Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 5896991
    Abstract: A generally planar substantially rigid backing supports a transparent plastic blister on the front surface thereof. The blister defines an open rear portion and an encircling attachment flange. The lower edge of the attachment flange defines interleaved notches and tabs extending downwardly. The blister further defines a rib having an interior groove formed therein extending along each side and across the front portion of the blister. A generally planar support sheet formed of a rigid material defines a plurality of upwardly extending retainers having engagement apparatus formed therein. A cosmetic card formed of a decorative material defines a plurality of slots aligned with the retainers and is received upon the support sheet with the retainers passing through the slots. The retainers engage the to-be-packaged articles and secure them upon the cosmetic card. The support sheet includes a plurality of interleaved tabs and notches extending downwardly from the rear edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Alan Hippely, William R. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 5890942
    Abstract: A conventional doll receives and supports a combination diving mask and simulated snorkel unit. The combination diving mask and snorkel unit includes a mask body supporting a transparent faceplate and a snorkel mouthpiece. A snorkel body secured to the mouthpiece extends upwardly alongside the mask body and supports a resilient air bladder having a fish shape. The snorkel further includes a bubble blowing mechanism which is operative in response to squeezing of the fish-shaped air bladder to produce a plurality of bubbles emanating from the upper portion of the snorkel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Odette M. Souza-Ferreira, Toshio Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 5887872
    Abstract: A base supports a rotatable turntable having a plurality of capsule bases each having capsule recesses formed therein. A plurality of capsule lids are pivotally supported upon the turntable and overlie their respective capsule bases providing closure of the recesses. A plurality of stationary cams are supported beneath the turntable and communicate with a corresponding plurality of cam following flanges which operate the capsule lids. A motor drive rotates the turntable upon the base such that the cam following flanges of the lids are intermittently pivoted to open positions as they pass some of the cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: James Keifer, Alan Cusolito
  • Patent number: 5887448
    Abstract: A toy kit includes a ring base, a ring gem and/or a ring dome, and preferably a plurality of each component. A first work station for assembling a toy ring base with either a toy ring gem or a toy ring dome includes a base and an upright support structure attached to the base. A ram is movably mounted to the support structure so as to move between a most distal position with respect to the base and a most proximal position with respect to the base. The toy kit further includes a hollow, flexible tube having at least one open end, a particulate substance sized to pass within the open end of the tube and a liquid substance, and preferably a plurality of each. A second toy work station for assembling the tube with particulate or liquid substances includes a base and an upright support structure attached to the base and having a passage sized to accommodate particulates. A carriage is movably mounted to the support structure and has a holder configured to receive and retain the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Truman J. Gilbert, Mary Ellen G. Fosbenner, Lisa A. Gilde, Ernest D. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5886083
    Abstract: A moldable composition and method of making the same, the composition including a binding mixture and filler in the form of crystalline, irregular, approximately polygonally shaped particles. The binding mixture preferably includes polyvinyl-based binders such as polyvinyl alcohol, water, a cross-linking agent such as borax, and a humectant such as propylene glycol. Furthermore, a cellulose-based thickener may be added to the binding mixture, as may a pH-adjusting compound such as sodium carbonate. The crystalline particles preferably are ground styrene having a maximum dimension ranging from one-half to three millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack D. Mackey
  • Patent number: 5873765
    Abstract: A conventional computer is coupled to a data downloading station which in turn receives a downloadable toy. The downloading station includes a data transmitter such as an infrared light emitting diode while the toy includes a corresponding receiver or sensor such as an infrared sensor. Data is selected by the user operating the computer and is downloaded to the toy via the communication link while the toy is situated in proximity to the downloading station. Once the data has been downloaded, it is stored within a memory within the toy. Thereafter, the toy may be removed from the downloading station and operated in response to the stored data while completely independent from the downloading station and the computer. In one embodiment, the data downloading station replicates a miniature computer work station supporting a light emitting diode for transmitting infrared energy and operatively coupled to the computer. A doll having an infrared sensor supported thereon is seatable within the miniature work station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Rifkin, Peter Ar-Fu Lam, Donald C. Hartling
  • Patent number: 5873933
    Abstract: A malleable play material binder is combined with a substantially greater quantity of sand to form a granular malleable amorphous play material having an unusual tactile characteristic. The play material binder may comprise a conventional play material. In the preferred embodiment, the play material binder is formed by mixing a soluble cellulose, a polyvinyl alcohol, propylene glycol, water, sodium tetraborate, sodium carbonate and a light mineral oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc
    Inventor: Jack D. Mackey
  • Patent number: 5871385
    Abstract: A toy vehicle playset includes a trackway having a vehicle launcher coupled to a looped track portion and a dual tank unit positioned within the travel path of the toy vehicle through the trackway. The trackway further includes an exit ramp on the opposite side of the dual tank unit from the track loop which is coupled to a toy vehicle catcher and a display area. The dual tank unit includes a pair of tank portions separated by an intervening wall. The dual tank unit is supported within the trackway travel path such that either tank portion is alternatively positionable within the travel path of the toy vehicle. The playset further includes a multiply articulated robot arm supporting one or more thermally conductive tools or stamps which are immersible within the proximate one of the dual water tanks and appliable to the surface of the toy vehicle when resting in the toy vehicle catcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Larry R. Wood, Brian E. Walsh, Terence A. Choy
  • Patent number: 5859509
    Abstract: An adjustable speed control for use on a children's ride-on vehicle, where the speed control includes a switch assembly interposed between the battery and the motor of the vehicle. The switch assembly is selectively operable to connect the battery to the motor in one of a number of speed configurations, including a first speed configuration and a second speed configuration. An actuator is connected to the switch assembly and manipulable by a user to allow the user to operate the switch assembly to select a particular speed configuration from among the number of speed configurations. In one embodiment, a diode is disposed in series between the motor and battery in one of the speed configurations to provide a relatively current independent voltage drop between the motor and the battery. In an alternative embodiment, a childproof cover is disposed proximal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Bienz, Patrice M. Neaves
  • Patent number: 5853915
    Abstract: Battery pack for use in various electronic products are pivotably connected together by two parallel link assemblies which permit the two portions of the battery pack to be folded with respect to one another into various configurations. Each link assembly includes a rotary electrical connection, one link providing a supply path and the other link supplying a return path to the batteries in both casings. Wiper type contacts are supplied in each link. External contacts may be located in one of the two casings or one contact may be located on each of the two casings. In one embodiment a flexible printed circuit board wire trace is used to provide an electrical connection between opposing poles of cells in the two casings to eliminate the rotary electrical connection and potential for failure across such connection while still providing multiple configuration adjustability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Shohei Suto
  • Patent number: 5845724
    Abstract: A child's ride-on vehicle including a body portion configured to carry a child rider and at least three wheels mounted to the body portion and configured to allow the body portion to travel. The vehicle also includes a drive system with an electric motor and a battery, the drive system being activatable and connected to at least one of the wheels to rotate the wheel upon activation to thereby cause the vehicle to travel. A primary motor control system is operatively connected to the drive system and configured to allow the child rider to control activation of the drive system. A primary steering system is operatively connected to at least one of the wheels and configured to allow the child rider to selectively steer the vehicle by causing at least one of the wheels to turn relative to at least one other wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5823846
    Abstract: A circular hoop for use as an exercise and entertainment hoop includes a hollow tubular plastic body having a decorative layer supported thereon. The decorative layer in turn supports various decoration and patterns. The tubular body further includes a transparent or clear layer of plastic material or the like which captivates the decorative layer upon the tube and provides an abrasion resisting layer which protects the decorative patterns during use. An interior passage is formed within the hollow tube and a plurality of objects such as spherical balls are freely movable therein to provide additional amusement during operation of the exercise and entertainment hoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin F. Arriola, Tichakorn Chaikumnerd, Janet K. Simmons, Diana L. McDonough, Isaak Volynsky
  • Patent number: 5820436
    Abstract: A carrying case provides a storage space for toy building system components which include couplers and building pieces. The case has a hinged lid with apertures which can detachably receive and lockably mount the couplers. The apertures are arranged in an array of staggered rows laid out so that couplers mounted on the lid can be interconnected by the building pieces. Models can be built upon the mounted couplers in a desired form and configuration. Each aperture on the lid is configured to receive a coupler peg in an insertion area. The peg includes a neck and a head. In order to lockably mount the coupler, it is shifted laterally from the insertion area, so that the peg neck moves through a transition channel and into a clasping area where the coupler is locked in position. The coupler cannot be removed vertically from the locked position because the peg head is trapped below the lid, compressing the lid between the coupler and the peg head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe K. Pohlman
  • Patent number: 5816886
    Abstract: A base supports a closed loop trackway path within which a plurality of recesses are formed. A plurality of tiles shaped in correspondence to the various recesses are receivable within the recesses to lie within the trackway path. The recesses and tiles are shaped in distinctive shapes corresponding to various parts of speech. Each tile bears a visible word as well as a bar code encoded symbol set corresponding to the visible word. In addition, tiles bearing nouns are provided with pictorial representations of the nouns. A toy vehicle includes a drive mechanism for moving the vehicle upon the trackway path across the tiles. The vehicle further includes a sound circuit and bar code reader which is used to scan the bar codes of the tiles and audibilize the corresponding words. The recesses within the trackway path are arranged to assure the correct syntax of sentences formed by the words upon the various tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Cusolito
  • Patent number: 5803790
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central vertical longitudinal plane at least one road-contacting front wheel coupled to the chassis to rotate about an axis fixed perpendicularly to the central plane and at least a pair of road-contacting rear wheels coupled to the chassis for rotation about a common rear rotational axis perpendicular to the central plane. Separate rear wheels of the pair are located on either lateral side of the chassis in the central plane. One or more motors are provided and coupled with the rear wheels to selectively drive the rear wheels at least simultaneously in either linear direction, forward or rearward, or simultaneously in opposite linear directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Tilbor, Michael G. Hetman, Anthony R. Garr
  • Patent number: 5791964
    Abstract: A ratchet mechanism includes an outer gear having a recess formed therein and an aperture for supporting the gear upon a shaft. The outer wall of the recess defines a plurality of angled facets forming a saw-tooth configuration. A ratchet pawl includes a pair of opposed resilient spring tabs which engage the angled facet saw-tooth combination in one direction of rotation while disengaging in the opposite direction. A second gear is secured to the ratchet pawl and defines an aperture for rotational support upon a shaft. A frame supports the ratchet mechanism in engagement with a pivotally supported drive arm. The drive arm includes a gear segment having a plurality of gear teeth engaging one of the gears of the ratchet mechanism. The drive arm further includes a coupling flange at the opposite end from the gear segment which is securable to a source of reciprocating power. A bevel gear engages the remaining gear of the ratchet mechanism and is rotatably supported upon the frame by a driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe K. Pohlman
  • Patent number: 5767655
    Abstract: A toy vehicle is operatively driven by an electric motor having a storage capacitor coupled in parallel therewith. The capacitor and motor are coupled to a pair of underside contacts on the toy vehicle for charging. The toy vehicle underside further includes an aperture and an elongated slot. A cooperating charger/launcher includes a vehicle receiving surface upon which a wheel pedestal is positioned between the area at the rear of the vehicle for raising the vehicle rear wheels. The charger/launcher further includes an interlock post received within the aperture formed on the vehicle undersurface and a safety rib received within the elongated slot of the vehicle. A pair of electrical contacts are positioned on each side of the protective rib and are coupled to a battery supply within the launcher for charging the vehicle capacitor. A pit-stop recharger includes a pivotable gate and pit area within which a second recharging apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Ostendorff, Lena Bartok
  • Patent number: D397737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Harrod
  • Patent number: D399270
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Harrod
  • Patent number: D410047
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Jones, Jr., Adam W. Callif