Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Travel game
    Patent number: 8353516
    Abstract: A toy play set for containing at least one predetermined board game includes a generally elongated body having a hollow interior, first and second opposing longitudinal ends, and a generally curved side wall extending around the hollow interior between the first and second ends. The first and second ends and side wall generally surround the hollow interior in a closed configuration of the body. The body has an open configuration in which the hollow interior is at least partially accessible. A playing surface is operably engaged with the body and is configured to play the predetermined board game. The playing surface is shaped and sized to enable the playing surface to be completely stored within the hollow interior of the body with the body in the closed configuration. The playing surface is accessible at least with the body in the open configuration for playing of the predetermined board game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Collins, Stephen Lau
  • Product packaging with releasable fastener
    Patent number: 8353397
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a toy product, a support platform, and a plug that engages a keyhole formed into the product. The plug includes a base and a pronged key extending from the base. The support platform includes a through-hole that permits the passage of the key into the packaging. One or more integrally-formed biasing members are located on the base of the plug to draw the key toward the product and create a secure connection. The pronged key may be formed from a plastic material and configured such that it plastically deforms but remains attached to the key when and predetermined force is applied to the key to pull the key from a misaligned position with respect to the key hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J Trapp, Robert Michael Buresch, Donald George Scheffold
  • Display packaging for reconfigurable product
    Patent number: 8348059
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to container for reconfigurable products and, in particular, to a display package operable to display a product in multiple configurations. The display package may include product housing portions adapted to slide from a first, adjacent position, where one product portion is positioned adjacent to another product portion, to a second, separated position, where one product portion is spaced from the other product portion. The display package may include a plurality of product housings adapted to rotate with respect to each other along a common axis such that product portions within the product housings may be selectively aligned to form desired configurations of a completed, displayed product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Rice
  • Blow-molded wheels having undercut treads, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same
    Patent number: 8348285
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Toy with audio and visual feedback
    Patent number: 8348712
    Abstract: A toy vehicle is disclosed. It has a main vehicle body portion and a display device rotatably mounted to the main body portion, the display device being configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect. A mechanism is also present for rotating said display device. An actuator is included and is attached to a sensor for determining when the actuator is depressed. A microcontroller is in operable communication with the sensor and the display device; the microcontroller changing the appearance of at least one of the plurality of images when the sensor determines the actuator has been depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel De La Torre
  • Toy flying aircraft
    Patent number: 8348714
    Abstract: A toy flying aircraft has a fuselage defining a central vertical longitudinal plane, with an upper front portion and a lower rear portion. The upper front and lower rear portions are coupled by a vertical support angling forward and upward from a front upper side of the rear portion to a lower rear side of the front portion. The aircraft has an at least generally circular and horizontally planar wing intersecting the front portion of the fuselage. A forward half of the wing defines an upper horizontal plane generally perpendicular to the central vertical longitudinal plane, and a rear half of the wing is downwardly offset from the upper horizontal plane to define a lift surface. A generally V-shaped planar rear stabilizer is bisected and supported by the rear portion of the fuselage so as to be located vertically entirely below the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Marie Newton, Nicholas Amireh
  • Toy vehicles
    Patent number: 8342904
    Abstract: A toy vehicle configured to move across a support surface is disclosed. In some embodiments, the toy vehicle may include a body having a top portion and a bottom portion; a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the body and configured to rotatably support the body on the support surface in a plurality of positions including an upright position, and an inverted position, wherein less than all of the plurality of wheels rotatably support the body on the support surface when the body is in the inverted position; and a stabilizing mechanism mounted to the body, the stabilizing mechanism being configured, when the body is in the inverted position, to move a portion of the body away from the support surface such that one or more of the plurality of wheels may be driven to return the body in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Torres
  • Adjustable toy vehicle track intersection assemblies
    Patent number: 8342903
    Abstract: Intersection apparatus for use with tracks for toy vehicles define a first toy vehicle pathway from a ramp portion and across the gap to a corresponding receiving portion, and a second toy vehicle pathway that crosses the first. The ramp portion is translatable in a direction transverse to the pathways between a bypass position in which the trajectory of a toy vehicle traversing the first pathway passes and does not intersect that of a toy vehicle traversing the second, and an intersect position in which the trajectories intersect. The ramp portion may further be translatable to a second bypass position defining a trajectory passing on the opposite side of the second vehicle's trajectory relative to the trajectory defined when the ramp portion is in the first bypass position. When the ramp is in the intersect position, toy vehicles traversing the pathways at substantially the same time will collide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy O'Connor, Michael Nuttall, Paul W. Schmid
  • Product packaging with releasable fastener
    Patent number: 8342328
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a toy product, a support platform, and a plug that engages a keyhole formed into the product. The plug includes a base and a pronged key extending from the base. The support platform includes a through-hole that permits the passage of the key into the packaging. One or more integrally-formed biasing members are located on the base of the plug to draw the key toward the product and create a secure connection. The pronged key may be formed from a plastic material and configured such that it plastically deforms but remains attached to the key when and predetermined force is applied to the key to pull the key from a misaligned position with respect to the key hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Trapp, Robert Michael Buresch, Donald George Scheffold
  • Apparatus for circulating glitter particles
    Patent number: 8342900
    Abstract: A glitter circulation device includes a housing defining a chamber configured to receive a doll. A tray is coupled to the housing and configured to hold a plurality of glitter particles. A fan is coupled to housing and in communication with the tray and the chamber. The fan is configured to draw the glitter particles from the tray and expel the glitter particles into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Erika Kane, Andrew Lourits, James A. Molina, Ben Yip
  • Light display for a video game device
    Patent number: 8337303
    Abstract: An electronic device and method of illuminating a display are provided. The electronic device includes a display device, an illumination device, a light sensor and a processor coupled to the illumination device and the light sensor. The processor receives a light value from the light sensor, determines a target illumination value based at least partly on the light value, and causes the illumination device to illuminate the display device at substantially the target illumination value. In one embodiment, the processor causes the illumination device to illuminate the display device at substantially the target illumination value by gradually increasing a current illumination value. In another embodiment, the processor causes the illumination device to illuminate the display device at substantially the target illumination value by gradually decreasing a current illumination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Brase, Chris Park, Feynman Ko, Stephen Luk, Vincent Chiu, Lewis Tong
  • Reconfigurable toy
    Patent number: 8337271
    Abstract: A reconfigurable toy including a body, a first leg coupled to the body, and a second leg coupled to the body is disclosed. The reconfigurable toy can be disposed in a first configuration in which the toy resembles a toy vehicle and in a second configuration in which the toy resembles a power-suit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Fraser Campbell, Dwayne Vance
  • Reconfigurable toy gun with a slidable barrel
    Patent number: 8336531
    Abstract: A reconfigurable toy gun includes a handle portion, a guide member coupled to the handle portion, and a barrel portion. The barrel portion is slidably coupled to the guide member and movable along the guide member between a first end portion of the guide member and second end portion of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kit Chuen Fan, Fraser Paterson, Brandon Sopinsky
  • Point of Sale Packaging Assembly
    Publication number: 20120318696
    Abstract: A point of sale packaging assembly includes a support portion for supporting a toy and a fastener device. The support portion has opposing surfaces and a slot extending therethrough and configured for receiving a looped extension member of a toy. The fastener device includes an elongate portion and a base portion pivotally coupled to the elongate portion. The elongate portion includes a distal end portion releasably securable to an engagement surface on the base portion. The elongate portion is configured to be received through the looped extension member of the toy so that the toy is releasably coupleable to the support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Buresch, Justin Petit
  • TOY DOLL FOR IMAGE CAPTURE AND DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20120315820
    Abstract: A toy doll is provided having a torso defined by a front surface and a back surface. The doll may additionally include legs extending from a lower portion of the torso, an image sensor located on the back surface of the torso, and an image display located on the front surface of the torso. The doll may additionally include a control panel integrated into the pelvic region of the torso, operatively interconnected with the image sensor and the image display, so that that the image sensor and the image display are controllable by using the control panel. The doll may further include fabric clothing covering the image display, permitting a user to create the appearance of personalized graphic clothing for the doll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Goff, Tracy L. Curreri, Paul T. King, Wai K. Chan, Chi W. Chan, Eric E. Skifstrom
  • Infant Swaddling Arrangement
    Publication number: 20120311762
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an infant swaddling arrangement including an infant receiving portion and a blanket portion. The infant receiving portion may be a pocket or a bodysuit. The blanket portion is adapted to wrap around the infant, swaddling the infant. The blanket portion includes cinch mechanism that secures the blanket in its wrapped configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Brian L. Aiken, Erica Golub
  • Pop-up play set
    Patent number: 8328596
    Abstract: A play set having a main panel section and a pair of side panel sections, each of which is pivotably connected to tile side lateral edges of the main panel section. When the play set is in a first orientation, the main panel section and the pair of side panel sections are oriented generally co-planar to each other such that the upper main surface and upper side surfaces define a play surface having a perimeter, and when the play set is in a second orientation, the side panel sections are adjacent each other and in a plane parallel to the main panel section to define a play set case. When in the first orientation, one of the panel sections includes an elongated member extendable therefrom in a telescoping manner to define an additional play surface outside the perimeter of the main panel sections and side panel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Julian R. Payne
  • Systems, methods, and devices for assisting play
    Patent number: 8332544
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for assisting play are disclosed. In some examples, the system may include a portable computer including a user interface configured to receive input from a user, and a computer communication mechanism configured to transmit computer data based, at least in part, on the received user input; and a plurality of portable devices each including an enclosure, a device communication mechanism within the enclosure and configured to receive the computer data, a proximity sensor mechanism configured to detect proximity of one or more other portable devices of the plurality of portable devices, and an audiovisual output mechanism configured to generate at least one of an audio output and a visual output based on at least one of (1) the received computer data and (2) the detected proximity of the one or more other portable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Chaun J. Ralls, Andrew Cheeseman, Michael Young, Paul King, Peter Marx
  • Toy vehicle track set with rotatable element
    Patent number: 8323069
    Abstract: An indexing stunt selector for a toy vehicle track set is provided. The indexing stunt selector may be disposed along a toy vehicle track and includes a first stunt element disposed in the vehicle pathway to cause a toy vehicle to perform a first stunt, where performance of a first stunt results in actuation of a first stunt trigger. The indexing stunt selector further includes a second stunt element adapted to be automatically disposed in the vehicle pathway following actuation of the first stunt trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Harold Garner
  • Relay for toy track set
    Patent number: 8322660
    Abstract: A relay for a toy track set, the relay having, a first actuator in a first plane; a second actuator in a second plane vertically elevated from the first plane; a conduit fluidly coupling the first actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism moveably secured to the first actuator for movement between a first position and a second position wherein movement of the release mechanism from the first position towards the second position causes the first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit, wherein the fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator causes the second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism, wherein the first actuator is coupled to a first vehicle track segment and the second actuator is coupled to a second vehicle track segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Stacy Lynn O'Connor