Abstract: An operable toy utilizes a metal sensing apparatus which includes a tuned circuit which includes a pick-up coil. The resonance frequency of the resonance circuit shifts when the pick-up coil senses a metal or magnetic object. A motor is normally driven in the absence of the sensing of a metal or magnetic object. When the metal or magnetic object is sensed, the frequency shift of the tuned circuit including the pick-up coil attenuates the frequency produced by an oscillator and as the voltage of the signal produced by the oscillator is attenuated, a level detection circuit produces a low output to thereby disconnect the power from the motor. Alternatively, the power to the motor may be reversed. Two metal sensing apparatuses may be utilized in an operable toy to cause the toy to follow a track of metallic or magnetic material.

Abstract: A construction set of modular pieces for constructing a scale model of an arrangement of contemporary buildings, such as a complex or cluster of high and low rise buildings located on common plaza areas, is made of several kinds of modular plaza blocks, building blocks, joint pieces for connecting the plaza blocks together, inside rail pieces for providing ridges on the top of the plaza blocks for connecting the building blocks thereto and outside or inside rail pieces for providing railings where desired on a plaza; all of the plaza blocks, building blocks, connecting pieces and rail pieces having dimensions of width and length that are whole number (integer) multiples of the same dimension D, whereby a variety of arrangements of plaza blocks, buildings blocks, and plaza railings may be constructed from a set of such blocks and pieces.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for toy vehicles that includes a spider mounted for rotation inside of a generally cylindrical hollow wheel. The spider carries lugs for extension and retraction through passages in the peripheral wall of the wheel. Also carried by the wheel for rotation relative to the wheel, and for rotational engagement with the spider, is a hub manually rotatable from outside of the wheel. The spider is biased for rotation in direction by one spring and the spider and hub are biased apart in an axial direction by another spring. Another spring biases the hub which has a flange with a number of notches against a sidewall of the wheel having a detent that fits into the notches to latch the hub into a lugs locked out, lugs locked in or neutral position.

Abstract: A doll, preferably of fabric material, and generally polygonal in configuration whereby to present a body having a front, a back, a top, a bottom and opposed sides, there being hair on the top of the body and a face on the front of the body. The body is provided with a receptacle in the form of a pocket carried by the body and accessible to a user of the doll, the pocket being located on the body in the position of an ear and simulating an ear of the doll whereby the pocket is normally covered by the hair on the top of the body. The pocket includes a sack portion and a cover flap for the sack portion, the cover flap being swingable to cover and uncover the sack portion whereby items, such as for instance notes, can be placed in the pocket to entrust the contents of the pocket to the doll.

Abstract: A toy work vehicle propelled by a bi-directional d-c motor in a forward or reverse direction depending on the polarity of battery voltage applied thereto, the vehicle including a power take-off device driven by the same motor to raise or lower a load. A gear shift mechanism operatively coupled either to the wheel axles or to the power take-off device, is controlled by a shift stick which in neutral operatively couples the motor only to the power take-off device. The shift stick is movable to a lateral position having a forward and a reverse mode in which the motor is operatively coupled to the wheel axles.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for engaging toothpicks to assemble a toy structure having different possible structural configurations. The toy structure is formed using toothpicks in conjunction with one or more support members, each support member including a plurality of support sleeves radiating outwardly therefrom. Each support sleeve has a conically shaped passageway therein for engaging one end of the toothpick wherein the support sleeve connects the toothpick to the support member. The toy structure is assembled by interconnecting the toothpicks with a plurality of support members. The support sleeves project outwardly in both the horizontal and vertical directions to provide support for toothpicks in the horizontal and vertical planes. The unattached end of a toothpick is "capped" with an additional support member having support sleeves thereon to act as sites for future expansion.

Abstract: A composition and method and apparatus for increasing the buoyant lifetime of a gas inflatable elastomeric balloon wherein a surface of a balloon is coated with an aqueous solution containing 3 to 50 percent polyvinyl alcohol, and up to 20 percent of a water soluble plasticizer for polyvinyl alcohol such as glycerine, which coating is dried while the balloon is in the inflated condition. Treatment of a rubber latex balloon having an inflated diameter of about 15 cm to about 50 cm by the method of this invention can increase its buoyant lifetime about 600 percent without significantly changing the appearance of the balloon.

Abstract: A toppling game apparatus having a plurality of connectable toppling units is disclosed. The toppling units each contain a toppling member attached to a base member in a manner permitting pivotal rotation of the toppling member. The axis of pivotal rotation is spaced laterally from the toppling member. Each toppling member also has a system to control the weight distribution of the toppling member. The system consists of a weight member fixed at a desired position within the toppling member, or a movable weight member slidably adjustable along the toppling member. By controlling weight distribution, in combination with the laterally spaced pivotal rotation system, the toppling rate of the toppling member can be increased, decreased or stopped when desired. The toppling units are connectable to each other to form the game apparatus. In operation, each of the toppling members is placed in a vertical position.

Abstract: A clutch for securing together component parts of jewelry such as decorative pins, clasps, earrings, necklaces, brooches, and so forth. The coacting body and pin construction herein has a lost-motion detent, whereby to provide for adjustable attachment to ear lobes, clothing, and so forth, of varying thicknesses. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lost-motion effect is constrained by sliding frictional engagement between complete turns of a coil spring provided in said body, and the shank of the pin and the detent effect is maintained simultaneously by a radially inturned end of the spring extending into the annular groove on the shank. The groove is wider than the inturned end, allowing for movement thereof longitudinally of the pin without disengagement.

Abstract: One problem which occurs in hydroponic growing systems is that pools of water form in the bottom of the growing bed container. These pools become depleted of oxygen very rapidly and if the plant roots extend into the pools the plants may die. This problem is solved by a false bottom (34, 54) in the growing bed container (10, 10'), so that any pooling which may occur occurs below the false bottom (34, 54). Pooling on the false bottom (34, 56) is prevented by the constructed of the false bottom (34, 56). The false bottom (34) either has a convex upper side, so that pooling cannot occur on the false bottom (34). Drainage openings (36) are provided at the two edges of the false bottom (34), so that any solution flowing towards the edges will flow through the openings (36) into the space below the false bottom (34). Or, the false bottom (56) is a sheet of formanous fabric material (56) which lies over a layer of gravel (54).

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping various types of earring posts having a friction clutch incorporated with a finger-operated clutch-catch capable of providing a positive stop to a specially designed indented shoulder post as well as providing a semi-positive stop to conventional threaded and indented shoulder posts. The friction clutch acts as a backup securing device if the primary clutch-catch fails.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for releasably gripping the pin or post of an earring has a circular end that normally confronts a person's ear lobe when the pin or post of the earring is engaged in the clutch mechanism. A load distribution member, preferably of vinyl, has a cylindrical sleeve formed with an inwardly directed lip at one end which expands sufficiently to allow the circular end of the clutch mechanism to be inserted into the interior of the cylindrical sleeve. The cylindrical sleeve has a substantially closed end wall at its other end, having a radially directed flange that provides, together with the end wall, a substantial increase in the surface area as contrasted to that provided only by the circular end of the clutch mechanism.

Abstract: The doll of the present invention is formed by outlining a desired feature with an adhesive such as a meltable, fuser thread between a front and rear piece of fabric in an outline of the desired feature such as the nose or mouth. After the adhesive is made to hold the two sheets of fabric together, soft material is inserted between the two sheets within the feature. The outline of a nose is U-shaped, and soft material can be inserted through the top opening between the two pieces of fabric. The outline of a mouth is closed so the soft material is pushed through a slit in the rear piece of fabric. The mouth can also be formed by satin-like stitches in which long stitches are formed on the top of the front sheet of material extending from the outline of the mouth or lips. The soft material is inserted through the rear sheet to cause the front sheet and the satin stitches to bulge outward. The lips can also be formed by running stitches forming an outline, which is then filled.

Abstract: A plastic eye having an appearance closely resembling a glass-blown eye is formed of two generally spherical halves, secured together by solvent or cement at confronting flanges. The spherical halves are formed of clear glass or plastic and the front half is a hollow molding having an internal planar surface. The various eye components are pad printed on the planar surface and then the interior of the shell is given a white coating. Slots can be provided in the front spherical shell wherein an artificial eyelash may be received. A forward central projection on the front half better simulates the cornea of a real eye.

Abstract: A device for maintaining a plurality of jewelry neck chains, arm or wrist chains and the like in a predetermined relationship in order to retain the jewelry chains in generally parallel, side-by-side relation thereby reducing the tendency of adjacent jewelry chains from becoming entangled with each other when being worn. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is in the form of an elongated flat bar having a plurality of apertures therein with each aperture adapted to receive a split ring clasp used to secure the ends of jewelry chains together in order to maintain the clasp and thus the ends of the jewelry chain in spaced relation to each other with the jewelry chains being maintained generally in parallel relation to each other.

Abstract: A rubber band powered motor for a model airplane is provided having dual parallel drive shafts from which perpendicularly extend through the wing portions of the plane rubber band motor units, which comprise tape rollers, non-elastic tapes, guide rollers and rubber bands. The drive shafts extend through and are fixed to the tape rollers, upon which is wound the non-elastic tapes. The rubber bands are guided around the guide rollers and are connected to the tapes at one end and to the airframe at the other. Gear means are wound to rotate the shafts to wind the tapes so as to stretch the rubber bands. In operation, the bands relax and pull the tapes to turn the shafts and, via an intermediate gear drive train, the propeller. The tapes and gears absorb the sudden burst of rubber band energy and provide for an extended and stable flight.

Abstract: A music box toy comprises a casing (1), a music box (7) housed therein, a stationary toy member (1a) provided on a front surface of the casing, a converting mechanism provided in the casing for converting a rotational driving force derived from a power spring of the music box (7) into a vertical reciprocating driving force, a movable toy member including a head member (4) and a trunk member (3), the trunk member being operatively connected to the converting means to perform a reciprocating movement during an operation of the music box, the head member being rotatably supported by the trunk member.

Abstract: An article adaptable for use as a universal medical cover sheet is shown. The article is comprised of draping material and an integrally associated surgical zone and is formed as a closed loop. The loop is dimensioned such that opening of the loop yields a cover sheet having the surgical zone positioned within the draping material so that non-surgical areas of a patient are covered sufficiently for surgical purposes by draping material when the surgical zone is placed to permit access to the surgical site involved in the procedure. The loop is preferably formed so that its outer surface will become the patient surface of the cover sheet resulting upon opening of the loop. It is preferably folded first along longitudinal fold lines and thereafter along transverse fold lines. The folding preferably results in exposure of the surgical zone at an outer surface of the folded loop.

Abstract: There is described a child safety restraint for restraining a child in a substantially flat position relative to a medical transporting device. The apparatus includes a child support device that includes a semi-rigid base and a cover attachable to the base so as to secure the child between the base and the cover. The base includes two layers of material and a semi-rigid support insertable between the layers of material. The lower layer of material has apertures through which fastening members of the semi-rigid support extend. The apparatus further includes a restraining harness for interconnecting the fastening members of the child support with the transporting device such that movement of the child support relative to the transporting device is restrained.

Abstract: A toy including a figure adapted to be moved slowly from a lowered position in which the figure is concealed behind a portion of a housing to a raised position in which the figure is visible and to be moved rapidly from its raised position to the lowered position. The mechanism moving the figure is driven by a music box and includes a post supporting the figure, a pin fixed to the post, an actuating arm having an aperture at one end in which the pin is loosely engaged and being secured to a housing at its other end. The means driven by the music box to cause the arm to reciprocate between the raised and lowered positions, also rotates the figure about a verticle axis.