Abstract: A system for applying pressure relief valves to packaging from a liner carrying adhesive backed pressure relief valves passing over a series of rollers in tension onto a peeler bar. There is a valve applicator unit proximate the peeler bar with a punch shaft and an applicator shaft with an applicator vacuum head. The liner is moved by a retraction unit including clamping members that alternately maintain the liner stationary under tension and pull the liner under tension to advance the liner carrying adhesive backed pressure relief valves. A supply reel for a roll of liner carrying adhesive backed pressure relief valves has a pair of spaced apart plates and a pair of rings with a non-stick coating positioned between each of the plates and the roll of liner. The plates, rings and roll of liner are compressed together by an adjustable retainer.

Abstract: A toy system with a body part insertable into an opening substantially defined by a separate band, retains the band to accessorize playthings by pushing them into a separate piece bearing accessories on the outer surface. Retention is by frictional or magnetic engagement. For frictional engagement, resilient material is used. A separation in the band allows it to spread apart; a coupling may limit the extent of separation. Geometric shapes of the part and opening may be substantially the same or different, as long as there are at least two points of contact for frictional engagement. A second part fits into the opening without engaging the piece and telescopes against a spring into the part engaging the piece. Removal is facilitated by a component that receives the second part, but not the part engaging the piece. Chamfers on the part inserted into the opening and/or on the opening facilitate insertion.

Abstract: A method for applying pressure relief valves to packaging during the packaging process. A punch shaft and an applicator shaft each have an axis and opposed ends. The punch shaft has a punch at one end. The applicator shaft has an applicator vacuum head at one end. Each shaft moves axially between retracted and extended positions. The shafts are angled, with the punch and applicator ends more apart than the respective opposed ends, and are carried on a plate for limited rotational movement relative to the applicator unit. First the punch is pivoted from a first position into a third position, while the applicator head is simultaneously pivoted from a second position into the first position. Then the punch is pivoted from the third position back into the first position, and the applicator head is simultaneously pivoted from the first position back into the second position.

Abstract: An applicator unit for a system applying pressure relief valves to packaging during the packaging process. A punch shaft and an applicator shaft each have an axis and opposed ends. The punch shaft has a punch at one end. The applicator shaft has an applicator vacuum head at one end. Each shaft moves axially between retracted and extended positions. The shafts are angled, with the punch and applicator ends more apart than the respective opposed ends, and are carried on a plate for limited rotational movement relative to the applicator unit. First the punch is pivoted from a first position into a third position, while the applicator head is simultaneously pivoted from a second position into the first position. Then the punch is pivoted from the third position back into the first position, and the applicator head is simultaneously pivoted from the first position back into the second position.

Abstract: Toys for infants in the form of soothers, mobiles, swings, and gyms are provided with a housing, at least one character carried by the housing for movement relative to the housing, the at least one character having a body and at least one appendage that is carried by the body for movement relative to the body, a drive assembly carried by the housing to simultaneously drive the body of the at least one character to move relative to the housing and drive the at least one appendage to move relative to the body.

Abstract: A toy figure, such as a baseball player, which may or may not represent an actual identifiable person, is mounted upon a cylindrical base. Carried in the base is a rotatable disk having a grooved, serrated, knurled or otherwise textured outer peripheral wall. An arcuate access opening in the side wall of the base exposes a segment of at least the textured peripheral wall facilitating spinning or rotation of the disk by the user's thumb or finger. On the upper face of the disk, as disposed in the base, are a number of sectors, each of which contains indicia for determining an outcome in the play of a game. A viewing opening in the upper surface of the base permits viewing of a single sector on the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for insertion into and expansion of a soft bag or backpack, having a relatively flat foldable member, which is connected to a resilient member or an actuating means. The flat member is folded along at least one transverse axis into at least two sections. The resilient member is connected to the opposed ends of the flat member and urges the ends of the flat member inward from its flat position to a folded position. In the folded position, the flat member forms a gable and pushes the sides of the bag outward to expand the bag. In another form, a cord is used to pull the apparatus into its bag expanding position. Relatively flat inserts may be added to promote uniform expansion of the bag.

Abstract: An expander for insertion into and expansion of a soft bag comprising a device which is folded or collapsed to a flat state or spread apart to an expanded state. The soft bag is collapsed to a compact form in the flat state for shipment. In the expanded position, the bag is expanded to give the appearance that it is filled. Some embodiments use a resilient member to automatically urge the device from a flat position to its expanded position when compressive forces are removed from the bag. Other forms use a cord for manually moving the expander device into its bag-expanding position. To provide for a greater extent of expansion in relation to the length of the device in the flat position, an expanding device having four sequentially arranged sections, each of which is articulatable with respect to each adjacent section is provided in some embodiments.

Abstract: A game involving the insertion of items into an open receptacle connected to an elongated member that is removably mounted on a hollow body containing a mechanism for effecting movement of the body relative to a playing surface. As the body moves about the playing surface, the elongated member, which is sufficient rigid to support the receptacle spaced from the body, is sufficiently flexible so that the receptacle moves asynchronously with respect to the body as a result of the movement of the body. The elongated member is hollow and receives items through an opening in the back of the receptacle. To facilitate storage of the game and emptying of the items from the elongated member, it is removably mounted to the body. Players are provided with a device to use in inserting the items into the receptacle and try to be the first to dispose of the items allocated to them.

Abstract: A token aligning three-dimensional strategy game for a number of players includes aligned tubes defining passageways with each tube having an opaque upper portion and a transparent lower portion. Graphically distinguished sets of tokens are provided for each player. The tokens are capable of passing from the top of the opaque upper portion through to the bottom of the transparent lower portion. However, passage of the tokens is blocked by a removable pin extending through all of the passageways so that tokens are retained in the opaque upper portion until the pin is pulled. Each player, in turn, place tokens in the passageways attempting to obtain a predetermined number of the tokens in a line. Once a player thinks the required alignment has been achieved in the opaque upper portion, the player pulls the pin and all of the tokens drop down into the transparent lower portion to disclose whether or not the alignment has been achieved.

Abstract: A toy vehicle with opposed faces on the chassis has a pivotally movable piece carried by the chassis with the piece being biased by a bowed overcenter spring away from a playing surface on which the toy vehicle is supported on its wheels. The portion of the movable biased piece oriented away from the playing surface projects beyond the upper periphery of the wheels. When the toy vehicle flip over, impact upon the projecting portion of the movable biased piece overcomes the bias and pivots the piece so that an opposed portion projects out the other face of the chassis to present a differently styled vehicle. Trackway segments are also provided to effect and end over end flip over of the vehicle and a side or rollover flip of the vehicle.

Abstract: An expander for insertion into and expansion of a soft bag or backpack comprising a device which is folded or collapsed to a flat state or spread apart to an expanded state. In the flat position, the soft bag is collapsed to a compact form for shipment. In the expanded position, the bag is expanded to give the appearance that it is filled. In one embodiment, a resilient member automatically urges the device from a flat position to its expanded position when compressive forces are removed from the bag. In another form, a cord is used for manually moving the expander device into its bag-expanded position.

Abstract: An action game including a receptacle styled as a bathtub having a motor driven impeller in the bottom of the bathtub. Disposed above and adjacent one end of the bathtub is a tank with a hinged lid in which a plurality of different colored balls are stored. A spigot extends from the tank over one upper edge of the bathtub providing an outlet duct for the balls to pass from the tank into the bathtub. Simultaneous release of the balls from the tank and turning on of the battery motor is controlled by a handle that pivots a gate inside the tank and completes an electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. Each player is provided with a suction cup plunger having a hollow shaft handle which the player uses to pick balls of a preselected color out of the bathtub as the balls are rotated around by the impeller.

Abstract: A game in which a number of players each attempt to collect all of the parts of a meal indicated on a menu allocated to each player at the outset of the game. No two menus are alike, but there is one part of the meal that is common to each of the menus. Other parts are common to some but not all of the menus. Each of the parts of the meal is displayed on one side of a commonly shaped, preferably pie shaped, piece. The pieces fit into cutout portions of a tray provided to each player. In addition to the menu item pieces, similarly shaped pieces have instructions on one side which cause players to trade pieces. All of the pieces are placed face down and each player in turn picks up a piece to obtain the needed parts of the meal. As each player picks and replaces unneeded items, the other players attempt to recall the location of items they need so that they can pick them on their next turn.

Abstract: A market investment game includes a board providing a peripheral path containing directions on play of the game, a separate, segmented track used in determining the duration of the game, and a central spinner. Both the board and the spinner are divided into different investment category areas with the board areas indicating the number of spots available for investment and the spinner areas having alternately rising and falling angling graph lines providing both buy and sell prices for each type of investment. Each player is provided with a predetermined number of markers that are allocated by the player between movers on the path, up to a certain maximum number, and units of investment. Cards provide additional play directions including penalties that are exacted when a player is "audited" by an opponent unless the player has previously opted to pay a lesser penalty.

Abstract: An apparatus for insertion into and expansion of a soft bag or backpack, having a relatively flat foldable member, which is connected to a resilient member or an actuating mechanism. The flat member is folded along at least one transverse axis into at least two sections. The resilient member is connected to the opposed ends of the flat member and urges the ends of the flat member inward from its flat position to a folded position. In the folded position, the flat member forms a gable and pushes the sides of the bag outward to expand the bag. In another form, a cord is used to pull the apparatus into its bag expanding position. Relatively flat inserts may be added to promote uniform expansion of the bag.

Abstract: A playset including various building facades representing a food store, pet shop, florist, post office, bank and the like have both exterior and interior details with various movable play features. Additional town structures such as mailboxes, benches, lampposts, fences and the like are used between the building facades to connect the facades with each other. Also included with the playset is a line of small, soft body dolls and animal figures representing various family members, town officials and pets.

Abstract: A cylindrical ring and a character having a number of extending parts that are circumscribed by a circle having a diameter equal to the inside diameter of the ring are readily combinable by a child to make a rotating toy. Insertion and removal of the character from the inside of the ring are facilitated by making the ring of a deformable material. The combined ring and character are placed in a vehicle in contact with the vehicle wheels so that as the vehicle is moved along a playing surface, the wheels rotate the combined ring and character. Part of the vehicle body is hinged for closing an opening through which the combined ring and character are inserted. Above the ring is a transparent dome in which a ball is positioned in contact with the ring so that as the combined ring and character rotate, the ball rotates within the dome. Other accessories provide rotatable surfaces which engage the outer curved surface of the cylindrical ring to rotate the combined ring and character.