Patents by Inventor Bill Benecke

Bill Benecke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9630117
    Abstract: A toy figure is provided that incorporates a torso, rotatably mounted on a spine, a pelvis fixed to the spine separate from the torso, a movable leg mounted on the pelvis, and a movable arm movably mounted to the torso. A lever extending from the movable leg into the torso rotates the torso on the spine as a result of the motion of the leg. The movable arm, attached to the spine by a linkage, is moved as a result of the relative motion of the rotating torso and the spine. The linkage may be attached within the movable arm near the shoulder or near the elbow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Benecke, Thai Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9028292
    Abstract: A toy figure is provided that incorporates an articulated armature, the armature including a torso member and multiple limbs, where each limb may be the same or different, and each limb includes at least one limb segment. Each limb segment includes two longitudinal primary plates that intersect approximately orthogonally, and a plurality of substantially parallel secondary plates that intersect with and are approximately orthogonal to both primary plates. The outer edges of the primary and secondary plates of each limb segment substantially define a shape and a volume for that limb portion of the toy figure. The articulated armature is surrounded by a resilient body material to simulate flesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Benecke, Steed Sun, Thai Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20130052911
    Abstract: A toy figure is provided that incorporates an articulated armature, the armature including a torso member and multiple limbs, where each limb may be the same or different, and each limb includes at least one limb segment. Each limb segment includes two longitudinal primary plates that intersect approximately orthogonally, and a plurality of substantially parallel secondary plates that intersect with and are approximately orthogonal to both primary plates. The outer edges of the primary and secondary plates of each limb segment substantially define a shape and a volume for that limb portion of the toy figure. The articulated armature is surrounded by a resilient body material to simulate flesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Bill Benecke, Steed Sun, Thai Cheng Chen