Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 6746017
    Abstract: The present invention provides a board game wherein players compete to uncover tiles and board sections in an order that matches a drawn card. The game includes a game board, player pieces, tiles, and sequence cards. The object of the game is to advance through several levels of play by matching uncovered indicia to that of the sequence cards while avoiding penalty indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Yu, Jonathan Bedford
  • Patent number: 6747220
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a sensor includes a housing with an annular track; a cylindrical contact within the annular track, the cylindrical contact being appropriately sized to allow movement within the annular track; and a plate coupled with the housing, the plate including one or more pairs of electrical contacts situated substantially adjacent to the annular track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon C. Marine
  • Patent number: 6739649
    Abstract: A frame for a child seat includes an upper frame and a lower frame connected to the upper frame. The lower frame has left and right members that can be connected to each other such that the left and right members are positionable relative to one another between a first position and a second position when the lower frame is disconnected from the upper frame. A second frame can be rotatable between an angularly spaced position and a collapsed position along bends formed on a first frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. Kelly, Bryan M. Brown
  • Patent number: 6736692
    Abstract: A doll head is supported by a body portion and includes a quantity of posable thermochromic reactive hair strands. A crimper includes a pair of liquid receiving heads and crimping dies allowing the crimper to assume a desired temperature and impart a desired crimp to the poseable hair strands while simultaneously imparting a desired temperature to achieve color change of the crimped hair. The crimping dies are removable from the heads of the crimper to facilitate straightening of the hair using underlying flat thermally conductive plates on the interior surfaces of the crimpers heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Hoyos-Zermeno, Nicolae G. Patean
  • Publication number: 20040085224
    Abstract: An identification transmission system for use in an amusement device includes a transmitting antenna, a transmitter and a piezo-electric power source. The transmitter circuit is configured to broadcast a predetermined tone on a predetermined carrier frequency through the antenna. The piezo-electric power source is electrically coupled to the transmitter circuit and is configured to at least briefly provide power to the transmitter circuit. The piezo-electro power source includes a piezo-electric element, a striker, a storage capacitor and a voltage controlled switch. The striker is configured to move so as to at least briefly strike the piezo-electric element. The storage capacitor is configured to receive and store electrical charge from the piezo-electric element. The voltage controlled switch is configured to allow the storage capacitor to discharge through the transmitter circuit thereby providing power thereto after a predetermined amount of charge has been stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Nicholas Weiss, Gregory M. Huffman, Jesse Dorogusker
  • Publication number: 20040087241
    Abstract: A projectile shooting toy comprises a body housing, a projectile delivery tube formed with an interior of the housing and a motor driven projectile firing apparatus having a trigger and projectile cannon pivotally mounted to the body housing. Activation of the trigger causes the cannon to move from a stored position to a deployed position, allowing a projectile to enter an inlet of the projectile cannon from the projectile delivery tube. Activation of the trigger further causes a firing ram to abruptly strike the projectile and fire it from the cannon. In a preferred embodiment, the projectile shooting toy is in the form of a helicopter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Felix Agostini, William F. M. Dougherty, Robert Jude Henry, Mary Ellen Gertrude Fosbenner, Jeremy S. Robotham
  • Publication number: 20040087710
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cyanoacrylate adhesive composition having high shear bond strength, peeling bond strength, tensile strength and impact bond strength and superior wear characteristics particularly in toy applications where hostile play environments demand hot-cold cycle resistance. The cyanoacrylate adhesive composition contains (a) up to 20% by weight of a cyanoacrylate monomer, (b) a styrene-based elastomeric block copolymer, and (c) a specific solvent which is selected to effect the solution of both components. The invention is also directed to a method of applying the instant adhesives to substrate surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Abimael Cordova
  • Publication number: 20040084546
    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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent J. D'Angelo, James M. Dickinson, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher
  • Patent number: 6729619
    Abstract: A dice game including dice, chips, predictive markers, and methods of play. The goal of the game is to be the first person to obtain all the chips from the other players. Chips are used for wagering on the outcome of dice rolls. The game may optionally employ predictive markers to facilitate predictions for the outcome of the dice roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Yu, Jonathan Bedford
  • Publication number: 20040082257
    Abstract: A toy building construction set includes a plurality of building units, each building unit including an integral panel, an elongate column, and a connection member. The panel has a first and a second connection structure. One of four sides of the elongate column is a generally U-shaped channel. The column channel receives and is engaged with the second connection structure. The other three sides of the elongate column each have female connection structures so as to provide a female connection side to the building unit. The connection member is engaged with the first connection structure. At least part of the connection member projects outwardly from the panel so as to provide a male connection side to the building unit. The male connection side is configured to removably engage with the female connection side of a second building unit of the plurality of building units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick B. Robjent, Robert M. Goszewski, David M. DuBois
  • Patent number: 6726523
    Abstract: A remote-controlled toy skateboard device comprises a skateboard with a deck and front and rear truck assemblies pivotally connected to the deck. A toy figure has a lower body portion that is fixedly connected to the deck and an upper body portion that is connected for rotation with respect to the lower body portion. A torso drive mechanism is operably connected to the upper body portion of the toy figure to rotate the upper body portion with respect to the lower body portion. A steering mechanism is operably connected with one of the truck assemblies to tilt the deck with respect to the truck assemblies to thereby steer the skateboard. A drive mechanism is also operably connected to wheels of one truck assembly to propel the skateboard. A remote-control unit is configured to generate signals to remotely control movement of the toy figure, tilt between the deck and truck assemblies, and the speed and travel direction of the skateboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest D. Baker, Leonard R. Clark, Jr., Jesse Dorogusker, David Vincent Helmlinger, Eric David Listenberger, Joseph Thomas Moll, David Ribbe, Stephen N. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20040076935
    Abstract: A method for teaching linguistics with an electronic reading system having a book with selectable content and a reader having a controller with a plurality of modes of operation and having a memory having stored therein material associated with the selectable book content. The method includes the following steps: allowing a selection of one mode of the plurality of modes of operation; operating the controller in an active mode corresponding to the one mode if the one mode has been selected, otherwise operating the controller in an active mode corresponding to another mode of the plurality of modes of operation; indicating the active mode of operation of the controller; providing an instruction associated with the active mode of operation; allowing selection of the selectable content based on the instruction; and producing an output based on the material associated with the selectable content and the active mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Miriam Kelley, Scott H. McIlvain, Matthew K. Brown
  • Patent number: 6705919
    Abstract: An electronic amusement device includes a housing having an outer side presented to a consumer using the device; an electronic timer in the housing and a controller. The timer is configured to track time to an end of an extended time period having a length of at least a plurality of weeks and preset in the device before the device is released to the consumer. The timer is further configured to output a signal at the end of the extended period to the controller. The controller is configured to perform at least one task in an initial mode of operation available to the consumer using the device and to respond to the signal from the timer to enable, for a first time, the performance of at least one new additional mode of operation the controller did not perform before receipt of the timer signal or to disable a mode of operation it had performed or to exchange a new mode of operation for a previously performed mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Curran, Charles R. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 6702685
    Abstract: An infant swing that may be used to pacify and/or entertain an infant is disclosed. In one embodiment, the swing includes a collapsible seat frame and a collapsible base frame. In another embodiment, the swing includes curved hanger arms that support a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt J. Mahlstedt, Robert J Sonner
  • Patent number: 6702643
    Abstract: The present invention provides an infant entertainment device and a support assembly for positioning the entertainment device in view of an infant. The support is reconfigurable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The entertainment device is responsive to actuation of a motion detector coupled to the entertainment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine Drosendahl, Jerry May, Timothy J. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20040043365
    Abstract: An electronic learning device configured to receive in a predetermined orientation a book having an arrangement of selectable mode icons, selectable content and a page identifier. Non-volatile memory in the electronic learning device has instructions associated with each mode icon, and data associated with the selectable content. A controller is in electrical communication with a page identification sensor and a position sensor for detecting the presence of a selector. The controller is configured a) to operate in accordance with instructions associated with each mode icon, b) to determine the position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor, c) to recognize the page identifier, and a selection by the selector of one of the selectable mode icons, the selectable indicia or the selectable content and d) to send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Miriam Kelley, Scott H. McIlvain, Matthew K. Brown
  • Patent number: D488195
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Manville
  • Patent number: D489773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Manville
  • Patent number: D489776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, John D. McBride
  • Patent number: D490859
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Bedford