Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated friction welder produces orbital motion at interfaces between parts (usually of thermoplastic material) to bond the parts by fusion generated by friction. This welder can also be operated alternatively to produce reciprocating vibratory forces thereby providing flexibility as to the selection of an orbital or reciprocating mode, depending upon the joint to be welded. The velocity of motion is controllable preferably around the resonant frequency of the driven structure by adjusting the frequency of the AC power which operates the electromagnetic drive motor of the welder. A plate which carries one of the parts to be welded and which is driven is flexurally mounted for movement in an orbital plane or planes containing the interfaces without substantial tilting by an array of stiff members, such as rods, located around the drive motor, attached to the plate at one end and to a tubular structure at the opposite ends thereof.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated friction welder produces orbital motion at interfaces between parts (usually of thermoplastic material) to bond the parts by fusion generated by friction. This welder can also be operated alternatively to produce reciprocating vibratory forces thereby providing flexibility as to the selection of an orbital or reciprocating mode, depending upon the joint to be welded. The velocity of motion is controllable preferably around the resonant frequency of the driven structure by adjusting the frequency of the AC power which operates the electromagnetic drive motor of the welder. A plate which carries one of the parts to be welded and which is driven is flexurally mounted for movement in an orbital plane or planes containing the interfaces without substantial tilting by an array of stiff members, such as rods, located around the drive motor, attached to the plate at one end and to a tubular structure at the opposite ends thereof.

Abstract: An automotive headlight has a clear unfluted front cover and a reflector which directs light from a source through the front cover in a desired pattern. The reflective surface is smooth and continuous formed of two edge ellipsoids and a center ellipsoid joined in smooth continuous junctions. The center ellipsoid is modified to include a smooth vertical bump and the ellipsoids are tilted off the axis of the headlight. The headlight is formed by a digital computer aided process which includes tracing the paths of a plurality of light rays emanating from a digitally modeled light source, intersecting a reflector modeled by digital shape functions and projected onto a sphere surrounding the reflector. The light intensity across a part of the sphere is compared with the prescribed automotive headlight specifications. The parameters of the shape functions are changed and the process is performed iteratively to produce a light intensity best matching the specifications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for aligning, cutting, wrapping and securing a flat sheet of film material to form a precision conical wrapping that will fit over a conical surface to a precise location and orientation. The film carries color separated portions of a design which may be registerably etched into the conical surface.

Abstract: A flight vehicle toy includes a pair of vehicles driven about a support stand in a simulated race or "dog" fight through support arms which are rotated from a pair of coactial shafts in the support stand. The toy vehicles are mounted on the support arms through a release mechanism such that when one vehicle imparts the vehicle in front of it during play the front vehicle will be disengaged from its support arm and propelled out of the game. The speed of the respective vehicles can be independently varied by the players and the support arms are dimensioned such that the vehicles can pass above or below one another at all positions during play of the game, except when the vehicles are on a collision course. And, a separate control for the drive motors rotating the arms varies the relative speeds of the two vehicles automatically during the game.

Abstract: The subject doll includes a body, a head rotatably mounted on the body, and a pair of arms having hands formed thereon being articulatedly mounted on the body. A drive mechanism is located within the body for simultaneously rotating the doll's head through a predetermined angle to face towards one side of the body and for moving the arms from a first raised position wherein the hands are spaced from one another at about the level of the shoulders of the body to a second position wherein the hands are positioned adjacent each other near the midriff of the body. When the doll is positioned on a play surface, on its midriff with the doll's hands in their first position, the movements of the doll's head and its hands to their second position will cause the center of gravity of the doll to shift. The doll will then tip over in a direction opposite to the direction in which the doll's head faces in its turned position and thus roll over on its back.

Abstract: A toy vehicle game, for use with a powered toy vehicle having at least one driven wheel, includes a transport vehicle which is adapted to receive and support the powered vehicle on an associated track. The transport vehicle has means therein for locating the powered vehicle on the transport vehicle in a predetermined position, and includes at least one track engageable wheel rotatably mounted therein which is located in operative engagement with the driven wheel of the powered vehicle when the powered vehicle is in said predetermined position on the transport vehicle. As a result, the driven wheel of the powered vehicle rotates the track engageable wheel of the transport vehicle in order to propel the transport vehicle.

Abstract: A target game is disclosed in which a plurality of targets are mounted on a play surface and moved between exposed and concealed positions in an apparently random sequence. Projectiles, such as marbles or balls, are directed at the targets which can capture and retain projectiles that engage them. Retention of a projectile in the target will prevent the target from returning to its concealed position.

Abstract: Spark gap apparatus is provided wherein a wafer of electrical conducting material is affixed to a wafer of electrical insulating material and spaced from a circular array of circular pins of an electron discharge device to provide a spark gap intermediate the wafer of electrical conducting material and certain ones of the circular pins of the electron discharge device.