Abstract: In a method for remote control using a plurality of infrared transmitters, each of which is associated with a respective infrared receiver, each of the infrared transmitters and the respective infrared receiver are configured with a codeword unique thereto. Different priorities are assigned to the infrared transmitters. Control signal transmission for one of the infrared transmitters is enabled only when no control signal from another one of the infrared transmitters is received thereby within a predetermined time period having a duration that corresponds to the assigned priority. Each of the infrared receivers is configured to execute an intended operation upon receipt of the control signal transmitted by the infrared transmitter having the same codeword. An apparatus implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bubble generating device is to be used with a water tank which has a water receiving chamber, and includes a bubble emission member adapted to be disposed in the water receiving chamber and formed with bubble emission holes, an air pump for providing pressurized air, a first air passage tube with a first end connected to the air pump and an opposite second end, and a second air passage tube with a first end connected to the bubble emission member and an opposite second end. The control unit includes a cam wheel, a valve seat formed with an air chamber which communicates fluidly the second ends of the first and second air passage tubes, and a spring-loaded piston rod with a first end portion in contact with a peripheral cam surface of the cam wheel and a second end portion extending into the air chamber and provided with a valve piece.

Abstract: A toy includes a platform, a moving body, and a balance bar. The moving body has front and rear wheels rotatable about horizontal rotary axes, a turning wheel, and a drive unit coupled to the turning wheel and one of the rear wheels to drive movement of the moving body when the moving body is disposed on the platform. The turning wheel is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the rotary axes of the front and rear wheels, and prevents the moving body from falling off the platform when the moving body moves to a peripheral edge of the platform. The balance bar has an intermediate fulcrum portion mounted pivotally on the moving body about a horizontal pivot axis, and two arm portions projecting from two opposite lateral sides of the moving body.

Abstract: An amusement device includes a housing body having a bottom side formed with a rounded surface-contacting portion and a wheel slot that is disposed forwardly and that curves upwardly relative to the rounded surface-contacting portion. The top side of the housing body is formed with a link slot that extends above the wheel slot. A transmission mechanism is installed in the housing body, and includes a wheel that extends at a distance out of the housing body through the wheel slot. A connecting mechanism includes a driven link with an upper coupling end that extends outwardly of the housing body via the link slot. The connecting mechanism is coupled to and is driven by the transmission mechanism for moving the driven link to reciprocate along the link slot toward and away from a rear end of the link slot. A head member is mounted on the upper coupling end of the driven link.

Abstract: A toy includes a spherical outer casing, a circular coupling ring, a support member, a base and an inner toy body. The coupling ring is disposed around the outer casing, and is mounted pivotally on the outer casing about a first pivot axis that extends along a diameter of the outer casing. The support member has a plate portion with first and second end portions, and a pair of spaced-apart arm portions extending from the first end portion of the plate portion. The arm portions flank the coupling ring, and are mounted pivotally on the coupling ring about a second pivot axis that extends along a diameter of the coupling ring and that is perpendicular to the first pivot axis. The base engages releasably the support member, and is adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface for disposing the outer casing above the horizontal surface. The inner toy body is disposed in the outer casing, and is in frictional contact with an inner surface of the outer casing.

Abstract: A self-propelling rolling toy includes a transparent spherical outer casing, a coupling rod provided in and coupled non-rotatably to the outer casing, a horizontal transmission shaft mounted rotatably in the outer casing, an inner body mounted rotatably on the shaft inside the outer casing, a clutch operable to lock selectively the inner body to the coupling rod, and a winding-type driving unit disposed in the inner body. The driving unit includes a spiral energy spring with an innermost end coupled to the shaft and an outermost end coupled to the inner body, a ratchet and pawl unit provided on the shaft, and a gear set which couples the ratchet and pawl unit and the coupling rod.

Abstract: A toy having a motorized portion in the form of an inanimate object and a non-motorized portion in the form of an animate object. The two portions are tethered together, and the motorized portion is driven such that the non-motorized portion in the form of an animate object appears to be alive and in pursuit of the inanimate motorized portion. The motorized portion preferably is in the form of a substantially spherical hollow ball within which an eccentric driving mechanism is placed. The non-motorized portion is an animal with a furry body or bushy tail and is preferably a weasel, embodies by a furry tail having a face invisibly connected to the ball. The non-motorized portion is preferably tethered to the motorized portion with a substantially invisible attachment so that from a distance the two portions of the toy do not appear to be connected together.

Abstract: A self-propelling rolling toy includes a transparent spherical outer casing, a coupling rod provided in and coupled non-rotatably to the outer casing, a horizontal transmission shaft mounted rotatably in the outer casing, an inner body mounted rotatably on the shaft inside the outer casing, a clutch operable to lock selectively the inner body to the outer casing, and a winding-type driving unit disposed in the inner body. The driving unit includes a spiral energy spring with an innermost end coupled to the shaft and an outermost end coupled to the inner body, a ratchet and pawl unit provided on the shaft, and a gear set which couples the ratchet and pawl unit and the coupling rod.

Abstract: A toy has a changing facial expression and includes a hollow toy body with a torso section and a head section on the torso section. The head section has a front side formed with a face opening. The torso section is provided with a pair of forwardly extending arms that are mounted pivotally on two sides thereof. The arms have distal ends that hold a shielding member therebetween, and are pivotable on the torso section between a lowered position, where the shielding member uncovers the face opening, and a raised position, where the shielding member extends across the face opening to cover the face opening. A face member is disposed rotatably in the head section of the toy body and is formed with at least two face sections. The face member can be rotated to move a previous one of the face sections from alignment with the face opening and register another one of the face sections with the face opening when the arms are in the raised position.

Abstract: A toy includes a base with an upright post, a suspending track member and a moving piece. The suspending track member is mounted on the prop and has a track portion that inclines gradually and downwardly and that has a top side formed with an anti-slipping surface. The moving piece is capable of downward sliding movement along the track portion and includes a body part and left and right arms, each of which has a lower section pivoted to the body part for forward and rearward pivoting movement of the left and right arms relative to the body part, and an upper section that extends from the lower section. The upper sections of the left and right arms are spaced apart by a distance wider than width of the track portion such that the left and right arms can be disposed on left and right sides of the track portion.

Abstract: A circulating toy assembly has a toy piece that circulates through an elevator and an inclining track member. A swing lever is mounted between a platform provided at the top of the elevator and an entrance end of the track member for conveying the toy piece from the platform to the entrance end. The swing lever swings in a plane which is inclined downward from the platform to the entrance end. The swing lever has a toy piece receiving bucket at one end and a counterweight at another end. When the bucket receives the toy piece from the platform the bucket turns downward and toward the entrance end by gravity to deliver the toy piece to the entrance end. When the bucket is empty, the counterweight causes the swing lever to turn so that the bucket turns to the platform. The toy piece preferably has an elongated hollow body which receives a ball to roll freely therein, thereby causing the toy piece to somersault along the track member.

Abstract: A toy assembly is provided with manual and electrical operation units which can be selectively actuated to rotate a shaft, which has a helical advancing path, in one direction in an ascending chamber. Toy elements are moved upward in the ascending chamber and descend by gravity along a descending path provided in a descending chamber. The manual operation unit incorporates a first clutch mechanism for disconnecting the manual operation unit from the rotary shaft so as to prevent the rotary shaft to turn in another direction that can move the toy elements downward. A second clutch mechanism is provided to disconnect the rotary shaft from the electrical operation unit when the rotary shaft is driven via the manual operation unit.