Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 6565411
    Abstract: A key activated toy vehicle includes a body having a front end, a rear end and an exterior. The toy vehicle also includes a chassis that accommodates the body. At least one of the body and the chassis defines an opening to an interior of the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a spring supported within the vehicle so as to be compressed by a key inserted through the opening and to propel the toy vehicle away from the key upon decompressing. The toy vehicle includes a moveable part being supported on one of the chassis and the body for movement between a first position and a second position. The toy vehicle includes an actuator mechanism operably coupled with the spring and moveably mounted within the vehicle so as to be coupled with the moveable part to move the part from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Ellen Gertrude Fosbenner, Robert Jude Henry, Matthew Felix Agostini, William Francis Michael Dougherty, Gregory John Sisolak
  • Patent number: 6561915
    Abstract: An infant swing that may be parent activated or sound activated and a method of using the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. Kelly, James P. Meade
  • Publication number: 20030085520
    Abstract: The present invention provides rules and apparatus for playing a board game. The game includes a decoder for each of the plurality of players, a set of coded game cards having a plurality of possible probability influencing indicia printed thereon. The decoders are configured to select at least one of the probability influencing indicia from the game card. Further, the game includes a value generator configured to generate a value based on the selected probability influencing indicia. The generated value determines a winner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Bedford, Brian Yu
  • Publication number: 20030087686
    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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Yu, Jonathan Bedford
  • Patent number: 6558221
    Abstract: A doll includes a doll body supporting a head upon which a substantially blank featureless face surface is formed of a washable material. A stencil mask is configured to be received upon the face surface and defines a faceplate generally conforming to the blank face surface. The faceplate defines a plurality of shaped apertures located upon the faceplate to correspond to the general locations of facial features. A plurality of feature stamps, each having shaped flanges corresponding to the aperture shapes of the faceplate apertures support feature image stamps which may be passed through the apertures to imprint upon the face surface of the doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Tina Yang
  • Publication number: 20030082985
    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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian R. Payne, Trevor J. Hayes, Robert A. Butkiewicz, Jeremy S. Robotham
  • Publication number: 20030082992
    Abstract: The present invention is a trim adjustment mechanism to balance a toy vehicle. One vehicle has a platform supporting two wheels in line along a central longitudinal vertical plane through the platform. The trim adjustment mechanism has a weight holder slideably supported by the platform to move transversely to the central vertical plane. A weight member is engaged with the weight holder for slideable movement with the weight holder. An adjustment lever has a first end operably coupled with the weight holder. The adjustment lever is pivotable about the first end such that rotation of the adjustment lever causes sliding side-to-side movement of the weight member, whereby a user can effectuate side-to-side movement of the weight member within the vehicle with the adjustment lever in order to balance the vehicle and enhance the stability of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Spalinski
  • Publication number: 20030082987
    Abstract: A toy vehicle combination includes a master toy vehicle and a slave toy vehicle. The master toy vehicle includes a transmitter configured to broadcast an IR tracking signal. The slave toy vehicle includes at least first and second directional IR receivers configured to receive the tracking signal from different directions around the slave toy vehicle and is configured to follow or evade the master toy vehicle, which is conventionally remotely controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris T. Baumgartner, Joseph T. Moll, Truman J. Gilbert, Stephen N. Weiss, Nathan Bloch, David V. Helmlinger, Gregory Nungester
  • Patent number: 6554087
    Abstract: A steering assembly for a children's ride-on vehicle having a pair of wheels. The assembly includes a pair of pivotal control arms that are coupled to the pair of wheels. The pair of pivotal control arms is also coupled to a pair of moveable handles that operate in tandem and move reciprocally to steer the pair of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, Daniel J. Damon, Steven Robert Drosendahl
  • Patent number: 6551169
    Abstract: A radio controlled toy vehicle has a central chassis, a front end mounting a pair of front wheels which is rotatably coupled to the front of the chassis and a pair of rear wheels rotatingly mounted to the chassis. A single reversible electric motor is provided in the chassis to selectively rotate the front end with the front wheels about a generally longitudinal axis through a partial rotation for steering or through as many complete rotations as desired for stunts. The electric motor is also drivingly coupled to the rear wheels to provide propulsion power to the vehicle. A power take-off from the motor includes a one-way clutch which rotates the front end when the motor is propelling the vehicle in a reverse direction. A stop is provided to limit the free rotation of the front end. The stop releasably engages a collar around a shaft rotating the front end and is overcome by providing sufficient torque to the shaft or the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Jaffe
  • Patent number: 6547629
    Abstract: An electronic toy that can be activated so as to entertain and educate a child is disclosed. The electronic toy includes a toy figure and/or an interactive member. In one embodiment, the toy figure includes a body and at least one actuator mechanism. The electronic toy can generate an audio output in response to activation by a user of an actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, the toy figure includes multiple parts that can be moved relative to each other. In one embodiment, the electronic toy includes two actuator mechanisms that can be activated by a user at any time. The electronic toy can generate audio outputs, including speech and sound effects, in response to the activation by a user of the actuator mechanisms. In one embodiment, the electronic toy can generate speech in response to the activation of a first actuator mechanism and sound effects in response to the activation of a second actuator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Dubois, Edward Masiello, II, Larry R. Nagode, Justin T. Petit
  • Patent number: 6547632
    Abstract: An interactive, animated, and robotic doll having movable appendages, such as a head, arms, and legs. The doll includes motors, gears and other linkages to actuate the movement of these appendages. A lockout mechanism is operatively incorporated into the doll for preventing conflicting forces from occurring. The lockout mechanism may include a shuttlecock interposed two independent linkages that drive motion in a single appendage. The shuttlecock slides between two positions, each of which limits the movement of a corresponding one of the two linkages when the other of the two linkages is actuating motion in the appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Marine, Simon Chow
  • Patent number: 6544096
    Abstract: A camping toy having an assembly with a coupled configuration and an expanded configuration. The assembly defines a toy lantern when the assembly is in the coupled configuration, and the assembly defines a plurality of separated toy camping items when the assembly is in the expanded configuration. The plurality of toy camping items include a light and a toy canteen, a toy stove, and/or a toy cooking pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Pyrce, David DuBois
  • Publication number: 20030065080
    Abstract: The invention is directed to resin coating, adhesive, and cement compositions comprising styrenic copolymers and a terpene solvent. The compositions are particulary useful for toy article applications because of the use of safe, naturally occuring terpene solvents. These compositions form high adhesion bonding with molded elastomeric styrene copolymer surface substrates. The invention is also directed to a method of applying the instant coatings to substrate surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: John Sneddon
  • Patent number: 6540579
    Abstract: A convertible activity toy for promoting gross motor development in children includes a base receivable on a supporting surface and a top coupled to the base. The top includes a first portion and a second portion whereby the first portion is movable from a substantially coplanar orientation relative to the second portion to a substantially non-coplanar orientation relative to the second portion. The top and base define an opening and an interior space so that an infant can crawl through the opening into the interior space when the top is in the substantially coplanar orientation or so that the child may walk the opening and into the interior space or a portion thereof when the top is in the substantially non-coplanar orientation. The top includes activity items that are attractive to an infant and encourages the infant to reach up to the top by pulling up from a seated position to a standing position using handles or grips disposed on the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenic T. Gubitosi, Seth P. Frankel, Christopher D. Cimerman
  • Patent number: 6540580
    Abstract: A yo yo toy is formed of a pair of substantially disk-shaped body halves joined in a spaced arrangement by a center shaft. A quantity of string is secured to the center shaft and wound within the space. Each body half includes a receptacle and a cover pivotally secured thereto and lachable in a closed position. A plurality of toy items are secured within the receptacle and cover of one body half while the remaining body half defines a play feature background and play surface for the toy figure in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Wolfram
  • Patent number: 6540292
    Abstract: An adjustable children's rocking chair is shown that can be readily converted without the use of tools between a configuration where it is used to support an infant in a more reclined position, and a configuration where it is suitable for use as a rocking chair by a toddler. The rocking chair includes a seat portion, a support portion connected to the seat portion, and the support portion being pivotably connected to a rocker base and being adjustable in length. The support portion includes a front frame assembly, such as a pair of front legs, and a rear frame assembly, such as a pair of rear legs, with each of the front legs being pivotably connected to a respective rear leg through a detachable joint. The seat portion includes a back support portion that is formed by a U-shaped seat back tube slipped inside a pocket in soft goods. Both ends of the U-shaped seat back tube are connected to the detachable joints pivotably connecting the rear legs to the front legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra Darling, Bryan M. Brown, Julia Favorito
  • Patent number: D472589
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Manville
  • Patent number: D472941
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Manville
  • Patent number: D474816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Dickinson, Allan F. Papp, Joseph Thomas Moll