Abstract: A game includes a base unit, a target area, a launch area, and an electronic controller. The target area is attached to the base unit and has multiple target sections. The launch area is attached to the base and is configured for bouncing a playing piece into one of the multiple target sections. The electronic controller is configured to monitor the target sections and control game play. For two person play, the game may have two launch areas and the target area may be divided into two target regions.

Abstract: The present invention is a computerized game device or game playing method for use with objects such as balls and a generally planar surface. The game device may comprise at least two electromagnetic beam transmitters arranged to emit electromagnetic beams and at least two corresponding electromagnetic beam receivers generating signals. The game device further comprises a support for the transmitters and receivers having a surface shaped to rest stably against the planar surface, the support positioning each transmitter to emit its electromagnetic beam parallel to the other beams and parallel to the planar surface, the support positioning each receiver to receive one of the electromagnetic beams, and the support shaped to permit the objects to pass through the beams and to strike the planar surface without striking the support.

Abstract: A game for a number of players that includes a device for displaying one or more cards for a limited amount of time, with all of the cards initially being displayed. Each of the initially displayed cards drops into a housing after a limited amount of time which, in the preferred embodiment, is a different amount of time for each of the displayed cards. Players take turns trying to convey the words on the displayed cards to teammates using nonverbal communication and grab the cards before they drop into the housing.

Abstract: A game in which a number of players each attempt to collect all of the parts of a meal indicated on a menu allocated to each player at the outset of the game. No two menus are alike, but there is one part of the meal that is common to each of the menus. Other parts are common to some but not all of the menus. Each of the parts of the meal is displayed on one side of a commonly shaped, preferably pie shaped, piece. The pieces fit into cutout portions of a tray provided to each player. In addition to the menu item pieces, similarly shaped pieces have instructions on one side which cause players to trade pieces. All of the pieces are placed face down and each player in turn picks up a piece to obtain the needed parts of the meal. As each player picks and replaces unneeded items, the other players attempt to recall the location of items they need so that they can pick them on their next turn.

Abstract: A market investment game includes a board providing a peripheral path containing directions on play of the game, a separate, segmented track used in determining the duration of the game, and a central spinner. Both the board and the spinner are divided into different investment category areas with the board areas indicating the number of spots available for investment and the spinner areas having alternately rising and falling angling graph lines providing both buy and sell prices for each type of investment. Each player is provided with a predetermined number of markers that are allocated by the player between movers on the path, up to a certain maximum number, and units of investment. Cards provide additional play directions including penalties that are exacted when a player is "audited" by an opponent unless the player has previously opted to pay a lesser penalty.

Abstract: A property dealing game that is played in two phases requires the players to acquire properties without always actually knowing the intrinsic value of the property. Cards are provided which, in combination with one or more properties, make the property worth more than its intrinsic value to a player holding one or more particular cards. The intrinsic value of the property is determined by the amount of money inserted into a closed property box during the course of play. In the initial phase, players proceed around peripheral pathway spaces on a board. However, in the second, less structured phase, the winner is determined as a result of deals made among the players without moving around the board. Additional cards are provided for affecting the holding of opposing players and influencing the bidding play in the acquisition of properties.

Abstract: An interactive action game involving the selective collection of colored balls has a housing which supports a concave bowl with an electric battery motor driven foam paddle at the center of the concave surface. As the balls drop down to the center of the bowl, the balls contact the rotating foam paddle and are whirled about the concave surface of the bowl. Disposed over the top of the spinning foam paddle is a central shield. The top of the shield may contain a number of indentations, or separate pieces may be provided with indentations into which the players place the collected colored balls in a pattern to win the game.

Abstract: A game in which a number of players each attempt to move a plurality of assigned stackable playing tokens to the center of a board along one of four concentric spiral paths. Once a player has all of the assigned tokens on the path, a stack of tokens may be moved as a single token. Movement of the tokens is determined by the roll of two dice with players being able to move each of two single tokens the number of spaces along the path that are indicated on a respective die or move one single token the total of both dice. Also included is a windup spring motor random moving disrupter device constructed so as to increase the probability of knocking over a higher stack of tokens. When indicated by a die, the random moving disrupter is wound and released in an attempt to knock over tokens of the opposing players. Knocked over tokens are removed from the board and must be restarted on the path.

Abstract: A game including a housing formed of two opposed halves that pivot together. Each half has steps from a raised end proximal a player to a gap at the lower distal end where the halves are pivotally connected. Two players are each allocated a number of marbles, that are initially placed adjacent the player's raised end, plus a larger shooter. By dropping the shooter, the player attempts to knock the marbles down the steps toward the gap. Whenever a player causes a marble to drop through the gap, the player gets another turn. After each turn, the player's shoot is returned to the player via a ramp. All of the marbles knocked down the steps and through the gap, drop through the shooter return ramp and are directed by another ramp toward the opposing player. Clearing the steps of all of the marbles allocated to a player wins the game.

Abstract: An electronic game playing device including an animated character and a synthesized voice. Game play instructions, required responses and awards, are contained in a program memory within a base on which the character is mounted. Carried by the base are a player input touch pad including the letters of the alphabet and individual player input buttons as well as a gridwork of lightable spaces. Animation of different features of the character is initiated at different times in response to audio signals emanating from the voice synthesis, or from an interfaced tape player, through an animation drive powered by a single motor. The animiation drive includes a shaft carrying relatively rotatable components some of which are rotated by other of the components after a predetermined amount of rotation by such other components. Movement of the character's mouth is accomplished by a second motor having a drive engaging the edge of an inner extension of the lower jaw.

Abstract: A board game in which players, using markers representing different types of global influence, challenge individual opponents. The outcome of the challenge being effected by point values of the markers of a selected type of global influence. In one form the markers are tiles and a balance beam is provided to determine the outcome of a contest without having to numerically add the point value on the markers.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled game having an optical sensor for reading bar codes on cards. The cards visually depict a combination of number, size, color and shape that is represented by the bar code. Instructions and responses with respect to player card selection are indicated by a synthesized voice chip coordinated with a liquid crystal display facial caricature.

Abstract: Video game apparatus and method includes an arrangement for acquiring and storing data representing an image of the face of a game player or other entity and for selectively incorporating the image of the entity throughout the play of the game at predetermined locations on the video game display and in coordination with the video game graphics. In accordance with the play of the various games controlled by the video game apparatus, the stored image of one or more persons is utilized as the head of a video graphics generated body, as a portion of other generated graphics representations, as a functional game object representation, or as a controllable playing object. The video game apparatus also provides for the display of the game player image in a scoring display format wherein the images of a predetermined number of previous game players attaining the highest scores are displayed at the beginning or end of a play of the game.

Abstract: A method of making a permanently attached doll wig integrating a high pile, backed piece of material and strands of synthetic doll hair rooted through both the material and the doll head. Initially, the material is attached to the doll head pile side down by a line of stitching. The material is then folded over and held in place by an adhesive and permanently secured by rooting strands of synthetic doll hair through both the material and the doll head. Rooting some synthetic doll hair directly into the doll head adjacent to, but beyond, the edges of the material, obscures the edges.

Abstract: A game involving the insertion of simulated articles of dirty clothing into a washing machine receptacle, the sides of which are biased to explode open. The number and type of articles to be inserted during a turn is determined by a spinner. Insertion of the articles through an opening in the top wall of an otherwise substantially enclosed receptacle, eventually effects downward movement of the bottom to which the sidewalls are pivotably mounted. Once the bottom and sidewalls move down enough to disengage the upper edges of the sidewalls, the sides of the washing machine receptacle spring outwardly, spewing out the laundry.

Abstract: A toy doll with arms and legs mounted for pivotal movement relative to the torso in response to rotational movement of a bottle nipple in the doll's mouth. One gear on a rotatable feed tube within the hollow head of the doll engages vertically oriented racks that then engage spur gears to rotate the arms. A bevel gear also carried by the tube engages a bevel gear on a depending drive shaft that has a crown gear driving a bevel gear for each of the legs. Both the arms and the legs are mounted on spools that freely rotate with respect to the torso. Frictional engagement of the limbs with respect to the spool permit the spool to pivotally drive the arms while also allowing selective, independent angular orientation of each of the limbs with respect to its respective spool.

Abstract: A board game including a base board and an upper board shiftable within limits atop the base board in either of two transverse directions. The base board bearing sets of danger, safe, and return indicators and the upper board has graphics of a pathway through a castle. Openings along the pathway extend through the upper board to expose some of the danger and return indicators. Each player is provided with a marker movable from opening to opening plus shift board, obstacle/peril, and defense/escape cards, the obstacle/peril cards being playable on an opponent whose token is on a danger indicator. Failure to defend against or escape a peril or obstacle causes the player to return to the last exposed return spot.