Patents by Inventor Frederick Michelau
Frederick Michelau 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).
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Patent number: 7625033Abstract: A latching assembly for attaching an accessory such as a canopy to a wagon or other children's vehicle. Body tubes are positioned within each corner of the wagon and each features an exposed annular notch. The body tubes are engaged by latches attached to the four corner poles of the canopy. Each latch includes a housing within which pivoting latch fingers reside. Each latch finger includes button and jaw portions as well as leaf springs that urge the jaw portions into engagement with the annular notch of a corresponding body tube. A latch may be removed from the body tube by squeezing the button portions of the latch fingers together. This procedure is repeated for the remaining three corners of the wagon so that the canopy may be removed there from.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Radio Flyer, Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Timothy Seckel
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Patent number: 7455308Abstract: A riding toy converts between a traditional or conventional upright trike configuration and a low slung chopper configuration. A front frame tube is joined to a head tube to which the front wheel and handlebars are piviotally attached. A rear frame tube is joined to a pair of rear wheels. The front and rear frame tubes are joined by a pivot shaft so that they rotate relative to one another. As a result, the rear portion of the riding toy may be flipped over to reconfigure the riding toy between the trike and chopper configurations. An opening is formed in the front frame tube and receives spring-loaded buttons that turn with the rear frame tube so that the riding toy may be locked in the desired configuration. The front frame tube is also split and features a clamp so that it can clamp down on a guide sleeve that is attached to the rear frame tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel, Mark Johnson, Mark Kurth
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Patent number: 7402111Abstract: A rocking horse has a stand that includes a base portion with four tubular columns. The columns each have a tubular wall defining an interior. The wall has a top end with a top rim defining a top opening to the interior. An anchor pin extends through the wall and into the interior so that the pin engages two separated locations on the tubular wall. An S-shaped hook has a first end directly attached to the pin within the interior of the tubular wall and a second end extending out of the top opening on each column. The rocking horse also has four resilient members with outer ends connected to the second ends of the hooks, and inner ends connected to the toy horse for suspending the toy horse from the columns.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Patent number: 7361095Abstract: A stand for a rocking horse or other toy includes a plurality of legs, each with a top end and a bottom end. A foot is attached to the bottom end of each leg. Each foot has a top end, a bottom rim, and an outer wall defining an interior and generally extending from the top end to the bottom rim. The foot also has an interior sidewall defining a pocket with an opening in a vicinity of the top end for receiving the bottom end of a corresponding leg. Slots are also formed in the top end of each foot to receive braces running between the legs. The toy is suspended on the stand from the top ends of the legs so that it is permitted to rock relative to the stand.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Publication number: 20070182198Abstract: A latching assembly for attaching an accessory such as a canopy to a wagon or other children's vehicle. Body tubes are positioned within each corner of the wagon and each features an exposed annular notch. The body tubes are engaged by latches attached to the four corner poles of the canopy. Each latch includes a housing within which pivoting latch fingers reside. Each latch finger includes button and jaw portions as well as leaf springs that urge the jaw portions into engagement with the annular notch of a corresponding body tube. A latch may be removed from the body tube by squeezing the button portions of the latch fingers together. This procedure is repeated for the remaining three corners of the wagon so that the canopy may be removed there from.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2006Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Timothy Seckel
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Patent number: 7222871Abstract: A push handle for a child's vehicle has an elongated body with at least two elongated tubes of different diameters configured in a telescoping relation where the tube(s) of smaller diameters are slidable within the tube(s) of larger diameters between an extended state and a retracted state. The tubes include a top tube with a top end and a bottom tube. The bottom tube is fixed to the child's vehicle. A grip is mounted on the top end of the top tube for gripping by a user's hand. A locking mechanism is disposed within the body for locking the tubes in either the extended state or the retracted state. A release device is disposed on the body and activated for remotely unlocking the locking mechanism so that the body may be moved between the extended and retracted states.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Publication number: 20070010337Abstract: A rocking horse has a stand that includes a base portion with four tubular columns. The columns each have a tubular wall defining an interior. The wall has a top end with a top rim defining a top opening to the interior. An anchor pin extends through the wall and into the interior so that the pin engages two separated locations on the tubular wall. An S-shaped hook has a first end directly attached to the pin within the interior of the tubular wall and a second end extending out of the top opening on each column. The rocking horse also has four resilient members with outer ends connected to the second ends of the hooks, and inner ends connected to the toy horse for suspending the toy horse from the columns.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2006Publication date: January 11, 2007Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Publication number: 20060243458Abstract: A stand for a rocking horse or other toy includes a plurality of legs, each with a top end and a bottom end. A foot is attached to the bottom end of each leg. Each foot has a top end, a bottom rim, and an outer wall defining an interior and generally extending from the top end to the bottom rim. The foot also has an interior sidewall defining a pocket with an opening in a vicinity of the top end for receiving the bottom end of a corresponding leg. Slots are also formed in the top end of each foot to receive braces running between the legs. The toy is suspended on the stand from the top ends of the legs so that it is permitted to rock relative to the stand.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Publication number: 20060237947Abstract: A push handle for a child's vehicle has an elongated body with at least two elongated tubes of different diameters configured in a telescoping relation where the tube(s) of smaller diameters are slidable within the tube(s) of larger diameters between an extended state and a retracted state. The tubes include a top tube with a top end and a bottom tube. The bottom tube is fixed to the child's vehicle. A grip is mounted on the top end of the top tube for gripping by a user's hand. A locking mechanism is disposed within the body for locking the tubes in either the extended state or the retracted state. A release device is disposed on the body and activated for remotely unlocking the locking mechanism so that the body may be moved between the extended and retracted states.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2005Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Patent number: 7086657Abstract: A children's vehicle features a main frame member with a seat support member attached thereto. A generally horizontal plate is attached to the seat support member and features a central portion with a number of transverse ridges. Slots are formed in the plate on opposing sides of the central portion. The seat features a number of ridges formed on its bottom surface as well as a pair of bolt holes. Bolts pass through the seat bolt holes and the slots of the plate. Knobs engage the bottoms of the bolts and may be loosened to permit the seat to be moved relative to the plate and tightened so that the ridges of the seat engage the ridges of the plate to lock the seat in a selected position.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Publication number: 20060082097Abstract: A riding toy converts between a traditional or conventional upright trike configuration and a low slung chopper configuration. A front frame tube is joined to a head tube to which the front wheel and handlebars are piviotally attached. A rear frame tube is joined to a pair of rear wheels. The front and rear frame tubes are joined by a pivot shaft so that they rotate relative to one another. As a result, the rear portion of the riding toy may be flipped over to reconfigure the riding toy between the trike and chopper configurations. An opening is formed in the front frame tube and receives spring-loaded buttons that turn with the rear frame tube so that the riding toy may be locked in the desired configuration. The front frame tube is also split and features a clamp so that it can clamp down on a guide sleeve that is attached to the rear frame tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2005Publication date: April 20, 2006Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel, Mark Johnson, Mark Kurth
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Publication number: 20060001234Abstract: A children's vehicle features a main frame member with a seat support member attached thereto. A generally horizontal plate is attached to the seat support member and features a central portion with a number of transverse ridges. Slots are formed in the plate on opposing sides of the central portion. The seat features a number of ridges formed on its bottom surface as well as a pair of bolt holes. Bolts pass through the seat bolt holes and the slots of the plate. Knobs engage the bottoms of the bolts and may be loosened to permit the seat to be moved relative to the plate and tightened so that the ridges of the seat engage the ridges of the plate to lock the seat in a selected position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2005Publication date: January 5, 2006Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Patent number: 6966572Abstract: A folding riding vehicle, such as a tricycle, feature a front frame element to which a front wheel and handlebars are mounted. A front bracket is attached to the front frame element and a seat bracket, to which a seat is mounted, is pivotally attached to the front bracket. A rear frame element has a pair of rear wheels mounted thereto and is attached to a rear bracket. The rear bracket is also pivotally mounted to the front bracket. The rear seat bracket features a pin that engages slots in the seat bracket. As a result, the seat bracket pivots with respect to the front bracket as the rear frame element is pivoted relative to the front bracket as the riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Publication number: 20050206114Abstract: An adjustable seat for a children's ride-on vehicle includes a seat having a pair of tubular brackets mounted thereto. A pair of rails are positioned on the frame of the vehicle and are received within the tubular brackets so that the seat slides on the rails. A series of seat adjustment holes are formed in each rail. Locking rods have distal ends that engage the seat adjustment holes in a removable fashion so that the seat may be selectively locked in position. A locking mechanism is mounted on the seat bottom and features a housing that encloses a compression spring and a pair of squeeze buttons that engage the locking rods and urge them into the seat adjustment holes of the rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2005Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventor: Frederick Michelau
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Publication number: 20050110239Abstract: A folding riding vehicle, such as a tricycle, feature a front frame element to which a front wheel and handlebars are mounted. A front bracket is attached to the front frame element and a seat bracket, to which a seat is mounted, is pivotally attached to the front bracket. A rear frame element has a pair of rear wheels mounted thereto and is attached to a rear bracket. The rear bracket is also pivotally mounted to the front bracket. The rear seat bracket features a pin that engages slots in the seat bracket. As a result, the seat bracket pivots with respect to the front bracket as the rear frame element is pivoted relative to the front bracket as the riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: May 26, 2005Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Patent number: 6840527Abstract: A tricycle features a hollow main frame member to which a pair of rear wheels and a seat are mounted. A head tube is attached to the main frame member and a post is pivotally positioned therein. The tricycle front wheel is connected to the lower end of the post while handlebars are connected to the upper end of the post. A steering miter gear is also attached to the post within the head tube. A steering shaft is rotatably positioned with the hollow main frame member and features miter gears on its leading and trailing ends. The miter gear on the leading end engages the steering miter gear while the miter gear on the trailing end engages a miter gear that is removably engaged by a pushing and steering handle. The tricycle thus may be pushed and steered by the handle.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Radio Flyer, Inc.Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Thomas Schlegel
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Patent number: D545915Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.Inventors: Mark Kurth, Michael Lapidus, Gregory Gaw, Zenas Lu, Thomas Schlegel, Frederick Michelau