Abstract: A toy construction craft utilizing construction elements including modular building blocks comprises a base plate, template, one or more graphic segments, and an optional frame. The base plate is a substantially planar building surface arranged with coupling studs for being interconnected with toy building elements having complementary coupling means. The template is configured with at least one area of guidance indicia including at least numeral designation; each guidance indicia is viewed to inform the user as to the modular block(s) that should be attached to that particular stud. These designated blocks form the 3-D portion of the composition, while the graphic segment(s) augments the overall composition. The template may be a separate sheet disposed below the base plate or may be incorporated into the base plate. Additional accessories and specialized blocks are also provided.

Abstract: A toy includes a body, a head coupled to the body and having a face surface, and a flap coupled to the head. The flap is movable relative to the face surface between a first position in which a first face is exposed to view on the face surface, and a second position in which a second face, at least partially different from the first face, is exposed to view on the face surface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

Abstract: Gaming systems and methods facilitate integrated real and virtual game play among multiple remote control objects, including multiple remotely-controlled aircraft, within a locally-defined, three-dimensional game space using gaming “apps” (i.e., applications) running on one or more mobile devices, such as tablets or smartphones, and/or a central game controller. The systems and methods permit game play among multiple remotely-controlled aircraft within the game space. Game play may be controlled and/or displayed by a gaming app running on one or more mobile devices and/or a central game controller that keeps track of multiple craft locations and orientations with reference to a locally-defined coordinate frame of reference associated with the game space. The gaming app running on one or more mobile devices and/or central game controller also determine game play among the various craft and objects within the game space in accordance with the rules and parameters for the game being played.

Abstract: Comparative effectiveness of various oral care products such as dentifrices on preventing dental erosion may be demonstrated using simulated enamel. A substrate is prepared. A mineral layer to simulate dental enamel is nucleated by solution growth on the substrate surface. Alternatively, the mineral layer may be nucleated on a template comprising a self-assembled monolayer formed on a gold layer deposited on the substrate surface. The mineral layer may comprise a homogeneous layer of hydroxyapatite or a thin veneer of hydroxyapatite on a layer of amorphous calcium phosphate. The simulated enamel is then optionally treated with an oral care product and subjected to an acid challenge. The amount of mineral layer remaining after the acid challenge illustrates the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of the oral care product at preventing dental erosion.

Abstract: A water toy comprising a foam tube having a first end, a second end and a body therebetween, an optional seat positioned on the body, a first feature attached to the first end, and a second feature attached to the second end, the first and second features being aesthetic and/or functional and/or a combination of the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for autonomously soothing babies. An example method may include receiving a first sound input from a microphone, processing the first sound input, determining a baby status based at least in part on the first sound input, determining an output action based at least in part on the baby status; and implementing the output action at the children's apparatus.

Abstract: A flying disc includes a substantially circular body having a top and a bottom and a groove extending around a perimeter of the body between the top and the bottom. The top of the body has an edge member around the outer perimeter of the top, and a domed portion in a central area of the top. A portion of the top between the edge member and the domed portion is inwardly curved. The bottom has an edge member around the outer perimeter of the bottom, a substantially planar portion in a central area of the bottom, and an inwardly curved portion between the edge member and the substantially planar portion.

Abstract: A toy vehicle system includes a toy vehicle, a remote-control transmitter and a control unit. The toy vehicle includes a drive with at least two drive motors and at least two roller elements. The roller elements are mutually independently driven rotationally about respective axes of rotation via the drive motors. The toy vehicle further includes at least one steering mechanism for adjusting the directions of orientation of the axes of rotation relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Input signals of the remote-control are fed into the control unit. The control unit generates output signals that act on the drive and the steering mechanism. In the operating method, the control unit carries out a computational driving simulation and generates therefrom control output signals such that the toy vehicle carries out a vehicle movement according to the computational driving simulation under the action of a virtual operating frictional force.

Abstract: A modular building block system and method. A set of pieces are formed with interlocking pegs and holes allowing the creation of structures. One such structure that can be made is a cube which can be attached using the pegs and holes to identically formed cubes. The cubes have panels of which custom artwork can be printed on them, thereby enabling complex scenes to be created using only the cubes.

Abstract: A toy includes a body having a first side representative of a first body appearance, and a second side opposite the first side and representative of a second body appearance different from the first body appearance. The toy also includes a head coupled to the body, the head being reversible between a first face and a second face, the first face corresponding to the first body appearance and the second face corresponding to the second body appearance. When the first face of the head is exposed to view, the second face of the head is concealed from view inside the head, and when the second face of the head is exposed to view, the first face of the head is concealed from view inside the head. The toy further includes a book coupled to the second side of the body.

Abstract: Interactive blocks with sensors for collecting information about how tactile objects are interacted with and with one or more communication interface for sending the interaction data to one or more other device or platform for analyzing the interactivity, providing feedback to a user, and assessing manual ability and dexterousness, cognitive ability, memory and retention, providing challenges based on past performance, learning curve, etc.

Abstract: A device for producing an animal sound such as an elk, deer, or turkey vocalization, the device having two pivotably or vertically connected portions, one portion bearing a bent vibratable reed and the other a compressible foam lining, wherein the sound is produced by blowing air over the reed, the pitch being adjustable by pivoting the portions to be more or less parallel to each other or moving the portions vertically to be closer together or further apart. In another embodiment, there is a single reed-bearing portion, the tongue serving in place of the foam-lined portion.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods, systems, and kits for providing an experience for a child. For example, such a system can include: a first set of instructions for a facilitator to create an experience for the user; a kit comprising a plurality of interconnecting parts configured to produce a three-dimensional model; a second set of instructions for the user to build the three-dimensional model; a certificate of completion of the experience; a wearable object signifying completion of the experience; and a container configured to hold the first and second set of instructions, the kit, the certificate of completion, and the wearable object. The three-dimensional model can be a three-dimensional likeness of a person, a fictional character, an animal, or a thing. The system can include a character communication configured to begin the experience.

Abstract: An animatronic eye with fluid suspension, electromagnetic drive, and video capability. The eye assembly includes a spherical, hollow outer shell that contains a suspension liquid. An inner sphere is positioned in the outer shell in the suspension liquid to be centrally floated at a distance away from the shell wall. The inner sphere includes painted portions providing a sclera and iris and includes an unpainted rear portion and front portion or pupil. The shell, liquid, and inner sphere are have matching indices of refraction such that interfaces between the components are not readily observed. A camera is provided adjacent a rear portion of the outer shell to receive light passing through the shell, liquid, and inner sphere. A drive assembly is provided including permanent magnets on the inner sphere that are driven by electromagnetic coils on the outer shell to provide frictionless yaw and pitch movements simulating eye movements.

Abstract: An expandable play set as well as associated methods, communication protocols, and tangible computer-readable media are disclosed. The play set may generate interactive responses based upon which characters are coupled to a base unit and to which connectors of the base unit the characters are coupled. A character may include circuitry that permits the character to identify to which connector of the base unit the character is coupled. Such circuitry may also permit the character to identify and communicate with other characters that are also coupled to the base unit. Based upon obtained identifiers, the character may generate or otherwise cause suitable interactive responses such as activating a load in the base unit, turning on a light in the base unit and/or character, and/or generating a suitable audible response via an audio speaker of the character.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered, flight capable, air-filled balloon which mimics the movement of a helium-filled balloon.

Abstract: A doll is provided. The doll includes a layer of skin formed from a first material to simulate human skin. The skin has an interior side and an exterior side. The doll also includes a chamber enclosed by the layer of skin with the interior side of the skin facing the chamber. The doll further includes a filler made of a second material, different from the first material. The filler fills the space within the chamber. The skin is formed by placing the melted first material in a first mold configured to have an inside contour resembling a human body or body part up to a certain level of the first mold and, when the melted first material solidifies, removing certain amount of the melted first material such that the remaining first material in the first mold forms the skin with a thickness in the first mold.

Abstract: A robot includes a body having a torso, a pair of arms and servos configured to drive the arms. A first end of each of the arms is movably connected to the torso via a corresponding one of the servos. An opposite, second end of each of the arms is connected with a hand. A first connection member is arranged on the body. A fake gun includes a second connection member that is magnetically attractable to the first connection member, and is connected to the body when the second connection member is attracted to the first connection member. One of the arms is rotatable and the hand of the one of the arms and the fake gun are configured in such a way that fake gun is detachably connected to the hand of the one of the arms when the one of the arms is rotated to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing configured to be added to a body associated with a software application implemented by a computer. The apparatus also comprises a sensor, a transceiver, a power supply, a memory, and a processor inside the housing. The processor is communicatively coupled with the sensor, the transceiver, the power supply, and the memory. The processor is configured to be communicatively coupled with the computer by way of the transceiver based, at least in part, on a determination that the housing is added to the body. The processor is also configured to cause the computer to generate a virtual representation of the body in a virtual reality viewable by way of a display associated with the computer. The processor is further configured to cause the computer to orient the virtual representation of the body in the virtual reality based on data collected by the sensor.