Abstract: A pet toy is provided for the pet toy having an elongated housing with a flat lower surface secured to a bottom of said elongated housing and adapted to allow the elongated housing to sit flat and securely on a planar surface. A reciprocating mechanism contained within said center section and comprising a motor that physically communicates a linear reciprocating motion of a rack and pinion gear to a pair of opposed targets aligned along the centerline and extend outward from said first egress orifice. The target appendages are each comprised of a flexible, conformable and compressible member adapted to be withdrawn into the respective egress orifice and alternately extend outward from the respective egress orifice.

Abstract: A support stand assembly having a portable table stand suitable for placing one or more holders for candles, figurine or other decorative items on its top surface. There are one or more candleholders with a permanent magnet located at the bottom of each holder. A plurality of electromagnets is fixed inside the table stand underneath the top surface. Underneath the top surface of the cake stand is one or more integrated circuit boards with circuitry for controlling the switch of magnetic poles of said electromagnets in a group and causing regulated stepping movement of the candleholders by utilizing the magnetic force between magnets in candleholders and the ones inside the table stand. It provides an all-hardware solution that does not require software programming and is easy and economical to manufacture.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to a golf training aid having a pair of substantially coplanar shafts are disclosed herein. Swinging the golf training aid through a predetermined or proper swing plane may result in alignment of the shafts and/or members attached thereto. Separation or contact of the shafts or members attached thereto may be used to indicate proper acceleration or swing force.

Abstract: A jousting element for use in a game. The jousting element has a body which is arranged around a cylindrically aligned vertical axis. The body is configured to rotate about the vertical axis and to be carried above a playing surface. A traveling component connected to the body enables the body of the jousting element to be carried above the playing surface along multiple directions of travel. Attached to the body is a first playing component. The first playing component enables the jousting element to engage a second jousting element.

Abstract: A toy item includes a body with a drive, a drive input, a drive output, and a driven activity member, or other movable output. Application of force to the drive input can activate the drive and produce movement of the driven activity member. Two similar toy items can be disposed in operable engagement so that the drive output of one toy item can engage the drive input of the other toy item, so that application of force to the drive input of one toy item can activate the drives of both toy items.

Abstract: A wheel toy for entertaining and providing physical exercise. The wheel toy includes a wheel. A rod, which is elongate and has a first end and a second end, is extendable into and securely attached to an axis of the wheel.

Abstract: A candy dispenser may be provided with a housing having a candy reservoir formed therein in which a plurality of pieces of candy may be disposed, a spin top having a downwardly extending member that is centrally located on the spin top to facilitate spinning of the spin top while the downwardly extending member supports the spin top, a candy dispensing mechanism including a candy dispensing opening that allows a piece of candy to be dispensed from the candy reservoir, and an actuator associated with the spin top and the candy dispensing mechanism. The actuator may be movable to a first position and to a second position, with movement of the actuator to the first position causing the spin top to be launched from the housing so that the spin top may land on a surface and spin on its downwardly extending member, and with movement of the actuator to the second position causing one of the pieces of candy to be dispensed through the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A hand held toy having a power source with a rotating shaft. A crank is connected with an end of the shaft and extends radially therefrom. An elongated flexible member is connected with the crank at a location radially spaced from its axis. An anchor member is connected with an opposite end of the elongated member and is adapted to control that end of the member. In use, rotation of the shaft causes the elongate member to form controlled substantially uniform convolutions and, selective relative movement between the power source and anchor causes the convolutions to form into varying controlled sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Drinking containers having viewable elements. The containers comprise a receptacle portion adapted to receive a liquid and to dispense the liquid to a person, and a sealed compartment having a viewable, actuatable element therein which can be viewed. The drinking containers disclosed herein entertain people observing them. Since the viewable element provides a point of focus for the person drinking the liquid prior to, subsequent to and during drinking, a caregiver providing health or child care to the person will be able to attend to other matters since the person will be entertained by the drinking container.

Abstract: A generally circular flat housing supports a handle, a pivotable lever, and a base portion. At the circular portion of the housing, a ring of character segments each having a visually depicted character thereon are supported. A pointer is rotatably supportable upon the housing and is movable to point to a selected one of the characters. A character image is supported on a circular plate at the center of the housing and includes apparatus for moving face components to simulate the speaking action of the image character. An electronic sound module of conventional design is supported within the interior of the housing and is provided with speech or phrase selections by a rotating multiple segment contact pad set together with a pair of contact brushes. When the pivotally mounted handle is pulled down, a gear drive mechanism is configured for operation and energy is stored in a return spring.

Abstract: A crank is tangentially placed on a hoop by incorporating a tee member. The crank is rotatable 36.degree. degrees within the tee member. A handle extends from the crank arm and pivots to a position 90.degree. degrees of the crank arm to gain mechanical advantage to rotate and manipulate the hoop. A hand grip fits over the crank handle. As the crank is manipulated to impart revolutions to the hoop, the entire mechanism rotates within the axis of the handle and the hand grip.

Abstract: A water activity toy has a channel for a stream of water which floats a vessel on the stream, and a paddle wheel that moves through the channel to generate the stream. The paddle wheel includes a plurality of blades on axle stubs which are removably mounted on mountings at opposite sides of the channel. A crank used to rotate the paddle wheel is connected with one axle stub which is liftable out of its mounting. Lifting the crank tilts the paddle wheel to provide clearance for a tall vessel floating by the paddle wheel mountings. The mountings have similar constructions and are oppositely facing. Each mounting includes a horizontal open ended bearing slot having a side slot with a constriction at the outboard end of the slot. Each axle stub includes parallel flattened surfaces which form a reduced dimension region that enables the axle stub to pass radially through the constriction, provided that radial protrusions on the flattened surfaces are out of alignment with the constriction.

Abstract: A water activity toy with a channel for a stream of water which floats a vessel on the stream. A paddle wheel moves through the water to move the stream. The paddle wheel includes a plurality of blades all on axle stub portions at supports at opposite sides of the channel. Each blade could be above the channel when a vessel floats by. The blade is curved downward around an axis extending from the base edge to the free edge of the blade so that with two oppositely directed blades both oriented to extend along the channel, the middle of the blade would be higher off the water in the channel than the regions of the blades at the axle portions. Each blade also has a cutout at its base edge so that if the blade were oriented upright, the base edge of the blade would be higher off the water in the channel toward the middle of the blade than at the axle portions.

Abstract: A water activity toy including a main channel portion for a stream of water, and the channel having a siding which distends one side of the channel. A gate or wall is pivotally supported on a pivot post in the main channel and is operable between an upstream-downstream orientation, which directs the main water flow through the main channel portion for floating a vessel through the main channel portion and an orientation transverse to the main channel portion which diverts the main water flow into the siding and floats the vessel into the siding. The gate is also operable to the upstream-downstream orientation with the vessel in the siding for retaining the vessel in the siding. The siding may be a harbor for the vessel. An impeller moves the water in a stream through the main channel.

Abstract: A simulated finger is mounted for unnatural movement on a finger-ring structure so that the simulated finger appears to a casual observer to be the person's natural finger. In different examples, the movements are rotational or axial, and can expose a simulated bone and can be accompanied by appropriated sounds such as screeching or ratchetting. In another example, the simulated finger incorporated a whistle sounded by holding the tip of the simulated finger to the lips and blowing.

Abstract: An action character figure assembly includes a character figure, an elongated base and a control and mounting mechanism for releasably mounting the character figure on one leg thereof adjacent an end of the base. The control and mounting mechanism is remotely operable from the opposite end of the base for rapidly rotating the character figure about the axis of the first leg thereof so as to cause the character figure to perform various martial arts fighting maneuvers. The character figure includes a torso portion which is pivotally mounted on the first leg and a second leg and arms which are freely pivotably mounted on the torso portion so that they are centrifugally pivoted outwardly during a fighting maneuver.

Abstract: A viewing toy is provided which may be held by a user in front of his eyes. The toy has a plurality of transparent openings and, when the toy is rotated by the user's finger, a pleasant visual effect is obtained when viewing a visual target.

Abstract: An improved child's mobile is disclosed including a plurality of decorative elements, and the resulting mobile, is described wherein each of a plurality of decorative elements is inserted into the improved element clamp at different, reversible orientations. By removing and reinserting the mobile elements at different orientations the child is exposed to various shapes and colors as frequently as desired.

Abstract: A doll contains a fabric fastener, such as "Velcro", on the backside, simulating a backbone. A turntable holds the doll in upright position with arms uplifted. A consecutive series of garment sections, each depicting a separate article of clothing, is spooled onto a rotatable cylinder, spaced from the turntable, with the front end section of the spooled garment containing a complementary fabric fastener connected to the fabric fastener on the doll's backside. By rotating the doll about its vertical axis an article of clothing is dispensed from the cylinder and is wrapped about the doll's torso to dress the doll. The doll's clothing is effectively changed by rotating the doll further to dispense the next article of clothing and wrap the latter in overlying relationship with the first article of clothing about the doll's torso. This action may be continued for as many different articles of wrap around clothing as is contained on the cylinder.

Abstract: A light show mechanism is provided that includes light brackets which are mounted for rotation on opposite ends of a platform. The light brackets have at least two spaced lamps mounted thereon. The platform rotates about a central axis. As the platform rotates, the light brackets travel in a planetary path. The light brackets rotate on the platform as the platform rotates so that its lights sweep out aesthetically pleasing designs. The rate of rotation of the light brackets can be changed independently of each other to change the design formed by the lights.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a lid is mounted to an underlying container, with a fluid positioned within the container. A crank handle is rotatably mounted relative to the lid to rotate a crank handle gear, in turn rotating a matrix of driven gears, each driven gear including an output shaft of varying length projecting interiorly of the container. Each output shaft arranged in a parallel relationship including a paddle blade at a lower terminal end thereof of a varying configuration to effect agitation of the fluid for novelty and amusement of an individual. The blades and gears are typically formed of contracting colorations. A modification of the invention includes the gears formed with hollow chambers, and each hollow chamber including a centrifugal valve operative upon rotation of the gears to direct a fluid dye into the fluid of the container to enhance amusement and enjoyment of the organization.

Abstract: A figure toy having an upper torso with an arm member pivotally coupled to the shoulder portion thereof, the arm member being hollow and including therein a rotatable assembly having a bevel gear at the shoulder area and a connector adjacent the wrist portion for connection to one of a plurality of simulated weapons which may be rotated. A rotatable wheel within the torso is gear connected to the rotatable assembly within the arm, rotation of the simulated weapon being effected by manually driving the wheel.

Abstract: A toy computer "busy box" assembly wherein a toy assembly in the form of a simulated computer is provided with hand manipulated actuating members in a keyboard section connected to image producing members in a screen section through systems of gears and levers to produce moving visible images on the screen section.