Abstract: A toy vehicle travels on the surface of a travel board, following a path of magnetically attractive material. The toy vehicle has a single drive wheel located centrally on the bottom of the vehicle's body. The center of gravity of the vehicle resides substantially over the single drive wheel so that the vehicle is balanced. A magnet located in the front of the vehicle is attracted to the magnetic path on the travel board. The magnetic attraction directly steers the vehicle about the central drive wheel along the path.

Abstract: A toy check out station simulates the action of an actual check out station by including a work supporting surface, a system that simulates the action of a bar code reader system, a cash register and a conveyor system. The station includes a plurality of objects that have identifying discs thereon and which are passed over a field generator. When the field of the generator is broken by the discs, a signal is actuated so that each individual item can have its own code according to the number of discs thereon.

Abstract: A miniature electrically powered vehicle including an electric motor having a pair of permanent magnets mounted with the North/South pole axis disposed vertically within the vehicle and with the same polarity ends thereof joined together by a common flux strap so that the magnets serve the dual function of interacting with the electric motor and providing an enhanced downward magnetic attraction of the vehicle to the track.

Abstract: A toy house has a lamp for illuminating an interior of the toy house and a switch which is magnetically actuated by placing a play piece having magnet disposed in its bottom surface area in proximity to an end of a lever which carries magnetically attractable material. When the end of the lever moves towards the play piece due to magnetic attraction, the opposite end of the lever causes two contacts to come into electrical contact with each other.

Abstract: This magnetic toy includes a figure which may roll, where a part of the figure is magnetized with poles forming a magnetic force line around the figure. Also included is a belt with poles disposed along the length, the poles forming a magnetic force line. The figure is placed on the belt with the magnetic forces adhering the figure but allowing it rolling movement along the belt. The belt may be used around a person's extremities or torso. The belt may be incorporated into an article of apparel which does not have surface obstructions that would prevent rolling of the figure along the track of the belt.

Abstract: A game apparatus which utilizes a plurality of magnetized playing pieces is disclosed. The magnetized playing pieces are in the shape of two-sided circular discs, one side having a north polarity and other side a south polarity. The common polarities are identified by a surface color or by indicia printed thereon.The playing pieces are displayed on a flat, horizontal playing surface, preferably within a circular boundary on a rough-textured surface such as provided by canvas, leather or etched glass. The pole strengths of the magnetic playing pieces are sufficient to permit the balancing of a playing piece obliquely on its edge in proximity to but spaced from a flat-lying piece of like upward-facing polarity.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for a radio controlled device that employs a solenoid coil and is insensitive to frequency flucuations in a control signal. The steering mechanism includes opposing poles of a permanent magnet and a solenoid coil positioned equidistant between the poles so as to be pivotable to positions opposing each of the individual poles.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing the running track of a toy car racer in a racing toy, in which a motor-driven running body runs on a base having a plurality of guide tracks in parallel. The body has a guide element engageable with the guide track and the running body is provided with an electromagnetic coil for engaging and disengaging the guide element with the guide track. The electromagnetic coil at its pole portions is provided with yokes each energizable to a different polarity and protruding in parallel to a predetermined direction to form a pair of magnetic pole portions, opposite to which are swingably arranged linkage for controlling wheel-steerage, including a magnet at its middle portion adjacent to the magnetic pole portions.

Abstract: A spring driven toy is described, including a base; an operation member movably mounted on the base; a spring unit for moving the movable operation member relative to the base; a speed control mechanism connected to the spring unit; a lever selectively movable between a position engaged to the speed control mechanism to prevent the spring unit from operating and a position disengaged therefrom to allow the spring unit to operate, said lever including a first magnetic substance; and a separate body having a second magnetic substance and being magnetically attachable to the movable operation member adjacent the first magnetic substance of the lever and movable with the movable operation member.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a running track of a toy car racer in a racing toy is disclosed, in which a motor-driven running body runs on a base having a plurality of guide tracks in parallel spaced apart from each other and is provided with a guide element engageable with the guide track, an electromagnetic coil for engaging and disengaging the guide element with the guide track, and a rotary magnet for controlling wheel-steerage by means of its polarity determined by energizing the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: A toy hot air balloon effectively utilizes a cover positionable over an inflated toy balloon. The toy includes a suspended gondola, and the interiorly positioned toy balloon is substantially hidden from view within the balloon cover. An optional lightweight circular plate positioned on a topmost portion of the cover allows the toy to float against a ceiling structure. When a lighter-than-air gas is not used to inflate the toy balloon, the top circular plate may be constructed from a material which permits the balloon to be attached to ceiling structures, such as over-head lamps, drop ceiling supports, etc.

Abstract: An improved ball throwing implement includes a flexible shaft and a retaining means. The retaining means includes a magnetic collar contacting the wall of a diametrical bore provided in a ball or similar game element to be thrown by the implement and a magnetic sleeve insertable into the bore for holding the ball on the shaft. The implement upon application of centrifugal force releases the ball with uniform time of release.

Abstract: A device for controlling the steering and direction of movement of an electrically operated toy vehicle wherein the toy vehicle has a rear axle driven by a gear train from an electric motor and a worm gear on the rear axle engaging a helical gear. The front wheels are connected by a tie rod and are adjustable together from a normal straight line position to an angular position to cause the vehicle to run in a curved path. An adjusting arm on the helical gear presets the angular position of the helical gear in which a reversal of direction will occur and a plurality of such angular positions may be provided. The direct current source or battery for motor power for the unit includes a pair of electromagnets in circuit with the source of electrical current, which is direct current, and with contact members. Energization of one of the electromagnets will, through a link, connection to the tie rod, cause the front wheels to turn in one direction.

Abstract: An operable toy utilizes a metal sensing apparatus which includes a tuned circuit which includes a pick-up coil. The resonance frequency of the resonance circuit shifts when the pick-up coil senses a metal or magnetic object. A motor is normally driven in the absence of the sensing of a metal or magnetic object. When the metal or magnetic object is sensed, the frequency shift of the tuned circuit including the pick-up coil attenuates the frequency produced by an oscillator and as the voltage of the signal produced by the oscillator is attenuated, a level detection circuit produces a low output to thereby disconnect the power from the motor. Alternatively, the power to the motor may be reversed. Two metal sensing apparatuses may be utilized in an operable toy to cause the toy to follow a track of metallic or magnetic material.

Abstract: A direction-converting device for a toy car is disclosed, in which the toy car is provided with an electromagnet having an exciting iron core with its opposite sides being energizable to different polarities and a magnet having opposite end faces with different polarities, in which one core portion of the electromagnet at its free end has a width equal to or larger than a width of the opposed end of the magnet, and in which the electromagnet or the magnet is fixed to one end of a controlling element which in turn is arranged at a middle portion of a steering element. The one core portion of the electromagnet may be divided into two portions, between which is arranged another magnet.Thus, the device ensures a neutral position of the steering element reliably in the deenergized state of the electromagnet.

Abstract: A toy slot car racing set is provided with linked, lead and follower car teams. The link is resilient and has a width substantially greater than the thickness, to provide some resistance to lateral flexing. Tight fits between a pin and aperture connection of each end of a link to a respective vehicle generally maintains the connected end of the link in a fixed angular relationship to the vehicle.

Abstract: A direction converting device for a toy car has an electromagnet energizable to a desired polarity upon change of a running direction and at least a pair of magnet elements arranged oppositely thereto and maintained at different polarities from each other. The electromagnet or the pair of magnets may be secured to a controlling element swingably in a horizontal plane, while the controlling element is engaged with a steering plate articulatingly connected to wheels.

Abstract: A toy is provided including individual receiving means each having magnetic means, and being marked with an identifying indicia. The receiving means are adapted to receive insertion means having magnetic means and are marked with identifying indicia matching the identifying indicia of at least one of the individual receiving means, such that the magnetic means of receiving and insertion means having matching identifying indicia repel one another.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetized game pieces are inserted one by one in a piece holder frame of nonmagnetic material along a piece guide formed therein. In the row of game pieces, two adjacent pieces are held in contact with or spaced apart from each other under magnetic attraction or repulsion acting therebetween and the row length is variable and unpredictable. The piece holder frame may be formed with any desired number of piece guides in the form of a blind piece-insertion hole or an upstanding post. The game pieces may be permanent bar magnets themselves or take a composite form including a body portion of nonmagnetic material and one or more magnet pieces embedded in the body portion at each and thereof. To make the game further changeful, the game pieces may each be divided into two axial half sections which are joined together for relative rotation to enable reversion of its polarity.