Mattel, Inc.

The Quaker Oats Company

Michael O Hirtle

Wayne R Halford

Ferenc Fekete

Russell W Brown

Eugene J Kilroy

Kenneth I Amamoto

James E Morse

Arthur D Moore

Roger H Stowell

Vocalizing apparatus for use in a doll which has a synthesizer for producing speech sounds. The synthesizer is controlled by a digital controller having a memory which stores information representing a vocabulary of infant-like sounds. A motion detector, which may be in the form of a gravity-actuated switch, activates the controller so as to cause the synthesizer to produce a pattern of sound simulating happy infant sounds when the doll is moved and when it is cuddled, and fussing or crying sounds when it is thereafter not moved for a time. The electronic apparatus is shut down if the doll is left unmoved for a time after it no longer emits the fussing sounds but is automatically activated when again it is moved. The vocalizing apparatus is provided in a self-contained package, removable for laundering.

Vocalizing apparatus

A toy projectile launching device having a main tubular member in fluid communication with an air pump, an air storage tank and a projectile launching housing rotatably coupled to the main tubular member. A valve member manually operable within the main tubular member, and with the valve member in a first position air from the air pump passes into the air storage tank; in a second position of the valve member, the pressurized air within the tank is released to propel a projectile within the housing. A third position of the valve member permits air from the air tank to be released in minute quantities to actuate an air-operated sounding device.

Toy projectile launching device

A toy launcher is provided for launching airplanes, missiles or the like, the launcher being provided with a base having a drum member pivotally mounted within the base, the periphery of the drum having a bearing for receiving the axis of a joy stick handle which is pivotally mounted with respect to the drum member. A gimbal mechanism within the drum is operatively connected to the handle and to a launch arm extending out from the drum, the launch arm containing a launch mechanism for releasably receiving airplanes or the like for launching the same in response to actuation of a trigger mechanism in the handle. Manipulation of the joy stick angularly displaces the surface of the launch arm to permit pre-positioning of the intended flight path and bank angle of the projectiles to a given attitude prior to launching.

Toy spring-type projectile launcher having directional controlling joy

A toy airplane launcher having a launch platform adapted for supporting two toy airplanes, each of the airplanes having a rubber band engaging portion and a depending projection for abutting against an airplane engaging post positioned adjacent the surface of the launcher. A single trigger is provided for displacing the post relative to the platform for disengaging the airplane to permit it to be launched under the force of the rubber band. The platform, post, and trigger are so constructed to permit the sequential launching of the airplanes upon slow movement of the trigger and to provide virtually simultaneous launching upon rapid actuation of the trigger. In a first embodiment the airplanes are positioned along generally parallel runways with the airplane engaging posts for each airplane being offset from one another, the posts disengaging from the airplane as they move along a line perpendicular to the plane of the platform. In a second embodiment the airplanes are mounted in tandem on the platform and a launch platform is provided with ramp means adjacent the airplane projection, the lead ramp being closer than the rear ramp so that as the posts are moved in a direction parallel to the plane of the platform the depending projections on the plane are lifted from the post with the lead ramp disengaging its post first.

Growing community of inventors

East Aurora, NY, United States of America

Michael O Hirtle