Mattel, Inc.

Other

Timely Innovations, LP

Gordon H Buck

Kenneth I Amamoto

Martha K Hardwick

Eugene Michael Tuccinardi

Ernesto R Haack

William Hart

Eugene J Kilroy

Otto L Gabler

George J Klose

Daniel J Shoff

Scott A Ferdinand

Richard Anthony Leoncavallo

John M Dunkle

Michael T McKittrick, Jr

Paul W Cayley, Jr

The present invention relates generally to a portable vehicle video system. The preferred portable vehicle video system comprises a flat panel video display that can pivot flat against the vehicle ceiling when not in use. The preferred video display contains a digital video disk (DVD) player, a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver and at least one pair of speakers. The video display is mounted to a vehicle's headliner by a vehicle mount comprising a block containing a pivot port; said block mounted to an anchor by a nut. A remote transmitter is connected to an audio/video source such as a console video game system or a video cassette recorder (VCR). The preferred system has at least one pair of wireless headphones to receive an audio signal from the display. The preferred system also has a portable stand comprising a base, a battery and a pivot port for holding the video display when not mounted to the ceiling of the vehicle. The present invention has a simple method of installation, stows easily when not in use, is wireless, and easily portable.

Portable vehicle video system

There is disclosed a toy balloon tire and a wheel. The wheel is an assembly of two hub members each having a peripheral rim about its outer end. An annular land is provided between the opposite ends, and a through passageway is provided in one hub member communicating with a port discharging into the tire. A valve is provided to seal the passageway. The balloon tire has a central opening in one of its sidewalls which is surrounded by a bead. The bead is received over the hub of the wheel and is seated against an annular rim of one of the hub members. The wheel can have a mechanical valve member mounted in the through passageway. Alternatively, the tire itself can seal the passageway and function as the valve. In the preferred embodiment, the passageway discharges into the interior of the tire through a port which is located in the annular land of the hub, between its opposite ends. When the tire is placed on the hub, the annular skirt of the tire overlies the annular land of the hub and functions as a valve member. Pressure relief passageways can be provided which extend through one of the hub rims and open into the annular land of the hub. The tire can be inflated by the application of air pressure to the through passageway. Once inflated, the air is retained in the tire of the valve. In the event the tire is overinflated, it expands sufficiently to uncover the relief passageways, and relieve the excessive pressure.

Inflated balloon tire for toy vehicles

A toy wheel formed with a balloon tire and hub is disclosed in which the tire can be inflated with a valve mechanism contained within the hub of the wheel. The hub is an assembly of hub and cap members which are interlocked together. The tire is a balloon with a single central opening at one end which is received over the hub, and the opposite end of the balloon is captured between the interlocked hub and cap members. The inflation valve comprises an air passageway through the hub member which is surrounded by a valve seat on its inside end. The valve seat is intersected with at least one axial slot along the inside end of the hub member to provide a release air passageway. The valve seat is preferably sealed by a sealing portion of the balloon. A pin with an enlarged diameter head is received in the air passageway to provide a valve operator which, when depressed, lifts the sealing portion of the balloon off the valve seat and releases the air pressure through the axial slot. In another embodiment, the valve operator can be provided with a valve member and a spring to bias it closed, against the valve seat on the hub member.

An electronic guessing game is disclosed which includes a keyboard for entering numbers, and a light and speaker for producing a variety of visual and audible signals. A prize is also provided within a transparent housing. A first player enters a secret number by means of the keyboard. A second player then enters his guess at the secret number using the same keyboard. The second player attempts to retrieve the prize by reaching into the transparent housing. The position of the players hand is detected by a group of photocells. If the player's guess is not equal to the secret number, the game will generate an error signal and the player must withdraw his hand. The closer the player's guess is to the secret number the closer he may approach the prize before the error signal is sounded. If the player guesses the secret number within a preallotted time interval, he may retrieve the prize. A mode of operation is also disclosed in which the game chooses the secret number by means of a random number generator. Thus the guessing game may be played with only one player.

Electronic guessing game

An electronic toy game of skill for two players includes an array of illuminatable display elements, such as LED's, randomly selected ones of which are illuminated during each round of play; a corresponding plurality of player switches which are located adjacent to the associated display elements and control means for associating those switches with the lamps in the given manner. During each round of play a continuously perceptible time period is established by the control means. This time period has a duration related to the number of LED's that are to be illuminated during a given round of play. During each player's turn, some LED's are illuminated and by operating the player switches, the player attempts to extinguish the LED's prior to expiration of the time period. Failure to successfully extinguish such LED's results in termination of that player's turn. The winner of the game is that player who first successfully completes a predetermined number of rounds.

Electronic jacks game

A hand-held electronic game of skill. First and second columns of LED's display the positions and movements of the piece indicia of respective first and second players between respective starting and finishing positions. During the first state of a stop/go indicator, the manipulation of either of two player input switches causes the piece indicium displayed on the respective column to advance toward its finishing position. During the second state of the stop/go indicator, the manipulation of either of the two player input switches causes the piece indicium displayed on the respective column to be returned to its starting position. The first and second states of the stop/go indicator are established alternately, and continue for periods the durations of which vary randomly between predetermined minimum and maximum values.

Red light - green light game

A machine for throwing a ball with a cylindrical aperture. The machine comprises an arrangement for mounting a rod which carries the ball and which is rotatably mounted to fall from an initial vertical position to a selected angular position after a preselected period. At the selected angular position, a spring drive projects the ball through the air. In a preferred embodiment the ball, which may be of any type, is projected with a spiral motion.

Ball throwing machine

An apparatus for determining the order of finish of a race involving toy vehicles. The apparatus includes a base which connects to tracks on which vehicles race and has a resilient surface covering its interior. A transparent cover is hinged above the base and has a trigger which is actuated by the leading vehicle crossing the resilient surface to close the cover on the vehicles within the base thereby determining their positions.

Toy racing apparatus

A toy racing apparatus including an inclined section of track and a bowl. The track enters the bowl through an opening in the lower sidewall where its surface is tangent to the interior wall. A vehicle placed at the upper end of the track will speed down the track, enter the bowl, and progress in a spiral path upwardly inside the bowl. In a preferred embodiment, the bowl is transparent and flags are positioned to be displaced as a vehicle reaches particular heights in the bowl.

Growing community of inventors

Torrance, CA, United States of America

Gordon H Buck