Patents Assigned to Mattel
  • Patent number: 5149288
    Abstract: A toy representing an animal including a body portion, a pair of openings in the body portion, strands of material representing a first appendage projecting externally through one of the openings, strands of material representing a second appendage projecting externally through the second of the openings, and means connecting the strands of material representing a first appendage to the strands of material representing a second appendage within the body of the toy whereby withdrawing a portion of one of the strands of material causes the other of the strands of material to draw into the body of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Kelley
  • Patent number: 5147238
    Abstract: A doll including a torso, a pair of arms rotatably joined to the torso, a pair of legs rotatably fixed to the torso, a pair of feet rotatably fixed to the legs, apparatus within each of the legs for raising the feet, and apparatus actuated by movement of the arms for actuating the apparatus within each of the legs for raising the feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Kelley, Howard R. Stern
  • Patent number: 5141464
    Abstract: A touch responsive animated toy figure is fabricated of a soft or plush material and supports an internal housing formed of a rigid plastic material or the like. A rigid head chassis is supported within the head portion of the plush figure and is pivotally secured to a neck extension of the internal body housing. A motor driven operative mechanism produces a pivotal motion of the figure's head for a predetermined time interval each time the motor is energized. A reciprocating tongue motion is provided in response to head motion to cause a tongue to be successively extended and withdrawn from the head portion of the figure during head motion. A sensor located on the outer portion of the plush figure is operatively coupled to the motor control causing the initiation of an operative cycle for a predetermined interval each time the sensor is touched or manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard R. Stern, Ronald MacBain, Ben Guerrero
  • Patent number: 5133551
    Abstract: A sound producing game bat includes a generally cylindrical slide tube having a center bore defined therein and a fluted outer surface. A generally cylindrical slide weight is received within the center bore of the slide tube and is captivated at the handle end by a resilient dampening plug. The hitting end of the game bat includes a sound producing unit having a sound unit housing within which a diaphragm and diaphragm cone are resiliently supported. During swings of the game bat by the batter, the slide weight travels through the center bore of the slide tube and strikes the diaphragm cone causing the diaphragm to vibrate and producing sound effects. A foam covering is molded upon the game bat to enclose virtually the entire bat in a secure attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Handy, Ake L. Larsson
  • Patent number: 5133550
    Abstract: A football-shaped game ball is formed of a resilient foam material and defines an oblate spheroidal outer surface having generally pointed ends. A plurality of rib portions extend outwardly from the outer surface and define nonsymmetrical cross-sections. In the preferred embodiment shown, the rib portions define generally saw-tooth shaped cross-sections which may be gripped in either of two gripping manners and which provide differing alternative aerodynamic characteristics depending upon the direction of spin imposed upon the football.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: John N. Handy
  • Patent number: 5118319
    Abstract: A doll including a body and appendages, a plurality of light positioned to light on portions of the doll, apparatus positioned within the doll for projecting an image to focus at a point outside of the doll, and apparatus for causing the lights to light in a predetermined sequence and the image to be projected from the doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin K. Smith, Daria Pietrowski, Doren Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 5096451
    Abstract: A doll including a body, the body being shaped to depict the body of a mermaid, a head, the body and head having generally hollow interiors, apparatus positioned within the body and the head for providing sound, and apparatus for activating the apparatus for providing sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin K. Smith, Liliane Davidson, William Hart
  • Patent number: 5094644
    Abstract: A doll includes a hollow head and torso and generally replicates a human infant in appearance. The head portion defines an orifice for the introduction of a liquid such as water through simulated nursing. The water is initially received within the doll interior in a first reservoir which is effectively isolated from a second reservoir within the doll torso by a siphon tube coupling. The siphon tube coupling serves to delay the transfer of liquid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir until a predetermined amount of liquid has been introduced. The second reservoir includes a flexible wall portion which bulges outwardly when filled with water to trigger a switch which enables an internally supported sound generating system to produce crying action. In an alternate embodiment, the first and second reservoirs are combined within a common water tank and interconnected by a siphon passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Kelley
  • Patent number: 5094645
    Abstract: A soft bodied toy including an outer layer of material, an inner layer of material, a relatively dense object positioned within the inner and outer layers, apparatus fixing the outer and inner layers together to provide a space therebetween, stuffing material placed in the space to provide a soft cushion, the inner layer being of a form to provide a cavity for the hard inner mechanism, and apparatus for holding the mechanism firmly within the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard R. Stern, Asako Ota, Yasuko Harvey
  • Patent number: 5085610
    Abstract: A dual sound toy train set includes a toy track formed in a continuous loop and having guiding rails on either side thereof. An electrically powered toy train engine is coupled to the track and includes an internal battery power source, an electric drive motor and a motor control unit. An ultrasonic microphone is supported upon the toy train engine and operatively coupled to the motor control unit. A sound unit includes a housing supporting a pair of air bellows having one way inlet valves attached thereto. A movable pump handle is operative to collapse the air bellows and produce pressurized air streams which are coupled by hollow tubes to an ultrasound whistle and an audible sound whistle. The audible sound whistle produces exciting play sounds similar to those produced by conventional locomotives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Engel, Joseph W. Franke, Alex R. Piyevsky, Enis J. Unalp
  • Patent number: 5076520
    Abstract: An infant toy support includes a cross member having a pair of angular leg members pivotally attached to each end thereof. A lock mechanism is provided for each of the leg members which permits the height of the cross member to be adjusted between several height positions. Additionally, the lock member provides for the pivotal folding of the toy support structure to a collapsed more compact configuration for storage and transport. Angled members are provided for each leg member to further captivate the infant beneath the cross member. A plurality of straps extend downwardly from the cross member to suspend toy articles above the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay M. Bro
  • Patent number: 5057050
    Abstract: A surface skimming toy defines a generally planar base having a flat under surface. An upwardly extending fin is joined to the upper surface of the base member. In one embodiment, a lightweight aesthetically appealing body portion is supported upon the upper surface. In still further alternate embodiments, a pair of elongated upwardly extending side fins are secured to the upper surface of the planar base. The surface skimming toy is launched in close proximity to a smooth extended surface and assumes a skimming travel in close spacing to the surface while being supported upon an extremely thin layer of air flowing beneath the under surface of the skimming toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter C. Hill
  • Patent number: 5052969
    Abstract: A toy doll having a kiss activated play feature includes a doll having a torso, arm and leg appendages, and a head pivotally secured by a neck extension to the torso. A plurality of sparkle elements are supported on the doll exterior and an electronic energizing circuit for the sparkle elements is supported within a cavity located in the doll torso. The head is supported by a neck extension in a pivotal attachment in which a switch supported within the torso is actuated by backward motion or tilting of the doll head with respect to the torso. A return spring is provided which urges the head to a vertical position and which resists the backward tilting of the head. The child actuates the flashing of the sparkle elements by kissing or caressing the face or frontal area of the doll head with sufficient force to overcome the spring and tilt the head back a sufficient distance to actuate the flashing switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin K. Smith
  • Patent number: 5032102
    Abstract: A doll is fabricated of a combination of waterproof materials together with overlying fabric layers formed of a water dissolvable fabric. In addition, embodiments are shown in which facial appearance features are formed of a water dissolvable material to alter the facial appearance of the doll. In its intended use, the doll is immersed in a vessel of water causing the dissolvable fabric layers and dissolvable facial appearance elements to be completely removed from the doll exposing the underlying waterproof elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Liliane Davidson, George Dunsay, Cathy Larson, Robin K. Smith
  • Patent number: 5022884
    Abstract: A temperature activated toy vehicle includes a vehicle body within which a temperature responsive spring is supported. One or more vehicle body parts are movably supported within the vehicle body and are movable between alternate positions to provide alternate configurations of the vehicle. The temperature responsive spring is coupled to the movable body portions to provide alternative configurations of the toy vehicle in response to spring temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Eric C. Ostendorff
  • Patent number: 5021929
    Abstract: A battery powered flashlight includes a housing defining an interior cavity which supports an internal battery power source and flashlight bulb in operative communication with a movable switch also supported upon the housing. The housing further defines an opening and a generally parabolic reflector communicating the output light of the flashlight bulb to the housing opening. A simulated toy figure is joined to and appears to extend from the upper portion of the housing and supports a miniature replica of the flashlight. A curved light transmissive light pipe is coupled between the miniature light replica and the flashlight bulb in an optical coupling which permits a portion of the flashlight bulb output energy to be coupled through the light pipe and directed outwardly from the miniature flashlight to produce a secondary light beam. Movable colored filters are supported within the housing to permit coloration of the light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Armen Danielian
  • Patent number: 5017173
    Abstract: A torsional joint armature for poseable figure is formed of a one-piece molded plastic material fabricated from a malleable nonelastic deformable material. The armature is articulated by a plurality of molded joints each of which includes one or more torsional deformation elements to provide the appropriate bending characteristics of the armature. Certain joints are provided with additional motion limiting webs to restrict joint motion in undesired directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace H. Shapero, John Sneddon
  • Patent number: 5011449
    Abstract: An appendage motion responsive doll includes a body having a torso portion and outwardly extending leg and arm appendages as well as a neck and head simulation. The arm appendages are pivotally secured to the torso to permit motion with respect to the torso. The arms are further fabricated in a manner permitting bending or flexing of the arm appendages. One or more bend sensors are supported within one or more of the arms and cooperate with an internally supported voice unit to produce a selected group of sounds corresponding to the degree of arm motion and bending induced by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Handy, Sterling S. Spector
  • Patent number: 4993988
    Abstract: A toy figure includes a molded plastic head having defined therein a simulated hair bow. The hair bow defines a generally barrel-shaped center portion. A clip-on hair piece includes a generally U-shaped resilient clip adapted to be received upon the barrel-shaped center portion of the simulated bow in a resilient snap-fit attachment. A quantity of simulated or artificial hair is secured to the resilient clip to form a ponytail-like plume of hair. The clip-on hair piece is particularly adapted to be easily used by small children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael K. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: D317957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Sue Horvath, Gordon Shireman, Robin Smith