Abstract: A method and device are provided that allow a competent skier to train and/or assist a trainee downhill skier with the acquisition of basic downhill skiing techniques. The trainee skier is tethered to an uphill instructing skier by a pair of reins attached to the trainee at the ankles, ski tips, or to the ski tips via ski tip handles. The instructing skier has substantially independent control over each tethering point to assist or train the novice skier to execute turns, control speed, and promote proper balance and stance for the maneuver and terrain at hand. The method and device may also comprise the use of adjustable ski tip couplers that limit divergence, and optionally convergence, of the trainee's ski tips. Handicapped skiers may be assisted and guided in downhill skiing using this method and device.

Abstract: A mechanism allowing the control of multiple orbiting bodies comprising: a bearing surface (306) which may or may not be integral to a handle (300); a rotatable section (308) free to move through 360 degrees upon the bearing; and, attached to the rotatable section, an array of two or more pendulums (314, 316) which are first whirled in coplanar orbits and subsequently, via changes made to the attitude of the axis of the rotatable section, in precessing, non-coplanar, non-chaotic orbits equaling the pendulums in number. The pendulums may be identical or have differing properties of length, weight, or aerodynamics affecting their relative tendencies to precess and may be decorated and incorporate elements which emit light and/or sound. In certain applications some or all of these characteristics of length, weight, and aerodynamics, as well as the visual and auditory components are customizable.

Abstract: The device includes an accelerometer for sensing movement in more than one direction, a sound chip for generating a pre-recorded sound in response to the sensed movement and a circuit for controlling the speed at which the pre-recorded sound is generated in response to the sensed movement, as a function of the direction of the sensed movement. The accelerometer senses the magnitude of movement. The sound chip generates sound in response to movement of a magnitude exceeding a pre-set level. The accelerator senses movement in at least two, preferably three directions. The sound chip includes an oscillator which determines the speed at which a pre-recorded sound is processed. The control means provides a control signal which sets the sound chip to generate the sound signal with a speed which is a function of the number of directions of sensed movement.

Abstract: The device includes an accelerometer for sensing a parameter of movement, such as direction and/or magnitude. A pre-recorded sound is played in response to the sensed movement. The speed and/or pitch at which the pre-recorded sound is played is a function of the sensed movement parameter. There may be one or more pre-recorded sounds from which playback is chosen. In one embodiment, hardwired circuits set the characteristics of the generated sound in accordance with the accelerometer output. In a second embodiment, the software selects which pre-recorded sound to play and sets the characteristics of the sound based upon parameters sensed by the accelerometer.

Abstract: Crossbows having two trigger safety locks. Operatively connected to a trigger is a trigger lock element that in one position prevents the trigger from moving. To prevent inadvertent contact between a cocking slide and a released stretched cord of the crossbow, a slide lock element engages the trigger lock element until the slide lock element is disengaged by the cocking slide moving out of the way. To prevent an improperly configured projectile from being discharged a projectile lock element engages the trigger lock element until a properly configured projectile is loaded onto a drum causing the projectile lock element to disengage from the trigger lock element.

Abstract: An illustrative toy vehicle is provided having a two-section chassis and a pivot mechanism rotatably attaching the two sections. The vehicle has the ability to move in multiple orientations and execute movements including a side rollover movement where the pivot mechanism assists in directing the vehicle to roll over from a first orientation to a second orientation about a central axis. A modified wheel design further assists in facilitating movements including the rollover movement. The vehicle may perform movements without user control where the vehicle responds to external factors, such as objects or terrain or the vehicle may use control systems such as radio or remote control with a transmitter/receiver pair, on vehicle switches or sensors utilizing interactive preprogrammed content.

Abstract: Provided herein is a set of card-like structure and connector toys for building; the set comprising one or more card-like structures and one or more end cap connectors, wherein the one or more end cap connectors comprise one or more slots for inserting the card-like structures. Also provided herein is a connector toy or a kit of connector toys; comprising one or more slots for inserting card-like structures for building.

Abstract: Hip joint assemblies, and posable toy figures that incorporate the hip joint assemblies, including a pelvis housing having a front portion and a back portion, where the front and back portions in combination define side openings in the pelvis housing, and a contoured friction plate vertically disposed within the pelvis housing. The hip joint assembly further includes two leg sections, each leg section having a disk member attached via a hip post, and each leg combined with the pelvis housing so that the disk member lies within the pelvis housing and the hip post passes through a side opening so that the face of the disk member abuts a face of the contoured friction plate, and the frictional interaction between the disk face and the friction plate renders the attached leg posable as it pivots around the axis defined by its hip post.

Abstract: A novelty straw assembly has a first straw section and a second straw section. Both sections interconnect to a manifold. A diaphragm is coupled to the manifold, wherein the diaphragm expands and contracts with changes in pressure within the manifold. Linkage assemblies are moved by the diaphragm as the diaphragm expands and contracts. A toy with moving parts is mounted between the two straw sections. The moving parts are coupled to the linkage assemblies and are moved by the linkage assemblies as a person drinks through the novelty straw assembly.

Abstract: A hockey practice device in one embodiment includes a base for resting on a horizontal surface, a motor, a rotating firing wheel coupled to the motor, and a puck feed ramp mounted proximate to the firing wheel on the base. The feed ramp includes an arcuately curved and elongated feed surface arranged to slideably engage a puck. In one arrangement, the firing wheel is rotatable in a vertical rotational plane which is arranged in an off-axis manner from the centerline of the ramp feed surface. This engages the puck off center, thereby inducing spin to the puck when it is discharged from the device toward a target which replicates a pass from a hockey stick. A puck loader is provided that holds a plurality of puck which are automatically dispensed in sequential fashion at pre-selected time intervals to the feed ramp.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism for a crossbow that includes a housing having a channel for receiving an arrow, a trigger arm carried by the housing, a bowstring latch for retaining a bowstring in a cocked position that is pivotally carried by the housing and engagable with the trigger arm, and a dry-fire safety (DFS) latch pivotally carried by the housing and engagable with the bowstring latch, wherein the DFS latch substantially retains the bowstring latch in the cocked position when the trigger arm is actuated without the arrow seated in the channel.

Abstract: A bubble generating apparatus includes an air flow generator, a liquid tray defined by a floor and sidewalls and having one or more bubble forming ports therein, and a pivot arm coupled to a motor for pivoting the pivot arm about an axis so that during pivoting a bubble generating member of the pivot arm passes over one of the bubble forming ports, the air flow generator positioned to direct an air stream through the one or more bubble forming ports, and a gravity feed liquid reservoir, wherein the liquid tray is configured to generate bubbles from the liquid when the air flow generator directs the air stream through the one or more bubble forming ports while the pivot arm pivots about the axis.

Abstract: A removable paddle attachment assembly is provided. The attachment assembly may include a attachment bracket terminating at opposing saddles, a handle saddle for engaging a first portion of a watercraft paddle and an activity saddle for engaging an activity device, whereby the activity device is removably yet rigidly secured to the watercraft paddle so that the activity device may be employed for game-playing and/or exercise-training purposes, while not impairing the performance and functionality of the watercraft paddle. The attachment bracket provides at least one attachment strap cleat so that a attachment strap may be stretched from one lateral surface of the attachment bracket to an opposing lateral surface thereof, thereby securely sandwiching the first and a second portion of the watercraft paddle against the handle saddle.

Abstract: A compound bow comprising a handle portion having a first limb and a second limb extending outwardly therefrom, a wide body cam assembly pivotally coupled to the first limb near an outer end thereof, and a dual wheel assembly pivotally coupled to the second limb near an outer end thereof. The wide body cam assembly comprises a main sheave and a collector sheave located on opposite sides of a cable sheave. The main sheave is spaced apart from the cable sheave by a first distance sufficient to permit arrows to be fired from the bow free from interference by a cable without the use of a cable guard. The dual wheel assembly comprises a feed out sheave and a take in sheave separated by a second distance which is larger than the first distance. The feed out sheave is positioned substantially within a plane defined by the main sheave.

Abstract: A string guide for a bow including first and second cams are mounted to first and second bow limbs, respectively. Each of the cams includes a string guide journal, an upper power cable take-up journal, and a lower power cable take-up journal. The draw string is arranged in a reverse draw configuration. The upper and lower power cables are received in each of the respective upper and lower power cable take-up journals and are displaced away from the respective draw string journals as the bow is drawn from the released configuration to the drawn configuration. In one embodiment, the upper and lower power cable take-up journals are helical in configuration. As a result of this configuration the cams can rotate more than 270 degrees, and preferably more than 300 degrees, as the bow is drawn from the released configuration to the drawn configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a marker-buoy deployment system having a launching module that becomes armed by inserting a marker buoy, then laterally launches a loaded marker buoy in response to a user command. In an illustrative embodiment, launching module may be spring operated. In some embodiments, the release device may be foot operated. In an exemplary embodiment, a safety device may prevent an accidental launch, for example, from a trailered boat. In some embodiments, a visual indicator may indicate whether the safety is on, or the buoy has been loaded or launched. In some embodiments, a deployed-buoy location system may record the location coordinates of one or more deployed marker buoys. In an exemplary embodiment, marker buoys may be loaded automatically from a magazine each time a marker buoy is deployed. In some embodiments, marker-buoys may advantageously be deployed by a boater whose hands are otherwise occupied.

Abstract: An amusement device having a base with a controller, an interchangeable rotatable inclined game board having a plurality of rolling element pathways thereon, and a rolling element that can be introduced onto the interchangeable game board and manipulated by the user through rotation of the controller to move through a plurality of pathways to an exit hole. The exit chute is alignable, by rotation of the game board using the controller, with a gap in a stabilizing ring and an adjacent recess in the base, to enable the gravitationally assisted removal of a rolling element from the play surface to a storage compartment to store the rolling elements that are successfully moved to the exit chute by the user.

Abstract: A bowstring release is described herein. The bowstring release has, in an embodiment, a release body and a hook for holding a bowstring. The bowstring release includes a trigger coupled to the release body, and the trigger has a roller for operation of the release.

Abstract: A ball pit apparatus for use with a plurality of balls. The ball pit apparatus includes: a base portion configured to provide a ball pit for holding a plurality of balls, wherein the base portion includes one or more inflatable side walls configured to, when inflated, extend around a periphery of the base portion; a roof portion configured to provide a ball chamber for holding a plurality of balls above the base portion; one or more inflatable supports configured to, when inflated, hold the roof portion above the base portion; a suction inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the ball chamber so that, when suction is provided at the suction inlet, suction is also provided to the ball chamber; a ball inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the ball chamber so that, when suction is provided to the ball chamber, a ball received at the ball inlet is drawn into the ball chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for moving an anatomical model of a fetus inside a mannequin having a birth canal. The system comprises a descent mechanism and a rotation mechanism. The descent mechanism is integrated in the mannequin and can move an anatomical model of a fetus longitudinally towards the birth canal of the mannequin. The rotation mechanism is mounted to the descent mechanism and can rotate the anatomical model of the fetus. The model of the fetus is inserted in the rotation mechanism. Also provided is a childbirth simulator comprising a mannequin with a birth canal, and the aforementioned system integrated in the mannequin for moving an anatomical model of a fetus inside the mannequin.