The Slithering Snake is a toy designed to slither down an inclined surface or when pulled by a string. The Slithering Snake is set up so the the head always faces the direction of motion while the body slithers behind it. A series of long metal pieces bent in the shape of cubes and connected to two other cubes at opposite parallel lines of the cube with a pin make up the majority of the body. This spine moves freely and allows for the slithering motion of the snake. This spine is then covered with an elastic polymer that is a little loose and dyed to look like a snake. The entire body is assembled like this except for the head which is just a cylinder of a dyed rubber-like material. A series of wheels hooked up to offset gears on the bottom of the snake create both the forward and slithering motions.
While being fun and interactive, this toy will teach children about motion and energy. Kids will quickly learn that the snake will stop once the energy given to it through the incline or the string dissipates due to friction. While the child may not understand exactly what is happening, he or she will definitely discover that the harder the snake is pulled or the longer the incline, the farther the snake will go.
This toy, when used properly, will be both durable and safe. It contains no electronics or small, unattached pieces so there should be no problems with younger children putting it in their mouths. However, it is still recommended for children of the ages four and up. The manufacturing price of the Slithering Snake should be a little more than an advanced wind-up toy. It should be fairly cheap because there is no advanced technology used in the product.