Patents by Inventor Kenneth I. Amamoto

Kenneth I. Amamoto 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: 4273332
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the order of finish of a race involving toy vehicles. The apparatus includes a base which connects to tracks on which vehicles race and has a resilient surface covering its interior. A transparent cover is hinged above the base and has a trigger which is actuated by the leading vehicle crossing the resilient surface to close the cover on the vehicles within the base thereby determining their positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon H. Buck, Kenneth I. Amamoto
  • Patent number: 4251949
    Abstract: A toy racing apparatus including an inclined section of track and a bowl. The track enters the bowl through an opening in the lower sidewall where its surface is tangent to the interior wall. A vehicle placed at the upper end of the track will speed down the track, enter the bowl, and progress in a spiral path upwardly inside the bowl. In a preferred embodiment, the bowl is transparent and flags are positioned to be displaced as a vehicle reaches particular heights in the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon H. Buck, Kenneth I. Amamoto, William Hart, Michael T. McKittrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4155194
    Abstract: A toy launcher is provided for launching airplanes, missiles or the like, the launcher being provided with a base having a drum member pivotally mounted within the base, the periphery of the drum having a bearing for receiving the axis of a joy stick handle which is pivotally mounted with respect to the drum member. A gimbal mechanism within the drum is operatively connected to the handle and to a launch arm extending out from the drum, the launch arm containing a launch mechanism for releasably receiving airplanes or the like for launching the same in response to actuation of a trigger mechanism in the handle. Manipulation of the joy stick angularly displaces the surface of the launch arm to permit pre-positioning of the intended flight path and bank angle of the projectiles to a given attitude prior to launching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth I. Amamoto, Ferenc Fekete, Wayne R. Halford, Eugene J. Kilroy, Michael O. Hirtle