Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Waggener

Thomas B. Waggener 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: 4654019
    Abstract: A new toy is provided which, because its topology is that of an inverted toroid, can present multiple appearances and can rapidly change appearances. The toy may be continually manipulated, in a motion similar to turning a pair of socks inside-out, to present a new surface and thus a new appearance with each such action. In a preferred embodiment, the toy is composed of several segments of cloth with elastic and two cloth tabs with grommets at each junction of two segments. The outer surface of the toy is typically formed by a single segment of the cloth with the other segments enclosed. When the segments are distinguished from one another such that each has a different appearance, manipulating the toy so as to bring another segment to the outer surface causes the toy to present a new appearance. Two constraining loops, each going through a set of the aforementioned grommets, act to limit the overall exterior dimension of the toy and facilitate smooth functioning of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Thomas B. Waggener