Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 7118443
    Abstract: The present invention provides animated toys adapted to imitate multiple personas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Marine, Tara McGrath, Joyce Mesch, Kevin W. Gray, Ok-Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 7118108
    Abstract: The present invention provide rules of play and game components for a game in which players may win by correctly predicting the order in which the moving pieces will reach the finish line. Players may influence the movement of the playing pieces on the pathways by playing movement cards or cards invoking special rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Yu, Jeannie Burns Hardie, Jim Keifer
  • Patent number: 7120257
    Abstract: A control circuit for an amusement device includes a sound detector, a band-pass filter, a peak integrator and a controller. The sound detector is configured to detect audible sound signals. The band-pass filter is electrically coupled to the sound detector. The band-pass filter is configured to extract sound signals in a predetermined audible frequency range and to output a corresponding filtered signal. The peak integrator is electrically coupled to the band-pass filter. The peak integrator is configured to receive the filtered signal, to average peaks of the filtered signal and to output a trigger signal based on a predetermined range of the averaged filter signal. The controller is electrically coupled to the peak integrator. The controller is configured to receive the trigger signal and to provide a control output in response to the trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 7115014
    Abstract: A toy animal having a rigid body with movable legs, head and tail, is operated by internal gear mechanisms powered by a single, reversible, battery-powered motor operated in different directions. A hand controller is attached to the body to actuate the single motor in a selected direction to either move a plurality of legs to cause movement of the body while wagging the animal's tail, and to then cause the toy animal to urinate, or to move the head and actuate a tongue held in the head to lick a person holding the toy animal, or ingest fluid. The toy animal may also include a speaker and related circuitry that is actuated to cause the toy animal to make sounds, such as a bark, panting, a whimper and/or a tinkling sound at appropriate times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Tara McGrath, Kevin W. Gray, Ok-Soo Choi, Sam Tsui, Jon Marine
  • Patent number: 7108913
    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: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Abimael Cordova, Jason Kroskrity
  • Patent number: 7104603
    Abstract: An adjustable booster-type seat having a base 10 for supporting the seat on a flat surface, a riser 12 mounted for height adjustment on the base, a body support 14 having a seat and back mounted for arcuate motion on the riser 12 for changing the angular position of the body support 14 and being adjustable in height by virtue of the adjustability of the riser on the base. A restraint bar 16 is detachably connected to the body support and in turn adjustably carries a tray 18 enabling the tray to be moved toward and away form the back and to be mounted at different angles with respect to the body support 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Keegan, Richard A. Daley
  • Patent number: 7086645
    Abstract: The present invention provides a game including a playing surface, collectible playing pieces, marking pieces, and collectible cards. Players take turns trying to create specific hands by throwing the playing pieces. The first player to successfully claim ownership of four consecutive placeholders on the playing surface is the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeannie Burns Hardie
  • Patent number: 7088259
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a parent unit (receiver) of an infant monitor includes an electronics housing, an antenna, a speaker, and a visual light display portion. In one embodiment, the light display portion is mounted on the front surface of the monitor. In another embodiment, the light display portion is mounted in conjunction with the antenna. The light display portion may include elongate light display members associated with individual light sources (LEDs). Also in accordance with the present invention, a parent unit of an infant monitor includes an LED test or LED “try-me” switch which allows the parent to both test the visual output of the light display portion of the parent unit (prior to purchase) and test the functioning of the light display portion (after purchase and removal from the packaging) without actually receiving actual sound-representative signals from the infant unit (transmitter).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Armbruster, Karen Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 7086605
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is disclosed with at least a pair of toy racing vehicles and at least a pair of guide slots, each guide slot in turn having a pair of exposed power supply rails. The toy vehicles are guided about the track by guide pins affixed to the toy vehicles, the guide pins running within the guide slots. In a first portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance greater than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. In a second portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance less than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. The power supply rails run parallel to and at a uniform spacing from the guide slots in both portions of the track, providing power in both track portions to electric motors contained in the toy vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent J. D'Angelo, Jr., James M. Dickinson, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher
  • Patent number: 7083111
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is formed from a plurality of interconnecting track segments. Each segment includes two opposing ends, each end having a pair of coupling projections intended to mate with corresponding coupling sockets on an interconnecting segment. Each end further includes at least one locking lug which in a first preferred embodiment mates with a corresponding locking tab or in a second preferred embodiment mates with a locking recess. The interconnecting track segments are thus releasably locked together by the coupling projections and coupling sockets, acting in combination with the locking lug and locking tab or recess. Each segment further includes a plurality of conductive strips partially embedded in each segment, extending between the opposing ends. At least one end portion of each one conducting strip extends beyond the end of the track segment, and is bent to wrap around the end portion of the track segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Reisher, Gerhart P. Huy
  • Patent number: 7077717
    Abstract: A doll with an angled and/or jointed torso. In some embodiments the doll includes a torso, at least a portion of which is asymmetric about a midline such that an angle formed between a left lateral contour and the midline substantially differs from an angle formed between a right lateral contour and the midline. Alternatively, or additionally, the torso may be comprised of an upper torso member that is connected to a lower torso member by a joint that enables rotation therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Cheng, Kevin Harmon
  • Patent number: 7077400
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to rules and apparatus for playing a combat-style board game including playing pieces and more specifically where the playing pieces have indicia relating to game play. In addition, the present disclosure relates to rules and apparatus for playing a game including playing pieces that link together to form a larger playing piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Tyler Kenney
  • Patent number: 7063590
    Abstract: A toy doll has a doll head having an aperture and a doll body supporting the doll head. A tubular member has a first end extending into the doll head proximate the aperture and a second end extending into the doll body. A plug member is movable within the tubular member either toward the first end or toward the second end. A lock of doll hair is secured to the plug member so that at least a portion of the lock of doll hair extends out of the tubular member and out of the head aperture. An electric motor within the doll body includes an output shaft rotatable in first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Al Ferrigno
  • Patent number: D521574
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: John McBride, Truman John Gilbert
  • Patent number: D527056
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Manville
  • Patent number: D527772
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowen, LaVonne E. Strand
  • Patent number: D527773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Proch, Jun Imai
  • Patent number: D529967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowen, Paulo Kang
  • Patent number: D530379
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Phil Riehlman
  • Patent number: D530757
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Jones