Patents by Inventor Tobin Wolf

Tobin Wolf 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: 4757580
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a story book wherein the rear cover is of increased thickness so that it can hold the necessary transparencies and optics therein for viewing and wherein predetermined pages of the story book are provided with apertures aligned with transparencies and optics associated therewith so that the viewer can observe the scene being depicted on a transparency by locking through the aperture on the page. The transparency illustrations which are disposed in the book rear cover, in one embodiment, are encased in opaque tubes, each tube being aligned with one of the apertures on the book pages. Each of the tubes includes a magnifying lens on the side of the rear cover closest the apertures on the pages and a transparency of the scene to be depicted between the lens and the portion of the rear cover remote from the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4741717
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a smoke generator for a toy, primarily passive toys, which the blower for blowing smoke out of the smoke generating chamber operates intermittently and mechanically, simultaneously with the generation of the smoke, so that the operation of the battery used for smoke generation is also intermittent, thereby prolonging battery life. Also disclosed is a smoke generator wherein a metal film or carbon resistor is utilized to heat an oil containing wick to produce the smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4666418
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a non-tippable toy which is capable of rocking about an axis and ultimately resting in a vertical position and which is also capable of motion in a lateral direction by utilizing an axle having a pair of wheel-like members affixed thereto, the axle being rotably mounted in the body of the toy so that the toy is capable of rocking about the axis. The toy also includes weights secured to the bottom of the toy body by means of a spring fastener or the like to provide the low center of gravity. The toy body includes a pair of shoulders thereon, preferably surrounding the shaft, which receive components thereon designed to alter the configuration of the toy. Numerous aspects can be provided to the toy by replacing the wheels with a plurality of feet in the shape of a wheel so that the lateral motion of the toy is not impaired. Also, the wheels can be mounted on the shaft in an off-center position to provide a side to side and up and down motion to the toy during lateral motion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4626972
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a combination lamp and night light wherein the lamp also generates the illusion of a three-dimensional scene when the night light is operated. The scene is removably secured to the lamp base to permit changing of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4573936
    Abstract: A toy wherein remote objects are moved in response to the rotation of a steering wheel. A first embodiment has a pulley keyed to the shaft of the steering wheel, a second pulley journaled in the base of the toy and a belt therebetween. A drive arm arranged to snap into a slot on the side of a toy vehicle is affixed to the second pulley whereby its rotation will cause the drive arm and the vehicle to rotate. The drive arm includes a hinged center portion to permit vertical movement of its end in addition to the horizontal movement.In a second embodiment a ninety degree sector is secured at one apex to the steering wheel shaft, the sector being restrained to rotate only about ninety degrees before being returned to its original position. A rigid link has one end attached to a further apex of the sector and the other to a ratchet arm secured to a center post in the base of the toy. Also secured to the center post for rotation thereon is a ratchet wheel to which the drive arm is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4569666
    Abstract: Action figures or super hero types of dolls wherein actual and realistic combat confrontations between hero and enemy can take place, the figures taking the shape of human beings, animals, robots or the like. A super hero doll or action figure carrying a simulated weapon such as a laser gun, the weapon having a retracted projectile therein with a spring force applied thereto, the projectile being held in place by a latching member on the gun. A trigger is positioned in the body of the action figure which, when moved by the finger of the player in a forward direction, rotates the latch which is pivotally mounted on the gun. This removes the latching action on the projectile and permits the spring member, which was in compressed condition, to expand and move the projectile outwardly. A flange is provided on the projectile to contact a lip at the end of the gun barrel and prevent the projectile from leaving the gun in the form of a free flying missile or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4331849
    Abstract: A control lever for a toy wherein the lever has two degrees of freedom and includes a stem portion loosely engaging a hole centrally located in an electrically non-conductive switch plate. The square switch plate has four rectangular electrically conductive areas positioned adjacent the sides thereof. The switch plate is held against a frame by means of four sets of flexible contacts, each set associated with one of the conductive areas. The switch plate is movable with two degrees of freedom by movement of the lever, whereby none, one or two different adjacent pairs of flexible contacts will be positioned on a rectangular conductive area. In this manner, two motors which control the direction of the vehicle can be selectively off, rotating in a forward direction or rotating in a rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4262441
    Abstract: A mailbox-shaped container having a plurality of openings, each designed to receive packages of a different size and shape with a rotatable platform at the bottom of the container and a hinged transparent door at the rear of the container for permitting light to pass into the container and on to the platform and to permit removal of packages from the container. A kaleidoscope is secured to the container and passes therethrough so that an observer can view the contents of the container from the outside through the kaleidoscope and, at the same time, obtain the view of brightly colored objects rotating on the platform with a kaleidoscopic effect. The output from the kaleidoscope will continually change by rotation of the rotatable platform either manually from the outside of the container to which the platform extends or by other motive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4254954
    Abstract: A game capable of being played by one or more players wherein the object is to beat the tortoise to the finish line and/or also beat the competing players. The game includes a gameboard which has a circular path defined thereon for the tortoise with a guide ring to guide the circular travel path of the tortoise. In addition, a tortuous path is provided for movement of the rabbits. The tortuous path is composed of plural spaces of different colors. The tortoise includes an interior standard spring motor which when wound drives a shaft which includes a drive wheel at one end positioned beneath the tortoise and a ball tumbler including a plurality of different colored balls and a window or windows positioned above the tortoise. The tortoise also includes a depending plate so that the tortoise is supported by means of a pair of spaced dimples on the plate and the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4225138
    Abstract: A gameboard which has a circular path defined thereon for a tortoise with a guide ring to guide the circular travel path of the tortoise. In addition, a tortuous path is provided for movement of rabbits. The tortuous path is composed of plural sections or spaces of different colors, the path also including reward and penalty spaces. The tortoise includes an interior standard spring motor which when wound drives a shaft which includes a drive wheel at one end positioned beneath the tortoise and a ball tumbler including a plurality of different colored balls and a window or windows positioned above the tortoise. The tortoise also includes a depending plate so that the tortoise is supported by means of a pair of spaced dimples on the plate and the drive wheel. When the spring motor has been wound up and the tortoise place on its path, the drive wheel will rotate and cause the tortoise to traverse the circular path, guided by the guide ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4212459
    Abstract: A racing game having movable terrain and a controlled vehicle having freedom in the vertical and horizontal planes. The terrain speeds are controllable by the operator and automatically reduced in response to predetermined improper operation. Obstacles are positioned on the terrain, in the form of a belt, which are self righting according to one embodiment, and require operator righting in accordance with another embodiment. Other obstacles, such as ramps, trees, etc. are permanently positioned. Motor speed is controlled by a potentiometer which is controlled by rotation of a hand grip on the handlebar which rotates a shaft in one embodiment. The belt is driven by a pair of rollers, one being biased to remove belt slack, the rollers having sets of aligned valleys or indentations for accommodating objects secured to the underside of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4208833
    Abstract: A realistic driving toy which includes a vehicle driven by a magnet which moves along the vector sum of a pair of moving rods, the rods being movable normal to each other in a plane by means of motors and linking elements. The motors are controlled by a series of contacts which communicate with a printed circuit disc whereby rotation of a steering wheel rotates the printed circuit disc relative to the contacts to provide different combinations of motor "on-off" conditions as well as different combinations therewith of motor rotation direction conditions to provide magnet movement in eight different directions. In accordance with a second embodiment of printed circuit board, sixteen vector directions for magnet movement are provided by the addition of resistors across certain ones of the circuit paths of the printed circuit board and an alteration of the conductive paths. Provision is made for initial location of the magnet. The rods are driven by a chain, screw or belt drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4199163
    Abstract: A steerable plastic sled molded in one piece and requiring no factory assembly labor. The sleds are readily stackable, one above the other and within each other to provide minimum bulk during shipment. The sled includes a rear sitting section and a front leg section joined by a relatively flexible pleated or bellows-like section that permits the sled to flex in the horizontal plane to permit steering and to flex in the vertical plane to allow the sled to conform to uneven terrain. The sled includes a set of molded in runners.In a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a windshield which is joined to the front leg section by a molded living hinge and is secured to the leg section by rivets, bolts or the like. The windshield includes provision for steering.Both embodiments are nestable and stackable for storage or shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Inventors: James Nelson, Robert J. Sainato, Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4188746
    Abstract: A toy figure, such as a doll, is provided with movable arms and eyes and a movable head. The movable parts of the doll are selectively actuated to move in a reciprocating manner to make such gestures as "yes", "no" to "wave" to "clap" hands or to "wink" an eye. A manually controlled pneumatic system, including a plurality of bellows mechanisms, is provided for actuating the selected movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4165581
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a toy vehicle which is capable of movement in the forward direction and is capable of left and/or right turns by means of a remote sound or radio frequency, transmitted to a controlled mechanism in the vehicle for performing the turning function. The turning function is accomplished by means of a linkage system as well as a motor driven disc with electrically conductive pattern thereon for providing the vehicle control.In accordance with a second, third and fourth embodiment of the invention, the turning function is provided in conjunction with a reversing function of the vehicle so that the vehicle has the capability of forward and reverse movement as well as left, forward and right turning. This is accomplished according to the second embodiment by the use of two frequencies, two receiver circuits and two discs, one for steering and the other for axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1979
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: 4149338
    Abstract: A child's toy which can also be used as a game wherein a simulated landscape includes a flower or mushroom mounted on a bellows thereon and a second flower mounted thereon. The landscape includes an air channel therewithin which includes an intake valve, a passage communicating with the bellows and an outlet valve communicating with the flower. The outlet valve region of the flower includes an elastomeric washer for receiving a balloon simulating a ladybug or the like, the balloon including a nozzle for substantially airtight communication with an insertion into the washer. The sides of the balloon rest on the sides of the flower interior so that, upon inflation of the balloon by reciprocation of the bellows in standard manner, air will come into the inlet valve to the bellows and air channel and, upon contraction of the bellows, pass through the air channel and through the outlet valve into the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: D252165
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: D254981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: D261157
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf
  • Patent number: D294978
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventor: Tobin Wolf