Abstract: A novelty device includes an inflatable element fixed to a nipple which is normally covered. Adding fluid to a chamber which includes a fluid-reactive element causes a pressure increase to be imparted to the inflated element which then expands under the action of the pressure. Normally the nipple and the inflatable element are covered so as to be hidden from view prior to the addition of a fluid.

Abstract: Spinning toy carries a reservoir thereon with radially outward positioned discharge openings. When the reservoir is spun, water is discharged due to centrifugal forces resulting from the rotation of the spinning toy. A preferred embodiment is an aerodynamic disc.

Abstract: A noise making device for creating selective clapping sounds comprised of a pair of section halves of molded plastic construction, each section including a handle portion and an elongated flat blade portion extending therefrom together with locking elements for joining the section halves together along a planar mating surface, which locking elements are provided internally to define a smooth handle portion.

Abstract: In a square array with a modulus (M), the plug-in building blocks of the building set have protruding connecting pins (1) and corresponding mating connecting sockets. In order that bendproof trusses can also be built, the building set has single-row connecting bars (34) with two terminal pins (35), whose spacing from one another amounts to .sqroot.2 times an integral multiple of the modulus (M), and girder elements (10), which at two bordering sides faces (13, 14) each have a single row of pins with modular spacing and parallel to these side faces each have a projection (19) set back by the thickness of the connecting bar (34). In this way, stable, aesthetically appealing trussings can be built with the building set.

Abstract: Clacker apparatus includes a base portion, including a handle, and one or two clacker elements secured to the base element. The clacker elements are secured by means of a rivet or the like, and the elements are freely movable relative to each other to allow the clacker elements to contact the base element over substantially the entire area. The bottom of the base element may include an aperture for receiving streamers or a chain.

Abstract: A circumferential trough provides a water carrying channel, and has at least one water jet in the trough to which a supply of water under pressure is connected to produce a flow of water in the trough into which floating objects may be placed.

Abstract: Three-dimensional balloon sculptures (50, 56, 66, 86, 88, 89, 90, 99, 125, 136, 137, 159, 160, 169, 178, 186) and methods of forming same from one or more basic balloon building blocks (106, 106', 106", 126, 159) each including at least one rigid lineal rod-like balloon former (100, 100', 138a, 138b, 149, 162, 174, 181, 182, 184) defining one or more lineal barrier(s) precluding distension of a portion of the sidewall of a conventional balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion (111) terminating at one end in an inflation aperture (112) and at the other end in an imperforate inflatable sidewall (108).

Abstract: A laser shield is constructed from a non-linting fabric sheet and a metal layer. The shield can be used as a laser-resistant surgical drape during laser surgery to protect the patient from aberrant laser strikes. The laser shield resists penetration by commonly-used surgical lasers, is non-reflective and flame resistant, and provides ready detection of any laser beam which strikes it.

Abstract: An inflatable toy simulating the mouth of an insect which includes a tubular mouthpiece, a sound-generating mechanism, a juncture between the mouthpiece and a pair of hollow arms, the arms being defined by first, medical and second terminal ends, the arms normally being folded with the second ends in end-to-end opposing relationship, and the material of the toy being so constructed as to maintain the arms in the latter position, and return the same from an inflated position at which the second ends of the arms project generally in opposite directions to each other with the overall effect thereof being that of the mouth of an insect.

Abstract: A canopy assembly includes a frame composed of a plurality of elongated elements interconnected to form an array to which a fabric is secured and stretched. Portions of the fabric are secured in tension into corresponding different ones of the elements, and corresponding ends of respective elements are connected together to form the frame. At least some of the elements each respectively have an H-shaped cross-section with space-opposed pairs of each of mutually-spaced legs projecting individually away from respective opposite ends of the crossbar of that cross-section. A variety of different devices may be used alternatively to secure the portions of fabric to the different elements, while creating tension in the fabric. A number of different interconnectors may be used alternatively or in various different combinations to connect corresponding ends of respective different elements in the formation of the frame.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting a ground plot of foliage plants or the like from freezing contemplates a series of ground-level sprinklers throughout the plot and a shade cloth covering of the type having uniformly dispersed openings therein. Elevated sprinklers are provided above the shade cloth and ground-level sprinklers. During periods of freezing ambient temperatures, water is sprinkled through the elevated sprinklers whereby the water freezes in the openings of the covering and holds heat released during operation of the ground-level sprinklers under the covering. When the water droplets freeze into a thin sheet of ice on the covering, the ground-level sprinklers are turned on.

Abstract: The invention relates to an eyeball device which can be incorporated as eyes in stuffed toys and dolls. The eyeball device comprises an eyeball-holding assembly which movably holds the eyeball and the pupil of the eye, and a pair of inner and outer members for attaching the eyeball-holding assembly to surrounding portions of eyes of the dolls. The attaching members are fitted to each other so as to bite and hold therebetween the cloth or the surface skin of a doll or the like. The attaching members further have a space for incorporating the eyeball-holding assembly from the outside.

Abstract: A cane having a one piece molded handle with a roughened area on the handle's top surface to increase gripping friction with the user's hand, upstanding shoulders at the front and rear ends of the handle that prevents the user's hand from slipping off the handle, and index finger support ribs to enhance control of the cane during use. The handle is preferably connected to a tubular shaft by a fastenerless lock that includes a stub shaft formed integral with the handle, that stub shaft having a series of lock flanges oriented generally normal to the stub shaft's axis that, prior to assembly, are of a slightly greater outside diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular shaft, so that the lock flanges are deformed upwardly in generally dish-shaped configuration when the handle's stub shaft is inserted into the tubular shaft.

Abstract: Projectile propelling attachments are provided for toy figures that have an arm connected at the shoulder end for pivotal movement relative to the torso through approximately ninety degrees. The attachments include an apparatus releasably mountable on the figure in engagement with the arm. A front end bore receives a projectile from which a tether extends out the back end of the apparatus through a smaller diameter bore. In the larger diameter bore there is a coil compression spring. At the free end of the tether a retainer prevents the tether passing back through the apparatus. In one form, the back end of the tether is attached to a reel carried on the back of the figure. Pulling on the tether pivots the arm to the firing position and then compresses the spring. When the tether is released, the spring propels the projectile.

Abstract: A sun protector for a person is provided and consists of a cover disc rotatably mounted to the top of a vertical support bracket that is secured to the back of the person by belts. A piece of flexible material is affixed to a portion of the circumference of the cover disc so that the material will hang down to block the sun's rays from the head of the person when the cover disc is manually rotated to a proper position.

Abstract: A water toy includes an inflatable housing having ballast in the lower portion thereof. A spray head is connected to the top of the housing and water is conveyed to the spray head from a garden hose through a tube in the housing. With water spraying from the top of the housing, the toy can be hit from an initial upright position so as to tilt to various angles but will resume its initial upright position.

Abstract: An articulated doll arrangement having a head, a body, arms, upper legs, lower legs and hands. The parts of the articulated doll are interconnected to provide simulated anthropomorphic movements between various of the parts. A central connecting member extends through the hollow body means and projects from the top of the body upon which the head having a simulated neck is pivotally mounted. The remote end of the central connecting has the two upper legs pivotally mounted thereon adjacent the bottom edges of the body. A simulated shoulder joint is provided on the sides of the body adjacent the top and the arms are pivotally connected at the shoulder connecting joints. Hands are detachably mounted in the remote ends of the arms. Lower legs are pivotally connected to the upper legs at a simulated knee joint.

Abstract: A domed spinning top is disclosed in which a vertically movable housing member having a transparent dome is mounted above a stationary base. A rotatable turntable is mounted on the housing member under the dome. An actuating mechanism acts upon a drive mechanism to engage the turntable and rotate it during vertical movement of the housing member toward the base. Upon cessation of vertical movement of the housing member toward the base, the actuating mechanism disengages the drive mechanism from the turntable to permit the turntable to rotate freely. A peek-a-boo enclosure comprising a plurality of shroud segments is mounted on the turntable in which the segments separate to expose a central figure during rapid rotation of the turntable, and return together to substantially encase the central figure when rotation of the turntable is diminished.

Abstract: A convertable doll having means to change from one character to another without adding to or removing any object. The doll is formed of a body having a face thereon providing one character. A loose fitting outer garment is received on the body, the garment having an open type lower portion such as a robe, skirt, dress or the like. An inverted skirt-type flexible member is received on the doll lower portion under the outer garment and has on the underneath side thereof elements forming an upper body, face and outer head features and having a second pair of arms, the flexible members being invertable over the doll body head portion to encompass the head portion and the doll body arms, the lower portion of the outer garment being receivable in the inverted flexible member, the inverted flexible member thereby forming a second head and face forming a second character.

Abstract: A system in which an umbrella's cover is connected to a rib tip by clamping (and not tying) the cover to the rib tip. The clamp connector is structured so that the clamping pressure between the umbrella's cover and rib tip is actually increased as the umbrella is opened in response to the cover being drawn taut over the ribs. The clamp connector, in preferred form, includes a ring receivable on a ring seat, the cover being clamped between the ring and ring seat, and the ring seat being receivable on the end of a rib tip.