Patents by Inventor Donald K. Fletchic

Donald K. Fletchic 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: 4198778
    Abstract: A toy bank includes a generally cylindrical, transparent upper housing portion having a slot therein for receiving tokens such as money or the like. A lower storage cavity or housing portion is defined by a shell and a transverse, generally upwardly directed concave surface having at least one aperture therein in communication with the upper housing portion. A manually operable propulsion device mounted on the transverse surface engages the token for directing the tokens through the aperture into the lower housing portion. The propulsion means includes a hand crank connected by a gear train to a propeller having its blades extending upwardly through the transverse surface to engage and deposit the tokens in the lower housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Howard J. Morrison, Donald K. Fletchic
  • Patent number: 4166621
    Abstract: A programmable phonograph record changer which provides automatic sound track selection for each of a plurality of records played sequentially by the record changer. The record changer includes an electro-optic scanner mounted on the pickup arm for sensing the land areas located between the various sound tracks of a disc-type record. An auxiliary tone arm lift and sweep mechanism is controlled by a digital logic system connected to the electro-optic scanner to drive the tone arm across various bands which the user does not want to be reproduced. The logic system includes a programmable memory which stores the preselected sound tracks of a sequence of records which the user intends to be reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Anson Isaacson, Howard J. Morrison, Ralph H. Baer, Donald K. Fletchic, Albert G. Keller
  • Patent number: 4119844
    Abstract: A phonograph cartridge is provided for use on a programmable phonograph turntable or changer. The cartridge includes a housing for mounting an electro-mechanical transducer on the end of a phonograph tone arm and a stylus connected to the electro-mechanical transducer for the reproduction of audio information contained in the groove of a record carrier. A sensor including a light source and a photodetector is mounted on the housing in a position in close proximity to the stylus to provide a unitary cartridge and sensor assembly. The stylus and sensor elements are mounted on a subframe portion which is removable from the housing to facilitate replacement of the stylus or sensor without requiring replacement of the entire phonograph cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Howard J. Morrison, Donald K. Fletchic, Ralph H. Baer
  • Patent number: 4109114
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an improvement in programmable phonograph record players which provide automatic sound track selection of the recorded portions of a record. The improvements comprise the provision of an optical scanner mounted on the tone arm including an incandescent light source for directing visible light onto the record surface and a photodetector for receiving light reflected by the record surface. In an alternate embodiment, a differential sensor system includes a light emitting diode and a pair of photodetectors for detecting the presence of a highly reflective, unrecorded land area between two successive recorded sound track portions of the record. In another embodiment, the scanner includes a pair of alternately illuminated light emitting diodes and a single photodetector for receiving the light energy, directed by the light emitting diodes onto the record surface, reflected toward the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Ralph H. Baer, Donald K. Fletchic
  • Patent number: 4101619
    Abstract: Method for making a doll's head, for use in conjunction with a suitable torso, which will excrete a fluid through the brow portion of the head for simulating perspiration, and a method for making the same. The doll head includes an exterior surface formed and contoured with human characteristics and including an interior cavity or reservoir for storing fluid. The head is formed of flexible plastic having a slit at the mouth providing a valve for filling the interior reservoir and a plurality of small measured holes or pores in the brow or forehead which permit the fluid to flow outwardly therethrough. The method includes the steps of heating a mold containing heat curable plastic and slush molding the plastic to attain the interior shape of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Lyle A. Conway, Rouben T. Terzian, Donald K. Fletchic
  • Patent number: 4093832
    Abstract: A programmable phonograph record changer which provides automatic sound track selection for each of a plurality of records played sequentially by the record changer. The record changer includes an electro-optic scanner mounted on the pickup arm for sensing the land areas located between the various sound tracks of a disc-type record. An auxiliary tone arm lift and sweep mechanism is controlled by a digital logic system connected to the electro-optic scanner to drive the tone arm across various bands which the user does not want to be reproduced. The logic system includes a programmable memory which stores the preselected sound tracks of a sequence of records which the user intends to be reproduced. A land sensing circuit includes a means for developing a threshold signal which varies with the record surface reflectivity characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Anson Isaacson, Howard J. Morrison, Ralph H. Baer, Donald K. Fletchic, Albert G. Keller
  • Patent number: 4093260
    Abstract: A velocipede is provided in the form of a carriage supported by swivel wheels and having a drive or propelling wheel for engaging a support surface and propelling the velocipede along the surface. The propelling wheel has an axle secured to the lower end of a generally vertical shaft having a steering wheel at the upper end thereof so that the direction of the propelling wheel, and thus the direction in which the carriage travels, is controlled by turning the steering wheel. The steering wheel shaft and propelling wheel can be turned 360.degree. so that the velocipede can be turned to travel in any direction at any time. The velocipede is propelled by a pair of pedals on a Z shaft secured to a drive gear forming a part of the drive train for driving the propelling wheel. Gears are also provided transmitting rotational force to one end of a spool gear surrounding the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Rouben T. Terzian, Donald K. Fletchic
  • Patent number: 4082292
    Abstract: A tone arm lift mechanism for a programmable phonograph device includes a selectively actuatable solenoid mounted on the free end of the tone arm. The coil of the solenoid includes a movable armature and is mounted on the tone arm in a position so that the armature moves in a generally vertical direction, perpendicular to the surface of a record on the phonograph device. A resilient pad is provided on the lower end of the solenoid armature for engagement with the top surface of the record. A selectively actuatable control energizes the solenoid coil and moves the armature downwardly with respect to the coil, so that, as the resilient pad engages the record surface, the tone arm is moved upwardly so that the stylus moves out of engagement with the record grooves for transverse movement of the tone arm and stylus with respect to the record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Donald K. Fletchic, Howard J. Morrison, Ralph H. Baer
  • Patent number: 3990175
    Abstract: A doll's head, for use in conjunction with a suitable torso, which will excrete a fluid through the brow portion of the head for simulating perspiration, and a method for making the same. The doll head includes an exterior surface formed and contoured with human characteristics and including an interior cavity or reservoir for storing fluid. The head is formed of flexible plastic having a slit at the mouth providing a valve for filling the interior reservoir and a plurality of small measured holes or pores in the brow or forehead which permit the fluid to flow outwardly therethrough. The method includes the steps of heating a mold containing heat curable plastic and slush molding the plastic to attain the interior shape of the mold. The mold comprises an outer head forming shell which is open at the neck for the insertion of plastic thereinto, and a cap which closes the neck and has a plug portion extending into the shell to form the interior reservoir of the head between the shell and the plug portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Lyle A. Conway, Rouben T. Terzian, Donald K. Fletchic