Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Hardouin

Christopher J. Hardouin 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: 9028291
    Abstract: An image capturing toy may include a toy vehicle that may include at least one wheel and a camera, the camera including a camera lens and/or a housing that may include a first aperture and a wheel chock configured to inhibit displacement of a wheel. The housing may be moveable from an open position in which the toy vehicle may be placed in and removed from the housing, to a closed position in which the housing releasably encases the toy vehicle such that the camera lens is accessible through the first aperture and the wheel chock engages the at least one wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M Martino, Eric C Ostendorff, Kevin K Cao, Christopher J Hardouin, David A Sheltman, Stacy L O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20120052767
    Abstract: An image capturing toy may include a toy vehicle that may include at least one wheel and a camera, the camera including a camera lens and/or a housing that may include a first aperture and a wheel chock configured to inhibit displacement of a wheel. The housing may be moveable from an open position in which the toy vehicle may be placed in and removed from the housing, to a closed position in which the housing releasably encases the toy vehicle such that the camera lens is accessible through the first aperture and the wheel chock engages the at least one wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Martino, Eric C. Ostendorff, Kevin Kai Cao, Christopher J. Hardouin, David A. Sheltman, Stacy L. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8025551
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has first, second and third wheels for movement over a surface. Each of the first, second and third wheels has a respective first, second and third axis of rotation that lies between the remaining two other axes of rotation such that the three axes of rotation are mutually adjoining. Each of the three axes of rotation crosses over the other two axes of rotation such that an angle is formed between each adjoining crossing pair of the axes of rotation where each angle is other than a multiple of 90 degrees. Each wheel is individually powered so that the toy vehicle can translate in any horizontal direction regardless of its facing direction. Two of the wheels can be realigned so their axes of rotation are collinear for conventional movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Torres, Christopher J. Hardouin, Mark S. Mayer, Tin Hung Ngai, Chun Wing Wong
  • Publication number: 20090212968
    Abstract: A hand carried and operated remote control unit includes a housing configured as an other toy so as to support independent user play activity without a remotely controlled toy and including a main housing portion and at least a first handle extending outwardly and away from the main housing portion. A central vertical plane through front, rear, top and bottom sides of the housing divides the housing into two substantially equal halves. Circuitry in the housing includes a wireless signal transmitter, a controller and at least a tilt sensor connected in a subcircuit with the controller. The tilt sensor includes a ball tube with a central axis and a ball to roll along the tube between opposing ends of the ball tube to make or break the subcircuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: William Willett, Nicholas Amireh, Christopher J. Hardouin
  • Publication number: 20080220692
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has first, second and third wheels for movement over a surface. Each of the first, second and third wheels has a respective first, second and third axis of rotation that lies between the remaining two other axes of rotation such that the three axes of rotation are mutually adjoining. Each of the three axes of rotation crosses over the other two axes of rotation such that an angle is formed between each adjoining crossing pair of the axes of rotation where each angle is other than a multiple of 90 degrees. Each wheel is individually powered so that the toy vehicle can translate in any horizontal direction regardless of its facing direction. Two of the wheels can be realigned so their axes of rotation are collinear for conventional movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Torres, Christopher J. Hardouin, Mark S. Mayer, Tin Hung Ngai, Chun Wing Wong