Abstract: A toy vehicle is operatively driven by an electric motor having a storage capacitor coupled in parallel therewith. The capacitor and motor are coupled to a pair of underside contacts on the toy vehicle for charging. The toy vehicle underside further includes an aperture and an elongated slot. A cooperating charger/launcher includes a vehicle receiving surface upon which a wheel pedestal is positioned between the area at the rear of the vehicle for raising the vehicle rear wheels. The charger/launcher further includes an interlock post received within the aperture formed on the vehicle undersurface and a safety rib received within the elongated slot of the vehicle. A pair of electrical contacts are positioned on each side of the protective rib and are coupled to a battery supply within the launcher for charging the vehicle capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention is a device that simulates a radioactive, bacteriological and/or hazardous chemical source and a radioactivity, bacteriological and/or hazardous chemical detector, to train individuals in the correct use of a real radioactivity, bacteriological and/or hazardous chemical detector. A magnet, ultrasound emitter, or passive radio identification device (PRID) is used to simulate the hazardous material source. The PRID may include a magnet. The simulated detector includes a Hall effect device to detect the magnet when used. When the magnet is detected as a trainee moves the simulated detector close to the PRID, the simulated detector outputs a 50 ms RF burst to activate the PRID. The simulated detector may transmit the burst every 250 ms when the magnet is not used in the PRID. Once activated, the PRID waits for completion of the 50 ms pulse, and then transmits a signal that identifies the type of contamination to the simulated detector.

Abstract: Improvements in the form of articulated structures for dolls or puppet bodies are disclosed. The improvements include a structure or skeleton-like framework in which the various elements and members which comprise it are connected with one another at their ends by link connections which in combination with the structure of the referenced ends constitute ball and socket articulations. The link connections are formed by two spheres 8a connected by a radial appendix 8b, over which is injected the integrating material making up the semispherical catches 9, constructed in the ends of the elements or members of the skeleton-like framework. The improvements are applicable in the manfuacture of articulated structures for dolls which permit stable and voluntary positioning of their members or connecting parts.

Abstract: A miniature toy cooking oven having a conveyor belt for movement of a simulated food product through the oven mimicing the cooking process. The toy oven is provided with a oven cavity and a storage cavity and hinged doors in a side wall to provide access to the cavities. The toy conveyor oven is useful for pretend cooking and delivering of pizzas as well as other foods and the playset includes the oven, miniature play pizzas, miniature pizza delivery pouch and a delivery pizza cap.

Abstract: Different types of measuring devices detachably built up with different elements are provided. The elements for forming the built-up measuring devices include suitable numbers of connecting rule elements, corner elements, swing elements, fixing bars, and fixing sleeves. The measuring devices that may be built up with the elements include but not limit to ruler, square, three-dimensional square, and arithmetic balance. These measuring devices integrate functions of many commercially available intellectual aids and can be used to take linear, area and cubic measures, practice four fundamental operations, and learn concepts about coordinates.

Abstract: A reading machine for a blind or visually impaired person includes a computer system that causes the computer to load a definition file in accordance with the current word whose definition a user desires the reading machine to read aloud, extract from said definition file text corresponding to at least a first definition contained in said file, and synthesize speech corresponding to the extracted text to permit the definition to be read aloud. The reading machine includes a user input device including a user activated button that produces a signal that causes the computer to enter a definition mode to read a definition of current word being spoken by the reading machine.

Abstract: A combination toy and packaging assembly which is suitable for mailing without additional packaging includes a toy, preferably a plush toy animal, having predetermined areas thereon for receiving mailing and return addresses, and for indicating proper placement of postage. The sender of the toy can write the name and address of the receiving person onto the toy. The toy can be further provided with additional areas to write messages, pockets for gift items, flaps for pictures, electronic voice chips for outputting voice or musical greetings, strings for hanging the toy as an ornament, pins for attaching the toy to clothing, etc. The plush toy animal is received within a transparent, flexible plastic casing which substantially conforms to the outer surface of the toy. The casing includes a resealable opening for inserting and removing the toy from the casing.

Abstract: Multi-media technology is applied to the testing of children, brain damaged adults and the general population using standard psychological and educational assessment tools. To avoid the inherent bias occurring when a tester speaks in a language or dialect not fully comprehended by the student or other human subject, the multi-media computer has a linguistic adaptation means, such as a sound card and data associated therewith, which can produce sounds, such as test instructions, in the most appropriate language and dialect of the test taker, such as a student, so that the human tester can provide the human subject with instructions for responding to the psychological evaluation. The human subject is exposed to computer-generated multi-media psychological evaluative probing, so that the human subject can respond to the computer-generated psychological evaluative probing. The computer tallies and records the student's responses and analyzes the human subject's recorded responses.

Abstract: A raised character display structure for an educational toy includes a label having a first character printed on one side thereof and a layer having a first and a second opposite side. The layer's second side has a projection defining a second character shaped substantially identical to the first character and made of a non-opaque material. The layer is disposed on the label with the first side of the layer adjacent to the one side of the label and with the second character substantially coincident with the first character on the label so that the first character may be viewed through the second character and that a user is provided with an illusion that the second character has the color and/or pattern of the printed first character.

Abstract: A handwriting analysis system comprises a set of "flash cards", the cards including a number of different subsets of cards. Each subset is associated with a different handwriting indicator (i.e., "size", "slant", etc.), and each card within a subset illustrates a different handwriting example associated with that indicator (i.e., for slant, the cards may be "right", "left", "no slant"). Each card includes a brief description of a personality trait associated with that handwriting sample. An analysis is performed by reviewing the entire set of flash cards and selected the card from each subset that best matches the sample, then reviewing the various personality traits described on the selected cards.

Abstract: A touch controlled multiple functional terrestrial globe is disclosed. A ball is a transparent round ball with a hollow inner space, a world map is depicted on the surface of the ball; a palm shape supporting frame for supporting the ball by the part between the thumb and the index finger. The under-pan of a ball driven device is firmly secured to an axial rod through a positioning piece for bearing the ball, a belt disk is installed on the lower portion thereof, while the belt disk is connected to another belt disk under the central shaft of the motor through a belt, therefore, by starting a decelerated motor, the ball is driven to rotate. A light source is mounted on the top of an axial rod and can emit light. A seat is installed on the lower portion of the palm shape supporting frame, a touch controlled sensing circuit system is installed therewithin, it can connected to the decelerated motor and the bulb base through a dual loop touch controlled switch circuit.

Abstract: A novel educational audio playback device is disclosed which, in the preferred embodiment, is in the shape of a simulated telephone. On the body of the apparatus are a plurality of buttons, each of the buttons having a hinged cover mounted thereon. These hinged covers have indicia on their front, this indicia, in the preferred embodiment, being letters of an alphabet. Upon the user opening the hinged cover, a simulated sound of a telephone ringing is generated and the associated button is exposed. On each of the buttons is a symbol or picture that is representative of a character, object or thing that is related to the letter of the alphabet on the hinged cover. The letter "H", for example, could contain a picture of a nursery rhyme figure, such as Humpty Dumpty. Upon the user depressing the associated button, an index is generated that tells a circuit or microprocessor where on the internal sound storage portion of the device is to be found the appropriate sound segment.

Abstract: A kit for assisting in the fabrication of a model is disclosed. Such kit includes a compact disk positionable within the computer for being read and for the issuing of commands to the printer in response to input from a user. The compact disk includes a plurality of separate and distinct programs, each program representing a particular model to be fabricated. Each program includes instruction data adapted to be printed out by the printer and read by a user. Each program further includes template data adapted to be printed out and used by a user in the fabricating of a model. The instructions and templates correspond to the program selected by a user. The templates are adapted to be printed out by the printer and cut by the user in accordance with the printed out instructions in a correlated manner in response to commands from the computer and input from the user from any particular program on the compact disk.

Abstract: The invention provides a card for learning purposes, which has at least two holes 7, 8 of essentially the same size. At least three separate sections 9, 10, 11 are printed on the front side 1 of the card. In each case one section 9, 10 is assigned to one of the holes 7, 8. The card also has a rear side 6, which has a picture 5 or graphics printed on it, the picture 5 or the graphics on the rear side 6 of the card being arranged such that at least one of the holes 7, 8 is not an integrated constituent part of the picture 5 or of the graphics on the rear side 6 of the card.

Abstract: A mechanical interface for providing high bandwidth and low noise mechanical input and output for computer systems. A gimbal mechanism includes multiple members that are pivotably coupled to each other to provide two revolute degrees of freedom to a user manipulatable about a pivot point located remotely from the members at about an intersection of the axes of rotation of the members. A linear axis member, coupled to the user object, is coupled to at least one of the members, extends through the remote pivot point and is movable in the two rotary degrees of freedom and a third linear degree of freedom. Transducers associated with the provided degrees of freedom include sensors and actuators and provide an electromechanical interface between the object and a computer. Capstan band drive mechanisms transmit forces between the transducers and the object and include a capstan and flat bands, where the flat bands transmit motion and force between the capstan and interface members.

Abstract: A novelty article for use in connection with liquid has a body and a generating mechanism, which is attached to the body, for generating electrically produced special effects, such as audible sounds and visible lights, so as to enhance amusement for a user. The generating mechanism is provided with an activating mechanism, which is attached to the body, for activating the generating mechanism in response to contact by liquid. In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the body includes a drinking straw having a passageway for liquid. The activating mechanism has a pair of electrical contacts positioned in the passageway so as to activate the generating mechanism in response to liquid flow through the passageway.

Abstract: Insertable insoles of flexible air-injected elastomer material with one or both said insoles containing a lithium-battery power supply (27), a microprocessor with an internal timer, an analog/digital converter, and an actuator (28), connected by at least one wire (29) to a plurality of electronic sensors (12) wrapped around the toes of the foot. The actuator vibrates a plurality of raised nodes (20) on the insole(s) with the speed and intensity of vibrations in either direct or inverse response to the level of stress experienced, as measured by physiological signals such as galvanic skin response. A thin foam lining covers the top surface of the elastomer material and cushions the feet. In addition, a washable, stretchable nylon lining (30) separates the foam from the sole of the bare foot, but a small elastic hole (32) near the toes permits said wire and sensors to extend to the skin of the toes.

Abstract: A magnetic block including an upper face and a lower face and side faces therebetween and a plurality of magnets located within the blocks.

Abstract: The invention includes a teaching machine that presents questions to the user who responds with answers. Graded interval recall is accomplished by storing the exact time and date when the user learns a correct answer. The machine determines the presentation mode and review schedule for each unit according to the length of real time that has elapsed since the user learns the material. Precise timing is designed to bridge the threshold between short-term and long-term memory by interrupting default sequencing of material to review items at an exact preset interval from the time the user learned the material.

Abstract: A playback mechanism is provided including a housing. Also included is a plurality of components each mounted on the housing. Such components including a speaker for transmitting audible signals via free space and a memory connected to the speaker for transmitting the audible signals therefrom. Connected to the memory is an activation switch for playing back audio signals only during the actuation thereof.