Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 6698036
    Abstract: A potty training device having a seat with an opening for receiving bodily waste, a sensor for sensing bodily waste, and a sensory output generator. The seat includes a retaining member configured and located so as to retain the seat in place with respect to a toilet such that the opening of the seat is located above a bowl of the toilet. The sensor senses the bodily waste that passes through the opening of the seat, and the sensory output generator generates a sensory output in response to the sensor sensing the bodily waste. A potty training device having a seat with an opening for receiving bodily waste and an electronic unit that includes a housing that at least partially contains a sensor for sensing the bodily waste, a power source, and a sensory output generator for outputting a sensory output when the sensor senses the bodily waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dean Armbruster, Karen Fitzgerald, Domenic Thomas Gubitosi, John Martin Maul
  • Patent number: 6699092
    Abstract: A toy aquarium includes a container configured to contain a liquid and a drive mechanism operably coupled to toy characters to impart motion to the toy characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Cimerman, Robert W. Jourdian, Robert W. Salmon
  • Patent number: 6697602
    Abstract: A talking book is combined with a talking, animated toy figure. Each includes a sound synthesizer, a digital memory including at least some speech data to be used by the synthesizer to produce speech and a processor to control the operations of the synthesizer. Each includes a speaker coupled with the synthesizer to actually produce speech and other sounds. The book includes two outer covers and two inner pages, each with some printing. Depressible switches are provided on the inner covers to cue the processor to generate sounds appropriate to the print near the depressed cover switch. Switches in a hinge pin received in hinge rings provided each cover and page to join the covers and pages together are depressed by cam surfaces inside the ring of the front cover and each page and signal, the processor the configuration of the book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Ferrigno, Laurie Guiliano Duke
  • Patent number: 6695311
    Abstract: A game including game pieces and rules for playing a game for a plurality of players, the goal of which is to score the most points by correctly guessing the location of hidden items. The invention provides multiple coverable items, multiple sets of markers, and multiple shells. Multiple coverable items may be hidden under multiple shells in a manner such that multiple sets of markers may be used to guess the location of the corresponding coverable items by stacking a marker onto the corresponding shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Yu, Jonathan Bedford
  • Patent number: 6695327
    Abstract: A convertible toy walking or riding device or mechanism includes a body portion and a seat portion coupled to the body portion. The seat portion is moveable relative to the body portion to position the device in a walking configuration or in a riding configuration for use by a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert P. Maggiore, Carol D. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6688985
    Abstract: A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Weiss, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher, Joseph T. Moll, Gregory R. Nungester, Frank W. Winkler, Justin M. Discoe
  • Publication number: 20040023593
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling for toy vehicles includes a stationary protruding member and a retractable member, each having a rounded end piece. One of the end pieces is at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the other is at least partially formed of a non-magnetic, magnetically attractive material. A separate end piece can be provided on each of a pair of toy vehicles or each vehicle can be provided with both. The retractable member can be configured to receive the protruding member in a mechanical coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Needham, Adam Tooby, Julian Richard Payne, Francis Ponton, Gregory John Sisolak, Robert Alan Butkiewicz, Anthony Peter Monzo
  • Patent number: 6679751
    Abstract: A stackable articles toy including a number of articles that can be coupled together or coupled to a support and which also generates sensory output upon interaction by the infant with the toy to prolong the infant's enjoyment of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Maxwell, Jerry A. May
  • Publication number: 20040009734
    Abstract: A composite toy includes a first component vehicle and a vehicle accessory. The first component vehicle includes a chassis with wheels and an integral cab portion and a first coupling member configured for releasable coupling to another component vehicle. The vehicle accessory is configured for releasable attachment to the first component vehicle so as to create a new vehicle having a modified appearance relative to the first component vehicle. In an alternate embodiment, the composite vehicle further includes a second component vehicle including a chassis with an integral cab portion and a second coupling member configured for releasable coupling to another component vehicle either longitudinally or laterally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Needham, Adam Tooby, Julian Richard Payne, Francis Ponton, Gregory John Sisolak, Robert Alan Butkiewicz, Anthony Peter Monzo
  • Patent number: 6676480
    Abstract: A continuous loop toy vehicle trackset supports a booster and a plurality of toy vehicles. The trackset is formed of spaced apart track rails forming a gap therebetween. The toy vehicles are open wheeled and able to roll upon the track rails in either a right side up or inverted configuration. In the inverted configuration, the top surface of the toy vehicle is able to extend into the gap between the track rails. A staging lane facilitates introduction of additional toy vehicles to the trackset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Sheltman
  • Patent number: 6672659
    Abstract: A toy that is easily convertible between a toy lounge chair and a toy vanity for a doll. The toy has a main body with a base and a pair of sides with a number of movable sections secured to the base. The main body has two faces, one of which forms portions of the lounge chair and the other of which forms portions of the vanity. A separate leg assembly is selectively moved to act as a support for the lounge chair or the vanity. The movable sections are rotatable so as to reveal face portions that form a mirror and a box-like compartment or drawer of the vanity, or a seat back, seating base and a single or two piece leg rest for the lounge chair. The leg assembly may be hingedly attached to or be formed separate from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Melohn, Yukha Ann Mo
  • Patent number: 6672189
    Abstract: A construction toy device that can be used to create multiple construction elements and methods of using the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Aiken, Jon Paul Castiglione, Kevin C. Dakan, David E. Grober, Jeffrey J. Miller, Charles W. Paddock
  • Publication number: 20040002286
    Abstract: The invention is a spring-driven toy vehicle having front and rear chassis portions, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel. The front chassis portion is hingably connected to the rear chassis portion. The chassis portions are capable of a pivotal motion relative to one another from a first undeflected position to a second deflected position. A drive motor is mounted to one of the front and rear chassis portions. The motor contains a motor spring. A drive axle is operably connected with the motor spring. The drive axle is connected to at least one front wheel or one rear wheels to rotate the at least one connected wheel. A rotational coupling is configured to transfer the pivotal motion of the chassis portions relative to one another into a rotational motion to wind the motor spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Felix Agostini, Mary Ellen Gertrude Fosbenner, Gregory John Sisolak, William Francis Michael Dougherty
  • Patent number: 6669526
    Abstract: A plurality of connecting bodies are formed in various shapes of a resilient material such as molded plastic or other resilient material. The connecting bodies each define a plurality of inwardly extending slots which form receiving mechanisms for the edge portions of a plurality of cooperating generally planar plate members. The plate members are assembled to form more complex structures utilizing the connecting bodies to form interconnection therebetween. In alternate embodiments, a complex structure for the inwardly extending slots includes flexible ribs on each side of the slots together with relief slots adjacent the ribs. In further alternate embodiments, the connecting bodies and plate members may be assembled to form complex fanciful figures utilizing specialized elements such as a fanciful head member which bears a fanciful face and leg elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Manville, James P. Mills-Winkler, Armen Danielian
  • Patent number: 6663463
    Abstract: A sound activated toy vehicle includes a body, a chassis, and a motor. The chassis accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel. The motor is drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel. The toy vehicle also includes a sound transducer configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound. The toy vehicle also includes a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor. The controller changes the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer. The toy vehicle also includes a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion. The vehicle accessory is mounted for movement between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: William Francis Michael Dougherty, Mary Ellen Gertrude Fosbenner, Robert Jude Henry, Matthew Felix Agostini, Gregory John Sisolak
  • Patent number: 6663464
    Abstract: A toy car wash play set including a toy vehicle car wash station, including a conveyer belt for transporting a toy vehicle from a first position to a second position, scrubbing rollers for simulating scrubbing rollers used in car washes for full-scale vehicles, and a bubble producing apparatus for simulating soap suds generated by car washes for full-scale vehicles. The conveyer belt and the bubble producing apparatus are motorized. The toy car wash play set further comprises a base section, the car wash station being elevated with respect to the base section. A manually operated elevator for raising a toy vehicle from the base section to the car wash station is provided, along with a rinse station which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator. The toy car wash may further comprise a drying station which includes a fan which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator and a rotating table in the base section rotatable under the action of a manual actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian R. Payne, Trevor J. Hayes, Robert A. Butkiewicz, Jeremy S. Robotham
  • Publication number: 20030226696
    Abstract: The present invention is a clutch assembly for use with motor driven toys, particularly a toy vehicle configured to be maneuvered on a surface. The clutch assembly includes a clutch operably coupled with the motor and a bell housing having at least one opening in its circumferential wall with a circumferential leading edge. At least an engagement end of the clutch is rotated within the housing. The clutch engagement end has finger members that resiliently flex outwardly from a center of rotation of the clutch. Each finger member has at least one small protrusion extending outwardly from the outside circumferential surface of the finger member that engages with the leading edge when the clutch is rotated and the finger member flexes outwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Spalinski, Matthew J. Del Duke, Bruce E. Gavins
  • Patent number: D485491
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Kyne, Aaron R. Meneses
  • Patent number: D485586
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Manville
  • Patent number: D487116
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Bedford, James Keifer, Jeannie Burns Hardie