Abstract: A toy vehicle that is capable of lifting off a travel surface by means of a cam member. The toy vehicle comprises a chassis that has first and second ends and first and second drive wheels disposed between the first and second ends. The first and second drive wheels are aligned along an axis and are coupled to a drive system. To provide the toy vehicle with “tank steering” capabilities, the first and second drive wheels may be controlled independently of each other. One or more cam members aligned along the same axis as the first and second drive wheels are adapted to selectively rotate about the axis so that an outer edge contacts the travel surface, causing the toy vehicle to lift into the air. The cam members may be controlled by a cam motor, which operates independently of the drive system. In one embodiment, the toy vehicle and its cam members are adapted to be fully operable in an upright, first drive position and an upside-down, second drive position.

Abstract: An articulated toy figure includes a torso and pairs of articulated arms and legs. The articulated legs are engaged with the torso at a pair of hip joints, each rotatable about two substantially perpendicular horizontal axes. Each leg has an upper member and a lower member engaged with the upper member at a knee joint to rotate about a third horizontal axis. The hip and knee joints are sufficiently lax for each leg to rotate when moved from an initial position to a displaced, raised position and to return towards the initial position when the leg is released to substantially simulate possible leg movements of a human being. A spring connected between each of the upper leg members and the torso biases each upper leg to return to its initial position after having been moved.

Abstract: A toy tractor-trailer vehicle includes multiple separate, but connectable, vehicular components wherein a trailer is formed by a trailer bed and a separate trailer box. The trailer bed and trailer box are joined together to form a conventional toy vehicle trailer and the trailer bed is reversed and joined with the box to form a storage container for the toy vehicle housing at least the tractor. The toy vehicle may be remotely-controlled with the controller also in the storage container. The trailer box is adapted to accept panels with graphic images displayed thereon and printed by the user of the toy vehicle. The graphic images are obtained via the Internet.

Abstract: An articulated toy figure includes a torso and pairs of articulated arms and legs. The articulated legs are engaged with the torso at a pair of hip joints, each rotatable about two substantially perpendicular horizontal axes. Each leg has an upper member and a lower member engaged with the upper member at a knee joint to rotate about a third horizontal axis. The hip and knee joints are sufficiently lax for each leg to rotate when moved from an initial position to a displaced, raised position and to return towards the initial position when the leg is released to substantially simulate possible leg movements of a human being. A spring connected between each of the upper leg members and the torso biases each upper leg to return to its initial position after having been moved.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with a wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis. The toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis. Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms. The swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to respective rear wheels. Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive the respective rear wheels in either a first direction or a second opposite direction.

Abstract: A measuring vessel has cavity-defining wall structures and at least one ramp which rises from about the bottom of the wall structure toward the top of the wall structure. The at least one ramp has an upwardly directed surface with a lateral inner edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp and a lateral outer edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp. Indicia on the upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring vessel to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the vessel, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the vessel at eye level. Preferably the vessel has two ramps, with at least one bearing indicia of standard English units, and another bearing indicia of metric units.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with a wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis. The toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis. Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms. The swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to respective rear wheels. Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive the respective rear wheels in either a first direction or a second opposite direction.

Abstract: A motorized snake includes a chassis having a front end and a rear end with at least one ground contacting drive wheel. A neck is pivotally coupled with the front edge of the chassis to pivot forward and back. A head portion, which includes eyes and an extending tongue, is pivotally connected to the front portion of the neck. A multi-section tail including a trailer and at least one follower is coupled with the rear end of the chassis. The trailer has at least one ground contacting wheel and is coupled with the rear end of the chassis to pivot side to side on the rear end of the chassis. The one or more followers are coupled with the rear end of the trailer in a chain to pivot side to side on the rear end of the trailer.

Abstract: A motorized snake includes a chassis having a front end and a rear end with at least one ground contacting drive wheel. A neck is pivotally coupled with the front edge of the chassis to pivot forward and back. A multi section tail including a trailer and at least one follower is coupled with the rear end of the chassis. The trailer has at least one ground contacting wheel and is coupled with the rear end of the chassis to pivot side to side on the rear end of the chassis. The one or more followers are coupled with the rear end of the trailer in a chain to pivot side to side on the rear end of the trailer. A motor or other prime mover in the chassis is driving coupled with the drive wheel to rotate the wheel to propel the snake and simultaneously with the neck so as to move the neck forward and back on the front end of the chassis, and the trailer so as to move the trailer side to side on the rear end of the chassis.

Abstract: A measuring vessel has cavity-defining wall structures and at least one ramp which rises from about the bottom of the wall structure toward the top of the wall structure. The at least one ramp has an upwardly directed surface with a lateral inner edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp and a lateral outer edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp. Indicia on the upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring vessel to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the vessel, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the vessel at eye level. Preferably the vessel has two ramps, with at least one bearing indicia of standard English units, and another bearing indicia of metric units.

Abstract: A measuring cup has at least one ramp formed in relief radially inwardly on the inside surface of the measuring cup sidewall. At least one ramp rises from about the bottom edge of the sidewall to about the top edge of the sidewall. The indicia on an upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring cup to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the measuring cup, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the cup at eye level. Preferably the cup has two ramps, with at least one of standard units, and another with metric units.

Abstract: A self-righting remote control vehicle including a chassis, paired front and rear wheels rotatably mounted on the respective left and right sides of the chassis, and an upwardly tapered, generally pyramidal-shaped body mounted on the chassis. Each of the wheels has a peripheral portion which extends beyond the lower rear and side edge margins of the body such that when the vehicle is rolled over, a portion of at least one of the wheels normally engages the supporting surface. The vehicle further includes two separate drive systems for respectively rotatably driving the left and right pairs of front and rear wheels, and still further includes a remote control receiver for receiving control signals from a remote control transmitter and a controller for selectively independently controlling the separate drive systems responsive to the control signals received.

Abstract: A remote control toy motorcycle includes a steering link and a four-bar linkage to connect a front castering wheel to a chassis, to utilize the castering wheel principle and the counter steering principle in a manner which enhances the stability of the motorcycle, thereby enabling it to be operated on rugged terrain. A steering drive responds to radio signals to cause the link to pivot the four-bar linkage to initiate and maintain a turn. The four-bar linkage has spaced members located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, with rearward ends pivotally connected to the chassis at locations further from the longitudinal axis than forward ends which pivotally connect to the front wheel fork coupler. The structure enables pivotal movement of the front wheel about a castering arc which is projected in front of the four-bar linkage. The toy vehicle further includes a weighted flywheel assembly incorporated within the rear wheel, to further enhance stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a confectionary holder which simulates the sound of rain as the holder is vertically positioned. The holder comprises a transparent tube having ends, two sides, and at least two sets of indents directed inward toward the center of the tube and one set of indents per side of the tube. Each indent has a peak, a peak depth, a sloping upper face, a sloping lower face, and between each indent is a space length. The peaks of the indents alternate from one side to the other side along the tube length. The angle of incline of each indent face and the length of the space between each indent are selected to allow rigid items, e.g., candy or gum, when placed in the holder, to create the sound of rain as the confectionary pieces flow downward dropping onto each indent face, sliding off each face, and moving from side to side from one end of the holder to the other end when the holder is vertically positioned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a confectionary holder which simulates the sound of rain as the holder is vertically positioned. The holder comprises a transparent tube having ends, two sides, and at least two sets of indents directed inward toward the center of the tube and one set of indents per side of the tube. Each indent has a peak, a peak depth, a sloping upper face, a sloping lower face, and between each indent is a space length. The peaks of said indents alternate from one side to the other side along the tube length. The angle of incline of each indent face and the length of the space between each indent are selected to allow rigid items, e.g., candy or gum, when placed in the holder, to create the sound of rain as the confectionary pieces flow downward dropping onto each indent face, sliding off each face, and moving from side to side from one end of the holder to the other end when the holder is vertically positioned.

Abstract: A wheeled dispenser capable of storing and dispensing one or more objects from the interior of the dispenser. The wheeled dispenser is generally in the shape of an automobile and has a body having a deflector spaced in front of an opening and a recessed portion to collect items inside the dispenser body. The dispenser body is supported by rotatable wheels affixed to rotatable axles, one of which has a rotatable cog thereon. The rotatable cog strikes a deflector plate located beneath the dispenser body causing a striker to push objects inside the interior of the dispenser body off the deflector and through the opening and out into a collection bin where the user may remove the objects.

Abstract: A radio controlled toy vehicle has a central chassis, a front end mounting a pair of front wheels which is rotatably coupled to the front of the chassis and a rear end mounting a pair of rear wheels. An electric motor is provided in the chassis to selectively rotate the front end with the front wheels about a generally longitudinal axis through a partial rotation for steering or through as many complete rotations as desired for stunts. In one embodiment, the front end includes a yoke pivotally supporting a pivot body mounting the front wheels. The rear end contains a propulsion drive coupled to the rear wheels and is pivotally coupled with the chassis so that both rear wheels remain grounded as the chassis pivots in reaction to rotation of the front end for steering. In another embodiment, a stop is provided to limit the rotation of the front end. The stop releasably engages a collar around a shaft rotating the front end and is disengaged by providing more torque to the shaft.

Abstract: A device for launching soft foam balls includes a launcher body, a launching wheel having a circumferential gripping surface thereon and a restriction in the launcher body for urging a soft foam ball into compressed engagement with the launching wheel. The device further includes a manually operable rack gear assembly for rapidly rotating the launching wheel and a feed assembly for individually releasing foam balls so that they contact the launching wheel for launching them from the launcher body in rapid succession.