Other

Mattel, Inc.

Robert William Engel

William J Kelley

John Rey Hollis

Robert Stephen Lee

Steve G Fouke

Joseph W Franke

Enis J Unalp

John R Grube

Stephen George Fouke

Alex R Piyevsky

A switching arrangement capable of being actuated by an application of an air current with a playset component, a movable member for receiving an application of an air current relative to the playset component wherein the movable member for receiving an application of the air current is movable in response to the application of the air current, and an arrangement for actuating a response to a movement of the movable member for receiving an application of the air current. The switching arrangement can be electrical or non-electrical. Where the switching arrangement is electrical, it can cause an electrical signal to be produced in response to a sensed movement of the movable member.

Switching arrangements and accessories capable of activation by air

A beach wave playset for simulating an approach of a wave toward a shoreline. The playset can have a beach member, a wave member, and a pivot axle for enabling the wave member to pivot into and out of proximity with the beach member. Decorative elements, such as surfboards, dolls, and inner tubes, can be retained relative to the wave member and can be moved, such as by a drive wheel and motion conversion assembly combination, during a pivoting of the wave member to enable a realistic wave riding simulation. A plurality of water panels can simulate an underlying water surface. The wave member could be moved manually or by a motor arrangement, and electronic play effects could be induced in response to a movement of the wave member.

Beach wave playset

An acrobatic doll and accessory combination with an acrobatic doll body, an engaging member coupled to the doll body, a doll accessory, and an engaging member coupled to the doll accessory wherein the engaging member coupled to the doll body and the engaging member coupled to the doll accessory can engage one another in a mating relationship. The acrobatic doll can have a torso, a head, first and second arms hingedly coupled to the torso, and first and second legs hingedly coupled to the torso. The doll accessory can take many forms including a tumble baton, a tumble garment, a tumble bar arrangement, a dancing stand, a balance wand, a vertical stand, a rocker unit, a swing arrangement, a propeller driven arrangement.

Acrobatic doll and doll accessories capable of activation by air

A thermally erasable bath toy for enabling a user to create and erase drawing figures in a wet environment. The bath toy includes a drawing desk with a drawing surface that incorporates thermochromic material. A user can draw on the drawing surface by inducing the thermochromic material to enter its active temperature range, and the user can erase the drawing surface by inducing the thermochromic material to leave its active temperature range. The drawing desk can be caused to float atop a volume of water by incorporating or being formed of buoyant material or by housing an open inner volume. The color change in the thermochromic material can be induced by a temperature-operated drawing implement with a temperature applicator of heat transmissible material. The temperature applicator can include an elongate shaft that will act as a skeleton for a volume of insulative material. A weight at a proximal end of the shaft can help maintain a given temperature condition and cause a drawing tip to point out of a volume of water. Heat transmissible material can be retained in an open inner volume of the drawing implement. The heat transmissible material can be sealed within the drawing implement, retained within a removable hollow sheath, or inserted and evacuated through an opening in the open inner volume.

Bath toy with thermally erasable drawing surface

Expandable and changeable playset building system

A self-righting inflatable toy coupleable to a source of pressurized water for producing water sprays emanating from the toy's top and sides. The toy comprises a ballasted inflatable housing including a rounded base portion and an elongated shaft portion. An upper spray producing mechanism disposed in the distal end of the shaft is provided for selectively creating a water spray directed vertically upward from the shaft. Dual-channelled tubing mechanism carried on the outer surface of the housing connect the upper spray producing mechanism to the water source and further selectively provide a water spray directed radially outward from the housing. Flow control mechanisms associated with the tubing enable the user to select the desired spray pattern.

Inflatable water toy

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.

Vibratory toy and game apparatus

A device for creating spin art is provided having inflatable components to facilitate packaging and storage thereof. An inflatable disk-shaped platen is coupled for rotation with the upstanding shaft of an electrical motor. The platen includes a broad upper surface for supporting and removably retaining thereon a workpiece. An inflatable splash container partially encloses the motor and platen to prevent splashing of paint from the rapidly rotating workpiece onto nearby objects while allowing the user to pour paint onto the workpiece through the open top. The device optionally comprises as an additional safeguard against splashing an inflatable annular cover which engages the upper rim of the splash container sidewall and which includes a central opening through which the user may access the workpiece.

Spin art device having inflatable components

A dual sound toy train set includes a toy track formed in a continuous loop and having guiding rails on either side thereof. An electrically powered toy train engine is coupled to the track and includes an internal battery power source, an electric drive motor and a motor control unit. An ultrasonic microphone is supported upon the toy train engine and operatively coupled to the motor control unit. A sound unit includes a housing supporting a pair of air bellows having one way inlet valves attached thereto. A movable pump handle is operative to collapse the air bellows and produce pressurized air streams which are coupled by hollow tubes to an ultrasound whistle and an audible sound whistle. The audible sound whistle produces exciting play sounds similar to those produced by conventional locomotives. The ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasound whistle is received by the microphone on the toy train engine and is used to alternately energize and deenergize the electric drive of the toy train to start and stop the toy train.

Dual sound toy train set

A kit for making a three-dimensional picture includes a frame encircling a three-dimensional window into which may be inserted a plurality of substantially planar decorated scenes. The depth of a scene in the window in determined by bending backward resilient hinges carried at the edges of the scene. The scenes are removably anchored in the window by frictional engagement between the hinges and the inner sides of the frame. Cut out regions in the scenes permit more remote scenes to be viewed, creating a three-dimensional effect. Including replicas of scenes allows more than one picture to be created with the kit.

Three-dimensional picture with interchangeable scenes

A sleeve-like covering is provided for a shelving bracket, in particular a bracket that is usually formed from sheet metal as an elongated, blade-like arm having mounting hooks engageable in selected slots of a vertical standard. The covering is formed with an upwardly opening kerf or groove receiving an otherwise basically conventional shelf bracket of the type described, and has means for tightly gripping the bracket responsive to engagement of the blade-like bracket arm in the groove. When so applied, the covering completely conceals the metallic blade to enhance the appearance of a shelving system. The covering may be formed of wood adapted to match or harmoniously blend or contrast with the shelving material. Or, the bracket cover may in some instances be of a molded plastic, again selected to complement the shelves supported thereon.

Cover sleeve for shelving brackets of the blade type

A playing piece for a board game, such as checkers, or the like, has a base, a stem which is mounted centrally in the base and which has a portion protruding above the base and a sliding jacket that is movable between an upper position surrounding the protruding portion of the stem and a lower position exposing the protruding portion of the stem.

Playing piece for a board game

A sand art hobby craft kit which includes a plurality of substantially transparent tubes which preferably are parts of a unitary structure. The combination also includes a plurality of supplies of differently colored flowable media, preferably sand. There is the outline on the front face of the structure of a design that defines areas to be colored differently. The combination also includes means such as a base for supporting the tubes in vertical position with their upper ends open and for closing the lower ends of the tubes. A color indicia chart indicating the colors for each area also is provided. Color bearing flowable media other than sand may be provided, if desired. The color indicia chart may be a colored print of the final design such as a picture, or it may have each area of the picture color coded to the supplies of color bearing media.

Growing community of inventors

Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Robert William Engel