Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a rear wheel assembly, front wheel assembly, a driving mechanism and a frame. Each wheel assembly may include two wheels while the driving mechanism may be disposed within the toy vehicle and may include a flywheel motor operably coupled to the rear wheel assembly. The flywheel motor may provide for various types of play, including allowing the toy vehicle to balance on a part of the frame, drive on four wheels, or drive on its side, such that only the wheels disposed on one side of the toy vehicle are contacting the ground. The toy vehicle may drive in different pathways when driving on its side depending upon whether it is driving on its first or second side, as each side may include projections of different shapes extending from the wheels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to section of track that can be used with a toy train track set that has a toy vehicle and a track. The section of track is configured to align a toy train that is placed on the track section. The alignment section of track includes guide surfaces that are configured to align the toy train on the track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to section of track that can be used with a toy train track set that has a toy vehicle and a track. The section of track is configured to align a toy train that is placed on the track section. The alignment section of track includes guide surfaces that are configured to align the toy train on the track.

Abstract: Polypeptides are electroblotted through a digestion membrane to a composite capture membrane that can be directly analyzed using mass spectrometry. The molecular weights of the fragments generated by the digestion membrane are then used to identify the polypeptide from which they originated. The digestion membrane contains an immobilized protease such as trypsin, which cleaves the electroblotted polypeptides into fragments during electroblotting with such high enzyme cleavage capacity and efficiency that one pass of the polypeptide through the membrane is sufficient. The peptide fragments are collected onto a composite capture membrane that is chemically treated, for example by adding a mixture of nitrocellulose and MALDI matrix, so as to absorb peptides near the surface to facilitate desportion, thereby increasing the sensitivity of subsequent analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A wide variety of application are disclosed including identifying proteins separated on a gel or within a tissue sample.

Abstract: Polypeptides, for example those separated on a gel, are electroblotted through a digestion membrane to a composite capture membrane that can be directly analyzed using mass spectrometry. The molecular weights of the fragments generated by the digestion membrane are then used to identify the polypeptide from which they originated. The digestion membrane contains an immobilized protease such as trypsin, which cleaves the electroblotted proteins into fragments during electroblotting with such high enzyme cleavage capacity and efficiency that one pass of the polypeptide through the membrane is sufficient. The peptide fragments are collected onto a composite capture membrane that is chemically treated, for example, by adding a mixture of nitrocellulose and MALDI matrix, so as to absorb peptides near the surface to facilitate desportion, thereby increasing the sensitivity of subsequent analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A toy for promoting gross motor development includes a base and a support communicating with the base. The toy also includes an activity area disposed on the support above the base. The activity area is attractive to an infant and encourages the infant to reach up to the activity area by pulling up from a seated position to a standing position using handles or grips disposed on the support or the activity area. The toy also includes sensory output generators configured to encourage the infant to pull up using the handles or grips to reach the activity area. The toy further includes a track coupled to the support and positioned between the top activity area and the base. The track is configured for guiding an object between the top and the base. The top activity area, track, and gripping regions interact to provide an enjoyable and stimulating toy for the child while at the same time promoting the child's gross motor development.

Abstract: A musical device includes a body and at least one actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, the musical device can generate an audio output in response to activation by a user of the actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, the musical device body includes multiple parts that can be moved relative to each other. The parts enable the musical device to resemble one or more musical instruments.

Abstract: A toy power tool is shown having a tool-holding housing and a handle housing rotatably connected at interfacing surfaces inclined to the central axes of both housings. Relative rotation of the housing about a transformation axis perpendicular to the inclined interfacing surfaces transforms the tool from one desired configuration to another. A 180.degree. rotation of the tool-holding housing relative to the handle housing transforms the tool between a straight configuration with the central axes of the housings being aligned, and a L-shaped configuration with the central axes of the housings being at right-angles. Detents between the interfacing surfaces position the housings at the desired configurations, and double as switches that are connected to a sound producing circuit on a printed circuit board mounted parallel to the interfacing surfaces. An internal gear mechanism converts linear input motion to the relative rotary motion of the housings.

Abstract: A toy simulated exploding vehicle is disclosed including a chassis having a front end and a rear end, and an ejector seat mounted on the chassis and movable between a normal tensioned position in which it supports a simulated driver in a driving position, and an ejecting position in which it ejects the driver from the seat. A rear bumper has an integral laterally extending plate-like member slidably mounted on the chassis for reciprocal movement of the rear bumper and plate-like member as a unit between first and second positions. The plate-like member has a free end thereof extending past the front end or bumper of the chassis. A latch is provided coupling the ejector seat to the plate-like member in a third position of the rear bumper and plate-like member. In this third position the ejector seat is releasably latched in its normal tensioned position.