Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8128454 | Toy for rotating and launching an object A toy with a launcher to rotate and launch an object is described. Attached within housing, the launcher comprises a driving element to form a drive connection with a receiving element on the object. The launcher is connected with a launcher rotating system, which i... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8083568 | Child-inducted, electrically powered toy The present invention is a totally new children‘s’ toy unlike any of its predecessors; and is based on a novel structural relationship and unique pairing of a replenishable power supply cache of direct electric current in the toy construct with an independent su... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8043139 | Start switch for gravity-driven cars This invention relates to gravity-driven car racing, specifically an improved electrical timing start switch for race tracks such as used in the popular Pinewood Derby race. The present invention eliminates the imprecise coupling between the mechanical release of st... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8016639 | Start gate for gravity-driven cars An improved start gate for gravity-driven cars which is itself a gravity-driven compound pendulum. The pendulum includes a horizontal drop member rigidly connected at one end to a start post support rod which in turn supports a plurality of start posts. A trigger le... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8011994 | Self-assembling toy, toy assembler, launcher, and track An aspect of the present invention provides a toy assembly system comprising a central compartment configured to house a plurality of toy bodies, each toy body having magnetic hubs arranged in an outer region of the body. The system can include outer compartments th... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7955158 | Toy vehicle booster and track set A booster for accelerating toy vehicles. The booster includes a rotation source and first and second wheels operatively coupled to the rotation source. Each wheel includes a thin-walled member configured to engage toy vehicles passing between the wheels as the rotat... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7950976 | Toy for rotating and launching an object A toy for rotating and launching an object is disclosed. The toy comprises a launcher configured to impart rotary motion to an object. A launcher rotating system is connected with the launcher, and is configured to impart a rotary motion to the launcher. The launche... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7927173 | Toy vehicle launched from a connector clip A toy vehicle and launching system. The male section of a strap connector is attached to the toy vehicle. The male section has elongated arms that extend from the back of the toy vehicle. Separately, the female section of a strap connector is provided. The female se... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7901266 | Toy vehicle collision set A toy vehicle collision set. The toy vehicle collision set includes a plurality of launchers that propel collision vehicles through the air. The launchers are aimed to propel the plurality of collision vehicles into a collision zone. The collision vehicles fired fro... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7887388 | Manual air pump powered car racing game A pneumatic manual air pump powered car racing game presents a housing which serves as a powering station from which a race car is propelled down a race track. A pump handle is manipulated to pressurize an air chamber with substantial pressure, which is released to ... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7874892 | Fluid driven vehicle playset A playset includes a launching device and one or more accessory toys. The launching device includes a launch tube and a bellows system operable to generate a flow of air through the launch tube. The accessory toys may include vehicles such as air-launched vehicles a... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7857679 | Toy track set and relay segments A relay segment for a toy track set is provided, the relay segment having a trigger moveably secured to the relay segment proximate to a first vehicle track segment pivotally mounted to the relay segment for adjustable movement with respect to the relay segment, the... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7815486 | Spring-powered toy vehicle and launcher The present invention relates to a spring-powered toy vehicle with a front body portion, a separable rear body portion, rotating wheels and a spring propulsion system. When the rear body portion is pulled away from the front body portion and released, the spring wil... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7794301 | Toy vehicle trackset A toy vehicle trackset utilizes a pair of closed track loops each having a lower end and a raised end. The raised ends of the loops are supported by a raised support having a spring-loaded dinosaur launcher within which a flying dinosaur is supported. A target is co... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7789728 | Adapter for motorizing a non-motorized toy vehicle Described is a toy vehicle adapter that includes at least one motorized wheel for attaching with a non-motorized toy vehicle. The adapter includes a housing with an attachment apparatus that is formed to attach with the toy vehicle. A receiver is included that is ca... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7637796 | Playset with obstacles and lane switches A playset for use with a toy vehicle including an elongate track defining at least one travel path. In some examples, the playset includes a switching mechanism for switching a toy vehicle between different travel paths. In some examples, the playset includes an obs... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7537508 | Carbide model rocketry system A model rocket and launch system in which a rocket is launched by combustion produced from a mixture of water and calcium carbide. The water and calcium carbide are combined in a mixing container and launch tube and create a combustible gas. The container and launch... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7445539 | Toy vehicle with a detachably attachable wheel Described is a toy vehicle with a launcher for connecting with and launching the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a vehicle housing having a wheel opening in the housing for placement of a detachably attachable wheel and a vehicle strip opening for placement of... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7299797 | Springless shooting dart A springless shooting dart composed of a hollow cylinder, a shuttle, a rope, and a dart is provided. Inside the hollow cylinder is a shuttle. A dart can be disposed at the front end of the shuttle. The shuttle is connected to a rope having one end tied to the user's... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7288917 | Transmitter for radio-controlled toy A mobile toy is described. The mobile toy includes a wheel assembly having a hubcap for removably engaging a wheel of the wheel assembly. The mobile toy may also include a transmitter having a charging pad for charging of a radio-controlled embodiment of the toy. Th... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7270279 | Pinewood car racing track that is easy to assemble, durable, and sturdy An extruded track for racing small wooden or other material gravity propelled cars like those raced by the Cub Scouts, Awanas and other organizations. The extrusions has a continuous slot on the bottom which allows hex head bolts to be snugly held. This features all... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7261613 | Reciprocating plaything and method for playing A plaything for executing a reciprocating activity has a curved platform reciprocatably mounted on a base. The platform has a traveling surface with a longitudinally spaced, opposing pair of end ramps. A coaster can travel back and forth freely on the platform. The ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7241223 | Toy car racing apparatus A racing game device for use with non-powered toy vehicles which are released from a starting incline and travel along independent tracks through a finish gate. Electronic starting light tower signals players for remote vehicle release which are electronically inter... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7160171 | Pneumatic pump and vehicle In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pneumatic pump in combination with a pneumatic toy vehicle powered by a refillable compressed chamber. The improvement of the pump is defined by having a pipe that has an aperture to exhaust air being pump... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7125309 | Smart smoke unit A smoke generating unit for a model train that varies the rate of smoke produce in response to changes in the load on the model train. The smoke generating unit includes a housing, a smoke element and a motor driven fan. The housing can be formed of two sub-housings... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7101250 | Channel selector for selecting an operating frequency Provided is a transmitter that includes a channel selector for modifying an operating frequency of a radio-controlled toy. The transmitter has a channel selection switch that enables a user to pick a channel from a set of predefined channels. The selected channel is... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7086922 | Track for model cars A race track for model cars with series of pressurized air conduits. The track is designed to race at least two cars in a manner similar to a “Drag Race.” Each car has its own lane. The system of pressurized air propels the cars with bursts of air from jets. The... | 08/08/2006 |
| 6951497 | Toy vehicle intersection with elevational adjustment An intersection adapted for engagement with a toy racetrack to provide an combination jump and overcrossing intersection for vehicles traversing the racetrack. The device features first and second supports engageable with inline pairs of track thereby forming two pa... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6939197 | Toy vehicle with enhanced jumping capability A toy vehicle that is capable of lifting off a travel surface by means of a cam member. The toy vehicle comprises a chassis that has first and second ends and first and second drive wheels disposed between the first and second ends. The first and second drive wheels... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6926579 | Toy rocket launch pad with directional safety valve Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for launching a toy rocket that includes rotating a launch tube about an axis that is parallel with a connecting tube, which is rotatably connected to the launch tube; extending the launch tube in a perpendicular direction... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6913507 | Assembly for retaining a toy A mobile toy is described. The mobile toy includes a wheel assembly having a hubcap for removably engaging a wheel of the wheel assembly. The mobile toy may also include a transmitter having a charging pad for charging of a radio-controlled embodiment of the toy. Th... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6913508 | Race car and track A toy race car and track system are disclosed having illuminated portions in the car and the track that are illuminated by light sources based on movement of the car on the track. The car includes a pull-back motor and has translucent windows for display of the ligh... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6805609 | Spring powered car with lockout mechanism A toy car comprises a base, a plurality of wheels arranged to support the base for rolling movement over a surface, a spring-powered drive train carried by the base and operatively coupled to at least one of the wheels and having at least one rotatable drive gear, a... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6793554 | Flexible wall booster wheel for toy vehicle trackset A toy vehicle booster for accelerating a toy vehicle upon a trackway includes a pair of rotating flexible resilient booster wheels positioned on each side of the trackway. In an alternative embodiment, a booster wheel is positioned above the trackway so as to engage... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6695675 | Accelerator for toy vehicles having multiple engageable levels An toy vehicle accelerator adapted for engagement with a roadway forming a track for carrying toy vehicles. The device features a lower first pair of rollers mounted adjacent to a first pathway to provide engagement the sides of a toy vehicle passing betw... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6679155 | Projectile launcher A launcher (10) is provided having a separation unit (15) and a launch tube (16) in fluid communication with the separation unit (15). The separation unit (15) has a pressure sensing chamber (23) for sensing the pressure within the separation unit (15), a... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6676480 | Staging mechanism for toy vehicle playset A continuous loop toy vehicle trackset supports a booster and a plurality of toy vehicles. The trackset is formed of spaced apart track rails forming a gap therebetween. The toy vehicles are open wheeled and able to roll upon the track rails in either a r... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6620022 | Drive mechanism for toy racing car A stand-alone drive mechanism for a toy racing car. The mechanism includes individually controlled motors for operating simulated main drive wheels of a race car vehicle, a semi-concealed actual drive wheel for the vehicle, and a steering system. The mech... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6575809 | Running toy system The present invention provides a running toy system including a rechargeable running toy which can be charged in a short time and which can run at high speed. A direct current motor 14 is mounted on the center of a chassis 11, and the rotary shaft of the ... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6568985 | Aerial pump toy An aerial toy includes a hollow sleeve member which is open at both ends and a base member which acts as a pump into which the sleeve fits longitudinally in a sliding arrangement, wherein movement of the base member from a first extended position to a sec... | 05/27/2003 |
