A toy vehicle control mechanism for performing stunts includes a rod coupled to a connection piece that permits a user to selectively manipulate a toy vehicle. The rod includes a rod-tip and a shaft, and the connection piece is formed as a loop or arch shaped structure that is secured to a toy vehicle as an interface for the rod-tip. The rod-tip has an interior opening and an exterior notch with a solid section separating the notch from the opening. The rod-tip and connection piece are configured so that the connection piece can travel around within the opening and be manipulated by selectively engaging the rod-tip's notch with various portions of the connection piece.

A sound generating device comprises top, bottom and sound generating assemblies. The sound generating assembly comprises a microprocessor, sound chip, capacitor, speaker and power source that are electrically interconnected. The sound can range from animal and/or environmental sounds, music, congratulatory messages, other types of voice recordings, bells, whistles and the like, and the length of play can be varied. When the device is struck against a hard surface, the contact in the top is depressed and interacts with a receptor on the sound generating device to communicate with the microprocessor and sound chip to generate a sound, which can persist from about one or more seconds, depending on how the sound generating device had been programmed. Repeat strikes of the sound generating device against the surface will result in a repetition of the sound.

Sound-generating toys are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a sound-generating toy includes a squeezable body defining an internal chamber. A sound-generating module is positioned within the chamber. The module can include a housing containing (i) an airflow sensor configured to detect a pressure change in the chamber, (ii) a speaker configured to generate an audio output, and (iii) programmable circuitry operably coupled to the airflow sensor and the speaker. In operation, the airflow sensor can detect a pressure change in the chamber caused by a user squeezing the body of the toy, and can output a signal to the programmable circuitry indicating the pressure change. After receiving the signal indicating the pressure change, the programmable circuitry can drive the speaker to generate the audio output.

Devices, systems, and methods of enhancing the gameplay of a toy are disclosed herein. For example, the toy can be a remotely controlled vehicle that includes a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader, configured to detect signals generated by a plurality of markers with RFID tags. Each marker of the plurality can be arranged such that the markers define a course for the remotely controlled vehicle. Certain markers can be designated as a starting line, a finish line, and “special,” which would enable programmable and variable gameplay features and actions of the remotely controlled vehicle. The remotely controlled vehicle can be communicably coupled to a mobile computing device configured to receive and process signals from the vehicle, display metrics associated with the gameplay, enable immediate functioning of special tag features, display metrics, and generate control codes transmitted to the vehicle, which control certain features in accordance with the programmed gameplay.

A remote-controlled toy vehicle with intelligent interchangeable heads is provided where the operational characteristics of the remote-control toy vehicle changes depending on the particular intelligent interchangeable head that may be detachably mounted to the toy vehicle. Some of the characteristics of the remote-control toy vehicle that may change include, but are not limited to, speed level, acceleration level, sound effects and lighting effects.

Sound-generating toys are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a sound-generating toy includes a squeezable body defining an internal chamber. A sound-generating module is positioned within the chamber. The module can include a housing containing (i) an airflow sensor configured to detect a pressure change in the chamber, (ii) a speaker configured to generate an audio output, and (iii) programmable circuitry operably coupled to the airflow sensor and the speaker. In operation, the airflow sensor can detect a pressure change in the chamber caused by a user squeezing the body of the toy, and can output a signal to the programmable circuitry indicating the pressure change. After receiving the signal indicating the pressure change, the programmable circuitry can drive the speaker to generate the audio output.

A sound generating device comprises top, bottom and sound generating assemblies. The sound generating assembly comprises a microprocessor, sound chip, capacitor, speaker and power source that are electrically interconnected. The sound can range from animal and/or environmental sounds, music, congratulatory messages, other types of voice recordings, bells, whistles and the like, and the length of play can be varied. When the device is struck against a hard surface, the contact in the top is depressed and interacts with a receptor on the sound generating device to communicate with the microprocessor and sound chip to generate a sound, which can persist from about one or more seconds, depending on how the sound generating device had been programmed. Repeat strikes of the sound generating device against the surface will result in a repetition of the sound.

A toy vehicle control mechanism for performing stunts includes a rod permitting a user to selectively manipulate a toy vehicle. The rod includes a rod-tip and a shaft, and a connection piece is secured to a toy vehicle as an interface for the rod-tip. The rod-tip is formed to include an opening having a shape and a size so that the connection piece can travel around within the opening and a notch at a tip edge of the rod-tip such that the toy vehicle can be manipulated by selectively engaging the notch with various portions of the connection piece, the notch having a shape and a size permitting a selected portion of the connection piece to enter into the notch without the selected portion of the connection piece penetrating into the opening.

An inflatable pool, beach or garden toy is described, the toy comprising an inflatable body; at least one valve disposed on the inflatable body; and a sound generator optionally comprising recorded media. Methods of manufacturing and inflatable pool, beach or garden toy are also described.

The invention is remote controlled scale model eighteen wheeler truck which has an electrically powered cab, which has steam emissions to mimic exhaust, and has a built in stereo and storage compartment and flat screen in the trailer portion. The model can be moved under it's own power and when stopped, converts into an entertainment system by having a flat screen raised above the cab on an actuator track.