Abstract: A modular radio control unit for use with multiple toy vehicles is disclosed. The control unit is in the shape of a vehicle passenger compartment and is designed to plug into a cavity formed in each vehicle. The control unit contains a control circuit including a radio receiver and a motor drive circuit to control two motors mounted in the vehicle and connected to control the motion of the vehicle. The control unit also contains batteries to provide power to the control circuit and to the motors. A set of contacts is provided in the control unit and in each vehicle so that when the control unit is plugged into a vehicle cavity, the output signals from the drive circuits are provided to the motors to effect remote control of the vehicle in response to commands from a transmitter.

Abstract: A toy vehicle accelerator is disclosed which includes a housing, an opening in the housing of a width to fit a particular toy vehicle, and an impeller mounted to slide in the opening as well as to rotate freely in a horizontal plane. The impeller includes surfaces which contact a properly sized vehicle and permit the impeller to accelerate that vehicle. An improperly sized object merely causes the impeller to rotate, precluding the acceleration of such objects.

Abstract: An electronic game utilizing a phototransducer and a plurality of input switches as inputs to a microprocessor for actuating a display and speaker for providing visual and audible clues to a user in accordance with internally generated signals. The processor estabilishes light sensitivity levels for comparison with incident light levels on the phototransducer for processing by the processor in accordance with the timing and duration of actuation of the input switches.

Abstract: A toy vehicular track formed of a thin strip of flexible material having a pair of lines parallel to its length formed to enhance bending. The strip is connected at one end to a drum the rotation of which causes the strip to be rolled on the drum for storage. The strip fits through a shaper so that when it is pulled from the drum and through the shaper it is bent along the aforementioned lines so that a track with curbs for a toy vehicle is formed.

Abstract: A circuit for producing musical tones is disclosed which includes a keyboard for selecting the musical tones, and a tone generator responsive to the keyboard for generating a square wave signal having the frequency of the musical note to be generated. A charging circuit is provided for charging a capacitor to a predetermined level of voltage when the square wave signal is terminated, and for exponentially discharging the capacitor when the square wave signal is initiated. A modulation circuit amplitude modulates the square wave signal in proportion to the capacitor voltage to produce an exponentially decaying signal which simulates the waveform produced by a struck piano string. A speaker is also included to convert the exponentially decaying signal into audible musical tones having the sound of piano notes. The circuit of the invention requires only a small number of components, making it suitable for use in miniature musical toys.

Abstract: A first fastener part (14) includes a flat disc (16) from which a spindle (18) extends for engagement by a hollow tubular member (24) extending from a base (22) provided with an aperture (54) through which the free end of spindle (18) is visible. A pair of resilient fingers (28, 29) are formed integrally with disc (16) and are mounted in arcuate openings (46, 48) which are of greater extent than fingers (28, 29) so that protuberances (34, 36), which extend from the free end of hollow tubular member (24), will be trapped by the free ends of fingers (28, 29) when shoulders (40, 42), on tubular member (24), and cam faces (30, 32), on spindle (18), coact to couple spindle (18) and hollow tubular member (24) together.

Abstract: An optical/mechanical solar tracking system having a lens for focusing the sun's rays for use by an element which changes shape in response to heat. The change of shape of the element is used to operate a mechanical brake which allows the tracking system to move impelled by the force of gravity to a position in which the sun's rays are directed for effective use.

Abstract: A handheld electronic thoroughbred horse race analyzer includes a housing carrying a display and a number of input keys. The display is controlled by an internal microprocessor to show prompting messages to which an operator responds by depressing selected keys to provide information regarding the history of each horse in a race. The display ultimately provides a rating for each of the top horses.

Abstract: A portable electronic card game simulator having a housing mounting a display and input keys and containing electronic data processing circuitry organized to provide the automatic play of a hand of Gin Rummy in opposition to an operator. The simulator deals a hand to the operator and to the electronic opponent. The play of the electronic opponent is controlled by circuitry to simulate the play of a human in accordance with the rules of the game. The simulator includes circuitry for determining the presence of runs, of cards of the same value, and of the value of cards left in a hand.

Abstract: A method of making flying surfaces is disclosed which employs a panel of foam plastic to form a one piece frame. A plurality of apertures are die cut in the panel to establish the desired interior shape of the frame. One side of the panel is coated with an adhesive. A sheet of thin plastic film material is applied over the adhesive to cover the surface of the panel. Shapes in the form of the desired outline of the flying surface are cut out of the panel. The size of the panel is chosen so that a multitude of flying surfaces may be produced simultaneously.

Abstract: An alcohol still having a boiler with a valve for maintaining the amount of liquor constant. The boiler mounts a distilling column having a temperature controlled inlet for liquor to be distilled which assists in maintaining the operation at a constant optimum operating temperature.

Abstract: An electronic guessing game is disclosed which includes a keyboard for entering numbers, and a light and speaker for producing a variety of visual and audible signals. A prize is also provided within a transparent housing. A first player enters a secret number by means of the keyboard. A second player then enters his guess at the secret number using the same keyboard. The second player attempts to retrieve the prize by reaching into the transparent housing. The position of the players hand is detected by a group of photocells. If the player's guess is not equal to the secret number, the game will generate an error signal and the player must withdraw his hand. The closer the player's guess is to the secret number the closer he may approach the prize before the error signal is sounded. If the player guesses the secret number within a preallotted time interval, he may retrieve the prize. A mode of operation is also disclosed in which the game chooses the secret number by means of a random number generator.

Abstract: A digitally driven audio effects generator includes a source of binary information and keyboard which provide digital information to a plurality of source or sink type binary drivers. A ladder matrix is coupled to the binary drivers and provides an output signal. An audio frequency signal generator responds to the keyboard and controls an interrupting switch which serrates the output signal at an audio frequency rate.

Abstract: A toy trap door mechanism is disclosed which includes a trap door pivotably mounted within and flush to a panel which simulates the floor of a castle. A chair in the shape of a throne is rotatably mounted to the floor in the vicinity of the trap door. An actuating lever is pivotably mounted to the underside of the floor and is operatively coupled to both the chair and the trap door. When the chair is rotated from a first position facing an observer to a second position facing the trap door, the lever unlatches the trap door which swings open. Holding the trap door in the closed position and rotating the chair to the first position resets the mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic baseball game which includes a housing mounting a display centrally on an upper surface. On either side of the display are operator consoles for controlling a visiting team and a home team. At least one operator selects two lineups of players based on batting averages, throwing abilities, and the like. The operator controlling the team at bat selects when to hit by depressing keys which select different swings and controls runners in the attempt to reach and to steal bases. On defense, an operator controls the pitches thrown by the pitcher and the bases to which defensive fielders throw the ball in attempting to throw out the runners. An operator may also substitute in his batting order to obtain pinch hitters or relief pitchers. A special feature of the invention is that the results of each phase of the game depend on the characteristics of the players involved.

Abstract: A portable electronic game for simulating the play of the game of soccer including a housing mounting a display and containing circuitry for controlling the play of the game in accordance with the rules of the game of soccer. The housing also mounts a number of input keys for providing input signals for controlling the movement of the ball and one of more offensive players shown on the display. In the preferred embodiment, a goalkeeper and five defenders are operated by the control circuitry and formations are provided for kickoffs, throw-ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks.

Abstract: An electronic bowling game having indicia representing pins, indicia representing the path of a ball, and including an arrangement for varying the path to describe a large number of different curves between the release point and the pins.

Abstract: A hand held, hand operated hair braiding apparatus having a plurality of aligned gear members, each having an aperture therethrough for passage therethrough of a strand of hair, with a first pair of adjacent gear members having the positions interchanged in response to actuation of a lever member in a first direction with the remaining gear member then being interchanged with the adjacent one in response to pivoting of the lever member in the reverse direction. There is also disclosed an accessory device for facilitating the use of the hair braiding apparatus.

Abstract: A toy vehicle (12) including a tractor (14) and a semi-trailer (16) is steered by a steering wheel (84) rotatably mounted to the semi-trailer (16) and linked to the rear end of the tractor (14) laterally of its 5th wheel pivot (52) by a rod (88) which swings the tractor (14) about the pivot (52) when the steering wheel (84) is rotated.