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: Presented herein are techniques in which the proximity of an object to a toy is determined using a photosensor (photo sensor) circuit. The proximity is classified/categorized as falling into one of a plurality of different proximity ranges. The proximity range in which the object is located is mapped to one or more audible or visual outputs, where the audible or visual outputs are adjusted/varied as the relative proximity of the object to the toy changes.

Abstract: A system encourages experimentation with audio frequency and speaker technologies while causing an inanimate figure to appear to dance. The system applies a bandpass filter to an incoming audio stream (e.g., in a low frequency bass band). The system monitors the magnitude of the audio content in a frequency band of interest. When an amplitude peak or other threshold magnitude is detected, a controller injects a short pulse (e.g., 3 cycles) of a sub-audible low frequency sine wave to a platform. Preferably, the sub-audible low frequency sine wave is at a resonance frequency of the platform to maximize its movement. The figure is positioned on the platform and appears to dance to the beat of the music.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, a vibrating mechanism, and a plurality of appendages each having an appendage base proximal to the housing and an appendage tip distal from the housing. One or more of the appendages are adapted to cause the apparatus to move across a surface in a forward direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip, and the appendages include two or more appendages disposed such that the appendage tips of the two or more appendages are adapted to contact opposing surfaces to produce a net force in a direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip of the two or more appendages as the vibrating mechanism causes the apparatus to vibrate. The net force can allow the apparatus to climb when the opposing surfaces are inclined.

Abstract: The instant development relates to utilizing the sonic motion generated by a speaker to move objects in various directions in response to the variation in the frequency and amplitude of the sonic vibrations. This can be used to move objects in a linear and/or rotating manner.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a fixed base, a platform supported by the fixed base, and a mechanism for causing vibration coupled to the platform and adapted to induce vibration of the platform sufficient to cause a vibration-powered vehicle to move across the platform without relying on an internal power supply of the vehicle. In some cases, a substantially planar cover is situated approximately parallel to the platform and spaced apart from the platform at a great enough distance to allow the vibration-powered vehicle to move across the platform and at a low enough distance to deter the vibration-powered vehicle from turning over.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, a vibrating mechanism, and a plurality of appendages each having an appendage base proximal to the housing and an appendage tip distal from the housing. One or more of the appendages are adapted to cause the apparatus to move across a surface in a forward direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip, and the appendages include two or more appendages disposed such that the appendage tips of the two or more appendages are adapted to contact opposing surfaces to produce a net force in a direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip of the two or more appendages as the vibrating mechanism causes the apparatus to vibrate. The net force can allow the apparatus to climb when the opposing surfaces are inclined.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, an eccentric load, a rotational motor coupled to the body and adapted to rotate the eccentric load, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. At least a portion of the plurality of legs are constructed from a flexible material, are injection molded, are integrally coupled to the body at the leg base, and include at least one driving leg 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: A portable device comprises a motor for providing vibration, a power source for powering the motor, a switching device for controlling the direction of the motor, propelling means for engaging a surface and for propelling the device when the motor is vibrating, the propelling means extending downwardly at an angle to the vertical, and an input device connected to the switching device, the switching device arranged to switch the direction of the motor when the input device receives a predetermined signal. Advantageously, the propelling means comprise a set of bristles. By using angled bristles, this increases friction in the backwards direction and so causes the device to move forwards when vibrating. The bristles dig into surface when vibration tries to move the object backwards, and the bristles slide over surface when vibration tries to move object forwards.

Abstract: The present invention provide a rail system for transporting spherical objects comprising: a first flexible rail; a second flexible rail; a flexible spine; and a connector attached to said first flexible rail, said second flexible rail, and said flexible spine. The connector allows for the track to be easily adjusted, while providing rigidity to hold the flexible rails and spline into position during use.

Abstract: A process execution apparatus and method is disclosed by which a process can be executed significantly simply and readily. The process execution apparatus includes a direction recognition section for recognizing a housing member shaking direction in which a housing member is shaken, and a process execution section for executing a process in response to the housing member shaking direction recognized by the direction recognition section. The direction recognition section recognizes the housing member shaking direction with respect to a direction of the gravity detected when the housing member is held by a person.

Abstract: A portable device comprises a motor for providing vibration, a power source for powering the motor, a switching device for controlling the direction of the motor, propelling means for engaging a surface and for propelling the device when the motor is vibrating, the propelling means extending downwardly at an angle to the vertical, and an input device connected to the switching device, the switching device arranged to switch the direction of the motor when the input device receives a predetermined signal. Advantageously, the propelling means comprise a set of bristles. By using angled bristles, this increases friction in the backwards direction and so causes the device to move forwards when vibrating. The bristles dig into surface when vibration tries to move the object backwards, and the bristles slide over surface when vibration tries to move object forwards.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an infant entertainment device with a movable object. In one embodiment, the infant entertainment device is a toy aquarium. The infant entertainment device includes a drive mechanism that is operably coupled to the movable object to move the object.

Abstract: A pneumatic prize dispensing system for an arcade game. The game includes a pneumatically-controlled method of suspending and controlling the movement encapsulated prizes within a vertically-oriented transparent tube by means of differential air pressure. A player controls the vertical position of the prize by means of a pneumatic control valve. The object of the game is to control the position of the prize capsule to match a target position zone presented to the contestant via a set of visual cues for a predetermined period of time. The game dispenses the encapsulated prize or alternatively, prize tokens, if the game-winning criteria are achieved.

Abstract: A developmental toy for small children includes a contacting member is rotated by an electric motor and a controller that, in response to input from a sensor, signals the electric motor to move the toy from a starting position for an initial period of time in an initial direction and signals the motor to wait a resting period of time. If no further input is received from a child that is detected by the sensor within the resting period of time, the controller signals the motor to move the toy back in an opposite sense, toward the starting location.

Abstract: A runway over which can travel vehicles driven by gravity, comprising a supporting structure and a track line structure sustained by the supporting structure and extending from a upper start region to a lower arrival region, wherein the supporting structure is limited to a central region of the runway by forming a pillar, and the track line structure includes some track line sections directly connected to the supporting structure and several overhanging track line sections of large extent, which project out of the supporting structure and are sustained by the same by means of rigging systems whose extension can be regulated; these rigging systems establish the geometrical location of the overhanging track line sections.

Abstract: A method to produce natural motions, or self-motion, of animate or inanimate bodies or their parts by the application of pulses at two or more locations on the surface, or inside, of the bodies or their parts. Here, energy is converted into motion in one step. Turn on the pulses, and motion results instantly. The mechanism can emulate living motions, and as living motions can take on infinite gaits and forms, so can the mechanism produce infinite forms of motion. Smooth, repeatable, controllable or random motions can be induced. Just as living muscles convert the pulses from the nervous system into natural motion in one step, so will the mechanism convert artificially generated pulse-trains into motion in one step. The dynamic coupling or modulation of waves which travel within a body, and which are caused by artificially generated pulse-trains, produces the desired motions in directions perpendicular to the plane of the pulses.

Abstract: A sound emitting advertising and information display device which has a roller housing which has an internal chamber. A sheet member is wound on a roller and is contained within the internal chamber. The sheet member is to be manually extendable from the housing with advertising indicia that is located on the sheet member to then be capable of being read by a human. During the time of extending of the sheet member, a sound is emitted that is to correspond with the advertising indicia. The advertising display device is to be attached to the front end of a product supporting shelf in a store.

Abstract: A child supporting and amusement apparatus for soothing and entertaining a child by recreating the experience of riding in a car.

Abstract: This invention is about a wood structural tabletop horse racing game. The running of the horses on a board is caused by the back-and-forth shaking movement of the board. The shaking of the board is powered by the turning of a steel nut against an angle plate which pushes the board forward. And the strength of a rubber band in the rear pulls the board back.

Abstract: A simple device producing both action effect and electronic effect includes a housing, an elastic driving mechanism and an electronic control circuit with a vibration sensor. The elastic driving mechanism has an elastic member, a transmitting shaft, a power input device, an eccentric action member. The electronic cir-control circuit has a circuit board, the vibration sensor, a battery and a function device. The elastic member stores and releases energy, and a changed energy is produced in the storing and releasing process. The eccentric member is connected to the output shaft of the elastic driving mechanism and rotated by the changed energy to produce vibration or jumping phenomenon. Then the vibration sensor senses the vibration phenomenon and triggers a signal of changing its own condition and starts the electronic circuit to produce function to let the function device perform preset action or function.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis and a body mounted to the chassis. An electro-mechanical vibration generator is operatively connected with the chassis. The vibration generator is preferably an electric motor having a weight attached to the shaft of the motor. A light source and a sound source are each operatively connected with the body. A propulsion mechanism is connected with the chassis. Operation of the propulsion mechanism causes the toy vehicle to move across the medium on which it rests. An electrical circuit and an electrical power source are each connected with the vibration generator, the light source, the sound source and the propulsion mechanism. The electrical circuit controls the sequence and timing of the connected components to provide at least one sequence of events. A switch is connected with the electrical circuit. Upon activation of the switch, the electrical circuit initiates the sequence of events.

Abstract: A self-powered carrier includes a seat within a cockpit and a quartet of rolling wheels each supported by downwardly extending wheel supports. A battery pack and motor drive supported within the carrier are operative in response to a motion sensing switch to activate the drive motor and produce rotational power which is coupled to the front two supporting wheels to move the carrier forward. The seat is pivotally supported within the cockpit and is configured to receive a plush figure straddling the seat and having its legs secured by fabric attachment pads. A timer within the battery power circuit interrupts operation of the motor following each activation and a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A vibratory toy and game apparatus is disclosed including structures for dynamically isolating the frame from the vibrating play surface. The apparatus comprises a vibration base having a vibratory motor attached thereto, a play base rigidly secured to the vibration base, a frame for supporting the apparatus on a surface, and elastic isolator members for mounting the vibration base to the frame, the isolator members preventing the transmission of vibrations from the vibration base to the frame. The apparatus further includes a plurality of play pieces which move on the upper surface of the play base in response to vibration thereof.

Abstract: A race track includes a recessed continuous track path directed through a top surface of a rigid game board, wherein the rigid game board includes a vibratory mechanism to transmit vibratory energy to tokens mounted within the race track path. The race track tokens include a plurality of vibratory transmitting tabs projecting downwardly through a bottom surface of each token, wherein the tabs may optionally be rotatably mounted upon a rotary cylinder to permit directional orientation to each token during its traverse of the path.

Abstract: The present invention is a combination of a motor having an unbalanced load thereon and an attitude switch (typically a mercury switch) in the activating circuit of the motor. The motor and the switch are securely attached to a substantially rigid framework in such a manner that, when in its stable horizontal position, the switch is in its off position and no motion of the motor, framework or switch occurs. When disturbed from the stable horizontal position, the switch closes the electrical activation circuit for the motor, resulting in vibration of the motor, switch and framework. This vibration causes the switch to be frequently, but not continuously, in the on position sustaining thereby the vibrational motion of the unit indefinitely until the framework (and the motor and switch securely attached thereto) is firmly held in the horizontal position for a brief period of time, typically a few seconds, causing the switch to come to rest once again in the stable off position.

Abstract: A system for constructing a variety of moving toys from flexible sheet material uses the vibrations of a loudspeaker to move the toy. The toy is provided in the form of an elongate strip that is assembled into the complete toy by simply bending the strip along its long axis into a generally cylindrical shape and fastening together. The strip has a top portion defining one or more animate or inanimate objects, an intermediate portion for fastening the assembled toy together and a bottom portion with parallel ribbons or strips extending downward. When assembled into the cylindrical shape, the toy is self-supporting and rests upon the ribbons. When a box with an open side is applied with the open side against a loudspeaker, music will vibrate the top of the box. When the toy is on the box, it will move or dance to the music. When the ribbons extend downward at a slanting angle, the toy will rotate in one direction.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a rigid longitudinal body having a bottom surface engaging the ground and having spaced first and second ends along a longitudinal axis. The bottom surface includes a convex cross-section along its longitudinal axis. The vehicle includes an oscillation generator having horizontal and vertical force components is mounted adjacent and secured to one of the first and second ends for generating vibratory motions, thereby imparting vibrations to the body. The vibratory motions generated by the oscillation generator alternately lift and propel the vehicle forward.