Abstract: A system and method for a rider with an improved rider-controlled recreation vehicle. A recreational vehicle with a platform medium, for example a wide fabric strap rider platform (versus a hard surface like metal, wood or the like) supported only at the ends. Advantages may include that it provides shock absorption, more road “feel”, different performance characteristics, and more comfort than a traditional hard platform. The platform may also be adjusted for more or less tension for different riding surfaces and conditions and the strapping can easily be replaced with natural wear or to personalize the look with custom graphic designs.

Abstract: A computer-controlled toy vehicle that provides two distinct modes of play: 1) a roll-around play mode where a child pushes the vehicle around which causes the wheels to slowly rotate and may receive audio/visual feedback related to manual the manipulation of the vehicle in a mode/operation appropriate for the roll-around play mode, and 2) a race play mode where the child pushes the vehicle quickly/vigorously (an increased velocity and/or acceleration) causing the wheels to roll or accelerate more quickly/vigorously. An ON/OFF or grip detector may gate determination of sequencing state and output results.

Abstract: A system and method for simply and efficiently improving on personal privacy, particularly in a portable or temporary format. A system may include a flexible oblong perimeter frame closed with a covering configured to be bowed into an arch, and an arch-retaining system coupled to ends of the frame maintaining the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: A transforming toy vehicle, includes a chassis; a motive system coupled to the chassis translating a location of the chassis over a surface, the motive system including a free drive mode and an inhibited drive mode wherein the mode of the motive system establishes a state for a mode control latch, the mode control latch including a latched state and a not latched state; a housing, coupled to the chassis and responsive to the state of the mode control latch, the housing having an untransformed mode and a transformed mode, the housing transitioning from the untransformed mode to the transformed mode when the state of the mode control latch changes from the latched state to the unlatched state; and a detector, coupled to the chassis the motive system changing from the free drive mode to the inhibited drive mode when the carriage overlies the particular environmental feature wherein the housing transitions to the transformed mode.

Abstract: An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: A structure motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, including: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, the impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned to represent at least a portion of a sports ball; and a sliding portion, coupled to the impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface on a contact surface of the sliding portion responsive to the impulse the contact surface having a generally planar smooth surface having a periphery surrounded by an extension of the impulse receiving portion, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of the impulse-receiving portion and the sliding portion is inhibited by shifting a center of gravity downward by a greater weighting of the sliding portion relative to the impulse-receiving portion.

Abstract: An electronic catch-and-throw game is disclosed that requires physical skill, logical thought, and advancing complexity in order to challenge players of all skill levels and hold their interest.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for an interactive toy vehicle that provides new structures and combinations of features for enhancing education and amusement, particularly for an improved small-scale vehicle toy that produces feedback (e.g., sounds or lights and a motorized output event) directly related to the amount of a child's input. The apparatus, method, and computer program product for a toy vehicle includes: a chassis; a motive element, coupled to the chassis, for moving the chassis; an impulse detector for generating an impulse signal responsive to one or more impulses applied to the chassis; and a controller, coupled to the chassis and responsive to the impulse signal, for: counting a number N of impulse signals received during a setup period; determining an operational mode responsive to the number N; setting a duty mode for the motive element responsive to the operational mode.

Abstract: A drawing system including a portable storage housing; a drawing surface, moveably coupled to the portable storage housing by a biasing subsystem, the drawing surface including a storage mode and a deployed mode wherein the storage mode provides the drawing surface inside the housing and inaccessible for receipt of content and wherein the deployed mode extends the drawing surface outside of the housing and accessible for receipt of content; wherein transition of the drawing surface from the storage mode to the deployed mode activates the biasing subsystem and wherein the biasing subsystem automatically transitions the drawing surface from the deployed mode to the storage mode when operated by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an impulse-driven sliding device primarily for use by young children to simulate desired attributes of ball or puck games while adapting specified attributes to promote safe, effective use for those having reduced training and/or motor-skills.

Abstract: An amusement system including a housing having a receiving aperture at a top surface and an ejecting aperture at a front surface and further including a channel connecting the receiving aperture to the ejecting aperture; a motorized rotatable flywheel mounted inside the housing and coupled to the channel between the top surface and the channel for engaging an object travelling through the channel; a roller assembly mounted inside the housing and coupled to the channel opposite of the flywheel and disposed so an object engaging the flywheel concurrently engages the roller assembly wherein the flywheel and the roller assembly cooperatively eject the object a distance less than fifteen feet from the ejecting aperture when the flywheel rotates and contacts the object; and wherein the housing includes a mounting system to attach to an object no less than about three feet above a surface supporting the object.

Abstract: A convertible multimodal vehicle (e.g., balance bike and kick scooter) particularly suited for small children.

Abstract: A structure motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, including: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, the impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned to represent at least a portion of a sports ball; and a sliding portion, coupled to the impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface on a contact surface of the sliding portion responsive to the impulse the contact surface having a generally planar smooth surface having a periphery surrounded by an extension of the impulse receiving portion, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of the impulse-receiving portion and the sliding portion is inhibited by shifting a center of gravity downward by a greater weighting of the sliding portion relative to the impulse-receiving portion.

Abstract: An electronic basketball skill monitoring and developing system and method, particularly suited for children and young adults that would make solo and group participation more interesting and enjoyable and includes an electronic basketball game system using a basketball having a controller including a registration subsystem, an indicator subsystem, and a timing subsystem, the controller responsive to a physical impact on the registration subsystem to generate an activity signal, the timing system, responsive to the activity system and to the timing signal, that records a number of the physical impacts on the registration subsystem in one or more activity periods; and a plurality of markers, one for each of a plurality of basketball shot locations referenced by the indicator subsystem.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving local illumination of a nail-cutting implement, such as clippers for human or animal nails.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for a creative solution that helps teach younger adults/children about baseball and permits them to better participate in hitting fundamentals. The apparatus includes a spheroid having a diameter in a range of about two to five inches and constructed using foam\blow-molded material; and a tail, coupled to the spheroid, constructed using foam\blow-molded material, the tail providing both enhancement of aerodynamic flight properties of the spheroid and inhibition of end-over-end rotation of the spheroid after being thrown, hit, or launched.