With Lamp Patents (Class 446/485)
  • Patent number: 5221225
    Abstract: A motion responsive musical toy includes a generally spherical housing having a transparent hemispherical portion within which a center column supports a conventional musical tone producing circuit together with an output speaker. A motion sensing switch is operatively coupled to the tone producing circuit. A plurality of translucent floor segments are supported within the transparent housing interior and resiliently support a plurality of toy figures. A plurality of externally accessible push buttons are supported upon the periphery of the spherical housing near its center and are actuatable by inward pressure thereon. A plurality of conventional electric lamps are supported beneath the translucent floor segments to provide selective illuminations thereof. The musical toy responds to toy motion sensed by motion switch as well as the operation of the push buttons to provide oscillation of the toy figures together with a pattern of flashing lights and musical tones for the child user's amusement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Newbold, Harry Lebo, Brett M. Bogar
  • Patent number: 5190491
    Abstract: An animated paddle includes a handle and a paddle rotationally mounted to the handle. The paddle includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes are selectively illuminated in accordance with a predetermined pattern. However, the light emitting diodes may be illuminated to transmit a message, such as a word, or they may be illuminated to produce designs, such as circles of sequentially greater and lesser size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: I & K Trading Corporation
    Inventor: Keith Connelly
  • Patent number: 5186458
    Abstract: A throw ball made of light, translucent material contains an electric bulb or light emitting diode powered by a small battery. The ball is made of two separable, similar half-sections having symmetrical axial tubular cavities housing the electrical assembly. An illuminating switch is activated when the two half-sections are brought together and aligned to a discrete operating position, and de-activated when the two half-sections are rotated away from said operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald E. Redondo
  • Patent number: 5183329
    Abstract: An electric coupler for a lighted inflatable device comprising a base attached to a cloth of a lighted inflatable device at the inside through the process of heat sealing with a passage way defined therein for inserting a light string from the outside into the lighted inflatable device, and a sealing cap to block up the passage way is disclosed. The sealing cap has terminals for connecting an external power supply to the light string inserted inside the lighted inflatable device by connectors. The light string is separately packed during delivry, and inserted inside the lighted inflatable device when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: Henry Chen
  • Patent number: 5165781
    Abstract: A flashlight including a handle for receiving a power supply and a light source releasably mounted to the handle for emitting light. An exterior transparent cup is coupled to the handle and a middle transparent cup is coupled to the handle. The second transparent cup is positioned intermediate the first transparent cup and the light source. The exterior transparent cup and the middle transparent cup define a outer chamber therebetween for receiving colored fluid therein. An interior transparent cup is coupled to the handle and positioned between the middle transparent cup and the light source. The middle transparent cup and exterior transparent cup define an inner chamber for receiving colored fluid. Accordingly, the light emitted from the light source passes through the colored fluids and colored light is emitted from the exterior transparent cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventor: Zeki Orak
  • Patent number: 5154658
    Abstract: A child's walker toy includes a walker unit and a sound and light module on the walker unit. The walker unit is operable by a toddler-age child for stabilizing the child during a walking exercise; and the sound and light module is responsive to movement of the walker toy on a supporting surface for producing predetermined sound and light signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Playskool, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne S. Marcus
  • Patent number: 5145444
    Abstract: A rotatable toy in which a light emitting diode, positioned in one of the body halves, is connected to a solid state control circuit which includes a timer to periodically energize the LED and produce a stroboscopic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Jack C. VanKuiken
  • Patent number: 5145446
    Abstract: Disclosed is a retractable toy sword with visual and sound effects having a sword, a retraction driver, and a visual and sound effects driving circuit. The sword is divided into a hilt and a blade. The hilt is a hollow structure, and the blade is composed of at least two blade sections, each having a hollow interior space for holding a spring, and each having an L-like front end, and an L-like rear end for mutual engagement during extension and retraction. The retraction driver is placed within the hilt to control extension and retraction of the blade. The visual and sound effects driving circuit is also located in the hilt. It can generate a variety of noises, such as a collision noise "Dang" and a flying noise "Hee", as well as a directed emission of light by reflection and convergence at a reflective hood and a convergent lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Yi-Yu Kuo
  • Patent number: 5135423
    Abstract: This invention relates to a portable toy capable of playing, at different times, different, interchangeable, electro-mechanical toy-units. The invention provides a toy which permits a user to have a single power-unit to supply electrical and mechanical energy to a toy-unit which is received by the power-unit. However, the toy-units are interchangeable and so the user can play, at different times, with several different toy units, with each different toy-unit providing a different toy with which the user can play. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power-unit is worn on a wrist of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Playtoy Industries, a Partnership
    Inventor: Henry Chung
  • Patent number: 5118319
    Abstract: A doll including a body and appendages, a plurality of light positioned to light on portions of the doll, apparatus positioned within the doll for projecting an image to focus at a point outside of the doll, and apparatus for causing the lights to light in a predetermined sequence and the image to be projected from the doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin K. Smith, Daria Pietrowski, Doren Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 5119281
    Abstract: A plug and light stick allow a light bulb to be positioned within a common elastic expandable inflatable balloon having an elastic filler neck. The plug fits into the neck of a balloon and seals against the neck wall. The plug has a central bore having an interior end located within the balloon neck and an outer end. The light stick includes an elongated cylindrical tube having a light bulb on the insertion end. The bore contains therein at least one concentric constriction ring and the tube has an outside diameter such that the tube forms a sliding air-tight seal with the constriction ring when inserted in the bore. A pair of electric conductors extend from the bulb, pass along the interior of the tube external the balloon, and connect to an electrical energy source for lighting the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Alp T. Akman
  • Patent number: 5114376
    Abstract: A stuffed toy having an animal-shaped body including an illuminatable belly portion. A cavity in the belly portion houses the accessories, electrical circuitry and power source required to provide the illumination source. A dome-shaped member covers the belly cavity and includes an apex aperature. A touch sensor is retained in the apex aperature and is in electrical contact with the power source within the toy belly portion. A timer circuit automatically turns off the illumination source a predetermined time after it has been activated by touching the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: OTWP, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Copley, Cheung Y. Kwai
  • Patent number: 5108340
    Abstract: An improvement in an entertainment and exercise device commonly referred to as a Hula Hoop, such improvement comprising the insertion within the tubular form of a variety of sensory appealing features, such as lighting and music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Inventor: Madelyn T. Farrow
  • Patent number: 5091833
    Abstract: A kit for creating a face on a head-like base such as a pumpkin to create a jack-o-lantern or the like. The kit includes a plurality of illuminating units, each of which has a battery and light bulb, and a plurality of largely translucent facial elements such as an eye, mouth, ear, etc. The facial elements are screwed into the illuminating unit to envelop and surround the light bulb so that light from the bulb's light is transmitted through the facial elements and emitted from the external surfaces of those elements. The assembly is configured so that the battery is housed in a spear-like pointed base which may be pushed into the head-like base and the light-emitting facial element thereby affixed to the outer surface of the head-like base. Other non-illuminated facial elements may supplement the illuminated ones. The translucent facial elements are interchangeable on the illuminating units so that the same unit can use different elements and the user can have different choices of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventors: Joseph M. Paniaguas, Maureen J. Paniaguas
  • Patent number: 5089745
    Abstract: An amusement device comprising a gas-filled plasma discharge tube; an electrode adjacent an end of the tube for coupling high-frequency, high-voltage energy into the gas in the plasma discharge tube; an ionization energy supply operably connectable to a source of electrcity for producing an adjustable high-frequency, high-voltage energy at an output thereof having an upper limit sufficient to ionize the gas in the plasma discharge tube without a ground return by utilizing the electrical capacity of the surroundings to provide a reactive impedance for plasma tube current to flow into, the electrode being operable connected to the output; and, a control circuit operably connected to the ionization energy supply for adjusting the level of the high-frequency, high-voltage energy at the output between levels causing ionization of the gas in the plasma discharge tube to occur in differing amounts as a function of a changing stimulus connected to an input thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Bertonee Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Iannini
  • Patent number: 5084803
    Abstract: A toy lamp comprises a transparent housing cover, a casing containing revolution driving assemblies, a revolving frame to drive a revolving ball into crosswise revolution, a revolving frame crosswise driving assembly, a revolving ball having a plurality of translucent openings from which differently colored light beams are transmitted, a revolving ball lengthwise driving assembly, a power supply unit for a light bulb inside of the revolving ball and a casing base with shockproof function. The revolving ball inside the housing could revolve in both crosswise and lengthwise directions slowly upon supply of electricity and out of a plurality of translucent openings of its ball wall transmit an interlaced moving of the light beams in different colors. It could be used as light source in a paper fancy lantern or utilized alone in alternative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Ching-Hwei Lan
  • Patent number: 5066011
    Abstract: A bouncing ball within which is incorporated an activatable light in the form of a flashtube which flashes when the ball incurs a physical jolting force such as when it is being bounced. There may also be incorporated within the ball a sound annunciator which produces a sound simultaneously with the flashing of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventors: Douglas L. Dykstra, Steven L. Herbruck
  • Patent number: 5066012
    Abstract: The polar-lighted recreational ball is substantially symmetrical about an axis of the ball body and hasa opposing polar regions at opposite ends of the axis. Axially recessed lighting assemblies at each polar region project light outwardly from the ball through a light passage at the polar regions. An annular cushion collar surrounds each polar light passage to cushion axial impacts on the ball. A skewing member causes the lighting assemblies to skew laterally from the axis upon compression impact approximately along the direction of the axis. The skewing member and the lighting assemblies are located in a channel running through the ball at the axis; and the ball is ideally of a substantially ellipsoidal football shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventor: Steven P. Stark
  • Patent number: 5057051
    Abstract: An apparatus including a housing for mounting, including plural pairs of securement straps, with a forward face of the housing including a plurality of devices for use by an infant to provide entertainment and enhance manual dexterity of the infant, as well as the provision of a night light. The organization includes a manually displaceable and rotatable cylinder to effect selective illumination of the various colored panels within the cylinder. An audible producing pull toy component, a manually displaceable slide toy arrangement, and an audible bell member to accommodate and entertain various sensory portions of an infant are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Inventor: Amy H. Babicz
  • Patent number: 5052969
    Abstract: A toy doll having a kiss activated play feature includes a doll having a torso, arm and leg appendages, and a head pivotally secured by a neck extension to the torso. A plurality of sparkle elements are supported on the doll exterior and an electronic energizing circuit for the sparkle elements is supported within a cavity located in the doll torso. The head is supported by a neck extension in a pivotal attachment in which a switch supported within the torso is actuated by backward motion or tilting of the doll head with respect to the torso. A return spring is provided which urges the head to a vertical position and which resists the backward tilting of the head. The child actuates the flashing of the sparkle elements by kissing or caressing the face or frontal area of the doll head with sufficient force to overcome the spring and tilt the head back a sufficient distance to actuate the flashing switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin K. Smith
  • Patent number: 5045016
    Abstract: A toy wheeled vehicle such as a toy truck which is intended to be pushed along by a child includes electronic circuitry which is capable of emitting a plurality of different sounds similar to the sounds of a real truck. The actual sound of a truck's internal combustion engine is digitized and stored in a microprocessor along with other sounds such as those generated by a starter motor, horn, backup beeper and the like. In addition, the microprocessor is capable of synthesizing additional realistic vehicle sounds such as those generated by air brakes and the like. A starter switch first activates the starter motor sound and then the engine sound at idle speed. A speed sensor senses both speed and direction of travel and varies the engine sound in response to the sensed speed. The backup beeper sound is automatically generated along with the engine sound when the truck is moved in reverse. The microprocessor not only stores all of the digitized sounds but also controls all of the operations of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Innova Development Corporation
    Inventors: Carl M. Stern, Richard N. Meckstroth, Stephen L. Hayes
  • Patent number: 5042972
    Abstract: A toy building set of the type having elements with projections on one surface for engagement with apertures on a surface of another element is provided with detection elements for receiving light energy reflected from bar code elements. The detection elements and the bar code elements are also provided with at least one of the projections or apertures on a surface thereof to permit those elements to be mechanically coupled to other elements of the building set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Interlego A.G.
    Inventors: Erik Bach, Allan Toft
  • Patent number: 5041044
    Abstract: A figure placed into a first unit and watched through a transparent door is made to disappear and simultaneously to reappear in a remote second unit from which it may be removed. The first unit, also referred to as the sending unit, comprises a housing which includes a multi-chamber turntable which can contain one or more figures. A door in the first unit includes a half silvered mirror and an additional chamber so that a figure in a turntable chamber can be made to seem to dissolve and disappear. A second multi-chamber unit, also referred to as a receiving unit, substantially identical to the first, is connected to the first unit by wires. Selected chambers of the second unit are filled with figures substantially identical to the figures to be sent by the first unit. Initially, a first figure is placed into the first unit. The transparent door closes and locks and the figure seems to dissolve by the transfer of lighting to the additional chamber in the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventor: Stephen Weinreich
  • Patent number: 5037346
    Abstract: A toy flashlight includes a color filter assembly that is releasably mounted to a handle housing and contains at least two distinct color filters. Light beams are transmitted through the colored filters. A globe is included as part of the color filter assembly and includes reflective objects in a variety of colors and shapes therein. By moving the flashlight, color beams of light are scattered off the reflective objects to provide a random color light display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: I & K Trading Company
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Cimock
  • Patent number: 5004443
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic eyeball of doll and in particular to one comprises at least a transparent hemisphere shaped conical connex lens; a non-transparent but diaphaneity screen plate, two non-transparent, non-diaphaneity disc, a transparent film plate and a light source. The screen plate has a hole at its center attached with a color paper. The two discs also have a hole for light emitted from the light source passing through. The film plate also has a hole at its center which attached with a pupil figure. When light emitted from the light source, light will passing through the holes of the second disc, the film plate, the first disc, the screen plate and projecting onto the conical connex lens and thus the eyeball is vividly formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Michael Su
  • Patent number: 5000714
    Abstract: The subject invention system relates to an electronically controlled doll eye and in particular, relates to a simulated doll eye having a screen portion, a transparent film portion, and a reflector as well as a light emitter portion. The light emitter portion emits light and projects an image formed on the transparent film portion onto the screen portion. By allowing variation in the light emitting direction, the image will be displayed at different positions on the screen and provides for doll animation of the doll eyeball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventor: Michael Su
  • Patent number: 4997403
    Abstract: A novelty balloon lighting device involving an inflated balloon having a plug fitted inside the neck of the balloon the plug having a bore formed therethrough and containing therein at least one concentric constriction ring, an elongated hollow tube having spaced-apart terminal ends of an outside diameter such that the tube forms a sliding air-tight seal with the constriction ring when inserted in the bore, a light bulb sealed in one end of the tube for insertion into the interior of the inflated balloon and a pair of electric conductors extending from the bulb passing along the interior of the tube external the balloon and an electrical energy source for attaching the electrical conductors thereto for lighting the light bulb inside the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: Alp T. Akman
  • Patent number: 4967321
    Abstract: A lighted wand includes a handle housing and contains an elongated transparent enclosure. Within the transparent enclosure are light reflecting objects. Light beams are transmitted through the transparent enclosure and deflect off the reflecting objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: I & K Trading Company
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Cimock
  • Patent number: 4965855
    Abstract: A model device that looks like a racing car. There are front and rear axles and wheels thereon, a central portion, between the front and rear axles, a hinged nose-like front portion extending forward of the front axle that can be swung open to disclose a cavity, and a rear portion forward of the rear wheels. A radio set is in said central portion and has an on-off and volume control dial on one side and a tuning dial on the other side. The dials are on an upper portion of the central portion thereof. The central portion also has a bottom cover with a detachable portion leading into a bottom cavity. There is a reading light inside the cavity of the nose-like portion and pivotally attached to the nose-like portion. A rearmost portion is detachably secured to the rear portion. There is a digital clock in the rearmost portion which has a hinged cover thereon normally covering the digital clock but able to be swung open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Sanrio Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shintaro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 4946416
    Abstract: A toy wheeled vehicle such as a toy truck which is intended to be pushed along by a child includes electronic circuitry which is capable of emitting a plurality of different sounds similar to the sounds of a real truck. The actual sound of a truck's internal combustion engine is digitized and stored in a microprocessor along with other sounds such as those generated by a starter motor, horn, backup beeper and the like. In addition, the microprocessor is capable of synthesizing additional realistic vehicle sounds such as those generated by air brakes and the like. A starter switch first activates the starter motor sound and then the engine sound at idle speed. A speed sensor senses both speed and the direction of travel and varies the engine sound in response to the sensed speed. The backup beeper sound is automatically generated along with the engine sound when the truck is moved in reverse. The microprocessor not only stores all of the digitized sounds but also controls all of the operations of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Innova Development Corporation
    Inventors: Carl M. Stern, Richard N. Meckstroth, Stephen L. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4939004
    Abstract: Christmas tree ornaments for attachment to a conventional natural or artificial Christmas tree include representations of a pair of human hands and a human head. Each of the ornaments are formed from a translucent plastic material and have an internal electric light. An elongated telescopically adjustable strut is secured to each of the ornaments and has a plurality of spaced spring biased clamps. The clamps are utilized to secure the ornaments to a tree. Power cords from the electric lights within each ornament extend through the associated strut. The ornaments include representations of a human head and hands to enable decoration of a tree to simulate various famous individuals and fictional characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Inventor: Lloyd J. Fuss
  • Patent number: 4938730
    Abstract: A toy house has a lamp for illuminating an interior of the toy house and a switch which is magnetically actuated by placing a play piece having magnet disposed in its bottom surface area in proximity to an end of a lever which carries magnetically attractable material. When the end of the lever moves towards the play piece due to magnetic attraction, the opposite end of the lever causes two contacts to come into electrical contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamane, Hideya Nishikawa, Tetsuya Joja
  • Patent number: 4934980
    Abstract: A novelty music box is set forth wherein a deer-like configuration is provided with a bifurcated forward plate, a bifurcated rear plate, and a central torso, with a deer-like head outline secured to an uppermost portion of the forward bifurcated plate. A mechanical sound-generating music box is secured to the forward plate within the torso and includes a hollow shaft extending through the music box and directed exteriorly thereof through the head-like outline terminating in a glove containing a luminescent bulb therewithin. The luminescent bulb is intermittently actuated by use of a sprocket secured to a rear terminal end of the shaft that intermittently engages a spring finger to create intermittent illumination of the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventors: Harry S. Egolf, Madeline F. Egolf
  • Patent number: 4934940
    Abstract: A dental hygiene instructional display using a humanoid figure providing a facial expressing exhibiting representations of human teeth in adjacent upper and lower jaws. The teeth are divided into sectors and a pair of light emitting diodes of different colors are dedicated to flashingly illuminate each of the sectors, in sequence. A circuit for controlling illumination of the light emitting diodes adjustably controls both the duration of the period of brushing devoted to each sector, as well as the flash period during illumination of each cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: Winsor T. Savery
  • Patent number: 4915666
    Abstract: A lighted hoop and a kit for making a lighted hoop are disclosed for use as an amusement or exercise device. The lighted hoop having a tubular member with the ends joined to form a hoop by a coupling member having opposite ends in telescopic relation with the tube. A lighting circuit extends into the tube and includes a plurality of LEDs. The coupling member includes a battery compartment with battery contacts and a switch is mounted on the coupling member and connects the lighting circuit with the battery contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: John R. K. Maleyko
  • Patent number: 4911675
    Abstract: A hoop and guide device which is characterized by a round hoop provided with an optional light housing mounted therein and a telescoping guide designed for propelling the hoop. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide telescopes in order to adjust the length thereof and is provided with a light at the upper end and a bevelled contact plate at the lower end. Furthermore, the hoop includes a hollow rim cavity designed to receive water and stabilize the hoop while it is propelled by the contact end of the guide. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a circular housing ring is built into the light housing and includes a ball race for receiving a metal ball, and electrical contacts connected to a battery located in the light housing extend into the ball race in spaced relationship for periodically illuminating a light located in the battery housing as the ball traverses the ball race and bridges the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Inventor: M. Maurice Rogers
  • Patent number: 4904222
    Abstract: An amusement device is disclosed which contains a signal generator attached to a flexible member. When the flexible member is repeatedly waved, an oscillatory electrical signal is produced by the signal generator and supplied to a sound generator which produces sound which synchronously varies with the repeated flexure of the member caused by the waving action. The sound generator produces a first tone with respect to the oscillatory electrical signal and a second tone when the frequency of the oscillatory electrical signal exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Pennwalt Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond F. Gastgeb, Edward Tom
  • Patent number: 4894040
    Abstract: A toy construction set may utilize blocks with electrical connections, this block receives electrical power, outputs energy in the electromagnetic spectrum, receives reflected energy and outputs a result to be utilized elsewhere in the toy assembly. Though it has connectors to attach it to other like blocks, it has a bearing shaft to enable an anemometer (FIG. 5) or a tachometer. It may sense bar codes and enable an assembled vehicle to accept trackway commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Interlego AG.
    Inventors: Erik Bach, Allan Toft
  • Patent number: 4891030
    Abstract: A lighted construction toy that includes a light box with a translucent top. The top includes a plurality of upstanding pegs that are arranged in a grid pattern. A plurality of blocks have sockets on their underside which may be pressed down over the pegs on the top and also over pegs on the upper side of the blocks. All blocks are shaped and dimensioned to fit together in the formation of a variety of structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Superior Toy & Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheldon G. Gertzfeld
  • Patent number: 4891032
    Abstract: A flexible toy wand having a battery case at its lower end which also serves as the handle of the wand and a decorative lightable end piece at the tip of the wand. The wand is waved in a darkened area and various paths of light are created by the movement of the lighted end piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: David C. Davis
  • Patent number: 4889514
    Abstract: A hand-propelled toy airplane, locomotive or other wheeled vehicle for pre-school children having a handle making it possible for a player to push the vehicle along a surface. The vehicle is provided with one or more lights whose bulbs are connected to a battery supply through a handle switch that is actuated only when the player grasps the handle to turn on the lights. Operatively coupled to the axle of a wheel set is an interrupter switch connected in series with the handle switch, the circuit arrangement being such that when the handle switch is actuated, at least one light goes one, and when the vehicle is pushed along the surface, the actuated interrupter switch then causes the lights to turn on intermittently to produce a blinking effect at a rate depending on how fast the vehicle is being propelled. When the handle switch is released by the player, the battery supply is disconnected from the bulbs, so that no power is drained from the supply when the toy is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corp.
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, Richard L. Keats, Jore M. Chung
  • Patent number: 4878873
    Abstract: A doll toy has head and trunk portions which are illuminated to project images thereon by a single interior light source. Illumination of both portions is achieved by making inner cavities of the two portions in communication with each other, so that the light source disposed in the trunk portion and head portions. Projectable images are contained on transparent frames located in both the trunk and head portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Yamaguchi, Kouichi Minami, Nobuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4858079
    Abstract: A light projecting toy musical box projects a light pattern which is synchronized with musical sound generated by an acoustic mechanism. The projected light patterns are formed by providing a lamp within a base and rotatably mounting a dome over the lamp and substantially on top of the base. The dome is made out of translucent material which is patterned with a semi-opaque coating so as to form light patterns on the dome itself and project the light patterns on adjacent ceilings and/or walls of a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michiya Ohashi
  • Patent number: 4836075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved musical cube. The cube includes circuitry mounted within its cubical housing with the circuitry including three two-axis switches with each such switch having a central open position and two positions, one to either side of the central position, each side position of which closes a particular unique sub-circuit. The three switches are mounted in the housing in mutually perpendicular relation and the switches combine to control the operation of six sub-circuits. In the operation of the improved musical cube, a read-only memory and synthesizer device are incorporated into a circuit with the read-only memory being pre-programmed with a distinct musical sequence for each of the six sub-circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Stone Rose Limited
    Inventor: Tchaun Armstrong
  • Patent number: 4836823
    Abstract: A novelty item having a heart shaped housing with a translucent window formed therein. The housing has two conductors formed on the exterior thereof. When the housing is held in a person's hand, a conductive path is formed between the two conductors, and one or more LEDs on the interior of the housing begin to flash on and off in symbolic representation of a beating heart. The flashing of the LEDs can be perceived through the translucent window. A stand can be provided to support the housing in a substantially upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Inventor: Douglas J. Laven
  • Patent number: 4820236
    Abstract: A doll contains a flexible sensor which is captured in the doll near a surface thereof and will emit an electrical signal when subjected to bending or pressure to indicate that this part of the doll is being touched or manipulated. The sensor utilizes a film having piezoelectric properties to generate a signal when subjected to such forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Coleco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Berliner, Mark B. Johnson-Williams
  • Patent number: 4820229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an amusement device to simulate laser and phasor sights and sounds in Star Wars-like play situation. The device, shaped like a guantlet for circumscription about the user's arm allows a variety of collimated light rays accompanied by appropriate sounds to be selectively transmitted toward the "enemy" by the activation of one or more switches precoordinated with the desired sight/sound simulated mode of "destruction". The rays are emitted in a plane parallel to the user's hand to permit reasonably precise aiming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventor: Gary L. Spraggins
  • Patent number: 4813905
    Abstract: An illumination mechanism for moving toys provides projection of an image to projection faces of an outer shell by using a transparent frame and light source located within the shell. An elevating frame supports a projection device for projecting additional images to surfaces external to the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Yamaguchi, Kouich Minami, Nobuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4802071
    Abstract: This invention is a battery-powered lantern which is used by a child to collect Halloween treats. The outer shell simulates a jack-o'-lantern. It improves the child's ability to see and/or be seen at night. Other uses include: use as an illuminated ornament or use as a novelty toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Inventor: Herbert J. Schuster
  • Patent number: 4786048
    Abstract: A box with a lid is provided with the lid having spring hinges normally urging the lid closed. A battery operated control unit is situated within the box operatively connected to a display screen at the front of the box which is visible when the lid is open a predetermined amount by a solenoid. The control unit includes an adjustable timer which opens the lid at random intervals to display the screen. The control unit also projects a pair of circles of light on the screen simulating a pair of eyes which move on the screen in a predetermined pattern after which the lid closes with a snapping sound. Normally the screen is black but colors may be introduced either into the screen or the simulated eyes as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventors: Johan L. Lahti, Lawrance Michayluik