Including Means For Causing Erratic Movement Patents (Class 446/437)
  • Patent number: 6679752
    Abstract: A new and improved remote controllable toy device and an associated method of using are disclosed. The remote controllable toy device includes a radio transmitter unit and a toy car responsive to the radio transmitter unit. The radio transmitter unit having a housing, an antenna, a first battery, a transmitter circuit, a propulsion switch, a steering switch, a front end hopping switch, a four wheel lifting switch, and an on/off switch. The toy car having an upper shell, an undercarriage attachable to the upper shell, in which the undercarriage has a receiver, a control unit, a motor, a gear set, a plurality of wheels, and a means for hopping, a means for lifting all four wheels, and a means for oscillating up and down after hopping. The method includes the steps of activating, bending, depressing, detaching, lifting, manipulating, obtaining, picking, placing, pressing, pushing, reattaching, releasing, toggling, and touching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Rodrick L. Reed, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6679750
    Abstract: A toy building set comprising at least one toy building element with a body part provided with coupling for interconnecting with other toy building elements, and a vehicle with a body that is provided with coupling for interconnecting with other toy building elements. The vehicle is provided with at least one wheel that is journalled on a shaft and that extends downwards from the vehicle body for abutment on a drive face. The wheel or wheels have a rolling face with varying distances from the shaft on which it is journalled such that a waving movement of the vehicle is obtained when it travels across a plane drive face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Interlego AG
    Inventor: Helle Kleist Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6672937
    Abstract: A miniature toy vehicle, preferably of the wireless control self-propelled type equipped to flip or upset another similar toy vehicle or object upon forward impact therewith. The preferred toy vehicle includes a molded toy car body supporting front and rear wheels, steering, a control circuit board, a drive motor and a battery. A front flipping member is supported by the car body having a forwardly distal portion at a height, when the flipping member is armed, for engagement beneath a lower side or end margin of another toy vehicle or an object. The flipping member will upwardly flip or upset the other toy car or object when a trigger member thereof strikes the other toy car or an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen J. Motosko
  • Publication number: 20030224695
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has front and rear chassis portions and a flipping mechanism which allows the front chassis portion to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the rear chassis portion about a longitudinal axis. The flipping mechanism includes a triggering mechanism, a rotational drive mechanism and a mechanism to prevent damage to a main spring which drives the rotational motion of the front chassis relative to the rear chassis. The toy vehicle may be remote controlled, and include a remote control transmitter. One remote control transmitter includes a left hand and a right hand portion, with the two portions being pivotable with respect to one another to activate a control switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: The Obb, LLC
    Inventors: Androc L. Kislevitz, Adam L. Kislevitz, Noah L. Kislevitz, Justin M. Discoe, David V. Helmlinger, David J. Ribbe
  • Patent number: 6648722
    Abstract: A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle capable of both highly elastic impact and less elastic impact with obstacles struck while the vehicle is in motion is disclosed. Two wheels are separately driven, and have tires with interiors that are vented to atmosphere. The third wheel has a tire with an interior that is sealed and pressurized. The pressurized tire is capable of highly elastic impact when it strikes obstacles while the toy vehicle is in motion. The non-pressurized tires are characterized by a less elastic impact with obstacles. The third wheel has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the drive wheels. All components of the vehicle are contained within the two planes tangent to the three wheels, such that the toy vehicle may be operated on either of its two major sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Obb, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Lynders, James Michael Ferro, Androc Luther Kislevitz, Adam Luther Kislevitz, Noah Luther Kislevitz
  • Patent number: 6629510
    Abstract: A cat toy comprising a randomly moving body and one or more attached members. The pseudo-random mechanical motion of the body is transmitted by the member to a free end of the member. Angular momentum tends to keep the free end of the member moving near the ground thus creating a moving object attractive to cats and inducing them to play and exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Michael B. Robkin
  • Patent number: 6579145
    Abstract: A toy for entertaining a user includes a composite structure configured to execute a play function, the composite structure including several removably interconnected structure elements, each said structure element having at least one propulsion mechanism including a spring-loaded, directionally selectable propulsion member connected to the structure element. The triggering object is optionally a play surface and the element shell optionally includes a representation of a human or animal face. The composite structure has at least two of the structure elements, each structure element having a propulsion mechanism so that several propulsion mechanisms are distributed over the outer extremities of the composite structure for depressing and tilting by the user in individually selected directions into engagement with the shoulder engaging structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: John G. Maxim
  • Patent number: 6568987
    Abstract: A brake assembly for a toy vehicle includes first and second wheel assemblies mounted on a axle, a cam which is rotatable with the first wheel assembly, and a brake member which is activatable by the cam to engage the second wheel assembly. An orthogonal gear assembly, including first and second gear members, drives the cam. A shaft member is disposed orthogonal to the axle and bears the cam and second gear member. The first gear member is mounted an the axle. The shaft is pivotally mounted and movable between a first position in which the first and second gear members are engaged and a second position in which the first and second gear members are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: May Cheong Toy Products Factory Limited
    Inventor: Moon-Lam So
  • Patent number: 6565409
    Abstract: This invention provides a stop mechanism capable of stopping a model car under a spin-turn state. A seesaw-shaped swing member 22 is mounted to a car body 11 of a model car 10 at a position deviated either to the right or left from a centerline of the car body 11 in a driving direction. An axle 21 of driving rear wheels 13 supports the swing member 22 and allows it to swing. A driving motor 20 is fitted to rear side of the swing member and a stopper plate 23, to the front side. A spring 25 for always biasing the swing member in a direction in which the stopper plate of the swing member comes into touch with a road surface 30 is interposed between the swing member and the car body. An intermeshing gear is arranged in such a fashion that a direction of reaction force transmitted from the driving rear wheels to the driving motor operates in a direction in which the stopper plate is separated from the road surface against the biasing force of the spring when the driving motor is rotated for advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: CCP Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Isogai
  • Patent number: 6565412
    Abstract: A model car having a mechanism driven by an electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front of the car in synchronization with actuation of the hood, and raising and lowering the rear of the car in synchronization with actuation of the trunk lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Craft House Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thrasher
  • Publication number: 20030082990
    Abstract: A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle capable of both highly elastic impact and less elastic impact with obstacles struck while the vehicle is in motion is disclosed. Two wheels are separately driven, and have tires with interiors that are vented to atmosphere. The third wheel has a tire with an interior that is sealed and pressurized. The pressurized tire is capable of highly elastic impact when it strikes obstacles while the toy vehicle is in motion. The non-pressurized tires are characterized by a less elastic impact with obstacles. The third wheel has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the drive wheels. All components of the vehicle are contained within the two planes tangent to the three wheels, such that the toy vehicle may be operated on either of its two major sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: The Obb, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Lynders, James Michael Ferro, Androc Luther Kislevitz, Adam Luther Kislevitz, Noah Luther Kislevitz
  • Patent number: 6540583
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with a wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis. The toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis. Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms. The swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to respective rear wheels. Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive the respective rear wheels in either a first direction or a second opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, Sean T. Mullaney
  • Patent number: 6537125
    Abstract: An inflatable or inflated ball comprising an outer chamber formed of an airtight flexible outer skin which, when properly inflated and fully expanded, defines an interior volume. A sealed inner chamber filled or fillable with a substance substantially heavier than air is positioned within and occupies a relatively small amount of the interior volume. A plurality of elongated radially extending and three-dimensionally spaced elastic members are each connected and radially extend between, the inner chamber and the inner surface of the outer chamber. The elastic members are cooperatively sized in length and suitably tensioned to support and hold the inner chamber centrally in an at-rest position within the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen J. Motosko, III
  • Patent number: 6506096
    Abstract: A running toy, wherein four running wheels (14) mounted detachably on the axles of a running toy main body (10) are provided with two axle inserting holes having those profiles formed so that they match the cross-sections of angular shaft of these axles, respectively, one of these axle inserting holes is formed at the center of running wheel (14), and the other axle inserting hole is formed at a position eccentric from the center of the running wheel (14) so as to obtain an irregular running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nikko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zenichi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 6503120
    Abstract: A basketball retrieval device for allowing the user to retrieve the basketball without the using having to run after the ball. The basketball retrieval device includes an attractor unit being adapted to be worn about a user's wrist; and also includes a retrievable system being adapted to be disposed in the basketball and being attractable to the retriever unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Keith Lumpkins
  • Patent number: 6435929
    Abstract: A generally rectangular base supports a pair of gateways at two corners thereof and a pair of resiliently powered impact-responsive rebounders at the remaining two corners thereof. A flat surface extends between the rebounders and the gateways. A pair of toy vehicle launchers and track segments are operatively coupled to each of the gateways to launch toy vehicles therethrough. A plurality of elastic bands extend between the gateways to provide resilient boundaries for the rectangular base. The rebounders and the gateways include pivotal supports allowing the track segments and launchers as well as the rebounders to be pivoted for aiming purposes. A toy vehicle launched by a launcher traverses its track segment and enters its gateway. Thereafter, it strikes either a resilient boundary or a rebounder and is deflected accordingly. An additional toy vehicle launched from the second launcher may collide with or otherwise interact with the first launched toy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Halford
  • Patent number: 6398616
    Abstract: An inflatable or inflated ball comprising an outer chamber formed of an airtight flexible outer skin which, when properly inflated and fully expanded, defines an interior volume. A sealed inner chamber filled or fillable with a substance substantially heavier than air is positioned within and occupies a relatively small amount of the interior volume. A plurality of elongated radially extending and three-dimensionally spaced elastic members are each connected and radially extend between, the inner chamber and the inner surface of the outer chamber. The elastic members are cooperatively sized in length and suitably tensioned to support and hold the inner chamber centrally in an at-rest position within the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen J. Motosko, III
  • Patent number: 6394877
    Abstract: A model truck having a mechanism driven by a reversible electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front of the truck and the bed of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Craft House Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur Venditti
  • Patent number: 6378634
    Abstract: A tracking device includes an external member and an internal member rotatable relative to the external member. A motor is attached to the internal member and includes a rotor shaft attached to the external member. A pair of target sensors that sense a phenomenon such as a magnetic field, sound, light or RF radiation, provide input to a controller that controls rotation of the motor. Angular acceleration of the internal member will cause an equal and opposite angular acceleration of the external member and the tracking device will roll toward the target. The tracking device may hop by suddenly stopping the rotation of the internal member or by suddenly decreasing or increasing the acceleration of the motor or by inserting a linkage fixed to the external member into the rotation path of the internal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Mark H. Yim
  • Patent number: 6250987
    Abstract: A programmable device such as a toy or novelty item has a keyboard which can be activated by a user to set up any one of multiple different motions of the toy. Sounds and lights can be activated to coordinate with the movement. The toy can be a car or other device capable of moving in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Ltd.
    Inventor: Kei Fung Choi
  • Patent number: 6227934
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has a curved cam surface on the upper surface of its chassis, with a forward point on a tangent that is relatively close to the center of mass of the vehicle, and a rearward point on a tangent that is relatively far from the center of mass. The vehicle includes a breaking mechanism that can be used to start the vehicle rotating forwardly. As the vehicle rotates, the point of contact between the vehicle and the supporting surface moves from the front wheels to a leading edge and subsequently to the cam surface. As the vehicle rotates with the cam surface in contact with the supporting surface, the center of mass of the vehicle is forced upwardly, providing sufficient momentum to propel the vehicle into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The Simplest Solution
    Inventors: William Isaksson, Paul Dowd
  • Patent number: 6155833
    Abstract: A ride simulator for use with a children's ride-on vehicle. The simulator includes a base, and a mechanism for removably securing to at least one of the wheels of an independently operable children's ride-on vehicle. The mechanism includes a fastener that selectively engages a mount on the wheel to support the wheel and at least a portion of the vehicle above the base. Driven rotation of the wheel to which the fastener is engaged causes reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle with respect to the base, thereby simulating ground-traveling movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary G. Lenihan
  • Patent number: 6152801
    Abstract: A toy car structure in which a power source such as a motor is activated to drive a gear set for driving decorative car doors, engine hood and car light cover bodies of a car body to open or close so as to create versatile operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Wen-Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 6126510
    Abstract: A shaped toy includes a kinetically resilient central core and an outer layer of varying thickness covering the central core. The outer layer may be a material which also exhibits kinetic resiliency, to a degree more or less than that of the core, or, alternatively, be substantially non-resilient, such as fabric or pile. In a preferred embodiment, the toy includes a substantially spherically shaped core, covered by an outer layer of fabric, the type used for fabrication of conventional plush stuffed toys, increasing its appeal, by virtue of appearance and feel, to user and animal alike. The fabric, when stitched together using conventional stuffed animal sewing techniques, encloses the resilient central core, and presents regions of varying thickness over an expanse thereof, such that when thrown against a surface, unpredictable direction and bounce response will result by virtue irregular surface curvature and damping due to increasing and decreasing fabric thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventor: Andrew M. Weiss, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6123600
    Abstract: A motor driven surface engaging multi directional and surface translating amusement device which simulates a creature of the sea or land, or a robot which has forward, reverse or rotational movement across a surface and which forward and reverse movement may be interval-cycling timed including forward-reverse speed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventor: Po Man Yuen
  • Patent number: 6095890
    Abstract: A remote control toy vehicle includes an invertible chassis having vehicle body portions on opposite sides thereof, a plurality of highly resilient balloon tire support wheels, a high torque drive motor assembly for driving at least one of the support wheels and a remote control receiver circuit. The chassis and the support wheels are constructed and positioned so that the support wheels define a three dimensional maximum outer perimeter of the vehicle from which the chassis and the other components of the vehicle are spaced inwardly, and the remote control receiver circuit includes an antenna which is contained within the body of the vehicle. The high torque drive motor assembly, the position of the antenna, and the positions and configurations of the support wheels enable the vehicle to perform a variety of self-inverting, tumbling and deflecting maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. George, Michele P. Trammell
  • Patent number: 6071167
    Abstract: A toy includes a spherical outer casing, a circular coupling ring, a support member, a base and an inner toy body. The coupling ring is disposed around the outer casing, and is mounted pivotally on the outer casing about a first pivot axis that extends along a diameter of the outer casing. The support member has a plate portion with first and second end portions, and a pair of spaced-apart arm portions extending from the first end portion of the plate portion. The arm portions flank the coupling ring, and are mounted pivotally on the coupling ring about a second pivot axis that extends along a diameter of the coupling ring and that is perpendicular to the first pivot axis. The base engages releasably the support member, and is adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface for disposing the outer casing above the horizontal surface. The inner toy body is disposed in the outer casing, and is in frictional contact with an inner surface of the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Dah Yang Toy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieh-Te Yang
  • Patent number: 6036575
    Abstract: A model car having a mechanism driven by a reversible electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front or rear of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Craft House Corporation
    Inventors: Steven F. Rehkemper, Jeffrey G. Rehkemper
  • Patent number: 6015330
    Abstract: A hopping model car includes a body, a pair of vertically adjustable rear wheels mounted near the rear of the body, a pair of vertically movable front wheels mounted near the front of the body, and an actuator connected to the front wheels. The car is balanced to have a center of gravity slightly in front of a rear axle. To use, the rear wheels are adjusted downwardly to raise the rear end of the car. The front wheels are quickly extended downwardly to propel the front end of the car into the air. The car is balanced for hopping with less power consumption and a less powerful actuator, and for causing the front end to fall realistically slowly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventors: Donald Simmons, Larnell Simmons
  • Patent number: 5964639
    Abstract: A toy is for entertaining a user includes a shell portion configured to execute a play function, and at least one propulsion mechanism including a spring-loaded, directionally selectable propulsion member connected to the shell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: John G. Maxim
  • Patent number: 5947739
    Abstract: A ride simulator for use with a children's ride-on vehicle. The simulator includes a stationary base, a first support structure extending upwardly from the base for supporting at least a portion of the vehicle above the base, and an actuator for coupling to the vehicle to effect reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle about a defined location on the simulator, thereby simulating ground-traveling movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary G. Lenihan
  • Patent number: 5934968
    Abstract: A toy having a motorized portion in the form of an inanimate object and a non-motorized portion in the form of an animate object. The two portions are tethered together, and the motorized portion is driven such that the non-motorized portion in the form of an animate object appears to be alive and in pursuit of the inanimate motorized portion. The motorized portion preferably is in the form of a substantially spherical hollow ball within which an eccentric driving mechanism is placed. The non-motorized portion is an animal with a furry body or bushy tail and is preferably a weasel, embodies by a furry tail having a face invisibly connected to the ball. The non-motorized portion is preferably tethered to the motorized portion with a substantially invisible attachment so that from a distance the two portions of the toy do not appear to be connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Dah Yang Toy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Li-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 5919075
    Abstract: A remote control toy vehicle includes an invertible chassis having vehicle body portions on opposite sides thereof, a plurality of highly resilient balloon tire support wheels, a high-torque drive motor assembly for driving at least one of the support wheels and a remote control receiver circuit. The chassis and the support wheels are constructed and positioned so that the support wheels define a three dimensional maximum outer perimeter of the vehicle from which the chassis and the other components of the vehicle are spaced inwardly, and the remote control receiver circuit includes an antenna which is contained within the body of the vehicle. The high torque drive motor assembly, the position of the antenna, and the positions and configurations of the support wheels enable the vehicle to perform a variety of self-inverting, tumbling and deflecting maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. George, Michele P. Trammell
  • Patent number: 5857892
    Abstract: A toy element composed of a rolling body having a body surface, with at least four apertures provided in the body surface, and at least two movable members. Each of the members consists of a first and a second oppositely arranged element interconnected by a rigid rod. The first and second elements are aligned with the apertures of the body surface. Each of the members is movable within the rolling body between a first position where the first element is significantly protruding from the rolling body surface while the second element is less protruding from the rolling body surface, and a second position where the second element is substantially protruding from the rolling body surface while the first element is less protruding from the rolling body surface. Each member has a center line, and the center lines of all of the members intersect at a common intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: INTERLEGO AG
    Inventor: Paul Leadbetter
  • Patent number: 5823844
    Abstract: A vibrating toy is provided and includes a housing, a battery mounted within the housing, a motor mounted within the housing activated by the battery, a shaft driven by the motor, a mechanism on the shaft for imparting an eccentric vibration from the housing, a play element outside of the housing, and a mechanism for connecting the play element to the housing and through which the play element can receive vibrations generated from the mechanism that imparts the eccentric vibration. A weighted element attached to the shaft in a manner to unsymmetrically distribute weight imparts the eccentric vibration. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a vibration is transferred to the housing which in turn through contact vibrates a wire serving as the mechanism that connects to the play element. The invention further concerns a method whereby a live pet animal can be entertained by interaction with the aforementioned vibrating toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Eli Markowitz
  • Patent number: 5785576
    Abstract: A toy wheeled vehicle having a chassis and a selectable vehicle suspension system, with the vehicle having a frame and a chassis attached to the frame. The vehicle has at least one opening through the chassis, longitudinally spaced rotatable front and rear axles supported on the frame, and a first and second set of wheels attached to the front and rear axles, respectively. The vehicle also has at least one lifting motor mounted on the frame and has a first rotatable arm connected to a vertically extending guide post, with the guide post being vertically extendable through the chassis opening and being connected to the chassis. At least one driving motor is mounted on the frame and has a rotatable shaft connected to the rear axle. Further, at least one hopping actuating motor is mounted on the frame and has a second rotatable arm connected to the front axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Sports Wheels, Inc.
    Inventor: Wyatt H. Belton
  • Patent number: 5766056
    Abstract: A transmission structure of toy fire engine including a casing in which a power source is disposed and connected to a driving shaft for rotating two cams disposed in the casing and two cams disposed outside the casing. The outer cams serve to drive two lateral slide members to slide and push two decorative members pivotally disposed on two sides of the casing to pivot outward. One of the inner cams via a support rod abuts against a linkage set to drive a scaling ladder to pivot upward from the casing or downward to the casing. When the scaling ladder is pivoted to an upright position, a movable doll is driven to climb up along the scaling ladder. The other of the inner cams pushes a pushing slide member to depress a pushing shaft of a rotary power wheel set, making the rotary power wheel set descend and touch the ground for driving the toy fire engine to running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Wen Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 5741185
    Abstract: The invention provides a toy light projector or light gun and player-worn and self-propelled toy targets which detect light emitted by a toy light gun, and a toy shooting game which includes at least one toy light gun, and at least one toy target. The game is played by a player attempting to "hit" a target which provides audio/visual effects upon detecting light projected by the gun. A main target contains a light detector and all of the circuitry and audio/visual components needed to play a game, and an auxiliary target may contain a light detector and only some of the components needed to play a game and be coupled to a main target to share components therein. A self-propelled target includes circuitry which provides pseudorandom (or other pre-programmed or random) motion to the target. The light gun emits a sound while it is on and ready to be fired, which can serve as a warning to an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Toymax Inc.
    Inventors: David Chu Ki Kwan, Steven Lebensfeld, Carmine Russo, Frank Landi, Ng Wing Kwong
  • Patent number: 5735727
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism of a toy car, including a housing in which a power source is disposed. The power source is drivingly connected to a first and a second cams via a gear set. A slidable pressing/pushing slide board and a driving slide board are respectively pushed by the first and second cams to slide. The driving slide board further drives a linkage set to upward pivot a movable casing cover open or close the movable casing cover. A decorative body is disposed on inner side of the movable casing cover, whereby when the movable casing cover is upward opened, the decorative body is exhibited to create a visual entertaining effect. The pressing/pushing slide board can depress a rotary power wheel set and make the same descend and contact with the ground, enabling the toy car to run over the ground and create a live versatile entertaining effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Wen Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 5733169
    Abstract: A toy airplane with rotary decorative bodies, which includes a motor for driving a gear set. The gear set in turn drives a rotary power wheel set and two opposite cams to rotate. Each cam is formed with a guiding groove along its periphery for guiding a rocking arm to regularly swing therewithin. The rocking arm further drives a resilient linking member which drives an ascending/descending support shaft to move up and down for pushing a rotary shaft and changing the engagement state between a gear disposed at middle section thereof and the gear set, whereby the rotary shaft is rotated in cooperation with the ascending/descending of the ascending/descending support shaft so as to drive the decorative body disposed at the end portion of the rotary shaft to rotate and create an entertaining effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Wen Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 5727986
    Abstract: A rolling mechanism for a radio-controlled toy car causes a rolling motion of the radio-controlled toy car around a longitudinal direction along which the radio-controlled toy car travels. The rolling mechanism includes a rotation arm, which extends to have a component orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The rotation arm has a free end and a pivotally fixed end, around which the rotation arm rotates, so that the free end defines a circle in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, where the circle completely encompasses the radio-controlled toy car in view of the perpendicular plane. A rotation mechanism is provided to be mechanically connected to the pivotally fixed end for forcibly rotating the rotation arm around the pivotally fixed end so as to roll the radio-controlled toy car around the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Fertig Stubenfoll Design Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Stubenfoll, Zenichi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 5727985
    Abstract: A remote control toy vehicle includes an invertible chassis having vehicle body portions on opposite sides thereof, a plurality of highly resilient balloon tire support wheels, a high torque drive motor assembly for driving at least one of the support wheels and a remote control receiver circuit. The chassis and the support wheels are constructed and positioned so that the support wheels define a three dimensional maximum outer perimeter of the vehicle from which the chassis and the other components of the vehicle are spaced inwardly, and the remote control receiver circuit includes an antenna which is contained within the body of the vehicle. The high torque drive motor assembly, the position of the antenna, and the positions and configurations of the support wheels enable the vehicle to perform a variety of self-inverting, tumbling and deflecting maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tonka Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. George, Michele P. Trammell
  • Patent number: 5725412
    Abstract: A jumping mechanism for a radio-controlled toy vehicle with a slender opening provided in a chassis of a toy vehicle; a rotary shaft provided on the chassis in a lateral direction, vertical to a longitudinal direction of the opening; a rotation mechanism mechanically connected to a first portion of the rotary shaft for rotating the rotary shaft; and at least a rotation arm being mechanically connected to a second portion of the rotary shaft and extending in a vertical direction in relation to the axis of the rotary shaft and having a rotation center positioned over the opening so that the rotation arm rotates in a plane vertical to the axis of the rotary shaft and so that, when the rotation arm is directed downward it passes through the opening of the chassis wherein a top portion of the rotation arm is positioned below the bottom level of the toy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nikko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zenichi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 5707271
    Abstract: A toy car (1) is provided which has a car box (10) on which two wheels (20) are rotatably mounted. Each wheel (20) has an eccentric disc (21) at the side facing the car box (10). The sidewalls (16) of the car box (10) have longitudinal grooves (27). These are engaged by guide cams of skid places over the corresponding wheel (20). When the car is pulled, the wheels rotate, the eccentric disc (21) moves which causes the skid to reciprocally move. The car thus simulates foot movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: INTERLEGO AG
    Inventors: Philippe Kunz, Heinz Looser, Werner Tanner
  • Patent number: 5683284
    Abstract: A self contained battery operated electric toy spinning top contains a DC electric motor, flywheel, batteries and electric switch in stacked relationship that allows for efficient assembly of a gyroscopic toy. A spinning cardboard carton is produced by installing the energized top within the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Hart Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Paul Christen
  • Patent number: 5683285
    Abstract: A toy beetle which travels down a vertical surface under the influence of gravity has four movable limbs which are arranged in pairs at opposite ends of an axle that is rotatable about a transverse axis of the beetle. Sticky materials at the ends of the limb adhere temporarily to the vertical surface in use. According to the orientation of the beetle with respect to the vertical the beetle will either, in somewhat random fashion, walk or tumble down the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: T. K. Wong & Associates, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tak-Ko Wong
  • Patent number: 5618219
    Abstract: A vehicle includes cam structure mounted on the vehicle constructed and arranged to have a first at-rest position and a second lift-initiating position that causes the vehicle when moving to jump, and at least one motor mounted on the vehicle for driving the vehicle and actuating the cam structure from the first at-rest position to the second lift-initiating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Simone, Rand W. Siegfried, Gerald M. Rodmaker
  • Patent number: 5609510
    Abstract: The invention provides A toy vehicle comprising a body being divided into two parts on front and rear sides, a chassis being divided into two parts on front and rear sides on which the front and rear side body parts are mounted respectively, the front and rear side chassis parts being so coupled with each other as to bend those at its coupling portion in upward and downward directions, driving mechanisms for coupling front and rear tires on left side with front and rear tires on right side respectively which are provided to the chassis, driving motors being engaged with the left and right side driving mechanisms respectively and a controller for controlling the driving motors to allow the left side front and rear tires and the right side front and rear tires to rotate mutually in the same direction or in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Fertig Stubenfoll Design Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Stubenfoll, Zenichi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 5542872
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism of a toy motorcycle, having a transmission case, a transmission mechanism, a forward pushing unit, a laterally pushing unit, a lifting unit, a front hood pivotally disposed on a front side of a main body, and two lateral hoods pivotally disposed on two lateral sides of the main body. The transmission case is disposed on a chassis of the main body and the transmission mechanism is disposed in the transmission case. The transmission mechanism includes a power unit, a transmission gear set, a driving wheel and a coaxial cam set. The driving wheel enables the motorcycle to run on the ground. By means of the coaxial cam set, the forward pushing unit, laterally pushing unit and lifting unit in sequence respectively push and pivot the front hood and the lateral hoods forward and laterally to display decorative missiles and lift and rotate the main body of the toy motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Tsai W. Ho
  • Patent number: 5364300
    Abstract: A toy train is disclosed including a driving mechanism in a gear box, two driving wheels coupled to the driving mechanism, two driven mechanism coupled to the driving wheels through two transmission mechanisms and moved to turn linked wheel sets and driving gears, and two guide wheels driven by the driving mechanism, wherein turning on the gear box causes the driven mechanism to be swung outwards and inwards alternatively in moving the toy train or causing it to simulate the flying of a flying object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Jin-Long Jow