Abstract: Disclosed is a toy racetrack having a toy vehicle launching section that, in a first configuration of the racetrack, launches a toy vehicle toward and through the open, central portion of a loop track section, preferably to impact a target, and in a transformed configuration of the racetrack, launches a toy vehicle through the track portion of the loop track section and preferably toward a catch tray. Two loop track sections are pivotably mounted to a tower, and target flags may be pivotably mounted to a loop section mounting block positioned at the top of the tower. Once one of the target flags is struck by a toy vehicle, an internal transformation mechanism is triggered that causes the loop track sections to pivot into a track engaging position in which the loop sections form terminal track portions for the track segments in the launching section of the racetrack.

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 magnetic strip of material formed into a loop which is placed around two pulleys. The pulleys rotate, thereby moving the magnetic strip. Skiers have skis which are attracted to the magnetic strip and are thereby moved with the loop as the loop is pulled around the pulleys. As the skier reaches the top of the upper pulley, the ski is lifted off the magnetic strip and onto the ski jump ramp. At the top of this ramp, the skier is held by a magnet located beneath the top of the ramp. Rotating with the upper pulley is a cam which moves the magnet at the top of the ramp between two positions. The first positions holds the magnet against or adjacent to the underside of the ramp holding the skier at the top of the ramp and the second position holds the magnet rotated slightly away from the ramp which releases the figure to descend the ramp and perform its ski jump. Optionally there is a flag that drops when the magnet releases the skier.

Abstract: A kinetic toy in which a ball rolls down a trackway from an upper location to a lower location and is automatically returned to the upper location for recycling, the toy being constructed of individual parts which are readily assembled in various configurations, including frame parts, trackway parts, including ball-operated switch parts, and bracket parts for supporting the trackway on the frame.

Abstract: A circulating toy assembly has a toy piece that circulates through an elevator and an inclining track member. A swing lever is mounted between a platform provided at the top of the elevator and an entrance end of the track member for conveying the toy piece from the platform to the entrance end. The swing lever swings in a plane which is inclined downward from the platform to the entrance end. The swing lever has a toy piece receiving bucket at one end and a counterweight at another end. When the bucket receives the toy piece from the platform the bucket turns downward and toward the entrance end by gravity to deliver the toy piece to the entrance end. When the bucket is empty, the counterweight causes the swing lever to turn so that the bucket turns to the platform. The toy piece preferably has an elongated hollow body which receives a ball to roll freely therein, thereby causing the toy piece to somersault along the track member.

Abstract: A marble race toy including a modular track that is assembled by the user from channel components into any desired configuration. An infrastructure is utilized to support the desired track layout. An infrastructure is utilized to support the desired track layout. Affixing elements are used to fix dowel rods of the infrastructure in place, and thereby support the modular components of the track. An elevator with an endless conveyor raises the marbles to a start position of the track, and retrieves them from an end position of the track.

Abstract: A kinetic toy in which a ball rolls down a trackway from an upper location to a lower location and is automatically returned to the upper location for recycling, the toy including an accesory, such as a ball-operated switch, adapted for quick-connection on the trackway, and a collector trackway arrangement for collecting the ball at a lower level, the accesary per se, and tracks per se for the collector trackway arrangement.

Abstract: A toy assembly is provided with manual and electrical operation units which can be selectively actuated to rotate a shaft, which has a helical advancing path, in one direction in an ascending chamber. Toy elements are moved upward in the ascending chamber and descend by gravity along a descending path provided in a descending chamber. The manual operation unit incorporates a first clutch mechanism for disconnecting the manual operation unit from the rotary shaft so as to prevent the rotary shaft to turn in another direction that can move the toy elements downward. A second clutch mechanism is provided to disconnect the rotary shaft from the electrical operation unit when the rotary shaft is driven via the manual operation unit.

Abstract: A kinetic toy in which a ball rolls down a trackway from an upper location to a lower location and is automatically returned to the upper location for recycling, the toy being constructed of individual parts which are readily assembled in various configurations, including frame parts, trackway parts, including ball-operated switch parts, and bracket parts for supporting the trackway on the frame.

Abstract: An information stand with a plurality of faces which are successively exposed to a viewer. The stand has a rigid hollow frame within which one or more multi-face information carrier elements are positioned. The frame has a pair of unequal in length parallel vertical sides and inclined upper and lower parts. Each of the information carrier elements is fixedly attached to a rotational shaft. A plurality of lever arms extend in a symmetrical relationship from the shaft, each of the lever arms being fixedly attached, at one end, to the shaft. A free end of each of the lever arms is intermittently received within a shorter side of the frame. A weight descends under gravity within the shorter side and contacts the free end of the lever arm, imparting rotation on the lever arm, the shaft and the information carrier element. A powered drive lifts the weight within the longer side of the frame, from where the weight moves again under gravity to cause rotation of the information carrier element.

Abstract: The present invention is a Christmas display (10) resembling a ski-lift and ski-slope, for use in conjunction with a Christmas tree (92). The display (10) comprises a track (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16), wherein the first end is at a higher elevation than the second end, and a lift (18) disposed between the first end (14) and the second end (16). The device also comprises a plurality of figurines (30) having a base configured for slidable movement along track (12) from the first end of track (12) to the second end of track (12) whereby the lift (18) transports the figurine (30) back to the first end (14) of the track (12) in a continuous manner. In the preferred embodiment, the display also comprises a support mechanism (90) for supporting the display on a Christmas tree.

Abstract: A toy includes a base, a curved sliding rail having a first end and a second opposite end, a tower having thereon a waved continuous guiding surface, a rotatable shaft in the tower, a flying piece guided to revolve along the waved guiding surface, and a sliding piece capable of sliding from the first end to the second opposite end and capable of being carried from the second end to the first end by the flying piece. The flying piece and sliding piece each having a magnetic member thereon for attracting each other to perform the carrying function.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a sound and visual display has a generally upstanding tubular body having a circumferential wall defining a centrally located vertically extending longitudinal axis. A reservoir is formed in the lower part of the generally cylindrical tubular body with a plurality of bead-like objects normally stored in the reservoir. An auger is used to transport the bead-like objects from the reservoir to an upper portion of the generally cylindrical tubular body. The body also includes a plurality of generally horizontally extending spokes supported on the circumferential wall and extending inwardly at vertical intervals with respect to the vertically extending longitudinal axis. A plate forms the bottom of the upper portion of the body and extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the vertically extending longitudinal axis and includes at least one releasable door therein.

Abstract: A water slide toy including: a downwardly inclined slide having an upper end and a lower end; a carrier for moving separate discreet objects such as human or animal figures from the lower end of the slide back up to the upper end of the slide so that the objects can slide downwardly from that slide upper end; a reservoir for holding a quantity of water; a pump for delivering the water to the upper end of the slide to facilitate the downward sliding movement of the objects; and a passageway between the slide and the reservoir for returning water to the reservoir.

Abstract: A helter-skelter toy having a track-way extending from an upper end to a lower end. A number of baby animal shaped vehicles which can run freely down the track-way. A lifting member in the shape of a mother animal which lifts the vehicles one by one from the lower end to the upper end of the track-way. Means to reciprocate the lifting member between upper and lower ends of the track-way. Magnetic means to engage the vehicles to lift them, these means being retracted through the mouth of the mother animal when the vehicle is aligned with the upper end of the track-way, so ejecting the vehicle and releasing it onto the upper end so that it can run down the track-way.

Abstract: A trackway toy assembly includes a plate-like member, a plurality of toy pieces in the shape of dolphins or other animals, which can be attracted by a magnetic force, a trackway with two ends for the toy pieces to slide along, mounted on the front-face of the plate-like member, a circular member rotatably mounted on the fear face of the plate-like member and a plurality of magnet elements mounted on the circular member at equal intervals. The toy pieces are attracted by the magnet elements and move from one end of the trackway to the other end, appearing from a distance to make a jumping-like motion which is appealing and amusing to children.

Abstract: The toy set includes a spiral track member mounted with respect to a larger toy robot, and there are two engaged gears mounted on the larger toy robot at positions substantially corresponding to the upper and lower ends of the track member, these gears are driven to rotate by a battery driven motor located within the larger toy robot. Several smaller robots placed on the lower end of the track member can be periodically conveyed therefrom to the upper end of the track member by the arms that are extended from the gears and rotated therewith.

Abstract: A mechanical toy dragstrip having a base, and a starting tower disposed on the base. As in drag racing, two parallel car tracks and two car loading or starting positions are provided. The starting tower is used to signal the beginning of the race by displaying, in sequence, red, yellow and green marbles which simulate the lights of a dragstrip "Christmas tree". The marbles roll down a path in the tower and are displayed in apertures to simulate lights. As the green marble is displayed, a set of starting flags raise automatically, and toy vehicles may be launched from sets of trigger assemblies. The toy is arranged such that the cars may be released manually upon perception of the green "go" marble or such that one of the cars is released automatically after display of the green "go" marble upon raising of the starting flags to race against the other car which is released manually.

Abstract: A push toy having a wheel housing rotatably supporting a pair of wheels with an impeller within the housing actuated upon rotation of the wheels, the impeller coacting with the interior of a generally transparent, continuous loop tube formed partially within the handle with a plurality of colored spheres therein, rotation of the impeller moving the string of spheres up the tube to the apex thereof, whereupon the spheres drop under the force of gravity. The toy may be operated in forward or reverse directions.