Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for producing a driving force for stirring samples, in particular samples for laboratory operations such as, for example, liquids, liquids with solid samples contained therein or solid samples, said apparatus comprising a sample holder (200) for receiving at least one sample vessel (220) for samples and a bar element (300), which extends along a longitudinal axis (LA) and which is connected to the sample holder (200), wherein the bar element (300) comprises a coupling portion (310) for detachably coupling the bar element (300) to an operating unit (800), a fastening portion (320) for fastening the sample holder (200) to the bar element (300) and for positioning the sample holder (200) along the longitudinal axis (LA) in defined fashion, and a magnetic stirring portion (330), wherein the bar element (300) is embodied in such a way that a magnetic field that rotates relative to the sample holder (200) about the longitudinal axis (LA) can be produced by means o

Abstract: Liquid serving and receiving containers are shown and described. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a serving container having a magnetic field and a receiving container having an opposing magnetic field. In another embodiment, a method includes configuring serving and receiving containers to repel one another when aligned in an adjacent pouring position. The result is devices, assemblies, and methods for preventing cross-contamination of liquid food service containers and the like.

Abstract: A magnetically actuated amusement device includes a supporting structure having a fulcrum which pivotally supports rigid suspending elements each having a permanent magnet at its outer end. The magnetic swinging elements are arranged in an arc, sharing a common fulcrum, such that they will repel neighboring swinging elements in the arc, the motion of the swinging elements being constricted to swinging in the plane containing the arc.

Abstract: The present invention is an article of manufacture comprising a dish and a marker moveably affixed upon or within the dish, wherein the marker can be moved with a utensil. In a preferred embodiment, a dish is constructed that has an inner section and an outer section, and a space between the two sections. The space is filled with a fluid in which markers that appeal to children, such as brightly colored fish. The markers contain a magnet which can be activated using flatware. The child uses his or her spoon to move the fish marker up the side of the dish. This teaches the child how to use a utensil and provides entertainment during mealtimes.

Abstract: A driving mechanism is located below a transparent hollow casing of a liquid-containing ornament and includes a coupling member that engages with and rotates along with a rotary shaft of a movement of a music box located below the mechanism, stationary magnets that have a fixed polarity and are fixedly mounted at two ends of the coupling member, and rotary magnets that are rotatably mounted on the coupling member in the vicinity of the stationary magnets to freely change their polarities while rotating. The stationary and the rotary magnets alternately magnetically attract and repulse a plurality of magnet-attached floating ornamental items in the casing, causing the ornamental items to move just like something real.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toy having a play base and an article typically depicting a human or animal character which is movable along said play base by manipulation of magnetic or mechanical mechanism which, preferably, are not in direct contact with said article and hidden from view, and said play base includes one or a number of sets which depict an environment such as a shop, park etc and which include objects which are movable by separate magnetic movable or mechanical mechanism contacted by the magnetic or mechanical mechanism to give the effect that the object is moved by the article when it is moved into proximity with the same thereby adding to the impression to a child of the article being independently animated.

Abstract: An aquarium toy structure includes a back body and a front body with an observation window. A transparent water tank is inserted in the observation window and toy fish having magnets are placed in the water tank. A motor and a rotary shaft having magnets are disposed in the back body. The motor rotates the rotary shaft through belts, so that the toy fish are magnetically attracted and repelled by the magnets of the rotary shaft to freely swing back and forth in the water to mimic the swimming of real fish.

Abstract: An animated display for use with magnetically-attractable, movable figurines includes a display surface and a magnet for attracting one of the figurines across the display surface. A drive mechanism is provided for intermittently moving the magnet in a closed path below the display surface. The figurines can pivot to simulate motion as they move across the display surface.

Abstract: A device for displaying the loose coupling between magnetic fields is provided, comprising a first disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the first disk so that the magnetic field of said magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the first disk, a second disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the second disk so that the magnetic field of said magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the second disk so that the magnets on the disks are loosely coupled to each other, the strength of the loose coupling depending on the orientation of the magnets with respect to each other, and a rotatable control member having a magnetic element attached to an end of the control member, the control member magnet being rotated to a first position such that a predetermined pole of the control member magnet is located adjacent to the magnets on said first disk causing a magnetic coupling of the magnet on said control member to the magnets on said first so that loose coupling and the chao

Abstract: A device for displaying the loose coupling between magnetic fields is provided, comprising a first disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the first disk so that the magnetic field of the magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the first disk, a second disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the second disk so that the magnetic field of the magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the second disk so that the magnets on the disks are loosely coupled to each other, the strength of the loose coupling depending on the orientation of the magnets with respect to each other, and a rotatable control member having a magnetic element attached to an end of the control member, the control member magnet being rotated to a first position such that a predetermined pole of the control member magnet is located adjacent to the magnets on the first disk causing a magnetic coupling of the magnet on the control member to the magnets on the first disk so that loose coupling and the chao

Abstract: A toy fish drive causes one or more toy fish to swim in a natural fashion in a transparent aquarium (viewing tank). A magnetic drive is connected to the external side of the wall or bottom portion of the aquarium and is supported from the side. The drive has two opposite sets of magnets which are rotated to exert magnetic drive forces on a swimming toy fish in the tank, the toy fish containing a magnet and swimming at a selected sinking rate. By means of the attracting force of the magnet in the toy fish, and the action of the magnetic drive forces of the rotating magnets, multiple toy fish are made to swim separately and in different directions simultaneously.

Abstract: An animal scratching and entertainment device comprises a thin circular ridge 22, a platform 28 covered with carpeting 30, a motor 10, a bar magnet 14 coupled to the motor output shaft 12, a vertical post 35 covered with carpeting 36 connected to a horizontal extension 42, a rigid tether 46 suspended to a lure 48 containing a permanent magnet 50 and a power source 56.

Abstract: A marine display device include a liquid vessel containing one or more toy fish, each fish containing an air chamber to impart buoyancy to the fish and a magnetic member. A pair of spaced apart chambers project upwardly from the base of the vessel, and a rotatable magnetic field-producing member is disposed in each of said chambers, and is operatively connected to a rotatable shaft which is rotatably driven by a motor.

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: A method is provided for making a magnetic toy fish. The method comprises conformally joining two premolded plastic half-shell sections containing a magnetic member and a counterweight, and applying sonar energy across the joints to permanently join the half-shell sections together and form the fish.

Abstract: A wobbling toy includes a hollow platform, a first magnet unit a soft toy housing including a head and a body and a driving mechanism. The first magnet unit is disposed horizontally and mounted rotatably adjacent to the top surface of the platform. The driving mechanism is operable so as to drive rotatably the first magnet unit. The toy body unit rests on the top surface of the platform. The toy body unit further includes a pivot plate which has two distal ends connected pivotally to the wall of the toy body and a vertically extending swing rod which has an intermediate portion that extends through and that is connected to the pivot plate. The swing rod further has a lower end with a second magnet unit mounted thereon and disposed adjacent to the platform and an upper end disposed within the head of the soft toy housing.

Abstract: A marine display is provided having a housing and a transparent vessel at least partially filled with liquid. A magnetic animated marine life such as a toy fish is freely suspended in the liquid and at least one rotating magnet in the housing generate magnetic fields which co-act with the magnetic toy fish to cause the fish to move in all directions to simulate the swimming action of a natural fish in a liquid habitat. A background plate in the housing behind the liquid vessel imparts aesthetic marine-like appearance to the display.

Abstract: Waves are imparted to liquids of different specific gravities having an ornament floating therein by a movable diaphragm provided with a magnet alternatively exposed to additional magnets of different polarities to alternatively attract and repulse the magnet, thereby causing the diaphragm to create waves in the liquids.

Abstract: A fishing toy being magnetic, differently constructed and simplified in structure is provided. The toy includes a base plate mounting thereon rotating magnetic pieces, a vessel containing therein buoied fishes each of which connects thereto a connecting line, and a housing having recesses respectively disposing therein magnetic counterparts each of which will rotate when the respective magnetic piece rotates and secures thereto the connecting line in the manner that when rotated, each magnetic counterpart can repeatedly wind therearound and unwind therefrom the connecting line.

Abstract: A door sign device includes an actuator mounted on the inner door surface of a door that has inner and outer door surfaces so that a user can move the actuator between first and second actuator positions, and a follower mounted on the outer door surface so that the follower can be move between first and second follower positions that each correspond to a respective one of the first and second actuator positions. Coupling components are included for coupling the actuator to the follower magnetically so that the follower follows actuator movement, and indicator components responsive to the follower being in the first follower position indicate that a predetermined sign applies. Roller-type actuator and follower components may be employed that are mounted for rotation about axes that are parallel to the inner and outer door surfaces.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing, powering and controlling walking animatronic figures or vehicles by magnetically attracting and/or repelling the feet of such structures, using various cooperative combinations of interacting ferromagnetic plates and electromagnets to guide and stabilize the structures along a platform, as well as facilitating transformer coupling of AC power and/or command signals from the platform to the walking figure without the need for an umbilical.

Abstract: A display device includes: a base, a crystal ball mounted on the base, an inner cylinder plugged in an opening of the crystal ball, a musical base driving a lower disk having a plurality of magnets fixed thereon, a creature mounted on an upper disk rotatably mounted on an upper portion of the inner cylinder having ferrous plates formed in the upper disk, so that upon a driving of a shaft of the musical box, the creature mounted on the upper disk will be rotated as magnetically attracted by the lower disk to vividly pose like a sportsman's action.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising first and second magnetic members; the first magnetic member being freelymovable in a base and the second magnetic member suspended from a tether and support arm attached to the base to a position within the influence of the first magnetic member. The second magnetic member is secured at one end to the tether in a manner by which the repulsive interaction between the two magnets maintains the second magnetic member essentially parallel to the base and perpendicular to the tether. The second magnetic member is freely rotatable around the point of tether attachment such that movements of the first magnetic member cause corresponding changes in the rotational orientation of the second magnetic member.

Abstract: A toy including a movable model, components for generating and alternating a magnetic field in response to a direct current, a permanent magnet disposed in the generated magnetic field, and a component for transmitting movement of the permanent magnet in the generated magnetic field to the movable model.

Abstract: A flight unit is tethered by a thread to a base with the thread being attached to the flight unit at a point offset from the longitudinal center of gravity of the flight unit so that one end hangs lower than the other end. The flight unit has a bar magnet therein and one or more additional magnets are disposed adjacent the path of movement of the flight unit, the additional magnets being poled to repel one end of the flight unit or attract a second end. The additional magnets cause the flight unit to pivot vertically about the point at which it is attached to the thread, this pivoting movement giving unusual and improved flight characteristics to the flight unit.

Abstract: A magnetic road is provided with a series of magnets having the same pole oriented upwards and an upstanding non-magnetic sidewall extending along at least one side. A magnetic object is provided having longitudinally spaced magnets which either have that same pole oriented downwards, or arranged in corresponding annuli having that same pole oriented radially outwards. In the first instance, additional provisions are made to prevent the object from rolling over. Accordingly, the object can translate along the road adjacent the sidewall while floating on mutually repelling magnetic forces.