Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a body supported by a plurality of wheels. At least one wheel of the toy vehicle is comprised of a pair of half portions coupled to a pivotal hinge at a common outer edge. One of the half portions is coupled to the vehicle body while the remaining half portion is coupled solely to the pivoting hinge. The wheel portions of the articulated wheel remain closed when the toy vehicle is rolled across a playing surface and separate to form a mouth-like opening when the vehicle or a portion thereof is raised from the play surface.

Abstract: An animated toy having a housing in the form of a body of a spider like insect with leg coupling members rotatably coupled thereto through ball and socket arrangements, with extensions thereof engaging cam follower members. The drive mechanism includes dual sided cam members with each cam having first and second cam portions for coaction with predetermined portions of the opening in a cam follower member to provide a modified "D" shape movement to the leg extensions, with the opposite cam portions on a given cam, and the position from cam to cam being mechanically phased to realistically simulate the walking movement of a spider like insect.

Abstract: A portable toy racing set is disclosed which includes a booster for accelerating toy vehicles around a curved track. The booster includes an arm which pivots about an axis perpendicular to the track and offset from the center of a curved portion of the track. A finger depends from the arm and travels from a position adjacent the side of the track to a position which causes it to contact the vehicle.

Abstract: A winding and launching device for toy vehicles which includes a base covered by a shell, the shell having a shaft projecting therefrom and being adapted to mate with a coupling on a flywheel-driven toy vehicle for rotating the flywheel. The shaft is rotated at high speed through a step-up gearing arrangement by a crank positioned on the shell. A button protrudes from the shell and is connected to a platform which holds the shaft in place, depressing the button pulls the shaft from the vehicle coupling so that the vehicle may speed away.

Abstract: A toy vehicle energizer and launcher (10) having a draw string energizing mechanism (30) with a drive spool (40) receiving a draw string (38) and a return spring (46). The drive spool (42) is connected to a toothed driving wheel (54) by a one-way clutch (67) which allows a vehicle (34) held in the launcher (10) to be energized by a number of pulls on the draw string (38). A retaining and release means (32) coacts with a drive wheel (56) of the toy vehicle (34) and a toothed driver (54) to allow the vehicle (34) to be held within the launcher (10) during energization, and to be released after energization by manual actuation of the retaining and release means (32).

Abstract: A toy racing apparatus including an inclined section of track and a bowl. The track enters the bowl through an opening in the lower sidewall where its surface is tangent to the interior wall. A vehicle placed at the upper end of the track will speed down the track, enter the bowl, and progress in a spiral path upwardly inside the bowl. In a preferred embodiment, the bowl is transparent and flags are positioned to be displaced as a vehicle reaches particular heights in the bowl.