Abstract: An air-powered toy gun is described. The toy gun includes a main housing with a barrel extending therefrom. The main housing is formed to accept a projectile cartridge and align a bullet chamber of the cartridge with the barrel. An air cylinder is attached with the main housing, with a two-way plunger positioned within the air cylinder. A forestock is slidably attached with the housing and attached with the two-way plunger to allow the two-way plunger to be forced fore and aft within the air cylinder. Conduits and valves are attached with the air cylinder to fluidly connect the air cylinder with the bullet chamber of the cartridge. Further, an indexing mechanism is attached with the main housing. The indexing mechanism is operably connected with the forsestock such that upon each fore and aft motion of the forestock, the indexing mechanism draws a cartridge through the main housing.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying topics for short text communications is provided. Tokens are extracted from a short text communication. A query is generated using the extracted tokens. The query is applied to a set of documents. Those documents in the set that match the query are identified as search results. Salient terms associated with each of the search results are identified. A threshold is applied to the identified salient terms. The salient terms that satisfy the threshold are selected as topics for the short text communication.

Abstract: An air-powered toy gun is described. The toy gun includes a housing with a barrel. A cartridge slot is formed in the housing to accept a projectile cartridge and align a bullet chamber of the cartridge with the barrel. An air cylinder is attached with the housing. A dual slide unit is slideably attached with the housing, the dual slide unit having a plunger positioned within the air cylinder. Further, a pull back handle is attached with the dual slide unit to allow a user to draw the plunger from the air cylinder. Finally, conduits are attached with the air cylinder to connect the air cylinder with the bullet chamber of a cartridge. Thus, a user can draw the plunger from the air cylinder and release the pull back handle to shoot a projectile from the toy gun.

Abstract: A dehydrated, pulp-based projectile is described. The projectile is pulp material that is molded and dehydrated into a projectile shape to form the dehydrated, pulp-based projectile. In operation, the pulp-based projectile can be positioned within the bullet chamber (e.g., gun clip) of a toy gun and then rehydrated. For example, the toy gun or bullet chamber can be dipped in water, which would cause the projectile to absorb the water and soften. An advantage to being pulp based is that the projectile is more solid than foam and, as such, generally shoots straighter and further than foam. However, when rehydrated, the projectile has the propensity to stick to its target as it becomes pliable and sticky through rehydration.

Abstract: A mobile toy which is propelled by a flywheel is described. The mobile toy includes a body member having a set of protrusions which extend beyond the body member. An axle extending through the flywheel is positioned in the set of protrusions, such that each protrusion operates as an axle cap. Alternatively, a set of axle caps are formed at the end of the axle. The flywheel is formed as a displaceable flywheel which is repositionable or removable from the body member. The flywheel may be adjusted within the mobile toy at multiple positions relative to the mobile toy for use of the mobile toy on multiple types of surfaces and for various play configurations. A set of detachably attachable extension elements attached with the axle caps alter the appearance as well as the play capabilities of the mobile toy.

Abstract: A mobile skateboard-shaped toy which is propelled by a displaceable flywheel is described. The skateboard-shaped toy comprises a skateboard deck with the flywheel positioned within the skateboard deck. The flywheel is positioned such that the flywheel protrudes beyond a top portion and a bottom portion of the skateboard deck. The flywheel is rotatable within the skateboard deck to change a rotational direction of the flywheel with respect to a major axis of the skateboard deck. Additionally, the flywheel can be repositioned at different ride heights within the skateboard deck. In one aspect, the flywheel is removable from the skateboard deck to allow the flywheel to be easily repositioned within the skateboard deck or replaced with another flywheel.

Abstract: Described is a track set with a tiltable surface for use with a toy vehicle. The track set includes a handle that allows a user to tilt the surface while resting the track set on a base and tilting the surface at a pivot point. Further, the surface includes a first side and a second side. The track set is formed to allow a user to switch the position of the pivot point and base and thereby selectively use either the first side or second side.

Abstract: Sensors and monitors for a physiological monitoring system having capability to indicate an accuracy of an estimated physiological condition. The sensor senses at least one physiological characteristic of a patient and is connectable to a monitor that estimates the physiological condition from signals detected by the sensor. The sensor includes a detector for detecting the signals from the patient which are indicative of the physiological characteristic. The sensor is associated with a memory configured to store data that defines at least one sensor signal specification boundary for the detected signals. The boundary is indicative of a quality of the signals and an accuracy of the physiological characteristic estimated from the signals by the monitor. The sensor further includes means for providing access to the memory to allow transmission of the data that defines the at least one sensor boundary to the monitor.

Abstract: Sensors and monitors for a physiological monitoring system having capability to indicate an accuracy of an estimated physiological condition. The sensor senses at least one physiological characteristic of a patient and is connectable to a monitor that estimates the physiological condition from signals detected by the sensor. The sensor includes a detector for detecting the signals from the patient which are indicative of the physiological characteristic. The sensor is associated with a memory configured to store data that defines at least one sensor signal specification boundary for the detected signals. The boundary is indicative of a quality of the signals and an accuracy of the physiological characteristic estimated from the signals by the monitor. The sensor further includes means for providing access to the memory to allow transmission of the data that defines the at least one sensor boundary to the monitor.

Abstract: An air-powered toy gun is described. The toy gun includes a main housing with a barrel extending therefrom. The main housing is formed to accept a projectile cartridge and align a bullet chamber of the cartridge with the barrel. An air cylinder is attached with the main housing, with a two-way plunger positioned within the air cylinder. A forestock is slidably attached with the housing and attached with the two-way plunger to allow the two-way plunger to be forced fore and aft within the air cylinder. Conduits and valves are attached with the air cylinder to fluidly connect the air cylinder with the bullet chamber of the cartridge. Further, an indexing mechanism is attached with the main housing. The indexing mechanism is operably connected with the forsestock such that upon each fore and aft motion of the forestock, the indexing mechanism draws a cartridge through the main housing.

Abstract: An air-powered toy gun is described. The toy gun includes a housing with a barrel. A cartridge slot is formed in the housing to accept a projectile cartridge and align a bullet chamber of the cartridge with the barrel. An air cylinder is attached with the housing. A dual slide unit is slideably attached with the housing, the dual slide unit having a plunger positioned within the air cylinder. Further, a pull back handle is attached with the dual slide unit to allow a user to draw the plunger from the air cylinder. Finally, conduits are attached with the air cylinder to connect the air cylinder with the bullet chamber of a cartridge. Thus, a user can draw the plunger from the air cylinder and release the pull back handle to shoot a projectile from the toy gun.

Abstract: Described is a track set with a taut filament for use with a toy vehicle. The track set includes a first tower and a second tower. A spool is connected with the first tower, with the filament wound around the spool. The spool includes a ratcheting mechanism to allow a user to selectively unwind the filament from the spool. Once unwound, the filament can be connected with the second tower. The spool can again be used to tighten the filament between the two towers, thereby creating a taut filament. Using a toy vehicle with a grooved-wheel, the toy vehicle can pass from the first tower to the second tower along the taut filament with the grooved-wheel riding on the filament.

Abstract: A dehydrated, pulp-based projectile is described. The projectile is pulp material that is molded and dehydrated into a projectile shape to form the dehydrated, pulp-based projectile. In operation, the pulp-based projectile can be positioned within the bullet chamber (e.g., gun clip) of a toy gun and then rehydrated. For example, the toy gun or bullet chamber can be dipped in water, which would cause the projectile to absorb the water and soften. An advantage to being pulp based is that the projectile is more solid than foam and, as such, generally shoots straighter and further than foam However, when rehydrated, the projectile has the propensity to stick to its target as it becomes pliable and sticky through rehydration.

Abstract: A pneumatic launching apparatus is described. The pneumatic toy launching apparatus includes a collapsible bellows with an outlet configured to allow air to exit the collapsible bellows. A gripping device is attached with the collapsible bellows, and a platform is attached with the gripping device. A launching tube is attached with the platform and is formed to releasably engage a launchable object. An air transfer tube connects the collapsible bellows and the launching tube. Upon compression of the collapsible bellows against a surface, air travels from the collapsible bellows, through the air transfer tube, and out of the launching tube to launch an object attached with the launching tube. A rotating mechanism attached with the platform allows rotation of multiple launching tubes. The gripping device further comprises a rotation actuator to induce rotation of the platform.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying topics for short text communications is provided. Tokens are extracted from a short text communication. A query is generated using the extracted tokens. The query is applied to a set of documents. Those documents in the set that match the query are identified as search results. Salient terms associated with each of the search results are identified. A threshold is applied to the identified salient terms. The salient terms that satisfy the threshold are selected as topics for the short text communication.

Abstract: A toy for rotating and launching an object is disclosed. The toy comprises a launcher configured to impart rotary motion to an object. A launcher rotating system is connected with the launcher, and is configured to impart a rotary motion to the launcher. The launcher rotating system engages with a gear rack, the gear rack capable of moving to rotate the launcher rotating system. The launcher rotating system further comprises a clutch mechanism such that continued oscillatory motion of the gear rack causes the launcher rotating system to increase the rotary motion imparted to the launcher and such that withdrawal of the gear rack causes the clutch mechanism to decrease rotary motion imparted to the launcher, whereby a rotating object is released from the launcher.

Abstract: A remotely controlled vehicle with a track mechanism and independently operated wheels is described. The vehicle includes a track assembly that includes a center track drive wheel and corresponding endless center track. A pair of driving wheels are mounted on opposing lateral sides of the track assembly. Two independently operated motors are included, each supplying power to only one of the driving wheels. A differential gear set is operatively connected between each of the two motors and the center track drive wheel. The gear set is formed to drive the center track drive wheel in a vehicle driving direction when both motors are concurrently operated to drive the pair of driving wheels in the vehicle driving direction. The gear set also imparts a minimal force to the center track drive wheel when each of the motors are operating to drive the pair of driving wheels in opposing directions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A mobile toy and a stunt figure attachable with the mobile toy are described. In a desired aspect, the mobile toy is a skateboard-shaped toy having a skateboard deck with a flywheel positioned within the skateboard deck. The stunt figure is detachably attachable with the skateboard-shaped toy through snap-fit connection mechanisms on the skateboard-shaped toy. In a desired aspect, the stunt figure comprises at least one appendage and the stunt figure is attached with the skateboard-shaped toy through at least one appendage. The stunt figure can be formed in a variety of shapes to alter the form and center of gravity of the toy to provide for a variety of stunts.

Abstract: Described is a toy vehicle track set and, more particularly, a rotational element for use with a track set that is operable for rotating a toy vehicle. The rotational element includes an anchor for attaching the rotational element with a surface. A flip box is operatively connected with the anchor, and the flip box is formed to receive a toy vehicle and rotate the toy vehicle. A track connector connects a toy vehicle track with the rotational element, such that the toy vehicle engages the track and is propelled from the flip box along the track. The flip box is spring-loaded, and entrance of the toy vehicle into the flip box causes a spring element to be released and the flip box to rotate the toy vehicle and return the toy vehicle back onto the track. In a desired aspect, the track is a string.