Custom Concepts, Incorporated

Other

Odyssey, Inc.

James F Kubiatowicz

Robert L Claussen

Gary S Silverman

Robert D Zera

A toy balloon in or on which is attached at a predetermined position a light source structure capable of emitting light without generating a significant amount of heat. The light source structure can include a light stick over which is positioned a translucent envelope having a predetermined decorative peripheral shape; or a length of transparent or translucent small diameter flexible polymeric tubing having a central passageway in which mixed chemical substances are reacting to emit visible light, with the tubing extending around, through, or away from the outlet opening of the balloon.

Toy balloon with cool illumination

A combination of a toy balloon; an elongate member comprising a resiliently elastic portion adapted to extend transverse of the cavity in the inflated balloon from an inlet portion of the balloon; structures or ways for attaching one end of the elongate member to the wall of the balloon at a position generally opposite its inlet portion and for securing a portion of the elongate member at the inlet portion so that upon a predetermined amount of inflation of the balloon the elongate member can be tensioned with its resiliently elastic portion stretched and can extend transversely through the cavity; and a decorative structure supported on the elongate member in the cavity of the balloon.

Balloon with elastic elongate member supporting a decorative structure

A toy adapted to be activated by water from a garden hose. A nozzle assembly at the bottom of a bowl directs water into and agitates water in the bowl while directing a jet of water vertically upwardly from within the bowl. Balls floating on the agitated water are randomly drawn by the jet into the inlet end of a tube supported above the water level around the jet, and are then propelled upwardly through the tube by the jet so that they will amuse or can be caught by children playing under the water jet.

Water jet toy

A toy vehicle having a driven member including an axle rotatably mounted on a vehicle body to which axle are fixed two wheels and an intermediate star gear; and a drive member having a drive shaft transverse of the axle which may be rotated via a crank at one end to wind a rubber band attached between the other end of the drive shaft and the body so that energy stored in the rubber band will drive the star gear on the axle via a star gear on the drive shaft.

Moldable toy vehicle

A self-contained game providing an enclosed space between a base and a transparent dome, and including a plurality of freely movable objects within the space. A plurality of levers are pivotably mounted on the base and can be manually activated by players via portions of the levers accessible outside the dome so that a hammer portion of the lever will impact objects at sockets on a surface portion of the base, causing the objects to fly upwardly into the space in an attempt by the players to propel the objects into receptacles on the base. After the game is completed, the game can be inverted to return the objects from the receptacles to the surface portion of the base so that the game can be replayed.

Self-contained game

A structure for cooking in a microwave oven strips of food such as bacon that gives off liquid in the cooking process. The structure comprises (1) a nonmetallic base portion having a top surface and a cavity recessed from the top surface of a size adapted to contain the liquid released from the strips; and (2) a nonmetallic support portion defining a narrow support surface positioned directly over the cavity over which the strips of food can be hung as they are cooked so that liquid from the strips drains into the cavity.

Structure for use in microwave cooking

A lathe comprising a rotor assembly which may be manually rotated and which has a peripheral portion around which moist pottery clay may be packed. A first cutting member can be mounted on a tool support for the lathe and used to cut grooves into the clay generally to the depth at which the surface of the object will be formed, whereupon a second cutting member with a continuous edge can be mounted on the tool support and used to cut away the clay ridges and shape the finished surface on the object. The object is then allowed to dry, which releases it from the rotor assembly.

Clay cutting lathe and method

A toy activating mechanism including first and second relatively movable portions, a rotor mounted on the first portion and rotated relative thereto by a wound rubber band with parts of the rubber band rubbed along a surface on the first portion to slow rotation of the rotor relative thereto. The rotor has a row of projections that engage a protrusion on the second part to cause the relative motion as the rotor turns.

Toy activating mechanism

A toy timing device including an escapement-like mechanism regulating the movement of a movable portion toward a position on a housing toward which it is biased by the alternate slipping and sticking of parts of a rubber band extending over ribs on the movable portion as the rubber band parts move along a continuous surface on the housing.

Toy timing device with a slip-stick escapement-like mechanism

Disposable structure for use in microwave cooking

A toy adapted to be immersed in water and activated by gas generated by wetted baking powder in a cavity within the toy. The toy has a pocket disposed generally above the cavity and the center of gravity of the toy. The pocket is shaped to collect gas from the cavity so that the toy rises in the water and, when the collected gas bubble reaches a sufficient size or the toy reaches the surface of the water, the toy to tip so that the bubble will escape through an orifice at an edge of the pocket which allows the toy to again sink in the water. The cycle will repeat so that the toy repeatedly rises and sinks in the water.

Water activated toy

A door alarm toy comprising a whistle adapted to be sounded by air escaping from an inflated balloon; and a clip adapted for engagement between a door and its door frame to hang the toy with an inflated balloon pressed against the door to frictionally retain a twist in the balloon which prevents it from deflating. When the door is then opened, the toy drops, the balloon untwists and air escaping from the balloon sounds the whistle.

Door alarm toy

A toy timing device including a rotor which can be manually moved from a stop to a start position on a housing and will move back to a stop position under the influence of biasing means which decreases in biasing force as the rotor moves toward its stop position. The housing has spaced projections which tension a rubber band in adjustable frictional engagement across a friction surface on the rotor. The friction surface on the rotor is generally parallel to its plane of movement except for a portion defined by a rib projecting along one edge of the surface that is shaped so that the frictional engagement of the rubber band on the rotor will decrease as the rotor moves to its stop position to produce rotor movement of a slow and generally constant velocity.

Toy timing device

A toy timing device including an escapement-like mechanism regulating the movement of a movable portion toward a position on a housing toward which it is biased by the alternate slipping and sticking of parts of a rubber band extending over ribs on the movable portion as the rubber band parts move along a continuous surface of the housing.

A popper toy comprising a dish shaped wall of thin flexible resilient polymeric material. The popper wall has a plurality of concentric portions including outer portions providing a generally rigid support structure, and central portions providing a domed structure adapted to be deflected under moderate thumb pressure. When the domed structure is deflected a portion of its outer surface will temporarily change from convex to concave. The central domed structure will then suddenly recover its original shape a short time after the pressure is released, thereby suddenly returning the portion of its outer surface to convex so that the popper will leap into the air if its outer surface is positioned against a firm surface as the domed structure recovers.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

James F Kubiatowicz