Including Guide For Ascending Or Descending Figure Patents (Class 446/314)
  • Patent number: 10478975
    Abstract: A robotic configuration employs a system of low-cost, relatively lightweight beams and linkages fabricated from a planer material from a series of cuts and folds. The beams are folded along crease lines to form a 3-dimensional structure from a 2-dimensional substrate such as a polyester or other semi-rigid sheet. Tabs and appendages, or keys, cut into the planar material engage slots or apertures cut into adjacent members to define linkages. The linkages include tabs that are insertable in a one-way manner, such that removal is prevented but articulate and rotational movement is permitted by the resilient and flexible nature of the planar sheet material. An arrangement of beams and linkages are cut and formed based on a pattern imposed on a single planar sheet. The beam and linkage arrangement defines a robotic configuration for transport and other actions from an actuation source such as a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Cagdas D. Onal, Fuchen Chen, Weijia Tao
  • Patent number: 8251224
    Abstract: A product packaging with expanding structures. The product packaging includes a body configured to house a toy. The body includes a central section configured to receive the toy, a front section coupled to the central section and having a transparent region configured for viewing the toy and a storage region for receiving an accessory, and a rear section configured to rotate relative to the central section and having expandable features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jody L. Meger
  • Patent number: 8191713
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display package for a toy product (e.g., a toy figure), the package facilitating demonstration of the toy's animated features, or provides animation features to a toy that otherwise would not otherwise not be animated. The display package of the present invention defines an enclosure that houses the toy. The display package includes a manually-manipulated animation mechanism that repositions the toy within the enclosure and/or moves a portion of the toy from a first display position to a second display position (and vice versa). For example, the display package may include a movable segment to which the toy is connected. An actuator drives the movable segment, which, in turn, generates motion in the toy (motion which simulates animation of the toy).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: John Calendrille, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090239443
    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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Ted Shapiro, Ron Dubren
  • Patent number: 6679749
    Abstract: A telescopic doll structure comprises a base, a top stage, and a telescopic rack. The telescopic rack is composed of at least two hollow pipes with one pipe being able to be straightly shrunk into another pipe. The base is assembled to one end of one pipe and the top stage is assembled to one end of another pipe. At least one clamping unit is used to clamp the at least two hollow pipes when they are expanded. A figure is arranged on the top stage to enclose an exterior of the telescopic doll structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Jui Hsia Yu
  • Patent number: 6626730
    Abstract: A foldable device suited for toys comprises a connecting rod and a retractable cylinder both sleeved by a toy shank support, wherein a bottom end of the connecting rod is connected to a transmission device that can force the connecting rod to move downward and upward, characterized in that a first snapping bead box is installed at a bottom end of the retractable cylinder, the first snapping bead box is equipped with a snapping bead and a spring, one end of the connecting rod is inserted into and passes through the first snapping bead box, a backside of the snapping bead leans against the connecting rod and is in contact with the sidewall of the first snapping bead box through a spring, and a recess is provided on the connecting rod above the first snapping bead box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Jui Hsia Yu
  • Patent number: 6572432
    Abstract: A telescopic mascot includes a head core, a shoulder supporting the head core and a body having a pair of upright telescopic tube assemblies adapted to support the shoulder. Each of the upright telescopic tube assemblies has a plurality of tubes, slidable one in another, to allow the upright telescopic tube assembly to be variable in length between an elongated position and a shortened position, and the tubes are further spring-loaded so as to urge the upright telescopic tube assembly to the elongated position. In addition, a pair of retainers is formed on the lowest tubes and the shoulder is provided with a pair of pivotal hooks adapted to be locked with the retainers when the telescopic tube assemblies is adequately shortened, so as to retain the telescopic tube assemblies in their shortened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 6540580
    Abstract: A yo yo toy is formed of a pair of substantially disk-shaped body halves joined in a spaced arrangement by a center shaft. A quantity of string is secured to the center shaft and wound within the space. Each body half includes a receptacle and a cover pivotally secured thereto and lachable in a closed position. A plurality of toy items are secured within the receptacle and cover of one body half while the remaining body half defines a play feature background and play surface for the toy figure in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Wolfram
  • Patent number: 6146234
    Abstract: An ascending/descending mechanism in which a face gear is rotated to drive two symmetrically arranged cylindrical gears, whereby two eccentric shafts fitted with the cylindrical gears are rotated in reverse directions. Two driven slide blocks are fitted with the short shafts of the eccentric shafts. The top ends of the driven slide blocks are fitted with two columns which are fitted in fitting holes of retaining blocks. When the cylindrical gears are reversely rotated, the short shafts of the eccentric shafts are slided within the slide slots of the driven slide blocks, whereby the columns are reciprocally moved up and down. Accordingly, the dolls or decorative articles at the top ends of the columns are alternately ascended or descended. The power source for driving the face gear can be a music bell or a motor, so that when the dolls or decorative articles at the top ends of the columns are alternately ascended or descended, a music or other audio/video effect is cooperatively created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Ya Yung Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-Ya Yang
  • Patent number: 5766056
    Abstract: A transmission structure of toy fire engine including a casing in which a power source is disposed and connected to a driving shaft for rotating two cams disposed in the casing and two cams disposed outside the casing. The outer cams serve to drive two lateral slide members to slide and push two decorative members pivotally disposed on two sides of the casing to pivot outward. One of the inner cams via a support rod abuts against a linkage set to drive a scaling ladder to pivot upward from the casing or downward to the casing. When the scaling ladder is pivoted to an upright position, a movable doll is driven to climb up along the scaling ladder. The other of the inner cams pushes a pushing slide member to depress a pushing shaft of a rotary power wheel set, making the rotary power wheel set descend and touch the ground for driving the toy fire engine to running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Wen Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 5676374
    Abstract: The game disclosed includes a movable staircase assembly that moves characters from one location on the staircase assembly to another. A spinner directs a player to place a character on the staircase at a specific location, to skip a turn, or remove an opposing player's character from the staircase. The winner is the first player to have all of her characters reach the end of the staircase. The staircase includes stationary and movable components that serially move the characters from one step to the next with a reciprocating motion of the movable component relative to the stationary component. A gear mesh and cam converts the rotary motion of a battery-operated motor to a reciprocating motion in the movable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Bossa, Christopher A. Down, Edward J. Estabrook, Ralph J. Kulesza, Wayne A. Kuna
  • Patent number: 4878875
    Abstract: This invention is a climbing toy which features simple structure, life-like action and stronger attraction. Orbiting friction wheels hold clothing or other material, and the toy climbs up in the direction of moving of these wheels. A balancing is achieved with a lever which moves a convex pad on each of the hands and feet for climbing. A driving mechanism with an interior mercury switch controls the action of climbing depending upon the attitude with the aid of motion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Inventors: Lin Pin-Hung, Yu Kao-Hsien
  • Patent number: 4875887
    Abstract: An animated toy which consist of a fixed supporting structure and a figure which moves relative to the fixed structure. The fixed structure includes an inclined ramp which has a downwardly extending zig-zag slot. The figure includes a body, a pair of spaced legs which are attached to the body, a tail which is fixed to the body and which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the body into the zig-zag slot, an appendage which is fixed to the body and which extends down to the zig-zag slot, and elongated connector which extends through the slot, and a counterweight which is attached to the lower end of the connector. When the counterweight and the connectors swing from side to side, the firgure also swings from side to side in a direction which is opposite to that of the counterweight. As the figure moves from side to side, the tail moves along the zig-zag slot. This causes the body to turn slightly about a vertical axis as it rocks from side to side and enables the body to advance progressively down the ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Inventor: Giuseppe Maestri
  • Patent number: 4861308
    Abstract: A spring driven toy is described, including a base; an operation member movably mounted on the base; a spring unit for moving the movable operation member relative to the base; a speed control mechanism connected to the spring unit; a lever selectively movable between a position engaged to the speed control mechanism to prevent the spring unit from operating and a position disengaged therefrom to allow the spring unit to operate, said lever including a first magnetic substance; and a separate body having a second magnetic substance and being magnetically attachable to the movable operation member adjacent the first magnetic substance of the lever and movable with the movable operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Katsumi Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 4728312
    Abstract: An endless toy track way is described, including a lift device; a rail connected at its ends to the lift device; and a moving body which rolls via gravity on the rail and is lifted by the lift device. The lift device includes a pair of parallel, spaced, fixed stairs and a pair of vertically movable plates formed with engaging steps at their upper edges and being arranged longitudinally inside of the pair of fixed stairs. This pair of vertically movable plates is engaged with cams of a driving mechanism to cause the movable plates to alternately move in circular paths and ascend and descend. The moving body is provided at both lower sides thereof with projections which are engageable with the engaging steps of the vertically movable plates so that the moving body is carried onto succeeding stairs of the fixed stairs, one after the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Ohnuma