Patents by Inventor Philip W. Crain

Philip W. Crain 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: 4669657
    Abstract: A toy train play setting having a landscape base structure molded in one piece, the upper surface having formed thereon a trackway, a depressed roadway portion, and upwardly extending wall portions of generally rectangular form for detachably receiving thereon a simulated building, which, when attached, form door like openings about a trackway section for passage therethrough of the train, and the building serves for storage of the train vehicles. The lower surface of the structure is provided with a channel portion, which in conjunction with the surface on which the play setting is positioned, forms a lower tunnel. A handle is provided for portability of the play setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip W. Crain, James D. Openshaw
  • Patent number: 4575350
    Abstract: A toy track (10) in the shape of a snake for use with a toy vehicle (38). The track has a tail end (12) and a head (24). The head including a top section (26) and a bottom section (28) having a mouth formed therebetween with a coiled tongue (30) therein. When a toy vehicle traveling along the track enters the head from the back, the vehicle will be allowed to exit through the mouth of the head if it has sufficient energy to completely unroll the tongue. However, if the vehicle does not have sufficient energy, the tongue will not completely unroll and will be retracted back into the mouth, to its normal rest position, pulling the toy vehicle with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Philip W. Crain
  • Patent number: 4504242
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a modular unit for a toy vehicle traversing layout, the unit representing a city section and having a simulated street sign serving as a handle for carrying, the unit being further provided with a vehicle propulsion device for propelling toy vehicles along a simulated street. The modular unit is provided with the propulsion device adjacent a lane of the street with a plunger, upon depression rotating a pivotable drive member into engagement with the rear of a toy vehicle for propelling the same. The unit has a base with grooves in the undersurface thereof for receiving C-shaped connectors for interlocking a plurality of modular units together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip W. Crain, Raymond M. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 4366645
    Abstract: A toy vehicle (12) including a tractor (14) and a semi-trailer (16) is steered by a steering wheel (84) rotatably mounted to the semi-trailer (16) and linked to the rear end of the tractor (14) laterally of its 5th wheel pivot (52) by a rod (88) which swings the tractor (14) about the pivot (52) when the steering wheel (84) is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip W. Crain, James E. Morse
  • Patent number: 4349983
    Abstract: A carrying case may be opened to present upper and lower scene-simulating objects including a serpentine roadway for toy vehicles which may coast down the roadway from the top of the rearwall of an upper carrying case portion to the bottom wall of a lower carrying case portion hinged to the upper carrying case portion along a diagonal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kilroy, William J. Kelley, Philip W. Crain
  • Patent number: 4249339
    Abstract: A toy space vehicle having a main body. A door in the upper surface of the main body may be caused to slowyly open and close accompanied by sounds simulating the movement of heavy doors. Pods affixed to the main body may be made to slowly open or close accompanied by the same sounds. A gun residing in the main body may be caused to fire and aircraft residing in the pods to be launched when the doors are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip W. Crain, William J. Kelley, Daniel J. Shoff