Patents Examined by Jamila Williams
  • Patent number: 6648714
    Abstract: A toy brick includes a plastic main body, and a soft and elastic subsidiary part different color from the main body; the main body has a middle connecting through channel, first holding trenches on a front side thereof, and second holding trenches formed on surfaces of comers located between every adjacent two of upper, lower, left, and rear sides thereof; the subsidiary part has a middle sleeve portion closely fitted in the connecting channel of the main body, first covering portions adhered to corresponding ones of the first holding trenches of the main body, and second covering portions adhered to corresponding ones of the second holding trenches; thus, toy bricks of the kind will produce less noise when hitting each other or the floor, and are less hard at the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventors: His-Chian Kuo, Shih-Jung Cheng
  • Patent number: 6647840
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating a reference point on a workpiece for a program in a CNC machine tool is disclosed. A camera is mounted in a CNC toolholder so that the lens of the camera is coaxial with a rotational axis of the CNC toolholder. A pair of crosshairs or other indica are provided in the view from the camera, the crosshairs being centered in the view so that when the camera is mounted in the toolholder, the crosshairs indicate the center of rotation of the toolholder. The camera may then be positioned with respect to the workpiece so that it images an area of the workpiece containing a reference point with respect to the coordinate system of the CNC program. The toolholder is then adjusted so that the crosshairs are directly on the desired reference point, and this reference point entered into the CNC program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Ilmar Luik
  • Patent number: 6648723
    Abstract: Toy racing vehicles for operating on preexisting track of a particular scale comprise sub bodies including conventional chassis and larger-scale “visible cars”, which are supported by the sub bodies, but are not fixed or mounted thereto. Instead, a visible car simply rests on the sub body, and is retained loosely thereon by one or more guide pins mounted on the sub body, and fitting loosely within apertures in a plate fixed with respect to the visible car. Accordingly, when the larger-scale visible cars bump one another during racing, they can be jostled out of their normal positions on their sub bodies, but are not separated therefrom, and return to their normal positions when the contact ceases. Realistic and exciting racing action results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventors: Leonard R. Clark, Jr., H. Peter Greene
  • Patent number: 6645035
    Abstract: A movable mechanical doll has a bottom seat and two legs upright formed on the bottom seat. A shoulder-arm part is mounted at tops of the legs, and has two arms respectively mounted at two sides of the shoulder-arm part. A housing covering the shoulder-arm part is pivotally mounted on the shoulder-arm part by a pivot pin. A driving assembly with a first motor is mounted in the housing to drive the housing to swing about the pivot pin. At the same time, the arms can be swung forwards and backwards. By this means, the movable mechanical doll can achieve an action of moving shoulders and arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 6638134
    Abstract: A rotating spinner travels down a number of track segments by the force of gravity, the spinner jumping across gaps separating the track segments and yet remaining in an upright position to enable reliable transfer of the spinner across the gaps. This is accomplished by designing the back spinner disk to have a weight that counterbalances the weight of the front spinner disk for thwarting tilting of said spinner member. The flat face of the spinner disk is large to display a large graphic design that moves as the spinner is transported down the track segments. A target member receives the spinner upon termination of its travel along the head-to-tail positioned track segments, and the skill level is changed by changing the gap sizes between track segments and the positions of the magnetized track segments supported upon a refrigerator door by force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Peter L. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 6638072
    Abstract: An amusement or educational device comprising a plurality of interlocking collars slidable along and rotatable about a common shaft, and bearing elements of a multi-element relationship about their circumferences. In one embodiment, the collars are configured to allow users to construct fortunes, words, sentences, equations, or other relationships by selectively interlocking adjacent collars to align word, mathematical, sentence or other appropriate elements disposed around the collars. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a fortune-telling or entertainment device allowing users to compose fortunes or other relationships by selectively combining multi-word sentence fragments disposed around the circumference of interlocking collars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Matthew Steven Sarconi
  • Patent number: 6634921
    Abstract: An amusement or stress reduction method and device adapted to dispense gas bags for popping. A strip of material is attached to one end of a tubular container and a plurality of gas bags are inserted serially into the container, causing the strip of material to loop under the plurality of gas bags in a U-shaped manner. The second end of the strip of material is located adjacent to the secured end at the container opening. A user pulls the free end of the strip to forcibly eject one or more gas bags from the container. The bags can then be popped by stomping or the like. Various configurations, markings, and constructions can be used with the gas bags, container, and strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Common Sense Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Stanley Coulthard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6632120
    Abstract: The invention provides a balloon and a method for heat tacking one side of an object to an interior of the balloon without the other side of the object becoming attached to the balloon. The balloon is formed from at least a top sheet and a bottom sheet of a substantially gas-impermeable, heat-sealable material such as BON. A portion of the object is chosen to be heat sealed to the interior of the balloon. The reverse side of the portion of the object is coated with a heat resistant barrier such as synthetic resinous fluorine-containing polymer, heat-resistant nitrocellulose ink or the like. The object is then placed between the two sheets that form the balloon. A heating element is applied to the sheet on which the object will be attached and a pressure plate is applied on the other sheet thus forming a sandwich. This sandwich heat stakes one side of the object to the balloon while the heat resistant barrier prevents the other side from attaching to the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sing-A-Tune Balloons, LLC
    Inventors: John Blackman, Melchiore (Mike) Tripoli, III
  • Patent number: 6626729
    Abstract: A toy top comprising a toy body having a revolving shaft arranged at a lowermost portion of the toy body and a mount support member provided therein; the toy body including a plurality of blade members; the blade members being laid to overlap each other; and the blade members being detachably mounted with respect to the remaining blade members through the mount support member. A revolving shaft control mechanism is provided in the toy body so as to control revolution of the revolving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Osawa
  • Patent number: 6623328
    Abstract: A method of appeasing a domestic animal comprising the steps of forming members having a fabric exterior member interface surfaces. The member interface surfaces are capable of repeated nondestructive disconnection and reconnection via attachment means. Members connect at their interface surfaces to form a cartoon character of predetermined configuration and shape. A user allows a domestic animal such as a canine to rend apart members to simulate destruction of the figure. A user reassembles said figure by attaching members using the attachment means at the interface surfaces. A user can repeat the last two steps until appeasement of the domestic animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Julie Theel
  • Patent number: 6619891
    Abstract: A rotatable milling tool includes a body, and at least one set of circumferentially spaced cutting members that are intersected by a common plane oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal center axis of the body. The set of cutting members includes at least three cutting members mounted in an envelope surface of the body. Each cutting member includes a flank surface and a cutting edge disposed adjacent to the flank surface. Each cutting edge has axially spaced apart ends. The flanked surface of each cutting member forms a clearance angle with a tangent extending through the respective cutting edge. The flank surface of the insert has a larger clearance angle than the flank surfaces of at least two other inserts in the same set. During a milling operation, the cutting members with smaller clearance angles tend to produce stability and vibration-free rotation, while the cutting member having the larger clearance angle ensures a high precision (smooth) machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Sandvik Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Lars-Ola Hansson, Göran Pantzar, Inge Svenningsson
  • Patent number: 6620016
    Abstract: A bubble generating assembly has a housing, a container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a pair of bubble generating rings, a tubing that couples the interior of the container with the rings, and a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the rings in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the rings to be pivoted. Each ring is pivotably coupled to each other in a manner such that the rings can be pivoted between a closed position where the front surfaces of the rings contact each other, and an opened position where the rings are positioned side-by-side in the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6616498
    Abstract: A bubble generating assembly has a housing with a wiping bar secured to a permanent location extending across a portion of the front opening of the housing. The bubble generating assembly further includes a container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a bubble generating ring positioned adjacent the front opening, a tubing that couples the interior of the container with the ring, and a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the ring in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the ring to be moved from a first position to a second position across the wiping bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6612895
    Abstract: A gyroscopic toy having a housing and an end post. The housing contains a spinning member, which can be caused to rotate about a first rotation axis of the housing for producing a gyroscopic effect while the end post rests on a surface to support the housing. A gimbals member is movably mounted on the exterior of the housing so that the first gimbals member can rotate about a second axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. Two crescent-shaped members are movably mounted to the gimbals and one or two figurines are attached to the crescent-shaped members to enhance the visual effect. The toy comes with a support stand, the upper end of which has a concave surface to seat the end post. Alternatively, at least one foot of the figurine has a concave surface to seat the end post when the figurine is used as the support stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Chau King Sze
  • Patent number: 6612893
    Abstract: A toy airplane assembly is provided that is easy to fly, inexpensive, and durable. The toy plane assembly includes a plane having a radio receiver and a microprocessor. Batteries housed in the fuselage power the printed circuit board to which the microprocessor and radio receiver are attached. The radio receiver receives signals from a hand-held remote control radio transmitter and are transmitted to the microprocessor. The microprocessor decodes the signals and, in response thereto, distributes power to the motors for driving the propellers. All movement of the plane is controlled by the microprocessor, thereby providing microprocessor assisted flight. The plane fuselage is a one-piece molded part, made of a foam material to provide a durable plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Spin Master Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Rehkemper, Nicholas Grisolia, Keith Johnson, Bret Gould, Alexey Florov
  • Patent number: 6609942
    Abstract: The present invention is a toy for amusement. The toy has a panel having one or more spherical toy balls, commonly known as “floating eyeballs,” Jet Balls™ or Glide Balls™, affixed to the panel in a bulging manner. The panel may have graphic depictions including human, insect, animal, or creature-like facial features on both its front and back surfaces. Alternately, one or both sides of the panel can be an interactive surface, whereby the user creates his own artwork around the eyes. The panel can be hingedly connected to a base container to create a toy box, or a lunch box, or a lunch bag, or backpack such that when the panel is turned over or opened, a new panel bearing different features or the interactive surface appears. The panel and spherical toy ball(s) together make an entertaining three-dimensional representation that can be controlled by the user to create a visual effect in which the spherical toy ball(s) move about in a manner similar to human-like eye movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Accord Publishing LTD
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Cole, Kenneth H. Fleck
  • Patent number: 6607418
    Abstract: A discovery toy/play feature apparatus, for use with water and sand, or other particulate or granular material is provided. The apparatus allows the user to play in both sand and water in such a way as to learn and discover physical and engineering principles while having fun. The play feature apparatus allows the user to bury objects in the sand and play as if the user was on a beach looking for shells or to play as if the user was an archeologist. Further the user is allowed to use the varying channels and pools to make dams and other water obstructions and learn fluid mechanics and engineering principles while having fun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Playcore Wisconsin, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Henry
  • Patent number: 6604982
    Abstract: A suspension device for use with a toy vehicle is provided. The suspension device allows the height of the chassis with respect to the wheels to be quickly and easily adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Linda Croteau-Brooks
  • Patent number: 6602106
    Abstract: A walking device (10) comprising a body portion (11), defining a front, a rear and sides extending between the front and rear. A pair of legs (12) are disposed on each side of the body portion (11) and are connected at an upper end thereto and define a heel (18) at the other end. A foot (13) is disposed at the lower end of each leg (12). The legs (18) are connected to the body portion (11), by a pair of spaced-apart shafts (15, 16) and each shaft includes an eccentric end portion (15b, 16b), which is received in an opening formed in each respective leg (12). One of the openings (21) is a journal opening which confines the end portion (16b) to rotation relative to the leg (12), while the second opening (23) is formed as a slot and permits the end portion (15b) rotational and lengthwise movement within the opening (23) relative to the leg (12). Rotation of the pair of shafts (15, 16) causes the legs (12) to move in a walking motion, in generally opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Lik Yuen Cheung
  • Patent number: 6598506
    Abstract: A monitoring device for the spacing between the knives is provided in a rotation cutting apparatus having a rotation cutting knife and a counter-knife which partly overlap in the cutting region and form a cutting gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Gämmerler AG
    Inventors: Gunter Gämmerler, Ralf Elvert, Helmut Schirmacher