Abstract: A user-propelled toy school bus which as it travels along a playing surface exhibits through its side and rear windows the successive letters of the alphabet. These letters are printed along an endless scroll that is guided in a path running behind the windows, each letter being defined by a series of equi-spaced parallel segments. The scroll is so driven by one set of the bus wheels through a unidirectional drive system that as the bus travels in either direction, the scroll always advances continuously in the same direction. Formed on each window is a parallel array of equi-spaced viewing elements. As the scroll advances behind each window, the segments of each letter alternatively move into registration with the viewing elements to expose the letter, and then the interstices between the segments move into registration with the viewing elements to blank out the letter.

Abstract: Apparatus for activating a safety device hingedly mounted on a shool bus to swing it out to an outstretched position when the bus door is opened and to return the device to its retracted position when the bus door is closed. The system includes a control switch which is caused to close when the door is opened and to open when the door is closed. Associated with the control switch is a control circuit for connecting a DC power supply to a unidirectional DC motor operatively coupled through an eccentric drive and a link arm to the safety device whereby in the course of a single cycle of motor rotation, during one half of the cycle the device is caused to swing out to its fully outstretched position, and during the other half, the device is caused to return to its fully retracted position.

Abstract: A disposable one-piece light shield adapted to excluse ambient light from the eyes of an adult wearer regardless of his head size. The shield is fabricated from a blank of soft, non-woven textile sheeting that is die cut to define a generally rectangular masking region and a pair of arched temple sections on either side of this region and integral therewith. The masking region which covers the eyes of the wearer and the portion of the forehead directly thereabove is provided at its midpoint on the lower edge thereof with an arcuate indentation to accommodate the nose bridge of the wearer. Each temple section is provided with an arched cut-out to create a loop that engages an ear of the wearer to retain the masking region in place, whereby to put on the light shield, the wearer has merely to slip the loops over his ears.

Abstract: A self-sufficient pocket for concealing a small item, the pocket being attachable to the inner surface of an undergarment or garment where it is accessible only to the wearer thereof. The pocket is composed of a rectangular back sheet marginally sealed to a larger rectangular front sheet except at the top side to leave a top entry to form an open pocket for receiving the item. The back sheet is centered with respect to the front sheet to define a frame-like border thereon which is coated with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. When the loaded pocket is pressed against the inner surface of the garment, this action also serves to close the pocket. When the pocket is thereafter stripped off the garment, the pocket is then open and the item can be removed from the pocket.

Abstract: A tearing eye doll having a pair of synthetic eyes, each formed by an eye-shaped porous block whose face simulates the white of a human eye, and an impermeable disc seated in a recess in the face and colored to simulate an iris and a pupil therein. Received in a cavity within the block behind the disc is a nozzle for injecting water into the block, the water passing through the pores and emerging from the face to form a water film thereon from which tears drop, thereby simulating tearing activity. The eye nozzle are coupled to a miniature water reservoir disposed within the doll. The reservoir is subjected to air pressure by a compressible pneumatic actuator enclosed in a flexible arm of the doll, such that when the arm is squeezed, water forced into the eye nozzles to produce a tearing action.

Abstract: An infant bunting formed from a single blank of multi-layer fabric material in which a thermal insulation core layer is sandwiched between inner and outer facing layers, the periphery of the blank being ultrasonically welded to create a continuous hem. The blank is contoured to define a rectangular main section provided with a lower extension forming a closure section and an upper extension whose corners are folded in and joined to form a triangular hood section for receiving the head of an infant. The opposing sides of the main section are foldable to overlap the infant's body, arms and legs to form a pouch which is held together by Velcro fasteners. The closure extension is foldable over the pouch and held thereto by a Velcro fastener to lock in the feet of the infant.

Abstract: A travel compact constituted by a rectangular case which houses a sliding drawer having a set of cells therein for storing a small supply of compatibly-colored cosmetics. The drawer is replaceable by another when its supply is exhausted or should the user wish to take along a different set of cosmetics. When the drawer is retracted from the case to expose the cells, detents formed on the side walls of the drawer at the rear end thereof engage a pair of catches which flank the open front end of the case to prevent withdrawal of the drawer. The rear section of one of the side walls is detacted from the bottom wall and from the rear wall of the drawer to form a flexible tine on whose free end is supported one of the detents. When the tine is depressed, this action releases the detent thereon from its catch and makes it possible to withdraw the drawer from the case.

Abstract: A novelty wrist watch which when worn displays both a timepiece and an elongated figure or character in an arrangement in which the timepiece and one section of the character overlie the top surface of the wrist, and the remaining sections of the character lie against at least one edge of the wrist and over the bottom surface thereof, whereby the character appears to embrace the wrist. The wrist watch is formed from a single piece of flexible plastic material having a flat underface to engage the wrist, the piece being molded so as to form a main body constituted by the elongated character and a case integral therewith to accommodate the timepiece movement and its dial, and two auxiliary members, one integral with and extending from one end of the body to define a first strap, and the other integral with and extending from the opposite end of the body to define a second strap terminating in a buckle to receive and catch the first strap to form a band encircling the wrist.

Abstract: An anchor and stress plate assembly adapted to secure an insulation layer to the deck of a roof without penetrating the lower surface of the deck which is formed either of relatively soft or hard decking material. The anchor is provided with a flanged head and a shank whose leading section takes the form of an auger screw having a root which tapers toward the tip and a threading about the root whose crests are of approximately uniform diameter. When the anchor is turned into soft decking material, the tapered root of the auger screw then acts to pack this material into a dense mass in the region surrounding the screw to enhance the holding power of the anchor. In hard decking material, a hole must first be drilled therein to receive the auger screw whose root when the anchor is turned in fits within the hole and whose crests then cut a thread in the hole wall to securely retain the anchor.

Abstract: An automatic setting tool operatively coupled to a standard, rotary-impact drill-hammer for driving the shaped shank of a single piece anchor having an enlarged head into a hole drilled in masonry. The tool includes a rod having a front striker section and a rear holder section, a shoulder being formed at the junction of these sections. The holder section of the rod is adapted either to slip onto a drill bit held in the chuck of the drill-hammer or to be directly gripped by this chuck, whereby the rod, as it is rotated by the drill-hammer, is caused periodically to undergo a forward and a reverse stroke. Telescoped over the striker section and slidable thereon is a locator sleeve that is urged by a helical spring interposed between the shoulder and the sleeve to an initial position at which the sleeve projects beyond the front end of the rod to define therewith a socket for nesting the head of the anchor.

Abstract: A rechargeable air freshener in a figurative form that includes a body and a head section, and an outer casing of permeable fabric material whose contours define all sections of the figure. The interior of the casing and all sections thereof are stuffed with a compressible core of absorbent material having good wicking properties, the core rendering the figure soft and squeezable. Occupying an internal cavity of the core which extends from the body to the head section thereof is a self-contained fragrance dispenser constituted by a cylindrical can filled with a liquid fragrance, a depressible stem projecting from one end of the can terminating in an actuator head provided with a spray nozzle. The can is so placed in the cavity that the actuator head lies just below the scalp region of the head section of the casing.

Abstract: An infrared heater for a bowl-shaped cooking wok having a central region and an annular region surrounding the central region. The heater includes a ribbon-type gas-fired burner head fed with a pressurized mixture of air and gas that is expelled from the head through a cylindrical array of minute jet openings to produce, when ignited, an omnidirectional flame. Also provided is a round block of refractory material which when heated to an elevated temperature by the head emits infrared radiation. The block has superposed base, intermediate and top sections, the base section having a cavity therein whose central zone communicates with central openings in the intermediate and top sections, and an outer zone which communicates with a circular array of bores in the intermediate and top sections.

Abstract: A controllable air freshener unit in which a bottle filled with a volatile liquid fragrance is covered by a cap having vent holes therein that are covered by an absorbent membrane formed of microporous material disposed on the underside of the cap. When the bottle is placed in an upright position, the level of liquid is more or less below the cap and the membrane then acts as a barrier to prevent the discharge of fragrance vapor from the vented cap, the unit then being in its switched "off" state. When the bottle is placed in an inverted position raised above a supporting surface to expose the vented cap, the liquid then rests on the membrane and impregnates the pores thereof whereby a fragrance vapor is then wafted into the atmosphere and the unit is in its switched "on" state.

Abstract: A toy drawing device in which a window in a housing containing powder is covered by a glass plate whose edges are received within a groove in a sectioned rim joined to a window frame to prevent leakage of powder therefrom. A mobile stylus under the control of an operator acts to trace lines on a layer of powder adhering to the undersurface of the glass plate. To prevent injuries should the glass plate break, its outer surface is shielded by a transparent protective film formed of heat-formable, synthetic plastic material.

Abstract: A power module which when plugged into an open compartment in the body of a motorless toy vehicle and switched on, then acts to drive the vehicle in a selected direction. The compartment is disposed above a coupling gear mounted on a wheel axle. The case of the module simulates the appearance of a multi-cylinder engine nad houses a DC motor and a battery supply therefor, the motor being operatively coupled to a drive pinion whose teeth project below the base of the case to engage the coupling gear whereby when the motor is energized, the wheel axle is caused to turn to propel the vehicle. The upper end of the case which projects above the body has a rocker pivoted thereon which simulates an air scoop for the engine and functions as the actuator for a polarity-reversing switch connecting the battery supply to the motor.

Abstract: A piggyback toy car and truck assembly in which all four wheels of the car are driven by a battery-powered motor, the truck being of the flat bed type and motorless. The car is switchable from a neutral mode to operation in either the forward or reverse mode, its front and rear wheel axles each having a drive pinion mounted thereon whose teeth are projected below the chassis. Lying on the flat bed of the truck is a ramp having a pair of tracks for accommodating the car wheels. The ramp is slidable from a retracted horizontal position to an extended horizontal position in which the rear half section of the ramp overhangs the rear of the bed and is pivoted therefrom so that it is then free to swing down to form an inclined ramp. With the ramp so inclined, the car in its forward mode climbs up the ramp until it reaches its front end and causes the inclined ramp to return to its horizontal extended position.

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: An appliance for making ice cream as well as other frozen or chilled food and beverage products, motive power for the appliance being supplied thereto by the existing electric power base unit of a standard household blender. This standard unit includes a motor whose shaft extends upwardly through a platform having a cage or socket thereon to accommodate a blender bowl, the shaft terminating in a drive coupler. The appliance is constituted by a bowl assembly whose bottom section is embraced by a ring adapted to be received in the socket of the power base unit. Above the bottom section is a double-walled jacket whose cavity contains a freezable agent. Supported for rotation in the bottom wall of the assembly and extending therethrough is a short axle whose lower end terminates in a driven coupler that is engaged by the drive coupler of the power base unit when the ring of the assembly is nested in the cage, the upper end of the axle being coupled to a dasher rotatable within the assembly.

Abstract: A perfume container constituted by a plain glass bottle encased in a low-cost pouch of an ornamental fabric which transforms the appearance of the bottle to provide a container that appears to be custom-made and expensive, and in doing so imparts greater value to the perfume contents. The bottle has a predetermined geometric cross section, a flat bottom and an upper shoulder joined to a cap-receiving neck. The cross section of the pouch matches that of the bottle whereby the bottle is snugly received therein. The height of the pouch exceeds that of the bottle to define an upper section extending above the shoulder and having an open mouth whose lip is provided with a drawstring. When the drawstring is pulled and then tied to the neck of the bottle, the upper section of the pouch is caused to overlie the shoulder, the bottle then being fully encased, save for its neck.

Abstract: An interactive talking book and audio player assembly, the back cover of the book having an ROM module attached to its end margin in which is stored digitally recorded spoken texts corresponding to texts printed on pages of the book. Printed on the end margin of each book page that carries a printed text is a page-identifying binary bar code formed by reflective and non-reflective elements. Associated with the book is an audio player having a base inlet adapted to receive the end margin of the back cover and to bring the terminals of the ROM module into engagement with inlet contacts connecting the module to a speech unit for converting the digitally-recorded texts into audio signals which are amplified and reproduced. When the pages of the book are turned, they overlie the base inlet of the player, the bar code on the open page being then exposed to ambient light.