Abstract: A programmable robot includes a body, a pair of drive wheels rotatably coupled to the body, a pair of electric motors in the body for driving the drive wheels, a receiver unit configured to receive at least one wireless command from a programming device, a sensor configured to sense a surrounding environment of the programmable robot, and a controller operably connected to the receiver unit and the sensor, the controller configured to control operation of the electric motors in response to the at least one wireless command received from the receiver unit and a data signal received from the sensor.

Abstract: A puppet includes a hollow outer shaft having a first end and a second end, an inner shaft disposed substantially within the outer shaft and slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer shaft. The inner shaft includes a first end and an opposing second end. The puppet further includes a first puppet piece attached to the outer shaft near the first end thereof, a second puppet piece attached to the inner shaft near the first end thereof, and a lever connected to the inner shaft and extending outward therefrom through a first slot formed in the outer shaft. The second end of the inner shaft extends outside of the outer shaft. One of the first and second puppet pieces is movable relative to the other by sliding the lever longitudinally relative to the outer shaft or by moving the second end of the inner shaft away from the outer shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clock having a body with a first clock face and a second clock face. The clock includes a start time assembly at least partially positioned within the body and corresponding with the first clock face, an end time assembly at least partially positioned within the body and corresponding with the second clock face, and an elapsed time assembly in mechanical communication with both the start time assembly and the end time assembly.

Abstract: A device for indicating the passage of two or more time intervals is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a base portion with a user interface and a light portion. The light portion includes three lights of different colors that are disposed in a vertical arrangement above the base portion. The user interface includes a display and a keypad for programming the device with one or more time durations, and for associating one or more of the lights with each time interval. A controller is in communication with the user interface and operatively coupled with the lights to illuminate and turn off each light during its associated interval. The device may include an audio section linked to the controller for further indicating the intervals or transitions therebetween by outputting one or more sounds.

Abstract: A device for indicating the passage of two or more time intervals is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a base portion with a user interface and a light portion. The light portion includes three lights of different colors that are disposed in a vertical arrangement above the base portion. The user interface includes a display and a keypad for programming the device with one or more time durations, and for associating one or more of the lights with each time interval. A controller is in communication with the user interface and operatively coupled with the lights to illuminate and turn off each light during its associated interval. The device may include an audio section linked to the controller for further indicating the intervals or transitions therebetween by outputting one or more sounds.

Abstract: A device for indicating the passage of two or more time intervals is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a base portion with a user interface and a light portion. The light portion includes three lights of different colors that are disposed in a vertical arrangement above the base portion. The user interface includes a display and a keypad for programming the device with one or more time durations, and for associating one or more of the lights with each time interval. A controller is in communication with the user interface and operatively coupled with the lights to illuminate and turn off each light during its associated interval. The device may include an audio section linked to the controller for further indicating the intervals or transitions therebetween by outputting one or more sounds.

Abstract: A multipurpose drawing tool is provided. One embodiment of the tool that is advantageous for drawing circles one-handedly includes a protractor portion and an elongated radius arm portion. The protractor portion includes an aperture, and a securing member is rotatably mounted in the aperture. The securing member may be a transparent or translucent suction cup for releasably attaching the tool to a drawing surface such as a vertically-oriented dry-erase or chalk board. Alternatively, the securing member may be a transparent or translucent magnet or a conventional magnet configured with a generally annular or toroidal shape. In another embodiment, an improved protractor is provided that includes a straightedge portion, a semicircular portion, a pivot arm and a suction cup or magnet securing member that pivotally secures an end of the arm to a central portion of the straightedge portion.

Abstract: Educational devices, educational systems, and methods of teaching and learning reading are provided. The devices, systems, and methods can include an indicium reader, such as an optical character recognition device, for reading indicium from objects. Such objects can be three-dimensional blocks and the indicium can be a letter, word, sentence, number, or some other type of readable character(s). The devices, systems, and methods can include a display for displaying the read indicium and an audio producing device for producing audio corresponding to the read indicium. The educational devices can be a self-contained, portable unit with the indicium reader, the display, and the audio producing device supported by a housing of the educational devices.

Abstract: A folding ruler is provided. One embodiment of the folding ruler includes a first panel, a second panel, a hinge and a stiffening member. The first and second panels are interconnected end to end by the hinge so that the ruler can move between a folded state wherein the first and second panels are generally parallel and overlapping, and an unfolded state wherein the first and second panels are coplanar and oriented end to end. The stiffening member couples with the first and second panels to lock the first and second panels in the unfolded state. In some embodiments the stiffening member provides a grip for holding the ruler.

Abstract: A toy scanner is disclosed capable of scanning printed price indicators and audibly and visually displaying the scanned price. The price indicators are printed in carbon ink and the toy scanner includes a conductive rubber strip located on the reading face of the scanner for reading the carbon ink printed price indicators. The scanned price is visually displayed on an LCD display. The scanned price is audibly displayed by a voice synthesizer and loud speaker combination which “talks” the scanned price. A mute switch is included for turning off the talk feature. The scanner also includes a random number generator for generating a random price, which is also audibly and visually displayed, upon activation of a random price activation switch.

Abstract: An educational toy telephone is provided and includes a telephone base and a removable handset. A numerical keypad is provided by which an input telephone number may be entered into said telephone. The telephone further includes a microprocessor and memory associated therewith for controlling the various functions of the toy telephone and storing a user-defined programmed telephone number. A message controller is provided, responsive to an output signal from the microprocessor. The message controller stores at least one pre-recorded message consisting of at least one of individual tones, patterns of tones, and a voice message. The microprocessor compares telephone numbers entered into the keypad against the pre-defined telephone numbers. The message controller, responsive to the microprocessor, audibly reproduces the at least one pre-recorded message when the comparison performed by the microprocessor determines that the input telephone number matches the pre-defined telephone number.

Abstract: A clamshell blister package permits packaging of activity pieces with a book in an activity kit. The package is reclosable and see-through and extends through and is connected to the cover for holding the activity pieces such that the package may be removed (and later replaced) so as not to interfere with the pages when the book is being used. The package is configured to friction fit into an aperture in the front cover of the book so that the package can be removed and reinstalled into the cover. The package includes a top and a bottom connected together by a hinge. The bottom includes an integrally formed platform which releasably engages a ledge and ledge wall of the top for holding the top closed onto the bottom in a reclosable fashion. The top defines a receptacle into which the activity pieces are stored when not in use, within or outside the book.

Abstract: A hand-held viewer for producing a magnified image of an object has a pivotable and swivelable object mount so that an object of interest may be positioned in a plurality of orientations within the viewable area and at different distances from the lens. One presently preferred object mount comprises a yoke with spaced apart arms having slots running along their length for mounting a microscope slide or a photographic slide such as film strips or 35 mm positives. The hand-held viewer desirably includes a detachable background screen assembly to provide a contrasting background against which to view the photographic slide or other object. In a preferred embodiment, the lens may be focused by rotating a thumb-wheel within and extending partially through the body of the viewer.