Patents by Inventor Frank W. Winkler

Frank W. Winkler 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).

  • Electrically controlled racing game with information and control center
    Patent number: 6688985
    Abstract: A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Weiss, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher, Joseph T. Moll, Gregory R. Nungester, Frank W. Winkler, Justin M. Discoe
  • Toy vehicle wireless control system
    Publication number: 20030114075
    Abstract: A toy vehicle remote control transmitter unit wirelessly controls the movements of a programmable toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a motive chassis having a plurality of steering positions. A microprocessor in the transmitter unit emulates manual transmission operation of the toy vehicle by being in any one of a plurality of different gear states selected by an operation of manual input elements on the transmitter unit. Forward propulsion control signals representing different toy vehicle speed ratios associated with each of the gear states are transmitted from the transmitter unit to the toy vehicle. The motive chassis has a steering feedback sensor with a plurality of defined steering positions to vary rate of steering position change to avoid overshoot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph T. Moll, James M. Dickinson, Frank W. Winkler, David V. Helmlinger, Charles S. McCall, Stephen N. Weiss
  • Electrically controlled racing game with information and control center
    Publication number: 20020147050
    Abstract: A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Weiss, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher, Joseph T. Moll, Gregory R. Nungester, Frank W. Winkler, Justin M. Discoe