Patents by Inventor James R. Hornsby
James R. Hornsby 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: 7410405Abstract: The subject invention provides an amusement device and method of play using the device, wherein the device includes a gun for shooting a liquid and/or a light beam, wherein the gun comprises a generally elongated barrel, a tank for containing a liquid, a source of power, a pump for pressurizing the tank, valve structures suitable for controlling the flow of the liquid, at least one light source, and a trigger mechanism which may selectively cause a stream of liquid to be discharged and one of more of the light sources to be activated.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Marcellus R. Benson, Paul M. Brown, Joseph L. McGowan
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Patent number: 7207860Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive robotic device having a body, a transport mechanism, a drive mechanism, a plurality of inputs and outputs for receiving, delivering and/or displaying information, including aural and/or visual information or signals, a container for carrying or holding items to be delivered or dispensed to a user, and a dispensing structure for dispensing items to a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: JAKKS, Pacific, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Marcellus R. Benson, Joseph L. McGowan, Timothy S. Brakensiek, David Niehaus
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Patent number: 7131887Abstract: The present invention provides an amusement device having a body, wherein the body has features, at least one motor for powering the device and at least some of the features, and an information receiving structure for receiving information from an information carrying item that is separate or discrete from the amusement device.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2001Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Christopher N. Hall, David M. Niehaus
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Patent number: 7040951Abstract: An amusement device is disclosed having an animal body portion and a remote control portion. The animal body portion may be a lizard having horns and a tail. A user may use the remote control to cause the animal to move. The animal body has at least one motor operably connected to the animal's head, legs, and tail. The motor causes the animal to walk forward, walk backward, or dance in place at the selection of the user, and causes the tail to move and the mouth of the animal's head to move. An extendable tongue protrudes from the mouth. The tongue may have a magnetic tip for connecting with a magnetic or metallic object. The device may also contain a speaker that plays music and/or words as selected by the user through the remote control. In one embodiment, the lizard dances while playing music.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Daniel J. Beckman, Marcellus R. Benson, William H. Bronson, Jr.
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Patent number: 6949003Abstract: An amusement device has a body, wherein the body has features, at least one motor for powering the device and at least some of the features, and an information receiving structure for receiving information from an information carrying item that is separate or discrete from the amusement device.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Christopher N. Hall, David M. Niehaus
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Patent number: 6913508Abstract: A toy race car and track system are disclosed having illuminated portions in the car and the track that are illuminated by light sources based on movement of the car on the track. The car includes a pull-back motor and has translucent windows for display of the light source inside the car. The track is a modular track system having interchangeable track portions and other parts. The track system includes a jump and a gauge for measuring the height of a vehicle on the jump. The gauge illuminates when the car travels through it and includes a break-away sign at the end of the gauge that detaches when the car reaches the end. The track system also includes a jump and loop portion, in which the jump launches the car upside down toward one of a plurality of loops that catch the car and redirect it back toward the jump. The car then is launched from the jump to an inner loop to decreased jump speed, and the process repeats until the car no longer has sufficient speed to reach the loops.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Kurt V. Ulmer, Joseph L. McGowan, Marcellus R. Benson
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Patent number: 6892902Abstract: The present invention provides a toy water gun including a pump for pressurizing the gun for shooting out a stream of water, a trigger for controlling the flow of the water, and a source of electricity and at least one light source for illuminating the stream, wherein the device is adapted to provide a lighted coherent stream of water.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Ryan A. Wolfinbarger, Joseph L. McGowan, Chad P. Stuemke, Marcellus R. Benson, David B. Midgett, Kurt V. Ulmer
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Publication number: 20040198169Abstract: An amusement device is disclosed having an animal body portion and a remote control portion. The animal body portion may be a lizard having horns and a tail. A user may use the remote control to cause the animal to move. The animal body has at least one motor operably connected to the animal's head, legs, and tail. The motor causes the animal to walk forward, walk backward, or dance in place at the selection of the user, and causes the tail to move and the mouth of the animal's head to move. An extendable tongue protrudes from the mouth. The tongue may have a magnetic tip for connecting with a magnetic or metallic object. The device may also contain a speaker that plays music and/or words as selected by the user through the remote control. In one embodiment, the lizard dances while playing music.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Daniel J. Beckman, Marcellus R. Benson, William H. Bronson
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Patent number: 6773329Abstract: A thematic play set that in one example is in the form of a castle includes a plurality of turrets. Some turrets have end caps that may be removed to allow fiber optic bundles to be exposed that simulate a fireworks bloom. Another turret includes a launcher that launches a winged figurine into the air to simulate flight. The play set includes a number of accessories and features that add to the theme established.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Chad P. Stuemke, David B. Midgett
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Patent number: 6769793Abstract: A cover surrounds an expandable frame that, when expanded, shapes the cover in a decorative fashion. The frame includes a plurality of flexible rods interconnected between two base units. As the base units are moved towards one another, the rods flex outwardly to form a somewhat spherical configuration. The rods are tapered at one or both ends to help facilitate a circular curvature.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Marcellus R. Benson, Chad P. Stuemke
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Patent number: 6736694Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive amusement device and system encompassing a primary robotic unit which performs actions communicated by a remote wireless transmitter and at least one secondary robotic unit which interacts through wireless communication with the primary robotic unit. In some embodiments, the primary and secondary robotic units interact with each other and the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Marcellus R. Benson, Joseph L. McGowan, Arne A. Schmidt, William H. Bronson, Jr.
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Patent number: 6702644Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive amusement device which gives birth to one or more offspring, wherein the device includes appropriate electromechanical interactive sensors and operating mechanisms. It encompasses a “mother” amusement device which is interactive with a user, and which appears to give birth spontaneously to one or more “baby” amusement devices. In some embodiments, the mother and baby(ies) may be interactive with the user and each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2000Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Chad P. Stuemke, Marcellus R. Benson, Ryan A. Wolfinbarger, Jason E. Emde
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Patent number: 6672934Abstract: An amusement device is disclosed having an animal body portion and a remote control portion. The animal body portion may be a lizard having horns and a tail. A user may use the remote control to cause the animal to move. The animal body has at least one motor operably connected to the animal's head, legs, and tail. The motor causes the animal to walk forward, walk backward, or dance in place at the selection of the user, and causes the tail to move and the mouth of the animal's head to move. An extendable tongue protrudes from the mouth. The tongue may have a magnetic tip for connecting with a magnetic or metallic object. The device may also contain a speaker that plays music and/or words as selected by the user through the remote control. In one embodiment, the lizard dances while playing music.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Daniel J. Beckman, Marcellus R. Benson, William H. Bronson, Jr.
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Publication number: 20030178439Abstract: The present invention provides a toy water gun including a pump for pressurizing the gun for shooting out a stream of water, a trigger for controlling the flow of the water, and a source of electricity and at least one light source for illuminating the stream, wherein the device is adapted to provide a lighted coherent stream of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: September 25, 2003Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Ryan A. Wolfinbarger, Joseph L. McGowan, Chad P. Stuemke, Marcellus R. Benson, David B. Midgett, Kurt V. Ulmer
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Publication number: 20020177383Abstract: The present invention provides an amusement device having a body, wherein the body has features, at least one motor for powering the device and at least some of the features, and an information receiving structure for receiving information from an information carrying item that is separate or discrete from the amusement device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Christopher N. Hall, David M. Niehaus
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Publication number: 20020165880Abstract: A digital book for providing reading education and amusement to a user. The digital book includes a visual display for displaying visual images and an audio component for broadcasting sound. The digital book includes a memory device for storing display images and a plurality of associated sounds. A processor controls the visual display to display a graphical image in association with a scrollable text segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: November 7, 2002Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Christian M. Mouser, Jason E. Emde
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Patent number: 6474507Abstract: The present invention provides a toy water gun including a pump for pressurizing the gun for shooting out a stream of water, a trigger for controlling the flow of the water, and a source of electricity and at least one light source for illuminating the stream, wherein the device is adapted to provide a lighted coherent stream of water.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Ryan A. Wolfinbarger, Joseph L. McGowan, Chad P. Stuemke, Marcellus R. Benson, David B. Midgett, Kurt V. Ulmer
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Publication number: 20020127946Abstract: The subject invention provides an amusement device and method of play using the device, wherein the device includes a gun for shooting a liquid and/or a light beam, wherein the gun comprises a generally elongated barrel, a tank for containing a liquid, a source of power, a pump for pressurizing the tank, valve structures suitable for controlling the flow of the liquid, at least one light source, and a trigger mechanism which may selectively cause a stream of liquid to be discharged and one or more of the light sources to be activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Marcellus R. Benson, Paul M. Brown, Joseph L. McGowan
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Publication number: 20020123297Abstract: An amusement device has a body, wherein the body has features, at least one motor for powering the device and at least some of the features, and an information receiving structure for receiving information from an information carrying item that is separate or discrete from the amusement device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2002Publication date: September 5, 2002Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Joseph L. McGowan, Christopher N. Hall, David M. Niehaus
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Patent number: D466958Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Paul M. Brown, Chad P. Stuemke