Patents by Inventor Brian Bienz

Brian Bienz 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).

  • Publication number: 20070261900
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles. The ride-on, or ride-on vehicle, includes a frame having a seat adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a biasing assembly that is connected to the frame and adapted to bias the seat away from the vehicle's driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed operation of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Kurt Huntsberger, John Jones, William Howell, Karl Lerch, Brian Bienz
  • Publication number: 20050280217
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles. The ride-on, or ride-on vehicle, includes a frame having a seat adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. The ride-on vehicle includes a biasing assembly that is connected to the frame and adapted to bias the seat away from the vehicle's driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed operation of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Huntsberger, John Jones, William Howell, Karl Lerch, Brian Bienz
  • Publication number: 20050034904
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on vehicle includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a simulated shock absorber and/or a passenger sidecar. Finally, in some embodiments, the ride-on may include wheel assemblies that simulate inflatable wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Huntsberger, John Jones, William Howell, Karl Lerch, Brian Bienz
  • Patent number: 5859509
    Abstract: An adjustable speed control for use on a children's ride-on vehicle, where the speed control includes a switch assembly interposed between the battery and the motor of the vehicle. The switch assembly is selectively operable to connect the battery to the motor in one of a number of speed configurations, including a first speed configuration and a second speed configuration. An actuator is connected to the switch assembly and manipulable by a user to allow the user to operate the switch assembly to select a particular speed configuration from among the number of speed configurations. In one embodiment, a diode is disposed in series between the motor and battery in one of the speed configurations to provide a relatively current independent voltage drop between the motor and the battery. In an alternative embodiment, a childproof cover is disposed proximal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Bienz, Patrice M. Neaves