Toy Or Amusement Article Patents (Class 493/959)
  • Publication number: 20040033877
    Abstract: There are at least three methods of creating a playhouse from a cardboard box. A first method includes a covering material and a cardboard box with a playhouse printed on the outside of the box. Identification of the product and company name are printed on the covering material. The covering material is removed to disclose the playhouse design. A second method includes attachable paper with a playhouse design printed thereupon. Identification of the product and company name are printed on the outside of the box. The attachable paper is affixed to an outside of the box. A third method includes a cardboard box with a playhouse design, the identification of a product and company name printed on the outside of the box, and preferably a complementary playhouse design on an inside of the box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Ruth E. Muehlmeier
  • Publication number: 20030125181
    Abstract: A folding structure of a flier in which the nose of the fuselage is many times folded and has heavier weight. After the nose, the wing section and the folding section of the fuselage are folded, both the nose and the wing section partially overlap the folding section, whereby the folding section and the wing section can be stretched to form a flow-guiding space. In flight, the flow-guiding space makes the air blow onto the bottom face of the wing section, whereby the fuselage has a better buoyant force and the flier can stay in the air longer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Ming-Ta Wei
  • Patent number: 6517474
    Abstract: 13A miniature, highly decorative kite that flies indoors or outdoors is made by cutting a small piece of tissue paper into any preselected shape, including the shape of a standard diamond-shaped kite. Very finely cut bamboo sticks serve as the frame of the miniature kite and are adhered to a first side of the kite body to form a frame that maintains the preselected shape. Two elongate ribbons are secured to one another at their respective leading ends and are secured to the trailing end of the kite body. A string is attached to the apex of a triangular flap that is adhered to a second side of the kite body. The flap is folded at its base so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the kite body when functioning. The kite flies in the slightest breeze and may be flown indoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Ricardo Pascual
  • Patent number: 6059708
    Abstract: An innovative method of making pinatas utilizes pre-cut and scored cardstock designed with tab and slot closures. Once the shapes are folded and secured, the pinatas can be decorated using traditional or innovative methods. By designing the tab/slot closure of the body on the bottom of the pinata, the enclosed treats may be released in a non-destructive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: Esther Armendariz, Victor Mireles, Michael Angel Balibrera
  • Patent number: 5807226
    Abstract: A foldable card and method of making has multiple panels connected by fold lines which are placed laterally inward from free peripheral edges of end panels such that the card can be die cut in a folded configuration around an entire periphery of the card without entirely eliminating the fold lines. In a preferred method of making the cards, card stock is folded along the fold lines prior to cutting. The fold lines of the card are spaced at intervals to define different widths of adjoining panels so that when folded in a "Z" configuration a free peripheral edge of an end panel overlaps or underlaps a fold line. There may be multiple fold line interconnected panels between end panels. The fold lines may be oriented generally vertically or generally horizontally relative to the face of the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventor: Sterling E. Lani Bradley
  • Patent number: 5725469
    Abstract: A tool for providing cup-shaped, three-dimensional ornamentations for various items, such as, pictures, jewelry, or three-dimensional objects. The various tool embodiments include a power- or manually-driven plunger that engages a section of deformable material and drives it through a tapered nozzle opening to form a funnel-shaped cup. The bottom of the cup is adhered to an adhesive surface in a preselected pattern to provide the desired ornamentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Rehkemper, Steven Rehkemper
  • Patent number: 5676988
    Abstract: The U.F.O. Pop consists of a sucker-type candy with a candy stick inserted into an aperture at the top of a clear plastic upper housing. The clear plastic upper housing is connected to the plastic lower housing with a toy creature inside. The top of the plastic lower housing contains a circuit board, LEG bulbs, contact switch and a battery operated power supply. The outside of the plastic lower housing has a launch button on one side and a contact switch on the opposite side. The inside of the plastic lower housing contains a launch button, pin, push block with an anchored pivot point, release mechanism and a spring anchor containing a windup spring and a spinner shaft. The buttom of the plastic lower housing has winding locks and a spinner end. The flying disk is connected to the spinner end by placing the winding lock teeth over the winding locks at the bottom of the plastic lower housing. The flying disk is turned to windup for flight. It is now ready to launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventors: Thomas J. Coleman, William K. Schlotter, IV, Princess Ann Coleman, Ann M. Schlotter
  • Patent number: 5662508
    Abstract: A toy building block is constructed by folding an integral paperboard blank. The toy building block includes locking tabs and complementary-shaped openings, with the tabs of one toy building block received in the openings of another toy building block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Inland Container Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 5630781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for folding a sheet of paper into an aerodynamic configuration. The device can be described as a forming implement with a plurality of wing and tail folding surfaces. The device includes an entrance end and an exit end and is adapted to have a sheet of material passes therethrough. In use, as the sheet of material is passed through the device it attains an aerodynamic configuration. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wing and tail folding surfaces are resiliently mounted to the device. Furthermore, the device includes a means for delivering the sheet of material from the entrance to the exit end of device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Dennis Hubbard
  • Patent number: 5492584
    Abstract: A decoration is formed by feeding a flat sheet of material between a pair of rotating rollers having intermeshed teeth which produce a series of pleats in the sheet. The pleats are gathered together by placing the pleated sheet between a pair of parallel, spaced apart plates and then moving a compressor plate between the spaced apart plates to compact the pleats. A tie can be fastened around the compacted, pleated sheet to hold the pleats in a gathered state. The tied sheet is removed from between the plates and ends of the gathered pleats are fanned out on at least on side of the tie. Apparatus for pleating the sheet and compressing the pleats is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Papillon Creations, Inc.
    Inventor: Sandra Bateman
  • Patent number: 5162010
    Abstract: A cardboard toy or the like formed from a pattern in-the-flat and method. The pattern includes a plurality of panels each defined by a combination of straight fold lines and edges. Adjacent and parallel to each edge is an elongated slot defining a flap or tab between the slot and edge and arranged such that, when the pattern is folded into the configuration of the toy, opposing pairs of flaps and spaced slots are brought together. A length of one sided adhesive tape is then passed through the slots and around the mating flaps and adhered to form a tight retaining band securing each connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Brown Box Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Krebs
  • Patent number: 5151078
    Abstract: A method for folding paper into letters of the alphabet. The method has defining a rectangular piece of paper with an X-axis paralel to a width thereof and a Y-axis parallel to a length thereof, folding the piece of paper into the shape of an alphabetic letter at lines parallel to the X-axis, thereby dividing the piece of paper into a plurality of segments, in segments to be formed into curves, defining a plurality of alternative lines X' and X" parallel to the X-axis so that a sub-segment of paper between every two sequential lines X' and X" is longer than a sub-segment of paper between every two sequential lines X" and X', corrugating the piece of paper at the alternative lines X' and X", corrugating the piece of paper at lines parallel to the Y-axis, and bending the folded and corrugated piece of paper into an alphabetic shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventor: Yi-Teh Lin
  • Patent number: 5112290
    Abstract: A pop-out slide and a method of fabricating the same from a single continuous web of material. The method comprises cutting a web of material to define a through slot and a cutout, such that the cutout in turn defines a pop-out member superimposable with and shaped and alignable for selective extension through the slot, slitting said web into two ribbons, one ribbon including said slot and the other including the cutout and the pop-out member. The method proceeds by stacking the ribbons in a position for aligning the pop-out member with the slot, applying a seam of glue adjacent the slot and marrying the ribbon carrying the pop-out member with the ribbon carrying the slot. Thereafter, the method proceeds by folding over the slot-carrying ribbon so as to fully enclose the ribbon carrying the pop-out member and such that the seam of glue extends through the cutout defining the pop-out member to adhesively secure with a facing surface of the slot-carrying ribbon to the other side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: The Lehigh Press, Inc.
    Inventor: Susan Hibsch
  • Patent number: 4779401
    Abstract: A manufacturing and packaging arrangement for cards, especially playing cards, includes a sheet cutting and card stacking station, two corner punching stations, and a packaging stations which are connected with one another by a conveyor arrangement that is driven by a motor. In the cutting and stacking station, printed sheets are cut up into individual cards and those cards which belong to respective sets are assembled into respective card stacks which are then discharged from the cutting and stacking station by a discharge arrangement and transferred by a transfer conveyor to an intermittently driven main conveyor. At the main conveyor, the individual card stacks are engaged by entraining fingers which extend into a transporting channel, and are intermittently transported longitudinally of the channel to the corner punching stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Inventor: Thomas Pedersen
  • Patent number: 4551127
    Abstract: A toy for rolling flexible material into structural members which may be assembled into any of a number of desired structures. The apparatus includes a base having bearing means formed on either end to support a tube assembly over which structural members are formed. One of the bearings is moveably mounted on the base and includes an enlarged opening to allow formed tubular structural members to be easily removed from the tube assembly. The tube assembly is comprised of inner and outer tubes rotatable with respect to each other and having elongated slots formed therein which are alignable in one position to allow flexible material to be inserted therein and gripped to facilitate the formation of a tubular structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert A. Rich, Gary M. Saffer, William F. Sestito
  • Patent number: 4508526
    Abstract: A plurality of 3-D glasses are produced by cutting a sheet of material to provide first and second parallel series of eyeglass cutouts therein, each of the series of eyeglass cutouts including first and second eye cutouts, first and second ear cutouts and nose cutouts arranged in respective columns. Continuous strips of red and blue film are placed along preselected columns of eye cutouts. In accordance with a first embodiment, the eyeglass cutouts are separated from one another to provide one ply 3-D glasses. In accordance with a second embodiment, the sheet of material is folded to produce a single series of two ply eyeglass cutouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Dutcher
  • Patent number: 4468020
    Abstract: A booklet containing an integral pop-up is formed from a continuous web of paper in an in-line process on a single apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: The Wessel Company
    Inventor: Gerald L. Wallace
  • Patent number: 4429486
    Abstract: A construction set for model houses and other enclosures formed of cooperating components of cardboard or similar material is disclosed wherein a combination of cooperating tabs and slots that interlock are provided on the components to produce simple and secure assembly. Two or more adjacent walls, having foldable tongues and rigid projections on one common edge, may be constructed from a single flat sheet member which can be appropriately folded and attached to a perpendicularly disposed floor member, having appropriate cooperating foldable tabs and slots, to form part or all of an enclosure. Adjacent disconnected wall members may be joined by means of an extension tab on the mating edge of one member, having a slot therein near its root, and a cooperating slot in the mating wall of the other member for accommodating the passage of the extension tab and its slot. A separate locking tongue piece is provided for insertion in the tab slot to fasten the mating edge to the slotted wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Minilife A/S
    Inventor: Arne Bjornstad
  • Patent number: 4366961
    Abstract: Apparatus for constructing a pyramid. The apparatus comprises a circular piece of material having a circular front face; a circular back face; and a plurality of fold lines formed on at least one of the faces. The fold lines include diameter lines each traversing and passing through the center point of the circular face, and chord lines each shorter in length than the diameter lines, either end of the chord lines and the diameters lines coinciding with a point on the circumference of the face. The pyramid is formed by sequentially folding the circular piece of material along the fold lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Inventor: William E. Busse
  • Patent number: 4329808
    Abstract: A tubular member holds a paper, tubular fuselage above a paper wing supported by a plate and below a folding die from which a fuselage presser depends; whereby the fuselage may be attached to the wing and the edges of the wing may be folded into an aerodynamic configuration when the die and tubular member are brought into working association with a pair of upstanding plates which are spaced apart in a manner such that the fuselage and its associated parts may be positioned between said plates while said die folds the wing edges over the upper edges of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert A. Rich, Gary M. Saffer, John C. Woolington
  • Patent number: 4327516
    Abstract: A manipulatable structure that contains a series of linked units. Each unit contains a plurality of rhombic-shaped panels that are hinged along their oblique edges to create a collapsible enclosure that can be used to create two dimensional patterns when the panels are folded into one of two available common planes or any number of three dimensional structures when positioned between the two common planes. Each unit, in turn, is hinged to an adjacent unit along abutting oblique corners to create a chain that can be symmetrically formed by linking the units in a repeating linear pattern or asymmetrically formed by linking the units in a random fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Inventor: Lisa J. Lubozynski
  • Patent number: 4290763
    Abstract: A method for producing an enclosed, multipaneled envelope from webs of material in a manner such that the desired multipaneled shape of the envelope can be formed by a single peripheral application of a platen sealing device to positioned webs comprising a first web, and second web with at least one folded web interposed therebetween. Both geometric and nongeometric multipaneled envelopes can be produced in this manner from materials suitable for filling with a lighter-than-air gas to form toy balloons and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Inventor: Gerald L. Hurst