Abstract: A toy vehicle is transformed from a first configuration to a second configuration through relative movement of two portions of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a roof panel which closes a roof area during the transition from the first configuration to the second configuration. The closing of the roof area hides the displacement of a first seat in the vehicle by a second seat. When the first seat is mounted with a first toy figure and the second seat is mounted with a different toy figure, an illusion is created that the initial toy figure has changed appearance. The roof panel may close and reopen at a rate rapid enough to render the change of toy figures to be an instantaneous transformation. Additional deployable components such as projectile launchers, tail fins, and front bumpers may be incorporated into the toy vehicle.

Abstract: This invention sets forth a vehicle launcher assembly comprising an inner vehicle carried within an outer vehicle. The outer vehicle has movable panel components which allow an inner vehicle to be released from the outer vehicle when the panel components are opened. Operation of the toy assembly involves one actuation step to open the panels of the outer vehicle, and second actuation step to launch the inner vehicle. In one embodiment, the outer vehicle is in the form of a car and the inner vehicle is in the form of a motorcycle. The vehicle launcher assembly may also include projectile launchers.

Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded wheel body that is configured to rotate about an axis and has a tread surface that extends circumferentially around the wheel body and may have a circumferential profile that is defined as the locus of points at which the radial distance from the axis to the tread surface is greatest at each position around the circumference of the tread surface. The radial distance from the axis to the circumferential profile may change from a first radius to a second radius that is larger than the first radius at a plurality of spaced-apart positions along the circumferential profile. The method for producing the blow-molded wheels may include providing a mold with pinch-off rings that have an opening configured to form the circumferential profile.

Abstract: An articulated walking device, configured for movement across a surface, includes a frame and a plurality of leg assemblies movably coupled with the frame so as to at least partially support the frame for movement across the surface. Each leg assembly includes a leg member configured to rotate with respect to the frame about a joint. The joint is formed by a pin passed through an at least generally hour glass shaped aperture to provide rotational movement of the leg member with respect to the frame about at least first and second axes of rotation intersecting in the joint. A drive mechanism is operatively engaged with the plurality of leg assemblies so as to actuate each of the leg members to rotate about the first and second axes in a like, predetermined, repeatable cycle of movement. At least some of the leg members are out of phase with other leg members to produce an anatomic-like gait of the toy device upon actuation of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A play system includes a toy vehicle and a playset for use therewith. A toy vehicle includes a chassis having a bottom surface that is at least partially magnetic and a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis. A playset includes a base, a launch ramp mounted to the base and having an upper end and a lower end that includes an upwardly-inclined section terminating in a jump lip, and a magnetic element selectively positionable within a predefined range of positions relative to the jump lip.

Abstract: A car wash play set for toy vehicles includes a frame including a base, a lift coupled to the frame and movable toward and away from the base, and a first roller coupled to the frame. The first roller is engageable with and pivotally movable by the lift when the lift is moved away from the base.

Abstract: A fully functional miniature toy bicycle is sized and configured to receive and support a doll in a typical riding posture. Apparatus secures the toy bicycle to the host bicycle handle bars in a releasable attachment.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices, and a ground detection system that is adapted to detect when at least one of a plurality of wheels loses contact with the ground surface. The ground detection system may be adapted to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to loss of contact of the at least one of the plurality of wheels with the ground surface, and it may be made regardless, or independent, of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.

Abstract: An articulated walking device, configured for movement across a surface, includes a frame and a plurality of leg assemblies movably engaged with the frame. Each leg assembly includes a leg member configured to rotate with respect to the frame about first and second axes at least generally transverse to one another. A drive mechanism operatively engaged with the plurality of leg assemblies actuates each of the leg members in like, predetermined, repeatable cycles of movement. The leg members are out of phase with one another, such that sufficient leg members are always supporting the toy device in an upright manner and immediately adjoining leg members do not move together in parallel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to section of track that can be used with a toy train track set that has a toy vehicle and a track. The section of track is configured to align a toy train that is placed on the track section. The alignment section of track includes guide surfaces that are configured to align the toy train on the track.

Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A multidirectional switch includes a base, a weight coupled to the base via resilient member, and at least first and second contacts coupled to the base. The weight is biased toward a neutral position spaced from the first and second contacts. The weight is movable toward and contacts the first contact when a first force is applied to the base, which deforms the resilient member in a first direction. The weight is movable toward and contacts the second contact when a second force is applied to the base, which deforms the resilient member in a second direction different than the first direction.

Abstract: A toy container is provided including a multiple portions. In some embodiments, the device has several portions that are movable from a closed configuration, in which the portions overlay one another, to an open configuration, in which a doll section and cosmetics are accessible.

Abstract: A track set for toy vehicles and a method for colliding toy vehicles are provided. The track set has a collision platform that defines a collision area. The track set further includes a first track member being pivotally secured to the collision platform at a pivot axis of the collision platform, and a second track member being pivotally secured to the collision platform at the pivot axis. The first and second track members each have a vehicle launcher for launching a toy vehicle towards the collision platform. The first track member defines a first vehicle pathway to the collision platform and the second track member defines a second vehicle pathway to the collision platform. The track set further includes an actuator configured to simultaneously activate the vehicle launcher of each of the first and second track members to propel at least one toy vehicle along at least one of the first and second vehicle pathways toward the collision area.

Abstract: A pneumatic action figure doll is disclosed with articulated limbs controlled by a hand operated pneumatic pump. The articulated limbs may comprise connected limb members and links configured to move in a plane. Operation of the handheld pump may cause the articulated limbs to extend and retract. When the limbs are arms, operation simulates arm swinging motions similar to fighting or boxing. The doll may include actuators to extend articulated arms in response to operation of the pump. The doll may be articulated at the waist to provide movement of the torso when articulated arms extend and retract. The doll may be used alone or with other similarly configured dolls. The dolls may be placed opposite each other. Simultaneous extension and retraction of the doll arms in response to simultaneous operation of the handheld pumps may resemble fighting or boxing between the dolls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an infant entertainment device with a movable object. In one embodiment, the infant entertainment device is a toy aquarium. The infant entertainment device includes a drive mechanism that is operably coupled to the movable object to move the object.

Abstract: A play set having a main panel section and a pair of side panel sections, each of which is pivotably connected to tile side lateral edges of the main panel section. When the play set is in a first orientation, the main panel section and the pair of side panel sections are oriented generally co-planar to each other such that the upper main surface and upper side surfaces define a play surface having a perimeter, and when the play set is in a second orientation, the side panel sections are adjacent each other and in a plane parallel to the main panel section to define a play set case. When in the first orientation, one of the panel sections includes an elongated member extendable therefrom in a telescoping manner to define an additional play surface outside the perimeter of the main panel sections and side panel sections.

Abstract: Handheld charge indicator assemblies, children's ride-on vehicle kits including the same, and methods of determining the state of charge of a battery assembly of a children's ride-on vehicle. Handheld charge indicator assemblies are sized to be held in the hand of a user and are configured to be selectively interconnected to a battery assembly of a children's ride-on vehicle and output an output signal representative of a voltage of the battery assembly. Handheld charge indicator assemblies include a body, an electronic circuit housed within the body, an indicator configured to output an output signal representative of an input voltage to the electronic circuit, and a battery connector configured to engage the battery assembly of a children's ride-on vehicle. In some embodiments, the handheld charge indicator assembly further includes an actuator configured to actuate the electronic circuit to detect the input voltage responsive to a user engaging the actuator.

Abstract: A building set includes a container and several building components placeable in a receptacle defined by the container. The container has a sidewall with a opposite ends. A cover is coupled to one end of the sidewall, and another cover is removably coupleable to the other end of the sidewall. Each cover includes a building portion. The building portion of one cover has the same configuration as the building portion of the other cover. The building components are engagable with the building portion on either or both of the covers.

Abstract: A rotatable entertainment device includes a mobile arm rotatably coupled to the entertainment device, and a motion translation device coupled to the entertainment device and the mobile arm to convert an oscillatory motion of the entertainment device into a rotational motion of the mobile arm. The entertainment device is mountable to an oscillating device (e.g., a swing) that conveys the oscillatory motion from the oscillating device to the entertainment device.