Abstract: An arts and crafts type stamp kit including a frame having two generally elongated, diverging, horizontal leg portions for universally mounting an elevated stamp support arm generally at the juncture of the leg portions. An ink stamp is adjustably mounted by a stamp carrier on the free end of the stamp support arm for movement therewith and for longitudinal and rotational movement relative thereto. An ink pad is mounted on one of the legs, and a stamping surface is provided on the other of the legs so that ink may be transferred by the ink stamp from the ink pad to a suitable transferring surface, such as a sheet of paper, positioned on the stamping surface by movement of the support arm to first pick up a film of ink and transfer it to the sheet of paper. The stamp kit includes a rotatable pad on the end of the leg adjacent the stamping surface so that a sheet of paper may be pivotally secured thereto by a suitable adhesive.

Abstract: An instructional balancing toy set for use, for instance, by preschool children to amuse and entertain the children while at the same time conveying concepts of object size and object weight. The device includes a base and a plurality of vertically stackable balancing members. The base is upwardly converging and frusto-conical in shape and rests on a support surface, and has a circular top lip which receives a generally spherical intermediate second balancing member to hold the spherical member in a predetermined upright proper orientation. The spherical member when properly oriented, includes an upwardly projecting lug at the top thereof which is received in a lug receiver on the bottom of a figurine to support the figurine in upright position on top of the spherical member as a third member of the assembly. The figurine member includes a generally concave depression on the top surface thereof.

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 toy pick-up vehicle combination including a plurality of playing objects positionable upon a supporting surface such as a floor or the like. A toy vehicle is provided for picking up the playing objects and includes a vehicle body having a playing object receptacle. Wheels are provided for the vehicle body for moving the vehicle over the supporting surface. A spongy, resilient paddle wheel is rotatably mounted on the vehicle body for rotation with the wheels for engagement with the playing objects on the supporting surface and for moving the objects upwardly into the receptacle.

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 play kit for the amusement and entertainment of a child in simulating outdoor activity while playing with a doll or other toy figurine. The kit includes a carrying case in the form of a free-standing gazebo having a hexagonal base. At each corner of the base an ornamental post upstands and is secured at its upper end to a hexagonal roof member for supporting the member above the base. Between one or more pairs of adjacent posts, low fence sections may be mounted as appearance improvement features and as functional members, e.g., providing support to the structure. A fold-down side panel is provided for each side of the hexagonal case for opening and closing the case. Each panel is secured to the base at a lower base edge thereof and has a fold line adjacent the base edge. When folded down, the panels provide horizontal platforms having upwardly facing platform surfaces as additional floor play area extending peripherally about the gazebo floor.

Abstract: An amusement device which includes a phonograph portion and a dancing band portion having a plurality of articulated figure toys in the form of band members movably mounted on a housing. A motor in the housing is controlled by electronic circuitry responsive to the rhythm or beat of the music from the phonograph portion. The motor moves the toy figures in unison with the beat of the music.

Abstract: In a spring or electric motor, or other power means for toys, games or the like, a liquid governor which has gear members disposed for rotation within a closed interior cavity of a housing for the governor. A driven shaft extends from the motor means through the housing into the cavity and is operatively connected to a driven gear disposed within the cavity. An idler gear is disposed in meshed engagement with the driven gear for rotation thereby, and a high viscosity liquid substantially fills the cavity providing resistance to the driving of the gears and thereby a slowing control for the motor.

Abstract: A sculpturing kit and method for producing dehydrated sculptured forms from hydrated articles, such as apples or other fruits and vegetables. The sculpture kit includes a transparent heating chamber for mounting an article on a base which includes an incandescent heating source mounted therein. A plurality of templates are provided for use by the sculptor to shape an apple, for instance, into a facial or other form prior to the dehydration process within the heating compartment. The kit also includes a heat drip shield which prevents liquid extracted from the article from contacting the light source, as well as a plurality of sculpturing tools.

Abstract: A hand printing stamp for transferring ink from an ink pad to a sheet of paper or the like, including movable portions on the printing face of the stamp so that different images may be reproduced from one stamp. In the embodiment disclosed, the movable parts include arms, legs and the head of a figure so that the figure may be reproduced in a plurality of articulated positions.

Abstract: A doll and wheeled vehicle wherein the doll comprises a separate playable toy positionable within the stroller and readily removable therefrom for individual play. The stroller has at least a pair of wheels connected by an axle having a pair of 180.degree. out-of-phase U-shaped crank portions. A flexible strap is connected to the bight portions of the U-shaped cranks and can be wrapped about the doll when positioned in the stroller to effect a side-to-side and twisting motion of the doll relative to the stroller as the wheels and axle rotate when pushing the stroller over a suitable surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for loosening threaded lids from jars or similar containers having screw-type lids. The apparatus includes a rotatable bottom support platform having a friction pad for supporting and rotating the container, and a top, vertically movable friction pad for engaging the threaded lid whereupon rotation of the bottom support platform rotates the container relative to the lid for loosening the lid to facilitate removal. The apparatus includes a drive motor which is energized as the top friction pad is biased downwardly and into engagement with the lid of the container. Alternatively, the drive motor can rotate the support platform in an opposite direction to seal jar lids for use during canning. The apparatus also includes a can opener on the underside of the apparatus housing which is operated by the same drive motor.

Abstract: A toy potato chip maker for producing dry cooked potato chips which includes a cooking chamber with openings in opposite walls of the cooking chamber to provide a substantially horizontally alined passageway through the chamber. A continuous screen-type conveyor is mounted on a pair of rollers on either side of the cooking chamber so that prepared slices of potatoes can be moved either stepwise, successively through, or continuously through the cooking chamber, and out of the cooking chamber by hand rotation of a crank on one of the rollers. Lightbulbs are located in the cooking chamber, both above and below the passageway, to create radiant heat for cooking the potato chips which are moved by the screen through the cooking chamber. A novel potato slicer also is provided.

Abstract: A walkie-talkie unit having a speaker connected to a radio transceiver for normal transmitting and receiving functions, plus a selectively actuatable audio signal generator. The generator generates one of a plurality of distinct signals of different frequency in response to a hand manipulatable actuator. When the walkie-talkie is in a transmitting mode the signal is transmitted to another walkie-talkie. When the walkie-talkie is in a receiving mode the signal is amplified by the generating walkie-talkie.

Abstract: A self-propelled toy vehicle wherein at least one driving wheel also provides a gyroscopic effect on the travel of the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the toy vehicle has a single supporting and driving wheel in the form of a rotatable flywheel which is capable of storing sufficient energy to provide a gyroscopic directional effect on the vehicle. The axle of the flywheel is rotatably mounted in a frame which is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on and relative to the toy vehicle body. Rapid rotation of the flywheel to drive and direct the vehicle is achieved by the use of a flexible rack engageable with a pinion gear on the axis of the wheel. During travel, the vehicle body can rotate in a horizontal plane about said vertical axis relative to the flywheel and its frame, and thus give the impression of a vehicle skidding out of control even though the flywheel continues to move along a straight line under the gyroscopic effect of the flywheel.