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Squishy
A squishy is a type of soft toy made of a specially formulated soft polyurethane foam, that slowly returns to its original shape after being squeezed. Squishies are manufactured into many different shapes and sizes, such as animals, fruits, and food items. They are often scented to match the object represented. The toy is also called kawaii squishy, ''kawaii'' meaning "cute" in Japanese. Originating in Japan, squishies became available in the US in the spring of 2017. In the following years, the toys become popular all over the world, Lauren Schwartzberg (2017):What’s the Next Fidget Spinner?. Article on the ''New York Magazinewebsite ''The Strategist'', dated 2017-08-24. Accessed on 2020-01-13. and have huge presence on social media (especially YouTube and Instagram). Squishies became popular among children and adolescents, but also among adults, for the tactile pleasure that one experiences squishing them — which is said to relieve stress.Annaliese Griffin (2017):Adul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stress Ball
A stress ball or hand exercise ball is a malleable toy, usually not more than in diameter. It is squeezed in the hand and manipulated by the fingers, ostensibly to relieve stress and muscle tension or to exercise the muscles of the hand. Despite the name, many stress balls are not spherical. Some are molded in amusing shapes, and pad- or transfer-printed with corporate logos. They may be presented to employees and clients of companies as promotional gifts. Because of the many non-spherical shapes now available, stress balls are generically known as stress toys or stress relievers. __TOC__ Types There are several types of stress balls that originate from many countries. The most common type of stress ball in America is the "bean bag" type, commonly known as a " Hacky Sack." In Australia, most common are the foam type, which prevents stress through resistance from squeezing the ball. Chinese-form balls are known as the Baoding ball; unlike others, these are not squeezable as t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flubber (material)
Flubber (named from the film ''The Absent-Minded Professor''), Glorp, Glurch, or Slime is a rubbery polymer formed by cross-linking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a borate compound. Slime can be made by combining polyvinyl-acetate-based adhesives with borax. Chemical reaction The gelation process entails formation of a borate ester that cross links the chains of the PVA. Borate esters form readily by condensation of hydroxyl groups and the B-OH groups. Flubber's unique texture comes from a polymer network formed by polyvinyl alcohol. Weak hydrogen bonds hold the polymer chains together, while borate molecules link them side by side. These weak bonds give flubber its distinctive ability to stretch, flow, and pull apart. Properties Flubber is a non-Newtonian fluid that flows under low stress, but breaks under higher stresses and pressures. This combination of fluid-like and solid-like properties makes it a Maxwell fluid. Its behavior can also be described as being viscoplas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Novelty Items
Novelty (derived from Latin word ''novus'' for "new") is the quality of being new, or following from that, of being striking, original or unusual. Novelty may be the shared experience of a new cultural phenomenon or the subjective perception of an individual. From the meaning of being unusual usage is derived the concept of the novelty dance (a type of dance that is popular for being unusual or humorous); the novelty song (a musical item that capitalizes on something new, unusual, or a current fad); the novelty show (a competition or display in which exhibits or specimens are in way some novel); and novelty architecture (a building or other structure that is interesting because it has an amusing design). It is also this sense that applies to a novelty item, a small manufactured adornment, toy or collectible. These, in turn are often used as promotional merchandise in marketing. The chess term, novelty, is used for a move in chess which has never been played before in a recorded ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baoding Balls
Baoding balls () are metal balls small enough to hold in one hand, used for physical exercise and therapy. They are also known as Chinese exercise balls, Chinese health balls, Chinese meditation balls, and Chinese medicine balls. Baoding balls are used by rotating two or more balls repeatedly in the hand. Intended to improve finger dexterity, relax the hand, or aid in the recovery of muscle strength and motor skills after surgery, Baoding balls work similarly to Western stress balls. History The first Baoding balls were likely created in Hebei, China, during the Ming dynasty. Construction methods varied. Formerly, they were usually called "iron balls", as they were originally made of iron. As metalworking advanced, "iron balls" became more popular. Baoding balls continue to be produced there. Composition Most Baoding balls consist of a pair of hollow spheres, each containing a chime that rings when an inner ball strikes the outer sphere. Many modern examples are decorated with c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fidget Cube
The Fidget Cube is a fidget toy designed by Matthew and Mark McLachlan, brothers and co-founders of the US design studio Antsy Labs. It has fidget tools on all sides: a toggle switch, gears, a rolling ball (marble), a joystick, a spinning disk, a worry stone, and five buttons. Reception In a positive review, ''The Verge'' described the cube as, "basically a baby toy for adults". After its 2016 Kickstarter campaign, the Fidget Cube ranked tenth on the highest-funded crowdfunding projects. See also * Fidgeting * Fidget spinner * Stress ball A stress ball or hand exercise ball is a malleable toy, usually not more than in diameter. It is squeezed in the hand and manipulated by the fingers, ostensibly to relieve stress and muscle tension or to exercise the muscles of the hand. Despi ... * Worry beads * Infinity Cube References Kickstarter-funded products 2010s fads and trends Mechanical toys Sensory toys {{toy-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Office Toy
An office toy (also known as an executive toy or a desk toy) is a novelty item typically placed on the desk of a corporate executive or other office worker. They have no work-related function, but are often intended to provide decoration or pleasure, relieve stress or inspire creativity.Hsiang Cheng 'Sam' Wang (2007) The Investigation of Office Toy. National Central Library The Newton's cradle is a classic example of an office toy. Functions Different types of office toys fulfill different needs for their users. Although providing pleasure and being decorative could be the two major functions in office toys, there are still some differences between each types of office toys. For example, puzzle-type toys can also help inspire creativity. A fidget spinner is an office toy that is used to reduce stress or boredom.James Plafke (2016Fidget Spinners Are The Must-Have Office Toy For 2017''Forbes'', 23 December 2016. Design curator Donald Albrecht described executive toys as "aspiration ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Silly Putty
Silly Putty is a toy containing silicone polymers that have unusual physical properties. It can flow like a liquid, bounce and can be stretched or broken depending on the amount of physical stress to which it is subjected. It contains viscoelasticity, viscoelastic liquid silicones, a type of non-Newtonian fluid, which makes it act as a viscous liquid over a long period of time but as an elastic solid over a short time period. It was originally created during research into a potential natural rubber, rubber substitute for use by the United States in World War II. The name ''Silly Putty'' is a trademark of Crayola LLC. Other names are used to market similar substances from other manufacturers. Description As a bouncing putty, Silly Putty is noted for its unusual characteristics. It bounces when dropped from a height, but breaks when struck or stretched sharply; it can also float in a liquid and will form a puddle given enough time. Silly Putty and most other retail putty produc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Slime (toy)
Slime is a toy product manufactured by Mattel, sold in a plastic trash can and introduced in February 1976. It consists of a non-toxic viscous, squishy and oozy green or other color material made primarily from guar gum. Different variations of Slime have been released over the years, including Slime containing rubber insects, eyeballs, and worms. The late 1970s also introduced a Slime Monster board game; the object of the game is for the player to avoid having their game piece slimed on by a foot-tall plastic monster with slime oozing from its mouth. Other toy companies have produced their own slime, such as Hordak's Slime Pit playset as part of the ''Masters of the Universe'' toys in the 1980s and Ecto-Plazm play gel sold with selected figures in Kenner's '' Real Ghostbusters'' toy line. Playmates Toys' ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' figure line introduced a Retro-mutagen slime sold in containers and included with playsets. While the substance is non-toxic, it is extreme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kinetic Sand
Hydrophobic sand (or magic sand) is a toy made from sand coated with a hydrophobic compound. The presence of the hydrophobic compound causes the grains of sand to adhere to one another and form cylinders (to minimize surface area) when exposed to water, and form a pocket of air around the sand. The pocket of air makes magic sand unable to get wet. A variation of this, kinetic sand, has several of the same properties, but acts like wet sand that will not dry out. Hydrophobic sand, whether the wet or dry type, will not mix with water. History The earliest reference to waterproof sand is in the 1915 book ''The Boy Mechanic Book 2'' published by ''Popular Mechanics''. The Boy Mechanic states waterproof sand was invented by East Indian magicians. The sand was made by mixing heated sand with melted wax. The wax would repel water when the sand was exposed to water. Magic sand was originally developed to trap ocean oil spills near the shore. This was done by sprinkling magic san ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane foam is a solid polymeric foam based on polyurethane chemistry. As a specialist synthetic fibre, synthetic material with highly diverse applications, polyurethane foams are primarily used for thermal insulation and as a cushioning material in mattresses, upholstered furniture or as seating in vehicles. Its low density and thermal conductivity combined with its mechanical properties make them excellent thermal and sound insulators, as well as structural and comfort materials. Polyurethane foams are Thermosetting polymer, thermosetting polymers. They cannot be melted and reshaped after initially formed, because the chemical bonds between the molecules in the material are very strong and are not broken down by heating. Once cured and cooled, the material maintains its shape and properties.EURO-MOULDERS (2023) 'What is polyurethane foam' https://euromoulders.org/polyurethane-in-automobiles/what-is-polyurethane-foam/ Classification of polyurethane foams Polyurethane foa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
