Abstract: A cleaning device may include a main body section, a cloth sleeve that envelops the main body section, first and second cord fasteners connected to respective edges of the main body section, and a pull cord tethered to the first and second cord fasteners. With respect to the main body, the cloth sleeve may define a first primary cleaning surface, a second primary cleaning surface, a first secondary cleaning surface, and a second secondary cleaning surface. The main body section may be rotated about its longitudinal axis between a first cleaning position in which the first primary cleaning surface faces downward and the first primary cleaning surface and the first secondary cleaning surface engage with a cleaning target, and a second cleaning position in which the second primary cleaning surface faces downward and the second primary cleaning surface and the second secondary cleaning surface engage with the cleaning target.

Abstract: A shoe cleaning device includes a housing having a scrubbing pad housing portion coupled to a drying pad housing portion. The scrubbing pad housing portion retains a scrubbing pad and the drying pad housing portion retains a drying pad. The scrubbing pad housing portion is parallel to the drying pad housing portion when the shoe cleaning device is in a folded state, and the scrubbing pad housing portion is substantially planar with the drying pad housing portion when the shoe cleaning device is in an unfolded state. In the folded state, a hinge assembly holds the shoe cleaning device in an upright position perpendicular to a floor or other flat surface.

Abstract: An amusement device is in wireless communication with a remote media source via an interface. The amusement device includes a receiver/transmitter for receiving electromagnetic waves indicative of media content signals from the corresponding interface. The amusement device plays media content from the remote media source in conjunction with music or other sounds in response to user input.

Abstract: A toy comprising a mobile device and a plurality of islands, which can be arranged on a surface (e.g., the floor). During play, the mobile device can be selectively moved to a location within a predetermined proximity of each of the islands. An identification tag is associated with each island and contains information to identify the associated island and distinguish it from the other islands. A reader reads the identification tag when the mobile device is placed in the predetermined proximity of the island, and a different output is generated for each island.

Abstract: A toy comprising a host structure, a plurality of attachable items which can be selectively attached to the host structure, and a radio frequency identification device. The radio frequency identification device comprises at least one reader and a plurality of tags which, when read by a reader, provide identification information particular to that tag. Each reader is housed by the host structure and the tags are each housed by one of the plurality of attachable items. The reader reads the identification information from a particular tag when the corresponding attachable item is attached to the host structure and a different output is generated depending upon which item has been attached.

Abstract: A game comprising a plurality of stations, each of which recognizes the accomplishment of a task therewith and communicates this accomplishment to at least one other station. In this manner, at least one of the stations can gather information from all of the stations for score-keeping and other purposes. An output can be generated by one, some, or all of the stations based on an accomplishment with a particular station and/or based on the information gathered from all of the stations. The communication between/among the stations is preferably performed wirelessly by infrared light techniques, radio frequency techniques, and/or ultra high-frequency sound techniques.

Abstract: An audio device having a primary audio purpose of producing a programmed audio output for a listener. The audio device comprises sound-generating components that generate the programmed audio output, and these components include an emitter that audibly emits this programmed output at a playing volume. A proximity sensor senses the distance to the listener, and this sensed distance corresponds to the distance between the listener and the emitter. Volume-adjusting components adjust the playing volume to prevent it from being at an unacceptable level for the sensed distance.

Abstract: A toy comprising a host structure, a plurality of attachable items that can be selectively attached to the host structure, and a radio frequency identification device. The radio frequency identification device comprises at least one reader and a plurality of tags which, when read by a reader, provide identification information particular to each tag. Each reader is housed by the host structure and the tags are each housed by one of the plurality of attachable items. The reader reads the identification information from a particular tag at the time that the corresponding attachable item is attached to the host structure and different outputs are generated depending upon which item is attached.

Abstract: An amusement apparatus that includes a base, an arm, a seat biasing device and a arm biasing device. The base is configured for placement on to a generally horizontal surface. The arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the arm is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base. The distal end of the arm includes a seat. The seat biasing device is coupled to the seat and configured to repeatedly and resiliently contact the surface. The arm biasing device is coupled to a pivot member and the proximal end of the arm. The arm biasing device is configured to upwardly bias the seat of the arm.