Patents by Inventor Eric C. Ostendorff

Eric C. Ostendorff 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: 4744781
    Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle having paddles located within the wheels of the toy vehicle which can be extended outside the wheels in order to propel the vehicle forward and backward in water. A flotation chamber is provided at the bottom of the vehicle. A gear assembly including rack gears is used to extend and retract the paddles. After the paddles are retracted inside the wheels, the toy vehicle may be moved over a supporting surface by the rotating wheels. A downwardly extending portion attached to an upper body of the amphibious toy vehicle helps to keep motors mounted inside the vehicle dry when the toy vehicle is placed in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Ostendorff, Peter C. Crosson, Samuel M. Goldstein, Daniel H. Meggs
  • Patent number: 4734076
    Abstract: A toy vehicle play setting simulating a crash test and repair station for use with toy vehicles having body components rotatable on impact to simulate damage from a collision, the setting having a supporting surface member with at least one garage like structure thereon with at least one body repair mechanism therein, with other impact mechanisms for actuating the body component of the vehicle, and for simulating damage to the structure from impact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel M. Goldstein, Timothy S. Engle, Walter A. Kristkeitz, Eric C. Ostendorff
  • Patent number: 4715843
    Abstract: A toy vehicle playset includes a roadway, a booster for impelling a vehicle along the roadway, a ramp positioned in the roadway to provide a path for an impelled vehicle to leap a predetermined distance, a catcher positioned in the roadway to catch a vehicle jumping the ramp, and a return portion of the roadway slanted to stop the vehicle and return it to the end of the roadway at which the booster is situated, the ramp being designed to pivot so that it allows a toy vehicle to pass along the roadway in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Ostendorff, James I. Tucker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4659320
    Abstract: A toy vehicle disk launching apparatus for launching small disks in spinning fashion into a surface for accelerated travel therealong. A chassis supported by wheels includes a housing having a track for loading disks with spindle portions on the axis thereof to a disk launching station. At the disk launching station is an arc shaped catapult lever pivotally mounted for contacting a spindle position of the disk for imparting spinning motion thereto thereby launching the disk onto the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert A. Rich, Miva A. Filoseta, Eric C. Ostendorff