Abstract: A quick drawing mechanism for use in an animated figure toy having a hollow torso and arm. A push button at the back of the torso is pushed causing a plate with rack to pivot and an arm connector having gears which engage the rack to rotate. Rotation of the arm connector causes the hollow arm to rotate upward and an upper member inside the arm to engage a stationary cam member mounted in the torso. The cam member causes the upper member to pivot which releases a lower member releasably held inside the hollow arm simulating a quick draw.

Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle having paddles located within the wheels of the toy vehicle which can be extended outside the wheels in order to propel the vehicle forward and backward in water. A flotation chamber is provided at the bottom of the vehicle. A gear assembly including rack gears is used to extend and retract the paddles. After the paddles are retracted inside the wheels, the toy vehicle may be moved over a supporting surface by the rotating wheels. A downwardly extending portion attached to an upper body of the amphibious toy vehicle helps to keep motors mounted inside the vehicle dry when the toy vehicle is placed in water.

Abstract: An activity toy which may be used to first form a toy monster figure by shaping a plastic molding material mixed with sodium bicarbonate powder around a toy skeleton, and to then dissolve or break the molding material free from the toy skeleton by immersing the monster figure in a diluted citric acid solution contained in a vat. The toy skeleton is made out of a number of parts removably held together by ball-and-socket joints. Measuring receptacles are provided for determining the amount of plastic molding material needed for forming the toy monster figure. Stamps may be used to form the face or other part of the toy monster figure, or to add texture or detail to the molding material.

Abstract: A cross-linked gel modeling composition of various colors that is cohesively strong but pliable and ductile which results from the addition of wood flour to a waterbased gel using cross-linkable guar gum as a gellant.

Abstract: A toy vehicle play setting simulating a crash test and repair station for use with toy vehicles having body components rotatable on impact to simulate damage from a collision, the setting having a supporting surface member with at least one garage like structure thereon with at least one body repair mechanism therein, with other impact mechanisms for actuating the body component of the vehicle, and for simulating damage to the structure from impact therewith.

Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher used to propel a toy vehicle forward by pulling a flexible rack so that cam portions attached to the rack and launcher operably engage each other bending a flexible support downward in order to release the vehicle. A slider attaches to the front of the toy vehicle and pulls it forward after it is released. The toy vehicle may be easily mounted on top of the launcher by attaching it to horizontal and vertical supports. While in this position, the rear wheels of the vehicle rest on top of and engage wheels rotatably mounted on the launcher. Plates attached to the flexible support help to guide the rack as it engages a gear attached to the wheels mounted on the launcher. The rack rotates these wheels as it is pulled, resulting in the wheels of the toy vehicle being rotated as it is launched forward.

Abstract: A removable toy motor module which can be used with a variety of figure toys and toy accessories. The motor module uses a battery powered motor which drives an output gear extending from a motor housing. The output gear can be used to drive a variety of accessories and the motor module can be easily attached to the harness of a figure toy. A battery cover may be rotated with respect to the housing for the purpose of turning the motor on and off. Gears located in the housing engage the motor to the output gear. A clutch ratchet and gear-clutch drum are designed to disengage if the torsion transmitted to the output gear exceeds a predetermined value, providing a built-in safety feature. A compression spring is used to minimize damage to the output gear in case the motor module is dropped. An O-ring disposed around the output gear provides a seal allowing the motor module to be used in water.

Abstract: A toy doll having arms which move in response to the upper torso of the doll being pivoted about a horizontal axis. As the upper torso of the doll is tilted back and forth, a pin engaged to the lower torso of the doll slidably engages the upper curved surfaces of a cam support mounted in the upper torso causing a forked plate rotatably mounted on the support to rotate back and forth. Rotation of the forked plate causes a crown gear to rotate which engages two gears with detents rotatably mounted on a shaft. As a result, the two gears with detents rotate in opposite directions causing arm connectors attached to the doll's arms to also rotate in opposite directions. As such, the doll's arms move back and forth in opposite directions as the upper torso is tilted back and forth. A spring disposed around the shaft and between the two gears with detents allows the two gears to disengage from the arm connectors preventing damage to the doll when the arms of the doll are twisted improperly by a child.

Abstract: A toy vehicle having wheels which may be folded to a horizontal position under the vehicle by squeezing a hand grip. Two elongated axle members are rotatably engaged to the sides of the vehicle. The wheels are rotatably mounted on front and rear axles attached to the elongated axle members. A pivot plate is rotatably mounted to the bottom of the toy vehicle. When the hand grip is squeezed, a link connected to a trigger member causes the plate to rotate. The rotating plate then causes two slotted links to rotate the elongated axle members. As a result, the wheels mounted on the axle members also rotate until they reach a substantially horizontal position under the vehicle. The wheels remain in this folded position until the hand grip is released. When the grip is released, springs return the wheels to a vertical position. The slotted links are designed to allow the wheels at just one side of the toy vehicle to be folded.

Abstract: A toy vehicle playset includes a roadway, a booster for impelling a vehicle along the roadway, a ramp positioned in the roadway to provide a path for an impelled vehicle to leap a predetermined distance, a catcher positioned in the roadway to catch a vehicle jumping the ramp, and a return portion of the roadway slanted to stop the vehicle and return it to the end of the roadway at which the booster is situated, the ramp being designed to pivot so that it allows a toy vehicle to pass along the roadway in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A toy figure having two torso halves releasably held together by a pair of engaging lips attached to an expandable latch. A cable may be easily inserted into an aperture in the back of the toy figure. A child may then press a cable button which forces an actuator to engage a tab attached to the latch, causing the latch to move or expand. As the latch expands, the engaging lips disengage allowing the torso halves to separate under the force of a compressed spring mounted inside one of the torso halves. As the torso halves separate, the toy figure appears to split in half.

Abstract: A reconfigurable toy which may be used to selectively simulate a robotic humanoid figure and a rock configuration. The toy has head, arm and leg members which are rotatably coupled to a torso member. Each member has a surface simulating part of a robotic humanoid figure and a rock simulating surface. The toy may be folded into a compact configuration by rotating the members until they are positioned so that only the rock simulating surfaces of the members are visible and a rock configuration is simulated such as a boulder resting on a supporting surface. The toy may then be unfolded or reconfigured to simulate a robotic humanoid figure supported on two leg members.

Abstract: A toy rotating gear accessory which may be used in conjunction with a gyroscopic top. The accessory has a supporting body with a number of apertures passing through it. One or more circular gears may be removably attached to the supporting body by segmented flexible members located on the top surfaces of the gears. The flexible members may be inserted into or slid out of the apertures in the supporting body by simply bending the members. After the gears are attached to the supporting body, they are free to rotate with respect to the body. Protuberances located on the top surface of each gear help to reduce friction between the gears and the supporting body. Supports located on the bottom surfaces of the gears support the accessory on a horizontal surface. During play, a child may insert the rotating portion of a gyroscopic top into a cylindrical bore located on the upper surface of one of the gears. This causes the gear to rotate and the entire accessory to rotate about the center of the gear.

Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher having a hand grip which can be squeezed to move expandable scissors members forward in order to launch a toy vehicle. The scissors members form an expandable parallelogram linkage which is slidable mounted inside the launcher. When the hand grip is squeezed, a trigger member pivotably mounted to the grip moves a sliding plate mounted inside the launcher. As the sliding plate moves, two pins attached to the sliding plate operably engage elongated slots in two of the scissors members, pulling the two members backward and causing the linkage to expand forward. A launching plate supported on top of the scissors members moves forward with the expanding linkage pushing a toy vehicle forward. Since the linkage expands forward in a relatively smooth and uniform manner, the toy vehicle is also launched in a relatively uniform manner, helping to avoid activating or damaging any impact-activated mechanisms in the vehicle.

Abstract: A toy vehicle having front opening gates and an ejectable flywheel seat which may be used as a gyroscopic top or to propel the vehicle. The flywheel seat is removably mounted to the top of the vehicle. A launching level rotatably coupled to the front axle of the vehicle may be used to simultaneously eject the flywheel seat from the toy vehicle and open two gates at the front of the vehicle. Downward movement of the level causes a tiltable box to rotate resulting in the seat being ejected from the vehicle. Movement of the lever also causes a sliding plate to move forward forcing the front gates to open. A flywheel is rotatably mounted inside the flywheel seat. When the flywheel seat is mounted on top of the vehicle, gears coupled to the front axle and mounted inside the tiltable box cause the flywheel to rotate inside the seat as the front wheels of the vehicle rotate. As such, the kinetic energy of the flywheel may be used to propel the toy vehicle forward.

Abstract: A toy construction set having a plurality of generally planar geometrically configured unitary multi-sided construction elements, with each side having a tab connected thereto with living hinges, each tab including an aligned pair of connectors, each connector including a generally cup-shaped protuberance, the exterior forming a male connector or pin and the interior forming a female connector or well. Adjacent connectors on a given tab are inverted relative to one another. A shaft member is provided with one end having a pin and the other end having a wall. A wheel carrying member is provided with horseshoe-shaped clip portions for engaging the periphery of the shaft member.

Abstract: A toy for use in conjunction with a toy doll that can simulate both a robot and a vehicle is presented. The toy transforms from the configuration of a vehicle to that of a robot by rotating or moving upper and lower leg members with respect to each other until they are disposed in approximately a vertical position. A torso member rotatably coupled to the upper leg members simulates a robotic humanoid head and trunk. Side arms operably coupled to the torso member are adapted to either hang vertically simulating the arms of a robot or to be positioned adjacent the robot's head to simulate the front of a vehicle. When the side arms are disposed in the latter position, the toy can be folded into a compact configuration simulating a vehicle such as an all terrain vehicle. A toy doll can be placed on top of the toy when it simulates a vehicle and used in conjunction with handles extending from the side arms.

Abstract: An articulated limb assembly for a figure toy which allows the limbs of the figure toy to be rotated about three different axes for the purpose of posing the limbs. The assembly includes a supporting track mounted within the hollow torso of the figure toy which is used to guide connectors coupled to the limbs. Heads attached to the connectors frictionally engage curve surfaces of the track allowing each limb to be rotated about a vertical axis. Each limb may also be frictionally rotated about a first horizontal axis or about the longitudinal axis of one of the connectors. Disk members attached to the connectors frictionally engage slots in the limbs allowing each limb to be frictionally rotated about a second horizontal axis. As a result, the limbs of the figure toy may be posed in a variety of different positions.

Abstract: An animated figure toy having a lower torso with a trunnion member coupled for rotatable movement, the trunnion including hinge couplers connectable to mating hinge portions on the interior of front and rear halves of the upper torso. A spring is positioned beneath the trunnion for coaction with an actuating post slidingly captively retained within the trunnion for limited axial movement, the post having pivotably attached thereto a head supporting member with a head thereon. Engaging interlocking fingers on the interior of the front and rear halves of the torso hold the parts together, with an actuating member slidably mounted on one of the fingers engageable by a plate portion on the front torso for separation of the arms and movement of the post under force of the spring to pivot the parts outwardly.

Abstract: A toy block constructed into one geometrically regular block formed from at least two nestingly interengagingly configured three-dimensional components having adjacent pairs of couplers interconnected by a generally H-shaped unitary hinge, the hinge having first and second opposing sides with an interconnecting web and a transversely extending plate portion. The sides are provided with axially aligned pairs of inwardly extending pivot stub projections. The plate portion includes a pair of oppositely extending, generally resilient, aligned catch arms with depending tangs which engage detents formed between the couplers for retaining the components in preferred position. The blocks may form humanoid objects, quadrupeds, or articles such as vehicles or furniture, or the like.