Patents Examined by Laura Fossum
  • Patent number: 5853312
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved model airplane for purposes of scientific education and competition. Model airplanes in the prior art are either bad at flying, or do not look like real airplanes; and all are short of a collision prevention device. By means of some special positioning adapters for fixing the wing section firmly to the body and by adding a collision buffer piece to the nose, the model airplane according to the present invention is not only good at flying, but also safe and durable to use. The model airplane according to this invention is, therefore, best suitable for the above-mentioned purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Lyon Aviation Engineering Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Danny H. Y. Li
  • Patent number: 5853314
    Abstract: A toy building block in the form of a rectangular prism is interlockable with similar blocks located on any of its sides. The block also has mating female and male features which permit connection between two blocks in either of two mating relationships, the first relationship permitting swivelling movement between the blocks and the second relationship inhibiting swivelling movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: Sunil K. Bora
  • Patent number: 5846120
    Abstract: A toy trailer for towing or hauling transportable elements including a unique tow hitch assembly and suitable for use with remotely-controllable motorized toy vehicles having a highly-maneuverable skid steering systems driven by single or dual motors, having a separately motorized loading device pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to load, push or pull transportable elements or load same on to the trailer, the motorized vehicle having in one embodiment a hopper mounted on the vehicle, and having an automatic tow hitch mechanism with both the hopper and the hitching mechanism coupled to a motorized loading device gear train which mechanism provides for the sequential actuation of, first, the scoop for loading transportable elements into the hopper or on to the trailer and, second, for actuation of both the hopper for dumping and the hitch mechanism for hitching and unhitching of trailer vehicles, and including control means responsive, without wires connected to the vehicle, to operator c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Rokenbok Toy Company
    Inventor: William M. Barton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5842907
    Abstract: A radio-controlled toy missile launcher with missile launch mount having a first end mounted on a chassis and a second end movable upward and downward. The missile launch mount has at least one missile projector accommodating a missile. A supporting member is provided to mechanically connect the chassis to the missile launch mount for supporting the missile launch mount. The supporting member is capable of rising up and falling down the second end of the missile launch mount. A thrust applying unit is provided in the missile projector for applying the missile with a thrust enough to allow launching of the missile. A missile holding member is provided in the missile projector for holding the missile from being launched. A release member engages the missile holding member for moving the missile holding member to release the missile from holding by the missile holding member thereby to allow launching of the missile by the thrust force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Nikko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Niimura, Munetoshi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 5842901
    Abstract: A baby bottle is provided with adapter structure allowing selective attachment of a music box and/or a vibrator. Each device has its own independent power source and the adapters have structure allowing them to be attached to the bottom of the baby bottle in multiple orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Lonzell Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5842906
    Abstract: A walking mechanism for a toy doll or character having at least one pair of legs. Each leg has a hip end and a foot end. A pair of elliptical idler gears are mounted for rotation about a common shaft, 180 degrees out-of-phase. A second pair of elliptical gears, each in driving relationship with a respective one of the elliptical idler gears are also 180 degrees out-of-phase. The hip end of each leg is mounted for movement with a stub shaft that is in a driven relationship with a respective one of the 180 degree out-of-phase elliptical driving gears to produce a varying speed, generally elliptical orbital movement of the legs to simulate walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Breslow, Morrison, Terzian & Associates, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Rouben T. Terzian, R. Blake Kuralt
  • Patent number: 5839936
    Abstract: An improved pressure-actuated bubble blowing toy comprising a container and an insert therein, in which the insert is composed of an cylinder, a piston, and a film forming ring connected to the upper end of the piston, and characterized by the design of the piston with a base plate having a cut portion and a plurality of raised portions on its upper surface, and the cylinder have a rail on the inner wall of its lower portion so that by aligning the cut portion of the piston with the rail, the rising and lowering of the piston can be maintained in a fixed direction without unwanted rotation, and the raised portions provide passages for liquid to enter the upper portion of the cylinder to form film on the film forming ring where the base plate is contacted with the a stop ring between the upper and lower cylinder portions of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Mo-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 5836803
    Abstract: A figurine replica of a person such as a player of a particular sport. The figurine replica has a front housing member replicating the front portion of a body of a person except for one limb member, a rear housing member secured to the front housing member and replicating the rear portion of the body of the person except for the limb member, and a replication of the limb member. The limb member has a spring component projecting therefrom and retained between the housing members such that the limb member can be moved by hand and the spring component returns the limb member to its original position. The spring and limb can be molded as a single unit, with the spring either in an elongate configuration for coiling upon assembly of the figurine replica or in an already-coiled configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Namkung Promotions Inc.
    Inventor: John Hamlin
  • Patent number: 5830033
    Abstract: A sheet has a number of slots laterally defining elements with fold lines extending between said slots. One end of the sheet is attached to the bottom surface of a box and the other end is attached to the inner surface of a lid hinged to the box. The elements can be spatially unfolded, forming at least one plane parallel to one of the said surfaces when it is substantially perpendicular to the other surface, and so that the scenery construction is folded on itself when the lid is swung down on the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: David Piron
  • Patent number: 5830031
    Abstract: A new Doll House Swivel Basement Add-On System for providing a basement in combination with a swivel base for an existing doll house thereby allowing a user to conveniently access all sides of the existing doll house. The inventive device includes a basement structure, a swivel base, a vehicle ramp, a porch, snap-on stairs, and a securing rim. The securing rim is for engaging a bottom portion of the exiting doll house. The swivel base allows the basement structure to rotate along with the existing doll house to allow the user access to all sides of the existing doll house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventors: Cathy G. O'Brien, Carol A. R Gillis
  • Patent number: 5830037
    Abstract: An improved noise-making device (100) comprises a symmetrical, flexible strip of laminated paper upon which four creases (20, 22, 24, and 26) and two slits (30 and 32) have been applied. Subsequent user preparation by curling and folding converts the two-dimensional strip into two straps (40 and 42), concave in relation to one another, joined at each end by wings (10, 12, 14, 16) such that pulling the wings apart brings the straps in full contact, generating a loud snapping sound while simultaneously imparting a kinesthetic impulse to the hands. When the wings are brought toward each other, the curl applied in preparation allows the straps to return to their concave state. Messages or advertising may be imprinted upon the surface to promote any suitable event where the device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Mercury Printing
    Inventor: Joseph D. Mastandrea, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5830034
    Abstract: A glow-in-the-dark article illuminated with phosphorescent filling material and a charging case is described. The article has a pliant outer skin made of light-transmissive fabric on which a light-blocking image is affixed. The skin contains phosphorescent beads or particles. The charging box has an interior cavity with a transparent floor and netting for supporting the glow-in-the-dark article directly above a black light source, thereby effectively suspending the ball free from the sides of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lasting Luminous, Inc.
    Inventors: Janet M. Ciechanowski, Edward D. Ciechanowski, Robert M. Waldron
  • Patent number: 5827103
    Abstract: A dollhouse activity book with several pages made of a soft durable material. The pages depict rooms in a house. On the pages, pockets and straps can be found into which dollhouse family dolls may be inserted. There is also a family pet that can be moved from room to room and placed on a Velcro strip. The book is constructed in such a manner as to be very portable, with a handle at it's top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Sharon Carter
    Inventor: Sharon A. Carter
  • Patent number: 5827107
    Abstract: A spinning figurine toy has a weighted skirt or disc to provide angular momentum, a lower spindle, a spring attached to the lower spindle, a foot inserted into the lower end of the spring, and a rod fixed in the foot and able to move vertically within the lower spindle. When the toy is spun upon the foot, bouncing or jumping motion may be imparted to the toy by dropping it from a height because of the resilient nature of the spring. A pull-string operated hand launcher having a helical spindle on top fits into a corresponding helical aperture in the foot to provide a means of setting the toy in motion at high speed and of releasing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventors: James Bears, Chee-Yin Lu
  • Patent number: 5827109
    Abstract: An amusement device for young children includes a cloth housing secured about a core such that peripherally distributed portions of the housing are relatively farther from the core and/or peripherally distributed gaps are defined between the housing and the core. In a preferred embodiment, the cloth housing is formed to assume a first geometric shape, which is substantially pyramidal, and the core is formed to assume a second, discrete geometric shape, which is substantially spherical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Mark A. Krull
  • Patent number: 5823849
    Abstract: A toy that can sense contact with a fluid. The toy preferably contains a conductive member and an adjacent conductive screen. An indicator circuit has one terminal connected to the conductive member and another terminal connected to the conductive screen. The screen and conductive member are in relative close proximity so a fluid which flows through the screen will provide an electrically conductive path between the two conductive members. The conductive path closes the indicator circuit. The indicator circuit has an audio unit and/or light source that are activated when the circuit is closed by the fluid. The conductive members can be attached to a shield which also has a spray device. A player can spray another player with the spray device of the shield. The player can also block the spray of an opposing player with the shield. If the fluid makes contact with the conductive members the indicator circuit provides an indication that a "hit" has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
    Inventors: Roger Gardner, Elliot Rudell
  • Patent number: 5820437
    Abstract: A Wacky Pop Noise Maker is a novelty toy and candy holding device designed to hold a sucker type candy and to make noise. The Wacky Pop comprises a hollow main housing with plastic rings with a noise maker in the housing between an upper end cap and a bottom end of the housing. The upper end includes an aperture and a sucker type candy. The sucker type candy is inserted into the aperture at the top of the upper end cap of the hollow main housing. The upper end cap also has small apertures around the top end of the cap to allow passage of air. The outside of the hollow main housing has plastic rings and the lower end of the housing is open with a plastic rod across the bottom. Inside the hollow main housing the noise maker slides freely when the holding device is shaken or when the air is pushed back and forth through the apertures in the top edge of the upper end cap producing a variety of noises. This combination of candy and a toy noise maker gives children twice the fun. The candy can be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventors: Thomas J. Coleman, William K. Schlotter, IV, Princess Ann Coleman, Ann M. Schlotter
  • Patent number: 5820439
    Abstract: Gyro stabilized remote controlled toy motorcycle having good stability and controllability without using ground contacting auxiliary wheels or the like. The motorcycle comprises a chassis supporting a fixed angle rear wheel drive and associated motor and a castered front wheel. A gyro wheel having an axis nominally parallel to the axis of the rear wheel is mounted in a gimbal with a vertical axis in the forward part of the chassis and connected to the front wheel fork and post to turn the front wheel responsive to the rotation of the gimbal relative to the chassis. The chassis further includes a radio receiver, battery power and a steering device, such as a motor and slip clutch for torquing the gyro wheel gimbal. To turn in a first direction the gyro gimbal is torqued in the opposite direction, initially causing the front wheel to also turn in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Shoot the Moon Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Hair, III
  • Patent number: 5820442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic engine sound duplicator simulator used in combination with an internal combustion motor, a battery, and an alternator. The sound duplicator simulator includes a motor rpm sensor, a sound duplicator microprocessor, an amplifier, a sound trim adjuster and a switch. When the internal combustion engine is powered, the microprocessor converts the rpm signal into a frequency modulated electric signal which generates a sound simulating that of a high performance vehicle. The sound trim adjuster prevents the frequency modulated electrical signal from being transmitted to the speaker means when there is a predetermined low motor rpm. The stitch is mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle for turning the microprocessor and amplifier on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Glenn R. Helder
  • Patent number: 5820438
    Abstract: A toy bat (10) having a handle (12) which has a handle base (12A) securely fastened to a handle stopper (12B). The handle base (12A) and the handle stopper (12B) have a handle female fastener (12C) therein and therethrough, respectively. The toy bat further has a bat (14) which is removably attachable to the handle (12). The bat (14) comprises a bat male fastener (14A) which securely engages the handle female fastener (12C). The bat (14) further comprises a bat shaft (14B) extending longitudinally from and parallel with the bat male fastener (14A). A whistle (16) is optionally integrally mounted within the distal end of the bat shaft (14B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Larkin Horton, III