Abstract: A battery powered toy in the form of a skillet has a simulated cooking surface of dielectric material containing thereon a grid of electrically conductive strips which are normally electrically insulated from each other by reason of the dielectric cooking surface that exists between the strips. When a deformable material, such as Play-Doh.RTM. brand modeling compound, having a sufficiently low electrical conductivity is kneaded or cut into the shape of an article of food and is manually placed on the cooking surface so as to bridge or span portions of the electrically conductive strips constituting the grid, the deformable material completes a circuit that activates a noise signal generator which produces through the agency of a small speaker a sizzling sound resembling that of frying food.

Abstract: A wheel-supported figure toy in the form of a pup has a driving motor to propel it in a forward direction. Proximity sensors in the form of capacitor plates control operation of the motor. When a child's hand or the like approaches the rear of the figure, the capacitance of a first capacitor arrangement is changed and the motor is started and propels the figure forwardly for a predetermined time, then stops. If the hand is placed under the pup's chin, a second capacitor arrangement causes the pup to follow the hand. An RC network determines the time the motor is in operation by holding a monostable vibrator on, which keeps the motor running, after it is started, for the predetermined time interval. The toy also has a sounding device that operates when the figure is being propelled.

Abstract: A doll having a movable head, and articulated appendages movably attached to the doll's torso. An actuator and a gear transmission system are operatively connected to one of the doll's arms, for imparting incremental movement to the arm. The transmission can be placed in gear, or taken out of gear, by manually rotating the doll's head. By placing the transmission in gear and manipulating the actuator, the transmission is activated so that the doll's arm, and if desired, a light load placed in the doll's hand, can be slowly raised to an elevated position. In addition, simulated battery pack inserts are positioned in one arm, a flexible skin-like covering stretchably fits over such arm, and a wide-angle lens is positioned in the doll's head.