What type of plastic or rubber compound was used in a 1970's toy
called "Wacky Wall Walkers ? "  They were shaped like small squids,
and if you threw them at a glass window or smooth wall, they would
stick, then gradually release, then "walk" down by swinging their
tentacles to re-attach to the wall. I would like to learn the specific
type of plastic, and which company could supply something similar
today.

I'm a little young, I believe, to have experienced the original "Wacky
Wall Walkers", but I remember as a child playing with a similar toy in
the form of a light plastic car with a sticky gelatinous "wheel" that
would stick and then slowly release to creep down a wall.

Based on a more detailed description of the "Wacky Wall Walkers" found
at:
  [http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/toys/ty1383.php]
I believe that the concept is very similar to that device with which I
played as a child.  It seems that the American marketer of the squid
toy purchased the rights from a Japanese firm.


FIGURING OUT THE SUBSTANCE

Realizing that the concept was likely patented, I ran a patent search
for the toy and came up with several results, each describing slight
variations on the same concept.  The following result provided a
chemical recipe for the sticky substance:
  [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/search-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=pall&s1='wall+walker'&OS="wall+walker"&RS="wall+walker"]

The filed patent states that "suitable materials for the sticky
surface 13 [the wheel] include a sticky gelatinous composition, such
as a melt blend admixture of poly (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene)
triblock copolymer and plasticising oils."


FINDING A SOURCE FOR THE SUBSTANCE

Finding a supplier for this type of substance is the trickier part.

A search for substances relating to a polystyrene-ethylene or a
polybutylene-styrene triblock copolymer, etc. (in easyspeak, it's
essentially a blend of a number of plasticky-sticky polymers) notably
brought up a science classroom module that noted that toy "glue balls"
available in toy stores use this substance.  If finding a chemical
manufacturer willing to supply the formula to you turns out to be too
difficult, perhaps purchasing and melting down these glue balls could
work as a makeshift solution.

From my past experience in laboratories, another solution possibility
could be to develop your own substance by mixing white glue and borax
which creates a thick semi-hard semi-sticky polymer.

If you would like to talk to companies that trade or produce polymers
to see if they can manufacturer or find this particular substance or a
similar or more effective one, I've listed a few below.

* Firestone Polymers: "A global supplier of polymeric materials to the
rubber,
  plastics, adhesive, asphalt, and dipped goods markets."
    [http://www.firesyn.com/]

* Polymer Doctor: An e-marketplace for polymer information, etc.
    [http://www.polymerdoctor.com/]

* Polymer Source, Inc.: "Offering a broad spectrum of a structurally
controlled
  polymers"
    [http://www.polymersource.com/]


I hope this helps, and please let me know if anything needs
clarification.

--Joey

---

Request for Answer Clarification by energyplay-ga on 01 May 2002 08:14 PDT

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Note  " I would like to learn the specific type of plastic,..."

The filed patent description is a CATEGORY of materials, and these are
frequently made as broad as possible.

I can't pick up the phone and order "suitable materials for the sticky
 surface 13 [the wheel] include a sticky gelatinous composition, such
 as a melt blend admixture of poly (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene)
 triblock copolymer and plasticising oils."

The patent is also on a MUCH later toy.

A trade name for the type of plastic would be useful.

This question is really not the best fit for online research, but may
be a better fit for someone who either knows the answer or can get it
with a phone call.

Also, I'm more interested in an answer that is USEFUL (i.e.,
actionable - I can order the stuff) rather than HELPFUL (I am not
writting a paper and am not interest in learniong more about polymers)

I hope the above is taken as a clarification rather than a criticism,
this is a difficult question.

---

Clarification of Answer by joey-ga on 01 May 2002 10:07 PDT

Hi, I'm going to check with a chemical engineer friend of mine to see
if she has any ideas.

In the meantime, though, I don't know that you'll necessarily find
exactly what you're looking for in a premade, simple solution with a
"trade name" because when companies need specialized polymers, they
often work directly with plastic companies to produce exactly what
they need based on the desired properties of the substance.

I'll let you know when I hear back regarding this.

---

Clarification of Answer by joey-ga on 01 May 2002 11:08 PDT

I believe I've found a solution for you.

I've been told that the "Wall Walkers" substance can be made from
"plastisol," a liquid PVC system.  It basically consists of PVC resin,
heat stabilizer and a plasticizer.  PolyOne (http://www.polyone.com/)
is a custom compounder that could handle both plastisol and the
styrene block copolymer materials that are necessary.  They are also
apparently very helpful in pinpointing specific solutions given
constraints (such as yours.)

Let me know if this helps some more.

A very good answer for a web research based answer.

energyplay,

Ewwww, sticky slimes and gels! Or, to those in the know,
"non-Newtonian fluids". Is there any better stuff that guys can use to
thoroughly disgust mothers, sisters, wives, or daughters?
Irresistible!

Here's some information that should help you out.

Thanks,
huntsman-ga


Sticky Toy Vendors Online -

---

"Sticky Buddies", "Tumbling Sticky Insects"

1-800-PartyShop
[no add dress given]
Phone: Customer Service at 1-800-727-8974, Prompt #2 
Email: orderinquiry@1800partyshop.com
Web: http://www.1800partyshop.com/partyfavors/stickyfavors.html

---

"Sticky Buddies", "Tumbling Sticky Men", "Tumbling Sticky Feet",
"Tumbling Sticky Hands"

Little Science Wizards
45 Clayton Street 
Rochester, New York 14612-4803 
Phone: 585-581-1901 
Fax: 585-621-5896 
Email: president@littlesciencewizards.com
Web: http://www.littlesciencewizards.com/catalog.htm 

---

"Super Sticky Wall Tumbler"

Alvin Peters Company
Empire State Plaza, 
P.O. Box 2400
Albany, NY 12220-0400
Phone: 518-477-6064
Fax: 518-477-5538
Email: apcomp@wizvax.net
Web: http://www.wizvax.net/apcomp/toys.html

---

"Sticky Snappy Balls", "Sticky Butterfly"

KIPP Brothers
9760 Mayflower Park Drive
Carmel, Indiana 46032

Phone: [not given]
Email: sales@kippbro.com
Web: http://www.kippbro.com/Home.asp?Id=37

---


Sticky Toy Manufacturer - 

Mei Kee Plastic Factory manufactures and exports sticky toys. Their
headquarters are in Hong Kong, and their factories are in mainland
China. Mei Kee's Web site states that they have produced items for the
US market (including the National Football League, National Hockey
League, and Major League Baseball), so they are apparently used to
dealing with English speaking clients.

I didn't see any phone or fax number, but Mei Kee's home page (in
English) is at:
http://www.meikee.com/source/frm_main.htm

Their various sticky products can be seen at:
http://www.meikee.com/source/prd_sticky.htm. 

Click the "Contact Us" link on Mei Kee's home page to open an online
inquiry form (also in English).


Do It Yourself -

For some basic information about plastic gels and slimes, with tips
for making your own "homebrew" stuff, check the following source:

Bizarre Stuff - The page that dripped SLIME!
http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/slime.htm

Here's a brief explanation:

"Welcome to the fascinating world of non-Newtonian fluids! They get
their name from the fact that they do not fit Newton's laws of how
true liquids behave (specifically, in how they react to shearing
forces). Quicksand, many pastes and glues, gelatin, and ketchup are
all non-Newtonian fluids.

There are two main types of non-Newtonian fluids, rheopectic and
thixotropic. These slimes, oozes, globs and the rest are rheopectic,
which means they show an increase in viscosity with time under a
constantly applied stress. They resist flow dependent on the velocity
of flow. If something acts on them with a small amount of force (if
you stir them slowly, or let you fingers slowly sink into them) they
won't offer as much resistance as they would if a greater force acted
on them. If you punch a good stout ooze, it should resist about as
much as a brick wall. They fight back. Thixotropic fluids, on the
other hand, tend to become more viscous under low shear stress and
less viscous under higher shear stress. Paints typically are
thixotropic fluids; they flow easily when being brushed on, and stay
put once applied."

Here's some additional information about polymers in sticky toys.

huntsman

---

Chemical Analysis - 

A materials engineer told me that a "sticky dart" had been chemically
analyzed with the following results:

- The stickum was an "aliphatic hydrocarbon polymer", possibly an
"ethylene-propylene-diene rubber copolymer" or an "ethylene propylene
terpolymer".
- The stickiness of rubbery polymers can be adjusted by changing the
degree of
crosslinking.

---

Sticky Toy Patents -

Paragraphs that specifically discuss the toys' sticky material are
quoted below.

Viewing Patents Online -

At the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Web site, you can read the full
text of each patent and view patent images online. To view these, your
Web browser must be able to display TIFF image files. For help with
viewing patent images, see the "Patent Full-Page Images" page:
(http://www.uspto.gov/patft/images.htm)

Alternative Patent Images -

If you have trouble viewing the U.S. Patent Office TIFF images, I've
placed some edited patent images (in standard GIF format) in my
Yahoo!Photos "Patents" photo album. Double click each thumbnail image
for a larger view:
http://photos.yahoo.com/huntsmanga

Patent Quotes -
 
United States Patent  4,764,148 
August 16, 1988
Inventors: Wong; Tak K. (Hong Kong, HK)  
Assignee: T. K. Wong & Associates, Ltd. (HK)  
Title: Toy adapted to crawl down a vertical surface
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='4,764,148'.WKU.&OS=PN/4,764,148&RS=PN/4,764,148

"The constituents of the polymer material of the band 14 are selected
to provide a soft or resilient material which will be readily and
resiliently deformed by a weight of a few ounces. The material
includes a tackifier which imparts a tackiness or stickiness to the
surface of the material. Such polymer materials and their constituents
are well known and it is necessary only to blend suitable constituents
to achieve the desired degree of deformability and tackiness according
to the weight of the toy. The tackiness is such that dirt adhering to
the circumference of the band may be removed by placing a piece of
adhesive tape on the circumference of the band and removing it, the
tape carrying the dirt with it."

"The preferred constituents of the [sticky] band material are
polymerizing styrene, butadiance, napthenic oil, calcium carbonate and
hydrogenated polyterpene resin, the latter being the tackifier."

United States Patent  4,884,989  
December 5, 1989  
Inventors:  Wong; Tak K. (Hong Kong, HK)  
Assignee:  T. K. Wong & Associates, Ltd. (HK)
Title: Toy for tumbling down vertical surface
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='4,884,989'.WKU.&OS=PN/4,884,989&RS=PN/4,884,989

"The material includes a tackifier which imparts a tackiness or
stickiness to the surface of the material. Such materials are
polymeric and their constituents are well known and it is necessary
only to blend suitable constituents to achieve the desired degree of
deformability and tackiness according to the weight of the toy. The
tackiness is such that dirt adhering to the caps 9,10,11,12 may be
removed by placing a piece of adhesive tape on each cap and then
removing the tape, the tape carrying off the dirt with it."

"The preferred constituents of the [sticky] domed caps 9,10,11,12 are
polymerizing styrene, butadiene naphthenic oil, calcium carbonate and
hydrogenated polyterpene resin, the latter being the tackifier."

---

Sticky Toy Manufacturer & Exporter -

Here's another Hong Kong-based manufacturer of "Sticky Toys",
"Tumbling Toys", and "Wall-Walker Toys". They state that they (through
an affiliated company) hold 25 patents in the USA, UK, China, Taiwan,
and Hong Kong. The US patents mentioned above may be some of theirs.

Like the previously mentioned manufacturer, this firm also makes
products for the US market.

Everite Industries, Ltd.
Flat B, 9/F, 
Yiko Industrial Building, 
10 Ka Yip Street, 
Chaiwan, Hong Kong

Tel:  852-2558-2339  
Fax:  852-2558-2259
  
Email: marketing@everite.com.hk
Web (in English): http://www.everite.com.hk/

Contact Person :  Marketing Dept. 
- Ms. Winnie Chong
- Ms. Mandy Ho