Patents by Inventor Karl D. Lerch

Karl D. Lerch 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: 8141668
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles. The ride-on, or ride-on vehicle, includes a frame having a seat adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a biasing assembly that is connected to the frame and adapted to bias the seat away from the vehicle's driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed operation of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, John L. Jones, Jr., William R. Howell, Karl D. Lerch, Brian L. Bienz
  • Publication number: 20090229896
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles. The ride-on, or ride-on vehicle, includes a frame having a seat adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a biasing assembly that is connected to the frame and adapted to bias the seat away from the vehicle's driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed operation of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Kurt J Huntsberger, John L. Jones, JR., William R. Howell, Karl D. Lerch, Brian L. Bienz
  • Patent number: 7530411
    Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles. The ride-on, or ride-on vehicle, includes a frame having a seat adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a biasing assembly that is connected to the frame and adapted to bias the seat away from the vehicle's driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed operation of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, John L. Jones, Jr., William R. Howell, Karl D. Lerch, Brian L. Bienz
  • Patent number: 6994179
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on vehicle includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a simulated shock absorber and/or a passenger sidecar. Finally, in some embodiments, the ride-on may include wheel assemblies that simulate inflatable wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, John L. Jones, Jr., William R. Howell, Karl D. Lerch, Brian L. Bienz
  • Patent number: 6755265
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on vehicle includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a simulated shock absorber and/or a passenger sidecar. Finally, in some embodiments, the ride-on may include wheel assemblies that simulate inflatable wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, John L. Jones, Jr., William R. Howell, Karl D. Lerch, Brian L. Bienz
  • Patent number: 6656010
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on further includes one or more steerable wheel and one or more driven wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Bienz, Karl D. Lerch
  • Publication number: 20020068499
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on vehicle includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a simulated shock absorber and/or a passenger sidecar. Finally, in some embodiments, the ride-on may include wheel assemblies that simulate inflatable wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, John L. Jones, William R. Howell, Karl D. Lerch, Brian L. Bienz
  • Patent number: 6120345
    Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle with a free-floating wheel is disclosed. The ride-on includes a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor, and a frame that is adapted to support a child and resemble a full-size motorcycle. The ride-on further includes a steerable wheel, plural driven wheels and a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Lenihan, John L. Jones, Jr., Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D436141
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D437007
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D443658
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D306093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D306638
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D314406
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D315744
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D316722
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D372740
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Fisher-Price, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl D. Lerch, Michael Clarke
  • Patent number: D410258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D428068
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mattell, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch
  • Patent number: D429774
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl D. Lerch