Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 7641052
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a display package for an animated doll or similar toy product that facilitates demonstration of the toy's animated features. The display package provides an enclosure that houses the doll. The doll includes an animation mechanism that drives a portion of the toy from a first position to a second position. The display package may include a moveable display panel mounted within the enclosure. The display panel is selectively engaged by the toy when the animation mechanism is engaged. The display package may further include an attachment that stabilizes the display panel. In addition, the display package may include a support member that supports the toy within the package and permits the animation mechanism to move the doll from a first display position to a second display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: John Calendrille, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090321168
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices, and a ground detection system that is adapted to detect when at least one of a plurality of wheels loses contact with the ground surface. The ground detection system may be adapted to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to loss of contact of the at least one of the plurality of wheels with the ground surface, and it may be made regardless, or independent, of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Howell, John Rhein, Gerald P. Sitarski, Richard A. Zirnheld, Jeffrey W. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7637796
    Abstract: A playset for use with a toy vehicle including an elongate track defining at least one travel path. In some examples, the playset includes a switching mechanism for switching a toy vehicle between different travel paths. In some examples, the playset includes an obstacle mechanism for selectively deploying an obstacle in at least one travel path. In some examples, the playset includes indicator mechanisms, including an active indicator mechanism and a passive indicator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Hippely
  • Patent number: 7637172
    Abstract: A speed measuring device with an output generating system is disclosed. The output generating system can generate visual outputs and/or audible outputs in response to a detected flow of air. The device includes a coupling component that allows the device to be wearable by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Yu, Christopher Patrick Purcell, Eric C. Ostendorff, Steven M. Moran
  • Patent number: 7637794
    Abstract: A breath-sensitive toy responding with interesting behavior to human breath such as caused by whispering, speaking, singing, or blowing. A processor monitors sensors for detecting humidity or temperature variations due to the proximity of human breath. When the presence of breath is detected, the processor actuates one or more output devices capable of producing sound, light, or movement. The toy can have the form of a figure such as a doll or stuffed toy, or the form of a child's musical toy, such as a pan flute or harmonica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Barri, Raymond J. Martin
  • Publication number: 20090305599
    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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Marie Newton, Nicholas Amireh
  • Patent number: 7628674
    Abstract: Track assemblies for toy vehicles having a plurality of track segments, a plurality of gauntlet features, and an indexing mechanism configured to regulate activation of the gauntlet features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Stacy O'Connor
  • Patent number: 7628673
    Abstract: A toy vehicle play set may include a toy vehicle and a track assembly including a track along which the vehicle may travel. In some examples the vehicle may include a drive mechanism that is adjustable for changing the speed of the vehicle, and a play set may include a speed changer for selectively changing the vehicle speed. In some examples, the track assembly may include a selectively actuated trapdoor in the track. In some examples, the play set may include a vehicle trap assembly having a cover defining a chamber for receiving, for example, a vehicle passing through the trapdoor opening. In some examples, the vehicle trap may include an assembly, such as the vehicle trap that falls apart when contacted by a vehicle traveling along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Bedford, Eric So
  • Patent number: 7621552
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having leading and trailing vehicles that are removably coupled together by a connection apparatus. The leading vehicle is an independently operable ride-on vehicle having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices. The assembly further includes a detection system adapted to detect whether or not the connection apparatus is in its coupled configuration and to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to coupling of the leading and trailing vehicles together, and it may be made regardless of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Bergum, William R. Howell, Gary G. Lenihan, David G. Waples
  • Patent number: 7621543
    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 a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7622520
    Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reflective fluorescent polymer composition comprising a benzoxzolyl naphthalene optical brightener and a polymeric substrate support material formed into three dimensional articles or fibers. The enhanced light reflectivity of the instant compositions occurs over a wavelength range of from about 400 to 700 nanometers. The fiber embodiment comprises a body or support portion made of a flexible and durable thermoplastic material which is at least partially translucent and bis(benzoxazolyl)napthalenes optical brightener molecularly dispersed throughout the polymeric body potion of the fiber. The fibers are fluorescent to a UV source and can be effectively utilized for artificial hair for toy dolls as well as for various other textile applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc
    Inventors: Abimael Cordova, Jason Kroskrity
  • Patent number: 7618302
    Abstract: A toy play set includes a body having opposing ends and a side wall therebetween, which define and generally surround an at least partially hollow cavity within the body in a closed configuration of the body. At least the one end is sized and shaped to fit at least partially into a beverage cup holder of a vehicle sufficiently for the cup holder to support the body in a generally upright orientation. The body has an open configuration in which the hollow cavity is at least partially accessible. A toy vehicle track as long or longer than the length of the body between the ends is configured for storage within the cavity of the body in the closed configuration and is engaged with the body for play in the open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Collins, Stephen Lau, Alan O'Bryan
  • Patent number: 7618301
    Abstract: Playsets having pop-up structures. Pop-up structures may be adapted to transition to an erect configuration when the playset is in an open configuration, in which at least a portion of the pop-up structure may extend outside of a perimeter of the playset, and to a compact stowed configuration when the playset is in a closed configuration, in which the pop-up structure is disposed within the perimeter. Playsets may include elements adapted to urge a portion of the pop-up structure toward the erect configuration or one or more playset-accessory retention chambers. Some examples may include first and second latch elements that are adapted to cooperatively retain the playset in the open configuration. Other examples may include a fastener adapted to be moved selectively between a clasping position in which the fastener retains the playset in the closed configuration and a linking position in which the fastener couples to a second playset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: James Knight, Julian Payne, Kwun Chung Mo, Alan Cheung, Pitt Lau
  • Publication number: 20090280718
    Abstract: A motorized toy vehicle comprising a chassis with opposing, top and bottom sides and opposing, first and second longitudinal ends and a central plane extending in a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction through the chassis and at least generally bisecting the sides and ends; first and second wheels coupled with the chassis proximal the first end so as to pivot with respect to the chassis and steer the first end, the first and second wheels being located on opposite sides of the central plane; a third wheel coupled with the chassis proximal the second end so as to span the central plane and pivot with respect to the chassis at least along an axis located in the central plane, the axis being pitched away from the vertical direction and toward the longitudinal direction in the central plane; and a steering coupling operably connecting the first and second wheels with the third wheel to simultaneously pivot the first, second and third wheels with respect to the chassis so as to steer the toy vehicle at
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: William Willett, Chung Ming (Bryan) Cheng, Chun Wing (Edward) Wong
  • Patent number: 7614931
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track set. The track set includes toy roads sized for toy vehicles. The track set allows a toy vehicle to be raised and lowered to different elevations using one or more different mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 7614498
    Abstract: A package for a product includes an extended visual element having a first visual element section and a second visual element section. The first visual element section has a physically distressed edge region and the second visual element section has a graphically distressed region. A packaging portion includes the first visual element section and the second visual element section, where the physical distress and graphical distress are spatially adjacent, and where the physical distress and graphical distress are related to the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 7607962
    Abstract: An electronic toy with alterable features. The toy includes a body having a sensor adapted to detect at least a first orientation of the body and a second orientation of the body, and provide a corresponding sensor output. In some embodiments, the toy includes a controller configured to select a set of toy outputs from a library of toy outputs in response to the sensor output. The toy outputs may include a play mode and/or a persona. In some embodiments, the toy includes one or more movable portions coupled to the body and adapted to move in response to changes in the orientation of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Hardin
  • Publication number: 20090264046
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis, a front road wheel supported for rotation from the chassis and a rear road wheel supported for rotation from the chassis. A reversible motor is supported from the chassis and is operatively coupled with one of the front and rear road wheels so as to rotate at least one of the front and rear road wheels to propel the toy vehicle in a forward direction. A wheelie mechanism is operatively connected to the motor and has a first end pivotally attached to the central axis of one of the front and rear road wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventor: Mark S. MAYER
  • Patent number: 7602381
    Abstract: A hand-held interactive electronic device has an electronic display with a touch screen. A plurality of icons is on the touch screen. A frame element separate from the touch screen bounds a portion of the touch screen. A plurality of indicia is on the frame element. Each indicium is in register with a corresponding icon on the touch screen. A processor is operatively coupled to the display. A fixed memory or a removable memory is operatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions defining a plurality of functions. Each function is associated with a corresponding indicium on the frame element. The processor is configured to enable the function associated with the corresponding indicium upon selection of the icon registered with the corresponding indicium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Aiken, Erica Nissen, Shanti Coleman, Pete Reile, Justin Petit, Travis Eckler
  • Patent number: D606598
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Kit Hong Lau