Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 9289044
    Abstract: A tablet bumper assembly is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a bumper assembly having a first opening, a second opening, and a first protruding region at a first corner, where the first opening is configured to position the bumper assembly around a peripheral edge of a tablet computer, the second opening is configured to expose a display screen of the tablet computer, and the first protruding region prevents the tablet computer from lying flat on a support surface to allow air-cooling of the tablet computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robb Fujioka
  • Patent number: 9294751
    Abstract: A method for zooming a stereoscopic image appearing on an electronic display of a stereoscopic image displaying device. The stereoscopic image has horizontal disparity and is generated by an electronic processor from stereoscopic image data stored in a memory as a left-eye image pixel map and a right-eye image pixel map. The horizontal disparity of the stereoscopic image data is adjusted to produce disparity-adjusted, scaled stereoscopic image data based on a heuristic defining a relationship between a user zoom request, a predetermined stereoscopic factor and a relative horizontal shift between the left-eye image pixel map and the right-eye image pixel map. A zoomed stereoscopic image corresponding to the disparity-adjusted, scaled stereoscopic image data is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: John Alan Krisman
  • Patent number: 9261336
    Abstract: A toy projectile and method of making the toy projectile is provided herein. The toy projectile having: an elongated dart body secured to a tip assembly, the tip assembly comprising: a tip insert secured to a forward end of the elongated dart body and a tip secured to the tip insert, wherein the tip comprises a styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer (SEBS rubber) tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kin Fai Chang, Chun Wing Wong, Peter Kit Fan, Him Fung Hau
  • Patent number: 9259659
    Abstract: A toy figure, with an upper torso; a shoulder flange rotatably mounted on the upper torso; and an extendable arm pivotally mounted to the shoulder flange. The extendable arm may pivot with respect to both the shoulder flange and the upper torso to extend away from the upper torso, and includes an elbow that allows the extendable arm to straighten and bend. The toy figure includes an actuating mechanism disposed within the upper torso that forces the extendable arm to pivot and extend away from the upper torso. A tie rod may interconnect the shoulder flange to a portion of the extendable arm through the elbow so that so that pivotal movement of the arm around the shoulder flange causes the extendable arm to straighten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Sopinsky, Zeng Wu, Alan Fang, Mario E Aguirre, Ruben L Martinez
  • Patent number: 9239206
    Abstract: A toy projectile launcher includes a plunger in an air chamber. The plunger is engaged with a spring and is able to be coupled to a non-locking handle. The plunger is movable between an inactive position and a firing position. The non-locking handle moves the plunger from the inactive position to the firing position to compress the spring, and is unable to lock the spring at the firing position. A plunger release mechanism couples and releases the handle from the plunger. In the firing position a trigger is capable of engaging the plunger release mechanism, and the trigger is located at a distance from the non-locking handle such that both the non-locking handle and the trigger cannot be engaged simultaneously by a single hand of a user. Both the non-locking handle and the trigger must be engaged simultaneously to launch the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9227148
    Abstract: A toy apparatus includes a base piece and a plurality of elongated members. The base piece is configured to slide on a surface. Each elongated member has a first end and a second end, with the elongated members being movably coupled to the base piece near the first ends. A tether is coupled to the first ends of the elongated members, and tension applied to the tether moves the elongated members from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the second ends of the elongated members are expanded apart from each other. In the second position, the second ends of the elongated members are contracted toward each other and are capable of surrounding a target piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: James Austin Rucker, Derek S. Handy
  • Patent number: 9220991
    Abstract: Play systems of the present disclosure comprise a children's ride-on vehicle and a companion track. The companion vehicle and track each include a guide surface that is complementary to the companion apparatus and configured to guide the vehicle along a path of travel defined by the track. The children's ride-on vehicle may be powered, steerable, and configured to operate on and off the track. When the children's ride-on vehicle is guided and/or steered along the path of travel, the complementary guide surfaces do not substantially impede progress of the vehicle. When the children's ride-on vehicle is guided and/or steered away from the path of travel, the complementary guide surfaces contact and/or frictionally engage to direct the vehicle along the path of travel and/or to slow progress of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Gastle, David E. Grober, Kurt J. Huntsberger
  • Patent number: 9221470
    Abstract: Play systems of the present disclosure comprise a children's ride-on vehicle and a companion track. The companion vehicle and track each include a guide surface that is complementary to the companion apparatus and configured to guide the vehicle along a path of travel defined by the track. The children's ride-on vehicle may be powered, steerable, and configured to operate on and off the track. When the children's ride-on vehicle is guided and/or steered along the path of travel, the complementary guide surfaces do not substantially impede progress of the vehicle. When the children's ride-on vehicle is guided and/or steered away from the path of travel, the complementary guide surfaces contact and/or frictionally engage to direct the vehicle along the path of travel and/or to slow progress of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Gastle, David E. Grober
  • Patent number: 9205342
    Abstract: A stand includes a supporting structure for supporting a doll and an electrostatic charge generating device supported by the supporting structure for causing hair of the doll to move when the doll is supported by the supporting structure and the electrostatic charge generating device is activated. A method of using a stand for a doll includes supporting the doll with a supporting structure of the stand and activating an electrostatic charge generating device that is supported by the supporting structure to cause hair of the doll to move. The supporting structure may include a conductive member made of carbon-impregnated plastic for contacting the doll and for transferring charge generated by the electrostatic charge generating device to the doll. The conductive member may be moveable in response to a positioning of the doll to provide for user safety. The stand may also include an electrical disconnect mechanism for user safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter E. Teel, Scott E. Wilger, James A. Molina, James P. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 9205341
    Abstract: A toy is provided, the toy having: an action figure with a pair of appendages movably secured thereto for movement between a first separated position and a second un-separated position; a pair of accessories removably secured to the pair of appendages; and wherein the pair of accessories are configured to be secured to each other and form an item when the pair of appendages are in the second un-separated position and the pair of accessories are secured to the pair of appendages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Terence J Y. Higuchi, Kit Hong Lau, J. Austin Rucker
  • Patent number: 9204733
    Abstract: An infant support structure includes a frame, at least one sliding or translating member movably coupled to the frame, a seat support, and at least one resilient member coupling the seat support and at least one translating member together. The frame contains at least two substantially parallel members that are reconfigurable in a compact configuration and an extended configuration. When the frame is configured in the extended configuration, the translating members are able to move from one end of the frame to the other, simulating an infant walker. The resilient members coupling the sliding members and seat support together enable the infant support structure to serve as an infant jumper/bouncer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Juliette Marlene Welch, Robert M. Goszewski, Chalin Yu
  • Patent number: 9199179
    Abstract: A play set having a device for holding and storing track members is provided. The device includes a body and a hanger portion coupled to a first end of the body. A first arm is rotationally coupled to the body opposite the hanger portion, the first arm having a first fastener. A second arm is rotationally coupled to the body opposite the hanger portion, the second arm having a second fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventor: Stacy Lynn O'Connor
  • Patent number: 9199160
    Abstract: A toy is provided, the toy having: a plurality of playing pieces; an object configured to be slid along a surface; and a structure having a first end and a second end, the structure further comprises: a bridge that defines a path from the first end of the structure to the second end of the structure, wherein the path is elevated from the surface and is defined by an upper surface of a plurality of members, wherein each of the plurality of members are pivotally mounted to the structure for movement between a first position and a second position, a portion of the plurality of members having a lower portion extending from the upper surface, the lower portion terminating at a distal end that is supported above the surface, wherein the upper surface of each of the plurality of members is configured to support at least one of the plurality of playing pieces thereon without contacting an adjacent one of the plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Bazarko
  • Patent number: 9193859
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a play composition including a polymeric binder and oil. In an embodiment, the binder is a hydrogenated triblock copolymer including styrene. The oil is a mineral oil. The composition may further include a plasticizer, a release agent, and one or more fillers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Abimael Cordova
  • Patent number: 9192838
    Abstract: A ramp for launching an object at a target is provided, the ramp having: a release mechanism mounted to the ramp for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism is configured to retain the object with respect to the ramp when it is in the first position and wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the object when the release mechanism is in the second position; and wherein the release mechanism further comprises an arm member pivotally mounted to the ramp and the arm member has a plurality of features each spaced from each other and extending from the arm member above a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Bazarko
  • Patent number: 9186595
    Abstract: An amusement device includes a rotating assembly display rotatably mounted about a center point configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect. The rotating assembly includes a sensor disposed on the rotating assembly at a location closer to an end of the rotating assembly than to the center point. The amusement device also includes a device for rotating the rotating assembly and a control circuit including a first microcontroller in operable communication with the sensor. The microcontroller controls a speed at which the device for rotating the rotating assembly rotates the rotating assembly based on communications with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce James Cannon
  • Patent number: 9180380
    Abstract: A toy figurine includes an internal lighting effect. The internal lighting is visible through the outer surface of the figurine and may be manipulated to produce various lighting effects. The internal lighting includes a lighting layer, a visual effects display layer and a diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer may include an external surface of the toy figurine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Cannon
  • Patent number: 9180381
    Abstract: A toy apparatus has a primary structure with components movably coupled together, and a target movably coupled to the primary structure. Repeated impacts on the target move the target from an initial position to a critical position. When the target reaches the critical position, the primary structure is released from a first state to a second state in which the components of the primary structure are at least partially displaced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael O'Hare, Michael Strauss
  • Patent number: D750924
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Maarten Van Huystee, Kevin Crane, Kurt J. Huntsberger
  • Patent number: D750925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Maarten Van Huystee, Kevin Crane