Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.

Abstract: A baffle for a food waste disposer includes a pleated portion with pleats that define an opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle. Water passing over the opening creates a venturi to pull air out of the high-pressure environment inside the grinding portion of the food waste disposer.

Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. Each of the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate having a plurality of lugs positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a horizontal toothed ledge positioned above the stationary ring is used to enhance grinding the food waste. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a vertical rasping surface positioned above the stationary ring. In yet another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes serrated edges added to the vertical leading edges of the teeth on the stationary ring.

Abstract: A switching mechanism for a food waste disposer is provided having a plastic one-piece housing that engages an external surface of the food waste disposer by snapping thereto. The switching mechanism also contains a switch capable of enabling operation of the food waste disposer in response to an interlock device positioned within the drain opening. Also provided is a method for converting a continuous feed waste disposer into a batch feed waste disposer. The switching mechanism includes a plug having a male end and a female end that can receive the electrical plug from the continuous feed waste disposer.

Abstract: A swing ride capable of swinging motion about an elevated support. The swing ride includes first and second parts which move toward and away from one another during the swinging motion of the swing and a deformable chamber which is alternately compressed and expanded during the periodic motion of the swing. A fluidically operated toy is connected to one of the parts and a fluid conduit is connected between the deformable chamber and the toy to conduct fluid between the deformable chamber and the toy so that the toy is energized by a change in fluid pressure from the deformable chamber caused by the swinging motion of the swing ride.

Abstract: Briefly stated, and in accordance with a presently preferred aspect of this invention, toy sawable wood includes a first simulated wood member; a second simulated wood member releasably attachable to the first simulated wood member for forming a simulated piece of wood; a threaded connecting rod on at least one of the first and second wood members for releasably engaging the other of the first and second wood members to hold the two members together; and a release gear coupled to the connecting rod and responsive to simulated sawing for releasing the first wood member from the second wood member.

Abstract: Video game apparatus and method includes an arrangement for acquiring and storing data representing an image of the face of a game player or other entity and for selectively incorporating the image of the entity throughout the play of the game at predetermined locations on the video game display and in coordination with the video game graphics. In accordance with the play of the various games controlled by the video game apparatus, the stored image of one or more persons is utilized as the head of a video graphics generated body, as a portion of other generated graphics representations, as a functional game object representation, or as a controllable playing object. The video game apparatus also provides for the display of the game player image in a scoring display format wherein the images of a predetermined number of previous game players attaining the highest scores are displayed at the beginning or end of a play of the game.

Abstract: A game in which all of the pieces, while movable for play, are captured against removal and loss from the game. Player movable pieces are received for movement along slots extending through the thickness of a playing surface but are captured by upper and lower enlargements against removal. Discreet positional stops are provided along the slots by spaced apart depressions into which a mating truncated conical portion on the movable pieces fits. In one form, a captive rotatable disc cooperates with the playing surface to permit selective opening of covers that obscure indicia matchable with indicia designating positions along a slot path.

Abstract: A toy doll with arms and legs mounted for pivotal movement relative to the torso in response to rotational movement of a bottle nipple in the doll's mouth. One gear on a rotatable feed tube within the hollow head of the doll engages vertically oriented racks that then engage spur gears to rotate the arms. A bevel gear also carried by the tube engages a bevel gear on a depending drive shaft that has a crown gear driving a bevel gear for each of the legs. Both the arms and the legs are mounted on spools that freely rotate with respect to the torso. Frictional engagement of the limbs with respect to the spool permit the spool to pivotally drive the arms while also allowing selective, independent angular orientation of each of the limbs with respect to its respective spool.

Abstract: A play service center for toy self-propelled reversible drive vehicles that includes a lift ramp powered by the vehicle. Rollers carried by the lift ramp transfer power from the driven vehicle wheels through a pinion gear that engages a stationary curved rack gear to raise and lower the lift and vehicle. At the top of the curved rack gear a number of teeth are omitted and a stop is provided to retain the lift in the raised position. In order to lower the lift, the vehicle drive is reversed. Levered pads provide additional traction for driving the vehicle off the rollers and lift ramp. A power take-off drives service equipment such as a power meter as well as a rotating buffer or drill. The meter includes a biased dial pointer that provides an indication of the power transmitted by the vehicle wheels through the driven rollers.

Abstract: A toy vehicle with a two-part, telescoping, chassis is driven by a battery powered motor. The child manipulates a control lever to energize the motor and produce engine revving sounds and then engage the rear wheels to start the vehicle doing a wheelie. One part of the chassis carries the front axle and wheels along with the motor and batteries plus an elongated resonating tube with a bellows and striking rib at one end adjacent the motor and an angular, open, sound producing end. Beaters driven by the motor strike the rib to produce the engine revving sound. Rear wheels mounted on an axle carried by the other part of the chassis are drivingly engaged with the motor when the two parts are telescoped together. The shift control lever is mounted for pivotal movement into an initial electrical circuit completing contact to energize the motor and later mechanical shifting to telescope the rear axle carrying part towards the motor to engage the motor and rear axle.

Abstract: An express delivery playset includes an airplane, a delivery van, a loading dock, packages, a cargo transporter, and cargo containers. The plane has a conveyor belt for movement of the containers between a hatched opening at the fore end and the aft end of the substantially enclosed cargo area. Various packages carried by the van fit into the cargo containers and the plane, dock and transporter are adapted to receive the container. Off-loading packages from the van onto the dock is facilitated by a tilt-dump floor. A parallel linkage permits raising and lowering of the cargo transporter deck between the dock and the plane.

Abstract: A children's activity playset for building vehicles using a malleable material includes a chassis carrying free wheeling axle and wheel assemblies on the underside. Clear plastic body shells are provided for filling with colored malleable materials and then pressing on top of the chassis. Upwardly projecting posts on the chassis help secure the malleable material to the chassis. Once assembled the clear shell may be removed or left on the vehicle to protect it during play.

Abstract: A 4.times.4 conversion accessory for vehicles including a pair of spaced apart axles secured to an elongated transverse central frame member. Relatively large lugged wheels are attached to the ends of each axle for rotation with respect to the frame member. Mounting wells for releasably receiving the wheels of the vehicle are carried by the axles adjacent each lugged wheel to support the vehicle on the conversion accessory. Each well has a substantially solid outer circular wall and a spaced apart inner circular wall with a generally vertical slot extending down below the center of the inner wall. A telescoping frame member and mounting wells carried for sliding movement along the transverse axles accommodate vehicles having different wheel bases. In another version, the elongated frame member includes a compressible spring and releasable actuator for propelling a combined vehicle and 4.times.4 converter accessory.

Abstract: A game for picking and identifying figurines during a timed turn for matching with corresponding identification on a card. The game housing establishes a raised playing surface having a number of openings communicating with the interior of the housing. Under the playing surface there is a spring motor driven cam with three identical lobes and having an outwardly extending lever for winding the motor for a single cycle of approximately 125 degrees of rotation. Above the cam there is a follower riser having two concentric coplanar annular plates that support the figurines for simultaneous, essentially vertical, raising and lowering of the figurines through the openings. Keeper rings on the follower riser cooperate with guide posts in the housing to maintain the essentially vertical movement.

Abstract: A children's stuffed-art craft set includes a background board having two-dimensional graphics on a face surface with openings of various shapes forming elements of the graphics extending through the board to the opposite surface. Backing pieces, and relatively soft, stuffing pieces which are readily compressible compared to the background board and backing pieces, are shaped to fit into background board openings. Pieces of fabric or other material, larger than the openings and of various colors, patterns and textures are also supplied. A selected fabric piece is placed over the conforming stuffing and backing pieces and then inserted through the opening in the backing board from the opposite surface. The thickness of the extra fabric is wedged between the opening and the conforming backing piece to stretch the fabric, compress the stuffing and secure the combination in place creating a soft relief element of the picture or design following the two-dimensional graphics on the face of the background board.

Abstract: An activity toy with which a child may create needle craft like textured designs using plastic or amorphous solid substances. In order to simulate the strands or nubs that create the textured design in neddle crafts a stand supported on a surface holds a screen having mesh spaces extending between the opposed sides of the screen. The stands hold the screen spaced from the surface with one side of the screen facing the child. An extruder for the plastic substance is positioned adjacent the side of the screen away from the child and moved under the screen to force the substance through the mesh spaces to create the needle craft like texture. The extrusion opening is a larger than the mesh spaces so that a mat or backing retains the textured design on the screen. To facilitate the creation of aesthetically pleasing designs, preprinted patterns or outlines are provided on the screen.