Patents Examined by David N. Muir
  • Patent number: 5324224
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a hollow globe including a plurality of apertures which are formed substantially throughout the entire surface of the globe. Formed within the globe and disposed in laminar juxtaposition to the interior surface of the globe's sphere, a bladder means is formed of an opaque flexible material. A plurality of cross slits are formed on the bladder in substantial alignment with the globe's surface. An internal light source is disposed within said bladder at approximately the midpoint of the globe's sphere, and a plurality of luminescent pegs are provided for insertion into the apertures formed in the globe's surface. The present invention provides the user with the plurality of luminescent, differently colored pegs to design a picture or art form. The present invention may additionally serve as a night light and the luminescent pegs may be specially adapted to project light from the interior of the globe's surface to the exterior of the globe and onto surrounding walls and ceilings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventors: Richard H. Anderson, Robert R. Anderson, Richard R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5324227
    Abstract: This invention relates to a toy hitting rod and in particular to one which includes a main hitting rod made of resilient material and formed with a longitudinal hole at the center and two aligned holes at one end thereof, an inner hitting rod made of resilient material and inserted into the longitudinal hole of the main hitting rod, a spring sleeved on one end of the inner hitting rod, a hand grip made of hard material and having a recess for taking a firm hold thereto, the grip having a connecting rod having a through hole in alignment with the aligned holes of the main hitting rod, the connecting rod being provided with two protuberances engageable with the other end of the spring, the hand grip further having a flange at its intermediate portion, a guard plate made of resilient material and having a hole at the center, a casing put over the main hitting rod and having two aligned holes in alignment with the two aligned holes of the main hitting rod, and a limiting collar composed of two semi-cylindrical me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: Chang Yuh-Ching
  • Patent number: 5322465
    Abstract: For maximizing creative play, a hand puppet kit includes a sock-like body member formed of a flexible material to have a hand receiving opening at one end thereof. The kit also includes a separate sheet of flexible material together with at least one pattern for creating a piece in a predetermined shape from the separate sheet of flexible material. With these features, the hand puppet kit further includes at least one portion of a hook and loop fastener to be secured to the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Div. of Plastic Specialties & Tech. Inc. Ozite Company
    Inventor: David P. McGill
  • Patent number: 5322469
    Abstract: A remotely controlled vehicle toy is provided with an internal actuator to temporarily secure the vehicle body close to the chassis, thereby substantially or essentially covering lateral sides and an upper side of the vehicle beneath the body, and to remotely release the body from the secured position, permitting the body to move to an elevated position spaced above the chassis thereby permitting off-road movement and revealing internal automotive detailing on the remaining portion of the vehicle previously covered and hidden by the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Tyco Investment Corp
    Inventor: Neil Tilbor
  • Patent number: 5322464
    Abstract: A thrown or flying toy includes a bubble-producing element having plural openings and capable of producing compound bubbles (plural bubbles attached to each other) which generally resemble the shape of a toy airplane or a cartoon-like character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Richard Sanford
  • Patent number: 5314367
    Abstract: A toy (10) comprising an elongated block (12) which is carved out to form one or more patterns (30) for a path along which marbles (15) are propelled by a person's finger through a slot (17) communicating with a channel (14) in any one of such patterns (30) which are interlinked to provide continuity in rolling motion for the marbles (15). Pivoting gates (50) across the path or at intersections of the channels (14) forming patterns (30) provide means to determine the direction of motion for marbles (15), including "dead ending" the marble in its own channel. Various features in the path patterns provide impetus or an inertial bar to the marbles' motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Nicholas E. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5312287
    Abstract: A simulation toy includes an electromagnet received in a slot on the body of the toy and attached with a permanent magnet mounted flush with the toy, a control circuit controlled by a snap switch reciprocates a reciprocating rod through the electromagnet in pushing the permanent magnet out of the slot for showing a red colored area simulating a wound and simultaneously activate a speaker for making a sound simulating the crying of a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Gary Chuang
  • Patent number: 5312286
    Abstract: A flying toy comprising an ordinary rubber balloon and a nozzle, the nozzle being provided with a wide inlet edge and with a narrow outlet throat, and being secured to the inflation appendage of the balloon. The nozzle is provided with studs suitable for receiving drinking straws that have themselves received fins, thereby constituting a trajectory stabilizer. The flying toy thus constitutes a rocket-balloon. It constitutes an educational toy and an advertising medium particularly suitable for fast-food restaurant chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Domen
  • Patent number: 5312285
    Abstract: A descending ball game apparatus includes a gate deflect channel member and a pivoting ramp channel member. The gate deflect channel member includes two gates which are positioned adjacent to opposing sidewalls of a channel portion thereof and are operative for deflecting a ball back-and-forth from one sidewall of the channel portion to the other sidewall thereof as the ball descends along the channel portion. The pivoting ramp channel member includes upper and lower level channel segments and a pivoting ramp positioned therebetween. The ramp is operative for receiving a ball descending along the upper level of the channel segment and delivering the ball into the lower level channel segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Playskool, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Rieber, Joseph P. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 5310379
    Abstract: A multiple configuration toy vehicle includes an elongated chassis supported by a plurality of wheels. A rear support is pivotally secured to the rear of the chassis. A creature includes a center body, a rear body and head. The head and rear body are pivotally secured to the center body. The rear body is removably securable to the rear support and includes foldable wings which open as the rear body pivots with respect to the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Philip O. Riehlman
  • Patent number: 5310375
    Abstract: A small decoration capable of exhibiting play characteristics sufficient to provide a key ring with unexpectedness. The small decoration includes a container provided with a key ring mounting section. In the container is arranged a spring drive unit including a drive mechanism which includes a plurality of gears driven by a spiral spring. The drive mechanism also includes two gear shafts arranged so as to vertically project from the spring drive unit. One of the gear shafts is mounted with a decorative element such as a doll and the other gear shaft is mounted with a spring winding-up element. The spring winding-up element is adapted to wind up the spiral spring in association with closing of a lid member pivotally connected to the container and be returned to the original state while unwinding the spiral spring to actuate the decorative element when the lid member is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Takara, Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Kanauchi
  • Patent number: 5310377
    Abstract: An illuminated sound producing toy comprising a base frame, a drive mechanism, a sound producing mechanism, an opening formed in the base frame, a mirror fitted in the opening, an electric lamp, a switch and a first light transmitting board. The sound producing mechanism is capable of being driven by the drive mechanism and the switch turns the electric lamp ON and OFF. The first light transmitting board is positioned generally between the mirror and the electric lamp and is driven through a predetermined motion by the drive mechanism. The first light transmitting board comprises an illustration display area so that illustrations can be seen through the mirror means only when the electric lamp is ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Joja
  • Patent number: 5308275
    Abstract: A garment having an amusement device in the form of a puppet being integrally a part thereof and attached to the sleeves of the garment. The puppet is formed from the sleeve of a garment having two distinct layers of material which are attached at one end. A first layer extends into a second layer wherein the first layer is attached to the second layer at the end of the sleeve through which the hand extends. The interior end of the second inner layer is substantially unattached to the outer layer. Because of the substantially unattached interior end, an upper and a lower cavity is formed within the sleeve between the two layers of material. Accordingly, the fingers of the hand may be placed in the upper and lower cavities for manipulating the end of the sleeve and forming a puppet. When desired, the inside layer can be folded outwardly to form a cuff such that the puppet is hidden from view. Upon unfolding the cuff, the puppet is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Neushama Enterprises, LP
    Inventor: Eric J. Kornbleuth
  • Patent number: 5308277
    Abstract: In order to enable an imitated child birth from a doll the doll body is shaped with a stomach cavity covered from the inside by a flat stomach piece, which is held in a normal position by a spring. When the doll is desired to be pregnant the stomach piece is pressed inwardly, and a baby doll is laid into the cavity provided thereby, this cavity then being closed from outside by means of a separate, bulging stomach element. When it comes to the `birth` this element can be removed, whereby the baby doll is pressed out by the biased flat stomach piece, which will then automatically return into its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Pia Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5306191
    Abstract: A toy with aerodynamic properties includes a body member with a front end, a rear end and an inner cylindrical surface which is in communication with the front and rear ends. The outer surface of the body member has a generally cylindrical surface which is coaxial with the inner cylindrical surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced wings. A pair of circumferential bands are disposed on the outer surface of the body member. The circumferential bands can be moved closer and further from the front end to adjust the balance of the toy and the aerodynamic flight properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventors: Charles B. Phillips, Ronald A. Wiecek
  • Patent number: 5304090
    Abstract: A catapultable or rocket propelled toy helicopter (100,200) are provided that have foldable rotor blades (16 and 16') and a forwardly inclined rotor shaft surface (8) against which a rotor shaft (9) rests during flight that in combination with a balancing weight (28) enhance the spreading of rotor blades (16 and 16') at the apex of flight and the pitch and forward movement of the helicopter during flight thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Robert R. Vanni
  • Patent number: 5302148
    Abstract: An educational toy that lets the user experiment with assembling components of different shapes in a variety of ways. The toy introduces new methods and means for assembling building blocks allowing the user to assemble them to one configuration and then to change over to other configurations by rotating, pivoting, rolling, or shifting one or more of the already assembled building blocks. The toy can introduce the user to number systems and arithmetic and geometric principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: Ted Heinz
  • Patent number: 5299966
    Abstract: A projectile toy includes an elongate body having an internal cavity, to include wing plates that are arranged for pivotment from a first position positioned within the cavity to a second position directed exteriorly of the cavity in a timed relationship to project the wings from the body upon directing the toy from a catapult alone or in combination with a propulsion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas M. Rose, III
  • Patent number: 5297981
    Abstract: A toy ball in accordance with this invention includes a hollow sphere with spaced apart resilient knobs extending outwardly from the sphere and an internal mechanism that causes a random motion and bouncing of the ball. A safety switch is also provided to prevent injury to a user or damage to the toy while it is disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: The Ertl Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Maxim, Christopher Thompson, Mark F. Reyner
  • Patent number: 5295892
    Abstract: A balloon comprising first and second balloon sheets and a self-sealing valve positioned between the balloon sheets. Each balloon sheet has a body portion and a stem portion extending outwardly from the body portion and terminating at a stem end. The balloon sheets are bonded together generally around their peripheries to define a balloon body and balloon stem. The stem portion of the first balloon sheet is shorter than the stem portion of the second balloon sheet so that the stem end of the second balloon sheet extends beyond the stem end of the first balloon sheet to define an extended portion of the second balloon sheet. The valve comprises first and second valve sheets each having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an intermediate region between the inlet and outlet ends. The inlet end of the second valve sheet extends outwardly beyond the inlet end of the first valve sheet to define an extended portion of the second valve sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Show-Me Balloons
    Inventor: Rick L. Felton