Abstract: A toy vehicle only slightly longer than a "penlight" battery, and with chassis less than twice the width of such a battery, is able (traction permitting) to climb any grade on which it will not tip over backward--grades up to about 40.degree.--and to negotiate a vertical step taller than its tire radius. The AA-battery-powered four-wheel-drive vehicle has a small electric motor with a double-ended shaft, and a symmetrical gearing system consisting of, at each end of the motor, a pinion fixed on the shaft, a spur gear driven by the pinion and driving a worm, and a worm gear keyed to a corresponding axle. The motor, pinions, spur gears and worms, and the upper portions of the worm gears, are aligned along one side wall inside the vehicle chassis, with the battery alongside them occupying the rest of the chassis. Traction and climbing characteristics are enhanced by twice-overscale tires, preferably of open foam, with highly pronounced treads.

Abstract: Toy apparatus including an assembly for coupling a self-powered 4-wheel drive toy pulling vehicle to a toy sled which provides a variable resistance or drag to test the pulling power of the vehicle. The toy apparatus simulates in a simplified and economical way its full-scale counterpart; in particular it provides for variations (such as in weight amount and location and coupling configuration) permitted or demanded by rules of competitive load-pulling events. The coupling assembly includes a harness mounted on the pulling vehicle and providing an upright transversely extending tab or bar, and a tongue pivotally mounted on the sled and having a transversely extending slot for receiving the tab. The tongue is pivoted about an axis generally parallel to the ground. This coupling tends to keep the toy vehicle-sled combination moving in a straight line and limits any tendency to veer off to the side.

Abstract: An electrically self-powered miniature toy vehicle having three or more driven axles, and being capable of climbing over rough terrain and obstacles as well as up steep inclines. In a preferred form, the vehicle in the form of the cab of an 18-wheeler truck is only slightly longer than two AA penlight batteries placed end-to-end and the chassis is less than twice the width of such batteries. The vehicle has a small electric motor with a double-ended shaft and a gearing system which drives the three or more axles. The motor and gearing system are located along one side of the chassis while the batteries are located along the other side of the chassis. The batteries are located approximately the same height as the wheels of the vehicle, and laterally adjacent to the motor. The frame, the motor and the batteries do not protrude any appreciable distance below the level of the axles in the area between the front and rear wheel. In a preferred form there is one front wheel axle and two rear wheel axles.

Abstract: A game-playing method and apparatus, which includes a frame, one or more sets of balls, and a series of at least three wheels rotatably mounted adjacent to each other on the frame in a common horizontal plane. Each wheel includes a plurality of peripheral ball-carrying pockets having outwardly facing openings. A mechanism mounted in the frame effects continuous rotation of the wheels automatically circulating the balls from wheel to wheel in continuous movement. In particular, the balls are retained in the pockets of a rotating wheel except at transfer zones to adjacent wheels. A ball tends to move out of its pocket whenever it comes to a transfer zone and to pass through that zone to a receiving pocket on the adjacent wheel. If the receiving pocket is already occupied by another ball, no transfer occurs. A manually-actuated stop-gate enables a player to directly control the transfer of balls by blocking or unblocking at least one transfer zone.

Abstract: A wheeled toy vehicle and launcher apparatus. The toy vehicle has: a drive mechanism including at least one drive-wheel, a flywheel and an air turbine operatively coupled to each other, and an air delivery tube having a mouthpiece for the user to blow air into to rotate the turbine. In one embodiment, the drive-wheel, flywheel, and turbine are in a single unit rotatably mounted on a rotatable carrier for causing a generally vertical movement of the drive-wheel toward and away from a supporting surface. The launcher, in a preferred form, permits the user to blow air into the mouthpiece while the drive-wheel is free to rotate. In another form, the launcher may include a biased propelling member.

Abstract: Toy motorcycle play apparatus comprising a toy motorcycle having an energy-storing drive-train mechanism, and a launcher for imparting energy to the mechanism and then releasing the motorcycle for forward movement. The motorcycle comprises aligned rotatable front and rear ground-engaging wheels and an intermediate flywheel, all rotatable about horizontal transverse axes. The energy-storing drive-train mechanism is formed by the flywheel, one of the wheels, and a gear train between them which reduces speed and increases power and duration of rotation at that drive wheel. In operation, the motorcycle is powered by the flywheel, which also serves to maintain it upright by gyroscopic action as it moves forwardly. The launcher holds the motorcycle in the desired upright orientation with the drive wheel elevated so that it can rotate freely while energy is being stored in the flywheel. Then the motorcycle is released, the drive wheel is allowed to engage the launcher platform and propel the motorcycle forwardly.

Abstract: A toy car wash for advancing a toy car along a car washing line, applying water to the car, brushing the car, and then rapidly spinning the wet car to remove water. The water is essentially confined within the toy by use of a transparent top cover, a water capturing bottom cover or pan, and effective water removal before the toy car exits the device. The spinning mechanism includes a rotatable cradle that receives the car, and retains it without physical attachment and without further action by the user while it is being spun dry. The device provides a series of separate player-controlled operations which affords continuous user involvement and a high level of play value.

Abstract: A simple preschool assembly toy for young children which comprises at least three relatively large parts that are assembled together by the child to provide a representation of a recognizable object such as a toy vehicle and driver. A first and a second part are positioned adjacent to one another and include mechanically inter-engaging elements which limits relative movement between these parts only in a first direction, while allowing them to be separated in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction. A third part is positionable adjacent to the other parts, and second inter-engaging elements are provided on the third part and one of the other parts to limit relative movement between the parts in the second direction. The second inter-engaging elements may be engaged and disengaged by motion only in the second direction; as for example by the provision of magnets.

Abstract: A doll play set including a doll figure and a doll house. The doll house is open access, having a circular floor and three radially-extending upright walls defining three areas for play within a generally hemispherical outline or outer shape. The doll house is rotatably mounted on a base to afford ready access to all the areas. A receptacle for the doll figure is provided at the upper center of the doll house. There is a playhouse cover of flexible material, conforming to the hemispherical shape of the doll house, and being supported solely by the walls. The cover has a central opening to afford access to the receptacle. The components are proportioned to permit both (1) the doll to be placed in the receptacle up to its waist, with the cover over the doll house giving the appearance of an oversized skirt, and (2) the doll to be placed and played with in the play areas, the doll being shorter than the walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a presently preferred embodiment of an electronic competitive player response game apparatus having at least three and preferably four player stations. Each of the disclosed stations is provided with a lamp for designating which one of the stations is "active," and with a set of push button switches for permitting a player, when his station is active, to select the next active station by the timely actuation of the proper switch. The disclosed apparatus is also provided with a game start switch for causing the commencement of a game round, and with electronic circuitry for controlling the game's progress.

Abstract: A toy vehicle only slightly longer than a "penlight" battery, and with chassis less than twice the width of such a battery, is able (traction permitting) to climb any grade on which it will not tip over backward--grades up to about 40.degree.--and to negotiate a vertical step taller than its tire radius. The AA-battery-powered four-wheel-drive vehicle has a small electric motor with a double-ended shaft, and a symmetrical gearing system consisting of, at each end of the motor, a pinion fixed on the shaft, a spur gear driven by the pinion and driving a worm, and a worm gear keyed to a corresponding axle. The motor, pinions, spur gears and worms, and the upper portions of the worm gears, are aligned along one side wall inside the vehicle chassis, with the battery alongside them occupying the rest of the chassis. Traction and climbing characteristics are enhanced by twice-overscale tires, preferably of open foam, with highly pronounced treads.

Abstract: A surprise action game comprising a play area which may depict an environment such as a spider web and includes electrically conductive portions. Play objects, as for example toy insects, having at least some electrically non-conductive portions are disposed on the spider web area. A manually moveable member is provided to pickup, move or otherwise manipulate the play objects. The member has an electrically conductive portion which comes into close proximity to the electrically conductive portions of the web area incident to the manipulation; if these electrically conductive portions make contact, a circuit is completed to energize a motor, which in turn drives an arm to suddenly flip or propel a surprise object such as a spider onto the web area.

Abstract: A child's night light in the form of a holdable doll figure having a movable portion such as an arm which may be raised and lowered. The arm may hold an object such as a representation of a lantern or candle that holds a light bulb which automatically goes on when the arm is raised and goes off when the arm is lowered. The light bulb may be provided with a suitable light-diffusing cover, and it may be so positioned, when raised, to fully illuminate the three-dimensional contoured face of the doll without undesirable dark, scary shadow effects as would frighten the child. The doll may have a soft holdable body with at least the movable arm being a rigid molded part pivotally mounted at the shoulder of the doll. An off-on switch may be provided at the shoulder and be operable by the pivotal movement of the arm. The lantern may be detachable and may contain batteries that are electrically connected to the light bulb through the switch.

Abstract: Several types of toy vehicles are provided which automatically lean when negotiating turns. One such vehicle is a radio-controlled toy motorcycle, which carries two outriggers with supports that extend downward from the typical positions of a rider's feet. Each outrigger pivots about two independent axes, to bank the toy for negotiating turns. The outriggers are cam-operated from the same radio-controlled steering mechanism which operates the front fork of the toy to turn it. An articulated toy rider has arms which follow the handlebar motions, and legs which follow the outrigger supports--to suggest the illusion that the rider is supporting the motorcycle with his foot on turns. The radio receiver and control electronics, as well as electric motors to drive the rear wheel and the steering mechanism, are powered by dry cells advantageously mounted in the mufflers.

Abstract: A doll and an eye assembly, intended for use in a doll, wherein the assembly comprises a combined representational eyeball and eyelid movable mounted relative to a carrier or retainer, and weighted, in such a way as to tend to occupy a first positional relationship with the carrier or retainer (such as "open") in one attitude of the assembly to the horizontal but to occupy a second positional relationship with said carrier or retainer (such as "closed") in a different attitude of the assembly to the horizontal. The assembly also includes a fluid pressure actuable control operable to displace the combined eyeball and eyelid from said first "open" positional relationship to said second "closed" positional relationship.