COLOR CHANGING TOYS, GAMES AND DEVICES

• US 20120052762A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Funfare LLC
• Original Assignee: Funfare LLC
• Inventors: Albert, Charles, Heller, Jason Gene, Garrett, Joshua William, McKnight, Jeff, Martinez, Eduardo
• Granted Patent: US 8,708,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/147
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a toy arrangement involving a flickering, animated and/or luminescent toy object will be described. The toy arrangement includes a toy object having an ultraviolet sensitive layer. A light source is arranged to illuminate the ultraviolet sensitive layer with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet sensitive layer is arranged to emit colored light in response to exposure to the ultraviolet light. In some implementations, the light source is arranged to vary the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which in turn can cause the colored light emitted from the toy object to fade, brighten and flicker. The toy arrangement may also include a speaker that emits sounds that are synchronized with changes in the colored light.

Claims

1. A toy arrangement that involves using invisible ultraviolet light to cause a previously hidden pattern on a toy object to appear and glow, the toy arrangement comprising:

a toy object having at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer; and

a light source that is arranged to illuminate the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer with ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light being generally invisible to a human eye, the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer arranged such that atoms of the ultraviolet sensitive layer become excited when exposed to the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer to release energy in the form of a visible colored light in response to the ultraviolet light.

2. A toy arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein the toy arrangement and the light source are arranged to increase and decrease the intensity of the ultraviolet light repeatedly, thereby causing the intensity of the colored light to also increase and decrease and wherein the toy arrangement further comprises a speaker that is arranged to emit sound and synchronize the sound with the increases and decreases in the intensity of the colored light.

3. A toy arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the ultraviolet sensitive layer is transparent; and

the colored light has one selected from the group consisting of a red color, an orange color, a brown color, a green color, a yellow color, a white color and a plurality of different colors.

4. A method of illuminating a toy object with ultraviolet light to create a colorful light display, the method comprising:

providing an object having at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer;

illuminating the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer with ultraviolet light using at least one light source, the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer arranged to absorb the ultraviolet light and emit a colored light in response, the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer, when not exposed to the ultraviolet light, being arranged not to emit the colored light;

increasing and decreasing the intensity of the ultraviolet light repeatedly, thereby causing the intensity of the emitted colored light to also increase and decrease to create an appearance of motion on the surface of the toy device; and

generating sound at a speaker and synchronizing the sound with changes in the intensity of the emitted colored light.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the ultraviolet light is generally invisible to a human eye; and

the emitted colored light is not powered by an electrical system that is internal to the object.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer includes a first ultraviolet sensitive layer and a second ultraviolet sensitive layer;

the at least one light source includes a first light source that is arranged to emit light at the first ultraviolet sensitive layer and a second light source that is arranged to emit light at the second ultraviolet sensitive layer; and

the method further comprises changing the intensity of the illumination from the first light source at a first frequency and changing the intensity of the illumination from the second light source at a different second frequency such that the colored light emitted from the first ultraviolet sensitive layer flickers at a different frequency from that of the second ultraviolet sensitive layer.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

there is a pattern painted on the object in the shape of a face, the face including a mouth region that is covered with the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer; and

the method further comprises;

illuminating the mouth region with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the mouth region to glow with the colored light and giving an impression that the mouth is opening;

not illuminating the mouth region with the ultraviolet light such that the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer in the mouth region does not emit the colored light, thereby giving an impression that the mouth is closed; and

generating audible speech that is synchronized with the simulated opening and closing of the mouth, thereby giving an impression that the mouth region is producing words.

8. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the object is a toy car that includes toy headlights;

the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer covers the toy headlights; and

the method further comprises;

illuminating the toy headlights with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the colored light to be emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the toy headlights and simulating activation of real headlights; and

not illuminating the toy headlights with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the colored light not to be emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the toy headlights, which simulates headlights that are dark and turned off.

9. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the object is a toy car that includes a body, wheels and a protruding toy engine;

the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer covers the toy engine; and

the method further comprises;

illuminating the toy engine with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the colored light to be emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the toy engine and simulating an increase in power to an engine; and

not illuminating the toy engine with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the colored light not to be emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the toy engine, which simulates a decrease in power to an engine; and

playing a sound of a revving motor and synchronizing the volume of the motor sound with the intensity of the colored light emitted from the toy engine, such that the sound of the motor increases as the intensity of the colored light emitted from the toy engine increases.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein:

the toy car is positioned within and shaded by a toy building, such that the colored light emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer is substantially more visible then if the toy car was not shaded by the toy building; and

the at least one light source is positioned within the toy building.

11. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the at least one light source includes a non-ultraviolet light source arranged to emit non-ultraviolet, visible light and an ultraviolet light source arranged to emit the ultraviolet light;

the method further comprises switching between different types of lights, which includes;

illuminating the object with the non-ultraviolet light, the non-ultraviolet light having a first color, thereby bathing the toy device in the first color; and

after the illuminating of the object with the non-ultraviolet light, turning off the non-ultraviolet light source to cease the bathing of the object in the first color and illuminating the object with the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source, which causes the colored light to be emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer, the colored light having a second color that is different from the first color.

12. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the object is a first card for playing in a card game, the method further comprising:

playing a card game involving a multiplicity of cards that includes the first card and a second card, the first and second cards having markings that indicate how the card is used in game play wherein the first and second cards appear generally identical when not exposed to the ultraviolet light, the first card having an invisible pattern formed from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer that is different from a second pattern on the second card that is also formed from an ultraviolet sensitive layer; and

exposing the first pattern on the first card to the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the first pattern on the first card to emit the colored light, the colored light indicating a difference in how the first card and the second card can be played in the card game.

13. A method as recited in claim 4, the object being a first card for use in a battle card game, the method further comprising:

playing the battle card game in which the first card and a second card represent entities that are fighting with one another;

exposing the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the first card to the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the colored light to be emitted from a first pattern that is formed from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer, the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer being generally invisible to a human eye prior to exposure to the ultraviolet light; and

animating an aspect of the fight between the first and second cards using the colored light from the first pattern, which simulates a physical attack.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the battle card game is played using a battle card game platform, the method further comprising:

inserting the first and second cards into a card engagement feature on the battle card game platform, the card engagement feature holding the first and second cards upright so that they are visible to players of the game;

illuminating the first card that is being supported by the card engagement feature with the at least one light source, which is positioned on the battle card game platform; and

generating the sound at the speaker, which is positioned on the battle game card platform.

15. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising playing a game involving a toy illuminating tool that is used to examine a toy environment wherein:

the object is the toy environment;

the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer is on the surface of the toy environment and is in the shape of a secret pattern;

the at least one light source is positioned on the toy illuminating tool;

the method further comprising;

emitting the ultraviolet light from the toy illuminating tool; and

positioning the toy illuminating tool in front of the secret pattern on the toy environment such that the ultraviolet light illuminates the secret pattern, thereby causing the secret pattern, which was previously generally invisible to a human eye, to appear and glow.

16. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the toy illuminating tool is one selected from the group consisting of a toy explorer figure and a toy magnifying glass that includes a handle and a viewing element, the at least one light source being positioned on the viewing element.

17. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the object is a doll and the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer is shaped in the form of a pattern on the doll, which is generally invisible to a human eye when the pattern is not exposed to the ultraviolet light, the pattern being one selected from the group consisting of a highlight in the hair of the doll and a marking on clothing worn by the doll;

and

the method further comprising illuminating the pattern with the ultraviolet light, causing the previously invisible pattern to appear.

18. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the at least one light source includes a first light source arranged to emit a non-ultraviolet, colored light and a second light source arranged to emit an ultraviolet light;

the first light source is arranged to emit a light of a first color and the ultraviolet sensitive layer is arranged to emit a light of a second color that is different from the first color when it is exposed to the ultraviolet light;

illuminating the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer with lights from both the first and second light sources; and

mixing the first and second colors from the first light source and the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer to generate a light of a third color that is different from both the first and second colors, thereby causing the first ultraviolet sensitive layer to emit a glow having the third color.

19. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the object is moving rapidly such that the colored light emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the object causes a persistence of vision effect, thereby creating an illusion of one selected from the group consisting of a three dimensional object and a two dimensional object with a shape that is different from said object.

28. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the object is in motion; and

the method further comprising;

turning on and off the ultraviolet light in rapid succession such that the colored light emitted from the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer causes an illusion of movement; and

varying the frequency of the turning on and off of the ultraviolet light to create an illusion of movement in different directions.

20. A toy arrangement including a tablet device and a data card arranged to be inserted into the tablet device, the tablet device arranged to generate light effects on the data card to entertain or educate a user, the toy arrangement comprising:

a data card that has a pattern on its front surface formed from at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer;

a tablet device comprising;

a housing;

a card slot that is arranged to receive the data card;

a viewing aperture, the card slot and viewing aperture arranged such that the front surface of the data card is visible through the viewing aperture when the data card is inserted into the card slot;

an interface arranged to allow a user to interact with the tablet device;

at least one light source that is positioned on the housing and is arranged to emit ultraviolet light and illuminate the pattern on the data card, thereby causing the pattern to emit colored light and become visible, the pattern being generally invisible in the absence of the ultraviolet light; and

a speaker for emitting sounds from the tablet device.

21. A toy arrangement as recited in claim 20 wherein the emission of the colored light from the pattern on the data card does not involve a video display and is not electrically powered by an electrical system within the tablet device.

22. A toy arrangement as recited in claim 20 wherein:

the data card is inserted into the slot in the tablet device, the data card having computer readable instructions;

there are a plurality of characters from an alphabet visible through the viewing aperture on the front face of the data card;

the at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer on the data card is in the shape of a drawing;

the tablet device further includes at least one processor wherein the instructions on the data card, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the tablet device to;

analyze input from the user;

determine if the input indicates that the user chose some of the characters in a correct sequence to spell a particular word that describes the drawing on the data card; and

when the correct sequence has been inputted, illuminate the pattern on the data card with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the previously invisible pattern to become visible.

23. A toy arrangement as recited in claim 20 wherein:

the data card is inserted into the slot in the tablet device;

there are a plurality of numbers and a plurality of items visible through the viewing aperture on the front face of the data card, at least some but not all of the items belonging to a particular class of object;

the tablet device further includes at least one processor wherein the instructions on the data card, when executed by the at least one processor of the tablet device, cause the tablet device to;

receive input from the user;

determine if the input indicates that the user correctly chose one of the numbers that represents how many of the items belong to the particular class of object; and

when the correct one of the numbers has been inputted, illuminate the pattern on the data card with the ultraviolet light, thereby causing the pattern to become visible.

24. A toy arrangement as recited in claim 20 wherein:

the tablet device includes a recess that underlies the viewing aperture;

the tablet device is arranged such that the data card, when inserted into the card slot, is positioned at a bottom of the recess in the tablet device;

the at least one light source is positioned above the bottom of the recess and at sidewalls of the recess, the at least one light source arranged to direct the ultraviolet light downward towards the bottom of the recess where the data card would be so that the pattern on the data card receives the ultraviolet light.

25. A battle card game arrangement for use in a battle card game in which a first player and a second player each hold one or more cards that are used to attack one another, the battle card game arrangement comprising:

a plurality of cards including a first card and a second card, each card including an image made from at least one ultraviolet sensitive layer;

a battle card platform that comprises;

a card engagement feature that is arranged to physically support the first and second cards;

at least one light source that is arranged to emit ultraviolet light towards the first and second cards when they are being held in position by the battle card platform, the ultraviolet sensitive layers on the cards being generally invisible in the absence of the ultraviolet light wherein the ultraviolet sensitive layers on the cards are arranged to emit colored light when exposed to the ultraviolet light; and

an interface that is arranged to receive input from a user;

26. A battle card game arrangement as recited in claim 25 wherein:

the battle card platform further comprises;

at least one processor;

at least one memory that stores computer readable instructions wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the battle card platform to;

play a battle card game in which the first card and the second card represent entities that are dueling with one another on behalf of a first and second player respectively;

receive input from the first player indicating that the first player wishes to battle the second player using the first card; and

in response to the input from the first player, exposing the first card to the ultraviolet light from the at least one light source, thereby causing the colored light to be emitted from the at least one ultraviolet layer on the first card.

27. A battle card arrangement as recited in claim 26 wherein the input received from the first player involves pressing a button on the battle card platform after the first and second cards have been inserted into the battle card platform.