PHOTO-CHROMIC LIGHT DRAWING SETS
In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic light drawing sets are disclosed including a photo-chromic page and a light pen. The photo-chromic page includes a flat transparent substrate having a page-like shape and one or more layers of photo-chromic ink applied onto the substrate. The flat transparent substrate to display an object underneath, and the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink are substantially transparent in an inactive state. The light pen selectively generates an activating light to shine onto the photo-chromic page and activate a portion of the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink. The activated portion of the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink is temporarily transformed from the inactive state to an active state in response to the activating light.
This non-provisional United States (U.S.) patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/710,785 filed on Aug. 24, 2005 by inventors Chris Schmidt, et al., entitled Photo-Chromic Toys.
FIELDThe embodiments of the invention relate generally to drawing toys. More particularly, the embodiments of the invention relate to light drawing toys.
BACKGROUNDA photo-chromic material is a material that is initially transparent or translucent. The photo-chromic material can be temporarily transformed into being a reflective color by the application of an appropriate spectrum of electromagnetic radiation or light. That is, upon transformation, photo-chromic materials reflect background light and are not transparent or translucent for a period of time.
In contrast, phosphorescent materials, sometimes referred to as glow-in-the-dark materials, absorb electromagnetic radiation to become charged or activated. Upon removal of the electromagnetic radiation source, phosphorescent materials do not reflect but emit a light of limited intensity light that decays rather quickly. The light emitted by phosphorescent materials is typically visible in complete darkness or low background light conditions for a very limited period of time.
The chemical makeup of photo-chromic materials is well known. For example, photo-chromic materials and compounds may be formed out of naphtacenequinones and derivatives thereof. It is known that various colors may be achieved by using derivatives of naphtacenequinones as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,805 by Tsujimoto et al. which is incorporated herein by reference.
While the chemical makeup of photo-chromic materials and compounds are well known, the application of them to useful products has been rather limited.
One industrial use of photo-chromic materials is to store data in three dimensions in a solid state optical memory or an optical disk of a disk drive to try and increase data density within a given volume of space.
While industrial applications of photo-chromic materials are important, it is also desirable to use photo-chromic materials in other ways.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe embodiments of the invention are summarized by the claims that follow below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances well known methods, procedures, components, circuits, systems, and subsystems have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the invention.
The embodiments of the invention includes methods, apparatus and play-sets for photo-chromic toys or playthings for children.
PHOTO-CHROMIC TOYS Referring now to
A photo-chromic ink or paint has a finely divided photo-chromic solid suspended in an ink-like or paint-like carrier. The photo-chromic ink or paint is functionally more flexible in that it may be applied by a manufacturer at the factory or by a user outside the factory. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the photo-chromic ink or paint is in liquid or colloidal form so that it can be applied to a toy or a writing or drawing surface. In other embodiments of the invention, the photo-chromic ink or paint is dried into a solid on a surface of the toy. In other embodiments of the invention, photo-chromic solids are mixed in with a plastic and molded into the toy at the factory. In other embodiments of the invention, a surface of the toy is dyed at the factory with a photo-chromic dye.
The photo-chromic toy 100 may further include a three dimensional structure that is solid or hollow. The structure or portion thereof of the toy may provide a substrate with a surface to which the photo-chromic material may be applied.
The photo-chromic ink or paint is generally activated by light or electromagnetic radiation substantially in or near the purple, violet, or ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. Sunlight can readily activate the photo-chromic ink or paint. Typical white indoor lighting from incandescent or fluorescent lights doesn't have sufficient intensity in the wavelength range of light or electromagnetic radiation to activate photo-chromic ink or paint. Thus when indoors or shaded from the sun, a source of purple, violet, or ultraviolet light may be used to activate the photo-chromic ink or paint. A light with a wavelength within the spectrum of purple, violet, and ultraviolet light that activates photo-chromic material may be collectively referred to herein as an activating light. For example, a black light that provides some UV radiation may be used indoors to activate the photo-chromic ink or paint.
In other embodiments, a light pen, a light sprayer, a light wand, or a light marker may be used to activate a smaller area of photo-chromic ink or paint.
The light pen 110 includes a housing 111 to collectively hold together a light transducer 112, a switch 114, and one or more batteries 116 as a portable unit. The switch 114 switches the power supplied by the batteries 116 to the light transducer 112 ON and OFF to periodically generate the electromagnetic radiation or light 118. When ON, the light transducer 112 converts electrical current into the activating light in the range of wavelengths to activate photo-chromic material. The light transducer 112 may be a light bulb, a flash bulb, or a light emitting diode (LED) that can generate the activating light. The structure of the housing 111 may take on different ornamental shapes depending upon the context of the photo-chromic toy 100. Collectively, the light pen 110 and photo-chromic toy 100 may form a playset.
In
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Generally, the photo-chromic ink or paint may be applied to surfaces of substrates similar to how inks and paints are applied to surfaces. The shape, width, and thickness of the photo-chromic ink or paint may vary depending upon how it is applied to the surface 103 of the substrate 102. The photo-chromic ink or paint 104A is thicker than the photo-chromic ink or paint 104D. The photo-chromic ink or paint 104A is wider than the photo-chromic ink or paint 104B. The photo-chromic ink or paint 104A-104B are more sharply defined at the edges than the photo-chromic ink or paint 104C-104D which are more rounded at the edges.
Referring now to
As discussed previously, the photo-chromic ink or paint is generally activated by light or electromagnetic radiation substantially in or near the purple, violet, or ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. After being activated, the photo-chromic ink or paint appears to change from being substantially transparent or clear to a color. Alternatively, the color of the photo-chromic ink or paint may appear to change in intensity due to increased reflectivity. Alternatively, the photo-chromic ink or paint may appear to change colors, such as from a substantially white color to a different color other than white. After activation, the change to color, intensity, or different color may persist for approximately thirty seconds, more or less. The persistence of change in the photo-chromic ink or paint may last shorter or longer depending how its activated and for what length of time. Without further activation, the change in the photo-chromic ink or paint may gradually decay back to an inactivated state.
When not activated, in one embodiment of the invention the photo-chromic ink or paint may be substantially transparent so that it is clear and shows the color of the surface 103 of the substrate 102, as is illustrated by the oval 200. For example, the white color of the surface of the paper substrate shows through the oval 200 of the photo-chromic ink or paint. The surface of the substrate may include indicia or other printing underneath the photo-chromic ink or paint that is revealed when not activated but colored when activated.
When not activated, in another embodiment of the invention the photo-chromic ink or paint may almost be clear or transparent, somewhat translucent, having a hint of color to distort the color of the surface 103 of the substrate 102, as is illustrated by the ovals 202A-202J. Oval 202A has a hint of charcoal grey color. Oval 202B has a hint of blue color. Oval 202C has a hint of red color. Oval 202D has a hint of orange color. Oval 202E has a hint of green color. Oval 202F has a hint of magenta color. Oval 202G has a hint of yellow color. Oval 202H has a hint of teal color. Oval 202I has a hint of purple color. Oval 202J has a hint of brown color.
When activated, the intensity of the color of the ovals 202A-202J may increase as illustrated by the activated photo-chromic ink or paint of the brush-strokes or swatches 204A-204J, respectively. Brush-stroke 204A is a charcoal grey color. Brush-stroke 204B is a blue color. Brush-stroke 204C is a red color. Brush-stroke 204D is a orange color. Brush-stroke 204E is a green color. Brush-stroke 204F is a magenta color. Brush-stroke 204G is a yellow color. Brush-stroke 204H is a teal color. Brush-stroke 204I is a purple color. Brush-stroke 204J is a brown color.
Additionally, the colors of the photo-chromic ink or paint may be layered on top of one another. A plurality of lines of different colors of the photo-chromic ink or paint may be placed side by side so that a rainbow of colors may be observed by a user when activated.
The photo-chromic ink or paint may be applied to various types of children's toys and playthings. The photo-chromic ink or paint may also be activated in different ways by differing light devices. Templates or masks may be used that have opaque portions to shade areas of the photo-chromic ink or paint from light and activation and open areas through which light can pass so that colored patterns or shapes of activated photo-chromic areas appear visible.
One type of photo-chromic toy is a doll or character.
A light pen 110 with a tightly focused spot activating light may allow a child to doodle or scribble narrow line widths in the photo-chromic material on the clothing of the doll or character 300A.
In another embodiment of the invention, the photo-chromic material is patterned into a mark or tattoo when applied onto the doll or character 300A-300B. A pattern of photo-chromic material, photo-chromic ink 104A-104D, was described previously with reference to
Note that the function of the doll or characters 300A-300B may be combined into a single doll or character that has photo-chromic material applied to both body parts and clothing so that either or both may be activated by a light pen. While the doll or characters 300A-300B are illustrated as being human beings, animal characters, fictional characters may have photo-chromic material applied to their bodies and or clothing that can be similarly activated.
Referring to
The play set may further include one or more templates or stencils 406. The stencils 406 include opaque portions 407 and transparent or open portions 408 to activate the photo-chromic material. The transparent or open portions 408 may depict anything, including a design or words, such as “FUEL” as illustrated. The stencil is aligned with the photochromic portion 404 of the vehicle and place close to the surface thereof. An activating light is shined through the transparent or open portions 408 of the stencil 406 to activate an activated portion 404′ on the vehicle 402 as illustrated.
The playset 400 may further include a light pen 110′, 110″ and/or a light box 410. The light pen 110′ may be ornamental shaped like a spray paint gun 110′ that may be used in an auto paint shop. In this case, the light pen 110′ emulates the vehicle being painted. The light pen 110′ can be used like a “paint sprayer” to spray vehicles different colors or to use templates to spray images on a toy vehicle. Alternatively, the light pen 110″ may be shaped like a car wash gun 110″ that may be used in a self serve car wash. Using the car wash gun 110″ emulates washing the vehicle to clear away the dirt so that the message underneath becomes visible. The switch 114 may be a finger trigger type switch. In any case, the light pen 110′, 110″ generates an activating light 118 in response to turning ON the switch 114.
The playset 400 may further include a light box 410, in addition to a light pen or as a substitute. The light box 410 may be hollow and including an opening 411 in front to roll the vehicle 402 into the light box 410. The light box includes a light bulb 412 and a switch 414 coupled to a power source (e.g., DC, AC, or battery). The light bulb 412 generates the activating light, such as a UV light, in response to the switch in order to flood the inside of the hollow light box. In this manner, all of the photo-chromic portions of the vehicle 402 may be activated at the same time. Alternatively, the stencils 406 may be used to form a pattern in the photochromic portions of the toy vehicle 402 while in the light box. The light box 410 may include ornamentation to depict it as a paint booth at an auto paint shop or a car wash.
DRAWING APPARATUS, PLAYSETS, AND KITS Referring now to
The photo-chromic material is preferably photo-chromic inks that can be offset printed, flex printed or silk screened with any neutral background color desired. While
The light pen 510 may be a dual light pen having two light sources at each end. A first light source 511 provides a point light source focused to within an inch of a page. The first light source 511 is useful to doodle lines.
While the drawing tablet is illustrated as being shaped flat, it can take on any other shape. For example, instead of a frame and a tablet, the drawing surface may be a three dimensional sphere or cube. The cube or sphere may be mounted to a base instead of mounted within a frame.
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As the surface area of the photo-chromic board 700A is relatively large, the area the big light marker 110″″ activates at one time is large. The big light marker 110″″ may include one or more light sources to provide the larger area of active light output to provide wider or broader pen stroke over the photo-chromic board 700A.
Referring now to
The big light marker 110″″ having a wide line width is illustrated as drawing a large happy face pattern in the area of activated photo-chromic ink 704′. However, other types of light pens may be used to draw on the large photo-chromic boards 700A-700B.
Referring now to
The substrate 102 may be formed out of any solid material to which the photo-chromic material or photo-chromic ink 104 adheres. The substrate 102 may be formed out of wood, plastic, metal, or other solid material. Different binders may be provided in the photo-chromic material or ink 104 so that is adheres to different surfaces. To apply multiple layers, photo-chromic ink may adhere to a lower level of photo-chromic ink.
Referring now to
While the photo-chromic material may be applied over large portions of the page, it may also be patterned to specific areas.
Referring now to
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The photo-chromic disk 902 may be rotatably coupled to the drawing table 900 at an axis 906 around which it can rotate as indicated by the arrows. The photo-chromic disk 902 may be spun by hand or an electric motor may be used to spin the disk. The electric motor may be coupled to the center axis to spin the disk. Alternatively, the electric motor may couple to the disk through two or more gears or a belt and a pair of pulleys.
Referring now to
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The light pen further includes batteries 116 as a power source with a pair of switches 114A-114B mounted in the housing coupled between the batteries and the respective LEDs 112A-112B. The switch 114A switches power ON and OFF to the LED 112A. The switch 114B switches power ON and OFF to the LED 112B. A variety of types of switches may be used for switching the activation light on and off in the light pens. In one embodiment of the invention, the switches are momentary push button switches. A user presses and holds a button of the momentary push button switch to turn ON the activation light.
Referring now
As discussed previously, the rollable ball lens 1014 can roll within the hemispherical opening 1012 so that it is rotatably coupled to the housing 111 as is illustrated by the arrows. With the light focused to a point, the ball lens 1014 can be pressed up against a photo-chromic surface such as found in a photo-chromic toy 100 or a photo-chromic page 800A and roll across its surface, activating the photo-chromic material therein over a narrow region. The rollable ball lens 1014 reduces the friction that the light pen might otherwise face if it was pressed against and moved across a page. That is, the light pen 1010 with its rollable ball lens 1014 can move like a roller ink pen across the page 800A
Referring now to
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The light wand further includes a handle 1216 coupled to the head 1215 having a switch 114 to turn ON and OFF the activation light generated by the light sources 112A-112N. The handle may further include one or more batteries 116 that couple power to the switch 114.
The light wand 1210 may further include a female plug 1217 to receive a male plug 1218 of a cable 1219 to couple to a battery eliminator 1220. The female plug 1217 can switch out the batteries 116 when the male plug 1218 is coupled therein and couple the battery eliminator 1220 to the switch 114. The battery eliminator 1220 plugs into an AC power outlet and may be an AC-to-DC transformer.
Referring now to
The light brush 1310 further includes one or more batteries 116, the light switch, and one or more UV LEDs 112 mounted in the housing 111. The housing 111 may include a replaceable cap 1313 to hold the batteries 116 within the housing and allow them to be replaced. In another embodiment of the invention, the batteries 116 may be rechargeable and the housing may include a charger connector 1316 to recharge the batteries through a battery charger 1320 with AC terminals 1322 to plug into an AC power outlet. Other embodiments of the invention may include rechargeable batteries with a plug to be charged through a battery charger.
The proximal end of the fiber optic bristles 1312 are optically coupled to the one or more LEDs 112 to receive the activation light. The bristles 1312 are used to direct the activation light to desirable points at the distal end thereof.
Referring now to
The activating light 118 may be sprayed out by the one or more light pipes 1416 onto the photo-chromic toy 100 or photo-chromic page 800A. The spray can forms a spray-like activated photo-chromic pattern 1404′ in the photo-chromic material 104. The light spray can 1410 provides a spray effect to “paint” with light. While the light spray can is shaped like a spray can, the housing 111′ may have other shapes with a nozzle having other shapes and acting as a push button for the switch.
Referring now to
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The flash activator 1510 includes the flash bulb 1502, one or more batteries 116, an ON/OFF sliding switch 1522, a charge circuit 1520, energy storage device 1521, and a momentary switch 114 coupled together as shown and mounted within a housing 111. The one or more batteries 116 may be rechargeable. The ON/OFF sliding switch 1522 may be activated by a sliding button 1514 extending out from the housing 111. The flash switch 114 is activated by a push button 1524 extending from the housing 111.
A user slides the slider 1514 to slide the switch 1522 to an ON state. The power from the batteries 116 is then supplied to the charge circuit 1520. The charge circuit charges up an energy storage device 1521, such as a capacitor, which is also coupled to the flash switch 114. The activator 1510 may include a visible light LED 1523 to indicate to a user when the charge circuit has completed charging of the energy storage device 1521. Then, a user can push on the push-button 1524 to activate the flash switch 114. The flash switch 114 couples the charge stored on the energy storage device into the flash bulb 1502 causing it to generate electromagnetic radiation, light or photons having the desired wavelength to activate photo-chromic materials.
Referring now to
The electronic light stencil 1610 further includes the light switch 114, one or more batteries 116, memory 1616, reverse button 1614R, forward button 1614F, and the UV backlight 1612 mounted in a first housing 111. The memory 1516 provides storage for various electronic templates or stencils that are displayed on the LCD screen 1618. The electronic light stencil 1610 further includes row and column LCD drivers 1620 mounted in the light housing 1611 to drive the LCD screen 1618 to generate the electronic stencil in response to the stencil data of the memory 1516.
Because the LCD screen 1618 is transflective, a user can look into the LCD screen to preview line art pictures (in reverse or negative image format) that can be used as a stencil. The forward button 1614F and the reverse button 1614R may be used to move forward and backward through the stencils that are stored in the memory 1616. Once a stencil has been selected, the electronic light stencil 1610 is placed on or substantially close to the surface of the photo-chromic page 800A.
The light switch 114 is then pressed and the back light 1612 is turned ON to generate the activating light 118 that is shined into the LCD screen 1618. The stencil image displayed by the LCD screen 1618 masks out the incident activating light 118 into a stencil patterned activating light 118′. The transparent portions in the LCD screen 1618 displaying the stencil image allow the incident activating light 118 to pass through. The dark or opaque portions of the stencil image deter the incident activating light 118 from passing through. When an activating light is used to shine through the stencil image, photo-chromic material 104 on the substrate 102 is exposed photochromically within an area corresponding to the transparent portions of the stencil image.
The stencil patterned activating light 118′ output by the electronic light stencil 1610 is used to activate a portion of the photo-chromic material 104 as an activated photo-chromic area 104′. The activated photo-chromic area 104′ may change for differing electronic stencils.
While the electronic light stencil 1610 is described as being hand held, it may be also mounted to a structure to be supported as an overhead light source. Instead of using an electronic stencil, a physical replaceable stencil may be used instead in an alternate embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to
The stencils 1628 of the set of stencils 1650 are each similarly sized to slide into and out of the stencil housing 1611′. As illustrated in
Referring now to
The activating lamp 1710A may include one or more batteries 116, the light switch 114, and a activating light source 112 to generate the activating light 118. The light source 112 may be an activating light bulb or UV LEDs.
Referring now to
The support arm 1714 is hollow to allow a power cable 1716 to couple between the activating light source and the light switch 114.
The activating spot light 1710B includes an activating light source 112 to generate the activating light 118. In one embodiment of the invention, the light source 112 is an activating light bulb that continuously generates the activating light 118 while power is supplied through the switch 114. The light bulb may be an AC light bulb, in which case, the plug 1730 plugs into an AC outlet to couple AC power to the switch and the light bulb. For example, the light bulb may be a violet light bulb, or a black light bulb as it may be more commonly referred. In another embodiment of the invention, the activating light source 112 is one or more UV LEDs. In this case, the plug 1730 is a power adapter to adapt AC power at an outlet into DC power for coupling to the UV LEDs 112.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that the embodiments of the invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. Rather the embodiments of the invention should be construed according to the claims that follow below.
Claims
1. A photo-chromic light drawing set comprising:
- a photo-chromic page including a flat transparent substrate having a page-like shape, the flat transparent substrate to display an object underneath, and one or more layers of photo-chromic ink applied onto the substrate, the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink being substantially transparent in an inactive state;
- a light pen to selectively generate an activating light to shine onto the photo-chromic page and activate a portion of the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink; and
- wherein the portion of the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink is temporarily transformed from the inactive state to an active state in response to the activating light.
2. The photo-chromic light drawing set of claim 1, wherein:
- the transparent substrate is formed out of clear acrylic, plastic, vinyl, or other solid transparent material.
3. The photo-chromic light drawing set of claim 1, wherein:
- the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink temporarily transforms to display a color in the active state for a period of time before gradually decaying back to be substantially transparent in the inactive state.
4. The photo-chromic light drawing set of claim 1, wherein
- the object is artwork, and
- the transparent substrate is placed on top of the artwork to allow a user to doodle or sketch onto the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink using the light pen.
5. The photo-chromic light drawing set of claim 1, further comprising
- a layer of standard visible ink applied onto the transparent substrate to form one or more visible printed lines.
6. The photo-chromic light drawing set of claim 1, wherein
- the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink are applied onto the transparent substrate to form printed photo-chromic lines.
7. The photo-chromic light drawing set of claim 1, wherein
- the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink are applied onto the transparent substrate in a pattern to form a design that is activated in response to the activating light.
8. A photo-chromic light drawing playset comprising:
- a substrate;
- one or more layers of different colored photo-chromic ink applied to a surface of the substrate in a pattern of parallel arcs;
- a light pen to selectively activate a portion of the one or more layers of different colored photo-chromic ink to display a portion of the pattern of parallel arcs as a colored rainbow; and
- wherein the activated portion of the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink is temporarily transformed to display the one or more layers of different colored photo-chromic for a period of time before gradually decaying back to an inactive state.
9. The photo-chromic light drawing playset of claim 8, wherein
- the plurality of photo-chromic ink colors are arranged in a parallel linear pattern over a substrate.
10. The photo-chromic light drawing playset of claim 8, wherein
- in an inactive state, the plurality of photo-chromic ink is clear and reveals the color of the surface of the substrate.
11. The photo-chromic light drawing playset of claim 8, wherein
- the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink, wherein a first layer is applied onto the substrate, a second layer is applied onto the first layer.
12. A photo-chromic light drawing set comprising:
- a drawing board including a substrate, and a photo-chromic layer of ink applied onto a surface of the substrate;
- a light marker including a plurality of ultraviolet light sources, the light marker to activate a large area of the photo-chromic layer of ink for each stroke of the light marker over the drawing board; and
- wherein the activated area of the photo-chromic layer of ink is temporarily transformed from a first color to a second color differing from the first color for a period of time before gradually decaying back to the first color.
13. The photo-chromic drawing board set of claim 12, wherein
- the substrate of the drawing board is rigid.
14. The photo-chromic drawing board set of claim 12, wherein
- the drawing board further includes a mount coupled to the substrate to mount the drawing board to a wall.
15. The photo-chromic drawing board set of claim 12, wherein
- the substrate of the drawing board is flexible and can be rolled into a tube.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 21, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2007
Inventors: Christopher Schmidt (Oakland, CA), William Hudson (Pleasanton, CA), Sunil Moothedah (Pleasanton, CA), David Small (San Jose, CA), Paul Rago (Danville, CA)
Application Number: 11/466,093
International Classification: A63H 30/00 (20060101);