Patents Examined by F. Barry Shay
  • Patent number: 4501569
    Abstract: A spherical vehicle including a spherical shell having a drive shaft secured to the interior wall thereof. A drive motor is connected to the shaft for imparting a rolling motion to the spherical vehicle on a supporting surface. Continuous steering of the vehicle is accomplished by changing the position of a mass suspended from the drive shaft to thereby change the center of gravity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Inventors: Leonard R. Clark, Jr., Howard P. Greene, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4498887
    Abstract: A toy vehicle (11) having a motor drive mechanism (31) with a gear shift lever (28) actuable from a first position (A) to a second position (H) for changing the movement thereof. The vehicle has a pivotable linkage arm (35) with a gear sector (47) having a plurality of teeth (39) connected thereto coacting with a worm gear (37) rotatable in response to vehicle travel for pivoting a trigger finger (56) against the gear shift lever (28) for automatic movement of the gear shift lever from the first position (A) to the second position (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Cook
  • Patent number: 4498314
    Abstract: A fingernail jewelry device utilizes a first arcuate support leg having a curvature approximating the curvature of a fingernail as defined by the line of intersection of the fingernail with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fingernail combined with a second longitudinal arcuate support leg connected at one end to one end of the first support leg and adapted to frictionally engage the underside of the fingernail. Decorative jewelry or objects are arranged to mount on the first elongated arcuate support leg for display on top of the fingernail. The longitudinal axis of each support leg is arranged to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fingernail when placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Inventor: Diane H. Okamura
  • Patent number: 4497186
    Abstract: An earring for pierced ears includes a central pendant portion to hang down from the ear, a curved apex portion extending from the top of the pendant portion, and a spiral portion integral with and extending down from the apex portion. The spiral portion has at least one spiral revolution which surrounds the central pendant portion. Both the pendant portion and the spiral portion provide ornamentation in the earring, while the spiral portion also acts as a hanger wire for the earring, having a lower end which is inserted through the ear so that the earring is rotated spirally until the apex portion hangs in the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Inventor: Harry N. Mason
  • Patent number: 4493669
    Abstract: A motorized toy is described which consists of self-propelled toy vehicles, station sections which can be incorporated along the course of a track for the vehicle and toy objects with movable parts which can be coupled with the station sections. Each toy vehicle can be operated both in a forwards and a backwards travel direction and can be stopped in both travel directions in a defined position in order to drive the toy object at a station section. Alternative hand-operated drive means may be provided at the station sections, and the track of the station section includes a start member having a transverse slot relative to the track section, the start member being able to adopt two positions relative to the track. A stop pin on the vehicle in one position of the start member is capable of latching into the slot thereof, latching being prevented in the other position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Inventor: Hermann Neuhierl
  • Patent number: 4493196
    Abstract: An improved ring construction suitable for rings, bracelets and similar articles of jewelry, in which a metallic braided decorative strip is underpinned to the outer surface of the ring so that the end and side edgings are shielded from accidental contact during wearing by a user. The ends of the braided strip are enclosed beneath a covering lip forming a part of the ring at each end thereof, while the side edges are covered by planar circular plates soldered to the body of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Inventors: Max Bogner, Larry Grun
  • Patent number: 4490939
    Abstract: A toy automobile which simulates both the appearance and performance of a modern hard top convertible. The convertible is provided with a unitary top piece which normally covers the cockpit of the car and is formed by top and side walls both joined to a rear panel. The rear panel is linked by a pair of flexible racks to a mechanism operatively coupled to the front wheel axle and adapted to swing open the top piece to expose the cockpit. In operation, when the convertible body is grasped by the player and the front is pressed down and pushed forward on a running surface, the top piece is caused to swing open, the vehicle when released by the player then continuing to travel in the forward direction. And when this same action is carried out by the player in the reverse direction, the top piece is caused to resume its normal closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Dietmar Nagel, Abraham A. Arad
  • Patent number: 4489572
    Abstract: This invention relates to earrings in general, and more specifically to an improvement in post type earrings for pierced ears, combining two or more post elements operatively connected together to provide a support surface for one or more ornaments designed to be worn on at least one ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Inventor: Barbara J. Wilczewski
  • Patent number: 4490124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a running toy having a self-contained motor assembly. The running toy is provided with a pivoting member and a mechanism by which it is actuated in response to the motion of part of the motor assembly to make the running toy somersault when the running toy is traveling along a support surface. The somersault may be rearward or forward. The pivoting member may be manually locked so that the motor will not actuate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Iwakichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4488415
    Abstract: A ring or article of decorative jewelry is provided that has multiple interchangeable decorative stones. The ring is made with a flexible hinged top piece securing large polished stones against a bezel upstanding from the ring. The stones securely gripped by the flexible spring action of the hinged lid and it is unnecessary that the stones themselves be placed in any form of intermediate mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Inventor: Mary A. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4485916
    Abstract: Safety device for holding and storing precious objects, coins and other rigid valuables, wherein at least two parts (1,2;13,14) displaceable in relation to each other are provided and the two parts are secured against displacement for release of the valuable (5) by a preferably sealable lock in a position in which the parts at least partially encompass the valuable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Inventor: Peter Krejcik
  • Patent number: 4484408
    Abstract: A talking figure play set comprising an environmental structure having a record player with an upwardly pointing stylus on its tone arm and a plurality of human figures or animal figures, or both, each having an open-bottom base with a phonograph record permanently recessed therein. The tone arm with its upwardly pointing stylus is recessed in a circular opening in the housing of the record player along with support means, such as a ledge or rim, for the open-bottom bases of the various figures. The phonograph record recessed in the open-bottom base of each figure has a sound recording on spiral grooves which is compatible with the appearance of the figure. When the open-bottom base of one of the figures is inserted in the circular opening in the housing of the record player, the record player is turned on to reproduce the sound recording associated with the particular figure while that figure remains stationary to allow a child to perceive the figure as a talking figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Edward Fogarty, Bonnie R. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 4484406
    Abstract: An amusement device consisting of a manipulative puzzle having a plurality of hollow prism-shaped pieces rotatably connected by swivel joints. Each swivel joint comprises a base centrally formed in a wall of one prism and inserted through a hole located in a confronting wall of an adjacent prism. The base is secured by a screw passing through a washer fitting over the swivel joint base. In addition, a set of projections fit into corresponding depressions located on the respective confronting walls to hold the prisms in place until moved. An infinite number of configurations may be imparted to the puzzle by manipulating the prisms, however, it is preferred that the player manipulate an elongated rectangular shaft of interconnected prisms to attain a substantially spherical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Toybox Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Matsumoto, Hajime Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4483096
    Abstract: A toy vehicle energizer and launcher (10) having a draw string energizing mechanism (30) with a drive spool (40) receiving a draw string (38) and a return spring (46). The drive spool (42) is connected to a toothed driving wheel (54) by a one-way clutch (67) which allows a vehicle (34) held in the launcher (10) to be energized by a number of pulls on the draw string (38). A retaining and release means (32) coacts with a drive wheel (56) of the toy vehicle (34) and a toothed driver (54) to allow the vehicle (34) to be held within the launcher (10) during energization, and to be released after energization by manual actuation of the retaining and release means (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Otto L. Gabler, Wayne R. Halford, Eugene J. Kilroy, Michael T. McKittrick
  • Patent number: 4480400
    Abstract: A bouncing toy having a base supported by four springs-attached balls to give the base a bounce while maintaining stability. Central to the base is another spring attached ball having a cylindrical upright member mounted thereon. Within the cylindrical member are a series of radially extending pegs arrayed spirally to form a helix. Mounted to the base and surrounding the cylindral member is a hollow shaft including a rotatable wheel mounted thereon, the wheel having a helix-structured shaft connected thereto which is disposed to engage the radially extending pegs. Movements of the central ball causes the pegs and shaft to engage resulting in rotation of the shaft and attached wheel. The up and down movement of the toy causes the wheel to rotate in opposite directions until the toy comes to a complete stop. Audio devices are arrayed in proximity to each of the supporting balls so that the movements of the balls creates an environment which actuates the audio devices rendering various tones as the toy bounces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventor: Jose E. diDonato
  • Patent number: 4480401
    Abstract: In a radio-controlled car which is wirelessly controlled and capable of moving in a wheelie running state, the radio-controlled car comprises a braking member which is moved by a servomotor actuated in accordance with a direction turning command signal transmitted from a control box, an auxiliary wheel adapted to be rolled along the ground in the wheelie running mode, which can be turned in linkage of the braking member, and further a drive wheels repressing mechanism by which the intended turning direction side rear wheel, fixed to a drive axles connected through a differential gear, is repressed by the braking member so that, it can easily be turned even when it is in the wheelie running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Matsushiro
    Inventor: Yukimitsu Matsushiro
  • Patent number: 4480447
    Abstract: A finger ring has a saddle-shaped insert fitted to the lower portion of the ring, and a leaf spring may be provided between the ring and the insert, or the insert itself may itself be of resilient deformable material. The insert preferably has depending tangs which can be bent around the outside edge of the ring to hold it in place. The leaf spring has laterally projecting portions at its midportion which portions are received in slots of the insert side portions and tabs may be provided on the ends of the leaf spring to fit into cavities provided on the inner edge of the ring band. Alternatively these tabs may be defined on the ends of the insert itself when the insert is made of a resiliently deformable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventor: Albert C. Lodrini
  • Patent number: 4479327
    Abstract: A toy car with a winch mechanism is disclosed, which comprises a clutch shaft associated with a driving shaft of a motor and movable axially with an oscillating rod, a winch drum shaft and a wheel driving shaft supported on a frame, a clutch gear on the clutch shaft, driving gears on the winch drum shaft and the wheel driving shaft for selectively meshing with the clutch gear, a winch rope with a hook secured to the winch drum shaft, a brush resiliently contacted with the winch drum shaft, a rope guiding frame movably contacted with the brush, and a switch for discontinuing the hoisting operating of the winch.The toy car with the winch mechanism thus constructed allows both forward movement of the car and the hoisting operation of the winch by use of a single motor, and prevents the motor from being damaged or burnt out by overload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Mitsuwa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kakuichi Wakimura
  • Patent number: 4479329
    Abstract: A toy has a base member, a motion-detecting element mounted on the base member and detecting the presence of a motion of an object in the vicinity of the toy and the absence of a moving object in the vicinity of the toy, an action-performing element mounted on the base member for cooperating with the motion-detecting element, and electrical elements connecting the motion-detecting element and the action-performing element whereby the latter is operated in response to the detection by the motion-detecting element, wherein the motion-detecting element includes an objective arranged to transmit light to establish an image of an object in the vicinity of the toy, an image-distorting element located after the objective as considered in direction of light passage and arranged to distort the image, and a photosensing element arranged to sense the distorted image and produce a signal for operation of the action-performing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Inventor: Jacob Fraden
  • Patent number: 4477998
    Abstract: A wall climbing toy has a drive mechanism comprising a driven endless belt and a plurality of suction disks mounted on the belt. A plurality of wires interconnect the belt with the disks to (1) pull the latter from the surface, and (2) bend the disks toward a surface-confronting condition as the disks approach the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Inventor: Yun-Long You