Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided an aquatic toy configured for movement under water. The aquatic toy employs sensors to automatically turn on when placed in water and further employs a timing circuit to automatically turn the toy off after a predetermined amount of time. The aquatic toy further includes a shock sensor to monitor movement of the toy when in water and after the timer expires. Movement such as tapping on the tank, splashing the water, or physical movement of the toy will turn on the toy and re-activate the timer. However, the sensors can further detect when the toy is dry to ensure the shock sensor is only active when the sensor is wet.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a mechanical device capable of mimicking a serpentine motion. The mechanical device includes a plurality of segmented portions interconnected consecutively at pivoted junctions. A rotational motor and an eccentric weight are secured about one segmented portion and at least one pair of legs extends from a segmented portion towards a contact surface and causes the segmented portion to move in a direction defined as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric weight. The additional segmented portions following the segmented leg portion follow in a serpentine motion as these portions rock and pivot to counter-balance the undulation caused by the segmented leg portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is a toy skateboard having two configurations. In the first configuration, a pair of non-motorized truck assemblies are attached to the deck, and the upper surface of the deck has a finger engaging region for a user's fingers to engage and move the skateboard. In the second configuration, the rear non-motorized truck assembly is replaced with a motorized rear truck assembly, wherein the movement of the skateboard is controlled by the processor in response to remote signals. In addition, the processor may detect a back EMF voltage generated by the rotation of a motor caused by a manual manipulation of a wheel controlled by the motor. The processor would have sleep and wake states and would transition between the two when the detected back EMF voltage reaches a pre-determined value.

Abstract: An ambulatory toy includes a body; a drive mechanism coupled to the body; a plurality of leg members coupled to the drive mechanism, each of the leg members having a distal end disposed downwardly in a first position and adapted to contact a support surface; and a self-righting member coupled to at least one of the legs. The self-righting member adapted to move the distal ends of the legs of the toy from a second position to the first downwardly disposed position. The method of self-righting using the self-righting member coupled to the leg.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is a toy skateboard having two configurations. In the first configuration, a pair of non-motorized truck assemblies are attached to the deck, and the upper surface of the deck has a finger engaging region for a user's fingers to engage and move the skateboard. In the second configuration, the rear non-motorized truck assembly is replaced with a motorized rear truck assembly, wherein the movement of the skateboard is controlled by the processor in response to remote signals. In addition, the processor may detect a back EMF voltage generated by the rotation of a motor caused by a manual manipulation of a wheel controlled by the motor. The processor would have sleep and wake states and would transition between the two when the detected back EMF voltage reaches a pre-determined value.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is a toy skateboard having two configurations. In the first configuration, a pair of non-motorized truck assemblies are attached to the deck, and the upper surface of the deck has a finger engaging region for a user's fingers to engage and move the skateboard. In the second configuration, the rear non-motorized truck assembly is replaced with a motorized rear truck assembly, wherein the movement of the skateboard is controlled by the processor in response to remote signals. In addition, the processor may detect a back EMF voltage generated by the rotation of a motor caused by a manual manipulation of a wheel controlled by the motor. The processor would have sleep and wake states and would transition between the two when the detected back EMF voltage reaches a pre-determined value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided an aquatic toy configured for movement under water. The aquatic toy employs sensors to automatically turn on when placed in water and further employs a timing circuit to automatically turn the toy off after a predetermined amount of time. The aquatic toy further includes a shock sensor to monitor movement of the toy when in water and after the timer expires. Movement such as tapping on the tank, splashing the water, or physical movement of the toy will turn on the toy and re-activate the timer. However, the sensors can further detect when the toy is dry to ensure the shock sensor is only active when the sensor is wet.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is a toy skateboard having two configurations. In the first configuration, a pair of non-motorized truck assemblies are attached to the deck, and the upper surface of the deck has a finger engaging region for a user's fingers to engage and move the skateboard. In the second configuration, the rear non-motorized truck assembly is replaced with a motorized rear truck assembly, wherein the movement of the skateboard is controlled by the processor in response to remote signals. In addition, the processor may detect a back EMF voltage generated by the rotation of a motor caused by a manual manipulation of a wheel controlled by the motor. The processor would have sleep and wake states and would transition between the two when the detected back EMF voltage reaches a pre-determined value.