Mattel, Inc.

Other

John L Jones, Jr

Kurt J Huntsberger

William R Howell

Karl D Lerch

Brian L Bienz

Adam W Callif

Daniel M Dignitti

Gerald P Sitarski

Gary G Lenihan

Juliette Marlene Welch

Albert L Arendt

James Joseph Ryan, Iii

Michael B Zielinski

Thomas D Talcott

The present invention relates to a tub for bathing infants or children. The tub includes a receptacle for containing water and for receiving an infant. The tub also includes a selectively removable insert or positioning member that can be used to change the bathing area inside of the tub. When the positioning member is locked to the tub, the positioning member defines two separate infant seating positions within the tub. The positioning member is removable from the tub to allow the entire receptacle to be used.

Reconfigurable tub assembly

Children's ride-on vehicles. The ride-on, or ride-on vehicle, includes a frame having a seat adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a biasing assembly that is connected to the frame and adapted to bias the seat away from the vehicle's driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed operation of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration.

Children's ride-on vehicle

The kinetic energy utilization transmission system is installed on a vehicle having a prime mover, a chassis with four wheel suspension system, a gear differential and opposing pinion input shafts, lateral wheel drive axles, drive wheels, and braking mechanism. The system includes a torque modulator configured for engagement and disengagement with an overdrive gear transmission operably connected to a flywheel or flywheel system. Upon application of the braking mechanism, the vehicle decelerates, the resultant vehicle generated kinetic energy being transmitted to the flywheel via the modulator and overdrive transmission, which multiplies the rotation, i.e. input RPM's, received from the modulator. In so doing, the overdrive transmission maximizes available braking effect. As the vehicle is decelerated by the transfer of energy to the flywheel, the loss of speed is compensated for by the proportionally increasing torque demand through the modulator which, in conjunction with the step-up from the overdrive transmission, enables the continuation of flywheel acceleration and thus energy storage. This stored energy is transmitted back through the system to the drive wheels. The overdrive transmission also acts as a step-down transmission when kinetic energy is drawn from the flywheel to provide power to accelerate the vehicle.

Vehicle kinetic energy utilization transmission system

Children's ride-on vehicles with reconfigured, or flexed panel, bodies. The bodies include at least one reconfigured, or flexed, body panel that is retained in a biased, or flexed, configuration and/or against its internal bias to move from the flexed configuration. In some embodiments, the body has an exterior shape that is determined at least in part by the at least one flexed body panel. In some embodiments, the at least one body panel is integrally formed with other portions of the ride-on's body, and in some embodiments, a portion of the body panel remains in an unflexed configuration when another portion of the body panel is retained in the flexed configuration. In some embodiments, the vehicles include at least one retainer that engages a flexed panel and retains the panel in a defined position relative to another portion of the ride-on's body.

Children's ride-on vehicles with reconfigured bodies and methods for forming the same

A children's ride-on vehicle. The ride-on vehicle includes a frame adapted to support a child, and a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor assembly. The ride-on vehicle further includes one or more steerable wheels and one or more driven wheels. In some embodiments, the ride-on resembles a full-size motorcycle. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on vehicle's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel. In some embodiments, the ride-on includes a high-speed switch positioned for momentary high-speed travel of the ride-on vehicle and a user-manipulable portion may be provided to enable a child to select such a high-speed configuration. In some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle includes a simulated shock absorber and/or a passenger sidecar. Finally, in some embodiments, the ride-on may include wheel assemblies that simulate inflatable wheels.

A battery retaining system for a children's ride-on vehicle. The system includes a retaining member that is selectively movable between a first or nominal position in which the retaining member blocks removal of a battery assembly from the body of the vehicle, and a second position in which the retaining member does not block removal of the battery assembly. The battery retaining system also includes a biasing member coupled to the retaining member and configured to urge the retaining member from the second position toward the first position. In some embodiments, the battery retaining system is further adapted to retain portions of the vehicle other than the battery assembly.

Battery retaining system for children's ride-on vehicles

A children's ride-on vehicle that resembles a riding lawnmower or tractor. The vehicle includes a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor, and a frame that is adapted to support a child. The ride-on further includes a bubble-producing mechanism adapted to produce a stream of bubbles.

Bubble-producing ride-on vehicle

A children's ride-on vehicle that resembles a riding lawnmower or tractor. Th vehicle includes a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor, and a frame that is adapted to support a child. The ride-on further includes a bubble-producing mechanism adapted to produce a stream of bubbles, such as to simulate the stream of clippings discharged by a full-size mower or tractor.

An engine model for use on a children's ride-on vehicle. The engine model includes a pivotal portion configured to pivot about a pivot axis, a vibration source connected to the pivotal portion to thereby vibrate the pivotal portion at an amplitude, and an adjustment mechanism for selectively controlling the amplitude. A dampening structure may be provided to dampen the vibration of the pivotal portion.

Children's ride-on vehicle having a vibrating engine model

A children's ride-on vehicle with a free-floating wheel is disclosed. The ride-on includes a drive assembly with a battery-powered motor, and a frame that is adapted to support a child and resemble a full-size motorcycle. The ride-on further includes a steerable wheel, plural driven wheels and a free-floating wheel, which is unbiased and travels within a defined range of positions with respect to the ride-on's frame as external forces are imparted to the wheel.

Ride-on vehicle with a free-floating wheel

A children's ride-on vehicle is provided with a chassis formed at least in part of molded plastic, a seat mounted to the chassis and configured to accommodate a driver, and first and second driven wheels mounted to the chassis on opposite sides of the seat. The wheels are coaxially rotatable in a first plane and a second plane, wherein the wheel planes are substantially parallel to one another. A motive power source for the wheels, including a battery and two electric motors is mounted to the chassis and is operable to drive each wheel selectively in a forward direction or a reverse direction under control of a foot-pedal power/braking switch and two armrest-mounted joysticks. Each joystick has three positions, neutral, reverse, and forward and the child can press both forward to go forward, press both in reverse to go backwards, press one forward and one in reverse to spin clockwise or counterclockwise about a central point, or press one in forward or reverse and leave the other in neutral, allowing coasting of the associated wheel for turning in a gentle arcing fashion. Moving both joysticks to neutral allows coasting of the vehicle while a foot pedal is depressed. A caster wheel mounted to the chassis aft of the driven wheels is configured to cooperate with the driven wheels to hold the chassis in a level attitude. A skid pad mounted to the chassis forward of the driven wheels is configured to contact and slide along the surface to maintain the chassis generally in the level attitude, when the caster wheel loses contact with the surface.

Growing community of inventors

East Aurora, NY, United States of America

John L Jones, Jr