Abstract: A bubble-blowing apparatus for use in blowing bubbles from bubble solution may be provided with a bubble solution container capable of holding a volume of bubble solution and having a rounded bottom surface and a container side wall that at least partially defines an interior volume. The container may have a weight distribution, when the internal volume of the container is at least partially filled with bubble solution, that causes the container to automatically move to an upright position from a tilted position angularly displaced from the upright position. The apparatus may also be provided with a cap member that is capable of being attached to the bubble solution container and a bubble wand having a bubble-blowing orifice disposed therein.

Abstract: A candy dispenser may be provided with a housing shaped like an animated figure and having first and second housing openings formed therein, a candy container operatively positioned relative to the second housing opening so that pieces of candy that are inserted into the second housing opening may pass into the candy container, and a movable animated figure associated with the housing. The movable animated figure may be provided with a candy holder that is sized to hold a piece of candy, and the movable animated figure may be movable between a concealed position in which the movable animated figure is disposed within the housing and a revealed position in which the movable animated figure extends out of the first housing opening.

Abstract: An electronic jump rope that generates beat tracks or sound segments in response to user actuation of switches is disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic jump rope is provided with a first handle (12), a second handle (14) and a flexible element (16) connected between the first and second handles (12, 14). One of said first and second handles (12, 14) having a first switch (22), a second switch (20), a speaker (50) and a sound generator (90) disposed therein. The sound generator (90) includes a memory (108, 110), a processor (106) and an input/output circuit (106) and is operatively coupled to said first and second switches (20, 22) and said speaker (50), said sound generator (90) being programmed to cause said speaker (50) to play a beat track when said second switch (20) is actuated and programmed to cause said speaker (50) to play a sound segment when said first switch (22) is actuated.

Abstract: A candy dispenser may be provided with a housing having a candy reservoir formed therein in which a plurality of pieces of candy may be disposed, a spin top having a downwardly extending member that is centrally located on the spin top to facilitate spinning of the spin top while the downwardly extending member supports the spin top, a candy dispensing mechanism including a candy dispensing opening that allows a piece of candy to be dispensed from the candy reservoir, and an actuator associated with the spin top and the candy dispensing mechanism. The actuator may be movable to a first position and to a second position, with movement of the actuator to the first position causing the spin top to be launched from the housing so that the spin top may land on a surface and spin on its downwardly extending member, and with movement of the actuator to the second position causing one of the pieces of candy to be dispensed through the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A liquid candy dispenser is provided with a liquid candy supply member with an internal cavity, a supply of liquid candy disposed in the liquid candy supply member, a body part member shaped in the form of a human body part, a liquid candy dispensing hole formed in the body part member at a location corresponding to an area of the body part at which a body-part substance would be present, a liquid conduit fluidly coupled between the liquid candy supply member and the liquid candy dispensing hole, and a pumping mechanism associated with the liquid candy supply member. The pumping mechanism forces liquid candy from the internal cavity of the liquid candy supply member, through the liquid conduit fluidly coupled between the liquid candy supply member and the liquid candy dispensing hole, and out of the liquid candy dispensing hole so that the liquid candy exits the dispensing hole formed in the body part member to simulate the presence of the body-part substance on the human body part.

Abstract: A bubble-blowing apparatus that may simultaneously produce a plurality of bubble streams from liquid bubble solution is provided with a housing, a rotatable fan associated with the housing, an electric motor operatively coupled to rotatably drive the fan, a battery power source coupled to provide electric power to the motor, an airflow-directing member coupled to the housing that causes air blown by rotation of the fan to be directed predominantly to a peripheral area, and a plurality of bubble-forming tubes operatively coupled to the airflow-directing member at a plurality of points in the peripheral area. Each of the bubble-forming tubes is capable of generating a stream of bubbles and may include a hollow central portion, a base portion, and an end portion that is spaced from the base portion by a distance in a direction parallel to the central diameters of the bubble-forming tubes.

Abstract: A catching device for releasably catching a throwing toy is provided with bristles which can hold the throwing toy on contact even under conditions of high velocity and low-grazing angle of impact. The throwing toy has a plurality of looped filaments, joined at a core region by a wire cinch. The filaments radiate in plural angularly offset planes in a dense, bushy configuration from the core region. The catching device includes a base with a generally convex front outer surface and configured to be held adjacent a user's hand. A plurality of bristles are attached to the base, each having a proximal end adjacent the base and extending from the base to a distal end opposite the proximal end. The bristles are substantially straight from the proximal end to the distal end and are configured to catch the toy when the toy is thrown into contact with the bristles and to hold the toy on contact by engaging the looped filaments of the toy.

Abstract: A candy dispensing apparatus is provided with a housing having an opening formed therein, a reservoir disposed in the housing and shaped to hold a plurality of pieces of candy, and an animated figure having a hand that is shaped to hold a piece of candy. The animated figure is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, and a dispensing mechanism disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the animated figure. The hand of the animated figure is movable from a retracted position in which the hand is positioned within the housing to an extended position in which the hand extends out of the housing through the opening in the housing. The hand moves from the retracted position to the extended position upon the animated figure being moved from its first position to its second position.

Abstract: A breakfast cereal dispensing product may be provided with a product package, a breakfast cereal product attached to the product package, and a breakfast cereal dispenser attached to the product package. The breakfast cereal product may include a cereal box having breakfast cereal disposed therein. The breakfast cereal dispenser may include a container having a main chamber that is sized to hold a plurality of pieces of breakfast cereal and a dispensing structure having a dispensing chamber and a dispensing chamber opening. The dispensing structure may be provided with a movable member that is movable between a closed position in which the movable member closes the dispensing chamber opening and an open position in which the dispensing chamber opening is not closed by the movable member and a passageway that couples the main chamber to the dispensing chamber. The passageway may be sized to allow pieces of breakfast cereal to pass between the main chamber and the dispensing chamber.

Abstract: A candy container or dispenser having a sound generating device and having an oscillating member protruding from an aperture is disclosed. The candy dispenser comprises a housing adapted for attachment to a candy container, with the housing defining an internal cavity and including an aperture. A member is pivotally mounted to the housing and protrudes from the aperture. A gear mechanism is disposed within the housing cavity and includes a rotatable wheel having an irregular peripheral surface. The gear mechanism is operatively connected to the member and includes an actuating trigger. A reed is mounted within the cavity and has an end contacting the peripheral surface, so that upon actuation of the trigger the gear mechanism imparts rotational movement to the wheel thereby causing the reed to produce a sound in response to contact with the wheel peripheral surface. At the same time, the member oscillates about its pivot point.

Abstract: A candy dispenser in the form of a toy spacecraft having a single user action dispensing mechanism is provided. The candy dispenser may include an internal cavity to store candies. The internal cavity may be provided in the form of a cockpit for the spacecraft, with a cockpit windshield serving as a lid to retain candies therein. The dispensing mechanism may include a user-depressable button in the form of a passenger of the spacecraft, which upon a single depression, both loads a candy into a firing chamber, and fires the candy from the spacecraft. After each depression of the passenger button, the button is automatically reset to facilitate ease of use and rapid firing.

Abstract: Tossable ring airfoil projectiles configured to adopt and maintain a flying orientation that generates lift. The tossable ring airfoil projectiles generally include (i) a ring airfoil having a trailing end, an aperture, and a longitudinal symmetry axis running through the aperture, and (ii) a tail associated with the ring airfoil and extending rearward beyond the trailing end. The ring airfoil provides lift that allows the tossable ring airfoil projectile to follow a flying trajectory. The tail stabilizes the projectile during flight and may provide a torque that biases the ring airfoil toward preferred flying orientations. The tail may extend along the longitudinal symmetry axis and may include outwardly extending fins. The tossable ring airfoil projectile further may include a connection configured to associate the tail with the ring airfoil. The connection also may extend along the longitudinal symmetry axis and may include outwardly extending flanges.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing candy and simulating at least one candy making process. The apparatus has a chamber for storing real candies and a dispensing opening through which the candies are discharged. A dispensing mechanism is located between the chamber and the dispensing opening and adapted to periodically dispense pieces of candy. The apparatus includes at least one simulated candy processing station, such as a mixing station, a candy forming station, or a candy wrapping station. The dispensing mechanism and simulated candy processing station(s) are coupled to a drive assembly, such as a gear train, disposed within an apparatus housing. The drive mechanism simultaneously operates the dispensing mechanism and simulated station(s) when actuated, such as by a switch. The apparatus dispenses real candies while the simulated candy processing stations operate to create the appearance that the apparatus is actually making the candy.

Abstract: An article dispenser is disclosed for dispensing articles, such as pieces of candy, out a dispensing opening in the dispenser. Articles are stored in a storage chamber inside the dispenser. An inclined flipper plate forms the bottom of storage chamber. A flipper arm is positioned near the bottom edge of flipper plate. An actuator is included for vibrating the flipper plate and flipper arms causing the articles to slide down the flipper plate onto the flipper arms where they are flipped up onto a dispensing slide located above the storage chamber. Articles flipped up onto the dispensing slide are dispensed out of the dispenser through the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A bubble maker toy for producing a plurality of bubble streams from a liquid bubble solution. The bubble maker toy comprises a bubble wand and an electric fan. The bubble wand includes a plurality of bubble rings connected together by connection arms. The electric fan is configured for producing an airflow concentrated adjacent to the center of the bubble wand which forces the bubble streams outward from the center of the bubble wand and away from each other. The connection arms are arcuate in shape and connected to each other at approximately the center of the bubble wand causing the air flow produced by the electric fan to swirl in a rotating manner further forcing the bubble streams away from each other thus preventing the bubbles from sticking together or combining to form a cluster of bubbles.

Abstract: A candy dispenser that provides a message when a piece of candy is dispensed is provided with a housing adapted to hold candy, an actuating member, a candy dispensing mechanism that releases a piece of candy from the housing when the actuating member is moved and a message mechanism having a plurality of different messages associated therewith. The message mechanism includes a spinner that spins from a first radial position to a second and apparently random radial position when the actuating member is moved. The spinner includes visual indicators corresponding to a characteristic of the piece of candy.

Abstract: A catching device for releasably catching a throwing toy is provided with bristles which can hold the throwing toy on contact even under conditions of high velocity and low-grazing angle of impact. The throwing toy has a plurality of looped filaments, joined at a core region by a wire cinch. The filaments radiate in plural angularly offset planes in a dense, bushy configuration from the core region. The catching device includes a base with a generally convex front outer surface and configured to be held adjacent a user's hand. A plurality of bristles are attached to the base, each having a proximal end adjacent the base and extending from the base to a distal end opposite the proximal end. The bristles are substantially straight from the proximal end to the distal end and are configured to catch the toy when the toy is thrown into contact with the bristles and to hold the toy on contact by engaging the looped filaments of the toy.

Abstract: A ring airfoil launcher has a first barrel and a second barrel coupled to a stock and a launching mechanism disposed within each of the first barrel and the second barrel and within the stock. A chuck for the ring airfoil launcher has a hub having an inner diameter sized to be received over either the first barrel or the second barrel and to be axially slidable along the respective barrel. The hub is arranged to be coupled to the respective launch mechanism. The chuck has a first ring airfoil engaging surface formed on the hub, the first ring airfoil engaging surface adapted to receive a first ring airfoil, and a second ring airfoil engaging surface formed on the hub, the second ring airfoil engaging surface adapted to receive a second ring airfoil.