527Abstract: A play set for use with unpowered (e.g. {fraction (1/64)} scale) toy vehicles having non-steerable, free rotating wheels includes a closed loop track with a conveyor that raises such unpowered toy vehicles from a lower end to an upper, elevated end and a driven, tilting roadway that randomly directs toy vehicles from the upper level to either of two track branches. At least part of each track branch can be opened to release a toy vehicle from the track. A merge track section joins together a lower level end of each of the two track branches and leads to the lower end of the conveyor. The upper end of the conveyor and the tilting roadway are simultaneously supported by a single and driven by a single motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Robert Annis, Daniel Gleason, Trevor J. Hayes, Robert A. Butkiewicz, Julian R. Payne, Jeremy S. Robotham, Francis Ponton
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Patent number: D548290Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Peter Chuang, George Eden, Kevin Hou, Francis Ponton, Chiu Wah Wong
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Patent number: D548805Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Peter Chuang, George Eden, Kevin Hou, Francis Ponton, Chiu Wah Wong
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Patent number: D557753Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Peter Chuang, George Eden, Kevin Hou, Francis Ponton, Chiu Wah Wong