Abstract: A game includes a manual actuator, an animated character that is animated by actuation of the manual actuator, and a random integer generator such as a spinner. The animated character includes an ejector, an object such as a ball positioned in the ejector, a mechanical counter that is incremented by actuation of the manual actuator, and a release mechanism responsive to the mechanical counter to activate the ejector and thereby cause the ejector to eject the object when the counter is incremented to a sufficient number. A player of the game generates a random integer by spinning the spinner and actuates the manual actuator a number of times corresponding to the random integer.

Abstract: A disk actuated mechanism for a toy which accepts and responds to disks of different diameters. The mechanism can be adapted to a housing having a circular opening in the housing and a disk reservoir in the housing located below the circular opening. A shaft connects the opening and the disk reservoir. A disk carrier is mounted in the shaft for vertical movement from the opening towards a disk discharge position. A handle is connected to the disk carrier for moving the carrier to the disk discharge position. A mechanism engages a disk on the disk carrier to determine its diameter and provide an output indicative of its diameter. A detent mechanism is provided to prevent the handle from moving the disk carrier to the disk discharge position unless a disk is inserted in the disk carrier. Downward insertion of the disk into the disk carrier disengages the detent mechanism and allows the handle to move the disk carrier to the disk discharge position.

Abstract: An acquisition game is played on a concave playing field defining a nadir with a plurality of movable game pieces removably disposed on the field for movement thereabout. Each player has an acquisition tool for removing at least one of the game pieces at a time from the field, the acquisition tool also being for moving the game pieces and an interposing member about the field. An interposing member (preferably in the form of an animal such as a crab) is removably disposed on the field for movement thereabout when the interposing member vibrates. The interposing member is substantially greater in size than any of the game pieces and defines passages therethrough configured and dimensioned to enable movement of the game pieces through the passages so that the interposing member impedes access of the acquisition tool to at least those of the game pieces in the passages. A motor is provided for vibrating the interposing member.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a toy vehicle. The drive mechanism connects a drive shaft of the vehicle to a driven wheel having an axis of rotation. It includes a first arm affixed to the vehicle drive shaft for rotation therewith. A second arm is affixed to the wheel axle for rotation with the axle. The first and second arms are pivotally connected together at a position offset from the drive shaft and the wheel axis. A spring biases the arms into an overlapping relationship in which, during normal rolling movement of the vehicle, the drive shaft is aligned with the driven wheel so that the wheel rotates about the axis of the drive shaft. A first stop is provided to engage the arms to limit rotation of the arms about their pivotal connection relative to each other in the direction of rotation of the wheel axle. A second stop engages the arms to limit rotation of the arms away from each other towards a fully extended position.

Abstract: A wheeled jet reaction toy including a wheeled vehicle adapted to carry an empty beverage can of the "pop top" type having an opening at one end. The vehicle is adapted to clamp the empty beverage container with its open "pop top" end facing rearwardly. An exhaust tube mounted on the vehicle communicates with the empty beverage container through the "pop top opening". An air pump is mounted on a launch pad and a nozzle is connected by a hose to the air pump with the nozzle extending into the exhaust tube when the vehicle is straddling the launch pad so that air under pressure can be transmitted by the pump through the exhaust tube and into the beverage container. The vehicle containing the beverage container is held in position at the launch pad by a guillotine type quick release mechanism which engages the end of the exhaust tube and holds it against a seal surrounding the nozzle.

Abstract: A jump rope which produces bubbles as it is rotated. A hollow liquid containing handle is located at each end of the jump rope. A bubble diffusor is positioned near each handle. A flexible liquid transporting tube connects each handle with its bubble diffusor. Each bubble diffusor includes coaxial tubes having an annular space between the tubes. Aligned openings are formed in the inner and outer coaxial tubes. The liquid bubble producing solution moves from the handles to the annular space between the tubes of the diffusor as the rope is rotated during jumping. The liquid bubble producing liquid spreads across the openings. Air passing through the openings in the coaxial tubes produces bubbles.

Abstract: A resiliently deformable toy ball which is soft and supple and provides an intriguing relaxing feeling when squeezed, and which possesses a low rebound percentage due to its resiliently deformable nature. The ball has a highly plasticized polymeric core which is resiliently deformable due to its highly plasticized state. The polymeric core is encased in a flexible polymer shell and both the core and the flexible shell are further encased in a strechable fabric outer cover.

Abstract: A resiliently deformable toy ball which is soft and supple and provides an intriguing relaxing feeling when squeezed, and which possesses a low rebound percentage due to its resliently deformable nature. The ball has a highly plasticized PVC core which is resiliently deformable due to its highly plasticized state. The PVC core is encased in a flexible polymer shell and both the core and the flexible shell are further encased in a stretchable fabric outer cover.

Abstract: An electric motor driven toy wheeled vehicle is provided with a projecting shift lever movable through an "H" pattern for selectively shifting the vehicle into any one of neutral, two-wheel high speed forward drive, two-wheel high speed reverse drive, four-wheel low speed forward drive, or four-wheel low speed reverse drive. The front and rear axles with their respective wheels and drive gears are journaled for rotation in a chassis which also carries a gear box for lateral axial movement. A mount for the shift lever and motor is supported by the gear box for movement in the longitudinal direction of the chassis transverse to the axial direction. The gear box also carries a high speed two-wheel drive gear train continuously connected to the motor and which can be engaged by movement to one side to drive the rear wheels and a second low speed four-wheel drive gear train also continuously connected to the motor that can be engaged by movement to the other side to drive both the front and rear wheels.

Abstract: A top is releaseably carried by a vehicle for rotation about an axis upon an external force effecting linear movement of the vehicle and rotation of a drivingly related surface engaging wheel. If the wheel is suddenly stopped the momentum of the top will overcome the force retaining it and the spinning top will be ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle has a track to facilitate insertion and ejection of the top.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a vertically adjustable template with a plurality of openings in a preselected configuration. A plurality of generally elongated objects may be placed in an upstanding orientation on a supporting surface within the openings defined in the template and upon raising of the template, conveniently using a mechanical cam system, the objects are left standing in approximately spaced chain defined by the template configuration. The game apparatus also includes a starting device for engaging one of the objects, causing it to fall into an adjacent object, thereby initiating a chain reaction of objects falling into adjacent objects in an orderly progression. The game apparatus may also include an assembly with a rolling element engaged by a trip member that is tripped by one of the objects. Once tripped, the trip member engages the rolling member which rolls across a surface to engage another of the objects to continue the chain reaction.

Abstract: A four wheel drive toy includes a drive mechanism and two pairs of elongated movable track portions mounted on a frame, each pair of track portions including a follower gear driven through an independent gear train from the drive mechanism. An interior surface of each track portion includes an oval endless rack gear engaged by the gear follower. The orbit of the gear follower around the rack gear is made visible from the exterior of the vehicle by using flanges attached to either side of the follower gear to retain the follower gear within the interior of the track portion. The track portion pivots about the axis of the follower gear when the follower gear reaches the arcuate region of the oval rack gear.

Abstract: A counting device with ball actuated, aligned, rotatable indicating elements is disclosed that is particularly useful as a clock. The device includes a plurality of indicating elements rotatable around parallel axes, arranged side by side in three columns. Each indicating element includes a display portion and a ball actuated flange, mounted on a common axle with the flanges of adjacent elements in each column forming a ball conveying track. The elements are successively rotated to the upward display position by a ball whose continued presence atop an element's flange causes an appropriate rotation of that element. The balls are continuously recycled by a synchronous motor elevator which collects the balls at their lowest position and returns them to their highest position in communication with the ball conveying tracks. After all of the indicating elements in a column have been raised to their display position, the ball resets the first rotated element causing it to reset the adjacent elements.

Abstract: A toy razor is disclosed which is constructed to be similar in appearance and sound to an electric razor and includes a housing defining an internal cavity within which may be mounted a rotary motor and a power supply such as batteries for energizing the rotary motor. A switch is defined on the housing that connects the motor to the power supply for energization thereof. The toy razor also includes a razor head slideably and reciprocally mounted on the housing. A diaphragm is secured inside the head at a location spaced from the rotary motor such that upon engagement of the shaving head with an object such as the face or hand of a child, the head moves inwardly to vibrate the diaphragm producing a sound similar to the sound of an electric razor.

Abstract: A round-about game is designed for players to attempt to grab pegs from a playing surface when the pegs are randomly and selectively raised relative to the playing surface for a short period of time. The game includes a housing, the upper part of which defines the playing surface having a plurality of sets of recesses, each set of recesses being disposed at a different distance from a central vertical axis of the housing. Each of the recesses is adapted to receive one of the pegs such that the pegs are not readily removed from the playing surface. A rotatable platform is rotated below the playing surface about the central axis of the housing and has cams disposed thereon to engage the removable pegs resulting in the pegs being raised above the playing surface. The rotation of a starter button extending from the top center of the playing surface energizes a windup motor through a ratchet mechanism so that the platform is maintained stationary.