Abstract: When manually closed, switches in pads select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly, rearwardly, leftwardly and rightwardly and moving upwardly and downwardly (and rightwardly and leftwardly) a receptacle for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). When sequentially and cyclically interrogated by a central station, each pad sends through wires to the station signals indicating the switch closures in such pad. Such station produces first binary signals addressing the vehicle selected by such pad and second binary signals identifying the motor control operations in such vehicle. Thereafter the switches identifying in such pad the motor control operations in such selected vehicle can be closed without closing the switches addressing such vehicle. The signals for each vehicle are transmitted by wireless to all of the vehicles at a common carrier frequency modulated by the binary signals.

Abstract: When manually closed, switches in pads select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles in different directions and moving upwardly and downwardly (and rightwardly and leftwardly) a receptacle for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). When interrogated by a central station, each pad sends through wires to the station signals indicating the switch closures in such pad. Such station produces first binary signals addressing the vehicle selected by such pad and second binary signals identifying the motor control operations in such vehicle. Thereafter the switches identifying in such pad the motor control operations in such selected vehicle can be closed without closing the switches identifying such vehicle. The first and second signals for each vehicle are transmitted by wireless to all of the vehicles at a common carrier frequency modulated by the first and second binary signals.

Abstract: A key in a vehicle socket closes contacts to reset a vehicle microcontroller to a neutral state. Ribs disposed in a particular pattern in the key operate switches in a particular pattern in the vehicle to provide an address for the vehicle with the vehicle inactive but powered. When the vehicle receives such individual address from a pad within a first particular time period thereafter, the vehicle is operated by commands from the pad. The pad operates the vehicle as long as the vehicle receives commands from the pad within the first particular period after the previous command from the pad. During this period, the vehicle has a first illumination to indicate that it is being operated. When the pad fails to provide commands to the vehicle within such first particular time period, the vehicle becomes inactive but powered and provides a second illumination. While inactive but powered, the vehicle can be addressed and subsequently commanded by any of the pads including the pad previously addressing the vehicle.

Abstract: A toy trailer for towing or hauling transportable elements including a unique tow hitch assembly and suitable for use with remotely-controllable motorized toy vehicles having a highly-maneuverable skid steering systems driven by single or dual motors, having a separately motorized loading device pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to load, push or pull transportable elements or load same on to the trailer, the motorized vehicle having in one embodiment a hopper mounted on the vehicle, and having an automatic tow hitch mechanism with both the hopper and the hitching mechanism coupled to a motorized loading device gear train which mechanism provides for the sequential actuation of, first, the scoop for loading transportable elements into the hopper or on to the trailer and, second, for actuation of both the hopper for dumping and the hitch mechanism for hitching and unhitching of trailer vehicles, and including control means responsive, without wires connected to the vehicle, to operator c

Abstract: A hollow block (e.g. a rectangular prism) preferably has six (6) perpendicular faces. Each face preferably has a wall with a particular thickness. An opening is provided in at least a particular one of the faces, and preferably in all six (6) faces. A hollow beam (e.g. a rectangular prism) preferably has six (6) perpendicular faces. Each face is preferably defined by a wall with a particular thickness. An opening is provided in at least a particular one of the faces, and preferably in the four (4) faces defining a closed loop, in the beam. Substantially parallel snaps extend from the other two (2) beam walls and have at their outer ends portions shaped to facilitate insertion of such snaps into the opening in the particular face of the block, retention of the snaps by the inner surface of the face defining the opening and removal of the snaps from the opening. Such portions are shaped for the beams to be pulled, peeled or bent from the block.

Abstract: A marble, preferably spherical, is provided for use with safety by children even when the marble becomes swallowed by a child and becomes lodged in the child's larynx. The marble includes a body having a pair of spaced end caps. First ribs may be disposed between the end caps and may extend between the end caps in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship to one another and to the end caps. Second ribs extend between the end caps in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to one another. The pair of the second ribs at the outermost extremities of the second ribs are continuous with the first ribs. There are first slots between the first ribs and between the first ribs and the end caps. There are second slots between the second ribs. The first and second slots define holes which extend entirely through the marble to provide for continued breathing by a child when the child swallows the marble and the marble becomes lodged in the larynx of the child.

Abstract: A self-locking hub for a computer tape drive that uses tape tension along to actuate a tape reel torque lock. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the torque provided by tape tension after tape is threaded from a supply reel to a take-up reel provides sufficient force to actuate an over-center, spring-tensioned engagement pawl-like hub lock mechanism that engages an inner surface of a tape reel with sufficient force to secure the reel to the hub. More than one such self-locking mechanism may be provided for a single hub to provide additional locking force. In an alternative embodiment, the self-locking engagement pawl can include an engagement flange that prevents a tape reel from being pulled off the hub or from falling off a vertically-oriented hub, thus providing additional security.

Abstract: A tape transport for a leader block tape cartridge has a threading mechanism including a rigid threader arm and a threader pin for engaging and the leader block and extracting it from the cartridge after it has been loaded into the transport adjacent a first end of a tape path. The threading mechanism pulls the leader block along the tape path past a read/write head, and inserts the leader block into a take-up hub adjacent a second end of the tape path during a threading operation. A plurality of tape guide rollers are positioned along the tape path for engaging and guiding the oxide side of the tape once the take-up hub has pulled the tape into engagement with the gap on the read/write head. During a rewinding operation, the threading mechanism extracts the leader block from the take-up hub, pulls the leader block past the read/write head and inserts the leader block back into the cartridge.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.

Abstract: A drive which permits endwise loading of the ANSI standard one-quarter inch tape cartridge in an enclosure having a width of approximately five and three-quarter inches. The drive has a mechanism for partially opening the tape access door of the cartridge upon insertion thereof so that the door pivots clear of a read/write head. Another mechanism is provided for thereafter operatively engaging and disengaging the read/write head with a length of tape in the cartridge.

Abstract: A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof. The drive includes a housing having a front panel and an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon. The tray is supported within the housing for longitudinal movement from a retracted position in which the tray is substantially contained within the housing to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel of the housing. A mechanism is provided for opening the access door of the cartridge while the cartridge is supported on the tray and the tray is being moved from its extended position to its retracted position. Another mechanism is provided for moving a read/write head and a capstan drive within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted onto the tray and the tray has been moved to its retracted position.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive unit constructed in a horizontal configuration to fit in a drawer or similar low profile installation, the tape being loaded and unloaded through a front slot without the need for access to the mechanism. A supply reel is inserted in the slot and placed on a supply hub, the free end of the tape being applied to a take-up reel which has a vacuum action to retain the tape. The take-up reel is mounted on an arm which swings back in the enclosure and pulls the tape over a guide and head array, the supply reel being simultaneously retracted so that the tape and reels are fully enclosed. After rewinding, the arm swings back and the supply hub is extended to the slot for removal of the tape.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus includes a hollow column for receiving a loop of magnetic tape. A slot runs along the length of this column. A rigid conductive strip lies spaced apart from and parallel to the slot; and a flexible conductive strip lies between the rigid conductive strip and the slot. The two conductive strips form the plates of a variable capacitor. A vacuum is generated in the portion of the column lying beneath the magnetic tape loop to force a corresponding portion of the flexible conductive strip against the perimeter of the slot. Further, a partial vacuum is generated at the outside of the column near the conductive strips to force the portion of the flexible conductive strip lying above the tape loop against the rigid conductive strip. Air escape passages are included in the rigid conductive strip. As the two strips are forced together, any air lying therebetween instantaneously escapes through the passages.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus includes a cylindrical shaped surface that synchronously rotates with a tape reel. Reflective material is patterned on this surface to form first, second and third tracks of bits running parallel to each other around the surface. A pair of light beams are aligned with the first and second tracks when a file protect reel is inserted in the tape reel, whereas the same pair of light beams are aligned with the second and third tracks when the tape reel does not have a file protect ring inserted therein. A light sensing circuit converts the portion of the light beams that is reflected from the aligned tracks into a pair of logic signals representative thereof. When the tape is moving in a predetermined direction, another circuit sets a bit in response to the logic signals as an indicator of which tracks are aligned with the light beams. Subsequently, the logic signals and the bit are used to indicate the amount of tape that is unwound from or wound onto the tape reel.

Abstract: The disclosed tape transport mechanism includes within a cabinet, a pair of tape reels, a read/write head, a capstan, a first vacuum column, and a second vacuum column. Each of the vacuum columns have an elongated body, an open end for receiving magnetic tape from a respective one of the tape reels, and a closed end. The first vacuum column is positioned substantially perpendicular to the second vacuum column; and the open end of the second vacuum column is positioned spaced apart from the closed end of the first vacuum column. Further, the capstan is positioned at the open end of the first vacumm column; and the read/write head is positioned along the body portion of the first vacuum column. Each of the vacuum columns lie along a respective one of the cabinet's sides, and no direction changing tape rollers lie anywhere between the vacuum columns.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive unit constructed in a horizontal configuration to fit in a drawer or similar low profile installation, the tape being loaded and unloaded through a front slot without the need for access to the mechanism. A supply reel is inserted in the slot and placed on a supply hub, the free end of the tape being applied to a take-up reel which has a vacuum action to retain the tape. The take-up reel is mounted on an arm which swings back in the enclosure and pulls the tape over a guide and head array, the supply reel being simultaneously retracted so that the tape and reels are fully enclosed. After rewinding, the arm swings back and the supply hub is extended to the slot for removal of the tape.