Glow in the dark toys and articles

• US 20080096461A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donata M. Barnas, Marcelle N. Barnas
• Original Assignee: Donata M. Barnas, Marcelle N. Barnas
• Inventors: Barnas, Marcelle N., Barnas, Donata M.
• Application Number:
  US11/584,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20080096461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/369
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08

Abstract

Toys and other fabric coated articles that glow in the dark. The present invention is preferably directed to a variety of articles, especially stuffed toys, that exhibit luminescence in the dark following light exposure. The toys may be any variety of animal, plant or specific form, including but not limited to mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Methods of manufacture are described that use fabric coated with luminescent material on one side that is used as casings with the rough coating side facing inwardly for toys and other items.

Claims

1. A method for providing glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent properties to a fabric-coated article:

selecting a fabric coated on one side with photoluminescent material;

using said fabric as a casing for said fabric-coated article wherein said coated side of said fabric is inwardly facing thereby providing glow-in-the-dark function to said article following exposure to light to said untreated side of said fabric.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said fabric-coated article is selected from the group consisting of:

toys;

sports equipment;

household items;

clothing;

animal and character slippers;

animal and character and decorative pillows;

key chains;

squishy pillows;

character animal pens;

plus cars, trains boats, bats, ball and beds;

glow fabric picture frames;

glow fabric picture frames with characters/animals;

purses;

coin purses;

books;

puzzles;

notepad covers;

Halloween costume accessories, tails, masks, ears;

Halloween fabric trick or treat bags;

fabric coated buttons;

Christmas ornaments;

shoe laces;

shoes;

scarves;

hats;

visor hats;

fabric books;

fabric rattles;

puppets;

magnets with plus toy attached or in plus toy;

backpacks;

barrettes;

hair pony tails;

ribbon;

bibs;

belts;

socks;

cell phone holders; and

ear muffs

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said fabric-coated article is a stuffed toy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said fabric-coated article is a stuffed toy selected from the group consisting of mammals, fish, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, polyester, rayon, nylon and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said fabric is polyester.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said photoluminescent material comprises europium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said photoluminescent material comprises zinc sulfide.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises SrAl₂O₄:

Eu, Al₂O₃, Eu₂O₃, and Dy₂O₃.

10. A fabric-coated glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent article comprising:

casing fabric coated on one side with photoluminescent material wherein said coated fabric completely encloses said article and wherein said coated side of said fabric is on the interior side of the article and said uncoated side of said fabric is positioned on the exterior side of the article; and

stuffing material enclosed by said casing fabric; and

wherein upon exposure to light said article exhibits glow-in-the-dark luminescence.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein said article is a stuffed toy selected from the group consisting of mammals, fish, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians.

12. The article of claim 10, wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, polyester, rayon, nylon and combinations thereof.

13. The article of claim 10, wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises Europium.

14. The article of claim 10, wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises Zinc sulfide.

15. The article of claim 11, wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises SrAl₂O₄:

Eu, Al₂O₃, Eu₂O₃, and Dy₂O₃.