Abstract: A waterfowl decoy having oscillating wings includes an oscillation mechanism in the interior cavity of a waterfowl decoy body, a pair of wings attached to the oscillation mechanism and extending outwardly from the decoy body, each wing including a wing strut having a proximal portion for attachment to the oscillation mechanism, a distal portion extending from the proximal portion, the proximal and distal portions including an elongated band disposed in a wing plane aligned parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the decoy body, the proximal portion comprising reinforcing ribs oriented perpendicularly to the band, such that reciprocating movement of the wing gears causes the wings to oscillate in a motion resembling that of the flapping wings of a bird in flight.

Abstract: A structure comprises an elongate, resiliently deformable cable, a body section comprising a cable-receiving aperture, said aperture being dimensioned so as to retain a length of said cable within it in use while permitting relative movement of said cable relative to the aperture in a direction along the length of the cable upon application of a set manipulating force, and retaining means for retaining the cable at a set position relative to the body section absent application of said force, wherein the cable at least partially defines the shape of the structure, and said shape may be changed by application of said manipulating force thus causing relative movement between the cable and the body section in a direction along the length of the cable.

Abstract: An apparatus hovering winged objects. The apparatus includes an elongate support and a driver with an output shaft that supports a first end of the support. The driver imparts an oscillating displacement to the first end of the support. A body is mounted at a second end of the support and wings are attached to the support at an offset distance from the body. The body is positioned near the second end to swivel or pivot in response to vibration of the support. The driver vibrates the first end at a frequency that shapes the support as a wave, and the frequency is selected or tuned such that the wings are displaced more than the body such by imparting a harmonic frequency on the support. The output shaft is positioned by the driver in angular positions to move the first end of the support and the body and wings.

Abstract: There is provided a control mechanism for use with a puppet and puppets adapted for control thereby. One or more single-strand, sheathed cables are adapted for imparting motion to at least one movable part of a puppet. Both longitudinal (i.e., in-and-out) and rotary motions may be imparted to the cables, thereby allowing a wide range of resulting movements of the attached puppet part. In one embodiment, longitudinal movement of the cable strand imparts a flapping motion to the wings of a puppet while rotary motion of the same cable imparts a wagging motion to the puppet's tail. Regardless of whether one or two cables are used, the actuation of the cables may be performed discreetly and out of view of the audience of the puppeteer's show.

Abstract: A hand held omnidirectional toy figure manipulator allowing an operator to manipulate a toy figure to mimic movements made by a player of various sports such as baseball or soccer. The device employs with a one or a plurality of actuators attached to communicating control rods to move the arms, legs, and torso of the toy figure in sports related motions.

Abstract: A toy is provided comprising a figure with a hole disposed therein and having at least one ferrous portion; a manipulator having a magnet for interacting with the at least one ferrous portion to animate the figure; and a stage for receiving the figure on one side thereof and for receiving the manipulator in the other side thereof, for animating the figure.

Abstract: A hand held omnidirectional toy figure manipulator allowing an operator to manipulate a puppet like toy figure concurrently with a variety of miniature toy replica devices such as a skateboard, a surfboard, a bicycle or a motorcycle in a wide variety of associated and disassociated trick style movements. The device works with a one or a plurality of actuators and communicating control rods operating in attachment to the toy replica and using a tubular member attached to the torso of a toy figure.

Abstract: A marionette having a controller and a puppet. The controller having a pair of control wings pivotably connected at the second end to one end of a control rod. The other end of the control rod is connected to the puppet. The puppet can have a human form with a head, torso, arms and legs. A pair of control strings extend from the first ends of the control wings to the arms of the puppet. The arms of the puppet are connected to the torso so as to allow a wide range of movement of the arms. The puppet is moved by tilting and pivoting the control wings on the end of the control rod and by moving the control rod.

Abstract: A vibrating toy is provided and includes a housing, a battery mounted within the housing, a motor mounted within the housing activated by the battery, a shaft driven by the motor, a mechanism on the shaft for imparting an eccentric vibration from the housing, a play element outside of the housing, and a mechanism for connecting the play element to the housing and through which the play element can receive vibrations generated from the mechanism that imparts the eccentric vibration. A weighted element attached to the shaft in a manner to unsymmetrically distribute weight imparts the eccentric vibration. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a vibration is transferred to the housing which in turn through contact vibrates a wire serving as the mechanism that connects to the play element. The invention further concerns a method whereby a live pet animal can be entertained by interaction with the aforementioned vibrating toy.

Abstract: A person-to-person flower presentation package, wherein a bundle of flowers is placed out of sight in a preferably conical, open-topped, container. Upon presentation, a cord is pulled, raising the blossoms suddenly into view. The package also includes one or more popping sound generators which are actuated as the flower-raising cord is pulled.

Abstract: Manually actuated toy dinosaur structure and method. The dinosaur structure includes a rigid body member, a head positioned on the body member, structure for lowering a lower jaw and then turning the head to one side, two legs having suction cup feet and ankle portions, structure for first releasing suction in the suction cups and then moving the legs to produce walking of the toy, a tail, and means for moving the tail. The method includes the steps of selectively actuating finger trigger members on a cable control member to selectively produce first opening of the lower jaw of the dinosaur followed by turning of the dinosaur's head to one side, alternately breaking the suction cup seal on one of the leg portions followed by lifting of the leg portion and subsequent returning of the leg portion to its initial position and to cause the dinosaur toy to appear to walk, and moving of the tail transversely over center.

Abstract: A figurine simulating an invertedly suspended human, i.e. a bungee jumper, for suspended attachment to an automobile rear view mirror or other surface. The doll is provided with an elastic cord coupled to a suction cup and wrapped around the ankles of the figurine. Storage of excess cord is provided within an interior cavity of the figurine and such cord may be dispensed therefrom to change the suspended height of the doll. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include both a retracting assembly disposed within the interior cavity for retracting the excess cord through a rotation of the head of the figurine, and a label assembly coupled to the figurine for receiving and displaying cards having custom indicia thereon.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism for animating toy figures, including stuffed animals and dolls. The actuating mechanism includes at least two resiliently deflectable elements that are connected at respective first and second ends so that by urging the first ends toward the second ends the deflectable elements deflect and the middle portion of each element moves away from the middle portion of the other element. The first end of one of at least two tendons is attached to the middle portion of a deflectable element and the first end of the other tendon is attached to the middle portion of the other deflectable element so that a portion of each tendon including the second end extends beyond the opposing deflectable element and when the elements are deflected they pull the first and second tendons past one another and urge the second ends of the tendons toward the deflectable elements.

Abstract: A marionette comprised of a single three dimensional object covered by a thin flexible silk-like sheet, preferably square, and connected by a filament to the center of an H-shaped handle member, with each corner of the fabric being attached to a small weight which itself is also connected by a filament to an extremity of the handle member. When the handle member is held above, parallel to, and spaced from the sheet to where the sheet is disposed close to a floor or the ground and all filaments are taut, manipulating the handle as it is moved in any direction parallel to the floor or ground produces an unusual undulating movement. Means are provided on the handle member to wind the filaments to positions where they will not become entangled when the marionette is put away, packaged and/or transported.

Abstract: A puppet includes a body, a head disposed above the body and a flexible spine for connecting the back of the head to the back of the body. A cable assembly is used for actuating the head in vertical and horizontal motion. The cable includes a sheath and a flexible yet stiff cable within the sheath. The sheath is fixedly embedded in the torso of the body. The cable passes through the sheath, out the top of the body and is secured fixedly to the underside of the head in an area corresponding to the neck of the puppet. The cable extends out from a distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: An amusement device of two moveably jointed, cojoined, articulated figures. The head of the first figure is caused to twist irregularly about its vertical axis and simultaneously impart a spasmodic momentum to the second figure. The figures are animated by the cooperation of the irregular twisting action operating through the first body and into the second through their joining. Motivation is suggested, as well as disclosed herein, for imparting an irregular torquing moment to the first of the figures.

Abstract: A toy figure having two torso halves releasably held together by a pair of engaging lips attached to an expandable latch. A cable may be easily inserted into an aperture in the back of the toy figure. A child may then press a cable button which forces an actuator to engage a tab attached to the latch, causing the latch to move or expand. As the latch expands, the engaging lips disengage allowing the torso halves to separate under the force of a compressed spring mounted inside one of the torso halves. As the torso halves separate, the toy figure appears to split in half.

Abstract: A confined animation figure toy includes a housing which is at least partially transparent, and an animation figure confined in the interior of the housing. The animation figure is suspended from an elongated operating element which passes through the top part of the housing from the exterior of the housing to its interior and is connected at its end remote from the figure to an actuating element. The actuating element can be constructed as a ring for receiving a finger of the user, and the elongated element may be a string which is guided on the back wall of the housing in a guiding eyelet. In the alternative, the actuating element may be constructed as a spring-biased slide partially received in a channel of the bottom wall of the housing, or as a crank rotatably mounted at the back wall of the housing. It is also possible to provide more than one operating element, each such operating element being connected to a different part of the toy figure and being independently displaceable.

Abstract: A fish mobile structure adapted to be displayed in a windy environment, such as near an open window or in a patio area, or the like, is disclosed, including a plurality of segmented portions collectively forming a fish body structure, each of the segmented portions being joined in spaced-apart relationships to one another by a plurality of strings, a plurality of fin structures secured to portions of the fish body structure by means of strings and disposed in spaced-apart relationship thereto, and weights secured to the segmented portions to maintain the fish body structure in a vertical arrangement and to draw the strings taunt to allow and encourage pivotal movement of the various string-joined together portions of the mobile when such are moved by wind currents flowing thereabout.