Abstract: Improvements in automatically returning yo-yos in which an effective centripetal/centrifugal movement, vector, signal and/or urge of one or more parts of the yo-yo is translated or allowed to be translated into an effectively reciprocating movement, vector, signal and/or urge, substantially along or parallel to the axis of rotation of the yo-yo, of another part or parts of the yo-yo such that the yo-yo string and/or the lateral face(s) of the string bearing member are seized, tripped, freed, laterally supported and/or centered in response to the speed of rotation of the yo-yo. The yo-yo of the present invention displays characteristics of extended spinning time, improved balance and adaptability for performing tricks while providing an easy to operate yo-yo for beginners including an automatic return facility.

Abstract: An illuminated toy pail includes a translucent pail body, a handle attached to the pail body, and a retainer affixed to the interior of the pail body which is effective for holding a chemical light stick within the interior of the pail body. The bottom of the retainer includes a press-fit flange which is press fit into a pre-formed hole in the bottom wall of the pail body, and the top of the retainer includes a vertical bore which releasably receives and holds the light stick in a vertical orientation within the interior of the pail. The activated chemical light sticks can be easily inserted into the pail to illuminate the pail, thereby providing both novelty and safety aspects to the pail. When used, for example, in a Halloween, pumpkin-shaped pail body, the light causes the translucent pail body to glow as if a candle were lighted inside the pumpkin, provides a small amount of light to illuminate the ground below, and provides a highly visible, lighted safety indicator for passing vehicles.

Abstract: A bottle includes an outer vessel formed of a transparent or clear material and an inner vessel slightly smaller than the outer vessel and received therein to create a space therebetween. A cap is secured to the outer vessel and defines apertures therein. The outer vessel defines a closed upper end having apertures aligned with the cap apertures. A valve body providing check valves operable in opposite directions is coupled to a pair of straws which in turn are directed upwardly through the respective apertures and are joined at a common pump bulb. The pump bulb is formed of a resilient elastic material and cooperates with the check valves to displace liquid from the outer vessel to the inner vessel as the bulb is repeatedly squeezed and released. A doll cooperating with the bottle receives the pump bulb in a mouth opening and provides mouth motion to squeeze and release the pump bulb.

Abstract: A wall mounted figure that has swinging legs and arms and a swaying head that continuously moves in dancing movements is constructed with two pendulums with permanent magnets influenced by electromagnetic fields generated by two current-carrying coils. The pendulums operate independently so that the legs and the head and arms swing at different rates to give an appearance of a person dancing the twist.

Abstract: A new dummy for water rescue practice for facilitating the honing by sailors of skills necessary for the successful rescue of a person fallen overboard. The inventive device includes a hollow, air-tight head portion having a top section, a neck section, and a bottom section, the neck section being disposed intermediate the top section and the bottom section, a pole having an upper section and a lower section, the pole upper section being perpendicularly and fixedly attached to a bottom section lower portion, a weight fixedly attached to the pole lower section, and a rope releasably attachable to the bottom section.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for music box ornament includes a music box which houses therein a wind-up spring and a barrel as a power source, a holding frame attached to the body has a pair of spaced flanges holding a sleeve therebetween and a drive wheel attached to the spindle of the barrel having a stub slidably engages with a slot in a motion bar. The motion bar has a finger attached to a bottom end of a tappet rod which moveably runs through the sleeve. The sleeve has an axial slit on a lateral wall to enable the finger to move axially up or down. There is an ornament attached to the top end of the tappet rod. When the wind-up spring is activated and music is sound, the spindle rotates and turn the drive wheel which in turn moves the tappet rod up or down through the holding bar. The tappet rod moves in the sleeve smoothly and steadily. The ornament attached to the tappet rod also is moved up or down steadily to create amusement effect.

Abstract: A screen saver provides that questions and answers are displayed to a user while in a foreground screen saver mode. Scores may be kept track of, and users may customize the database, or select different sets of data to use.

Abstract: Replicas of prehistoric lizards which consist of a replica core body part with interchangeably attachable replica head, and/or neck, and/or limb, and/or body armor parts which combine to depict different species within a given biological Order or Family. 3/4" circular magnets 11 are applied to appropriate surfaces on the replica core body parts and replica head, neck, limb, or body armor parts, allowing the parts to attach and detach quickly and easily.

Abstract: A method and device for assisting handwriting training which fosters a proper tripod writing grip, places the ring and little finger into a proper handwriting position and also helps to build the handwriting muscles. The device for assisting handwriting training is comprised of a wristband having an attached string with a charm and a pencil loop attached to the wristband. The method and device for assisting handwriting training is especially useful for persons having decreased hand strength or an inappropriate grasp pattern and for assisting children to learn proper grasp pattern.

Abstract: A package adapted to stage a performance by a toy figure resembling a known character. The package includes a carton whose a flat rear wall is joined to a semi-cylindrical front wall to define a cavity, the front wall having a bay window therein. Behind the rear wall and hinged thereto a flap that is normally folded over the rear wall and fastened thereto. When the flap is unfolded, it creates in combination with the rear wall a stage backdrop having printed thereon material relating to the character, such as dialog taken from movies involving the character. Received within the cavity is an insert on which is mounted the figure, as well as a miniature stage and stage props, all of which can be seen through the window. In play, the flap is unfolded to erect the stage backdrop, the stage is placed in front of the backdrop with the figure standing thereon and with the props adjacent thereto. By manipulating the figure relative to the props against the backdrop, a player can enact a scene involving the character.

Abstract: A teaching apparatus comprises a three-dimensional geometrical object having a surface divided into a plurality of segments, each of which includes a question relating to a particular field of liberal arts study. In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the three-dimensional geometrical object is a sphere, and the plurality of segments are defined by visible lines provided on the sphere's surface. In embodiments of the teaching apparatus of the instant invention, the particular fields of liberal arts study include the fields of music, literature, and art. For each of these embodiments, the particular questions are applicable to approximately any song and artist, story and author, and piece and artist. At least one of the questions used is designed to elicit emotional responses from a user. Alternatively, at least one of the questions is designed to elicit individualized responses from a user.

Abstract: A method for constructing a physical scale model of a structure includes creating a computer model of a structure using a structure design program run on a personal computer, printing out views of the interior and exterior walls of the structure on adhesive-backed paper, affixing the pieces of paper bearing the printed views of the structure to pieces of rigid stock such as cardboard or foam core to create walls, then cutting or trimming the pieces as necessary and assembling them to form the three-dimensional scale model of the structure. A kit for practicing the method contains computer software for allowing a user to custom design a building, a supply of printer-compatible adhesive-backed paper, and a supply of rigid stock of the proper thickness to represent the scale thickness of the walls of the structure.

Abstract: A deer grunt caller capable of producing sounds only at predetermined discrete pitches. The caller includes a reed supported in a tube through which air is blown. The air causes the reed to vibrate and the caller to emit a sound of a given pitch. A plurality of push-buttons extend radially through the sidewall of the tube and are capable of engaging the reed upon finger actuation to produce a sound at a predetermined pitch, such as that corresponding to a fawn, a doe or a buck. The use of finger actuated push buttons permits sounds of a given discrete pitch to be readily reproduced and prevents sounds at unwanted pitches from being emitted by the caller.

Abstract: A device which directly displays a steady state sinusoidal wave by positioning a scrolling pattern of alternating stripes (40 and 42) behind a flexible linear body comprising a vibrating rod (36) or string (50). The stripes (40 and 42) cover the outer surface of a moving body, which can be a rotating cylinder (20), spinning disk (74), or traveling belt (94) and are drawn perpendicular to the vibrating rod (36) or string (50). One set of stripes (40) is of a tonality that visually blends with the tonality of the vibrating element, and the alternate set of stripes (42) is of a tonality which contrasts with that of the vibrating element. Each respective stripe, therefore, either obscures or accentuates the segment of the vibrating element which is between it and the viewer. The viewer sees a solid wavy line in the form of a sinusoidal wave by observing the vibrating element with the stripes scrolling behind it.

Abstract: A toy missile which when let fly by a player and then caught by a catcher, produces upon impact sounds appropriate to the nature of the missile. When in the configuration of a humanoid figure, the missile includes a torso defined by a fabric casing stuffed with a soft filler. Embedded in the stuffing of the torso is a sound-producing unit powered by a battery through an impact-sensitive switch whereby when the missile is caught, on impact the switch then turns the unit on to generate sounds which are appropriate to the figure. Hinged to the torso of the figure and extending therefrom are fabric arm and leg appendages. When the player grasps one of these appendages and whirls the missile to let it fly, the torso of the figure then rotates in the course of flight, causing the appendages to stretch out from the torso to stabilize the flight.

Abstract: The doll of the invention includes an internal mechanism based on gears, cams and terminations by virtue of which a series of movements are performed to provide a) swinging of the left arm, causing a rattler attached to said arm's hand to sound; b) stopping these movements and initiating movement of the second arm, bending the arm at the elbow and closing the hand in an approaching and grabbing motion on the pacifier previously inserted in the doll's mouth, opposite movements of said second arm being performed thereafter to pull out the pacifier, it being released from the hand holding it as a result of the pacifier being attached to a tether placed around the doll's neck. This cycle is repeated every time the pacifier is placed in the doll's mouth, thus simulating real-life movements for sounding the rattler and then removing the pacifier by itself.

Abstract: A hand-held and manipulated eating toy for simulating eating, chewing, swallowing and discharge of objects by finger and thumb manipulation of a fabric mouth and throat, comprises a toy figure, which may be an animal, dinosaur, imaginary type figure, or the like, includes a mouth forming area with an introducing aperture and a discharge forming area with a discharge aperture. An inner fabric pouch is secured within the toy figure and has a first opening at a top end and a second opening at a bottom end. The first opening is positioned in the mouth forming area of the toy figure and the second opening is positioned in the discharge forming area of the toy figure. The second opening has mating pieces of hook and loop fastening material secured thereto for closure of the second opening. The inner fabric pouch is irregularly configured and has a bottom tapered base portion and a broadened portion secured to the bottom tapered base portion.

Abstract: A novelty amusement eating receptacle for supporting, rotating and sculpting a portion of ice cream or similarly malleable food while it is being consumed comprising: a hand-held housing, a cup rotatably supported by the hand-held housing and adapted to receive and contain a portion of ice cream or food product of similar consistency, and a drive mechanism in the hand-held housing for imparting rotation upon the cup and rotationally feeding its contents against a person's outstretched tongue.

Abstract: A toy having a toy body, and a roller skating accessory integral with a part of the body, with a rigid or a freely rotating wheel.

Abstract: A cosmetology training, teaching and practice system, and a make-up mannequin kit, each charcterized by provision of a soft skin make-up mannequin head having a body carrying an oval symmetrical facial configuration and plural soft skin flexible, elastic, resilient and stretchable companion mask members suitable for mounting upon the make-up mannequin head. Each of the companion mask members having, each of which is formed of size and shape conforming to the size of the make-up mannequin head and having a facial configuration identical to the facial configuration of said make-up mannequin head. Each companion mask member having a surface of skin tone and color representative of the skin tone and color of different plural human ethnic and racial origin. The selected companion mask is stretched to mount upon the make-up mannequin head and is sufficiently resilient to spring back in tight engagement with the facial configuration of the make-up mannequin head.