Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7263137 | Multivalued FSK modulation system A multivalued FSK modulation system is provided in which when data to be transmitted is multivalued and transmitted/received, the detection level is different every symbol. When a two-valued signal is transmitted as one symbol, data (11), (01), (00) and (10) are pre... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258591 | Mobile roly-poly-type apparatus and method The present invention generally relates to apparatuses having some characteristic(s) of traditional “roly-poly” toys, which are traditional passive toys that, when struck, wobble about their typically-rounded base but stay upright due to bottom-heavy weighting. ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7207081 | Random motion cleaner A self-propelled floor cleaner is provided having a random motion generator which enhances the maneuverability of the floor cleaner. The random motion generator is rotatably attached to the frame of the cleaner and propels the cleaner across the floor in a random mo... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7147535 | Optical remote controller pointing the place to reach A motorized mobile toy remote controlled by light beams. The remote control projects a spot on the ground, the toy, equipped with optical sensors, follows the spot. The optical sensor delivers instructions on the variation of the position of the spot compared to the... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7014272 | Toy wheel A self-contained toy wheel having a rim with a tire which revolves around a weighted, stationary hub assembly. The hub assembly has an off-center weight which keeps the hub assembly at the same orientation at all times regardless of rim position, speed or angle of m... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6976899 | All terrain vehicle An all terrain vehicle having a casing, a motor assembly, a cradle supporting the propulsion system, and an outer shell. The casing surrounds the propulsion system with three connected rings, each ring capable of independent rotation. The cradle is positioned in the... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6938298 | Mobile cleaning robot for floors A mobile robot is described for random movement across a surface where a drive unit is arranged inside a top-hat. Cleaning equipment such as electrostatic dusters or equipment for vacuuming can be fixed to the top-hat so that the mobile robot functions as a cleaning... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6902464 | Rolling toy A rolling toy includes a chassis, an electric power source attached to the chassis, a remote signal receiver, an electric motor attached to the chassis and receiving power from the power source in response to a signal received by the remote signal receiver, a pair o... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6227933 | Robot ball The robot ball comprises an encapsulating shell, a drive system and a steering system. The shell has an axis of rotation and an outer annular tread surface centered on the axis of rotation. The drive system is encapsulated in the shell and comprises a fir... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6149494 | Toy with a moving body movable on a platform A toy includes a platform, a moving body, and a balance bar. The moving body has front and rear wheels rotatable about horizontal rotary axes, a turning wheel, and a drive unit coupled to the turning wheel and one of the rear wheels to drive movement of t... | 11/21/2000 |
| 5720644 | Voice-actuated spherical tumbler A voice-actuated spherical tumbler including two hollow semi-spherical shells connected into a spherical housing, a mounting plate fixedly mounted inside one semi-spherical shell, a rocker supported on a spring to hold a weight, a voice-controlled circuit... | 02/24/1998 |
| 5676582 | Rolling toy A rolling toy includes a sphere body composed of two parts between which a axle is connected, a frame disposed in the sphere body and having a motor disposed thereto which is mechanically connected to a gear assembly, an end gear of the gear assembly fixe... | 10/14/1997 |
| 5533920 | Self-propelled musical toy ball A self-propelled musical toy rolling ball which plays musical tunes and sound effects. The ball may also include decorative images on its surface which may generally correspond to the musical tune or sound effects played by the ball. The electronics of th... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5533921 | Remote controlled movable ball amusement device A remote controlled movable ball amusement device includes a hollow sphere having two propulsion mechanisms within the sphere, with each mechanism driven on a separate track. Each propulsion mechanism includes a receiver and a drive unit. The drive unit c... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5439408 | Remote controlled movable ball amusement device A remote controlled movable ball amusement device includes a hollow sphere having a propulsion mechanism within the sphere. The propulsion mechanism includes a receiver and a drive unit. The drive unit causes the sphere to move when actuated by the receiv... | 08/08/1995 |
| 5409414 | Toy sphere This invention relates to a toy sphere and in particular to one including an annular member provided with a circular groove at both sides, a plurality of internal gear teeth at an inner surface, and two opposite eccentric pins at an outer surface, a power... | 04/25/1995 |
| 5297981 | Self-propelled bouncing ball A toy ball in accordance with this invention includes a hollow sphere with spaced apart resilient knobs extending outwardly from the sphere and an internal mechanism that causes a random motion and bouncing of the ball. A safety switch is also provided to... | 03/29/1994 |
| 4979582 | Self-propelled roller drive unit A self-propelled roller drive unit with enclosed power source, motor(s) and transmission(s) coupled to external reaction load such as golf bag frame, wheelchair, industrial transport, personal transport or other drive unit.... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4861053 | Spherical support apparatus movable over plane surfaces A spherical element is disclosed having an external pivotably mounted bail counterbalance by an internal counterweight where the sphere is operable over plane surfaces and water supporting a variety of counterbalanced instrumentalities upon the bail and m... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4726800 | Radio-controllable spherical toy vehicle A radio-controllable spherical toy vehicle including a spherical toy body, a running mechanism, a fixing shaft, and a direction-control mechanism is disclosed, in which the running mechanism is rotatable circumferentially on the center-shaft by a driving ... | 02/23/1988 |
| 4708686 | Eccentrically weighted rolling device returns uphill A sealed container with a movable weight therein is eccentrically mounted within a light rollable object on a guideway. Liquid mercury, powered metal, or metal pellets or spheres would move within the container to shift the center of gravity. Maintaining ... | 11/24/1987 |
| 4601675 | Mechanized toy ball A mechanized ball includes a hollow sphere having a removable hatch through which a powered ball driving unit can be placed within the sphere and removed therefrom. The ball driving unit can be electrically or mechanically powered and may be in the form o... | 07/22/1986 |
| 4575353 | Counterweighted and self-extending mobile A toy or novelty is disclosed which is in the form of standing mobile and has a series of parts each pivoted to another and each provided with eccentric weights. The weights and the arrangement of the pivots may be operative to pivot the parts from a posi... | 03/11/1986 |
| 4541814 | Radio controlled vehicle within a sphere A radio controlled vehicle within a sphere has two wheels touching the sphere at diametrically opposite points, with the mass of the body of the vehicle hanging underslung from the wheels; to preserve a constant length always fitting the sphere interior t... | 09/17/1985 |
| 4505346 | Rolling vehicle A rolling vehicle having a generally spherical cage-like body with a diametrical axle on which a pod is suspended within the cage structure. The pod contains a propulsion unit which provides thrust for driving the vehicle in a particular direction and als... | 03/19/1985 |
| 4501569 | Spherical vehicle control system A spherical vehicle including a spherical shell having a drive shaft secured to the interior wall thereof. A drive motor is connected to the shaft for imparting a rolling motion to the spherical vehicle on a supporting surface. Continuous steering of the ... | 02/26/1985 |
| 4391224 | Animal amusement apparatus An animal amusement device wherein a radio transmitter of limited range is carried by the animal. A ball, or other type of movable structure is to be located upon the ground or other supportive surface in close proximity to the animal. Upon the animal mov... | 07/05/1983 |
| 4310987 | Amusement device A rolling amusement device powered by light falling on solar cells wherein the solar cells constantly face the light source.... | 01/19/1982 |
| 4192094 | Self-propelling toy A self-propelling toy comprises a ball-shaped housing having a tubular support member rotatably mounted therein. A weight is secured to and suspended from the support member and at least one rubber band is attached between the support member and the housi... | 03/11/1980 |
