Patents Assigned to Those Characters From Cleveland
  • Patent number: 5224625
    Abstract: A spray apparatus includes a spray device which indirectly controls the activation and deactivation of a pump in a remote pumping mechanism. The spray device includes a control assembly which is adapted to control the fluid flow through the device. The control assembly includes a button which is normally biased into engagement with a fluid passage and can be manually manipulated to allow fluid to flow through the passage. The fluid passage in the spray device is connected by a conduit to the pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism includes a pump, a fluid reservoir, and a pressure sensitive switch mounted within a housing. When activated, the pump draws fluid from the reservoir and forces the fluid through the pressure sensitive switch and the conduit to the fluid passage in the spray device. The button in the control assembly can be manually manipulated to selectively allow fluid to flow through the fluid passage and out through a nozzle in the spray device in the form of a stream or spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland
    Inventor: Eugene S. Holtier
  • Patent number: 5205773
    Abstract: A squeeze toy has an outer body formed of generally resiliently deformable material which defines a main cavity. A portion of the body extends inwardly into the main cavity to form a receptacle. The receptacle includes a mouth which is dimensioned to enable a projectile to be inserted into and be supported by the receptacle. The receptacle has a configuration which normally causes an interference fit with the projectile to retain the projectile in the receptacle and prevent the receptacle from being removed through the mouth. The body of the squeeze toy can be deformed to cause a portion of the receptacle to be forced outward through the mouth and eject the projectile from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland
    Inventors: Ingrid M. Koepcke, Michael A. Robertson, Richard E. Knight, Edward G. Chanter, Thomas G. Barnum
  • Patent number: 5181877
    Abstract: An apparatus for simulating a licking motion comprises a tongue disposed within a housing. The tongue is pivotally connected along one end to a main gear wheel and partially extends through an aperture formed in the housing. A motor and gear mechanism engage and rotate the main gear wheel in response to a control assembly. As the main gear wheel rotates, the tongue moves within the aperture at varying angles to simulate a licking motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland
    Inventor: Jerzy Perkitny
  • Patent number: 5062647
    Abstract: A toy for testing and simulating the guidance skills of a user is provided. The toy includes a support unit for removably mounting the toy drum upon the limb of the user and a circular drum removably mounted for rotational upon said support unit. A travel path is formed upon the outer diameter of the drum and a travel element is positioned above the drum. A control mechanism is provided for altering the position of the travel element relative to the travel path. In operation, a motor rotates the drum in a first direction and an opposite direction relative to the support unit and a circuit selectively controls the rotation direction of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Those Characters from Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Chanter, Randy J. Randleman
  • Patent number: 5011451
    Abstract: A music box subassembly and a vehicle structure which incorporates the music box subassembly in such a way that the vehicle structure is useful both as a toy vehicle and also as a collectible music box. The vehicle structure offers selectable operating options. In one operating option, the music plays as the vehicle rolls, and in the other operating option, the vehicle "freewheels", without playing music which makes it attractive as a toy vehicle. Moreover, the vehicle structure is designed to incorporate a music box which is capable of producing rich, resonant sound of high quality, and to drive the music box with a precision designed to take advantage of the sound producing qualities of the music box. Also, the vehicle structure is designed to produce rich, resonant sound of high tonal quality music in a relatively compact package, which is attractive in both the toy and collectible art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene S. Holtier
  • Patent number: 4881843
    Abstract: A joint structure having first and second members each including parallel surfaces and a common pivot axis extending perpendicular to the surfaces. One of the surfaces includes an array of detents and the other surface includes an array of recesses. The detents and recesses have discrete angular positions in which they are engaged with each other and retain the joint members in discrete angular positions. The structure also includes a pivot pin having a base portion connected with the first joint member and an integral resilient portion extending into an opening with a recess having a cam surface which is formed in the second joint member. The pin has a central axis which defines the pivot axis for the joint members. The integral resilient portion of the pin includes a plurality of resilient fingers and a cam surface. The cam surfaces of the fingers and the recess of the opening cooperate to cause the fingers resiliently to bend toward the pivot axis when the first and second joint members are urged apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy J. Randleman
  • Patent number: 4832648
    Abstract: An aminated toy figurine which may be used as a cover for a book having a head and a body including a trunk and at least a pair of protruding appendages such as a pair of arms. Extending between the head and the trunk is a pivot member. One end of the pivot member is attached to the stuffing material inside the head. The other end of the pivot member is attached to the inside of the fabric forming the trunk. Extending and attached along the inside of the arms is a length of elastic. The length and elasticity of the elastic is such that when the arms are pulled together about a vertical surface, the elastic is tensioned forcing the fabric of the trunk and the pivot member to fulcrum against the vertical surface raising the head of the figurine. Alternatively, when the arms are moved apart, the tension on the elastic is reduced allowing gravitational forces to act on the head permitting the pivot member to pivot away from the vertical surface and thus lower the head of the figurine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Robert Theobald, Judity Thayer
  • Patent number: 4828526
    Abstract: A toy figurine and a fluid actuated animated module for ready detachment and attachment to the toy figurine. The toy figurine includes a means for generating and transmitting pressurized fluid which is utilized to activate an animated feature contained within the module. The figurine also includes a socket assembly to facilitate the detachment and attachment of the module and provide a fluid seal between the figurine and the module. The socket assembly includes a movable member having a front end surface which is substantially flush with the outer covering of the figurine when the module is detached. The movable member is capable of assuming a depressed position so as to permit the attachment of the module to the socket assembly and facilitate the flow of pressurized fluid from the figurine to the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland
    Inventors: Thomas P. Schneider, Randy J. Randleman
  • Patent number: 4824413
    Abstract: The toy vehicle of the present invention includes a body having two idler wheels and a battery driven power pack rotatably mounted therein, the power pack having a driven wheel mounted thereon and rotating therewith. The rear driven wheel has 360.degree. of movement relative to the body selectively to allow the body to be driven in any direction. The body has a battery powered flashlight assembly mounted therein and may be adapted to receive a plurality of snap-on pieces to change the appearance and apparent function of the toy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Those Characters from Cleveland
    Inventor: Jerzy Perkitny
  • Patent number: 4822316
    Abstract: A toy vehicle with a joint structure supporting the wheels of the toy vehicle in a manner that enables the vehicle and its wheels to be placed in a variety of unique and attractive orientations. The toy vehicle has a chassis and at least three wheels connected with the chassis by means of the joint structure. The joint structure enables each wheel to be independently adjusted relative to the chassis to selectively adjust the relative orientation of the chassis and one or more of the wheels. The joint structure can be adjusted by a manually applied torque, but when the joint structure is in an adjusted position, it can maintain its adjusted position under gravitational/inertial forces applied to it by the toy vehicle. Thus, the joint can be "adjustably retained" in selected adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph E. Shaffer, Edward G. Chanter, Randy j. Randleman, Robert H. Yeager
  • Patent number: D468372
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: Suzanne Foschino
  • Patent number: D468781
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Those Characters from Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: Suzanne Foschino
  • Patent number: D469479
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Those Characters from Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: Suzanne Foschino
  • Patent number: D484927
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: Suzanne Foschino
  • Patent number: D291819
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Schneider, Susan E. Trentel
  • Patent number: D296574
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventors: Robyn L. Hill, Michael A. Robertson, Randy J. Randleman, Susan E. Trentel
  • Patent number: D315763
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Schneider, Randy J. Randleman
  • Patent number: D359620
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Those Characters from Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Spangler
  • Patent number: D359621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Those Characters from Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Spangler
  • Patent number: D359622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Spangler