Abstract: An inflatable top is described having an attached manual rotation mechanism. The rotating body portion of the top includes an inflatable, plastic enclosure which expands to a desired shape when inflated with a gas. The rotation mechanism converts a linear force applied to the top, parallel to its vertical axis, into a rotation around its axis of the top and the rotation mechanism. The mechanism includes a helical member mounted for reciprocal movement into and out of a housing secured within the top. The helical member threads through a clutch element rotated by the linear motion of the helical member. The clutch element causes the top to rotate when the force applied to the helical member is in one direction and is disengaged and does not cause the top to rotate when the force applied to the helical member is in a different direction.

Abstract: A spinning toy or top includes a hollow rotating body with a generally low center of gravity caused by a mass positioned near the bottom of the body and having a portion thereof extending through the lower wall of the body to define a point on which the toy spins. A pair of limbs may be pivotally mounted on the top to be raised or otherwise actuated by centrifugal force upon rotation of the top. A head or similar device may be positioned on the body and coupled thereto for concurrent rotation by frictional forces. The toy is spun by a spinner that includes an elongated screw fabricated in a helical configuration. A handle is secured to the top of the screw and a clutch is mounted on the lower end. The clutch includes a gripping member slidably mounted on the screw so as to rotate when moved relative to the screw. The head member includes a detent mechanism so that the head can be held in a stationary position, or selectively stopped by engagement with the handle.

Abstract: A structure including a base member having two fencing figures mounted thereon for movement relative to the base and each other so that the conductive sword carried by each figure may be engaged one with the other and the figures manipulated so that the conductive sword of one figure may touch the conductive target area of the other figure, and vice versa. When the conductive swords of the robot figures touch a unique audible signal is produced which is in the motif of the popular concept of outer space sounds and simulates the swishing or swooshing character of a sword blade moving through the air. When the swords are separated this audible signal dies out slowly so as to give an echo or ethereal effect thereto. if the conductive sword tip of one figure is maneuvered to engage the conductive target area of the other figure a unique sound signal is generated and a corresponding portion of the figure is illuminated by a flashing light.

Abstract: Batting practice apparatus for projecting balls upwardly into the air to be hit by a bat comprises trough for holding a plurality of balls to move in a sequence toward a feed position adjacent a stop at a lower end. A holding ring is mounted adjacent the stop for supporting a single ball in a ready position to be projected upwardly into the air. A feeder is provided for sequentially moving the balls from a feed position in the trough adjacent the stop into a ready position in the holding ring and a motor in the form of a foot operated lever and a time delay mechanism is operable for forcefully propelling the balls upwardly out of the holding ring so that a batter may step into position and swing at the balls as they pop-up into the air.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a body mounted on a plurality of ground engaging wheels to allow travel across a suitable surface. A speed indicating device is defined on the body and connected to the wheels as is a distance traveled indicating device. A sound producing assembly is mounted within the body in contact with the distance indicating device to produce sounds corresponding to the travel of the vehicle across the surface. The toy vehicle also includes a manually actuated device for indicating the direction in which the vehicle is to be turned similar to a turn signal on an automobile.

Abstract: The invention comprises a preschool toy airplane including a fuselage housing a spring motor mechanism which is wound by turning a handle located at the tail. The spring motor rotates the propeller and the winding handle relative to the fuselage of the plane body. One or more toy figures are removably positioned in or on the airplane and a cam mechanism reciprocates the toy figures within the cockpit. When the motor is wound and released, the body of the plane may be supported to simulate flight or alternatively, the handle may be supported to produce various stunts.

Abstract: A novel game apparatus requiring hand/eye coordination includes a plurality of playing pieces such as marbles having different indicia thereon such as color and a hopper for containing a supply of said marbles having an outlet. A dispenser receiving marbles in succession from said outlet is adapted to dispense marbles alternately from spaced apart dispensing positions. A receiver is provided at each dispensing position including a plurality of separate compartments of different colors and manually movable to align selected compartments into position for receiving a marble of the same color. It is an object of the game apparatus to capture all of the marbles of each color in a compartment of similar color in one or both of the manually controlled receivers as the marbles are dispensed in rapid succession from the hopper with marbles of different colors appearing in random order.

Abstract: A musical toy includes a bellows for creating a flow of air and an air tube connecting the bellows to a musical instrument such as a harmonica or a plurality of whistles. The musical instrument is selectively moved relative to the outlet of the air tube to create a pattern of different tones or sounds. A rack mounted on the musical instrument is in engagement with and moved by a circular gear rotatably mounted on the toy. The toy further includes means for compressing the bellows and a handle for rotating the circular gear.

Abstract: A fluid actuated toy includes a housing with a fluid inlet and outlet and a fluid container pivotally mounted within the housing. A biased pop-up member is slidably mounted within the housing and includes an element for engaging an extension on the fluid container while the pop-up member is in a locked position. The toy further includes a biasing member urging the fluid container to a first position from which the container moves and releases the pop-up member upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of fluid. A platform is pivotally mounted on the housing to be engaged by the pop-up member and a figurine is removably mounted on the platform so as to be ejected upon the impact of the platform member by the pop-up member.

Abstract: This invention relates to an amusement device which will provide an amusing series of events, in a chain reaction fashion, culminating in the entrapment of a playing piece. A first element is selectively actuated which causes the release of a first ball down a ramp and the activation of a second element which permits a fanciful ladder element to be released down a spiral post. This latter action drives a third element causing the release of a second ball which ultimately actuates an ejector device which propels a playing piece through the air. The first released ball if properly aimed and timely released has preset a target element for receipt of the playing piece which actuates closure of the target element due to its weight.

Abstract: A target game includes a platform mounted in spaced apart relationship to a base and a plurality of targets with target portions thereon, and a plurality of targets positionable on the platform. A drive mechanism mounted on the base rotatably drives generally vertically a shaft which extends through an opening in the platform and which has a striking element slidably mounted thereon and constrained to rotate with the shaft. A control lever pivotally mounted on the platform controls the vertical movement of the striking element along the shaft so that as the striking element rotates, the striking element may be elevated with respect to the platform to strike various ones of the target portions. A stop member projects from the platform to be selectively engaged with the striking element to prohibit the rotation of the striking element until the game is initiated.

Abstract: A game apparatus for use with play pieces and playable by one or more players, generally two, and including a playing area movable in a cyclical path during play by a suitable driving mechanism. The playing area has structure defining spaced play piece receiving and retention positions, which may be arranged in distinct sub-areas each having a plurality of the positions to receive and removably retain play pieces directed thereto for possible retention from one or more play piece launching stations adjacent the playing area. Selectively operable controls at the launching stations are operable by the players for directing their play pieces onto the area in an effort to score as by placing most pieces into the retention positions or in all the positions in one or more sub-areas. A stop is provided to stop movement of the playing area to permit removal of the play pieces for the starting of another game.

Abstract: A game apparatus for use with projectiles, such as table tennis balls, including a ball receiving housing having a ball entrance and ball guide apparatus leading to a target area to receive balls propelled toward it by a player or players. Balls arriving at the target area are received by ball propelling apparatus which return or eject the balls toward the player through ball ejection guiding passage apparatus and an ejection opening. The game may be played by a single player for practice or by several players to simulate tennis, table tennis, handball or the like.

Abstract: A toy seat comprises a base with a seat mounted for movement between different levels above the base and a fluid chamber in the form of a bellows supports the seat on the base to move up and down. A hand pump is provided for supplying pressurized fluid to expand the fluid chamber to raise the seat to a level wherein suddenly the pressurized fluid in the chamber may be released to the atmosphere and the seat then settles downwardly until the pressurized fluid is again supplied to the chamber by manual operation of the pump. The toy seat also includes a whistle which is associated with an exhaust or release valve so that a whistling sound is produced whenever pressurized fluid from the seat supporting chamber is released.

Abstract: An amusement device for use by opposing players includes an upstanding enclosure having spaced apart transparent side walls permitting the interior to be viewed by players on opposite sides. The enclosure includes a bottom wall with a pair of spaced apart parallel openings and a plurality of projectiles, such as table tennis balls, are contained within the enclosure and are adapted to be fired upwardly from the bottom wall. Each player is provided with a movable firing unit or "cannon" which he positions beneath the opening in the bottom wall on his side and the firing unit is then manually operated to propel or fire a selected ball upwardly towards a target. Each player is provided with a target device having an open upper end for receiving the balls and holding a selected number of balls in a vertical stack.

Abstract: A novel amusement apparatus or target game includes a target for receiving projectiles aimed and fired from a mobile firing device. The target includes a plurality of separate, projectile retaining compartments which are open at the front and each compartment has a selected scoring value for projectiles that are accurately fired and retained therein. The mobile firing device is manually aimed and fired to forcefully propel the projectiles towards selected compartments of the target. The firing device includes a body, preferably in the form of an animal which is supported in upstanding position on a suitable playing surface and a firing head is pivotally mounted on the body and is biased for moving an outer end portion or nose to strike and fire a projectile toward the target.

Abstract: An illusion performing apparatus including a performing stage having a base, an upright rectangular open support frame, and a plurality of removable support walls for interchangeably mounting in the opening of the frame. Each of the support walls includes a plurality of illusion devices. A first support wall provides illusion devices for performing the illusion of making a figure disappear, performing the illusion of making a figure turn into a skeleton, and a mindreading magic act including a plurality of cards having identifiable indicia on each of the cards. A second support wall includes an illusion device for performing an illusion of separating a figure toy into a plurality of parts, causing a container filled with a fluent material to appear, and causing a substantially large figure toy such as an animal to disappear.

Abstract: A device and method for etching designs on glass or like surfaces by a sand erosion process. The device has a housing with a vibratory motor mounted therein. The motor drives a sharp or tapered carbide engraving blade or tip through a reciprocating axial motion at a high rate of speed. The blade can be used to engrave or chisel outlines or silhouettes of designs on a glass surface. The device is also provided with a sand erosion adaptor which can be removably fixed on the blade providing a more blunt working end. Sand is delivered from a sand supply in the housing through the sand erosion adaptor and onto the glass surface so that the reciprocal motion of the adaptor grinds or pounds sand against the glass surface to produce an etching effect on the surface. Vibration of the motor means helps the delivery of sand through the head by agitating the sand for freer gravity flow.