Patents Assigned to Mattel
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Patent number: 9746558Abstract: A proximity sensing apparatus includes a device housing, a plurality of energy emitters, an energy detector, a reflective member, and a controller system. The proximity sensing apparatus channels reflected energy to the energy detector and determines the location of the source of reflection. The channeling of energy to the energy detector may reduce manufacturing costs by utilizing less hardware while maintaining a high level of reliability.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Vladimir Sosnovskiy
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Patent number: 9744466Abstract: An upsell engine that provides a purchaser of a first item the opportunity to purchase a second item that is related to said first item. The first item may be a virtual item and the second item may be a real world item related to or a representation of the virtual item. The upsell engine preferably tracks the preferences or personal information of the user in order to upsell real world representations of the virtual item.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Robb Fujioka
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Patent number: 9747475Abstract: A system and method for displaying a virtual experience based on a presence of a physical object is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system includes a screen, a target, and a reader. The reader detects a presence of the target within a predetermined proximity and communicates with the screen to display a virtual environment based on the presence of the target.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Robb Fujioka
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Patent number: 9731208Abstract: Video game systems for executing instructions according to a video game contained on an item of first media including: an item of second media containing data defining an aspect of the video game; and a video game console including a housing, a first media device supported by the housing, a second media device supported by the housing, and a control unit supported by the housing and configured to control the first media device to read the item of first media and to control the second media device to read the item of second media.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Bradbury, Daniel Stelung
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Patent number: 9733504Abstract: A mobile computer with a detachable frame is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a mobile computer system includes a tablet computer comprising a display screen and a frame. The frame is removably attached to the tablet computer. The frame is taller than the tablet computer to provide an opening between a top side of the tablet computer and the frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Robb Fujioka, Justin Nishiki, Douglas Quon Woo, Kenneth Randall, John Lee
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Patent number: 9731210Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher is disclosed. The launcher includes a cavity configured for receiving a plurality of toy vehicles. Furthermore, the launcher includes a launching mechanism that launches a single toy vehicle while loading the next vehicle into the launching position in a single action. Additionally, the launching mechanism includes an actuator for triggering the launching of the toy vehicles. Moreover, the launcher is configured for easy access to the storage of the plurality of toy vehicles in the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Berrigan Lennon
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Patent number: 9724615Abstract: A toy doll with a reconfigurable clothing article is disclosed. In particular, a toy doll with a reconfigurable clothing article and an electronic system that generates outputs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the clothing article can be reconfigured relative to the body of the toy doll. In one embodiment, the body of the toy doll includes a display portion that can be used to generate various visual displays.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Patricia Chan, Kelly Rae Matheny, Steven Ryniker, James P. Zielinski
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Patent number: 9717999Abstract: An infant entertainment apparatus is disclosed. The infant entertainment apparatus includes a housing with an internal cavity and a lens mechanism disposed within the internal cavity. The lens mechanism is configured to project light from the housing in a first direction when the housing is coupled to a mobile arm and the lens mechanism is configured to project light from the housing in a second direction when the housing is decoupled from the mobile arm. Thus, the infant entertainment apparatus may project light downwards into a crib or upwards away from a crib.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: John Thaddeus Smokowski, Michael Armbruster
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Patent number: 9721082Abstract: Computing devices having access control are disclosed. The computing device may include a display, one or more processors, a non-transitory storage media, a communication interface, and an operating system. The storage media may include instructions stored therein that are configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The stored instructions may include instructions for reading an identifier (ID) of a physical key via the communication interface. The stored instructions may additionally include instructions for determining whether the ID read from the physical key is included on a list of paired physical keys. The stored instructions may further include instructions to communicate to the operating system an authorization signal equivalent to input of a valid password when the ID read from the physical key is included on the list of paired physical keys.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Robb Fujioka
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Patent number: 9707488Abstract: A toy vehicle is disclosed that is configured to be driven by a pull cord that is inserted through the axle of a drive wheel of the toy vehicle, such that the drive wheel of the toy vehicle is energized through movement of the driving pull cord in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of intended travel of the toy vehicle. This configuration allows a user to launch multiple toy vehicles arranged in a side-by-side arrangement using a single pull cord, and moreover by pulling such single pull cord through a single pull stroke. This configuration also allows the simultaneous launching of multiple toy vehicles aligned in a single row when multiple pull cords are provided an engage a single actuator to withdraw all such pull cords in a single pulling stroke. Launchers for use with such a toy vehicle, and methods of using the same, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Berrigan August Romig Lennon
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Patent number: 9707489Abstract: A playset including a track is provided. The track may include a main section and a pivotal section. In a first mode, the pivotal section may be triggered to disconnect from the main portion to cause an object travelling on the track to be launched or disconnected from the track. In a second mode, the pivotal section may be triggered to disconnect from the main portion to cause a projection extending from the pivotal portion to pin the object to the track.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Stacy O'Connor
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Patent number: 9707490Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible toy vehicle playset convertible from a first configuration to a second, altered configuration upon a predefined interaction with a toy vehicle. A convertible track segment includes a rotating platform mounted above a base and a trigger located on the rotating platform that may be engaged by a toy vehicle. The trigger is configured to cause the convertible track segment to undergo a transformation from a section of a toy track set to an alternative structure, such as a display trophy with the toy vehicle positioned atop the trophy, which transformation occurs only when the rotating platform is within a specific, predetermined rotational angle range with respect to the base.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Andrey Cherednichenko, Berrigan August Romig Lennon
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Patent number: 9707487Abstract: An articulating toy figurine comprises a body, a member coupled to the body via a shaft and an actuator pivotally coupled to the member. The shaft may comprise opposing first and second ends disposed within the member and body, respectively. The first end may comprise a bevel gear. The actuator may be pivotally coupled to the member to drive a gear assembly disposed in an internal cavity of the member. The gear assembly may be operably coupled to the bevel gear of the shaft to rotate the body around a rotation axis defined by the shaft. The rotation axis defines an angle ?1 that is less than 90 degrees, preferably 30 degrees to 60 degrees, relative to an axis defined by the member. The actuator may be movable from a first position to a second position to cause the body to rotate 360 degrees around the rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Patricia Chan, Steven D. Ryniker, Yun Keung Lau, Wai Hang Shum
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Patent number: 9706278Abstract: A wireless modular speaker is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus has an enclosure having a top plate, a bottom plate, a front face, a rear face, a first side face, and a second side face, where at least a portion of the enclosure has a cover. The apparatus also has a mounting hole, a gripping mechanism within the mounting hole configured to hold the enclosure in a fixed position, one or more loudspeakers, a battery to supply power to the one or more loudspeakers, a wireless module to connect the apparatus and another device and a sensor mechanism that detects the presence of other speakers near the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Robb Fujioka
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Patent number: 9687750Abstract: A disc launching toy is disclosed comprising a main body and arms connected to the body. When one or both of the arms are pulled outwardly from the body, the body pivots upward. A disc launcher aperture is located at the bottom side of the body, such that when one or more of the arms are pulled outwardly from the body and the body pivots upward, the aperture swings up towards a generally horizontal presentation. Once the aperture reaches a substantially horizontal orientation, continued pulling of the arms causes the disc launcher to fire a disc, such that both the pivoting of the body and the launching of a disc result from a single, substantially continuous movement.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: John R. Rossi, Wei Bin Xie
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Patent number: 9682327Abstract: Disclosed herein is a toy launcher including a base having a slot and a housing movably coupled to move along the slot. The housing has a latch pivotally coupled to the housing and the latch has a first portion and a second portion. The weight of the first portion of the latch is greater than the weight of the second portion of the latch. The second portion of the latch engages with a toy and the first portion of the latch corresponds to a rear portion of the toy. A first engagement element is coupled to the base near a first end of the base and a second engagement element is coupled to the housing and movable along the slot. The second engagement element is configured to couple with the first engagement element to retain the housing in a fixed position against a force of a biasing member. A release mechanism is coupled to the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Douglas E. Bashaw, Christian Colquhoun, Paul Schmid
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Publication number: 20170165586Abstract: A toy set is provided including a reconfigurable toy capable of transitioning between a first configuration and a second configuration. The toy set also includes a launch mechanism having an activation means and a toy receiver. A propulsion mechanism transfers movement of the activation means to the reconfigurable toy to propel the reconfigurable toy in a second configuration from the launch mechanism along a propulsion axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2017Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: David Alan Sheltman, Kevin Kai Cao, Gustavo Ricardo Ferreyra
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Publication number: 20170157504Abstract: A toy apparatus includes a base piece having a distal end, a movable elongated member having a first end and a second end, and a tether coupled to the first end of the movable elongated member. Tension applied to the tether moves the movable elongated member from an open first position to a closed second position. The toy apparatus is configured to freely slide on a surface due to momentum generated when an initial pushing force is applied to the toy apparatus. The tension applied to the tether causes the tether to become taut, without other human contact to the toy apparatus. In the closed second position, the second end of the movable elongated member is closer to the distal end of the base elongated member, and the base elongated member and the movable elongated member are capable of retaining a target piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicant: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: James Austin Rucker, Derek S. Handy, Scott H. Derman
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Patent number: D789106Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: Devin J. Roberts
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Patent number: D795263Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Robb Fujioka, Justin Nishiki
