Abstract: A toy launcher with a housing and a toy projectile holder thereon. A lever arm extends outside the housing and is connected for pivoting movement relative thereto. A piston and cylinder arrangement is located in the housing, with the piston being resiliently biased toward a first end of the cylinder and being moveable toward a second end thereof to a cocked position by the lever arm being pivoted from a first position to a second position. The cylinder is configured to deliver compressed air to the toy projectile holder. A releasable piston catch holds the piston in the cocked position, and is releasable by the trigger or movement of the lever arm itself such that the piston is driven by the biasing element toward the first end of the cylinder to deliver compressed air to the toy projectile holder for launching. The toy projectile can be a foam dart.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining a motion characteristic of a projectile ejected from a toy gun. The device comprises a body defining a channel for receiving a moving projectile from the toy gun; a detecting unit configured to detect motion of the projectile in the channel; and a processing module configured to generate data defining a motion characteristic of the moving projectile based on the detected motion of the projectile in the channel. The invention also relates to a device assembly having the described device, and a support releasably connectable with and provides support to the device. The support is movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. When in the extended configuration, the support is adapted to stand freely on a surface to support the connected device; and when in the retracted configuration, provides a handle to allow the device to be held.

Abstract: A viewing instrument has an optical module having a first light pathway for conveying visible light reflected from an object to an eye of a user viewing the object; a thermal radiation detecting module having a thermal radiation detector adapted to detect thermal radiation emitted from the object being viewed to thereby generate one or more signals; an aiming module having at least one visible light-emitting member electrically connected with the thermal radiation detecting module, wherein the aiming module is adapted to receive the one or more generated signals from the thermal radiation detecting module, and in response to the received one or more signals, project a visible mark along the first light pathway to the eye of the user. The invention also provides a toy gun having the viewing instrument as described above.

Abstract: A viewing instrument has an optical module having a first light pathway for conveying visible light reflected from an object to an eye of a user viewing the object; a thermal radiation detecting module having a thermal radiation detector adapted to detect thermal radiation emitted from the object being viewed to thereby generate one or more signals; an aiming module having at least one visible light-emitting member electrically connected with the thermal radiation detecting module, wherein the aiming module is adapted to receive the one or more generated signals from the thermal radiation detecting module, and in response to the received one or more signals, project a visible mark along the first light pathway to the eye of the user. The invention also provides a toy gun having the viewing instrument as described above.

Abstract: A night vision attachment for a SmartPhone by which the camera of the SmartPhone is enabled to view or take digital photos of objects under very low light ambient light levels. The night vision attachment comprises a housing for receiving and locating components of the attachment and has portions adapted to mate with a wall of the camera through which the phone camera lens images object space. Located in the attachment housing are an image detector sensitive to infrared (IR), an objective lens for forming images on the image detector whereby the image detector operates to generate image output signals representative of detected images, a display arranged to receive the image output signals from the image detector and to generate a visible image; and an eyepiece for viewing images formed on the display and permitting the camera of the phone to focus on the display images when the attachment is mated to a phone. IR LEDs are used to illuminate scenes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bubble generating apparatus including a body portion, a bubble ring, a blower and a sound sensor. The bubble generating apparatus is designed to generate bubbles in response to sounds detected by the sound sensor. When sound is detected by the sensor, the blower is activated thereby directing air through the bubble ring in response to those sounds.

Abstract: A wireless scoring and gaming system includes a plurality of basketball goal sets and a receiving peripheral. The system supports RF, IR or similar transmissions amongst the scoring transmitters of the basketball goal sets and the scoring receiver of the receiving peripheral. The receiving peripheral includes a scoring controller comprising logic to calculate a score and drive circuitry for an LCD or LED alphanumeric display and/or video display. The receiving peripheral can light up and multiplex a score as well as output appropriate audio sound bites via a variety of means, and can accurately output the score of opposing players or teams via wireless control and activation.

Abstract: An adaptable night vision system comprises a series of individual night vision function providing modules that are adapted to selectively releasably interface with others in the system so that, when mated, each combination provides a product whose features are not available with the individual modules themselves. Such modules comprise a combined camera and illumination module, separate illumination and camera modules, a display module, auxiliary optics module for observing display images when close to the naked eye, and communication link modules. The modules are adapted with common interfaces to easily combine with base units to form a head mount night vision device, a hand held night vision device, a remote camera device, a toy vehicle, and a hand held vehicle controller.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bubble generating apparatus including a body portion, a bubble ring, a blower and a sound sensor. The bubble generating apparatus is designed to generate bubbles in response to sounds detected by the sound sensor. When sound is detected by the sensor, the blower is activated thereby directing air through the bubble ring in response to those sounds.