Mattel, Inc.

Michael L Strauss

Steed Sun

Brandon C Sopinsky

Mark J Barthold

Peter Kit Fan

Mark Trageser

Derek S Handy

Michael Kadile

Michael O'Hare

Binh Luong

John Rosella, Jr

A launching device for grasping and launching an action figure is provided, the launching device having: a base member; an arm member pivotally secured to the base member for movement between a first position and a second position; a pair of grasping members rotatably secured to the arm member, wherein the pair of arm members are configured to releasably grasp a portion of the action figure; a drivetrain coupled to the pair of grasping members wherein the drivetrain is configured to rotate the pair of grasping members about an axis of the arm member as the arm member moves between the first position and the second position.

Method and apparatus for launching action figures

A toy apparatus has a primary structure with components movably coupled together, and a target movably coupled to the primary structure. Repeated impacts on the target move the target from an initial position to a critical position. When the target reaches the critical position, the primary structure is released from a first state to a second state in which the components of the primary structure are at least partially displaced from each other.

Collapsible toy apparatus

Toy launching device

A toy includes a magazine and a movable arm having a launching end. A plurality of disks are configured to be stacked face to face in the magazine, where each disk has a recess in its face and an engagement element near an edge of the disk. The launching end of the arm includes a retractable extension that is insertable into the recess in the disk, such that the arm is capable of receiving the disk. A protrusion on the magazine engages the engagement element in the disk, causing the disk to rotate around the retractable extension as the arm removes the disk from the magazine. A mechanism in the arm causes the retractable extension to protrude when the arm is adjacent to the magazine, and to retract to release the disk when the arm is moved away from the magazine.

Projectile launcher

A toy having a housing and a projectile launcher capable of moving between a first stowed position within the housing and a second deployed position extending from the housing. The toy further including a trigger mechanism for launching at least one projectile from the projectile launcher; and a selector mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger mechanism will launch only a single projectile from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the trigger mechanism is actuated and wherein the trigger mechanism will launch at least two projectiles from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the second position and the trigger mechanism is actuated.

This invention refers to a costume apparatus for enabling a user to engage in role play activities or action play adventures. The costume apparatus may be mounted on a user's back, and comprises deployable arm assemblies which are controlled by a pull cord system. In one embodiment, the costume apparatus takes the form of expandable wings. The arm assembly of the costume apparatus may include two arm pieces connected by a pivoting joint, and may further include a hinged joint within one of the arm pieces. The hinged joint provides a safety feature for the deployed costume apparatus by allowing the arm assemblies to fold rearward when obstacles are encountered.

Costume apparatus

A pneumatic action figure doll is disclosed with articulated limbs controlled by a hand operated pneumatic pump. The articulated limbs may comprise connected limb members and links configured to move in a plane. Operation of the handheld pump may cause the articulated limbs to extend and retract. When the limbs are arms, operation simulates arm swinging motions similar to fighting or boxing. The doll may include actuators to extend articulated arms in response to operation of the pump. The doll may be articulated at the waist to provide movement of the torso when articulated arms extend and retract. The doll may be used alone or with other similarly configured dolls. The dolls may be placed opposite each other. Simultaneous extension and retraction of the doll arms in response to simultaneous operation of the handheld pumps may resemble fighting or boxing between the dolls.

Pneumatic action figure

A costume may include a flexible garment and a flexure mechanism that is actuatable to expand the form of the garment, such as when a muscle is flexed. The flexible garment may be configured to cover at least a portion of a limb of a humanoid figure, such as a person or doll. The flexure mechanism may be covered by and extend along a portion of the garment. In some examples, a first end of the flexure mechanism may be fixed in position relative to the garment, and a second end moveable relative to the garment and relative to the first end. The flexure mechanism may include an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, with the flexure mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally toward or away from an articulating member of the limb by movement of the second end of the flexure mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Signal Hill, CA, United States of America

Michael L Strauss