Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Roy A. Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 6540580
    Abstract: A yo yo toy is formed of a pair of substantially disk-shaped body halves joined in a spaced arrangement by a center shaft. A quantity of string is secured to the center shaft and wound within the space. Each body half includes a receptacle and a cover pivotally secured thereto and lachable in a closed position. A plurality of toy items are secured within the receptacle and cover of one body half while the remaining body half defines a play feature background and play surface for the toy figure in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Wolfram
  • Patent number: 6537129
    Abstract: A generally square-shaped doll bed includes a square base supporting a quartet of vertical posts at its corners. The base defines a center recess within which a platform is supported by a pivoting arm. The pivoting arm is secured to a further pivoting arm which extends outward beyond the base and terminates in a depressible pad. A doll is supported above the platform by a pair of resilient bands secured to frame members coupled between the vertical posts. As the user depresses and releases the pad, the platform exerts upward forces against the doll causing it to move in a jumping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Erika Kane
  • Patent number: 6473004
    Abstract: A control unit is supported within a host boat or other vessel and is operatively coupled to a display unit supported within the pilot house of the boat or vessel. The display unit includes a display panel having a plurality of illuminatable membrane switches formed on a membrane switch panel. A plurality of bilge pumps are supported within the bilge compartments of the host boat or vessel and are coupled to the control unit to provide operating signal information. A corresponding plurality of high water level alarm switches are supported within each of the bilge compartments and are also operatively coupled to the control unit. The control unit is operatively coupled to an alarm interface which operates a plurality of alarm devices including one or more audible alarms, a telephone auto dialer and a strobe light unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Lester C. Smull
  • Patent number: 6461217
    Abstract: A toy figure includes a generally spherical torso supporting a pair of outwardly extending sleeves which in turn receive a pair of slidably supported arms. A second pair of sleeves supported on the torso receive a pair of slidably supported legs. An additional sleeve is positioned upon the toy figure head and receives a slidably supported shaft having a ball member at its outer end. A plurality of switches are positioned within the toy figure and are actuated as the arms, legs and head shaft are moved inwardly and outwardly. A sound circuit is supported within the toy figure and is responsive to actuation of the various switches therein to produce audible message or sound effects. The toy figure head further supports a pair of ears slidably movable in a lateral direction within the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Danutcha Pestonji
  • Patent number: 6439948
    Abstract: An elongated substantially hollow body supports a pair of motor drive units, a battery power supply, and a radio frequency receiver and controller module. A pair of axles are rotatably supported near the frontal end of the elongated body and in turn support a pair of large diameter wheels. The motor drive units within the body are operatively coupled to the axles and are able to differentially drive the wheels. The position of the axles and wheels near the frontal portion of the vehicle results in the extension of a substantially greater portion of the body away from and beyond the wheels. Thus the extending portion of the body defines a trailing end. A control transmitter provides independent operational signals to each of the motor drive units to differentially drive the wheels. Each time the direction of travel of the toy vehicle is reversed, the reaction torque applied by the motors to the body causes the body to flip about the axles and invert bringing the trailing end to the opposite side of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Ostendorff, Helena Bartor, Nathan C. Proch
  • 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: 6435875
    Abstract: An electronic game includes a housing supporting a pair of handles and a pivotable turn table. A model bulldozer is supported upon the turntable while each handle supports a moveable squeeze activated control lever. A liquid crystal display is positioned upon the housing and includes a miniature bulldozer image element together with a scrolling background image set. A microprocessor control circuit within the game unit responds to the actuation of the control levers to scroll the image display appropriately. A mechanical linkage mechanism coupled to the turntable is operated by the control levers to appropriately pivot the turntable and model bulldozer thereon to further simulate steering of the bulldozer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt Karussi
  • Patent number: 6425796
    Abstract: A fashion doll includes a doll body wearing a wedding gown together with an overlying removable princess bodice. The doll further includes a pivotable arm which in turn supports a hand mirror. The outer face of the hand mirror supports a dual image lenticular lens display which transforms the presented image in response to pivotal movement of the doll's arm. The doll further supports a tiara worn upon the doll's head together with a wedding veil which is alternately attachable to the doll's waist and to the tiara. A sound circuit within the doll's body responds to the pivotal movement of the doll's arm to produce a musical tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan Gaynor, Tina Ying Yang, Ivy Ross
  • Patent number: 6422911
    Abstract: A wrist unit includes a transmitting circuit capable of producing coded radio frequency signals. The wrist unit when worn by the user applies the encoded radio frequency signals to the users body and causes the encoded signal to propagate through the users body as a transferring medium. A cooperating device includes a receiving contact which the user touches to impart the body signal. A receiver and decoder within the cooperating device identify the user and enable a gate circuit which in turn opens access to the user of the microprocessor and cooperating circuitry within the unit. In the absence of a code match, the access to the cooperating device is refused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Grzesek
  • Patent number: 6412779
    Abstract: A plurality of cards each having one or more primary value icons is utilized in a game similar to the game of “war” in which the relative power or value between cards is established on a preliminary basis by the number of primary value icons thereon. Each card in addition supports a coded image in which a plurality of colored image elements are formed. In at least some of the coded images a latent icon is printed and obscured by the remainder of the coded image. A decoder card sized and shaped to correspond to the remaining cards of the game includes an aperture supporting a tinted filter. When the tinted filter is placed over the coded image the latent icon therein becomes viewable. During game play the appearance of a decoder card allows the player to play the next card in combination with the decoder card to reveal the latent icon. The latent icon operates under the game rules to alter the power or value of the given card such as for example by doubling the card value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Tyler B Kenney
  • Patent number: 6409128
    Abstract: A painting stand for vehicle parts includes a base frame supported by a plurality of casters together with a vertically supported post. A post extension is telescopically supported within the vertical post and is adjustable in its elevation. The upper end of the post extension is coupled to a pivotal support which in turn supports an arm and an elongated handle. The arm is joined to a pair of spaced apart generally parallel cross members. A pair of angularly disposed wings having curved lower ends are joined to the cross members and support respective elongated attachment bars extending between the curved lower ends and the uppermost cross member. Each attachment bar defines a plurality of apertures which facilitate securing various automotive or other vehicle body parts and components to the support rack formed by the cross members and angled wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Donald T. Deshler
  • Patent number: 6402153
    Abstract: A game includes a base and a toy figure holding a basketball-type hoop. The toy figure is resiliently supported upon the base by a spring support. A sensing lever on the figure responds to the passage of a ball through the hoop to provide a first switch condition. A motion sensor within the figure responds to impacts against the figure to provide a second switch condition. A sound and control circuit is operative within the figure and responds to the switch conditions to play appropriate audible messages from a stored memory set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc
    Inventor: Charles Edward Stewart
  • Patent number: 6398514
    Abstract: A pair of end plates are maintained in a spaced apart relationship by a plurality of guide rods secured therebetween. A carriage defines a plurality of apertures which receive the guide rods and which provide slidable support for the carriage between the end plates. An elongated externally threaded pump screw is rotatably supported between the end plates and is coupled to a bi-directional motor. A ball nut is secured to the movable carriage which engages the pump screw such that rotation of the pump screw in either direction produces a corresponding vertical movement of the carriage between the end plates. A first plurality of pump sections having respective fluid cylinders and pump rods operative therein are coupled between the carriage and one of the end plates. A second plurality of pump sections also having respective fluid cylinders and pump rods are operatively coupled between the carriage and the remaining end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Steve C. Smith, Bruce H. Menk
  • Patent number: D458566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Anthony J. Carlini
  • Patent number: D462597
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Donald T. Deshler
  • Patent number: D471600
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ok Soo Choi
  • Patent number: D471601
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ok Soo Choi
  • Patent number: D471602
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ok Soo Choi
  • Patent number: D471937
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ok Soo Choi
  • Patent number: D471938
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ok Soo Choi, Joyce Mesch