Patents by Inventor Gerry CODY
Gerry CODY 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: 11964215Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
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Publication number: 20230050151Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
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Patent number: 11471783Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
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Publication number: 20200330886Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
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Patent number: 10652719Abstract: An improved toy system is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the toy system includes a toy vehicle that can be uniquely identified. The toy vehicle includes a wireless tag that contains identifying information that is unique to the toy vehicle. In another aspect, the system includes a toy vehicle reader that can identify a toy vehicle that is proximate to the reader. The toy vehicle reader can wirelessly communicate with the tag, and in particular with a chip on the tag, on the proximate toy vehicle. In one embodiment, the toy vehicle reader utilizes Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to read the tags on vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Gerry Cody, Ron Friedman
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Publication number: 20190297480Abstract: An improved toy system is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the toy system includes a toy vehicle that can be uniquely identified. The toy vehicle includes a wireless tag that contains identifying information that is unique to the toy vehicle. In another aspect, the system includes a toy vehicle reader that can identify a toy vehicle that is proximate to the reader. The toy vehicle reader can wirelessly communicate with the tag, and in particular with a chip on the tag, on the proximate toy vehicle. In one embodiment, the toy vehicle reader utilizes Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to read the tags on vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Gerry Cody, Ron Friedman
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Patent number: 9844735Abstract: A loading and launching device for toy vehicles is disclosed that is actuated with a single pull of an actuator to both load and launch a toy vehicle, such as onto a toy vehicle track set. The device includes a horizontal toy vehicle loader and a toy vehicle launcher that are coupled to one another, such that as the launcher moves rearward, the loader moves from a vehicle receiving and loading position (in which the loading and launching device may receive a toy vehicle returning from the toy track set) to a launch position that pushes a toy vehicle into position directly in front of the launcher. When the launcher is released, it contacts and launches the toy vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Ken Tao, Gerry Cody
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Publication number: 20160263487Abstract: A loading and launching device for toy vehicles is disclosed that is actuated with a single pull of an actuator to both load and launch a toy vehicle, such as onto a toy vehicle track set. The device includes a horizontal toy vehicle loader and a toy vehicle launcher that are coupled to one another, such that as the launcher moves rearward, the loader moves from a vehicle receiving and loading position (in which the loading and launching device may receive a toy vehicle returning from the toy track set) to a launch position that pushes a toy vehicle into position directly in front of the launcher. When the launcher is released, it contacts and launches the toy vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Ken TAO, Gerry CODY
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Patent number: 9387410Abstract: A loading and launching device for toy vehicles is disclosed that is actuated with a single pull of an actuator to both load and launch a toy vehicle, such as onto a toy vehicle track set. The device includes a horizontal toy vehicle loader and a toy vehicle launcher that are coupled to one another, such that as the launcher moves rearward, the loader moves from a vehicle receiving and loading position (in which the loading and launching device may receive a toy vehicle returning from the toy track set) to a launch position that pushes a toy vehicle into position directly in front of the launcher. When the launcher is released, it contacts and launches the toy vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Ken Tao, Gerry Cody
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Publication number: 20160175724Abstract: A loading and launching device for toy vehicles is disclosed that is actuated with a single pull of an actuator to both load and launch a toy vehicle, such as onto a toy vehicle track set. The device includes a horizontal toy vehicle loader and a toy vehicle launcher that are coupled to one another, such that as the launcher moves rearward, the loader moves from a vehicle receiving and loading position (in which the loading and launching device may receive a toy vehicle returning from the toy track set) to a launch position that pushes a toy vehicle into position directly in front of the launcher. When the launcher is released, it contacts and launches the toy vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Ken TAO, Gerry CODY