Abstract: A sound-producing toy having a hollow body formed of resilient material, whereby when the body is depressed and deformed by a player, this action produces a honking sound. The body envelops an air-filled cavity at one end of which is an air-intake valve whose actuating element is outside the body so that when the element is actuated by the player, air is admitted into the cavity. Also disposed in the cavity is a sound producer having an air outlet normally closed by a membrane which is partially secured to the outlet so that when the body is depressed by the player, the resultant increase in internal air pressure above ambient is exerted against the membrane and causes deflection thereof to permit air to escape from the outlet. The escaping air causes the membrane to vibrate to produce a honking sound. The air expelled through the outlet creates a partial vacuum in the internal cavity which acts to maintain the body in its deformed state.

Abstract: A toy car having a two-level cam, sound assembly, projection assembly, signal light, and a signal light activation arm. The two-level cam includes an upper and a lower cam and is driven indirectly by a battery-powered electric motor and a series of gears. The upper cam drives the projection assembly to project toy figures out of the car doors and springs cause the toy figures to return to their original position. The lower cam urges a spring-loaded signal light activation arm to urge a signal light to be intermittently rotated into position. Another cam indirectly drives a reverberation arm to move and also causes two lights to move. The sound assembly includes a sound-generation device, reverberation hole, and sound emission hole, with the sound-generation device being driven directly by the motor.

Abstract: A hand-propelled toy airplane, locomotive or other wheeled vehicle for pre-school children having a handle making it possible for a player to push the vehicle along a surface. The vehicle is provided with one or more lights whose bulbs are connected to a battery supply through a handle switch that is actuated only when the player grasps the handle to turn on the lights. Operatively coupled to the axle of a wheel set is an interrupter switch connected in series with the handle switch, the circuit arrangement being such that when the handle switch is actuated, at least one light goes one, and when the vehicle is pushed along the surface, the actuated interrupter switch then causes the lights to turn on intermittently to produce a blinking effect at a rate depending on how fast the vehicle is being propelled. When the handle switch is released by the player, the battery supply is disconnected from the bulbs, so that no power is drained from the supply when the toy is not in use.

Abstract: A plush toy for an infant, e.g., a ball or the like, has a plurality of rings each having a pair of plush arms of a size to be grasped by an infant. The rings include a first center ring having a center portion with the pair of arms bearing a display of a face on a first surface, and an outer ring defining an open center portion, whereby the display may be glimpsed between the arms of the rings. In a preferred embodiment, the first center ring bears a display of a face on first and second opposite surfaces, and the rings include a first outer ring disposed adjacent the first surface of the center ring and a second outer ring adjacent the second surface of the center ring. A method and toy made by the method are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved musical cube. The cube includes circuitry mounted within its cubical housing with the circuitry including three two-axis switches with each such switch having a central open position and two positions, one to either side of the central position, each side position of which closes a particular unique sub-circuit. The three switches are mounted in the housing in mutually perpendicular relation and the switches combine to control the operation of six sub-circuits. In the operation of the improved musical cube, a read-only memory and synthesizer device are incorporated into a circuit with the read-only memory being pre-programmed with a distinct musical sequence for each of the six sub-circuits.

Abstract: A toy vehicle construction is disclosed which has been particularly configured so that the toy vehicle exhibits animated characteristics. To this end, a liquid crystal graphics display is provided on the chassis of the vehicle, with the graphics display particularly configured to display a plurality of simulated life functions. An associated micro-processor effects operation and control of the graphics display, with additional sound-generating, light-emitting, and detecting devices further provided to further lend to the animated nature of the device.

Abstract: A sound producing device producing different tones when rotated in front of a light source. A light transducer mounted at one spot at the surface of the device produces signals corresponding to the amount of light illuminating the light transducer. An oscillator is coupled to the light transducer and to a speaker to produce the tones. A motion switch is coupled to the oscillator to shut off production of sound when the device has been left at rest for a certain time period.

Abstract: A rattle for an infant is provided wherein the noise making device within the rattle also is a light activation device to momentarily light, in sequence, a plurality of lights mounted on the rattle. The noise-making device is made of magnetic material and is moved back and forth in a tube within the rattle so as to activate reed switches adjacent to the tube thereby sequentially illuminating the lights. The device is powered by batteries mounted in a handle on the rattle. In one form of the invention, the toy is elongated in shape and the magnetic member moves along a straight tubular path. In another embodiment, the magnetic member moves along an annular path and the toy is spherical.

Abstract: A busy ball child's toy including a generally spheroid structure having a plurality of openings, at least some of the openings being configured for captive yet rotatable retention of a generally hollow ball therein. Some of the balls may be at least partially transparent and contain an amusement element therein such as rotatable figures, beads, reflecting elements, lenticular labels, or the like. The toy is symmetrical about its center and balanced to enable the toy to be spun as a top. An interconnecting post positioned centrally relative to the balls acts as a shock absorber in the event of dropping or striking of the toy on the balls.

Abstract: An apparatus for launching toy vehicles utilizes a hexagonal magazine, rotatably mounted on a frame, having a plurality of pairs of open-ended chambers therein. The magazine is rotated to align a pair of chambers having toy vehicles therein with, respectively, a first and a second ram disposed on the frame, positioned, by an arm, against the urging of springs, back from the openings of the chambers, and locked in place. The rams are selectively, independently releasable, upon forward motion of the arm, which simultaneously engenders a revving sound, to enter corresponding chambers and launch toy vehicles therefrom.

Abstract: A toy wheeled vehicle with an inertia wheel having friction driven wheels, an inertia type flywheel, gear trains of a driving mechanism, and a sound generator which is provided coaxially with the flywheel. The driving mechanism includes two groups of gear trains, one is for the flywheel energizing mechanism through a clutch gear and a detachable floating gear and the other is for the rotation transmission mechanism from the energized flywheel to the friction driven wheels through the clutch gear and a stationary gear which is always engaged with the flywheel gear and is detachably engaged with the clutch gear. The energized flywheel which is detached from the floating gear and the wheels through the clutch gear continues to rotate when the wheels are stopped, and when the clutch gear is engaged with the stationary gear, the inertia rotation of the flywheel is transmitted to the wheels, and the sound generator produces the sound of a siren while the flywheel rotates.

Abstract: An electromechanical device comprised of a battery energized motor having widely separated poles and requiring momentum for operation applied by inertia from a lost motion fly-weight accelerated by the motor during commutation which momentarily starts and stops the motor for an extended dwell time and which subsequently restarts the motor for continued operation, there being primary sensory effects as a result of motor operation subject to speed change by the control of extraneous motion, there being a first motor commutated circuit energizing sensory effects, and there being a second cam switched circuit energizing sensory effects adjusted to long and short dwell modes, the motor operation and effects being synchronous at variable angular velocity within 180.degree. and 360.degree. of rotation.

Abstract: A toy motorcycle is mounted on and supported by a front wheel and a driven rear wheel which is heavy enough to act as a flywheel. A pull string mechanism includes a spring biased spring spool having a gear, with a step-up gear train imposed between the spool gear and the rear driven wheel. A centrifugally operated pawl mechanism is driven by the gear train to couple with ratchet teeth formed on the rear wheel in order to drive the rear wheel in one direction and to decouple from the ratchet teeth when the gear train is driven in the opposite direction during string recoil. The rear wheel has a greater moment of inertia than the other components of the pull string drive mechanism to enable the rear wheel to function as a flywheel and thereby store energy to drive the motorcycle. A reed is positioned to be plucked by a rotating cam to produce sound.