Abstract: A bead-forming apparatus and method for its use are described. The bead-forming apparatus includes a base with a pair of legs extending from a top surface. First ends of the legs couple to respective eccentric elements. The eccentric elements removeably and rotatably couple to a platen. Second ends of the legs are rotatably and slideably mated with a gear train disposed within the base. The legs are slideably translatable into the base and the gear train maintains a rotational orientation of the legs and the eccentric elements coupled thereto. The platen is thus moveable through a circular path defined by the rotation of the eccentric elements and legs. As such, a plug of moldable material placed between the base and the platen and in contact with the platen, is formed into a double-cone shape by movement of the platen through the circular path.

Abstract: A self-sealing stamping device suitable for use with non-alcohol based inks is described. The stamping device includes an applicator that has raised features for providing a stamped design. The applicator also includes sealing features that mate with sealing features on an inkpad housing to provide one or more airtight seals therebetween. The inkpad housing provides an enclosure for an inkpad with one or more apertures. Sealing features are provided circumscribing the apertures for mating with sealing features of the applicator. In a closed position, the stamping device provides an airtight enclosure for the inkpad comprised of the inkpad housing and the applicator.

Abstract: A travel game-board activity kit is provided. The activity kit includes a plurality of dry-erase marking instruments, a plurality of magnetic game pieces, and a plurality of pages having game-board images printed thereon. The plurality of pages includes one or more magnetic sections, and a surface configured to accept markings from the plurality of dry-erase marking instruments and to allow erasure of the markings. The surface of the plurality of pages that accepts dry-erase markings may also include one or more dry-erase sections configured to aid players in tracking game progress, such as on a dry-erase scoreboard. The activity kit may also include a storage container attached to the plurality of pages, which holds the dry-erase marking instruments and/or the magnetic game pieces. In some embodiments, the activity kit includes an electronic component coupled to the plurality of pages for providing desired information, lights, and/or sounds usable for play.

Abstract: A drawing stylus that transmits data to a base unit using high-frequency audio or radio frequency signals is described. The stylus includes a color selector that enables a user to select a color to be associated with inputs from the stylus. A pressure sensor is also included to detect a pressure applied to the tip of the stylus. The selected color and pressure data are transmitted over high-frequency audio or radio frequency signals to a base unit for processing. The base unit may use the data received via the transmission along with one or more other data elements as inputs to an application executing on the base unit.