Patents by Inventor Robert T. Auer

Robert T. Auer 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: 4889515
    Abstract: A piggyback toy car and truck assembly in which all four wheels of the car are driven by a battery-powered motor, the truck being of the flat bed type and motorless. The car is switchable from a neutral mode to operation in either the forward or reverse mode, its front and rear wheel axles each having a drive pinion mounted thereon whose teeth are projected below the chassis. Lying on the flat bed of the truck is a ramp having a pair of tracks for accommodating the car wheels. The ramp is slidable from a retracted horizontal position to an extended horizontal position in which the rear half section of the ramp overhangs the rear of the bed and is pivoted therefrom so that it is then free to swing down to form an inclined ramp. With the ramp so inclined, the car in its forward mode climbs up the ramp until it reaches its front end and causes the inclined ramp to return to its horizontal extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, David Reina
  • Patent number: 4889514
    Abstract: A hand-propelled toy airplane, locomotive or other wheeled vehicle for pre-school children having a handle making it possible for a player to push the vehicle along a surface. The vehicle is provided with one or more lights whose bulbs are connected to a battery supply through a handle switch that is actuated only when the player grasps the handle to turn on the lights. Operatively coupled to the axle of a wheel set is an interrupter switch connected in series with the handle switch, the circuit arrangement being such that when the handle switch is actuated, at least one light goes one, and when the vehicle is pushed along the surface, the actuated interrupter switch then causes the lights to turn on intermittently to produce a blinking effect at a rate depending on how fast the vehicle is being propelled. When the handle switch is released by the player, the battery supply is disconnected from the bulbs, so that no power is drained from the supply when the toy is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corp.
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, Richard L. Keats, Jore M. Chung
  • Patent number: 4889516
    Abstract: A power module which when plugged into an open compartment in the body of a motorless toy vehicle and switched on, then acts to drive the vehicle in a selected direction. The compartment is disposed above a coupling gear mounted on a wheel axle. The case of the module simulates the appearance of a multi-cylinder engine nad houses a DC motor and a battery supply therefor, the motor being operatively coupled to a drive pinion whose teeth project below the base of the case to engage the coupling gear whereby when the motor is energized, the wheel axle is caused to turn to propel the vehicle. The upper end of the case which projects above the body has a rocker pivoted thereon which simulates an air scoop for the engine and functions as the actuator for a polarity-reversing switch connecting the battery supply to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corp.
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, David Reina
  • Patent number: 4878877
    Abstract: A power module which when plugged into an open compartment in the body of a motorless toy vehicle acts to motorize the vehicle, the compartment being disposed above a coupling gear which is operatively linked to a wheel or other means to propel the vehicle. Pivotally supported within the case of the module is a DC motor and a gear assembly having attached thereto a control lever. A battery supply housed in the case is connected to the motor through a normally open switch that closes to power the motor when the control lever which normally is in a neutral mode, is shifted either to a forward mode in which the assembly is then inclined to drive the vehicle in the forward direction, or to a reverse mode in which the assembly is then oppositely inclined to drive the vehicle in the reverse direction. The assembly includes a worm gear on the motor shaft and a pair of drive pinions engaging the worm gear on either side thereof whereby the pinions are caused to rotate concurrently in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, David Reina
  • Patent number: 4875147
    Abstract: A flashlight having a delayed action switch assembly which functions to connect a light bulb to a battery supply. Included in the assembly is a pivoted trigger lever mounted on the underside of the flashlight handle. The lever is biased by a leaf spring forming the first contact of a leaf spring switch having a second contact and an intermediate contact interposed between the first and second contacts, the contacts being normally disengaged from each other. The switch is closed only when the first and second contacts engage the intermediate contact. Also included in the flashlight is a slide actuator on the upper side of the handle which cooperates with the second contact, such that when the actuator is in its forward "on" position, the second contact is deflected to engage the intermediate contact, and when in its rear "off" position, the second contact is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L. Corporation
    Inventor: Robert T. Auer
  • Patent number: 4869513
    Abstract: A toy shooting gallery assembly having a raised platform behind whose rear end is an arcuate row of normally erect, pivotally-mounted targets. Each target is provided with a lug that depends from its lower end whereby when this lug is struck, it causes the target to fall down to register a hit. Pivoted at a point adjacent the front end of the platform is a hollow arm on whose front section is mounted a gun having a barrel which extends over the platform, the arm being swingable by the gun in an arc which scans the arcuate row of targets, whereby the barrel may be aimed at a selected target. The gun trigger is operatively coupled by a cable running through the hollow arm to a striker mechanism mounted on the rear section of the arm at a position underlying the target row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, Richard J. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4856197
    Abstract: A drawing device adapted to produce line drawings or sketches on a transparent screen on top of a rectangular box-like case partly filled with a powder that adheres slightly to the undersurface of the screen to render it opaque. Disposed within the case is a stylus supported for sliding movement at the intersection of shiftable transverse and longitudinal rods. The extremities of the transverse rods are fastened to a set of parallel branches of a string loop operated by a control knob which when turned causes this rod and the stylus born thereby to move toward either end of the case, depending on the direction of knob rotation. The extremities of the longitudinal rod are fastened to a set of parallel branches of a second string loop operated by a second control knob when turned causes this rod and the stylus born thereby to move toward either side of the box, depending on the direction of knob rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, Richard J. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4850931
    Abstract: A toy vehicle in which a flywheel motor assembly is operatively coupled to one set of wheels such that when the motor is revved up and the vehicle is released, it then advances on the ground in the forward direction. A settable distance counter assembly is operatively coupled to the other set of wheels to count the number of feet or other increment of distance travelled by the vehicle. Also included is a braking mechanism provided with a normally-retracted brake shoe whose position is off center with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a normally-retracted brake clutch adapted to engage a braking wheel in the flywheel motor assembly. The braking mechanism is responsive to the distance counter such that when a pre-set distance is travelled by the vehicle, the brake shoe is projected below the chassis to engage the ground and the brake clutch is then caused to engage the braking wheel to arrest the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventor: Robert T. Auer
  • Patent number: 4848577
    Abstract: A double-faced blister pack and frame assembly for packaging and displaying an article of merchandise. The article is sandwiched between a pair of superposed, transparent plastic sheets whose central regions are molded to generally conform to the opposite faces of the article, the four superposed margins of the sheets each defining a flange. The frame is formed of a cardboard strip that is so die-cut and folded as to create a chain of four interhinged branches each having a triangular truss cross section whose base chord is the outer wall of the frame and whose central strut is constituted by parallel walls extending from the apex of the triangle to the base chord to form a narrow slot. Socketed in the slot of each branch is the corresponding flange of the pack whereby the pack is supported by the frame, and the opposite faces of the article which lie within the frame are both exposed to a prospective purchaser who is able to fully examine the article without having to break open the package to do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L. Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Hoffman, Robert T. Auer, Richard L. Keats, Stephan Roeser, Lawrence Stern
  • Patent number: 4764146
    Abstract: A toy vehicle in the form of a pickup truck on whose rear bed are mounted a pair of miniature dog houses in side-by-side relation, each having a triangular roof hinged to the rear wall of the house. Depending from the front end of each roof is a front wall having an arched opening defining the entry to the dog house which is occupied by a miniature puppy whose head projects through the entry. The puppy is otherwise confined within the doghouse and is removable therefrom only by lifting the roof. To discourage unauthorized removal of a puppy from its doghouse when the toy is on sales display, each roof is provided on its underside with a latching lug having a slot therein aligned with holes in the sidewalls of the dog houses. Insertable into these holes and going through the lugs is a disposable locking pin whose tip is so formed as to frictionally engage the side wall hole in which it is received. Hence to release the roofs and obtain access to the puppies, the pin has to be forcibly pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, Richard L. Keats
  • Patent number: 4743030
    Abstract: A simulated combat game set in which the players are provided with toy water guns and each player wears a target. When a gun is fired by a player it shoots out a beam of water, each player trying to hit a vulnerable site on the target worn by an opposing player and thereby strike him out. To this end, the vulnerable site on the target is constituted by a plaque or label having printed thereon a strike symbol or other hit indicator covered by a mask that conceals the indicator. The hit indicator is rendered readable only when the mask is made wet and transparent by a water beam impinging thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, Richard L. Keats