Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an animated plush doll such as a newborn dog or cat. The doll includes a plush covering over a housing comprising a head portion and a body portion. Disposed within the body portion is a drive mechanism including a motor and a plurality of gears. An electronic control circuit is linked to the drive mechanism for controlling the motor and producing pre-recorded songs among other things. One or more actuatable switches or sensors provide inputs to the electronic control circuit for effecting various movements of the toy. The head portion is movably coupled to the body portion and includes movable eye members. The drive mechanism is operative to move the eye members in a coordinated manner with the head portion so that the toy simulates the movements of a newborn animal such as awakening and falling asleep.

Abstract: A power tool is transformable from a power wrench configuration for use in fastening elements forming a toy vehicle to an engine for the toy vehicle. The power wrench includes a handle having sections pivotally mounted to the housing of the wrench. The handle sections, when used as a wrench, form a single handle for the wrench and are pivoted away from one another to lie along opposite sides of the housing. The handle sections have portions simulative of an actual engine whereby the power wrench may be transformed to a toy engine simulative of an actual full-scale engine. The engine may be disposed in the toy built with the power wrench.

Abstract: Each roller skate includes front and rear pairs of wheels longitudinally spaced from one another and carried by a frame for rotation about longitudinally spaced axes in a first configuration of the roller skate. A parallelogram linkage connects the wheels and the frame. By displacing the linkage, the wheels are movable into a second configuration wherein the wheels are in-line one behind the other and rotatable about transverse axes longitudinally spaced from one another. The wheels may be locked in the first configuration and biased for movement into the second configuration. Alternatively, the wheels may be locked in both configurations by a combined brake pad and locking assembly.

Abstract: A toy figure has microcapsules affixed to its surface with the microcapsules containing a colored medium, such as a liquid or viscous substance. Upon rupture of the microcapsules, the colored medium is dispersed and is in contrast to the surrounding color to simulate "bleeding" of the toy figure. The microcapsules can be provided in a patch form such that, upon rupture of substantially all of the microcapsules in a particular patch, such patch can be replaced by a subsequent patch having unruptured microcapsules.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an image on a scanner includes a scanning screen formed of ferrofluidic material and one or more magnetic elements shaped to form a defined peripheral outline(s). The magnetic elements are disposed on one side of a surface and are not visible from the opposite side of the surface. By locating the scanner on the opposite side of the surface, the magnetic flux lines of the magnetic elements orient the magnetic particles of the ferrofluidic screen and alter its light transmission characteristics of the screen whereby an image of the outline of the magnetic elements is provided.

Abstract: The variable geometry wheeled conveyance includes front and rear pairs of wheels carried by a frame longitudinally spaced from one another for rotation about longitudinally spaced axes in a first configuration of the conveyance. A parallelogram linkage connects the wheels and the frame. By displacing the linkage, the wheels are movable into a second configuration with each wheel being rotatable about a transverse axis longitudinally spaced from every other wheel. A timer initiates transformation from the first to the second configuration and also causes a change in a gear ratio from the drive motor to the wheels to simultaneously upon such transformation change the speed of the conveyance.

Abstract: A pacifier includes a shield having nipples projecting in opposite directions from its opposite sides. A cover is provided for releasable securement to alternate sides of the shield covering and protecting one of the nipples, while enabling the opposite nipple to be exposed for use. Upon contamination of the exposed nipple, the cover can be removed from the clean nipple and replaced on the opposite side of the shield covering the contaminated nipple and exposing the clean nipple for use.

Abstract: The three-dimensional board game includes a plurality of playing surfaces at different elevations relative to one another, with each surface having playing spaces forming part of the predetermined path of movement of playing pieces along the playing surfaces from start to finish. Tubes depend from the playing surfaces terminating at their lower ends adjacent lower playing surfaces whereby playing pieces inserted into the tubes at one level descend through the tubes for egress at the playing surface at another level. The playing pieces or tubes are provided with air passageways with sound generators therein to provide an audible sound upon descent of the playing pieces within the tubes.