Abstract: A target shooting apparatus including an operator controlled simulated gun which projects a light beam of short duration toward a target each time the trigger is actuated. The simulated gun must be cocked between each "shot" which also resets a recoiling mechanism to give a true to life operational effect to the gun. The target includes a frame fronted by a simulated fence on top of which a plurality of objects, such as bottles, tin cans, and the like may be placed. A target impeller is provided on the frame in proximity to each of the objects so that, when actuated, the impeller will cause physical movement of the associated target knocking it off of the frame. The target impellers are actuated by a control mechanism, as a photo transistor therein senses the proper alignment of the light beam from the gun through one of a plurality of apertures located on the frame below each of the objects.

Abstract: A toy lawn mower shaped like a conventional wheeled lawn mower and including an enclosure in the shape of a grass catcher which simulates a real grass catcher. The enclosure, which has at least one transparent side, includes a mechanism located near its bottom to agitate grass-like particles to simulate the appearance of grass blown from the mower housing into a grass catcher. The agitating a mechanism is operatively connected to a wheel axle of the toy to agitate the particles in response to movement of the toy. The toy lawn mower also has means to vibrate the lawn mower so that the grass simulating particles will collect at the bottom of the enclosure for continuous reagitation. A sounding mechanism connected to a wheel axle of the toy emits a sound similar to that of a real lawn mower when the lawn mower is pushed.

Abstract: Batting practice apparatus for projecting balls upwardly into the air to be hit by a bat comprises trough for holding a plurality of balls to move in a sequence toward a feed position adjacent a stop at a lower end. A holding ring is mounted adjacent the stop for supporting a single ball in a ready position to be projected upwardly into the air. A feeder is provided for sequentially moving the balls from a feed position in the trough adjacent the stop into a ready position in the holding ring and a motor in the form of a foot operated lever and a time delay mechanism is operable for forcefully propelling the balls upwardly out of the holding ring so that a batter may step into position and swing at the balls as they pop-up into the air.

Abstract: The invention comprises a preschool toy airplane including a fuselage housing a spring motor mechanism which is wound by turning a handle located at the tail. The spring motor rotates the propeller and the winding handle relative to the fuselage of the plane body. One or more toy figures are removably positioned in or on the airplane and a cam mechanism reciprocates the toy figures within the cockpit. When the motor is wound and released, the body of the plane may be supported to simulate flight or alternatively, the handle may be supported to produce various stunts.

Abstract: A sounding toy for producing musical tones and other sounds includes a reciprocating element which may be repetitively struck by the user in order to produce the sounds. The sounding toy includes a vertically reciprocating cylindrical member which moves within an aperture in the housing in a generally vertical direction. The travel of the cylindrical member is defined by the longitudinal axis of a piston secured to the interior of the housing. A deformable, hollow engagement member is mounted on the top of the cylindrical member and allows for repeated contact by the hand or a hand-held tool of the user. A sound producing mechanism, such as a whistle, is mounted or formed integrally on the cylindrical member in fluid communication with the deformable engagement member. A downward vertical force on the engagement member will cause compression or deformation thereof and force air or other fluid through the whistle moving the cylindrical member downwardly within the housing over the piston.

Abstract: A simulated vehicle instrumentation and control apparatus includes sound effects generating arrangements, indicators and displays that are controlled to simulate realistic driving conditions in response to the operation of various vehicle controls by the operator of the simulated vehicle apparatus. The vehicle controls include a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a transmission gear shift selector, and an ignition switch. In various specific embodiments, additional controls are provided including siren and light controls. The turning of an ignition key in the ignition switch to a predetermined position initiates operation of the simulated vehicle apparatus. Operation of the accelerator pedal conditions the simulated vehicle apparatus to generate simulated vehicle engine sound effects in response to subsequent operation of the transmission gear shift selector.

Abstract: A novelty toy in the shape of a skull includes a cranial shaped housing and a pivotal jaw portion. The jaw is biased to a closed position by a biasing element and includes a grip portion to be gripped by the user of the device to move the jaw to an open position. A depending handle is also defined on the skull to allow the skull to be supported by the user. A pair of lights are mounted in the eye apertures and reflectors are rotatably mounted within the apertures surrounding the lightbulbs. A gear train connects the reflectors to a manually operated gear to allow rotation of the reflectors within the housing. Each reflector includes a colored lens that may be rotated in front of the light to provide a different appearance to the toy. The lights are connected through a switch mounted within the housing to a portable power source. The switch includes a plurality of positions for producing alternate lighting or flashing effects.

Abstract: A toy vehicle is disclosed including a vehicle body or housing including a front projectile receiving channel and a separate top projectile exit channel. The housing includes a wheel actuated impeller for carrying the projectile from the front projectile receiving channel to the top projectile exit channel. An impeller stop member is provided to temporarily stop the flexible impeller to bias the impeller until sufficient biasing force is accumulated in the impeller to snap the impeller beyond the stop member and strike the projectile with the snapping force of the impeller to propel the projectile out of the projectile exit channel and thereby out of the toy vehicle.

Abstract: Practice apparatus for use in measuring azimuth angle, equivalent distance and angle of elevation of a ball that is punted, passed or kicked comprises a base including means for securing the device in fixed position on the ground or other surface. A tether line extends from the base and is connected at a free outer end with the ball which may be kicked from a tee, punted, or passed to extend and exert tension on the tether line. The angle of elevation and/or angle of azimuth of the tether line is increased or changed when the ball is kicked or thrown. The practice apparatus includes a first element for measuring and indicating the angle of elevation of the tether when the ball is moved away from a starting point by kicking or throwing, a second element for measuring the azimuth angle or direction of the path of movement of the ball and a third element for indicating the equivalent distance that the ball would be moved except for the restraint of the tether line.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a stationary base with a playing surface and housing rotatably mounted thereon in driving engagement with a spring motor. The playing surface includes a hemispherical central portion and a centrally mounted chute for dropping playing objects onto the playing surface. A circular flange is secured to the outer peripheral edge of the central portion and includes a plurality of receptacles, a first preselected number of which are of a configuration to retain the playing objects received from the central portion. A second preselected number of the receptacles are of a configuration to allow the playing object to pass therethrough. Pivotally mounted on the base are one or more player operated levers for engaging a playing object captured within one of the first type of receptacles for attempted dislodgement and movement to one of the second type for a score.

Abstract: A toy motor vehicle includes a body supported by wheels for rolling movement over a supporting surface. The body is provided with a first compartment having a transparent wall segment and a second compartment in communication therewith having opaque walls. A plurality of balls representing gallons of fuel are adapted to be contained in the respective compartments and means is provided for moving the balls from the first compartment into the second compartment as the toy vehicle is moved around, thus simulating the using up and eventually running out of gas when all the balls are moved out of view into the second, opaque-walled compartment. A gas pump element is detachably connectable with the vehicle and includes a rotating flexible shaft which is adapted to drive a mechanism in the vehicle for returning the fuel elements or balls from the opaque compartment back into the first compartment to simulate refueling of the vehicle at a gas pump.

Abstract: A musical toy includes a plurality of tone producing, whistle-like structures arranged in pairs, each tone producing structure connected by a passageway to an hermetically sealed deformable hollow cavity or bulb. Each bulb includes a top generally flat surface having fixed surface area and a resilient, porous biasing agent which inflates the cavities to a predetermined size and configuration. When a cavity is depressed to a deflated position, compressed air is forced through connecting tubes into a sound generating structure thereby producing an audible, musical sound. Eight of the sound generating structures are provided in one apparatus to produce a unit having a full octave of notes. The sealed cavities are provided by selectively laminating a predetermined pattern of seal lines between two sheets of thermoplastic material such as soft, pliable vinyl sheets.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a cross shaped base having a plurality of radially directed legs and an operable player actuated capturing element at the end of each leg, each of which is designed to appear as a frog. A rotatable arm is mounted at the center of the base and includes, at its free end, a connector for releasably mounting one of a plurality of playing pieces, which are designed to appear as bees. A timing gear arrangement on the underside of the base rotates the arm as a crank arm is manually rotated by one of the players of the game. Each of the player operated capturing elements includes a hollow body portion and a pivoted top between which the playing pieces move, one at a time, as the arm is manually rotated. The other players of the game attempt to capture a playing piece by knocking the piece from the end of the rotatable arm into the body by pivoting the cover downwardly.

Abstract: A toy motor vehicle includes a body with a front end section, a read end section and an intermediate section for slidably interconnecting the front and rear ends for movement between a retracted, adjacent, position and an expanded, spaced apart, position. Wheels are provided on the end sections for supporting the vehicle to roll over a playing surface and a manually controlled drive element is provided for selectively moving the front and rear end sections toward and away from each other between retracted and expanded positions. The intermediate section is provided with a number of sockets of distinct shape and playing pieces of matching distinct shapes in the form of animated characters adapted to be placed in particular sockets of the same shape for exposure when the front and rear end sections are moved apart to the expanded position.

Abstract: An animated action toy in the form of a prehistoric bird comprises a hollow body having a head at one end and a tail at the opposite end adapted for use in holding the toy in the hand for manipulation thereof. A pair of flappable wings are mounted on the body for control by a trigger. A beak is formed on the head including a beak member which is movably mounted to open and close and when so activated an internal sound generator is operated to produce a cackling sound. The bird includes a pair of talons extending from the underside of the body and each includes a plurality of claws which are manually controlled for gripping and releasing external objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inflatable toy vehicle including a main housing or chassis supported by a plurality of rotatably mounted wheels for peripherally engaging a suitable surface. A rear cargo portion includes a plurality of apertures or windows and encloses a flexible, inflatable sack. Collapsible portions of the sack adjacent the windows are decorated and formed to appear as animal heads so that internal pressure will cause the formed portions to expand outwardly and take the predetermined shape. A pump in the form of a bellows is provided in the front portion or cab of the vehicle and operated by manually reciprocating a figure mounted on the top thereof for inflating the sack.

Abstract: A skill type game having a playing area and two goal areas at opposite ends of the playing area includes a sound actuated flipper at each goal area for selectively blocking and propelling a playing object. The game players control the operation of each of the flippers by shouting or emitting other sounds in an attempt to project the playing object into the other players goal area and prevent the playing object from entering his own goal area. The sound actuated flipper arrangement includes control circuitry to provide an automatic lock-out feature to prevent sustained sounds from continually and/or continuously activating the flippers. The control circuitry of the sound actuated flipper arrangement provides a first predetermined time interval during which the flipper is operated and a second predetermined time interval within which operation of the flippers is inhibited. The playing area is defined by two relatively open areas each inclined upwardly from one of the goal areas to a center line.

Abstract: This invention relates to an amusement device which will provide an amusing series of events, in a chain reaction fashion, culminating in the entrapment of a playing piece. A first element is selectively actuated which causes the release of a first ball down a ramp and the activation of a second element which permits a fanciful ladder element to be released down a spiral post. This latter action drives a third element causing the release of a second ball which ultimately actuates an ejector device which propels a playing piece through the air. The first released ball if properly aimed and timely released has preset a target element for receipt of the playing piece which actuates closure of the target element due to its weight.

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle having the appearance of an insect, such as a spider, includes a main body portion housing a drive mechanism for propelling the vehicle across a suitable supporting surface. The drive mechanism is shiftable for operating a cord winch for pulling the vehicle or drawing objects toward the mouth of the spider. A plurality of legs are mounted to the body portion by flexible couplings which permit the legs to engage the supporting surface so that they move randomly, during movement of the vehicle, to simulate a crawling action. A cockpit provided on the rear portion of the body is covered by a transparent shield and provided with indicia to define the control quarters of a mechanical spider device.

Abstract: A competitive action game includes a playing field which is inclined downwardly from its center to first and second player stations at opposite ends. Shooting assemblies are positioned at the player stations to shoot projectiles at one of two targets mounted for transverse movement across the center of the playing field. Each target includes a rotary disc member, a release mechanism and a biasing device to bias the target toward one side of the field. Each target release mechanism also includes a latch engageable with a rotary member and having a portion extending adjacent the playing field for contact by the projectiles that will actuate the latch allowing the target to move toward the scoring end of the field under the face of the biasing means. A score indicating flag is mounted at the end of the track to indicate the completion of the game.