Abstract: Activity or craft apparatus and method for simply, quickly and inexpensively creating a thin lithophane-like pictorial work that provides a picture or image when light passes through the work from the rear. The work is formed from a formable translucent material. One form of illustrated apparatus comprises a generally closed container having a transparent see-through front wall. On the rearwardly inwardly facing side of the wall it has a contoured forming surface that is the reverse image of a desired contoured recessed picture-providing surface of a desired lithophane-type work. The illustrated container also has a second or rear wall that is generally parallel to and closely spaced from the front wall. The rear wall is translucent or transparent so that the light can pass through it from the rear.

Abstract: Activity or craft apparatus and method for simply, inexpensively, and generally instantaneously creating a thin lithophane-like pictorial work that provides a picture or image when light passes through the work from the rear. The work is formed by compressing a formable translucent material. The illustrated apparatus includes a contoured forming surface that is a reverse image of the contoured recessed picture-providing front surface of a desired lithophane-type pictorial work. The translucent material is compressed against the forming surface to form the material into a thin panel that has, at the interface with the forming surface, the contoured recessed picture-producing front surface. In one form the forming surface is mounted on a stamp. The stamp may be hand held or maybe mounted on a press or the like. Thickness limiting stops may be provided to control and limit the final thickness of the compressed finished work.

Abstract: A game for play by one or more players. The illustrated game includes a selection surface for each player. Each surface faces a player area where the associated player would position herself to observe the surface. A liquid discharge mechanism is selectively operable to direct a liquid discharge toward the player areas. The selection surface has a plurality of sites or locations. At the start of each game, a group or some but not all of the sites on a selection surface are predetermined, but the player associated with that surface does not know which sites have been predetermined. The players may take turns selecting sites on their surfaces with the objective of selecting the predetermined sites. As one player makes selections, the discharge mechanism is directed toward the other player's play area, and when a predetermined selection is successfully selected, the opposing player may receive a liquid discharge or spray.

Abstract: In one form of game the player observes and must quickly respond to the rapidly changing conditions of one or more visually observed displays such as lights to avoid being sprayed by a liquid discharge. The games is so constructed that to effectively play the game the player must generally continuously observe the condition of the lights; to do so the player must maintain her face in position to be sprayed. In another preferred embodiment, the visually observed display is a screen such as a LCD on which changing action images appear. The player interacts by controlling a portion of the images in response to the action of other of the images and in accordance with the predetermined manner of play of the game. When she is not successful, she receives a spray.

Abstract: In one form of the game, the player must maintain her face in position to be sprayed while using a tool to capture or manipulate a visually observed object. This game may include an open electrical circuit that mishandling of the tool causes to close to direct a spray at the player.

Abstract: In one form of game the player observes and must quickly respond to the rapidly changing conditions of one or more visually observed displays such as lights to avoid being sprayed by a liquid discharge. The games is so constructed that to effectively play the game the player must generally continuously observe the condition of the lights; to do so the player must maintain her face in position to be sprayed. Alternatively, the timing of the discharge may be tied to the player's game playing activity or may even occur on a random or apparently random basis.

Abstract: A competitive strategy game playable by two or more players. The illustrated game includes a board defining a plurality of channels arranged adjacent to one another. Each channel has a plurality of positions arranged along the channel. Each player is provided with a set of player pieces, the player pieces of each set being visually distinguishable from the pieces of the other set. For example, the pieces of each set may be difference colors. The players take turns adding one or more of their pieces to selected channels. The channels each include structure to guide the process along the channel. The channels and pieces are proportioned and arranged to that when a piece is added to an already occupied position in a channel, the displaced piece that was in that position is shifted to an adjacent position in the channel, which in turn shifts additional pieces in the channel to new positions.

Abstract: A competitive table top type game having a "fenced-in" playing surface with opposed player ends. Each player controls one or more strikers and uses it to cause a play piece such as a ball to hit the opponent's target. When a player's target is hit, a liquid discharge is directed at that player for added play value and enjoyment. For simplicity and economy of construction, that player actuates a mechanical stop to stop the discharge and reset the target. In one form, the actuation of the stop also advances the opponent's's score. Alternatively, any simple score indicating arrangement may be used.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for rapidly rotating a small enclosed transparent container and introducing a plurality of visually different materials into the rotating container to produce distinctive multi-aspect designs. The illustrated apparatus includes a support for releasibly holding one of the containers at a time for rotation about an axis, and a drive mechanism for causing the held container to rotate rapidly about that axis. The container has an entrance and the apparatus includes dispensers for selectively and sequentially introducing two or more of the visually different materials in flowable form into the entrance while the container is rotating. The materials have the capacity for maintaining themselves generally separate from the other materials in the rotating container. By way of example, the materials could be sands or gels of different colors or appearances. There may be a plurality of containers with a variety of different shapes.

Abstract: An action toy for young children comprising a base that defines a pathway, and motor means on the base connected to a primary mobile object in the form of a personified animal or vehicle such as a toy shark for advancing the object forwardly along the pathway. Caming surfaces are spaced along the pathway and a matting caming surface is provided on the primary object. The caming surfaces are arranged and designed so that they engage and cause the primary object to raise upwardly at each pathway caming surface and then lower back down between pathway caming surfaces. This provides intermittent up and down movement of the primary object as it moves forwardly. Such movement could simulate the opening and closing of the jaws of the shark. Secondary objects such as small fish may also be provided for movement along the pathway; They may appear to be "swallowed" by the shark when it reaches one of them.

Abstract: Electronics and a playing method stimulate abstract spatil-relations ability, particularly memory of abstract space, in youngsters--without requiring them to know or spell game commands, or to find keys on a typewriter-like keyboard. The game exploits the competitive instinct by rewarding ability to recall complex geometric abstractions, while yet encouraging play by those who lack that ability. Dedicated manual inputs are used by each player to enter moves--in the pure form of directions in which the player wishes to go. An audio speaker signals which player's move it is, and whether each attempted move is valid. A digital microprocessor is used to define a maze and each player's position in it, and to receive moves from the directional inputs, and to operate the speaker in reply to attempted moves. The processor has no functional connection with any device for displaying a direct pictorial representation of any part of the maze, and indeed no such direct picture is electronically developed or shown.

Abstract: A multiplayer surprise action game in the form of a central unit which defines a spiral pathway around its upper portion and a housing for an object-projecting mechanism in its lower portion. The housing has a plurality of openable doorways spaced around it. Each doorway defines a player station. The mechanism is randomly rotated to aim at only one of the doorways at any time, while concealing from the players the doorway at which it is aimed. The players move play pieces along the pathway and manipulate an advancing mechanisn that unpredictably sets off a noise maker after an apparently random time. The players have a chance to prepare, and then they activate the projecting mechanism. The mechanism projects the object (such as a toy snake) outwardly through the doorway at which it is then aimed, to the surprise of and excitement of the players. The particular player station/doorway from which the snake emerges may be used by the players to adjust the further play of the game.

Abstract: The illustrated action toy apparatus comprises an incrementally advancing catcher unit that may be in the form of an animated character such as a shark. The unit moves along a succession of areas of a path. Objects which may represent fish or the like are disposed on the areas. A fish on one area is caught or "eaten" by the shark when the shark reaches that area. As the shark advances to an area, its forward end rises to an elevated position to permit that end to pass over and then come back down upon a fish on that area. The forward and up and down movement of the illustrated shark unit is provided by a motor-driven cam. To maximize continuous playtime, the shark unit is tethered to the center of a gameboard so that it travels around a circular path on the board.