Abstract: A system and method for printing characters that is developmentally appropriate for children are disclosed. Specifically, the present invention introduces children to character shapes using the familiar shape of a snowman and through calisthenics that involve gross motor skills. When the children have become familiar with the shapes of the characters and the movements necessary to form the shapes, the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention teaches the children to use similar movements on a smaller scale to form the characters on writing paper.

Abstract: A protrusion on the side of the saw tooth rubs against the newly cut kerf surface as the tooth cuts. Pressure, friction and friction-generated heat are produced through this rubbing action. The confluence of this pressure, friction, and heat, performs a polishing action against the newly cut kerf surface.

Abstract: A rhombic cutting insert includes cutting edges merging with each other at a nose part disposed at a diagonal acute-angle corner of an upper face of the insert. The cutting edges each form convex-curved shapes and are each inclined with respect to a mounting face of the insert. The cutting edges each include linear sub-cutting-edges, disposed in the vicinity of the nose part, forming a substantially right angle therebetween. Rake faces are formed on the upper face of the insert and each have positive rake angles and twisted-inclined surfaces. The insert is mounted on a tool part. One cutting edge serves as a peripheral cutting edge having a sub-cutting-edge disposed substantially parallel to an axis of the tool part, and the other cutting edge serves as a facing cutting edge having a sub-cutting-edge disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tool part.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with a wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis. The toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis. Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms. The swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to respective rear wheels. Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive the respective rear wheels in either a first direction or a second opposite direction.

Abstract: A complex machining machine tool is capable of executing a plurality of kinds of machining operations on a workpiece by selectively indexing and using an insert installed on a complex tool. The complex tool is registered in a tool data file as a plurality of virtual tools capable of executing corresponding machining operations. The virtual tools include a turning tool and a milling tool. In the tool data, the angle in a B-axis direction at which the tool is positioned when the virtual tool is used is stored as a B-axis angle for each virtual tool. The tool data of the corresponding virtual tool is read out from the tool file on the basis of the programmed machining instructions, and the B-axis angle is set on the basis of the tool data so as to execute machining.

Abstract: An inflatable or inflated ball comprising an outer chamber formed of an airtight flexible outer skin which, when properly inflated and fully expanded, defines an interior volume. A sealed inner chamber filled or fillable with a substance substantially heavier than air is positioned within and occupies a relatively small amount of the interior volume. A plurality of elongated radially extending and three-dimensionally spaced elastic members are each connected and radially extend between, the inner chamber and the inner surface of the outer chamber. The elastic members are cooperatively sized in length and suitably tensioned to support and hold the inner chamber centrally in an at-rest position within the interior volume.

Abstract: A fishing toy comprising a fishing rod comprising in turn a handgrip portion to which the fishing rod is attached, a fishing line adapted to elongate via the fishing rod and a toy body fishing means attached to a distal end of the fishing line, and a toy body formed to mock fish and adapted to be fished up with the toy body fishing means, the toy body comprising a power supply, a driving means adapted to be driven with the power supply and an operation switch for varying the driven conditions of the driving means, the fishing toy being characterized in that; the fishing rod has an operating means for varying the driving speed of the driving means provided on the toy body and a transmission means for transmitting operation information operated by the operating means to the toy body and that the toy body is provided with a reception means for receiving the information transmitted from the fishing rod.

Abstract: The present invention includes an audio device that has the appearance of an animial. The audio set may contain a radio, compact disc player and/or cassette player. Also included in the present invention is a audio device in which the speakers are made to resemble the eyes of an animal and the speakers are fixably or moveably secured. The speakers may pop-out from the face of the animal on springs or the speakers may rotate. Finally, the present invention includes an audio device in which the speakers are made to resemble the eyes of an animal, are moveably secured and are actuated by a switch on the audio device.

Abstract: An amusement device is configured to be attached to a surface of a bathtub. The amusement device includes a launching device movable between a rest orientation and a biased orientation. The amusement device further includes a suction assembly attached to the launching device and configured to secure the launching device to the surface of the bathtub. Additionally, the amusement device includes a target assembly configured to float on water located within the bathtub. The launching device is configured to fling an object located thereon from the launching device toward the target assembly in response to release of the launching device after it is moved from the rest position to the biased orientation. A method of using an amusement device in a bathtub is also disclosed.

Abstract: A game call assembly system and method includes a game call apparatus which has a reed assembly, a stopper, and a barrel. The reed assembly includes a sounding board, a reed, and a wedge which are inserted as a unit into an end of the stopper. A rotation restrictor in the form of a keyway is interposed between the reed assembly and the stopper to restrict relative rotational movement of the reed assembly relative to the stopper. An insertion stop is provided on the reed assembly to limit the extent to which the reed assembly is inserted into the stopper. A unique wedge allows adjustment of the wedge relative to the reed without changing the location of the reed relative to the sounding board.

Abstract: An interactive ride-on toy, having a stuffed toy horse's head which includes ears, a movable mouth and is connected to a stick. One or more buttons, each with an icon depicting an image, is positioned on one or both ears of the horse's head. An electronically programmed chip responds to activation of the button to operate a speaker and a mechanism for moving the horse's mouth, the speaker playing sounds relating to the image depicted on each button.

Abstract: A parade throw and its method of use are disclosed. The parade throw includes a bag having an open top and a contained support member that can be in the form of a disk, ring, or plastic “Frisbee®” like member. The combination of bag and support disk are assembled together. In one embodiment, the disk is hollow, providing a hollow interior or cavity that can receive substantially all of the bag for storage when it is to be thrown. The disk can be made of cardboard or other disposable material so that the user simply removes the internal support and uses the bag for storing articles once it is retrieved. In other embodiments, the support disk may be in the form of a toy that can be a throwable disk or ring.

Abstract: A bubble toy that minimizes spillage has a retaining mechanism disposed below a bubble ring or rings on a bubble wand to prevent the wand from being lifted completely out of the container. A solution feed section provided above the bubble ring or rings has a plurality of channels arranged to feed bubble solution downwardly to the bubble ring or rings. An articulating joint may be provided between each of the bubble rings by which the bubble rings are able fold or collapse within the container, thereby allowing use of a longer wand. A bubble wand is provided with a spill-resistant container on an end opposite the bubble ring or rings.

Abstract: A spinning top is built up with rigid flat parts and includes a central shaft extended through a horizontal body having a pair of radially oppositely projected fixed wings. A pair of movable wings are pivotally connected to an outer periphery of the horizontal body via two fixing arms to move between a fully folded position concealed below the horizontal body and a fully extended position projected from the outer periphery of the horizontal body. When the central shaft is twisted to eject the spinning top, the movable wings are pivotally thrown outward to serve as weapons providing enhanced attacking force in a fighting game using spinning tops and produce more fun.

Abstract: A three-dimensional interactive book includes a wheelfold sandwiched between front and rear covers. The front cover has illustrations on both the convex and concave surfaces of a three-dimensionally contoured element. The rear cover has a holographic element. The wheelfold has a wheel rotatably mounted between opposite front and rear panels. Primary pictorial elements on the wheel are selectively visible through a window on the front panel. A secondary pictorial element on the front panel is juxtaposed with the window. Selected surfaces, elements, and panels have text written thereon.

Abstract: A toy figure having multiple articulating limbs connected to the torso by pivot joints that are molded in a vertical injection molding step that forms and pivotally interconnects, in situ, one member of the pivot joint to a second, pre-formed member of the pivot joint.

Abstract: A stuffed animal toy for children that emulates the awakening of the stuffed animal upon the user touching one of various locations upon the body of the stuffed animal thereby activating an appropriate pre-recorded audio message. The stuffed animal also includes a second head portion such as a Santa Claus-like head portion mounted within a recess behind the original teddy bear head portion that can be easily converted manually by a child from a first position representing the original teddy bear configuration, to a second position, representing a second configuration such as a Santa Claus head configuration for holiday seasons. Upon the manual exchange of the head portions of the stuffed animal, a switch is activated which enables a pre-recorded audio message to play through a speaker located within the stuffed animal. The audio message played corresponds to the head portion which appears on the stuffed animal after the exchange.

Abstract: A lathe steady rest has a frame adjacent an axis about which a lathe rotates a workpiece, a pair of arms pivotal on the frame about arm axes parallel to the workpiece axis and having outer ends radially displaceable relative to the workpiece axis, and a slide displaceable radially of the workpiece axis on the frame and having an outer end turned toward the workpiece. The outer ends are angularly spaced about the axis. Respective rollers rotatable on the outer ends about roller axes parallel to the workpiece axis radially engage the workpiece. Respective caps mounted on the arm outer ends over the respective rollers have passages with outer ends directed radially inward against the workpiece adjacent the respective rollers. A fluid is supplied under pressure to the passages to flush particles from the workpiece. The chamber allows the respective cap to change position without losing pressure in its passages.

Abstract: A cutter for flexible tubing supported on a mandrel having a peripheral groove at the location of the intended cut has an annulus (10) coaxially surrounding the mandrel and arranged for rotation thereabout. A blade carrier (16) is pivoted on the annulus (10) for supporting a cutting blade (17) moveable between withdrawn and cutting positions. The carrier (16) has an armature including a permanent magnet (19) which is arranged between one of the electromagnets but may be moved to the other electromagnet by an appropriate pulse of electrical energy to the other electromagnet.

Abstract: A book and pages having a mechanical means for causing a figure associated with the theme of the book to pop-up upon opening the front cover, last page or other page of the book.