Patents Examined by Ali Abdelwahed
  • Patent number: 6652349
    Abstract: A hanging ornament adapted to be hung from a tree or the like including synchronized, animated elements accompanied by the playback of audible media. A direct current motor powers a plurality of synchronized rocker/cam assemblies, each of which controls and synchronizes the animation of individual facial features which are visible through the ornament housing. An internal source of direct current power energizes the DC motor and, upon activation, energizes the playback of recorded media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: PBC International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Wichter
  • Patent number: 6652350
    Abstract: A toy for attachment to a motor vehicle seat. The toy comprising a head pivotally or fixedly mounted onto a base platform that is attached to a vehicle seat or headrest. There is an internal air actuate mechanism that, when actuated, forces the pivotally mounted head to turn in a predetermined direction. Additionally, the mouth moves and eyes illuminate as the head turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Phillips
  • Patent number: 6645031
    Abstract: A children's playboard of the type comprising a backing having a front surface of a cloth material for adhering figurines thereto and a back surface is disclosed. The children's playboard has a support structure. The support structure is fixedly attached to the playboard and has a pair of spaced bracing members and a pair of connection plates. Each bracing member has a first leg that is detachably joined to one of the pair of connection plates along a hinge. The bracing members are extendable at an angle from the playboard. The bracing members have a second leg and a third leg that are joined at an apex portion. The second leg having a greater length than the third leg. The apex is located between the second and third legs and provides support for the bracing members against a base surface wherein the backing member can be supported in at least two different angles to the base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Learning Curve International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rothkopf, Donald E. Toht, Gary D. Aigner, Mary Lenehan, K. Dale Weathington, Lisa Gelfond
  • Patent number: 6641337
    Abstract: A cutting insert suitable for the milling of gray cast iron has a cutting corner defined between two angularly adjoining cutting edges at junctions between a rake face formed on one of the sides and respective clearance faces extending between the sides, a spherically segmental indentation being formed in the rake face at the corner and intersecting the cutting edges with respective arcs where the cutting edges adjoin at the corner, the cutting edges being linear over stretches thereof extending away from the arcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Gerhard Rothballer
  • Patent number: 6632122
    Abstract: A toy vehicle is configured for itinerant maneuvers and is programmed by manually drawing a path on an exposed surface of a mechanical touch screen assembly on the vehicle. A microprocessor, coupled with the touch screen assembly, reads the manually drawn path and controls movement of the vehicle to follow the manually drawn path. In one embodiment, the drawn path is erased to enter a new path by pivoting the first sheet of the assembly away from the second sheet and, in another embodiment, by separating the first and second sheets by sliding a horizontal plate between the sheets. A sensor on the vehicle detects the presence of a stylus in a holder. The microprocessor responds to the presence to initiate the itinerant movement and/or activate a visual indicator or an audio generator or both in the toy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Klitsner, Brian P. Clemens, Philip H. Neal, Stephen N. Weiss, Yeung Chung Wong, Jesse Dorogusker, Charles S. McCall
  • Patent number: 6629484
    Abstract: A cutter wheel for forming scribe lines on a brittle plate has a disk with two side planes. The disk has an edge formed at the outer periphery of the disk and a shaft hole formed at the center of the disk for inserting a rotational shaft. Further, at least one groove is formed to extend from a surface of one of the side planes along the shaft hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Soyama, Kazuya Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6629873
    Abstract: A swinging bob toy having a middle bob with a non-cylindrically symmetric internal structure. The center of mass is located near the middle of the bore axis, and the percentage azimuthal variation V in the moment of inertia I about an axis in the equatorial plane, given by V=100×[I(&phgr;max)−I(&phgr;min)]/I(&phgr;max), is minimized, for instance by positioning the internal components to produce a weight distribution with n-fold symmetry, where n≧3. In one preferred embodiment, the bobs are equipped with lights powered by on-board batteries. Flat cylindrical batteries are mounted on an equatorial circuit board with their axes of symmetry perpendicular to the bore axis. To allow battery replacement, the top and bottom halves of each bob are removably attached by screw-secured posts parallel to, but offset from, the bore axis. An on/off switch is accessible via a small aperture through a transparent outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Laurence J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6626809
    Abstract: A machining center is provided with a cutter depot structure comprising a cutter socket, a cutter disk, and a round machine frame. The cutter socket is rotatably mounted on the periphery of the cutter disk by a retaining pin which is put through an L-shaped rod of the cutter socket. The L-shaped rod is provided with a roller. The cutter disk is provided with an annular stop surface. The round machine frame is provided with a wearproof annular pad having a cut. The cutter socket in motion is confined by the stop surface of the cutter disk and the annular pad of the machine frame such that the cutter socket is kept in the horizontal state. The cutter socket is turned on the retaining pin to facilitate the inverting of the cutter, thereby resulting in reduction in length of a cutter exchanging arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Yaw-Der Hwang
  • Patent number: 6626730
    Abstract: A foldable device suited for toys comprises a connecting rod and a retractable cylinder both sleeved by a toy shank support, wherein a bottom end of the connecting rod is connected to a transmission device that can force the connecting rod to move downward and upward, characterized in that a first snapping bead box is installed at a bottom end of the retractable cylinder, the first snapping bead box is equipped with a snapping bead and a spring, one end of the connecting rod is inserted into and passes through the first snapping bead box, a backside of the snapping bead leans against the connecting rod and is in contact with the sidewall of the first snapping bead box through a spring, and a recess is provided on the connecting rod above the first snapping bead box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Jui Hsia Yu
  • Patent number: 6623326
    Abstract: A sound producing unit and a light emitting unit are provided in the toy body so as to be actuated when combined proximally with another toy body. A battery-powered, electro-mechanical device includes a bipolar magnet, which automatically generates sound-effects and flashing lights depending on its position. The stimulus may include at least one of a sound producing unit or a flashing light emitting unit arranged in at least one of the proximally located combined toy vehicle bodies. The device includes an actuator/sensor, an electronic circuit board, a sound-effects generator, an amplifier, a speaker, LED lamps and driver. Combinable toy vehicles and the like include toy vehicle bodies such as battling starships with at least one detachably combined toy adapted to actuate a stimulus appealing to the sense such as at least one of a sound producing unit and a light emitting unit arranged in at least one of the toys and the proximally located combined toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Judkins
  • Patent number: 6619890
    Abstract: A broach tool comprises a very stiff backing member and has an arbor adapted to be received into the hollow spindle of a machine tool, for example a multi-axis, computer controlled machining center. The backing member carries a plurality of cutting points disposed to perform successive cutting operations as the broach tool is pushed through a workpiece by relative movement of a worktable and the machine spindle. The broach tool is formed with externally extending passageways to supply coolant to the cutting points. The coolant may be supplied through the machine spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Christopher P R Hill
  • Patent number: 6620022
    Abstract: A stand-alone drive mechanism for a toy racing car. The mechanism includes individually controlled motors for operating simulated main drive wheels of a race car vehicle, a semi-concealed actual drive wheel for the vehicle, and a steering system. The mechanism is principally intended for use in connection with a construction toy set such as “K'NEX,” to enable construction of toy drag racing vehicles and the like. The simulated main drive wheels are elevated slightly above the support surface and can be rotated independently of the actual drive wheel, to simulate a “burn-out” sequence which typically precedes a drag race. By means of a remote radio control, the main drive wheels can be initially rotated to simulate “burn-out”, followed immediately by operation of the actual drive wheel to send a vehicle down a race path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Connector Set Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Joseph Jay Smith, Tony Garr
  • Patent number: 6620021
    Abstract: An oscillation device of a motion toy includes a variety of moveable shells configured for receiving the oscillation device, a first transmission box, a first link member, and an end arcuate groove near in one of the shells. One or more cams are provided on the first transmission box. Each cam is coupled to a first shaft of the first transmission box so that during a rotation of the cams as activated by the first shaft, another shell is capable of being pushed by one cam. Hence, the cams and the first link member are operative to move together wherein the first link member moves reciprocally in the arcuate groove, thereby enabling an oscillation by the moving first link member to move the another shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Da-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 6612897
    Abstract: A toy includes a housing, a plurality of buttons arranged to initiate playback of a tune or other sounds, a transparent enclosure containing a plurality of balls, an agitator extending into the enclosure, a motor mounted within the housing for causing the agitator to oscillate and propel balls that encounter the agitator against the walls of the enclosure, a sound generator and speaker, and control circuitry for causing the sound generator to play selected sounds upon pressing of one of the buttons, and for intermittently activating the agitator during playback of the sounds. The housing of the toy may be arranged to resemble a piano, and the buttons may be configured to resemble keys of the piano.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Shelcore Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael Greenberg
  • Patent number: 6599161
    Abstract: An airfoil launching system having a rod with a structure attached to a first end of the rod. A pusher holds a ring airfoil and has a sufficient coefficient of friction that the ring airfoil will generally rotate with the pusher and is rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod. Propulsive force is provided by resilient bands connected to the structure outward from the rod and to the pusher outward from the central aperture of the pusher. A string guide is rotatably attached to the rod and has apertures through which generally non-resilient cords, the first ends of which are attached to the pusher outward from the central aperture, pass. The second ends of the generally non-resilient cords are connected to each other, preferably with a pliable grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: John W. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6592422
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a toy figure in combination with a toy megaphone. The toy figure includes a circuit board to store pre-programmed audio outputs having different volume levels and a speaker to emit the pre-programmed audio outputs. The toy figure also includes a switch to activate the emitting of an audio output with a first volume level, as well as a sensor that when activated triggers the toy figure to emit a second audio output with a second volume level that is different than the first volume level. The toy megaphone has the ability to activate the sensor such that the toy figure emits the second audio output. When the toy figure is activated through the switch, the toy figure will emit the first audio output with a first volume level until the toy megaphone comes in proximity to the sensor in the toy figure, at which point the toy figure will emit the second pre-programmed audio output that has a second volume level different from the first volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Rehco, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Rehkemper, Jeffrey Rehkemper
  • Patent number: 6589095
    Abstract: A movable mechanical doll has a seat. A shoulder-arm part and a head part (40) are mounted on the seat. A hollow body covers the seat and the shoulder-arm part (20). A headpiece (60) covers the head part (40) and has a mouth. When motors of the doll are actuated, the doll can swing the shoulders and the arms, turn the head and open/close the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 6589096
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating and destroying toys having a solid exterior and liquid interior are disclosed. The apparatus and method entail the creation of an impression within a supply of modeling compound using a form having a desired shape. The impression formed within the modeling compound is then filled with a curable liquid which cures upon contact with the modeling compound. The modeling compound remains in contact with the curable liquid for a sufficient length of time to cure an exterior skin while leaving the interior in a liquid state. The liquid interior is then drained and refilled with a non-curable liquid so as to provide a toy having life-like features. The kit further provides a crushing mechanism having a movable plunger adapted to physically crush the toy by rupturing the exterior skin and splattering the liquid interior against a dome of the crushing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Linwood E. Doane, Jr., Brian Merten, Fred Daniel Eddins, Lev Tsimberg
  • Patent number: 6579146
    Abstract: A wind propelled vehicle defining a center of gravity. The wind propelled vehicle has a frame. A rear axle is connected to the frame at its rear portion and two rear wheels are rotatably connected to the rear axle. The center of gravity of the wind propelled vehicle is forward of the rear axle. A front wheel is rotatably connected to the frame at its forward portion. A mast is connected to the frame and a boom is connected to the mast. A sail is connected to the mast and boom. A motor is operably connected to the boom and to the front wheel. The motor is also physically connected to the boom. The motor is remotely controlled via a remote control unit. To propel the wind propelled vehicle the position of the sail is adjusted relative to the wind. Sail position adjustment is achieved by the motor turning the front wheel and manipulating the position of the boom in response to control signals generated by the remote control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ganz
  • Patent number: 6575804
    Abstract: A game call apparatus requires an airflow across a sound-producing reed, which may be produced by a bellows, to create a variety of sounds that simulate the sounds of wildlife animals. The game call apparatus may include, in one embodiment, a pressure point structure which engages the sound-producing reed at a reed contact location. The pressure point structure can be manually manipulated to move the pressure point structure along the reed and change the reed contact location so that the sound-producing reed gradually changes the sounds produced by the game call apparatus. The bellows may include an aperture which must be covered when the game call is used. When the game call is not being purposely used, the aperture allows air to escape when the bellows are inadvertently collapsed to prevent the game call from sounding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Primos, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilbur R. Primos