Abstract: A combination game device and candy dispenser has a game board defined by an enclosing transparent plastic blister adhered to a support card; a spring powered launcher for candy projectiles; a projectile trap defined by a portion of the blister for receiving launched projectiles; a store of candy pieces and a candy slide formed by a blister portion guiding individual pieces of candy to the launcher. Trapped candy can be accessed through a trap door in the support card. The blister has portions extending adjacent the card surface defining a gate for admitting only a single piece of candy at a time to the launcher and defining a candy store separated from the playing area. The configurations of the game board and trap can be matched to the configuration of an individual candy projectile.

Abstract: A balloon illumination and inflation device has a tubular housing assembly comprising a balloon neck attachment at one end, an inflation mouthpiece at an opposite end; an air valve adjacent the mouthpiece, a lamp mount adjacent the one end to direct light into the attached balloon; an internal battery mount and a switch to connect the lamp to the battery circuit for illumination of the balloon interior. The switch is formed by first and second tubular housing members relative rotatable to close the air valve means and simultaneously to connect the battery circuit to the lamp.

Abstract: A bookstand has a pivotally adjustable book holder having a frame with upper and lower book supporting plates slidable across each other to provide a book supporting surface of variable size for supporting spines and rear covers of open books of different sizes. The upper plate has a clasp for a central upper edge of an open book and the lower plate has a lower ledge supporting a lower edge of the book and formed with differently spaced sockets receiving plugs to trap open stacks of pages on both sides of an open book by engaging outermost pages exposed for reading, even when a reader is supine. Removing and transferring plugs between sockets releases trapped pages for turning and transfer of plugs between sockets accommodates progressive changes in cumulative total thickness of the stacks of pages on respective opposite sides of the book as the pages are turned during reading.

Abstract: An illusion toy has a housing in which a blade is rotated in one direction too rapidly to be seen through 270 degrees between rest positions on respective opposite sides of an article receiving through hole, providing the illusion that the blade has rotated in an opposite direction across the through hole, through the article. An actuating lever for a blade rotating overcenter mechanism has a loop aligned with the through hole so that a trigger end of the lever can be visibly moved between opposite sides of the through hole in the same direction as the apparent movement of the blade. A hollow housing handle forms a candy dispensing store and connects to a delivery chute extending across the housing obscuring a radially outer portion of the blade path providing an impression that rotation of the blade in the one direction is blocked by candy.

Abstract: A first unit collects and stores data (bar codes 12) and reports to a second unit. The first unit keeps and communicates a first unit current record, for storage, of its (random and unpredictable) activities since last connection and a first unit past record for comparison, of its (random and unpredictable) activities up to last connection. Matching between its previously stored first unit current record and the received first unit past record makes the second unit grant access to the first unit and store the received first unit current record. The same can be done for the second unit by the first unit. Non-coupling invokes provision of extra identification, renewed coupling involving a common default set of records. Records can generate encryption keys. Random data and encryption prevent illegal access.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for stopping vehicles which depart from the side of a track, has a pool of liquid which extends along and to the side of the track. The pool increases in depth with increasing distance from the track up to a predetermined maximum depth. A crash barrier stops any vehicle which fails to be arrested by the liquid. The pool can be filled and emptied using a pump. A layer of gravel in the pool can be substituted as the vehicle arrest medium by pumping the pool empty. Different depth of liquid can be selected, using the pump. The liquid is preferred to be water, which can be found from rainwater runoff from the track. Such runoff can be pumped away. The invention can be used on both sides of a track.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for stopping vehicles which depart from the side of a track, has a pool of liquid which extends along and to the side of the track. The pool increases in depth with increasing distance from the track up to a predetermined maximum depth. A crash barrier stops any vehicle which fails to be arrested by the liquid. The pool can be filled and emptied using a pump. A layer of gravel in the pool can be substituted as the vehicle arrest medium by pumping the pool empty. Different depth of liquid can be selected, using the pump. The liquid is preferred to be water, which can be found from rainwater runoff from the track. Such runoff can be pumped away. The invention can be used on both sides of a track.

Abstract: An amusement device has an image carrying substrate with a corrugated surface with a transverse mirror at a rear end and is marked with first and second sets of strip-like image fragments forming, respectively, first and second composite image components. Image fragments of the second set are both differently shaped, laterally inverted and arranged alternately along the image surface relative to image fragments of the first set so that the corrugations selectively expose image fragments of the first and second sets to the front, away from the reflecting surface, and to the rear, for reflection in the reflecting surface, so that the image fragments of first and second sets combine to form first and second image components, respectively, seen by viewing, simultaneously, directly from the front and by reflection so that first and second image components combine to provide a continuous composite image not readily predicted by a casual spectator.

Abstract: A deformable drawing tablet in which contiguous longitudinal edge portions of a stack of individual elongate strips which are confined for relative sliding movement to form a drawing surface. A user can shift individual strips longitudinally to deform the drawing surface thereby distorting an image drawn or preprinted on the drawing surface. Longitudinal end portions of the strips form a lateral edge of the tablet so that the lateral edge can be formed into profiles of different characters by shifting the strips longitudinally to different relative positions. An edge forming die includes a stencil for drawing character features. The strips are clamped in a coplanar stack by a transverse locating post, extending through slots in the strips and secured at opposite ends to a cap and a base which house an eraser and a drawing implement, respectively.

Abstract: An SMA device in which an SMA wire actuating element is operated periodically at a low voltage by power derived from a current source current which is too low to heat the wire directly sufficiently for effective actuation. The low current source is connected to a capacitor which discharges periodically through the SMA wire actuating element in response to an upper threshold charge stored by the capacitor thereby to periodically supply the SMA wire actuating element with a current level sufficiently high for effective operation. The discharge is effected through a signal amplifier formed by first and second transistors coupled to provide positive feedback and connected to a switch formed by a third transistor biased by output from the second transistor to periodically conduct, thereby permitting discharge of the capacitor through the SMA actuating element.

Abstract: A combination planter and step-light has a portable, open topped receptacle having a base and a plurality of sidewalls upstanding therefrom. The sidewalls are a minor rear end wall and major outer wall forming a corner seating adjacent a corner of a step and an outer end of the step, and joined at free ends by an inner facing wall which converges toward the major end wall as it extends outward and forwards toward a front of the step. A compartment in the receptacle receives a light detecting and illuminating module inserted into the compartment from below, is molded in the receptacle aligned with an aperture in the inner wall. The module has a lamp, a control circuit and a photosensitive device for detecting the ambient light level to switch the lamp on and off at dusk and dawn.

Abstract: A seasonally decorative cover for a mailbox has a three dimensional one-piece arched cover body decorated with seasonal symbols and messages and an underside formed with an arcuate recess for snugly receiving the top and opposite sides of the mailbox, so that the cover body can be mounted straddling the mailbox. One version is made of foamed polyurethane and another version is inflatable, having a skin of P.V.C. An anchoring eye for tethering a balloon is formed from the skin material at the top of the body and further anchoring eyes are formed at the bottom of each side for receiving cover securing ties passing under the mailbox.

Abstract: A hydraulic oil filtration apparatus 40 comprises an actuation control valve V, a pump-pressure oil passage 41, a connection oil passage 43, a tank oil passage 51, a return filter 60, a drain oil passage 53, a drain filter 70 and an aspirator structure 90. The actuation control valve V controls to charge and discharge a hydraulic actuator A such as a boom cylinder 22 and travel motors with hydraulic oil from a hydraulic pump P, which is connected through the pump-pressure oil passage 41 to the actuation control valve V The hydraulic actuator A is connected with the actuation control valve V by the connection oil passage 43, and the actuation control valve V is connected to a tank T by the tank oil passage 51, in which the return filter 60 is provided. The part of the tank oil passage 51 downstream with respect to the return filter 60 is connected to the hydraulic pump P by the drain oil passage 53, in which the drain filter 70 is provided.

Abstract: An interactive system for motion picture display of a magic show has a remote information site, such as a television station or internet web site having one of a series of cameras for recording simultaneously different views of a same motion element of a live magic show from predetermined different camera angles and a (video) recording of different views of a magic show pre-recorded simultaneously by a series of cameras set at predetermined different camera angles and television or computer for accessing at least some of the different views locally by one of line and wireless means and operable by an individual member of an audience to switch channels to switch different views for display, alternatively, on a screen, during the magic show. A view access fee can be collected. The different views may be stored on a DVD/CD or hard drive.

Abstract: An adaptor box for mounting a fixture to a low voltage track having a housing containing contacts with one of their ends formed with female contact portions which are arranged on above the other in the housing to provide a common mating axis in the housing connection to a male coax connector of the fixture and other ends forming feet protruding from a mounting head of the housing for connection to respective busses of the low voltage track. Contact separating and locating protuberances are molded on the interior of the housing and an insert molded with additional contact locating and separating protuberances is assembled through a front opening in the housing.

Abstract: A locking device clamps an abutment on the lever of a lever action firearm to engage the small of the stock preventing the lever being closed into depressing engagement with a pin on the stock which, if depressed, would disengage an internal safety device disconnecting/blocking the trigger and permit discharge of the firearm. The lever has a handle loop providing opposed, spaced apart rails and the clamp has plate-like clamping jaws with rail-seating grooves locating the jaws on the rails in bridging relation with the abutment extending towards the stock integrally formed by ends of the plates. A key or combination lock engages in a snap action by moving the plates together and biasing springs throw the plates apart when unlocked.

Abstract: When merchandising magic tricks, a web site has a first information set with a motion picture of expert performance of each trick type and a second information set with graphical instructions for perfecting performance of each trick type. Tricks are supplied in a store, with either packaging or an adjacent advertising display for each different type of magic trick marked with first indicia including the web site address and a first key identifying the type of magic trick and visible to a customer prior to purchase so that the customer can access the web site for a demonstration of the trick prior to purchase. Second indicia for that type of trick and a second key, different from the first key, are concealed from the customer by the trick packaging so that a customer can access the instructions for perfecting performance only after purchasing the magic trick.