Abstract: Multi-function tongs are presented including: a pair of arms mechanically hinged along a proximal end; a pair of rotatable paddles each rotatably coupled with each of the pair of arms along a distal end; a pair of rotatable gears each rotatably coupled with each of the pair of rotatable paddles and with each of the pair of arms, where the pair of rotatable gears mesh when the multi-function tongs are in the closed position; and a pair of levers mechanically coupled with each of the pair of rotatable gears, the pair of levers extending outwardly from each of the pair of arms. In some embodiments, multi-function tongs further include: a tongs lock disposed along the proximal end to lock the multi-function tongs in a closed position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a toy having a body for housing and supporting its various constituent elements, the elements including: a gyroscopic mechanism, mounted therein so as to gyrostabilize the toy, which includes a rotor mounted on an axle and a mechanism for attaching the axle so that it is free to rotate about one or both of two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to the axis of spin; a selectively, intermittently operable drive mechanism for causing the axle and the rotor to spin with sufficient speed to gyrostabilize the toy; one or more appendages attached to and supported by the body portion of the toy, optionally operatively connected by a transmission to the selectively, intermittently operable drive mechanism, or to an independent drive mechanism, for moving the one or more appendages in a predetermined manner; and a mechanism for permitting independent directional movement of the toy, on which the body portion is supported and which resists the natural precessional forces of the gyroscopic