Abstract: An accessory, such as a trampoline, for a toy or game may include a base, a rebounding portion configured to rebound an impacting object, and an adjustment portion coupled to the base and the rebounding portion, supporting the rebounding portion relative to the base, and configured for at least two degrees of rotational freedom relative to the base.

Abstract: A toy for playing various coin-based games includes a polyhedral block having a slot for inserting a card and a channel for rolling a coin.

Abstract: A racing play set for toy vehicles includes a first track segment, a second track segment disposed in intersection with the first track segment, a return portion disposed in communication with the first and second track portions, and a scoring mechanism, where the return portion is configured to be shared by toy vehicles traveling on the first and second track segments, where the return portion is configured to receive a first toy vehicle from the first track segment and return the first vehicle to the first track segment, where the return portion is configured to receive a second toy vehicle from the second track segment and return the second vehicle to the second track segment, where the scoring mechanism is configured to record a pass of the first vehicle through the return portion and a pass of the second vehicle through the return portion.

Abstract: A toy track. A contoured track having simulated jumps, mounds and banks is mounted in a frame. Course marking devices are preferably used to mark the route of the track. Preferably, the track is made by the following method: first, a rough approximation of a track is fabricated. A hardening putty is then applied over the rough approximation and track features such as tire tracks and tire ruts are molded into the putty. A release agent to prevent sticking is then applied over the putty. A fiberglass mold is formed over the release agent and around the putty and then separated from the putty. A thin plastic sheet is placed over the fiberglass mold and heated. Also, vacuum suction is applied to the plastic sheet so that it forms around the fiberglass mold. The plastic is allowed to cool and it is then attached to the frame. Preferably, the frame is a table. In a preferred embodiment, the track is a motocross track. Also, preferably foldable legs are attached to the table.

Abstract: An entertainment device for use by animals is disclosed. The entertainment device can have a hollow enclosure with access openings and exit openings. The hollow enclosure may have one or more play items with diameters larger than the access openings and the exit openings within the enclosure. The hollow enclosure may also have one or more smaller play items with diameters larger than the access openings and smaller than the exit openings. The smaller play items may be used external to the hollow enclosure to entertain the animal.

Abstract: A game such as a book useable with candy or other game pieces. The book includes internal passageways configured to allow a game piece to travel freely therein. One aspect of the invention includes a book with multiple pages including internal passageways in one or more pages, and wherein an outlet form one page substantially aligns with an inlet from an adjacent page such that the game piece moves between pages. Under another aspect of the invention, the page includes an actuator such as a lever or a wheel to move the game piece between portions of the passageway. In yet another aspect of the invention, the book includes an integral game piece dispenser.

Abstract: A pecking bird toy comprising: a hollow paddle portion, a pecking bird portion and a ball. The hollow paddle portion has a handle and an interior circular raceway. The pecking bird portion is mounted on the top of the hollow handle portion. The pecking bird portion includes a fixed body with a cavity in its lower portion, a head and neck part and a mechanism which imparts a pecking motion to the head and neck part. The head and neck part is pivotally mounted within the cavity. The mechanism is pivotally attached to the end of the head and neck part and includes an actuating pin, with a shallow or truss head, extending through the top of the hollow handle portion into the raceway. The ball is trapped within the raceway as the hollow handle portion is assembled. The invention is designed so that the raceway has a width slightly larger than the diameter of the ball and the distance between the head and the bottom of the raceway is less than the diameter of the ball.

Abstract: A light sword toy comprising a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a light source located at the proximal end of the tube. The light source directs light into the tube toward the distal end. The tube is made of a translucent material which glows when the light source is activated. A ball is contained within the tube, and is capable of moving between the proximal end and distal end thereof. When the ball is initially at the proximal end, it blocks nearly all of the light from the light source from reaching the distal end. When the ball is subsequently rolled toward the distal end, the illumination appears to travel toward the distal end. A ball retaining mechanism is located at the distal end for holding the ball at the distal end until the end of play. Then the ball is releasable by the user to restore the ball to the proximal end of the tube.

Abstract: A large hollow ball is centrally and symmetrically mounted around an axle having ends which extend beyond the outer wall of the ball equally on diametrically opposed sides. The two axle ends are secured within retainers provided on a ring which orbits the center ball. The ring has a center track on which is contained a plurality of balls. In operation, as a cat propels the center ball, the ring is free to pivot about the axis and as the ring pivots, the balls contained in the track roll back and forth.

Abstract: A gumball machine which has a transparent support column supporting a partially transparent gumball housing. The support column encloses several individual plates. The plates are spaced apart and arranged in a descending manner. Each of the plates has an opening located thereon so that a gumball can gravitationally descend from one plate to another and eventually ends up in a dispensing aperture for removal by a customer. The plates can also be manually manipulated by an exterior handle for additional customer amusement.

Abstract: A hand held device for exercise and amusement has a clear plastic circular tube with a central handle. One or more balls are inserted into the circular tube. One holds the central handle and causes the ball(s) to move around the tube. Balls of different weight can be inserted in the tube. The device can be illuminated. The illumination may take the form of lights which are turned ON or OFF by the motion of the ball(s).

Abstract: A helical spring device used for amusement or for stress relief having a plurality of concentrically positioned helical coil springs each extending between two endpieces. The helical coil springs each are highly flexible with a low spring stiffness to mass ratio, and each have a different diameter. The endpieces have an internal member and an external member, with the internal piece having a slit extending through it. The ends of the helical coil springs are inserted through the slits in the internal members in such a manner that they are positioned between the internal and external members. The ends are secured in place by a fastener such as a screw which extends between the internal and external members.

Abstract: An animal amusement and exercise device comprises an annular body having spaced apart, overlying flanges forming a laterally open, endless track for the accommodation of a freely rotatable ball. The body defines a cavity in which a compressible pad of material removably may be accommodated. Each of the devices includes connectors for removably coupling such device with another like device in vertically stacked relation. The track of each device is accessible from outside each device thereby enabling one or more animals to have access to all of the tracks.

Abstract: An exerciser for treating wrist injuries or conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome is formed by a handle attached to a track of continuous loops. A moveable bead on the track is maneuvered from one end of the track to the other by manipulating the exerciser preferable with the patient using only her wrist. The motion required to move the bead along the track is therapeutic for those suffering from wrist disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, the track is formed from a flexible material allowing the track to be moved between a compressed position for storage and travel and an expanded position for use.

Abstract: An animal amusement and scratching device causes a ball to be self-moving. The ball (16) is confined within a circular track of housing (10) and is viewable from the top opening (14) of the track by an animal. The slightly curved bottom edges (18) and (20) of the housing base causes the housing to be unstable. When a cat steps on any part of the device's upper surface to claw scratch on the carpeting (12), it will prompt the ball to roll by itself within the track when the unstable housing (10) rocks or teeters under a cat's weight. The unexpected movement of the ball attracts an animal into imminent play.

Abstract: A pair of platform devices used for interaction with a flexible coil spring toy have a plurality of flat step-like surfaces separated vertically and horizontally corresponding to the periodic step-walking motion of the flexible coil spring toy. The platform devices are manipulated in an alternating sequence in cooperation with the motion of the flexible coil spring toy to give the appearance that the toy is walking down a set of stairs. In the preferred embodiment, the platform devices have a handle and are held and manipulated by a human operator. The spring momentum transfers the coils of the spring from one surface of the device to the next lowermost surface of the device as the spring's adjacent coils successively sweep through the path of an arc.

Abstract: A torroidal enclosure defining a circular track having a ball located therein. A plurality of oblong openings are formed on the top and a plurality of portal openings are formed in the side. The openings are offset, uniformly alternating with each other, one of the portal openings being large enough to allow the ball to pass through it.

Abstract: An eye-hand coordination game includes a hand-held hoop assembly and an untethered ball. A plurality of connecting posts and clicking assemblies join two rings of the hoop assembly. The game is utilized by keeping the unconstrained ball in motion along the inner edges of the rings via centrifugal force, whereupon a rhythmic, clicking sound is produced in time with the movement of the ball.

Abstract: A sorting-type toy comprising a series of angularly spaced compartments, each separated by a divider having an aperture therethrough. A plurality of colored or otherwise identifiable balls are located in the compartments and are sorted by the user through the apertures until all balls of one type or alignment are located in each of the compartments.

Abstract: A device for collecting and playing with coins or the like includes a base in the form of an upward and inward sloping hollow pedestal having a generally flat bottom and a circular upper end concentric with and of substantially lesser cross-sectional area than the bottom. An open top main body, having a vertically extending circular upper rim and a circular downwardly and inwardly formed surface portion, extends from said rim to a lower aperture concentric with the rim and merging with the upper end of the pedestal, whereby the main body is supported on the pedestal along a common vertical centerline. A launching ramp is removably mounted on the rim and curves upward and inward over the main body toward the vertical centerline. The ramp has a downwardly and outwardly formed guiding surface arranged to cause disc-like objects placed thereon to roll onto the surface of the main body inside the rim and through a helical path of decreasing radius through the aperture and into the base.

Abstract: A ball positioned between three circular cross-section bars acting as support. The bars are substantially parallel and oriented generally vertically. One end of each bar is partly restrained but permits full rotation of the bar about its longitudinal axis, but only limited motion laterally. The other bar end is partly restrained by a structure and is controlled by an operator's hand for providing limited bar movement. Two of the bars have handles and the third bar position can be set and remains fixed during a game. The bar cross-section diameters vary lengthwise between bar ends. The ball is urged by means of one specially shaped first bar to move upward against a recall force. A second bar with handle is controlled by another hand. The combination of the variations of the bar diameters and shapes lengthwise with the recall force acting on the ball creates difficulties for the ball to move axially, though urged to do so.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having utility as a toy for entertaining domestic cats. The toy includes an elongated housing having a top, a bottom and two spaced structures (such as walls) for connecting the top and bottom. The housing may be linear or it may be in the form of an annulus or a triangle or a figure 8 or some other "closed loop" figure. At least one of the connecting structures has an elongated opening or slot through which a cat can insert a paw. The bottom of the housing has a configuration to support a ball in rolling contact. A ball is captured within the housing and is sized for rolling along the bottom of the housing. Also, the size of the ball is such that it will not pass through the elongated opening in the connecting structure, so that the cat may reach through the elongated opening in the connecting structure in order to swat the ball and cause it to roll within the housing, but the cat is prevented from extracting the ball from the housing.

Abstract: A whirling toy for amusement and/or exercise has a plurality of small hoops in substantially side-by-side spaced relationship in the same plane, and balls are received in respective trackways formed in the hoops. In a preferred embodiment, the hoops are mounted within a large outer hoop. When the outer hoop is manually oscillated, the balls rotate around their respective trackways and are retained therein by reason of centrifugal force. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures are formed in at least one of the smaller hoops, thereby providing an audible sound as the ball whirls around its respective trackway. Alternate embodiments of the invention are also illustrated.

Abstract: A double-bar riding wheel positioned between two circular cross-section bars acting as support. One end of each bar is partly restrained but permits a limited amount of rotational movement of the bar. The other end of each bar is held by an operator's hand by means of a handle, thus providing the wheel actuating motion by lifting the handles. The bar cross-sections generally increase from one end to the other. The riding wheel is equipped with two shafts, one attached to each one of the two sides of the wheel. The combination of the variations of the bar shapes lengthwise and of the shaft shapes lengthwise makes it difficult for the wheel to remain astride of the two bars while being urged to ride forward by the operator. The shapes of both shafts and bars are such that the degree of difficulty increases from one end of the bars to the other. The object of the operation, is to make the wheel ride the full length of the bars, or at least to proceed as far as possible from the starting point.

Abstract: A portable exercising device is disclosed having a toroidally shaped inner chamber. A free moving body is disposed within the chamber. In use, the free moving body is placed into rotation within the chamber. The angular momentum of the body provides a resistance to motion to enhance the exercising effects. In the preferred embodiment, the device is ring-shaped and includes an elongated handle mounted through a center aperture. The device may also be used as a muscle tension reliever and as a coordination developer.

Abstract: Rounded moveable members such as a ball are directed in two established and independent lengths of transparent tubing which are arranged within a transparent sphere. The rounded moveable members such as a ball have a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the transparent tubing thus the rounded moveable members such as a ball follow a path that gives a spinning motion. The spinning motion for the first path will be directed by the tubing secured to the inside of the transparent sphere from top to bottom. Thus the first path follows the curvature of the sphere from top to bottom. The second path is directed by the transparent tubing arranged in a cylindrical spiral about the center of the sphere which allows the rounded moveable member such as a ball to follow a cylindrical spiral path from top to bottom of the sphere. The length of tubing about the center of the sphere that is arranged in a cylindrical spiral is supported by a transparent cylinder that is secured by the transparent sphere.

Abstract: A manual dexterity toy in which a ball is caused to orbit along elliptical trajectories within the toy for as long as possible without having the ball escape to the exterior of the toy.

Abstract: A bar-riding wheel positioned on a single circular cross-sectional bar. One end of the bar is partly restrained but allows for a limited amount of swinging and/or rotating motions. The other end of the bar is held by the operator's hand, by means of a handle, and provides its actuating motion to the wheel by lifting the handle. The bar cross-section generally increases from its free end to its partly restrained end. The riding wheel exhibits a deeply shaped groove such that as the wheel rolls in the direction of the increasing cross section of the bar, the center of gravity of the wheel eventually rises, up to and beyond a point where the wheel riding position becomes unstable. A mobile counterweight system causes the instantaneous center of gravity of the riding wheel to be located below its instantaneous axis of rotation at all times. The object of the operation is to successfully manipulate the bar such that the riding wheel rolls as far as possible, in the unstable region without toppling over.

Abstract: A tumbler toy containing typically four ramp surfaces placed radially at a fixed angle. When a player rotates the toy, all of the ramp surfaces rotate simultaneously and a ball can be made to roll along the ramp surface until it encounters an opening in the ramp surface. When the ball descends through this opening it is deflected by a guide placed along the ramp surface. With experience and practice a player can rotate the tumbler toy either clockwise or counterclockwise and keep the ball moving from ramp surface to ramp surface indefinitely.