Abstract: A tennis ball pack apparatus for dispensing balls in one mode of operation while positioned on a player's back and retrieving balls in another mode of operation upon removal from the back. An elongated housing which is strapped to the player's back includes two pairs of spaced walls which have different lengths to define predetermined openings adjacent to an oblong shaped bottom made up of flexible connected rod members. During the ball dispensing mode the player grips a ball through an opening and pulls against the flexible rod members to dispense the balls in seriatim. A U-shaped frame which is in slidable engagement with the walls of the housing is movable from a first position closely adjacent to the housing when operating in the ball dispensing mode while on the player's back to a second position extended from the housing when operating in a ball retrieving mode upon removal of the housing from the player's back.

Abstract: In a disc drive head positioning system a reference signal generator synthesizes a real time analogue representation of a perfect signal as would be outputted by the tracking sensor during a theoretically perfect movement to the desired disc track, which is used as a reference; the analogue representation is subtractively combined with the actual signal generated by the sensor during movement; and the difference forms the error signal that controls the sensor's position.

Abstract: Toy crib apparatus which includes a crib housing having at least one hollow rail member supporting a sliding toy member and one hollow wall member. A drive mechanism housed by the hollow wall member is connected to a flexible rod member that extends in a path from the hollow wall member along the hollow rail member. The flexible rod member is connected to a drive member for engaging the toy member for imparting sliding movement to a toy member. At the same time the drive mechanism provides a rocking movement to an accessory positioned adjacent the crib housing and movement to a graphic display observed through an opening formed in the hollow wall member.

Abstract: A toy apparatus having a plurality of exploding members exploded and ejected from a housing in seriatum by radiant energy hitting the housing at a predetermined location. The exploding members are held to the housing by latches positioned in the path of a cam member driven intermittently by a drive mechanism in response to radiation aimed at a detector on the housing. The exploding members are exploded from the housing in seriatum as radiation is repeatedly aimed at the detector.

Abstract: A toy musical playset having a teapot with xylophone keys which is filled with styrene plastic beads, a number of pots with xylophone keys and a pan with a xylophone key, tambourine symbols and musical ribs. The pots, pan and teapot may be stacked on top of each other. The toy pan may be used like a tambourine, or the musical ribs may be used with a toy spatula or spoon to make musical sounds. In addition, the toy teapot filled with beads may be shook to produce musical sounds. A child may strike the xylophone keys with a spoon producing musical sounds during play when the pots, pan and teapot are in a stacked configuration, or when they are spread out on top of a table. The pots or pan may also be hung on a child's belt.

Abstract: A toy top having an air impeller-driven flywheel and a spring-latch mechanism which releases an upper portion of the top from a lower housing when an articulated arm of the spinning top comes into contact with an object such as a stationary object or another top. The flywheel located inside the lower housing is rotated by blowing air into one of two ducts on the housing. The stream of air comes into contact with the blades of an impeller causing rotation of the impeller and the flywheel which is attached to the impeller. The flywheel is attached to a shaft rotatably mounted inside the housing. Slots in bosses extending upward from the housing releasably engage a plate at the bottom of the upper portion. The slots disengage from the plate when one of two articulated arms of the spinning top contacts an object allowing a spring mounted inside the upper portion to push the upper portion away from the lower housing. The top appears to "blow up" as the upper portion pops up from the housing.

Abstract: A toy stunt set which can be used to form a loop and ramps for use during play with toy vehicles. Two tower members with engaging grooves are mounted on top of a base. A frame with flexible sheet pieces is positioned between the tower members. A rod at the end of a flexible member can be inserted into the grooves in order to form a loop and ramps. Toy vehicles may be rolled onto the loop and ramps and through the frame and flexible pieces. The flexible member can be used by itself to form individual ramps. A tumble member may be connected near the end of the flexible member so that the toy vehicles will flip after rolling onto the loop or ramps.

Abstract: A reconfigurable walking toy which may be operated by turning a control knob which activates a gear mechanism within the toy used to move the leg members of the toy in order to simulate a walking action. The toy has two leg members, each having upper and lower leg members. The two upper leg members are rotatably engaged to a hollow body. Each of the two lower leg members is rotatably engaged to one of the upper leg members. The toy is supported by foot members which rotatably engage the bottom ends of the lower leg members. The gear mechanism features two sector gears which are rotatably mounted to the hollow body of the toy. The sector gears are driven by a pinion gear attached to a gear shaft. A control knob is used to rotate the shaft. Rotation of the knob back and forth causes one leg member to stride forward followed by the other leg member, simulating a walking movement of the toy.

Abstract: A stuffed toy having spiral-shaped, form-retaining appendages. The appendages have spiral-shaped outer covers made out of a compliant material which are secured together at longitudinal seams extending along the length of the appendages. Fill material is stuffed inside the appendages formed by the covers. As a result, tapered spiral-shaped appendages are fabricated which return to their original shape after being manually deformed without the necessity of using elastic bands, metal devices, or resiliant material.

Abstract: A carrying case which may be used as a toy building or toy playground. The carrying case has two foldable sides rotatably and removably hinged to its base by breakaway hinges featuring ball and socket portions. The other two sides of the carrying case remain in a vertical position attached to the base. A roof portion is connected to one of the foldable sides by breakaway hinges. The foldable sides and roof portion may be rotated to unfold the carrying case so that it may be used as toy playground. The roof portion has a built-in slide and swing. It may be removed from the carrying case and used as a separate toy. The carrying case may be folded to simulate a toy building or schoolhouse with a roof portion latched to the top of the case.

Abstract: A quick drawing mechanism for use in an animated figure toy having a hollow torso and arm. A push button at the back of the torso is pushed causing a plate with rack to pivot and an arm connector having gears which engage the rack to rotate. Rotation of the arm connector causes the hollow arm to rotate upward and an upper member inside the arm to engage a stationary cam member mounted in the torso. The cam member causes the upper member to pivot which releases a lower member releasably held inside the hollow arm simulating a quick draw.

Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle having paddles located within the wheels of the toy vehicle which can be extended outside the wheels in order to propel the vehicle forward and backward in water. A flotation chamber is provided at the bottom of the vehicle. A gear assembly including rack gears is used to extend and retract the paddles. After the paddles are retracted inside the wheels, the toy vehicle may be moved over a supporting surface by the rotating wheels. A downwardly extending portion attached to an upper body of the amphibious toy vehicle helps to keep motors mounted inside the vehicle dry when the toy vehicle is placed in water.

Abstract: An activity toy which may be used to first form a toy monster figure by shaping a plastic molding material mixed with sodium bicarbonate powder around a toy skeleton, and to then dissolve or break the molding material free from the toy skeleton by immersing the monster figure in a diluted citric acid solution contained in a vat. The toy skeleton is made out of a number of parts removably held together by ball-and-socket joints. Measuring receptacles are provided for determining the amount of plastic molding material needed for forming the toy monster figure. Stamps may be used to form the face or other part of the toy monster figure, or to add texture or detail to the molding material.

Abstract: A cross-linked gel modeling composition of various colors that is cohesively strong but pliable and ductile which results from the addition of wood flour to a waterbased gel using cross-linkable guar gum as a gellant.

Abstract: A toy vehicle play setting simulating a crash test and repair station for use with toy vehicles having body components rotatable on impact to simulate damage from a collision, the setting having a supporting surface member with at least one garage like structure thereon with at least one body repair mechanism therein, with other impact mechanisms for actuating the body component of the vehicle, and for simulating damage to the structure from impact therewith.

Abstract: A removable toy motor module which can be used with a variety of figure toys and toy accessories. The motor module uses a battery powered motor which drives an output gear extending from a motor housing. The output gear can be used to drive a variety of accessories and the motor module can be easily attached to the harness of a figure toy. A battery cover may be rotated with respect to the housing for the purpose of turning the motor on and off. Gears located in the housing engage the motor to the output gear. A clutch ratchet and gear-clutch drum are designed to disengage if the torsion transmitted to the output gear exceeds a predetermined value, providing a built-in safety feature. A compression spring is used to minimize damage to the output gear in case the motor module is dropped. An O-ring disposed around the output gear provides a seal allowing the motor module to be used in water.

Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher used to propel a toy vehicle forward by pulling a flexible rack so that cam portions attached to the rack and launcher operably engage each other bending a flexible support downward in order to release the vehicle. A slider attaches to the front of the toy vehicle and pulls it forward after it is released. The toy vehicle may be easily mounted on top of the launcher by attaching it to horizontal and vertical supports. While in this position, the rear wheels of the vehicle rest on top of and engage wheels rotatably mounted on the launcher. Plates attached to the flexible support help to guide the rack as it engages a gear attached to the wheels mounted on the launcher. The rack rotates these wheels as it is pulled, resulting in the wheels of the toy vehicle being rotated as it is launched forward.

Abstract: A toy doll having arms which move in response to the upper torso of the doll being pivoted about a horizontal axis. As the upper torso of the doll is tilted back and forth, a pin engaged to the lower torso of the doll slidably engages the upper curved surfaces of a cam support mounted in the upper torso causing a forked plate rotatably mounted on the support to rotate back and forth. Rotation of the forked plate causes a crown gear to rotate which engages two gears with detents rotatably mounted on a shaft. As a result, the two gears with detents rotate in opposite directions causing arm connectors attached to the doll's arms to also rotate in opposite directions. As such, the doll's arms move back and forth in opposite directions as the upper torso is tilted back and forth. A spring disposed around the shaft and between the two gears with detents allows the two gears to disengage from the arm connectors preventing damage to the doll when the arms of the doll are twisted improperly by a child.