Patents by Inventor Dean C. Reisher

Dean C. Reisher 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: 7086605
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is disclosed with at least a pair of toy racing vehicles and at least a pair of guide slots, each guide slot in turn having a pair of exposed power supply rails. The toy vehicles are guided about the track by guide pins affixed to the toy vehicles, the guide pins running within the guide slots. In a first portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance greater than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. In a second portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance less than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. The power supply rails run parallel to and at a uniform spacing from the guide slots in both portions of the track, providing power in both track portions to electric motors contained in the toy vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent J. D'Angelo, Jr., James M. Dickinson, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher
  • Patent number: 7083111
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is formed from a plurality of interconnecting track segments. Each segment includes two opposing ends, each end having a pair of coupling projections intended to mate with corresponding coupling sockets on an interconnecting segment. Each end further includes at least one locking lug which in a first preferred embodiment mates with a corresponding locking tab or in a second preferred embodiment mates with a locking recess. The interconnecting track segments are thus releasably locked together by the coupling projections and coupling sockets, acting in combination with the locking lug and locking tab or recess. Each segment further includes a plurality of conductive strips partially embedded in each segment, extending between the opposing ends. At least one end portion of each one conducting strip extends beyond the end of the track segment, and is bent to wrap around the end portion of the track segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Reisher, Gerhart P. Huy
  • Patent number: 6883720
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is disclosed with at least a pair of toy racing vehicles and at least a pair of guide slots, each guide slot in turn having a pair of exposed power supply rails. The toy vehicles are guided about the track by guide pins affixed to the toy vehicles, the guide pins running within the guide slots. In a first portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance greater than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. In a second portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance less than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. The power supply rails run parallel to and at a uniform spacing from the guide slots in both portions of the track, providing power in both track portions to electric motors contained in the toy vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent J. D'Angelo, Jr., James M. Dickinson, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher
  • Patent number: 6776685
    Abstract: A toy vehicle ramp has a resiliently flexible sheet panel and a pair of stiffer support members. Each support member has a plurality of support points formed thereon arranged to define a channel in which a lateral edge portion of the sheet panel is slidingly received for height adjustment of the panel in the supports and thus of the ramp. One or more elastic members extend between the support members and beneath the sheet panel to hold the ramp together. The flexible sheet panel collapses and the band(s) stretch when a load heavier than an ordinary remote control toy vehicle is applied so that a child cannot jump from or ride over the ramp and so that the ramp can collapse without damage to its components for reassembly and reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Reisher, Gerhart P. Huy, Aritty J. Newton
  • Publication number: 20040084546
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is disclosed with at least a pair of toy racing vehicles and at least a pair of guide slots, each guide slot in turn having a pair of exposed power supply rails. The toy vehicles are guided about the track by guide pins affixed to the toy vehicles, the guide pins running within the guide slots. In a first portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance greater than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. In a second portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance less than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. The power supply rails run parallel to and at a uniform spacing from the guide slots in both portions of the track, providing power in both track portions to electric motors contained in the toy vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent J. D'Angelo, James M. Dickinson, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher
  • Patent number: 6688985
    Abstract: A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Weiss, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher, Joseph T. Moll, Gregory R. Nungester, Frank W. Winkler, Justin M. Discoe
  • Publication number: 20030216102
    Abstract: A toy vehicle ramp has a resiliently flexible sheet panel and a pair of stiffer support members. Each support member has a plurality of support points formed thereon arranged to define a channel in which a lateral edge portion of the sheet panel is slidingly received for height adjustment of the panel in the supports and thus of the ramp. One or more elastic members extend between the support members and beneath the sheet panel to hold the ramp together. The flexible sheet panel collapses and the band(s) stretch when a load heavier than an ordinary remote control toy vehicle is applied so that a child cannot jump from or ride over the ramp and so that the ramp can collapse without damage to its components for reassembly and reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Reisher, Gerhart P. Huy, Aritty J. Newton
  • Publication number: 20030216186
    Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is formed from a plurality of interconnecting track segments. Each segment includes two opposing ends, each end having a pair of coupling projections intended to mate with corresponding coupling sockets on an interconnecting segment. Each end further includes at least one locking lug which in a first preferred embodiment mates with a corresponding locking tab or in a second preferred embodiment mates with a locking recess. The interconnecting track segments are thus releasably locked together by the coupling projections and coupling sockets, acting in combination with the locking lug and locking tab or recess. Each segment further includes a plurality of conductive strips partially embedded in each segment, extending between the opposing ends. At least one end portion of each one conducting strip extends beyond the end of the track segment, and is bent to wrap around the end portion of the track segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Reisher, Gerhart P. Huy
  • Publication number: 20020147050
    Abstract: A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Weiss, Gerhart P. Huy, Dean C. Reisher, Joseph T. Moll, Gregory R. Nungester, Frank W. Winkler, Justin M. Discoe