Stephen M Weiss

US Patent:

6632122, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Feb 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/071523

Inventors:

Daniel B. Klitsner - Larkspur CA
Brian P. Clemens - San Francisco CA
Philip H. Neal - San Rafael CA
Stephen N. Weiss - Philadelphia PA
Yeung Chung Wong - Tuen Mun, HK
Jesse Dorogusker - San Francisco CA
Charles S. McCall - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63H 2922

US Classification:

446484, 446457, 446465, 446441

Abstract:

A toy vehicle is configured for itinerant maneuvers and is programmed by manually drawing a path on an exposed surface of a mechanical touch screen assembly on the vehicle. A microprocessor, coupled with the touch screen assembly, reads the manually drawn path and controls movement of the vehicle to follow the manually drawn path. In one embodiment, the drawn path is erased to enter a new path by pivoting the first sheet of the assembly away from the second sheet and, in another embodiment, by separating the first and second sheets by sliding a horizontal plate between the sheets. A sensor on the vehicle detects the presence of a stylus in a holder. The microprocessor responds to the presence to initiate the itinerant movement and/or activate a visual indicator or an audio generator or both in the toy vehicle.

US Patent:

6688985, Feb 10, 2004

Filed:

Jan 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/062065

Inventors:

Stephen N. Weiss - Philadelphia PA
Gerhart P. Huy - Hamilton Square NJ
Dean C. Reisher - Brick NJ
Joseph T. Moll - Prospect Park PA
Gregory R. Nungester - Berwyn PA
Frank W. Winkler - Mickleton NJ
Justin M. Discoe - Merchantville NJ

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63F 914

US Classification:

463 58, 463 1, 463 59, 463 60, 273 86 R

Abstract:

A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.

US Patent:

6726523, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Feb 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/071519

Inventors:

Ernest D. Baker - Ellicott City MD
Jesse Dorogusker - San Francisco CA
David Vincent Helmlinger - Mt. Laurel NJ
Eric David Listenberger - Moorestown NJ
Joseph Thomas Moll - Prospect Park PA
David Ribbe - Marlton NJ
Stephen N. Weiss - Philadelphia PA

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63H 1100

US Classification:

446225, 446276, 446279, 446288, 180181

Abstract:

A remote-controlled toy skateboard device comprises a skateboard with a deck and front and rear truck assemblies pivotally connected to the deck. A toy figure has a lower body portion that is fixedly connected to the deck and an upper body portion that is connected for rotation with respect to the lower body portion. A torso drive mechanism is operably connected to the upper body portion of the toy figure to rotate the upper body portion with respect to the lower body portion. A steering mechanism is operably connected with one of the truck assemblies to tilt the deck with respect to the truck assemblies to thereby steer the skateboard. A drive mechanism is also operably connected to wheels of one truck assembly to propel the skateboard. A remote-control unit is configured to generate signals to remotely control movement of the toy figure, tilt between the deck and truck assemblies, and the speed and travel direction of the skateboard.

US Patent:

6780077, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Oct 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/282410

Inventors:

Chris T. Baumgartner - Pasadena CA
Joseph T. Moll - Prospect Park PA
Truman J. Gilbert - Phildelphia PA
Stephen N. Weiss - Philadelphia PA
Nathan Bloch - Cherry Hill NJ
David V. Helmlinger - Mount Laurel NJ
Gregory Nungester - Titusville NJ

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63H 3000

US Classification:

446175, 446454, 446456

Abstract:

A toy vehicle combination includes a master toy vehicle and a slave toy vehicle. The master toy vehicle includes a transmitter configured to broadcast an IR tracking signal. The slave toy vehicle includes at least first and second directional IR receivers configured to receive the tracking signal from different directions around the slave toy vehicle and is configured to follow or evade the master toy vehicle, which is conventionally remotely controlled.

US Patent:

6848968, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Jan 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/046374

Inventors:

Stephen Nicholas Weiss - Philadelphia PA, US
Charles Stewart McCall - San Francisco CA, US
Wallace White - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63F 3004
G08C 1916

US Classification:

446454, 34082569

Abstract:

A communication scheme is employed for transmitting control signals from a remote control to a toy vehicle. The remote control includes control switches, an encoder and a transmitter and the toy vehicle includes a receiver, a decoder and actuators for controlling the operation of the toy vehicle in accordance with received control signals. The encoder generates a continuous stream of control signal packets with each of the packets including a predetermined number of biphase encoded bits. Each biphase encoded bit is of the same predetermined width with a 50% duty cycle, including two transmit elements. For one binary state, both of the transmit elements are the same and for the other binary state both of the transmit elements are opposite. Each packet includes a first predetermined number of flag bits, a second predetermined number of data bits and at least one checksum bit.

US Patent:

6947714, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Aug 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/648669

Inventors:

Stephen Nicholas Weiss - Philadelphia PA, US
Gregory M. Huffman - Petaluma CA, US
Jesse Dorogusker - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H01Q011/12

US Classification:

4551271, 455 903, 4553431, 4555781, 550339, 341 22

Abstract:

An identification transmission system for use in an amusement device includes a transmitting antenna, a transmitter and a piezo-electric power source. The transmitter circuit is configured to broadcast a predetermined tone on a predetermined carrier frequency through the antenna. The piezo-electric power source is electrically coupled to the transmitter circuit and is configured to at least briefly provide power to the transmitter circuit. The piezo-electro power source includes a piezo-electric element, a striker, a storage capacitor and a voltage controlled switch. The striker is configured to move so as to at least briefly strike the piezo-electric element. The storage capacitor is configured to receive and store electrical charge from the piezo-electric element. The voltage controlled switch is configured to allow the storage capacitor to discharge through the transmitter circuit thereby providing power thereto after a predetermined amount of charge has been stored.

US Patent:

6971942, Dec 6, 2005

Filed:

Jan 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/757154

Inventors:

Ernest D. Baker - Ellicott City MD, US
Jesse Dorogusker - San Francisco CA, US
David Vincent Helmlinger - Mt. Laurel NJ, US
Eric David Listenberger - Moorestown NJ, US
Joseph Thomas Moll - Prospect Park PA, US
David Ribbe - Marlton NJ, US
Stephen N. Weiss - Philadelphia PA, US

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63H011/00

US Classification:

446275, 446276, 446279, 446288, 180181

Abstract:

A rotary feedback mechanism includes a first set of electrically conductive pads mounted to a first member and a wiper mounted to a second member. As the first and second members rotate relative to one another, the wiper sequentially contacts one or more pads of the first set of pads and provides an electrical signal to the contacted pad or pads. The electrical signal is communicated via the pad or pads to a controller, providing the controller with an indication of the angular position of the first member relative to the second member.

US Patent:

7234992, Jun 26, 2007

Filed:

Oct 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/699453

Inventors:

Stephen N. Weiss - Philadelphia PA, US
Eric D. Listenberger - Moorestown NJ, US
Joseph T. Moll - Prospect Park PA, US

Assignee:

Mattel, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

A63H 30/04
A63H 30/00

US Classification:

446454, 446485, 446456, 446465

Abstract:

A toy vehicle including at least an on-board power supply, a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle for itinerant movement, at least one motor operably coupled to at least one of the wheels to provide at least part of an itinerant movement, at least one light and a controller circuit configured to selectively supply power from the power supply to the motor(s) in response to commands from a transmitter remote from the toy vehicle and to selectively supply power to the at least one light in response to a signal indicating the vehicle is performing a particular maneuver, for example, either a special stunt or a transformation or both.