Abstract: A costume may include a flexible garment and a flexure mechanism that is actuatable to expand the form of the garment, such as when a muscle is flexed. The flexible garment may be configured to cover at least a portion of a limb of a humanoid figure, such as a person or doll. The flexure mechanism may be covered by and extend along a portion of the garment. In some examples, a first end of the flexure mechanism may be fixed in position relative to the garment, and a second end moveable relative to the garment and relative to the first end. The flexure mechanism may include an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, with the flexure mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally toward or away from an articulating member of the limb by movement of the second end of the flexure mechanism.

Abstract: Board games may include a game board, player movers, and indicia-bearing tokens and player-wearable costume components including one or more mounting sites to which the tokens may be removably attached. Some embodiments may further include game pieces having indicia indicating one or more of the tokens. Thus, some methods of game play may involve each player attempting to collect a predetermined set of tokens by determining if various game pieces indicate any of the tokens in the set. Other methods may involve concealing the indicia on one or more game pieces, and allowing players to attempt to guess the concealed indicia by the process of elimination.

Abstract: Games for at least one player may include at least one game card, each game card including a plurality of letter indicators each indicating a letter and arranged to spell a word, a plurality of letter tokens, each letter token including a letter indicator, a selection device operable to randomly indicate one of a plurality of groups of two or more letter indicators, and a set of rules to play the game. Methods of playing the game may include spelling a word on a selected game card by matching letter tokens to the letter indicators on the game card. Each game card may include a first side and a second side, each side including a word, such that the word on the first side is more difficult to spell than the word on the second side.

Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle and a method of connecting a steering column to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a body and a plurality of wheels. The vehicle also includes a steering assembly configured to steer at least one steerable wheel. The steering assembly includes at least a steering mechanism, a steering column, and a linkage mechanism. The steering mechanism receives steering inputs from a child steering the vehicle. The steering column is coupled to the steering mechanism and includes a proximal portion and a shoulder extending transversely from the proximal portion. The linkage mechanism couples the steering column to the steerable wheel. The linkage mechanism includes a receiver structure configured to receive the steering column. The retainer mechanism may be configured to engage the shoulder so that movement of the steering column generally opposing the direction is restricted. Methods of connecting the steering column to the vehicle also are disclosed.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.

Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a lift mechanism which allows the toy vehicle to be lifted from a support surface in a lifting motion and roll end over end over end. The lift mechanism includes a lift arm pivotally mounted to a housing of the toy vehicle. A lift arm actuating motor is coupled to a lift arm drive screw that is in threaded engagement with a lift arm drive nut. A strut is coupled between the drive nut and the lift arm. In operation, the lift arm actuating motor drives the lift arm drive screw and causes the lift arm drive nut to drive the strut and move the lift arm into an extended position, causing the lift arm to engage a support surface to lift the toy vehicle. In the extended position, the toy vehicle is sufficiently rounded to permit the vehicle to roll end over end over end.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having leading and trailing vehicles that are removably coupled together by a connection apparatus. The leading vehicle is an independently operable ride-on vehicle having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices. The assembly further includes a detection system adapted to detect whether or not the connection apparatus is in its coupled configuration and to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to coupling of the leading and trailing vehicles together, and it may be made regardless of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.

Abstract: A mechanized ball-throwing game is provided, comprising at least one game play object, at least one rotating goal assembly, means to maintain a count of the number of times a game play object passes through each of the at least one rotating goal assembly in each of a plurality of designated directions, and means to display the count.

Abstract: An electronic learning/teaching device operates with and without a printed sheet element having an arrangement of selectable content by means of a user responsive sensor array beneath a surface configured to receive the element. The sensor array is formed by cross-points of two sets of crossing conductive lines, one set being driven sequentially with a radio frequency square wave and the other set being sampled sequentially though a high impedance amplifier connection with an asynchronous detection circuit. Where more than one cross-point location is user activated, algorithms are used to identify one cross-point sensor location as the user activated selection.

Abstract: A sports-themed game apparatus convertible from a storage configuration to a deployed configuration, and vice versa is disclosed. The sports-themed game apparatus includes a rim and a defense mechanism operable to move from a first position in which the defense mechanism permits a sports implement to pass through the rim, to a second position in which the defense mechanism prevents the sports implement from passing through the rim. The sports-themed game apparatus may further include a return portion configured to return the sports implement to the user after it is propelled/shot toward the rim.

Abstract: A clock assembly (10) having a removable central clock mechanism (12) with time indicating hands (18, 20, 21) is adapted to be mounted on a flat vertical surface (26) with and separate removable hour disks (14) having numerals (34) connected to hanger elements (36) adapted to be mounted on the vertical surface around the central clock mechanism in correct positions to tell time. Doll clothes (40) are selectively hung on or removed from the hanger elements behind the numerals.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies that include a leading vehicle, a trailing vehicle, and a connection apparatus, such as a hitch assembly, that selectively interconnects the leading and trailing vehicles. At least the leading vehicle includes a drive assembly adapted to propel the vehicle along a ground surface. In some embodiments, at least the leading vehicle is a battery-powered ride-on vehicle. The hitch assembly is adapted to interconnect the leading and trailing vehicles and to provide a limited range of pivoting of the vehicles relative to each other. In some embodiments, the hitch assembly includes a pinch-relief mechanism that is adapted to provide at least a predetermined clearance between the vehicles. In some embodiments, the hitch assembly is adapted to provide limited pivotal ranges in at least two planes. In some embodiments, the hitch assembly is adapted to selectively uncouple and recouple the vehicles from and to each other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to container for reconfigurable products and, in particular, to a display package operable to display a product in multiple configurations. The display package may include product housing portions adapted to slide from a first, adjacent position, where one product portion is positioned adjacent to another product portion, to a second, separated position, where one product portion is spaced from the other product portion. The display package may include a plurality of product housings adapted to rotate with respect to each other along a common axis such that product portions within the product housings may be selectively aligned to form desired configurations of a completed, displayed product.

Abstract: An apparatus having a support arm, a base coupled to the support arm to maintain the support arm in upright orientation and moveable between a first orientation in which the base is coupleable to a vertical surface, and a second orientation in which the base can rest on a horizontal surface. A light source is coupled to the support arm and a mobile coupled to said support arm, whereby when the base is in the first orientation, the apparatus can be coupled to a crib rail to function as a crib mobile, and when the base is in the second orientation, the apparatus can rest on a horizontal surface to function as a lamp.