Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind operated device in the shape of a fish or the like. The device comprises at least two generally planar or segmented constructions of a lightweight material, each of the segments being flexibly connected to the other and a support rod connected to one of the segments by means of a bearing for supporting of the said device. When the device is subjected to an air-stream the segments move in a generally sinuous pattern in imitation of motion of a fish or the like while at the same time indicating wind direction.

Abstract: A flying toy in the form of an aerodynamic flying ring. An annular disk (17) surrounds a central opening (12) to create a ring. A convex upper surface (11) deflects air flowing over the top side of the disk, increasing air speed and reducing downward air pressure. An aerodynamic protruding annular fin (27) located near the inner perimeter (18) of the unit deflects air upward again, increasing air speed and decreasing air pressure again. The lower side of the unit contains an undercut that can be straight (16), curved (20), or angled (22). This undercut creates a lower cutaway surface (19) which may be parallel to, or at an angle to, the horizontal plane. This structure captures air beneath the unit, slowing air speed and increasing upward air pressure on the unit. These features combine to provide greater lift capacity than any of them would produce separately. In the preferred embodiment the disk is made of a soft foam material such as polyethylene or polyurethane, but other materials could be used.

Abstract: A manipulatable beaded string toy device comprising of a plurality of interconnectable elements, each element including a number of beads disposed on a cord. When the plurality of interconnectable elements are interconnected, a junction formed comprises at least four beads, two from each cord, each of the at least four beads is in contact with at least three other beads of the junction.

Abstract: A wire skeleton for a soft sculptured doll comprised of a wire backbone member that extends into the head of the doll and secures within an upward extending sleeve of an inverted t-shaped connector and a unshaped wire that extends through the two sleeves in the horizontal portion of the t-shaped connector to form the leg members of the doll's skeleton. The unshaped wire freely rotates within the t-shaped connector, allowing the leg members to rotate in unison forward and backward on the doll. Also, backbone member and each of the leg members can be bent to pose the doll. Dolls are formed around the wire skeleton by padding the skeleton; placing covering material, such as leotards and lady's knee-high stockings, over the padding; and then securing the covering material together.

Abstract: A device for simulating ophthalmic surgery is disclosed which comprises a laser for generating a laser beam, an array for sensing whether the laser beam has been projected at the array, and a computer system operatively connected to the laser and the array, the computer system for actuating the laser, for determining whether the array has sensed the laser beam, and for creating an ablation profile based upon whether the array has sensed the laser beam.

Abstract: An educational and recreational apparatus and method having a background grid defining a matrix having a plurality of individual cells, and a plurality of elements each having a first surface, with indicia disposed thereon, said elements being removably disposable on said grid. Each arrangement of said elements disposed on said grid define a magic square, so that each row, column, or diagonal of the magic square is characterized by a defined relationship in accordance with the indicia. A method of manipulating said elements, said method having at least one computer, display device, calculation means, input device and data storage device. The method including displaying a grid defining a matrix on said display device, arranging said elements on said grid using said input device for selecting and inserting said elements therein, manipulating said elements on said grid using said input device and forming a magic square on said matrix by arranging said elements.

Abstract: A mechanism adaptable for a toy provides a hugging motion to a pair of arms extending outward from each side of a rear body member. A front body member is supported by a bottom hinge in V-shaped hinged relation in front of the rear body member. Each arm is comprised of an upper arm and a relatively long forearm supported in hinged relation on the outer end of the upper arm. For each arm, a wide, elongated, yielding forearm actuator is hingedly attached on its outer end to the forearm and on its inner end to the front body member. A hand is hingedly supported on the outward end of the forearm. Supported in front of the forearm is an elongated, yielding hand actuator adapted to move the hand when the forearm actuator is moved toward the forearm. Squeezing the body portions together causes the forearm actuators to pivot the forearms forward in a hugging motion.

Abstract: A teaching method includes dividing an automatic traveling course (96) into a plurality of zones before teaching, conducting teaching for each zone of a plurality of zones at the time of teaching so as to generate position coordinate data for each zone as course data for each zone, and combining course data for respective zones and store the same after teaching. An apparatus includes a teaching zone designating function section (41) for designating a zone inside an automatic traveling course (96) divided into a plurality of zones, a position coordinate data function section (42) of an unmanned vehicle (3), zone-specific traveling course data memory means (43), a teaching course data writing function section (44) for writing the position coordinate, a teaching data edit instruction function section (45) for outputting an instruction after the completion of teaching route, and a total traveling course data edit function section (46) for combining and editing the traveling course data.

Abstract: A toy bank for saving coins therein. The device includes a stuffed doll having an exterior configured to resemble a predetermined figure. The stuffed doll has stuffed head and body portions each configured to resemble the head and body of the predetermined figure. The body portion has an interior, a top, a bottom, a front and a back. The bottom of the body portion is adapted for resting on a surface such that the head and body portions are generally vertical with respect to the surface. A container is provided in the interior of the body portion. The body portion has a slot into the container adapted for inserting coins into the container. The slot is located on the back of the body portion towards the top of the body portion. The body portion has a hole into the container adapted for removing coins disposed in the container. The hole is located on the back of the body portion towards the bottom of the body portion.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a building block toy, characterized in that a single kind of building block is used and in that the building block is of a unique shape. Specifically, the center of a flat equilateral triangular piece and the center of a flat hexagonal piece with the same thickness can be overlapped, and the three conjugated sides of the hexagonal piece can be connected to the three sides of the equilateral triangular piece upon stacking these two pieces in a parallel manner. The length of each side of the equilateral hexagonal piece is ⅓ of that of the side of the equilateral triangular piece. Thus, the parts where the equilateral triangular piece and the equilateral hexagonal piece overlap form three small equilateral triangular pieces (1, 2 and 3) of equal size.

Abstract: The touch controlled light emitted two balls instrument comprises the following elements. A seat with a two loops touch controlled sensing switch circuit system, one side of the seat is formed with a pivotal hole, and the opposite side of the seat is installed with a through hole used to mounted with a first light source. A supporting frame is a cambered rod having an approximate C shape and is assembled on the pivotal hole of the seat. A screw rod is mounted on the top of the rod and an engaging rod is projected from the lower end thereof and may be pivotally connected with a second light source. A globe is a hollow and transparent round ball and a world map is depicted on the surface thereof, and holes are formed on the upper and lower ends thereof for being inserted by the screw rod and convex shaft of the supporting frame and a first light source. A heaven body ball is a transparent round ball with a hollow inner space, a heaven body map is depicted thereon.

Abstract: An illuminated ping pong game comprises a table which comprises at least one table leg. The illuminated ping pong game further comprises a net securely fastened to a the table along a median thereof. The illuminated ping pong game further comprises at least two player's paddles utilized by at least one first player and second player. At least one player's paddle comprises a first player's paddle which comprises a first player's paddle handle having a first player's paddle handle ON/OFF cap positioned at a bottom distal end of a first player's paddle handle cylinder forming a first player's paddle handle cavity therein. The first player's paddle handle further comprises a first player's paddle handle illuminator integrally associated therewith. The first player's paddle handle illuminator comprises a first player's paddle handle illuminator light positioned at a top distal end within the first player's paddle handle cavity.

Abstract: A very compact interactive toy is provided that provides highly life-like and intelligent seeming interaction with the user thereof. The toy can take the form of a small animal-like creature having a variety of moving body parts that have very precisely controlled and coordinated movements thereof so as to provide the toy with life-like mannerisms. The toy utilizes sensors for detecting sensory inputs which dictate the movements of the body parts in response to the sensed inputs. The sensors also allow several of the toys to interact with each other. The body parts are driven for movement by a single motor which is relatively small in terms of its power requirements given the large number of different movements that it powers. In addition, the motor is reversible so that the body parts can be moved in a non-cyclic life-like manner.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical weapon effect simulation method for training of soldiers at least at two different weapons, whereas each weapon is equipped as an attacking as well as a target system. The attacking system has a laser pulse transmitter and measurement unit attached to the weapon which transmits laser signals with at least two different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2 and detects the appropriate signal reflections. The target system is provided with at least one retro-reflector with integrated selective filter, optical receiver with selective filter and evaluation electronics. Only laser pulses of a defined wavelength are reflected or accepted by the target system. Inherent errors resulting from reflections caused by numerous targets which cannot be separated and the falsification of target positions are eliminated. Target types are identified by the attacker based upon a wavelength of laser signal received.

Abstract: A method for assessing the readiness skills of a child between the ages of two and six years is disclosed. To assess the child's skills, a set of specially designed cards is provided. Each card displays one or more predetermined symbols. The cards are displayed to the child according to a predefined protocol. As the cards are displayed, a testing specialist asks the child questions about each card and records the child's responses. The child's responses are then scored to assess his or her skill level. The cards are organized into color-coded subsets. Each subset can be used to test a child's mastery of a certain task. In addition, the cards can be asymmetrically-shaped to facilitate sorting and presentation. The unique design of the cards permits the testing specialist to quickly screen young children with possible learning disabilities.

Abstract: A bubble producing assembly has a frame having a handle section and an opening, a fan positioned inside the opening, and a bubble producing device positioned above the fan and extending over the opening. The bubble producing device has a primary loop having an enclosing edge that defines an interior opening, with the primary loop disposed at a first vertical level. The bubble producing device also includes a plurality of secondary loops disposed at a second vertical level that is different from the first vertical level, the secondary loops positioned with respect to the primary loop such that the secondary loops extend into the space defined by the interior opening. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary loops are smaller in size than the primary loop.

Abstract: A multi-configuration amusement device in the shape of a ball includes a variety of mass components with axially-extending cylindrical bores, a lock fastener unit having a hollow cylindrical shaft, and an hollow cylindrical extension tube, with the lock fastener unit and the extension tube operably insertable into the cylindrical bores of the mass components, for locking the mass components together in a unitary configuration.

Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a chassis having a front end, a rear end and first and second lateral sides extending between the ends. Two wheel trains are disposed on separate lateral sides of the chassis. Each train includes first, second, third and fourth wheels, a first pair of the wheels being mounted on separate axles fixed with respect to the chassis and a second pair of the wheels being mounted on separate axles movable along the first lateral side of the chassis. A separate continuous track extends about each wheel train so that the track engages over at least the first wheel and another other wheel. A separate linkage connects each second pair of wheels with the chassis and is configured to displace the second pair of wheels between a first wheel arrangement in which the wheels of the train are generally disposed in a single row, and a second wheel arrangement in which the wheels of the train are generally disposed in two rows and all the wheels engage the track.

Abstract: The modular base for a playing structure, such as a toy building set, includes a first planar member, or tile base, having attachment fittings on its bottom for removable attachment to a substructure, such as a lattice. The top of the first planar member has attachment fittings thereon. Preferably, each of the attachment fittings on the top of the first planar member are aligned with one of the attachment fittings on the bottom to form a common opening through the first planar member. The modular base also includes a second planar member, or tile, having attachment fittings on its bottom. The attachment fittings are preferably protrusions that are most preferably clover leaf in shape and have an interference fit with the attachment fittings on the top of the first planar member that are most preferably square openings.

Abstract: A color-assonant phonetics system for the English language to facilitate reading and pronunciation. It applies three styles of any font and fifteen colors (including black) to the letters of the English alphabet on any white background. All consonant phonemes are black letters and all vowel phonemes are letters colored by a color whose name rhymes with the vowel's sound. Uncommon phonemes are slanted letters. Silent letters are thin.Webster's Dictionary's second definition of "assonance" is "vowel rhyme". Webster's Dictionary's definition of "phoneme" is "the basic distinctive units of speech sound by which morphemes, words, and sentences are represented." Webster's Dictionary's third definition of "phonetics" is "the symbols used to represent the speech sounds of a language.