Patents by Inventor Robert Annis

Robert Annis 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: 20190070520
    Abstract: A toy that has a pair of wheel-like members mounted on a central axle. The central axle is a ferrous metal rod with a pair of small permanent or other magnets attached to each end of the rod. The two magnets are positioned so that like poles face each other in opposition and face the center of the rod. A non-ferrous support plate such as a flat piece of wood with a metal strip on its edges forms a track. The magnets associated with the axle causes the toy to achieve the effect of clinging to the metal strip portions of the track. When the device is placed on the track, it will roll along the track under the force of gravity while magnetically clinging to the track in any horizontal or vertical position of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: J. Vincente G. Antolin, Robert Annis
  • Patent number: 10039993
    Abstract: A toy that has a pair of wheel-like members mounted on a central axle. The central axle is a ferrous metal rod with a pair of small permanent or other magnets attached to each end of the rod. The two magnets are positioned so that like poles face each other in opposition and face the center of the rod. A non-ferrous support plate such as a flat piece of wood with a metal strip on its edges forms a track. The magnets associated with the axle causes the toy to achieve the effect of clinging to the metal strip portions of the track. When the device is placed on the track, it will roll along the track under the force of gravity while magnetically clinging to the track in any horizontal or vertical position of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Big Monster Toys, LLC
    Inventors: J. Vincente G. Antolin, Robert Annis
  • Publication number: 20160101372
    Abstract: A toy that has a pair of wheel-like members mounted on a central axle. The central axle is a ferrous metal rod with a pair of small permanent or other magnets attached to each end of the rod. The two magnets are positioned so that like poles face each other in opposition and face the center of the rod. A non-ferrous support plate such as a flat piece of wood with a metal strip on its edges forms a track. The magnets associated with the axle causes the toy to achieve the effect of clinging to the metal strip portions of the track. When the device is placed on the track, it will roll along the track under the force of gravity while magnetically clinging to the track in any horizontal or vertical position of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: J. Vincente G. Antolin, Robert Annis
  • Publication number: 20140273716
    Abstract: A perceived opacity smart play system or toy that uses a special cover that is partially opaque around a smart device having a capacitive touch-screen. The smart device is housed behind a material that appears opaque until the screen on the device is illuminated. This illumination allows an image on the screen to be seen through the opaque appearing material. This allows a child to learn and interact by means of the smart device's touch screen, microphone, tilt switch, accelerometer and vibrating motor. The system can be supplied with an APP that can be loaded onto the phone. Various letters, images, words, etc. can appear through the cover and prompt various responses of touching, tilting, and speaking to signal a correct answer. The system can then laugh and vibrate in response before prompting for more play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Annis, Donald Rosenwinkel
  • Publication number: 20140094242
    Abstract: A spinner toy that can hold a cellular telephone, particularly those telephones known as “smartphones”. The toy can take any shape, color or configuration, but has a cavity on its upper surface that can receive a smartphone usually laid flat with the screen facing upward. The bottom of the toy has a protruding area that acts as a pivot so that the toy can be spun on a surface. An optional application can run in the smartphone that uses the accelerometer(s), compass and the like to sense the direction the front of the toy is pointing when it stops spinning or how long it spun or how fast. Various games or activities can be programmed to request the person being pointed at to perform some activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Annis, Donald Rosenwinkel
  • Publication number: 20050023749
    Abstract: Cards and a holder carrying a spinner provide for determining results in the play of a variety of games. A plurality of cards represent participants on one side of a game or contest, and a plurality of cards represent participants on an opposing side of the game or contest. At least some of the cards for each side have a face carrying a number of sectors, with at least some of the sectors having indicia for determining an outcome in the play of the game. At least one holder removably receives a card of either side's cards. The holder has an upper surface and an opposed bottom wall. The bottom wall has an upper and an access opening or pocket between the upper surface and the bottom wall. A rotatable disk is substantially contained within the holder. The disk has an upper side, an opposed underside, and an outer periphery extending at least partially between the upper side and the underside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Annis, Hiram Johnson, Donald Rosenwinkel
  • Patent number: 6508179
    Abstract: A play set for use with unpowered (e.g. {fraction (1/64)} scale) toy vehicles having non-steerable, free rotating wheels includes a closed loop track with a conveyor that raises such unpowered toy vehicles from a lower end to an upper, elevated end and a driven, tilting roadway that randomly directs toy vehicles from the upper level to either of two track branches. At least part of each track branch can be opened to release a toy vehicle from the track. A merge track section joins together a lower level end of each of the two track branches and leads to the lower end of the conveyor. The upper end of the conveyor and the tilting roadway are simultaneously supported by a single and driven by a single motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Annis, Daniel Gleason, Trevor J. Hayes, Robert A. Butkiewicz, Julian R. Payne, Jeremy S. Robotham, Francis Ponton
  • Publication number: 20020108527
    Abstract: A play set for use with unpowered (e.g. {fraction (1/64)} scale) toy vehicles having non-steerable, free rotating wheels includes a closed loop track with a conveyor that raises such unpowered toy vehicles from a lower end to an upper, elevated end and a driven, tilting roadway that randomly directs toy vehicles from the upper level to either of two track branches. At least part of each track branch can be opened to release a toy vehicle from the track. A merge track section joins together a lower level end of each of the two track branches and leads to the lower end of the conveyor. The upper end of the conveyor and the tilting roadway are simultaneously supported by a single and driven by a single motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Annis, Daniel Gleason, Trevor J. Hayes, Robert A. Butkiewicz, Julian R. Payne, Jeremy S. Robotham, Francis Ponton