Abstract: A transfer mechanism for use in a toy of the type incorporating "ball people" figurines to transfer the figurines from one location to a second location includes a base radially displaced from both the first and the second locations and a carrier which is rotatably mounted on the base. The carrier includes a support member having a first end which is movable in an arc between the first and second locations and a holding member which is pivotally mounted on the first end of the support member. A platform is located at the second location and includes an edge capable of being engaged by a portion of the holding member. The holding member is capable of swinging about its pivot; then it engages the platform. The edge of the platform includes a guide and when the first end of the support member approaches adjacent the second location the guide engages the holding member tilting the holding member allowing a "ball person" to roll off of the holding member onto the platform.

Abstract: A toy which can repetitively move with respect to the medium supporting it has a toy body with at least one appendage movably mounted to the body. A portion of that appendage is exposed from the body and is positioned to contact the supporting medium. A mechanism within the body is operatively connected to the appendage for moving the appendage such that the portion of the appendage exposed from the body can move in a first direction at one velocity and a second direction at a different velocity. A portion of the mechanism moves with rotary motion which is transferred by another portion of the mechanism to cause still a further portion of the mechanism to move with linear motion. The portion of the mechanism moving with linear motion is operatively connected to the appendage to move the appendage.

Abstract: A toy is described which has a housing which includes an elevated centralized object repository. Associated with the object repository is at least one peripheral section of the housing which includes an inclined top surface. The inclined top surface has a plurality of object locating holes which are arranged in sequence up the inclined surface. An object is sized to fit partly through the object locating holes. An object propulsion member fits beneath the top surface and includes a plurality of object striking projections which are located off-center beneath each of the object locating holes. When the object propulsion member is activated, if an object is located in one of the locating holes, the striking surface associated with that hole strikes the object and can propel the object toward the next locating hole. This is repeated until the object is deposited in the object repository.

Abstract: A time teaching device which gives a numerical readout to teach a child the position of clock hands and is capable of advancing the clock hands every time the child activates the readout portion has a housing in which is located a clock face and typical hour and minute clock hands. Within the housing are two carrier members which have a plurality of indicia thereon which indicate numerically the position of the clock's hands. The carrier members are located in the housing beneath display openings. Interspaced between the display openings and the carriers is an interference member which normally interferes with viewing of the indicia on the carrier. Both the hands and the carriers are coordinated such that movement of the minute hand will move the hour hand and both of the carriers through appropriate increments. An operator member is located on the housing and when it is depressed into the housing the indicia corresponding to the positions of the hands is viewable.

Abstract: A toy has a body in the shape of a characterized animal. At least one of the extremities, preferably the head, is attached to a movable member which moves between a retracted position wherein the majority of the member is located inside the body to an extended position wherein the greatest portion of the member is located external of the body. The toy includes a mechanism which will move the member from its extended position to its retracted position upon activation of a mechanism at least a portion of which is exposed outside the body for manipulation by the operator. The member in going from its extended position to its retracted position reaches its retracted position and then automatically reverses itself until it is once again extended.

Abstract: A toy vehicle has a first and a second surface which are spaced apart from one another and reversibly serve as the top and bottom of a vehicle. When one of the surfaces is serving as the top of the vehicle the opposite surface of the vehicle is serving as the bottom of the vehicle. The vehicle includes wheel members which are capable of supporting the vehicle over a support surface no matter which of the surfaces of the vehicle is serving as the top or the bottom. Also incorporated in the vehicle is an inverting mechanism which alternately inverts the vehicle such that the surface serving as the top of the vehicle after inverting serves as the bottom of the vehicle and the surface serving as the bottom of the vehicle after inverting serves as the top of the vehicle.

Abstract: A game of the type having a housing including a playing surface, an object launcher located in one end of the playing surface and a magnetic target member located on the other end of the playing surface is improved by including a plurality of ferromagnetic objects being independently capable of being propelled by the object launcher toward the magnetic target member. Each of the objects is capable of being attracted to and magnetically held by the magnetic target member except when another of said objects has already been attracted to and is being held by the magnetic target member then the first of said objects which is magnetically held by the target member is made magnetic by the target member and in turn serves as the target for the next of said objects to be launched by the launching member. Subsequent objects launched by the launching member are launched then toward the first of the objects already captured by the magnetic target member.