Abstract: An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, includes a support frame, a lip lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging the lower lip of a toy, a cheek lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging a cheek of the toy, an eye linkage for opening or closing the eye of the toy, and a motor for actuating one of the lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression. The lip and cheek levers are interconnected in a manner that when the cheek lever pivots in one direction, the lip lever pivots in a generally opposite direction. The expression mechanism causes the toy to assume various facial expressions, including, but not limited to, smile, frown, and neutral.

Abstract: A play apparatus in the form of a toy figure includes a body member that can be separated into left and right halves by dividing generally centrally along a generally vertical line or plane and can be joined with the opposing halves of another toy figure to create different figures. Each of the left and right halves preferably has a preassigned game or power value and a name. When the two halves are joined, they produce an original, solid-figure, or a split-figure, with a combined name and a combined game value. The two halves of an original, solid-figure, or the two halves of a split-figure, when joined, blend visibly seamlessly about a line of adjoinment. In addition, the facial, head, and torso features of the two halves also blend visibly seamlessly to create an overall external impression or visual image of a whole.

Abstract: A play apparatus in the form of a toy figure includes a body member that can be separated into left and right halves by dividing generally centrally along a generally vertical line or plane and can be joined with the opposing halves of another toy figure to create different figures. Each of the left and right halves preferably has a preassigned game or power value and a name. When the two halves are joined, they produce an original, solid-figure, or a split-figure, with a combined name and a combined game value. The two halves of an original, solid-figure, or the two halves of a split-figure, when joined, blend visibly seamlessly about a line of adjoinment. In addition, the facial, head, and torso features of the two halves also blend visibly seamlessly to create an overall external impression or visual image of a whole.

Abstract: An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, includes a support frame, a lip lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging the lower lip of a toy, a cheek lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging a cheek of the toy, an eye linkage for opening or closing the eye of the toy, and a motor for actuating one of the lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression. The lip and cheek levers are interconnected in a manner that when the cheek lever pivots in one direction, the lip lever pivots in a generally opposite direction. The expression mechanism causes the toy to assume various facial expressions, including, but not limited to, smile, frown, and neutral.

Abstract: A tearing mechanism for a toy includes a fluid chamber, a valve in operable communication with the fluid chamber for allowing or restricting the flow of a fluid from the tearing mechanism, and a motor operable in first and second generally opposite directions. The motor actuates the valve to cause tearing of the toy, when operating in only one of the first and second directions.

Abstract: An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, includes a support frame, a lip lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging the lower lip of a toy, a cheek lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging a cheek of the toy, an eye linkage for opening or closing the eye of the toy, and a motor for actuating one of the lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression. The lip and cheek levers are interconnected in a manner that when the cheek lever pivots in one direction, the lip lever pivots in a generally opposite direction. The expression mechanism causes the toy to assume various facial expressions, including, but not limited to, smile, frown, and neutral.

Abstract: A tearing mechanism for a toy includes a fluid chamber, a valve in operable communication with the fluid chamber for allowing or restricting the flow of a fluid from the tearing mechanism, and a motor operable in first and second generally opposite directions. The motor actuates the valve to cause tearing of the toy, when operating in only one of the first and second directions.

Abstract: Fluid-swellable absorbent compositions, and kits that include a plurality of the compositions. The compositions include a granular mixture of at least a superabsorbent polymer, a gum, gelatin, and a binder. The composition may further include a colorant, a binder, and/or reflective particles, and it is suited for use with amusement devices, such as for use by children. Kits containing a plurality of the compositions may include compositions having different colorants. The compositions and/or kits may be used with a play structure that includes a base and a closed perimeter extending outwardly from the base. The structure may include a plurality of discrete regions, and may collectively resemble an object, scene or other image. Upon placement of a small quantity of the composition into a particular region and addition of water to the quantity, the composition swells, expands and generally conforms to the shape of the region.

Abstract: A play apparatus in the form of a toy figure includes a body member that can be separated into left and right halves by dividing generally centrally along a generally vertical line or plane and can be joined with the opposing halves of another toy figure to create different figures. Each of the left and right halves preferably has a preassigned game or power value and a name. When the two halves are joined, they produce an original, solid-figure, or a split-figure, with a combined name and a combined game value. The two halves of an original, solid-figure, or the two halves of a split-figure, when joined, blend visibly seamlessly about a line of adjoinment. In addition, the facial, head, and torso features of the two halves also blend visibly seamlessly to create an overall external impression or visual image of a whole.

Abstract: A device for causing a toy to simulate a yawn or sleep condition, includes an actuator mounted in the toy which is pivotable between first and second positions when a stimulus is applied to the toy. A sensor is provided for detecting one of the first and second positions of the actuator. A microprocessor is operably connected to the sensor for receiving and storing signals from the actuator. The microprocessor counts the total number of signals and transmits an activation signal to the toy to simulate a yawn or sleep condition when the total number of signals detected by the sensor reaches a preset value.

Abstract: A reusable, fluid-swellable absorbent composition is disclosed. The composition generally includes a superabsorbent polymer, a gum, a film-forming resin and gelatin. The composition may further include a colorant and/or reflective particles, and it is particularly well-suited for use with amusement devices, such as for use by children. The device includes at least one sample of the invented composition, preferably including colorant and/or glitter, a volume of water and a structure including a base and a closed perimeter extending outwardly from the base. The structure includes a plurality of discrete regions, and may collectively resemble an object, scene or other image. Then upon placement of a small quantity of the composition into a particular region and addition of water to the quantity, the composition swells, expands and generally conforms to the shape of the region.

Abstract: A device for causing a toy to simulate a yawn or sleep condition, includes an actuator mounted in the toy which is pivotable between first and second positions when a stimulus is applied to the toy. A sensor is provided for detecting one of the first and second positions of the actuator. A microprocessor is operably connected to the sensor for receiving and storing signals from the actuator. The microprocessor counts the total number of signals and transmits an activation signal to the toy to simulate a yawn or sleep condition when the total number of signals detected by the sensor reaches a preset value.

Abstract: An air sensitive input device is capable of use in a variety of environments which include, without limitation, toys, computer and video games, consumer appliances, musical instruments, and devices which assist the disabled. A housing having an intake port and an exhaust port includes therein a switching mechanism configured to change between open and closed positions in response to air flow entering the intake port.

Abstract: A puzzle toy is composed of a plurality of relatively thin puzzle pieces having at least one image formed on their edges and a pair of holder members for holding the puzzle pieces. Each of the edges of the puzzle pieces has a different portion of an image disposed thereon so that when the edges of the puzzle pieces are arranged in a predetermined order the image is formed thereon. The puzzle toy also includes a puzzle piece holder having a first holder member in which the puzzle pieces may be at least partially disposed and a second holder member. One of the holder members has an opening formed therein, and the holder members are configurable in a storage position in which the puzzle pieces are retained within the holder members while allowing the image to be viewed through the opening and in which the puzzle pieces are retained within the holder members regardless of the orientation of the puzzle piece holder.

Abstract: A microwave popcorn container for recreational use and a method of making and dispensing popcorn using the same. The microwave popcorn container has an outer casing substantially transparent to microwave radiation and resembles either a playball or novelty configuration having an interior space therein. When exposed to microwave radiation, corn kernels contained within the interior space of the outer casing burst into popcorn filling the outer casing. The microwave popcorn container may be used in a variety of recreational activities and when desired, popcorn can be dispensed therefrom and consumed.

Abstract: A microwave popcorn container for recreational use and a method of making and dispensing popcorn using the same. The microwave popcorn container has an outer casing substantially transparent to microwave radiation and resembles either a playball or novelty configuration having an interior space therein. When exposed to microwave radiation, corn kernels contained within the interior space of the outer casing burst into popcorn filling the outer casing. The microwave popcorn container may be used in a variety of recreational activities and when desired, popcorn can be dispensed therefrom and consumed. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, microwave popcorn containers resembling an elongated football, a substantially spherical playball and a novelty turtle are disclosed.

Abstract: A toy with a portion of apparently changeable color includes a normally upright and invertible elongate figure defining a normally opaque upper chamber and an at least partially transparent normally lower chamber. A valve in the figure is movable between an enabling position and a disabling position to control fluid flow communication between the chambers. A volume of colored fluid is disposed in the figure and capable of flowing between the chambers via the valve under the influence of gravity only when the valve is in the enabling position. A spring biases the valve towards the disabling position, and a manually operable portion moves the valve to the enabling position.