Abstract: A multi-stage toy vehicle includes a front portion having wheel means supporting the vehicle for rolling movement and a separate, rear portion initially nested with the front portion and also having wheels for supporting the vehicle. A detachable connector is provided between the nested together portions of the vehicle for retaining the portions in a nested condition as the vehicle is initially launched from a launching device. A biasing element is provided for ejecting the front portion of the vehicle away from the rear portion after the vehicle is launched and rolling. The launching device provides an impact against the vehicle while the front and rear portions are nested together to initially propel the vehicle from the launcher and this impact releases the detachable connector so that the biasing element is effective to eject the front portion away from the rear portion as the rolling friction begins to decrease, thus, providing a multi-stage effect.

Abstract: A mechanical, pin-ball type game apparatus comprises an enclosure for holding one or more balls including a sloping bottom wall or game board with a peripheral side wall for containing the balls as they roll downwardly on the sloped game board towards a lower end portion thereof on a scoring pass. A manually operated ball firing device is provided for shooting or propelling the balls upwardly from the lower end portion of the board towards an upper end and the balls then roll downwardly on the board and engage target devices thereon. The game apparatus includes rows of ball actuated target devices including ball engaging paddles mounted on rotatable shafts. The targets include a spring motor which is released when hit to forceably propel the ball coming in contact therewith in an opposite direction. Each time the target device is activated by ball contact, a scoring device is advanced and a bell is sounded. The release mechanism is a downwardly deflectable pad mounted on the bottom wall.

Abstract: A novel toy apparatus includes a base having a pair of spaced apart, opposite, upstanding, hollow bodies open at the upper end for containing a projectile. An ejector tongue is provided in each body for propelling the projectile out of the open top of one body toward the open top of the opposite body. A manually rotated operator is provded for sequentially activating the ejector tongue in the respective bodies so that the projectile is propelled back and forth during play.

Abstract: A device for projecting images from a film strip onto a suitable sheet of drawing paper includes a housing having a source of illumination mounted on the interior. A drawing surface is provided on the housing for supporting the drawing paper and a guideway mounting a film strip with images to be traced is located within the housing between the source of illumination and the drawing surface. A shield is rotatably mounted in the housing to block a part of the film strip from the source of illumination, so that, at any given time, only a portion of an image on the film strip is projected onto the drawing surface. A device for rotating the shield to sequentially expose the entire image to the source of illumination is provided and interconnected to a device for generating a sound as the shield is rotated. An index member is defined on the housing for indexing the film strip within the housing.

Abstract: A toy storage apparatus having a decorative outer surface designed to appear as an animate object. The apparatus is adapted for operation by a child and includes a hollow body of substantial volume for holding toys, and a top or cover pivotally mounted on the body resembling the head of an animal. A foot pedal which is designed to appear as the foot of an animal is connected through linkage to open the cover exposing the upper end of the hollow body to receive toys.

Abstract: A shape matching device includes a frame for rotatably supporting a generally conical container having a plurality of input apertures in a circumferential mantle. Each input aperture is shaped and dimensioned to allow insertion into the container of only one of a plurality of associated blocks. The tapered end of the container is truncated to provide an exit aperture dimensioned for unobstructed ejection of the associated blocks from the container. Along the interior surface of the mantle, a pair of curved longitudinal ribs is provided to support the blocks when the container is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and provide a gravitational slide for the blocks toward the exit aperture.

Abstract: A toy microscope for children comprises a base and a body extending upwardly of the base with a hollow head portion at the upper end of the body. An eye piece is provided at the upper end of the head and is formed in the shape of a cap or hat. Objects to be viewed through the lens are supported on a flower-like platform which is carried at the outer end portion of a pair of legs, pivotally secured to the base and decorated to resemble the legs of a grasshopper or other insect. The leg structure is pivotal from a generally horizontal position wherein objects to be viewed can be readily placed on the platform and removed therefrom. The platform is movable to an upwardly sloped, viewing position where the objected to be inspected are held at a selected spaced relationship from the lens in the head. An overcenter locking mechanism is provided to retain the leg structure and platform in the lower position until released by depression of an actuating lever.

Abstract: A game apparatus for use with projectiles, such as table tennis balls, including a ball receiving housing having a ball entrance and ball guide apparatus leading to a target area to receive balls propelled toward it by a player or players. Balls arriving at the target area are received by ball propelling apparatus which return or eject the balls toward the player through ball ejection guiding passage apparatus and an ejection opening. The game may be played by a single player for practice or by several players to simulate tennis, table tennis, handball or the like.

Abstract: A toy seat comprises a base with a seat mounted for movement between different levels above the base and a fluid chamber in the form of a bellows supports the seat on the base to move up and down. A hand pump is provided for supplying pressurized fluid to expand the fluid chamber to raise the seat to a level wherein suddenly the pressurized fluid in the chamber may be released to the atmosphere and the seat then settles downwardly until the pressurized fluid is again supplied to the chamber by manual operation of the pump. The toy seat also includes a whistle which is associated with an exhaust or release valve so that a whistling sound is produced whenever pressurized fluid from the seat supporting chamber is released.

Abstract: An amusement game device includes an endless loop of elongated flexible cord having an upper and a lower run. A first pulley assembly is provided to support one end of the loop and is adapted to be connected to a relatively fixed object such as a door or piece of furniture. A hand held, movable control pulley assembly is provided to support the opposite end of the loop and includes a manually rotatable sheave for moving the cord of the runs toward and away from the fixed object. A trolley is supported for movement on the cord of one of the runs of the loop to move back and forth in response to rotation of the hand held pulley. A toy aerial balloon is carried by the trolley and includes a basket with a grappling hook hanging downwardly thereof for picking up various play objects in the surrounding play area as the aerial balloon is moved around by changing the position of the hand held control pulley and by rotating the control pulley to move a balloon back and forth along the run of the loop.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a generally vertically oriented rotatable shaft mounted on a base and a playing object pivotally connected to the top of the shaft for operator controlled movement. A drive mechanism is mounted within the base and includes first and second plates mounted for reciprocal translatory movement. The second plate includes a longitudinal slot surrounding a drive gear or ratchet secured to the shaft. The slot includes opposing ratchet teeth pitched in opposite directions for alternate engagement with the drive gear. The second plate is connected to the first plate for relative movement such that one set of ratchet teeth engages the gear upon reciprocal movement of the first plate in a first direction and the other set of ratchet teeth engages the gear upon movement of the first plate in a second direction to rotate the drive gear in a single selected direction.

Abstract: A wheeled toy is provided with a frame which includes a vertically extending post on the upper end of which is fixedly mounted an inverted cup-shaped member. The frame is supported for movement over a supporting surface by means of a pair of wheels which are journaled in the frame and are mounted nonsymmetrically with respect to said post, the frame including an elongated handle by means of which the toy may be rolled along a support surface. An inner member shaped similarly to the fixed cup-shaped member is rotatably mounted on the post and is driven directly by one of the wheels through an annular flange portion of the inner member which rests on the upper edge of said one wheel. This inner member includes a flange portion which extends outwardly beyond the bottom edge of the fixed cup-shaped member, a pair of cover members being biased to an upright position when the toy is at rest substantially to enclose the fixed cup-shaped member.

Abstract: A toy gun or similar device usable with reflective target apparatus utilizes a pulsed light source and a self-contained light detector for detecting light reflected from the target apparatus back to the light detector. The gun includes an audible indicator responsive to the light detector for indicating each time a "hit" is made on the target apparatus, and also includes a resettable counter that provides an indication of the total number of such "hits" achieved in a given time period. The invention also provides a target having a pulsed light source to energize or actuate the light detector.

Abstract: An amusement set (for use particularly by children) comprises a carrying case including a pair of mating, hollow housing members pivotally connected along one edge to open and close around a peripheral seam line of each member. Each of the housing members includes internal wall structure defining a plurality of rooms at different levels and a hollow elevator shaft is mounted in coaxial alignment with the axis of pivotal interconnection between the housing members to extend between the different room levels. Openings are provided in the elevator shaft walls at different levels and an elevator is provided for manual movement up and down within the shaft between the different room levels. The amusement set includes a plurality of toy figurines which represent fictional play characters such as bugs and/or insects. The upper walls of the housing members are formed to resemble the surface of the ground and a plurality of openings are provided for access to the rooms within the housing members from the top.

Abstract: A musical toy includes a first housing in which musical tone bars are mounted. A striking instrument rotatably mounted within a second housing and rotatably coupled to a motor for selection actuation to strike a selected musical bar. The second housing is pivotally connected to the first housing to allow the striking instrument to be positioned over a selected musical bar to produce a desired musical note.

Abstract: A game apparatus based on a sea monster theme includes a rotatably mounted platform defining a plurality of positions for the placement of playing pieces by the players of the game. A retrieving mechanism is randomly actuated by rotation of the platform causing a movable element, simulating a sea monster, to retrieve one of the playing pieces from an indexed position on the rotatable platform. The movable element is pivotally mounted and biased for movement toward the playing piece upon release by a trip mechanism mounted below the platform. A governor regulates movement of the movable element and a biased catch mechanism on the end of the element grasps the playing pieces from the playing surface.

Abstract: A riding vehicle includes a body and a top portion defining a seat upon which the operator of the vehicle may sit. A plurality of wheels are rotatably secured to the body for movement over a suitable surface. A pair of the wheels are pivotally mounted on a steering column for controlling the direction of the vehicle. A grasping mechanism including a pair of operable jaw members is mounted by the steering column to permit grasping of objects such as, toys, balls, or the like.

Abstract: An amusement device provides a skating rink for use with figure toys or the like. The amusement device includes a plurality of rotatable disc-shaped rink portions mounted on the base adjacent a panoramic setting. The setting includes a recirculating device which receives the figure toys from one end of the rink and elevates the figure toys to a chute which delivers the figure toys generally to a position at the opposite end of the rink. A ski lift mechanism including a plurality of chairs is adapted to carry the various figure toys at an elevated position over the top of the rink. A common linkage drives the rotatable rink portions, the recirculating system, and the ski lift mechanism.

Abstract: A riding toy vehicle for picking up objects from a playing surface such as the floor, comprises a vehicle body having a seat, an open mouth adjacent the forward end and a bottom wall rearward of the mouth for holding the objects as they are picked up. A pair of front and rear wheels are provided for supporting the body for movement over the playing surface and a pair of pick up members are mounted for rotation in the mouth and are driven independently by the front wheels for engaging the objects on the playing surface and moving them upwardly onto the bottom wall of the body through the open mouth. A deflectable tongue is provided to extend downwardly towards the bottom wall for retaining the objects that are picked up once they are positioned on the bottom wall in the vehicle body.

Abstract: A riding toy is provided which has a separate rigid base on top of which is removably mounted a body in the form of a figure, such as a horse, other animal, or the like, which is fabricated of a flexible outer cover enclosing rigidifying stuffing material. The base is in the form of a rocker so that the body, when placed on the rocker, can be used as a riding toy. The body, when removed from the base, can be used as a separate support.