Abstract: A ball, inflatable with a gas using an inflation needle, has a substantially hollow gas-impervious skin with an aperture to allow passage of inflation air. A valve member is selectively seatable in the aperture for retaining the gas and allowing insertion of the inflation needle threrethrough and removable from the aperture to allow rapid release of the inflation gas. A radial flange formed at one end of the valve member allows for easy insertion and removal of the valve member from the aperture.

Abstract: A valve selectively dispenses noncompressible fluid from a pressurized source into a receptacle. The valve has a body with a valve spool slidingly retained in a hollow cylinder in the body. The ends of the body are communicated by an internal channel, the first end adapted to engage the source and the second end adapted to engage the receptacle. The hollow cylinder is an intermediate part of the internal channel. The valve spool has first and second enlarged portions that effectively divide the hollow cylinder into first and second noncommunicated chambers. When the valve spool is in a closed position, the first end is communicated only with the first chamber and the pressure of the fluid in the first chamber provides an outward biasing force on the valve spool, keeping it in the closed position.

Abstract: A noisemaker formed of molded plastic material having a central body portion with a projection extending from one end thereof and preferably a pair of paddle portions each having a projection extending from an end thereof, with the paddle portions being disposed on opposite sides of the body portion, with the paddle portions including flexible hinge sections adapted for providing for pivotal movement of the paddle portions relative to the body portion, and a separate handle member having a recess receiving therein the projections on the body and paddle portions to hold such portions in generally adjacent relation, with means for locking the handle member to the body and the paddle portions. The paddle portions are adapted to pivot into and out of impacting relation to the body portion upon shaking of the noisemaker by the handle member, thus creating a hand-produced rhythmic-like noise.

Abstract: A rotationally molded hollow article and a process for molding such an article, wherein the article is formed of a mixture of plastic pellets and powder both of which are copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, having a predetermined range of pellet to powder mixture ratio, and with such mixture having a predetermined melt index range, the article being characterized by having substantial "bounce" characteristics generally equivalent to those possessed by hollow, non-cellular articles made of known thermoplastic compositions or known rubber-like compositions of natural and/or synthetic polymers, as well as those possessed by solid cellular articles made from other known thermoplastics or from known rubber-like compositions of natural or synthetic polymers.