Abstract: Modular furniture units are quickly and easily assembled and/or disassembled using interconnecting hooking devices. The units are assembled from separate arm, seat and back sections and the interconnecting hooking devices are preferably of the same configuration on each piece, each of the hooking devices including a male member and female opening so that one device can be hooked into another device. In the simplest form, e.g. in a chair, no legs are needed because the arm members can support the entire structure. However, where sectional sofas or the like are constructed from the modular units and where there may be too much play between the modular units, it may be desirable to put support legs under the modular seat portions. Also, in another preferred form, the modular units can be assembled as or converted to the form of a divan or bed or the like.

Abstract: A game apparatus for a number of players. A plurality of pivoting paddles or catapult levers are radially disposed about a mounting base which has a centrally located upright cylinder or chimney. A catapult portion of each paddle extends into one of a plurality of compartments in the lower portion of the chimney. One or more balls are disposed within the chimney and rest upon one of the catapult portions. The location of the balls within the chimney is unknown to the players. The players singularly attempt to blindly hit the ball out of the chimney and catch it. A competitive point reward system is used if a player successfully locates and hits a ball upwardly from the chimney and successfully catches it.

Abstract: A chance operating amusement device in the form of a mechanical "shell" game, including features to permit use as a game of chance. A selectively actuatable motor driven rotary probability switch is set in motion at the beginning of each operating cycle and when released stops the probability switch in a chance position to set up a search circuit to illuminate one of a plurality of lightbulb signals. The lightbulbs each are covered by a hemispherical shell which is pivotally mounted on the housing of the device. The user then activates one of a plurality of switches which first moves a shell to uncover a respective signal light, computes a score if the signal light is illuminated, and then uncovers all of the shells for the remaining signal lights so that they all may be observed. The shells then are lowered to cover the signal lights for the beginning of the next operating cycle.

Abstract: A pinball type game in which a ball is propelled by a plunger over an inclined playing surface among pins, targets and the like. The game is designed on a "haunted house" scheme and flippers are provided for keeping a ball in play, the flippers being shaped in the form of bat wings. The flippers actuate a sound device each time a flipper is actuated. The flippers are positioned on each side of the playing surface and are manually operated by the participants. Actuation of a flipper by a participant causes a sound to be emitted by a sounding device. The sounding device includes a bellows portion.

Abstract: A doll and wheeled vehicle wherein the doll comprises a separate playable toy positionable within the stroller and readily removable therefrom for individual play. The stroller has at least a pair of wheels connected by an axle having a pair of 180.degree. out-of-phase U-shaped crank portions. A flexible strap is connected to the bight portions of the U-shaped cranks and can be wrapped about the doll when positioned in the stroller to effect a side-to-side and twisting motion of the doll relative to the stroller as the wheels and axle rotate when pushing the stroller over a suitable surface.

Abstract: A disposable cap and float assembly for a drainage container or receiver in a vacuum system for receiving drainage from the body of a patient after wounding of or surgery performed on the patient or for other liquid withdrawal procedures. The assembly includes a bifurcated bracket mountable on a wall or in a floor stand and which removably retains the drainage receiver in the vertical direction. A cap for sealing the drainage receiver is vertically downwardly disposed over the top of the drainage receiver while retained in the bifurcations of the bracket for horizontally retaining the drainage receiver between the bifurcations of the bracket. The cap is snap fit over the bracket to retain the cap to the bracket and hold the receiver or container in the bracket. A float closes a vacuum passage in the cap when the receiver is filled, preventing the suction of drainage into the vacuum system.

Abstract: The invention herein described is an articulated figure toy in the shape and form of a four-legged animal, particularly a horse. The neck and head of the figure toy are movable with respect to each other and relative to the body by means of rotary frictional joints. The four legs are pivotally movable by way of three rotary frictional joints per leg. The leg joints are located at the ankle, knee and shoulder or flank areas of the animal permitting simulation of various natural positions. The neck is made of a soft molded plastic providing a capability of side movements with manual urging. Additionally, the head is anchored by a rotary frictional joint to the neck and the neck is anchored at its opposite end by a rotary frictional joint at the body to permit position retentive movement.

Abstract: A game apparatus for use by two or more players. The game apparatus includes a set of playing cards having different indicia on at least some of the cards, and a set of chips having indicia on at least some of the chips which is identical to the indicia on one of the playing cards for matching with the cards during the play of the game. The game includes a chip dispenser for dispensing one of the chips successively to the players of the game from a stack of chips the order of which is unobservable by the players. The chips are "purchased" with one of a plurality of simulated coins which are acquired by the players according to the dictates of the game. The dispensing device is in the form of a toy truck and includes a signalling device which produces an audible signal when one of the coins is inserted through a slot in the top of the toy truck.

Abstract: An apparatus for loosening threaded lids from jars or similar containers having screw-type lids. The apparatus includes a rotatable bottom support platform having a friction pad for supporting and rotating the container, and a top, vertically movable friction pad for engaging the threaded lid whereupon rotation of the bottom support platform rotates the container relative to the lid for loosening the lid to facilitate removal. The apparatus includes a drive motor which is energized as the top friction pad is biased downwardly and into engagement with the lid of the container. Alternatively, the drive motor can rotate the support platform in an opposite direction to seal jar lids for use during canning. The apparatus also includes a can opener on the underside of the apparatus housing which is operated by the same drive motor.

Abstract: A toy potato chip maker for producing dry cooked potato chips which includes a cooking chamber with openings in opposite walls of the cooking chamber to provide a substantially horizontally alined passageway through the chamber. A continuous screen-type conveyor is mounted on a pair of rollers on either side of the cooking chamber so that prepared slices of potatoes can be moved either stepwise, successively through, or continuously through the cooking chamber, and out of the cooking chamber by hand rotation of a crank on one of the rollers. Lightbulbs are located in the cooking chamber, both above and below the passageway, to create radiant heat for cooking the potato chips which are moved by the screen through the cooking chamber. A novel potato slicer also is provided.

Abstract: A flexible wing glider including a highly flexible, air impervious diaphragm which is secured to a central longitudinal keel and two rearwardly and outwardly diverging leading edge spars to form a pair of symmetrical, semi-conical wing sections. A payload support for a figure toy or other item is rigidly secured to the central keel and includes a pair of adjustable air foil stabilizers and a depending hook for launching of the glider by resilient means.

Abstract: An operator propelled toy vehicle having a frame supported on front and rear pairs of rotatable wheels. The axle for the front pair of wheels is pivotally mounted to the frame. A seat for supporting the rider is mounted on the rearward end of the frame and a compartment for receiving dispensable objects is mounted on the pivotable front axle of the frame. The compartment has a top hinged door providing access to the interior thereof. A handle bar also is mounted on top of the compartment for grasping by the rider to steer the vehicle. A coin receiver is provided on the compartment adjacent the handle bar to facilitate the process of selling the dispensable objects.

Abstract: A steam heating apparatus for heating food items such as pastries, rolls, sandwiches or the like to render them appetizing in appearance and taste. The device includes a steam generating chamber below a food support plate upon which food items are placed for steam heating. A generally horizontal, elongated tube enters the steam chamber through an over-sized aperture in one of the side walls for spraying water through side orifices in the tube into the steam chamber onto a subjacent heated platen. The elongated tube is thermally insulated from the side wall to prevent heating of the incoming water which would tend to cause mineral clogging of the orifices as the water is sprayed therethrough. The food support plate comprises a generally corrugated metallic difuser tray having a plurality of holes therein.

Abstract: A game apparatus which includes a set of playing cards and a card displaying device for permitting sequential visual observance of one or more of the playing cards by the players of the game for only a predetermined period of time. The displaying device includes a central rotatable drum portion which is surrounded by a stationary base portion which substantially conceals a vertical cylindrical wall portion of the drum. A vertical slot or aperture is provided in the upstanding wall of the base portion so that as the drum rotates relative to the base a portion of the cylindrical wall of the drum is visible within the aperture. A plurality of card holding pockets are provided in the cylindrical wall portion of the drum to support the playing cards which may then be viewed as each pocket moves past the vertical aperture in the base wall.

Abstract: An action figure toy in the form of a doll which includes a torso having an arm joint in the shoulder area with a movable arm connected thereto. The arm is connected to a rotatable shaft extending from the torso and has hollow upper arm and lower arm portions swingably joined at an elbow joint. A rod operably connects the shaft and lower arm portion. The upper arm portion is secured to the shaft at the arm joint for rotation therewith. When the shaft is rotated both arm portions will move with respect to the torso as well as with respect to each other in a predetermined sequence simulating a thrusting movement. The figure includes a hip joint between the torso and each of two legs movably mounted thereto. The hip joint includes a hollow housing on which the torso is rotatably mounted and a plurality of spaced apart recesses are formed within the housing. Two leg mounting members are mounted within the housing for movement about a first horizontal axis.

Abstract: A competitive round-about game apparatus including a plurality of playing pieces representing members of a Roller Derby team, or the like, wherein the playing pieces move along a plurality of motor driven track-forming channels. The game generally includes a housing having an oval-shaped inclined racing platform with the channels formed therein and defining the paths of travel of the playing pieces along the channels and a drive mechanism for independently moving the playing pieces in opposing channels along the channels relative to the platform. The playing pieces include flanges or wings protruding from the sides thereof with which opposing playing pieces in opposite channels can be caused to contact one another in an attempt to dislodge the playing pieces from the track, forming channels, and thereby score points or alternatively prevent the scoring of points, as in a Roller Derby game.

Abstract: A board game apparatus wherein the object is to collect the greatest number of playing pieces which are awarded to the players of the game for correctly answering a riddle by movement of pieces over a gameboard. The apparatus generally includes a gameboard having a playing surface thereon, a movable playing piece for each player of the game, a set of playing pieces acquired by the players during play of the game and carrying indicia thereon, a plurality of stations on the gameboard defining a playing piece path of travel or track on the playing surface, and a chance device for determining the advancement of the players' playing pieces along the track. The indicia on the set of acquired playing pieces comprises questions or riddles for the players of the game. Each station includes indicia thereon representing an answer to one of the questions presented by the indica on the acquired playing pieces.

Abstract: A doll joint structure for connecting the limbs of a toy figure or doll to the torso. A first toy figure part has a generally concave socket portion having an opening therethrough. A second toy figure part has a complementary convex portion at said joint for engagement within the concave portion of the first part. A resiliently flexible intermediate connecting member is disposed between the two figure parts at the joint. The intermediate connecting member is sort of mushroom shaped and includes an elongated shaft portion on one end fixedly positioned in the opening in the first figure toy part, and a generally disc-shaped flange portion at the other end for fixed engagement with the second figure toy part. The disc-shaped flange portion of the connecting member includes a cylindrical flange therearound to provide greater area of contact between the connecting member and the second toy figure part.

Abstract: An in-line shift mechanism for an automotive automatic transmission having the dual capability of permitting selective shifting directly into any one of plural drive positions, a neutral position, a reverse position or a park position, and also of only sequential shifting through the three drive positions in either direction while requiring momentary release of the shifting lever between adjacent drive positions. The shift lever is pivotally mounted for forward and rearward movement as well as perpendicular (usually generally vertical) movement relative to the pivot axis of the lever. A cam surface is provided on the mounting bracket for engagement with a pin carried by the shift lever to require vertical displacement of the shift lever to move from park position into reverse position and another vertical displacement to move from reverse position to any of the three drive positions or neutral.

Abstract: An ice storage and dispensing device for flaked or other particulate ice which maintains the ice in an agitated dispensable condition or state. The device includes a hopper equipped with an agitator having a rotatable shaft and axially and angularly spaced rigid agitator spokes extending generally radially from the shaft. The ends of flexible polyvinylchloride tube members are received over and secured to certain of the axially and radially spaced spokes to provide generally helically extending lengths of the tubes between the spokes. The flexible tubes wipe against the inside wall of the hopper with a squeegee effect to prevent ice buildup. The tubes also lessen the tendency of the spokes to create tunnels in the particulate ice, especially at the ice setting temperature.