Abstract: A miniature toy vehicle launcher having an inclined platform adapted to support a toy vehicle in a launching position. A stop is provided which is movable from a hold position to hold the toy vehicle on the platform against movement and to a release position for release thereof. A finger is movably coupled with the stop to move it to the hold position, and the stop is spring biased by means of a first spring towards the release position to move the stop to the release position. A locking element retains the stop in the first position against the tension of the first spring, and a slide is spring biased by means of a second spring for movement to disable the locking element to cause the stop to move to its release position.

Abstract: In the method of this invention a substantially linear polyurethane filament is elongated a number of times its original length and heated at a temperature above its "fiber stick temperature" for a sufficient time so that the filament permanently retains that elongation and does not recover any substantial amount of the length to which it has been elongated.