Mattel, Inc.

David W Schlundt

John N Handy

Gregory M Cannone

A ball catching and launching toy includes an elongated cylinder having a cylindrical bore defined therein. A catch scoop defining a generally concave catching surface is coupled to one end of the cylinder by a tapered funnel guide portion. The remaining of the cylinder receives a slidable handle having a piston rod and piston secured thereto. The piston rod and piston are movable within the cylinder bore to either produce a partial vacuum with the cylinder bore or increased pressure. Once a ball has been successfully captured by the user, the toy is raised to a generally vertical orientation and the handle is withdrawn from the cylinder producing a partial vacuum which urges the ball into a ball receptacle. The ball may then be launched or fired from the toy by rapidly forcing the handle inwardly producing pressurized air within the cylinder bore and ball receptacle which expels the captive ball.

Ball catching and launching toy

A screen printing kit for children includes a housing defining an interior cavity shaped in a fanciful footprint configuration. The interior cavity of the housing is sufficiently sized to receive and store a plurality of screen printing ink tubes as well as a porous tip pen and cap together with a plurality of screens. A frame is similarly shaped to the housing and fits nestably thereon to complete the closure of the interior cavity. The frame defines a planar upper surface and a generally rectangular recess. The recess is surrounded by an inwardly extending lip defining a rectangular opening therethrough and a plurality of locating posts extending upwardly from the lip. A printing screen includes a rectangular frame member having an opening defined therein and a plurality of locating apertures cooperating with and spaced in correspondence to the locating posts. The frame supports a mesh screen of the type used in screen printing having an impervious film layer extending thereacross. The film layer is formed of a dissolvable material which reacts to the liquid within the porous pen to open selected areas of the screen mesh as the user draws upon the film layer using the dissolvinig pen. A squeegee suitable for use in the screen printing processs is received within an accommodating notch formed in the frame.

Growing community of inventors

Hermosa Beach, CA, United States of America

David W Schlundt