Abstract: A single conductive spring resiliently biases a pick-up shoe against a track rail while resiliently biasing a brush arm against the motor commutator segments. The spring provides an electrical current path between the pick-up shoe and brush arm.

Abstract: An arts and crafts type clay stamping kit which includes a base and a receptacle on the base for receiving a batch of clay or the like. A selectively movable support arm is mounted on the base for movement at least between a first position spaced from the receptacle to permit loading the receptacle with clay and a second position adjacent the receptacle. An impression forming member is provided on the support arm for movement therewith and for contacting the clay at the receptacle to impress a design in the clay when the support arm is in its second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating designs on a substrate such as a sheet of paper includes a frame with a platen mounted on the top thereof. The platen is loosely mounted for vibratory movement relative to the frame. A drive cam, through a link system, is connected to the platen to slowly move the platen in one direction and then rapidly move the platen in a directly opposite direction. A writing implement, such as a pen or pencil, is mounted in a generally vertical position on the substrate on top of the platen, to move with the platen as it is driven slowly in a first direction and then to move relative to the platen as it rapidly returns. The link means is selectively manually rotatable to permit changing the orientation of the vibratory movement of the platen and substrate.

Abstract: A trackway for toy vehicles which includes a plurality of elongated track sections placeable end-to-end and having upper surfaces defining a roadbed for the toy vehicles along the top of the trackway. The track sections have complementary engageable latch-release components on the ends thereof for connecting the track sections end-to-end and holding the track sections against separation, automatically in response to longitudinal pushing type abutment of the track sections against each other. In the disclosed embodiment, the latch-release mechanism includes a flexible portion formed integrally with each track section.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying fluid material such as paint to a surface. In the illustrative embodiment the apparatus comprises a wheeled carriage which can be moved along a floor or other support surface and the applicator is an absorbent paint roller. The carriage includes a well for receiving a paint pail and also includes a pump and a conduit for delivering paint from the paint pail to the paint roller. At the paint roller the paint is distributed by a manifold having varying sized ports along the length of the paint roller so as to distribute paint onto the paint roller evenly along its length. More specifically the supply conduit delivers paint to the center of the manifold and the paint flows laterally along the length of the manifold and exits onto the applicator through the ports.

Abstract: A portable ice dispenser for dispensing cubed or crushed ice from a receptacle into a container, such as a glass or the like, automatically when the glass is placed under a discharge chute on the front of the ice dispenser. The ice dispenser includes a thermally insulated cylindrical ice receptacle which includes a discharge opening in a front wall. The cylindrical receptacle is rotatably mounted about a generally horizontal concentric axis by a frame and includes a drive train for rotating the receptacle about the horizontal axis. An on-off switch is provided below the discharge opening in the receptacle for engagement by a glass placed under the opening which contacts and closes the switch to start the receptacle rotating. A plurality of internal, inwardly radially directed, fins are provided within the receptacle to agitate and carry the ice particles therewith.

Abstract: An automatic toaster for continuously toasting bread slices one at a time, from the bottom of a generally vertical stack of bread slices. The bread toaster includes a housing having a discharge opening at one end and a hopper at the other end for receiving a vertical stack of bread slices. A conveyor feeds the bread slices one at a time between a pair of heating elements whereafter the bread is ejected through the discharge opening in the housing. The pair of heating elements are mounted above and below the conveyor and are movable toward and away from the conveyor so the amount of toasting on each bread slice can be determined according to the preference of the user. An automatic counter is connected to the conveyor for counting the number of slices being toasted and for turning off the toaster after a predetermined number of slices of toast have been made.

Abstract: A device for the opening and closing of cord operated closures, including a unidirectional electric drive motor and a pair of movable idler pulleys. The drive motor drives a frictional drive roller. A pair of flexible cords from the closure are singularly held against the drive roller by moving one or the other of the idler pulleys against the drive roller sandwiching a cord therebetween, one idler pulley causing one cord to move in one direction and the other idler pulley causing the cord to move in the other direction. An automatic shutoff mechanism is incorporated to shut off the drive motor and release the cord when sufficient tension is present on the cord, for instance, at the end of closure travel. The shutoff mechanism causes the drive roller and associated mechanism to travel along the cord a short distance thereby triggering a latch release mechanism.

Abstract: A toy bathtub device for simulation of giving a doll a shower or bubble bath, or the like. The device includes a base tub portion having an upstanding post supporting a showerhead which includes a spray nozzle. A shower curtain is mounted on the post for preventing undue splashing of water from the nozzle and tub. The nozzle is supplied with water through a conduit by a bellows-like pump which operates in combination with a check valve to pump water in a recycling fashion from a tub water reservoir through the conduit and thence from the nozzle. The tub is provided with a drain plug for draining water from the tub into the water reservoir for reuse. The floor of the tub also is provided with an aeration system in the form of a peripheral series of perforations or ports through the tub bottom wall which are interconnected by a manifold. The manifold is supplied with air under pressure from another bellows pump acting against a check valve.