Patents by Inventor Michael Nuttall

Michael Nuttall 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).

  • Publication number: 20130231028
    Abstract: A track set for toy vehicles is provided, the track set having: a first track circuit having a loop section and a figure-8 track circuit; a second track circuit having a loop section and figure-8 track circuit, wherein the figure-8 track circuits are overlaid on each other to provide multiple intersections between each figure-8 track circuit, wherein the toy vehicles travelling on the figure-8 track circuits can crash into each other as they travel along the figure-8 track circuits; and a mechanism for propelling the vehicles along the first track circuit and the second track circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Eric Ostendorff, Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 8517729
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an oral device, or mouthpiece, for delivering a fluid to the mouth or oropharynx of a user. In one embodiment, the oral device includes an intraoral portion, an extraoral portion, and an auxiliary support device that serves to stabilize the oral device. In various embodiments, the auxiliary support device may be configured with ear loops, a support band, a support frame and/or a support member. The intraoral portion generally includes at least one outlet port through which the fluid is delivered to the oral cavity or oropharynx. A method of dispensing a fluid using the oral device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario and Trudell Medical International
    Inventors: Ruth E. Martin, Julie Theurer, Michael Nuttall, Bryan Finlay, Brandon Coultes
  • Patent number: 8500510
    Abstract: A floatable toy structure is disclosed herein, the floatable toy structure having a floatable base portion; a collapsible track section, the collapsible track section having a pair of track sections; a collapsible support secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible support capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible support extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position, the collapsible support engages and maintains the collapsible track section in an extended position when the collapsible support is in the extended position; and a fair start mechanism for simultaneously releasing a pair of objects for travel down the pair of track sections, wherein the fair start mechanism comprises a bucket that spills water onto the pair of objects after a predetermined amount of water has been placed into the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Stacy Lynn O'Connor, John Violette
  • Patent number: 8449344
    Abstract: Vehicle playsets having multiple configurations. The vehicle playsets may include a track segment, a trigger adjacent to the track segment, a moving component adapted to move toward the trigger, and a launch mechanism coupled to the track segment and adapted to launch a toy vehicle along the track segment toward the moving component. Striking the moving component with the toy vehicle may prevent the moving component from reaching the trigger. The playset may include at least two configurations including a closed configuration and an open configuration that is suitable for play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Mattle, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Harold Garner, Stacy O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8430712
    Abstract: A track set is provided. The track say may include at least two selectively positionable track arms each with a toy vehicle launcher, each track arm further defining a vehicle pathway, where each track arm may be positioned in at least an extended play configuration and a folded storage configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy O'Connor, Michael Nuttall
  • Publication number: 20130052913
    Abstract: A play set for toy vehicles is provided, the play set having: a ramp member pivotally mounted to the play set for movement between a first un-deployed position wherein toy vehicles travelling thereon will be directed under an upper track section and a deployed position wherein vehicles travelling thereon will be launched up into the upper track section; a first mechanism coupled to the ramp member for moving the ramp member between the first position and the second position; and a second mechanism for releasing a floor portion of the upper track section such that toy vehicles located thereon are dropped through an opening in the upper track section, wherein the second mechanism is only actuated after a predetermined number of vehicles are located on the upper track section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Paul Schmid, Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 8342903
    Abstract: Intersection apparatus for use with tracks for toy vehicles define a first toy vehicle pathway from a ramp portion and across the gap to a corresponding receiving portion, and a second toy vehicle pathway that crosses the first. The ramp portion is translatable in a direction transverse to the pathways between a bypass position in which the trajectory of a toy vehicle traversing the first pathway passes and does not intersect that of a toy vehicle traversing the second, and an intersect position in which the trajectories intersect. The ramp portion may further be translatable to a second bypass position defining a trajectory passing on the opposite side of the second vehicle's trajectory relative to the trajectory defined when the ramp portion is in the first bypass position. When the ramp is in the intersect position, toy vehicles traversing the pathways at substantially the same time will collide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy O'Connor, Michael Nuttall, Paul W. Schmid
  • Patent number: 8323069
    Abstract: An indexing stunt selector for a toy vehicle track set is provided. The indexing stunt selector may be disposed along a toy vehicle track and includes a first stunt element disposed in the vehicle pathway to cause a toy vehicle to perform a first stunt, where performance of a first stunt results in actuation of a first stunt trigger. The indexing stunt selector further includes a second stunt element adapted to be automatically disposed in the vehicle pathway following actuation of the first stunt trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Harold Garner
  • Publication number: 20120276808
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track set and target game includes a track section and a target assembly configured such that the track section aims at or passes through the target assembly. The target assembly includes a rotatable arm with at least two targets disposed at opposing ends. Each target may be removably or movably coupled to the rotatable arm and permanently coupled to a resilient member, such that each target may intersect at least a portion of the track section. A resilient member may be removably coupled to each of the at least two targets and configured to release if the target is impacted or displaced. Upon release or reconfiguration of a target, the rotatable arm's center of gravity may move and, thus, change the frequency, orientation, or velocity or the rotating arm's rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Eric Ostendorff
  • Toy
    Patent number: 8298038
    Abstract: A reconfigurable structure for use with toy vehicles is provided, the structure having a first tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit; a lift movably secured to the first tower, the lift being positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the first tower; a ramp movably secured to the first tower, the ramp being positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the first tower; a second tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit; a lift movably secured to the second tower, the lift being positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the second tower; a ramp movably secured to the second tower, the ramp being positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the second tower; and wherein the reconfigurable structure is capable of having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration and the first tower has a connecting member configured to engage the second tower when the reconfigurable stru
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy Lynn O'Connor, Michael Nuttall
  • Toy
    Patent number: 8267738
    Abstract: A track set is disclosed herein, the track set having: a first track segment pivotally mounted to the track set for movement between a first position and a second position, the first track segment having a first end and a second end; a perforated vessel secured to the first end of the first track segment, wherein a predetermined amount of water in the perforated vessel will maintain the first track segment in the first position; a second track segment mounted to the track set, the second end of the first track segment being spaced from a receiving end of the second track segment and the second end of the first track segment being elevated from the receiving end of the second track segment when the first track segment is in the first position, wherein at least one toy vehicle positioned proximate to the first end of the first track segment will be held there until an amount of water in the perforated vessel is less than the predetermined amount and the first track segment moves from the first position to the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 8251768
    Abstract: A floatable toy structure is disclosed herein, the floatable toy structure having a floatable base portion; a collapsible track section secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible track section capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible track section extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position; and a collapsible support secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible support capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible support extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position, the collapsible support engages and maintains the collapsible track section in the extended position when the collapsible support is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 8221184
    Abstract: A floatable toy structure is disclosed herein, the floatable toy structure having: a floatable base portion; a collapsible track section secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible track section capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible track section extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position; a support secured to the floatable base portion, the support configured to support the collapsible track section in the extended position; a pump for spraying water from a spray nozzle movably secured to the floatable toy structure; and a gate pivotally mounted to the floatable toy structure proximate to the collapsible track section, the gate being configured for movement between a first position and a second position, the gate further comprising a vessel for holding water therein, wherein the gate moves from the first position to the second position when a predetermined amount of water is placed into the vessel and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Stacy Lynn O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20120178336
    Abstract: A floatable toy structure is disclosed herein, the floatable toy structure having a floatable base portion; a collapsible track section, the collapsible track section having a pair of track sections; a collapsible support secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible support capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible support extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position, the collapsible support engages and maintains the collapsible track section in an extended position when the collapsible support is in the extended position; and a fair start mechanism for simultaneously releasing a pair of objects for travel down the pair of track sections, wherein the fair start mechanism comprises a bucket that spills water onto the pair of objects after a predetermined amount of water has been placed into the bucket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Stacy Lynn O'Connor, John Violette
  • Publication number: 20120164914
    Abstract: A track set and a plurality of wall mounts is disclosed herein, each of the plurality of wall mounts having: a planar member; a mount member configured to be snap fittingly engaged into the planar member; wherein the mount member is configured to releasably engage a front surface of the planar member and wherein the front surface of planar member further comprises a ledge portion that is configured to engage a bottom portion of the mount member and a feature that is configured to engage an upper portion of the mount member. The track set having a first track segment configured to engage at least one of the plurality of wall mounts and direct an object in a first direction generally down the first track segment; and a U-turn device configured to receive the object from the first track segment and redirect the object it in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction down a second track segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Stacy Lynn O'Connor, Eric Ostendorff, So Kar Fai (Eric So), Paul Schmid, Michael Nuttall, Leung Yat San (Sun Leung), Glenn Yu
  • Patent number: 8192246
    Abstract: A stunt arrangement for a toy vehicle including a launching section configured to launch a propelled toy vehicle into flight; a capturing section configured to receive the toy vehicle from the flight; a deflection section disposed between the launching section and the capturing section and configured to be impacted by the toy vehicle in flight and to redirect the vehicle toward the capturing section, wherein the deflection section includes a target, the target being pivotally secured to a release mechanism for movement from a first position to a second position, wherein movement of the target from the first position to the second position causes the release mechanism to drop another toy vehicle towards the capturing section; and a reorienting section coupled to an outlet of the capturing section, the reorienting section being rotatably driven about the desired direction of travel and is configured to upright the toy vehicle or the another toy vehicle if either vehicle exits the capturing section partly or com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Ostendorff, Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 8181591
    Abstract: An indicating device includes a first housing component adapted to be mounted to a container and a second housing component moveably connected to the first housing component. The second housing component is moveable relative to the first housing component along an axial path. The second housing component includes an exposed actuation surface having a substantially convex domed shape. The exposed actuation surface of the second housing component can include a lubricant. A method of actuating an indicating device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Trudell Medical International
    Inventors: Noel Gulka, Greg Lawrence, Michael Nuttall
  • Patent number: 8162716
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track set. The track set includes toy roads sized for toy vehicles. The track set allows a toy vehicle to be raised and lowered to different elevations using one or more different mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nuttall
  • Publication number: 20120048264
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery system is disclosed that is a single-use (disposable) continuous nebulizer system designed for use with mechanically ventilated patients to aerosolize medications for inhalation with a general purpose nebulizer, or for connection with devices usable in endoscopic procedures. The system separates the liquid reservoir from the nebulization process taking place either at the adapter hub, where it fits into an endotracheal tube (ETT), or a gas humidifier, where the aerosol may treat a gas used in an endoscopic procedure, with a multi-lumen tube configured to nebulize liquid and air at its distal end. The refillable liquid reservoir is mounted away from the immediate treatment zone, avoiding orientation issues associated with other types of nebulizers having a self-contained reservoir. The system can produce aerosols having a wide range of droplet sizes, depending upon central lumen diameter, with values of MMAD that range from 4 to 30 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan Finlay, Michael Nuttall, Brandon Coultes, Mark Nagel, Mark Pickard
  • Publication number: 20120000461
    Abstract: A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer, in one embodiment, includes a fluid channel air inlet and fluid channel air inlet valve responsive to either a manual force external of the nebulizer, or a patient's breathing, to begin the nebulization process. The nebulizer also includes a fluid return channel to a fluid source, such as a removable vial, containing fluid to be aerosolized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Jerry Grychowski, Martin P. Foley, Michael Nuttall