Including Flaccid Element Or Portion Patents (Class 446/490)
  • Patent number: 5803784
    Abstract: A flying toy having a first and a second guideline support, each guideline having two ends and a handle member respectively secured at each end. A body member for operating aerodynamically may include a frame and sail, or alternatively, the frame and sail may be replaced by a one-piece or composite sail frameless structure. In an alternative embodiment, a single guideline replaces the two guidelines. Support elements are slideably secured to the body member and to the fasteners for supporting the body in a desired orientation between the first and second guidelines. Alternatively, the support elements may be included as a part of the frame of the body member or some embodiments eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Gregory M. Plow, James Palmer
  • Patent number: 5755610
    Abstract: A climbing toy machine has a motor, a drive pinion set, a climbing gear set, a first rack plate, a second rack plate, and a retard gear. The drive pinion set and the climbing gear set are disposed between the first rack plate and the second rack plate. The drive pinion set engages with the climbing gear set. A disk is disposed under the first and the second rack plates. A seat is disposed on the disk. A first and a second U-shaped plates are disposed on the seat to receive the first rack plate. A third and a fourth U-shaped plates are disposed on the seat to receive the second rack plate. A movable plate is disposed between the first and the second rack plates. A press plate is connected to the movable plate. A protruded bar is disposed on the movable plate. A separator is disposed between the movable plate and the second rack plate. A spool is disposed between the separator and the second rack plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Kuo Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 5743781
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ornamental toy capable of running up and down mainly including a driving mechanism wrapped up by the ornamental toy and a long bead string extending through the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a motor rotating a driving wheel of a clamp wheel set, so that beads of the string passing through the driving wheel set are received in recesses formed on the driving wheel and are clamped between said driving wheel and an idler of the clamp wheel set, allowing the driving mechanism wrapped in the ornamental toy to climb along the bead string. Since the idler is co-axially connected to a link which will be pushed outward by a cam connected to a reduction gear set actuated by the motor, the idler will be moved away from the driving wheel at a fixed interval due to the contact of the cam with the link, causing the clamp wheel set to disengage from the bead string, allowing the driving mechanism within the ornamental toy to slide down along the bead string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Studio Eluceo Ltd.
    Inventor: Sam Lee
  • Patent number: 5713782
    Abstract: A baby rattle (1) comprising two rattle portions (2,3) and an elongated elastic spacer element (4) which connects the two rattle portions (2,3), wherein the two rattle portions (2,3) have mutually complementary coupling portions (5,6) which allow the two rattle portions (2,3) to be coupled to each other, and wherein the weight of the two rattle portions (2,3) and the rigidity of the elastic spacer element (4) are adjusted relative to each other so that the elastic spacer element (4), like a column, may in itself support the one rattle portion (2,3) when the elastic spacer element is maintained substantially vertically upright relative to the second rattle portion (3,2), and wherein the mutually complementary coupling portions (5,6) possess sufficient coupling force to keep the two rattle portions (2,3) together despite the force applied from the elongated elastic spacer element (4) by coupling of the rattle portions (2,3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: INTERLEGO AG
    Inventors: Arne Egholm Jensen, Hanne Davidsen Jensen, Ib Hartmann Berggreen
  • Patent number: 5660576
    Abstract: A toy designed to entertain both humans and their pets. The toy is a continuous length of cord which has one end wrapped into a ball in such a way that the end is completely hidden in the ball so that the ball will not unravel. The other free end of the cord is relatively long and is used to spin the ball, throw it, tug it., etc. The toy is also made of a cord material that allows the toy to float on water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Justin R. Winga
  • Patent number: 5651715
    Abstract: A hand held geometric toy with a plurality of polygonal sections strung together with elastic loops. The toy has at least one, and preferably at least three, sets of parallel fold axes and is held in folded condition magnetically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Randall J. Shedelbower
  • Patent number: 5525089
    Abstract: An educational toy that lets the user experiment with assembling hollow polyhedral building block in a variety of different ways. The toy includes new polyhedral building blocks which can be assembled in different ways to form a multiplicity of configurations. It allows the user to assemble building blocks to one configuration and then to change over from this configuration to another configuration by rotating, pivoting, rolling, or shifting one or more of the already assembled building blocks. The toy can be used to introduce the user to different number systems and arithmetic and geometric principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Ted Heinz
  • Patent number: 5395278
    Abstract: A manually manipulatable flexible toy includes an elongated tube unitarily fabricated of semi-rigid material such as plastic. The tube forms bellows which, in turn, define a plurality of larger diameter rings and a plurality of smaller diameter rings joined in an alternating array lengthwise of the tube by frusto-conical walls. The tube or any portion thereof is extendable and retractable and manipulatable into various curvilinear configurations, with the tube maintaining its last chosen extended or retracted or curvilinear condition. A pair of the frusto-conical walls diverge radially inwardly from any given larger diameter ring to an adjacent pair of smaller diameter rings when the tube is in the extended condition. A pair of the frusto-conical walls extend radially inwardly offset to one side of any given larger diameter ring when the tube is in the retracted condition. The tube is of a length sufficient to be curved into a closed configuration such as a circle and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Cullom Machine Tool & Die, Inc.
    Inventor: Heinrich Dickhut
  • Patent number: 5395279
    Abstract: A multi-cornered flexible toy particularly suitable for infants wherein at least four tubes are held together end-to-end to define at least four corners by means of a closed loop cord extending through all of the tubes with an equal plurality of runs of the cord in each tube, including protective caps and ornamental slidable elements on the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Regis A. McCann
  • Patent number: 5378188
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism for animating toy figures, including stuffed animals and dolls. The actuating mechanism includes at least two resiliently deflectable elements that are connected at respective first and second ends so that by urging the first ends toward the second ends the deflectable elements deflect and the middle portion of each element moves away from the middle portion of the other element. The first end of one of at least two tendons is attached to the middle portion of a deflectable element and the first end of the other tendon is attached to the middle portion of the other deflectable element so that a portion of each tendon including the second end extends beyond the opposing deflectable element and when the elements are deflected they pull the first and second tendons past one another and urge the second ends of the tendons toward the deflectable elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventor: Dolores H. Clark
  • Patent number: 5352149
    Abstract: A children's play structure includes a frame having hinging sections capable of being arranged into a free-standing structure and interchangeable panels capable of removable attachment to the frame to provide multiple scenes on the plurality of hinging sections of the frame. The hinging sections of the frame comprise elongated beams or pipes joined at their opposite ends to form an open rectangular frame pivotally joined to adjacent hinging sections. In a first embodiment, the panels are provided by a piece of canvas folded over on itself and stitched together at opposite ends to form a sock which is dropped onto the frame. The canvas is easily replaced by another canvas having different scenes or murals to change the theme or environment of the play structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Calapitter Creations, Inc.
    Inventors: Connie R. Melashenko, Erik W. Nielsen, Robert A. Melashenko
  • Patent number: 5302148
    Abstract: An educational toy that lets the user experiment with assembling components of different shapes in a variety of ways. The toy introduces new methods and means for assembling building blocks allowing the user to assemble them to one configuration and then to change over to other configurations by rotating, pivoting, rolling, or shifting one or more of the already assembled building blocks. The toy can introduce the user to number systems and arithmetic and geometric principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: Ted Heinz
  • Patent number: 5297980
    Abstract: A suctioning and pumping toy for malleable play materials includes a hollow cylinder having a closed end supporting a nozzle. A piston rod is received within the hollow cylinder and supports a resilient piston. A transversely extending cylindrical barrel housing is supported upon the cylindrical member and defines an interior cavity for receiving a plurality of play articles. A plurality of interrelated toy figures and play articles are variously configured to be utilized in combination with the suctioning and pumping toy together with a malleable play material having viscosity properties which permit the play material to be suctioned into and pumped from the cylindrical bore of the pumping and suctioning toy as the piston rod is moved by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Barthold
  • Patent number: 5267887
    Abstract: A new and improved bungee jumping toy includes an elevated platform and a platform support assembly, e.g. a toy crane, for supporting the elevated platform at a predetermined height above ground level. A jumper figure is capable of selectively standing on the elevated platform or of selectively jumping off the elevated platform. A cord supply assembly is retained by the cab portion of the crane. A resilient cord has a first cord portion connected to the jumper figure and has a second cord portion retained by the cord supply assembly. A first manual control assembly, which includes a manually operated first lever, is located in the cab portion of the crane and is used for controlling a length of the resilient cord payed out from the cord supply assembly to the jumper figure as the jumper figure undergoes a jump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventors: Anthony Licata, Roy Bordes
  • Patent number: 5259804
    Abstract: A toy having a first and a second guide line support, each guide line having two ends and a handle member respectively secured at each end. A body member for operating aerodynamically includes a frame, a sail, and spaced fasteners which are also secured to the first and to the second guide lines. In one embodiment support elements are slideably secured to the body member and to the fasteners for supporting the body in a desired orientation between the first and second guidelines. Alternatively, the support members may be included as a part of the frame of the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventors: Gregory Plow, James Palmer
  • Patent number: 5186457
    Abstract: A variable flight toy having a plurality of strips constructed of a resilient material folded and secured proximate their midpoints to form alternating loops with ends centrally gathered to radially extend the ends and loops to form a ball, which, when struck, the loops and ends provide non-uniform aerodynamic resistance to the flight of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: Eric Cole
  • Patent number: 5186675
    Abstract: An inflatable vent toy for an exhaust vent air outlet comprising: an inflatable balloon made of a flexible material patterned and shaped to suit the preference of a user having a base defining an air inlet with surrounding attachment structure to secure the base over the exhaust vent air outlet such that the air inlet is in communication with the vent air outlet to enable in-coming air from the vent to enter the base air inlet and fill the balloon in a first mode, and to escape and collapse in a second mode when the in-coming air from the vent stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: Robert D. D. Stoddard
  • Patent number: 5183427
    Abstract: A toy collapsible house. A column of stacked segments supports the house, held together by a spring tensioned cord, impact triggered release of which slides stiff cord portions away from segment junctions, allowing column and house collapse. The column cord is lifted from above the roof to reassemble the house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: A. Allen Draper
  • Patent number: 5181727
    Abstract: A toy game apparatus includes a body portion, a vertically extendable semi-rigid appendage, and an advancing mechanism in the body portion for advancing the appendage from a retracted position therein to various vertically upwardly extended positions relative thereto. The body portion is preferably formed in the configuration of a waiter character figure, and the appendage is preferably formed as an arm on the waiter character figure which is vertically extendable for supporting a tray and dishes at various elevations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Sente Creations Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Fukumura
  • Patent number: 5092272
    Abstract: A therapeutic animal tug toy comprising a length of cotton rope which is woven so as to define a closed loop handle, a shaft portion extending from the loop handle and a pair of tail portions extending from the shaft portion. The tail portions each define a knot therein proximate their extended ends. A cylindrical handle member is disposed about a portion of the closed loop handle whereby upon a person gripping the handle member and one or two animals gripping and tugging on one or both of the tail portions, the toy provides playful exercise, cleaning of the animal's teeth and massaging of the animal's gums, and upon twisting of the toy, the handle member maintains the loop handle in a loop configuration to protect the person's hand disposed thereon. In an alternate embodiment of the tug toy adapted for use with only a single dog at one time, the rope is woven so as to define a closed gripping loop extending from the shaft portion in lieu of a pair of tail portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Anthony O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 4991841
    Abstract: The invention is a hollow novelty ball having a multiplicity of extending flexible whisker-like protrusions. The whiskers are generally within the range of about 0.5 to 2.5 times the diameter of the ball. Materials of construction may vary but for a small ball sponge rubber has been found to be very satisfactory ball and very small diameter surgical rubber tubing for the whiskers. As an example, a ball about 21/2 inches in diameter may have about 14 to 20 whiskers. For a larger ball the size of a soccer ball or basket ball the whiskers may be formed on basal patches or strips that are adhesively or otherwise bonded to the surface of the ball. The balls when thrown will travel straight but roll to a stop very rapidly due to the whisker action. They are particularly useful for teaching children throwing and catching skills and for juggling since, when in the air, they appear considerably larger than their actual diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: Arlen C. Paranto
  • Patent number: 4962926
    Abstract: A handy toy for throwing and catching, which includes a substantially spherical body comprised of a core holder and a big amount of unitary filaments which have each an elastic, circular rod-like structure and which uniformly radiate from the core holder; and a rust-proof steel ball inserted inside the core holder. The filaments and the core holder are unitarily made of elastic plastic material through injection molding process to form a soft and elastic spherical body for amusement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Inventor: Huei Mei Chen
  • Patent number: 4927402
    Abstract: Apparatus having at least three members joined by couplings to form a closed loop, each coupling being twistable and bendable such as to allow bending through an angle of substantially 360.degree. in substantially all directions, whereby the loop can be made to take on a variety of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventors: Wylci Fables, Jore Park
  • Patent number: 4927141
    Abstract: The invention is a novelty ball having a multiplicity of extending flexible whisker-like protrusions. The whiskers are generally within the range of about 0.5 to 2.5 times the diameter of the ball. Materials of construction may vary but sponge rubber has been found to be very satisfactory for the ball and very small diameter surgical rubber tubing for the whiskers. As an example, a ball about 21/2 inches in diameter may have about 14 to 20 whiskers. The balls when thrown will travel straight but roll to a stop very rapidly due to the whisker action. They are particularly useful for teaching children throwing and catching skills and for juggling since, when in the air, they appear considerably larger than their actual diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventor: Arlen C. Paranto
  • Patent number: 4919638
    Abstract: A remotely controlled toy for capturing apparitions is disclosed. The toy has a containment box with an opened position and a closed position. An activating box is disposed a distance from the containment box. A cable connects the containment box to the activating box so that the containment box can change from the closed position to the opened position when the activating box is operated from a safe distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Long
  • 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: 4900286
    Abstract: A toy for mounting a model airplane upon the window of a vehicle so that a child occupant thereof may play with the toy and simulate flight movements as the vehicle moves. A mounting platform is attached to the rear window of the vehicle via a plurality of suction cups. A rigid, preferably plastic stanchion operationally extends outwardly from the platform generally perpendicular to the window. A coupling assembly, preferably an elongated shaft, is rotatably coupled to the support stachion in spaced relation relative to the mounting platform. An elongated cable assembly terminates in a handle adapted to be disposed within the vehicle and grasped by the child an opposite end adapted to be removably attached to the coupling assembly to secure the model airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Vann M. Buffalo
  • Patent number: 4878868
    Abstract: A swinging bob toy having bobs which are fastened to, or free to slide along a string. The design of the toy provides that: the string will have a lessened tendency to become tangled during operation, the toy will have a smoothness of motion, and be capable of new tricks and maneuvers, the toy will not become tangled during transportation thereof and will be safer to use. The bobs can be made of an edible material or chewing gum. A tubular storage case can be used to store the bob toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Inventor: Laurence J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 4838826
    Abstract: A toy telephone having a telephone base, a telephone handset, and a cord extending between the base and the handset, the cord having first and second cord segments of preselected lengths, the first cord segment connected at one end to the base and the second cord segment connected at one end to the handset. Mating connectors at the free ends of the first and second cord segments releasably connect the cord segments to form a single continuous cord between the base and the handset that has an apparent length that is longer than the length of either cord segment and sufficiently long for play use. Upon application of a force in excess of that normally encountered in play use, the connectors allow the cord to separate into its component segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Handi-Craft Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Brown, Roberta Brown, Carl Rhodes
  • Patent number: 4784391
    Abstract: A new rope game device is disclosed. Threaded on a rope about six feet long with handles on its ends are two larger cylinders, one for each player. Also threaded on the rope is a plurality of smaller cylinders which can pass through the interior of the larger cylinders. In the game two players shake the rope, moving the smaller cylinders toward them through the larger cylinders to claim, and score, them close to the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Sylvia T. Herron
  • Patent number: 4778184
    Abstract: This puzzle device is constructed for recreation, amusement and educational purposes. Primarily, it consists of a multiple number of tubes that are joined together by a cord that is exposed at the ends of the tubes to serve as hinges for manipulating the device to form various geometric shapes, such as, a cube, a square, a hexagonal form, a rectangle, a four sided pyramid, a three sided pyramid, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Inventor: Howard J. Fleischer
  • Patent number: 4756529
    Abstract: An amusement device which has a substantially spherical configuration, and which is formed from a large plurality of floppy, elastomeric filaments that radiate in a dense, bushy manner from a central core region. The filaments are sufficiently floppy to collapse on impact, thus to absorb enough energy to avoid any tendency to bounce. They are also sufficiently dense and floppy that they tend to quickly thread their way between the fingers of a user on contact with the hand. These features promote sure and quick capture of the device during the act of catching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: OddzOn Products
    Inventor: Scott H. Stillinger
  • Patent number: 4699602
    Abstract: The play set having a plurality of pieces having fixed shape, each of which is ideally made up of a number of variously disposed cubes, with at least a face in common, and at least a piece of variable shape and actually made up of a number of cubes variously matchable between them for taking up a number of shapes, always with a face in common; said pieces of fixed and variable shape being combinable between them to generate various spatial patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Giorgio Giorgi
  • Patent number: 4685680
    Abstract: A composite array consists of plate-like elements or solid bodies interconnected by endless filaments. The front and rear surfaces of each element are provided with grooves, the grooves being divided in two groups, with grooves of each group running parallel with one another. The filaments lie within the grooves and are not attached to the elements. The filaments are arranged upon the elements so that each filament, upon reaching a lateral side of an element, is led into a groove on the opposite surface of the array. If the lateral side lies at the outmost edge of the array, the grooves are of different direction, while at lateral sides forming a line of contact, the grooves run in the same direction. On one or both surfaces of the elements, markings, numbers, letters, text or pattern elements may be found, for differentiating and determining the elements' positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: 501 Rubik Studio
    Inventor: Erno Rubik
  • Patent number: 4682968
    Abstract: A creature figure toy has an extensible tongue component, which may cooperate with the string by which it is secured to provide a trap for capturing objects. Abrupt retraction of the tongue component may be effected by pulling a tail component, attached to a second string, the effective length of which may be multiplied by a unique arrangement of tumblers and spools disposed within the body of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Coleco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Droller, Richard I. Farrington
  • 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
  • Patent number: 4654017
    Abstract: This apparatus for "Forming and Controlling Large-Volume Bubbles" consists essentially of four elements: First, a bubble-forming loop made of a flexible, large-pore (substantially noncapillary) material able to store large quantities of bubble solution by adhesion to a large surface area, by formation of numerous small reservoirs in the large pores, and by surface tension in the solution film enclosing the loop material, the film uniting with the solution stored within and able to release the solution quickly to an expanding bubble; second, rod member for supporting the bubble-forming loop; third, slide member for controllably opening and closing the bubble-forming loop while minimizing reliance on inertial or centrifugal forces; and fourth, reservoir for maximizing continuity of supply of solution to the bubble-forming loop. Soap bubbles up to eight feet across have been made with the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: David B. Stein
  • Patent number: RE34208
    Abstract: A swinging bob toy having bobs which are fastened to, or free to slide along a string. The design of the toy provides that: the string will have a lessened tendency to become tangled during operation, the toy will have a smoothness of motion, and be capable of new tricks and maneuvers, the toy will not become tangled during transportation thereof and will be safer to use. The bobs can be made of an edible material or chewing gum. A tubular storage case can be used to store the bob toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Laurence J. Shaw