Patents Examined by D. Neal Muir
  • Patent number: 6783108
    Abstract: A fueldraulic metering valve uses pressurized liquid fuel to control flow of gaseous fuel to a jet engine combustion chamber. The valve has a disconnectable body defining a piston chamber and a cavity for an interchangeable venturi nozzle module, both disposed about a stroke axis. A servo valve controls flow of the liquid fuel through the piston chamber and supply and return ports. The liquid fuel drives a piston and pintle assembly to open and close off the throat of the venturi passageway, and thereby control metering of the gaseous fuel, which flow through separate intake and exhaust ports. The gas and liquid fuel are separated by a high temperature seal. The liquid fuel is routed through the piston and a special baffle to dissipate heat transferred to the seal and piston from the hot gaseous fuel. A LVDT position transducer provides feedback to the controller for correcting position error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Jansen's Aircraft Systems Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey B. Jansen
  • Patent number: 6435938
    Abstract: A toy figure having multiple articulating limbs connected to the torso by pivot joints that are molded in a vertical injection molding step that forms and pivotally interconnects, in situ, one member of the pivot joint to a second, pre-formed member of the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: C.J. Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: James S. W. Lee, Chiu Keung Kwan
  • Patent number: 6419543
    Abstract: A three-dimensional surface treatment which can be applied to or supported by a substrate is provided for covering a book. The surface treatment comprises at least one three-dimensional member made from plastic having an outer surface, an inner surface and a border. The outer surface is sculpturally molded into a three-dimensional sculpture-in-the-round, having peaks, impressions, relieved areas and undercuts in all axes to increase the overall dimensionality and detail of the surface treatment. In the preferred embodiment, multiple three-dimensional members may be used, wherein each three-dimensional member serves as a separate layer that forms part of the overall three-dimensional appearance of the surface treatment. In addition, interactive devices may be embedded in the three-dimensional members in order to make the surface treatment interactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sandvik Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Roger I. Burrows
  • Patent number: 6419546
    Abstract: A movable structure for loin and groin of toy figures is composed of a coxa member formed as a partition wall and attached to a lower portion of a body 2 of a movable jointed doll; right and left huckle bone members are installed pivotably with the coxa member, and right and left groin members are installed into installed spaces respectively formed at each of the huckle bone members. Further, the groin members have protruded fitted portions which are inserted into depressed fitted portions formed at gluteu maximus corresponding portions of the huckle bone members, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignees: Medicom Toy Corporation, Time House Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akashi, Toshiaki Okubo
  • Patent number: 6406348
    Abstract: A musical drinks vessel comprises a hollow body 10 for holding the beverage and a sound generating assembly having an electrically operated sound generating device 11,12 sealingly mounted therein. The sound generating device 11,12 is activated when the amount of light incident on a photodiode thereof exceeds a predetermined level. A shutter 21 is provided for obscuring light from the photodiode, when it is desired to deactivate the sound generating device 11,12. The shutter enables the device 11,12 to be activated and deactivated simply and remotely, without any physical connection to the device that could allow the ingress of liquid or steam liquid when the device is being washed or sterilised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Textformat Limited
    Inventor: Walter Pearce
  • Patent number: 6390880
    Abstract: A religious balloons and storage device for lifting the user's spirits and providing hope in times of need. The religious balloons and storage device includes a storage container having an open top, a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls; and also includes a cover hingedly attached to the storage container and being closeable upon the open top of the storage container; and further includes at least one inflatable balloon removably disposed within the storage container; and also includes at least one cord for fastening at least one inflatable balloon to the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Rosa M. Almazan
  • Patent number: 6383053
    Abstract: Therapeutic products using processed cherry pits. The pits are removed from the cherries, and then washed, cleaned, dried, and sorted. The whole cherry pits are inserted into bags or containers made of a mesh flame-retardant material. The bags of cherry pits are included in an outer device, such as a cushion, U-shaped neck device, or a huggable stuffed animal character, forming a therapeutic product. The material forming outer device or product is preferably coated with a mildew-resistant, flame-retardant material and also preferably is washable, as well as being water-resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Cherry Hug, LLC
    Inventor: Frans Segers
  • Patent number: 6350172
    Abstract: A toy cycle includes a frame supporting a seat and a front fork assembly. The front fork assembly is pivotally secured to the frame and is movable between a first position and an alternate raised position. The front and rear wheels are removable and the front fork assembly is pivoted upwardly to a missile launch configuration. The cycle includes a removable handlebar assembly which is separated from the front fork assembly and fitted within an aperture formed at the lower end of the cycle frame. With the wheels removed and the handlebar assembly repositioned, and with the front fork assembly raised to the missile launch configuration, a pair of simulated rockets are assembled upon the front fork assembly and are able to be launched by a spring launch mechanism within the front fork assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Andrews
  • Patent number: 6350174
    Abstract: A miniature roll-up halfpipe for use with fingerboards or miniature skateboards includes a pair of sideframes configurable in either a collapsed compact configuration or an extended open configuration. A pair of platforms join the end portions of the sideframes to form a generally rectangular structure having a pair of upwardly open curved edges. A flexible resilient sheet is received upon the supporting frame to form a curved surface of the type frequently used by skateboarder's or the like. In the closed configuration, the flexible sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape and encloses the collapsed siderails and platform elements. A pair of generally cylindrical endcaps are received upon the opposed ends of the rolled sheet to provide closure and secure attachment thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Halford, Eric SodKar Fai, Steven Moran
  • Patent number: 6346024
    Abstract: A thermally erasable bath toy for enabling a user to create and erase drawing figures in a wet environment. The bath toy includes a drawing desk with a drawing surface that incorporates thermochromic material. A user can draw on the drawing surface by inducing the thermochromic material to enter its active temperature range, and the user can erase the drawing surface by inducing the thermochromic material to leave its active temperature range. The drawing desk can be caused to float atop a volume of water by incorporating or being formed of buoyant material or by housing an open inner volume. The color change in the thermochromic material can be induced by a temperature-operated drawing implement with a temperature applicator of heat transmissible material. The temperature applicator can include an elongate shaft that will act as a skeleton for a volume of insulative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventor: Robert W. Engel
  • Patent number: 6346025
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for toy joints. A first toy portion is rotatably and pivotally coupled to a toy body. A second toy portion is also rotatably positioned about the toy body, so that the second toy portion can be rotated at least partly about the toy body. A third toy portion is rotatably positioned about the toy body so that the third toy portion can be rotated to a position opposite the second toy portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Titanium Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Tachau, Aldo Spadoni
  • Patent number: 6336838
    Abstract: An automatic tow release system for model aircraft launched with the help of a tow line (12) which has novel means for continuously and automatically adjusting the climb angle of the fuselage and automatically releasing the tow line (12) when the aircraft reaches a predetermined climbing position. The tow release system comprises a primary (16) and a secondary (18) control string, a connecting body (20), a primary (42) and a secondary (44) connecting means between the connecting body (20) and the aircraft, and a release promoting means. The release promoting means is a feature of the particular design of the tow release system. The control strings (16, 18) are attached to the tow line (12) at one end and to the connecting body (20) at the other end. The connecting body (20) is demountably connected to the aircraft during the tow through the primary (42) and secondary (44) connecting means, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventors: Alejandro Velasco Levy, Ildiko Palyka
  • Patent number: 6332824
    Abstract: A child's toy is provided which is convertible between an infant's gym and a toddler's piano. In the infant configuration, a small child can be placed under or seated in front of the toy within reach of hanging shapes. When the infant moves the hanging shapes, a sensory output of music and lights is produced through audio speakers and lighted keys. The infant's gym can be converted into a toddler configuration, which has keys arranged on top, resembling a piano. A toddler standing in front of the piano can produce a sensory output of music and lights by pressing the keys. A mode switch can be adjusted to vary the duration of the sensory output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventors: Robert A. Tell, David B. Fisher, Domenic T. Gubitosi, Christopher D. Cimerman
  • Patent number: 6328625
    Abstract: A toy figure having multiple articulating limbs connected to the torso by pivot joints that are molded in a vertical injection molding step that forms and pivotally interconnects, in situ, one member of the pivot joint to a second, preformed member of the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: C. J. Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: James S. W. Lee, Chiu Keung Kwan
  • Patent number: 6325689
    Abstract: The pyrotechnic entertainment product has an upright spindle that may be pushed into the ground for support until a coil in the spindle engages the top surface of the ground. The image of an upright dancing bull or other creature is secured to the spindle intermediate its opposite ends and is poised as if he were performing the steps of a Mexican hat dance. A pyrotechnic pinwheel resembling a sombrero is rotatably carried on the upper end of the spindle slightly above the head of the bull. When the pinwheel is ignited, it propels itself about the spindle like a spinning sombrero while emitting a colorful plume of sparks reminiscent of the energy, color, and excitement of the traditional Mexican hat dance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventors: Gregory P. Shelton, Robert J. Garringer
  • Patent number: 6325695
    Abstract: A heated stuffed animal is provided for therapeutic use which includes a soft body having an inner cavity and an outer covering, said outer covering having an appearance of a live animal, an electric heating pad disposed within said inner cavity for generating heat, said electric heating pad including an electric power cord projecting outside of said outer covering for connection to an AC electric outlet power supply, means for selecting a temperature of heat generated by said electric heating pad, and a ballast material disposed within said inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: George A. Weiner
  • Patent number: 6325692
    Abstract: A toy and storage play set for providing a wrestling ring and storage area. The toy and storage play set includes a container device and wrestling ring device. The container device has a housing having a top side which is open. A covering member covers the housing. The wrestling ring device has a stage portion. The stage portion is generally planar, having a facing side and a back side. The back side is releasably securable to the covering member. Four elongate members each have a first end and a second end. Each of the elongate members has central portion having two spaced bores therein such that a top bore and a bottom bore is defined. A first cord forms a closed hoop and extends through each of the top bores. A second cord also forms a closed hoop and extends through each of the bottom bores. A plurality of fastening means fasten the elongate members to the facing side of the stage portion. Each of the fastening means is coupled to one of the second ends of the elongate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: John Webb
  • Patent number: 6325693
    Abstract: A toy that emits a sound when placed into contact with an end user. The toy includes a handle which has a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is in contact with a frozen liquid that is supported by the handle. The electrodes are coupled to a sound generating device which emits a sound when the first electrode is electrically coupled to the second electrode. To operate the toy, the end user grabs the handle and makes contact with the first electrode. The end user then licks the frozen liquid. The body of the end user electrically couples the first electrode with the second electrode so that the sound generating device emits a sound. The electrodes may be coupled to a light bulb that illuminates the frozen liquid when the end user is in contact with the first electrode and licks the frozen item. Alternatively, the light bulb may be activated by depressing a button on the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventors: Elliot Rudell, Raymond Fisher
  • Patent number: 6322417
    Abstract: A toy includes a supporting frame having a pair of legs secured to a pair of feet by pivotal attachments. The frame further supports a cockpit within which a removable toy figure is seated. The toy frame further supports an air cylinder which is angled rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the remainder of the frame. A piston having a piston rod is movably supported within the cylinder and defines an outer end which is pivotally secured to a third foot. The pressure end of the air cylinder is coupled by an air tube to a collapsible bellows. Squeezing of the air bellows produces compressed air within the cylinder causing extension thereof which drives the toy upwardly and forwardly from the support surface by the extension of the third foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel Inc.
    Inventor: Sid Bass
  • Patent number: 6322369
    Abstract: The Christian learning tool is an educational toy having a base in the shape of an open Bible, the top surface of the base being divided into a left side and a right side. The left side has a cradle defined therein receiving a pair of praying hands attached to the base by a tether and having a plurality of apertures for emitting sound from a speaker. The right side has three sets of buttons disposed thereon, including a set of category selector buttons for selecting either the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes, a set of ten topic selector buttons in the form of a telephone keypad for selecting one of the Ten Commandments or one of the Beatitudes for audio replay, and a third set of buttons for selecting audio replay of a story about either the birth or death of Christ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventors: Yetta L. Patterson, Derek X. Patterson