Patents by Inventor Michael O'Hara Hirtle

Michael O'Hara Hirtle 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: 4060930
    Abstract: A toy airplane launcher having a launch platform adapted for supporting two toy airplanes, each of the airplanes having a rubber band engaging portion and a depending projection for abutting against an airplane engaging post positioned adjacent the surface of the launcher. A single trigger is provided for displacing the post relative to the platform for disengaging the airplane to permit it to be launched under the force of the rubber band. The platform, post, and trigger are so constructed to permit the sequential launching of the airplanes upon slow movement of the trigger and to provide virtually simultaneous launching upon rapid actuation of the trigger. In a first embodiment the airplanes are positioned along generally parallel runways with the airplane engaging posts for each airplane being offset from one another, the posts disengaging from the airplane as they move along a line perpendicular to the plane of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael O'Hara Hirtle, James Edward Morse