Including Electrical Or Wind-up Propulsion Motor Patents (Class 446/229)
  • Patent number: 8430711
    Abstract: An infant play gym including a mat, a first arched structure extending over the mat, a second arched structure extending over the mat, and a motion module. The motion module includes a housing couplable to both the first arched structure and the second arched structure, a power source, and a motor positioned within the housing and powered by the power source, the motor operable to cause the first and second arched structures to move with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Learning Curve Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Chininis, Melvin Ray Kennedy, Jose Longoria
  • Patent number: 8393100
    Abstract: A holiday display preferably includes a drive unit, at least one object mount, a transport line and an idler pulley device. The drive unit preferably includes a drive motor and a system controller. The drive unit is retained above the ground in one location and the idler pulley device is retained above the ground in another location. A drive pulley is mounted to a drive shaft of the drive motor. The system controller controls the rotation of the drive motor. Both ends of the transport line are secured to the object mount to form a transport loop. One end of the transport loop is retained on the drive pulley and the other end is retained on the idler pulley. The system controller also includes a distance input device for setting a travel distance of the object mount between the drive and idle pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: John T. Hrehoriak
  • Patent number: 7766717
    Abstract: A system is provided for representing an autonomous entity, which may be a winged entity. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a vessel having an interior that is viewable from outside the vessel. The system further includes a rotational drive system, a flexible shaft connected to the rotational drive system for rotation by the rotational drive system, and a display object positioned in the interior of the vessel and connected to the flexible shaft at a position that is spaced from the rotational drive system. In a particular embodiment, the display object has a plurality of wings, including a first wing and a second wing that is generally opposed to the first wing. Rotation of the flexible shaft causes the display object to move within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Ted Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20040005840
    Abstract: Parallel ribs are aligned and clamped onto a vertical spine, which is a slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission line. The spine is attached to a motor which may remain ON for extended periods or which be operated by a chip or other mechanical or electronic means which turns the motor ON and OFF at variable intervals, causing the spine to twist, affecting an apparent spiral motion through the length of spine as the ribs rotate. The motor ON and OFF sequencing is set to coordinate with the length and material of the spine and the attached ribs and weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventor: Laurence Jeffrey Ostrow
  • Patent number: 5941196
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for amusement of pet animals, which includes a base member, a stand mounted on the base member, a first arm mounted on the stand, a drive member mounted on the first arm, a second arm mounted on the first arm and engageable with the drive member so as to be movable by the drive member, a rotatable member connected to an end portion of the second arm and an object which is suspended from the rotatable member and which is swingable by the rotatable member upon movement of the second arm by the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Rich Domanski
  • Patent number: 5836801
    Abstract: A climbing toy device has a ring, a first climbing toy, a climbing mechanism disposed in the first climbing toy, a rope connected to the ring and the climbing mechanism, a second climbing toy, and a string connected to the ring and the second climbing toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Kuo Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 5626504
    Abstract: A toy vehicle and track assembly includes an electrically operable vehicle for movement along an elongate flexible track of a predetermined length having flexible electrical conductors along the longitudinal extent thereof. The vehicle is configured for an actual direction of travel and an apparent direction of travel and includes an arrangement for maintaining the actual direction of travel coincident with the apparent direction of travel. Power is supplied to the vehicle through a hand-held controller wired to a power application device which clamps on the track. The track may be formed with one of several cross-sectional configurations providing additional surfaces for the placement of conductive electric strips which apply power to the vehicle and to optional auxiliary systems within the vehicle. A plurality of mounting tunnels are provided to allow the track to be erected in a number of predetermined circuit designs and, optionally, power may be applied to the track through one of the mounting tunnels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Ting Liu
  • Patent number: 5507679
    Abstract: A toy vehicle system has a vehicle provided with a resiliently biased driven wheel. The wheel is driven by a motor and interposed gears for rotating said driven wheel. The driven wheel is in contact with a lateral side of the track. The motor and driven wheel are mounted on a panel which is positioned for relative movement within a slot in the vehicle pedestal. Track engaging elements, which may preferably be spools, have a pair of rotatable elements in engagement with each side of the track. A pair of resiliently biased electrical pickups is disposed in contacting relationship with the electrically energized track rails. One or more lights may be provided on the vehicle. The vehicle is preferably disposed within a closed hollow enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: James G. Getsay
  • Patent number: 5320572
    Abstract: A toy is hung and is movable on a cord between an upper limit position and a lower limit position. The toy includes a frame unit, a driving device, a planetary gearing, and a cord winding gearing assembly. The driving device has a power source installed on the frame unit, and a first output shaft journalled on the frame unit and driven by the power source. The sun gear of the planetary gearing is sleeved fixedly on the first output shaft so that, when driven by the driving device, the planetary gear of the planetary gearing rotates about the first output shaft. A return spring interconnects the frame unit and the cord winding gearing assembly so as to bias the driving gear of the cord winding gearing assembly to engage the planetary gear of the planetary gearing. The cord winding gearing assembly includes a reel connected to the cord winding gearing assembly so as to be driven by the power source to rotate in a direction, thereby winding the cord thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: Hwa-Lo Chen
  • Patent number: 4664640
    Abstract: A toy suitable for attaching to infant furniture has an elongated track having ends with connecting members positioned on the ends of the track for connecting to an appropriate portion of the infant furniture, such as the side rails of a crib. A housing is mounted along the track. The housing includes a motor and associated components which drive the housing along the track. A stop member is located on each of the ends of the track. The housing includes a sensing lever which is engaged against the stop members on the respective ends of the track, so as to switch the direction of travel of the housing along the track. The housing also includes a musical device and a gear train driven by the motor for producing a constant output to drive the musical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Shindo, Toshiaki Kurita