Patents by Inventor Gerard L. Lambert

Gerard L. Lambert 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: 6358112
    Abstract: A toy vehicle trackway set includes a launcher and an entrance track coupled to a stunt loop which in turn supports an exit track. Freely rolling toy vehicles are launched from the toy vehicle launcher to traverse the stunt loop and exit via the exit track. A toy vehicle trap configured to generally resemble a fanciful monster or alien is supported upon the stunt loop and includes a bistable pivotally secured head. The head is pivotable between a first stable position in which toy vehicles are able to avoid the trap and traverse the loop and a second capture position in which toy vehicles are diverted from the track loop into the head of the alien or monster. The bistable support of the pivotal head causes the head to move from its non capture position to a capture position when a sufficient amount of energy has been transferred from a toy vehicle traversing the stunt loop to the trap mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard L. Lambert, Gary Swisher, David Sheltman
  • Patent number: 6000992
    Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher includes a launching station together with an aligned spring-driven striker shuttle for launching toy vehicles from the launcher. The launcher further includes a vehicle magazine having an inclined ramp for storing vehicles and sequentially feeding the lowest vehicle to the launcher station as a preceding vehicle is launched. A trackway is coupled to the launcher and includes an intersection having a straight-through path and an angled return path. The trackway includes a curve to guide toy vehicles from the straight-through path to the angled path. Simultaneous entry of toy vehicles on the straight-through path and the angled path result in a dramatic collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard L. Lambert
  • Patent number: 4564197
    Abstract: A portable toy racing set is disclosed which includes a booster for accelerating toy vehicles around a curved track. The booster includes an arm which pivots about an axis perpendicular to the track and offset from the center of a curved portion of the track. A finger depends from the arm and travels from a position adjacent the side of the track to a position which causes it to contact the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard L. Lambert, Michael T. McKittrick, Hubert A. Rich, Gary M. Saffer
  • Patent number: 4521206
    Abstract: An improved track for a toy vehicle is disclosed which is in the form of a one-hundred-eighty degree curve. A wall portion of the track is configured to contact a front portion on a first side of the vehicle as it moves along the curve. A post is located at approximately the geometric center of the curve at a position which causes a rear portion on the second side of the vehicle to contact and to pivot around the post as the vehicle moves along the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Saffer, Gerard L. Lambert, Howard R. Stern
  • Patent number: 4509931
    Abstract: A four-wheel-drive toy vehicle (10) is powered by a flywheel (74) coupled to a drive shaft (116) drivingly connected to a front axle (123) and a rear axle (124) rotatably mounted to a front journal box (126) and a rear journal box (128), respectively. Each journal box (126), (128) is rotatably coupled to the drive shaft (116) and a vehicle chassis (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard L. Lambert, Gary M. Saffer
  • Patent number: 4285157
    Abstract: A toy racing set including at least one powered vehicle, a length of flexible track, and a carrying case. The carrying case folds out to form a track upon which the vehicle may run. The case may also be used when closed with the flexible track to provide a loop-the-loop track for a powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard L. Lambert
  • Patent number: 4248426
    Abstract: A pinball-type game utilizing a spinning top actuated by a high speed spinning mechanism, release of the top onto a playing surface having a number of obstacles propelling the top against a scoring mechanism having a rocker arm which, upon impact, through a pawl device rotates a scoring indicator. The scoring indicator is provided with a spring clutch to enable the indicator to return to zero. "Flippers" are provided to redirect the spinning top along the playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Mattel Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Sims, Gerard L. Lambert, Raymond J. Gross, Harold B. Collins
  • Patent number: 4207935
    Abstract: A toy woodworking apparatus powered by a flywheel driven by a handle operatively coupled to a gear train through a ratchet mechanism, the gear train driving a sander disc, rotary slitter blades and a combined shear and punch member, the shear member being coupled to the drive train through a single-cycle coupling mechanism. The apparatus performs woodworking operations on wood slats or strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard L. Lambert, John S. Cook