Abstract: Methods and apparatus for blowing out birthday candles are presented. The apparatus may include a rotor comprising at least two blades and attachable to a wind-up launcher for imparting a rotational impulse to the rotor. Each blade of the rotor may include a blade scoop extending from a central hub of the rotor to an outer safety ring positioned around an outer circumference of the rotor and coupled to each of the central hub and the outer safety ring. The blade scoop may have a convex shaped leading edge. The blade may also include a blade overhang for pushing air from the blade scoop out from the rotor. The blade overhang may have a trailing edge positioned below the central hub, with a portion of the blade forming the trailing edge having a tangent that is angled between 30 and 60 degrees below a plane of the outer safety ring.

Abstract: A spinning toy is housed within a handle-shaped housing and a string actuated internal spinning mechanism. The internal spinning mechanism is secured to a vertical shaft which projects from the top of the housing. Secured to the distal exterior end of the shaft is a propeller comprising a plurality of blades. An exterior end of the string projects through the housing. When the string is pulled it actuates the spinning mechanism which actuates the vertical shaft which in turn rotates the propeller.

Abstract: A method and system generate lift for a vehicle relative to a planetary body rotating at a rotational speed. The vehicle incorporates two concentric lift rings in a common plane. The lift rings are positioned such that their common plane is approximately perpendicular to a force of gravity on the planetary body. The hit rings are rotated in opposing directions at speeds that are at least 20 times greater than the rotational speed of the planetary body.

Abstract: A set includes a launchable doll having a body portion and wings fixed to the body portion between a torso portion and a waist portion of the body portion to impart aerodynamic lift to the doll when the doll is rotated and the legs are fixed into a substantially vertical orientation when the wings are fixed to the body portion; and a launcher including a base, a tube that contains the legs and a mechanism that rotates the tube and the doll with respect to the base.

Abstract: An optical illusion device such as a drinking glass/cup for providing a multi-dimensional visual display. The device includes a body with tubular sidewalls extending from an opening at a first end to an opening at a second end. A base assembly is provided at the second end. The base assembly includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall that together form or define an inner chamber. A visual display assembly is provided with a mirror element with a convex reflective surface or mirror positioned within the chamber with the reflective surface facing the top wall of the base assembly. A primary image element is provided proximate to the reflective surface such that the primary image and mirror element can be observed via the opening in the body. A framing element is included proximate to the top wall of the base assembly including background images facing the reflective surface.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a drive mechanism for launching a figurine. The drive mechanism can include a housing, a rotary drive supported in the housing and being drivingly engageable with the figurine for launching the figurine outwardly from the housing, and a locking element movable between a locked position, in which the locking element engages the rotary drive to prevent movement of the rotary drive with respect to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is moved away from the rotary drive.

Abstract: A projectile flier has a flying body, a propeller device mounted on the flying body and an actuator detachably combined to the flying body to rotate the propeller device. The flying body has a tube located at its gravity center to rotatably combine with an axis of the propeller device. The actuator has a handle with a pulling device that efficiently drives the axis of the propeller device to rotate. Until the propeller device rotates at high speed to provide efficient floating force, the flying body disengages from the actuator and flies into sky. By efficiently rotating the propeller device with the pulling device, rotation speed of the propeller device is significantly increased to make the flying body fly over a long period and a far distance.

Abstract: A main rotor is provided for use in a rotary winged model aircraft. The main rotor includes a rotor hub assembly rotatable about a vertical axis and at least two main rotor blades. Each of the main rotor blades extends in a radial direction from the rotor hub assembly. The main rotor blades each include a tip end positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the rotor hub assembly and a root end coupled to the rotor hub assembly for pivotable folding movement from an initial horizontal position perpendicular to the vertical axis about a horizontal axis through a desired folding angle of about 90.degree.. Forces transmitted to the rotor hub by the rotor blade during a crash-landing of a rotary winged model aircraft including the main rotor are minimized due to movement of the rotor blades through the desired folding angle.

Abstract: A launchable figurine device includes a figurine having wings capable of providing aerodynamic lift upon rotation of the figurine. A rotation imparting mechanism is releasably mated with the figurine to provide the requisite rotational velocity for launching the figurine into the air.

Abstract: An aerodynamic rotor with pull-cord launcher toy adapted to attach a self-contained chemiluminescent light source to the rotor thereof, making the toy suited for use in the dark. The rotor includes one or more holders integrally formed into the blade(s) thereof for confining the light source therein. The light source is non-heat generating and creates a glowing shape of light when the rotor is launched and provides a source for locating the rotor when it lands. The rotor's shaft and the launcher's connector tube have an interconnecting design which enables them to easily be connected in the dark by feel. Some blades of the rotor have a small opening near their outer end to produce a whistling sound when the rotor is launched and rotates rapidly.