Patents Examined by Bena B. Miller
  • Patent number: 6892613
    Abstract: A machine tool that comprises a fixed bed, a pair of tool posts mounted on the fixed bed on a side closer to an operator and a carriage mounted on each of the tool posts is disclosed. A headstock is provided on a side of the fixed bed farther from the operator so that a workpiece disposed in the headstock is subjected to a cutting process by moving the carriages and the tool posts relative to the workpiece. The machine tool also includes a headstock base having the headstock disposed thereon. The headstock base is structured and arranged so as to be movable between a workpiece machining position where the workpiece can be machined at a position farther from the operator and a workpiece loading and unloading position where the workpiece can be loaded and unloaded at a position closer to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Nakaminami, Jun Adachi
  • Patent number: 6881119
    Abstract: A toy or article containing an elastomeric and deformable bladder therein that facilitates in actuating a component of the toy or article such as a tail or an arm when squeezed or otherwise deformed is disclosed. The actuatable toy generally comprises a deformable bladder containing a fluid substance and is deformable proximate to the actuatable component upon application of pressure thereon. In addition, the actuatable toy comprises a flexible outer covering enclosing the deformable bladder, where at least a portion of the outer covering comprises a movable material disposed proximate to the actuatable component of the toy, whereupon actuating of the movable material and deformation of the bladder facilitate actuation of the actuatable component upon application of pressure on the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Treasure Bay, Inc.
    Inventors: Don J. Panec, Scott Stillinger, Ron LaRonge
  • Patent number: 6881120
    Abstract: A noise maker includes a face piece, a blow tube, and noise making tongue. The face piece may be a small planar representation of a face or of a portion of a face if a clown, monster, cartoon character, or the like, and may be made from cardboard or plastic. The blow tube extends inwardly from the face piece and the tongue extends outwardly from the face piece. The blow tube includes a tube passageway running the length of the blow tube, and the tongue includes a tongue passage running the length of the tongue. Blowing into the blow tube results in producing a raspberry noise at an opening end of the tongue. A lanyard may be attached to the face for carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Timothy T. Janes
  • Patent number: 6881122
    Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a lift mechanism which allows the toy vehicle to be lifted from a supporting surface in a lifting motion. The lift mechanism includes a rotary member which engages a lifting lever hingedly attached to a chassis of the toy vehicle. In operation, the rotary member is abruptly moved by a biasing member into engagement with the lifting lever. The rotary member moves the lifting lever into an extended position, causing the lifting lever to engage the supporting surface, to lift the toy. The toy vehicle includes features to help permit operation of the lift mechanism only when the toy vehicle is in a proper operational condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bloch, Vikas Kumar Parkhie Sinha, Justin Discoe, Kenlip Ong, Gregory Nungester, Bruce Gavins
  • Patent number: 6872116
    Abstract: An improved baby bottle adapted with handles and a sound-generating module for generating audible sounds. A generally cylindrical baby bottle is adapted with longitudinally extending slots on opposing sides of the bottle. The slots receive and retain a removable handle assembly having first and second opposing handles that facilitate holding of the bottle while feeding. Additionally, the handle assembly includes a portion adapted for receiving an interchangeable sound-generating module in removable engagement therewith. The sound-generating module includes a battery power source, memory chip, speaker, and electrical circuitry required to selectively produce sounds when disposed on the handle assembly. The sound module may be adapted to play single or multiple songs such as the ABC song or lullabies, or may be configured for educational purposes such as number counting lessons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Dunnum, Michael M. Anthony
  • Patent number: 6866813
    Abstract: An inflatable toy comprises an inflatable volume and an expandable figurine that is attached to the inflatable volume such that the figurine is stretched as the volume is inflated. The expandable figurine assumes a first predetermined shape when the inflatable volume is in a deflated state, and assumes a second predetermined shape representing a distortion of the first predetermined shape when the inflatable volume is substantially inflated. The figurine can be removably attached to an outer surface of the inflatable volume. The figurine can comprise a body portion having multiple limbs, such that the limbs are attached to the inflatable volume outer surface and are pulled away from the figurine body portion as the volume is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Adam G. Trubitt
  • Patent number: 6863588
    Abstract: A toy assembly and its method of manufacture. The toy assembly is a spherical object that can be temporarily compressed into a disc. A short time after compression, the toy pops back into its original ball-like shape. The toy assembly has shell sections that join along at least one joint line to form a generally spherical body. The shell sections are symmetrically disposed around a central axis. The spherical body is bisected by an imaginary equatorial plane that is perpendicular to the central axis. The joint lines between shell sections exist in meridian planes that are perpendicular to the equatorial plane. A connector mechanism is provided that temporarily connect opposite sides of the shell when the shell is compressed. The shell sections provide a spring bias that resists any compression and causes the shell sections to return to a spherical shape when the connector mechanism release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Kwong Wing Chu
  • Patent number: 6846216
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved geometric construction toy for building geometrical sculptures and consists of a multiplicity of magnetizable bodies and a multiplicity of construction members. The construction members have a plurality of connecting arms that have a first cantilevered end and a second portion that is integral with a hub portion and a permanent magnet in the first end for magnetically coupling with a magnetizable body. The hub portion has a geometrical center and the connecting arms have an axis of symmetry that passes through the geometrical center where the axes of symmetry are in the same plane and where the peripheral surface of a connecting arm intermediate the first end and second portion is symmetrical to the axis of symmetry in planes orthogonal to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Steve H. Balanchi
  • Patent number: 6830454
    Abstract: The personal communication tool and method of use provide for relaxation of a person using the tool and method allowing for a greater depth of interpersonal or intra-personal communication levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Neal Harris
  • Patent number: 6827227
    Abstract: A reclosable container, particularly for fluid products, comprising a hollow body for containing the product which has, in an upward region, a neck provided with a dispensing opening and closure means constituted by a grip portion which supports a closure for the opening, the closing means being rigidly coupled to the grip portion, and by at least one annular band which is substantially coaxial to the closure and is fixed to the grip portion along preset-fracture regions formed on its outer surface and is fitted so as to adhere to the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Lameplast S.p.A
    Inventor: Antonio Fontana
  • Patent number: 6827207
    Abstract: A beverage container holder includes a box portion integrally divided into a plurality of compartments for each holding a beverage container therein, and two generally U-shaped handles integrally extended from two opposite sides of the box portion and provided at predetermined positions with complementary studs and sockets. Each of the two handles defines an opening between the handle and the box portion, and a suspender is integrally connected to two near middle points of the handle to extend across the opening. When a desired number of beverage containers are positioned in the compartments of the box portion and the two handles are turned upward with the complementary studs and sockets engaged with one another, the suspenders are brought toward the box portion to stably confine the beverage containers thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Chih-Chien Chen
  • Patent number: 6820742
    Abstract: A display pack includes a housing and a cover pivotally secured together to receive tool members. A seat is extended from the housing and includes an opening to rotatably receive a rotary member, and includes a toothed portion. The rotary member also includes a toothed portion to engage with the toothed portion of the seat, and to generate click when the rotary member is rotated relative to the seat. A driving tool includes a driving shank extended from a head to engage into the rotary member, and to rotate the rotary member relative to the seat and the housing. The cover includes a casing to rotatably retain the head of the driving tool between the seat and the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Chia Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 6817921
    Abstract: An action figure includes a body, limbs extending from the body and each comprising proximal and distal limb segments articulated to one another by a joint comprising two intermediate pivotally interconnected members. The first member is attached pivotally to the proximal limb segment and the second member is attached pivotally to the distal limb segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: M & C Toy Centre Limited
    Inventors: Kwok-Tung Chin, Chi-Wing William Ng
  • Patent number: 6814645
    Abstract: A hula hoop may include a hoop, a plurality of roller members being installed on a predetermined portion in an overall circumference of the hoop, and a weight member being installed on an opposite side to the center of the roller members to provide a centrifugal force and enable rollers comprised in the roller members to be closely contacted with and rolled on a user's body due to the centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Tae-Il Kuk
  • Patent number: 6811401
    Abstract: The game for teaching binary mathematics includes a plurality of balls, a backboard, and a plurality of elongate members selectively connected to each other and to the backboard in non-horizontal directions. A plurality of gate sections are pivotally connected to the backboard and engageable with select ones of the plurality of members so that the gate sections can be pivoted between open and closed positions respectively. Select ones of the plurality of balls may cause corresponding ones of the plurality of gate sections to pivot between open and closed positions after passing thereby. Corresponding 0 and 1 binary values are assigned to closed and open ones of the plurality of gate sections, respectively, so that a number of the plurality of marbles that have been introduced to the game can be determined by adding the corresponding 0 and 1 binary values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cruickshank
  • Patent number: 6808436
    Abstract: A aerial toy comprises a hollow sleeve member and a base member to receive and accommodate the hollow sleeve member longitudinally for sliding movement, the base member having a cap provided with a plurality of holes permit air entrance into the base member when it is pulled and an air insulation member bendably placed thereof inside the cap in a position opposite to the holes to prevent air exit from the base member when it is pushed to permit easy sliding of the base member along the hollow sleeve member while maintaining sufficient compressed air thereof. The aerial toy apparatus further comprises an air chamber into which the hollow sleeve member fits securely and a launch tube into which the air chamber fits securely to receive the compressed air from the hollow sleeve member and a flying member mountable onto an upper end of the launch tube to be pushed off of the apparatus by the compressed air released from the launch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Kong Wai Siu
  • Patent number: 6805609
    Abstract: A toy car comprises a base, a plurality of wheels arranged to support the base for rolling movement over a surface, a spring-powered drive train carried by the base and operatively coupled to at least one of the wheels and having at least one rotatable drive gear, a post shiftably mounted to the base and moveable between a first position and a second position and including a camming surface, and a pawl carried by the base and including a camming surface. The camming surface of the post and the camming surface of the pawl are arranged to shift the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the drive gear in response to movement of the post to the first position, and the pawl is arranged to shift away from the drive gear in response to movement of the post to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Paukert, Douglas A. Schultheis
  • Patent number: 6805606
    Abstract: An inflatable doll action figure having a telescopically extendable endoskeleton surrounded by an inflatable skin, associated with a manually operated air pump and release valve for selectively expanding and contracting individual air chambers, which form the doll's torso and limbs to simulate growth into a physically developed figure, and return to its original undeveloped state. The doll and its individual parts are protected from over-expansion by limit stops on axial movement of individual limbs of the telescopic skeleton, and circumferential limits on the individual inflatable chambers forming the limbs and muscles of the doll. The limits can be either molded into the inflatable skin, or incorporated into a separate fabric covering simulating clothing for the doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Inventor: Freddie Lee Kellum
  • Patent number: 6796872
    Abstract: The invention is a pop-up device adapted to allow for a number of triggering means and a number of special effects upon triggering of the device. The pop-up device may be placed in a hollow section of a cake, which is later iced over so that the candle holder is not visible. In the preferred embodiment, the base of the device supports the pop-up mechanism within a housing. The device is held in a compressed state by a release mechanism. Upon triggering of the release mechanism, the device is released and pushed through the cake or other confection, thereby providing surprise and entertainment. In alternative embodiments, the device is actuated by a drive mechanism or a fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Paul Herber
  • Patent number: 6790118
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a block set for educational purposes. The block set features that a plurality of block units of the same color are integrated so as to build a block bar, and two or more block bars respectively of different colors are crosswisely combined to build a block bar combination, and two or more block bar combinations interconnect one another to thereby build a variety of structures having two or more colors, wherein the block bars of the same color are symmetrically disposed. The block set thus allows a user to learn a structural stability of the structures, a sense of balance, symmetry, a sense of harmony, etc. in a natural manner, through processes of building the variety of structures and repetition of those processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Karlwitte Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Wook Ahn