Mattel, Inc.

Christopher Francis Lucas

Albert L Arendt

James R Carducci

John Francis Rhein

Gerald P Sitarski

Steven Robert Drosendahl

James R Bauman

Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.

Blow-molded wheels having undercut treads, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same

A toy water gun assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a water gun and a filling station. The filling station connects to a water source such as a hose. The gun connects to the filling station such that, when connected, the trigger is secured in a locked stated, preventing the user from discharging the gun while mounted on the station. In operation, the gun is connected to the filling station until the water reservoir on the gun is filled. The gun is then released from the filling station by engaging a release lever or button. The gun is fully charged, with the water being pressurized during the filling process.

Water gun assembly

Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.

Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded wheel body that is configured to rotate about an axis and has a tread surface that extends circumferentially around the wheel body and may have a circumferential profile that is defined as the locus of points at which the radial distance from the axis to the tread surface is greatest at each position around the circumference of the tread surface. The radial distance from the axis to the circumferential profile may change from a first radius to a second radius that is larger than the first radius at a plurality of spaced-apart positions along the circumferential profile. The method for producing the blow-molded wheels may include providing a mold with pinch-off rings that have an opening configured to form the circumferential profile.

Blow-molded wheels having undulating treads, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same

Children's ride-on vehicles having improved shifter assemblies. The vehicles include a drive assembly comprising a velocity control assembly that selectively configures the drive assembly within a plurality of drive configurations and which includes a switch assembly adapted to be selectively configured between a plurality of velocity settings. Each velocity setting configures the drive assembly to a predetermined drive configuration. The velocity control assembly may include an actuator assembly that receives user inputs via a shifter handle moveable between a plurality of shift positions along a plurality of shift paths. Each shift position configures the switch assembly to a particular velocity setting. At least two of the shift paths have non-linear relative orientations. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes a biasing mechanism, which urges the shifter handle towards a selected shift position, and/or a restraining mechanism, which selectively prevents the shifter handle from being moved to a selected shift position.

Children's ride-on vehicles having improved shifter assemblies

An apparatus including an appendage coupled to a body and a drive. The drive produces a force that causes the appendage to move with respect to the body. When the apparatus is resting on a support surface, the force produced by the drive is insufficient to overcome the force produced by the weight of the apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Cheektowaga, NY, United States of America

Christopher Francis Lucas