Toy that stably exhibits different colors with indicator for proper temperature application

• US 5,085,607 A
• Filed: 10/12/1990
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co. Ltd (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co. Ltd (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Inagaki, Hiroshi, Kito, Tsutomu, Shibahashi, Yutaka, Nakasuji, Norikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/596,316
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 446/14, 446/385, 428/913, 428/29, 427/148, 106/21
• US Class Current: 446/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1031 using colour indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture

Abstract

An toy set having at least one section which bears a color memory dye of an electron-supplying organic coloring compound, an electron accepting compound and an ester. The color memory dye assumes a first color below t1 (°C.) and a second color above t2 (°C.), wherein t2>t1, 0≦t1, t2≦50° C. and 5≦t2-t1≦35. Both the first and second colors can be displayed between t1 and t2. For the purpose of determining the proper temperature range for a color characteristic, temperature-sensitive visual indicators are provided.

Claims

1. A toy at least one section thereof bearing a color memory dye comprising an electron-supplying organic coloring compound, an electron accepting compound and an ester;

said color memory dye assuming a first color below t1 (°

C.) and a second color above t2 (°

C.), wherein t2>

t1, 0≦

t1, t2≦

50°

C. and 5≦

t2-t1≦

35, both of said first and second colors capable of being displayed between t1 and t2; and

a temperature sensitive visual indicator, said temperature sensitive visual indicator being visible when at least one of said first and second colors is displayed and said temperature sensitive visual indicator operating to communicate written or pictoral information, said written or pictoral information conveying how to display the other of said first or second colors.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein 5≦

t1≦

23.

3. The toy of claims 1 or 2, wherein 24≦

t2≦

40.

4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the color memory dye is dispersed in a binder medium.

5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the dispersed color memory dye is microencapsulated.

6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the color memory dye microcapsules have a particle size of from 0.5 to 50 μ

m.

7. The toy of claim 6, wherein the color memory dye microcapsules contain from 0.1 to 40 weight % color memory dye.

8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the color memory dye microcapsules have a particle size of from 1 to 30 μ

m.

9. The toy of claim 8, wherein the color memory dye microcapsules contain from 0.2 to 25 weight % color memory dye.

10. The toy of claim 4, wherein the color memory dye is dispersed in the binder at from 5 to 80 weight %.

11. The toy of claim 5, wherein the color memory dye is dispersed in the binder at from 10 to 60 weight %.

12. The toy of claim 4, wherein said section of toy bearing said color memory dye is coated with a color memory dye layer of at least 0.5 μ

m thickness.

13. The toy of claim 12, wherein said section of toy bearing said color memory dye is coated with a color memory dye layer of from 1 to 400 μ

m thickness.

14. The toy of claim 13, wherein said section of toy bearing said color memory dye is coated with a color memory dye layer of from 10 to 200 μ

m thickness.

15. The toy of claim 3, wherein said section of toy bearing said color memory dye is a thermoplastic material and a pigment is admixed into thermoplastic material.

16. The toy of claim 15, wherein said color memory dye is microencapsulated.

17. The toy of claim 16, wherein one of said first and second colors is clear.

18. The toy of claim 3, wherein said toy comprises a second color memory dye which assumes third and fourth colors.

19. The toy of claim 18, wherein one of said first, second, third or fourth colors is clear.

20. The toy of claim 4, wherein the binder medium is a thermoplastic plastics material.

21. The toy of claim 20, wherein the toy was make by melting and molding the material mixed with microencapsulated color memory dye.

22. The toy of claim 21, wherein the color memory dye microcapsules have a particle size of from 0.5 to 50 μ

m.

23. The toy of claim 1, wherein said temperature sensitive indicator includes a reversible thermochromatic layer.

24. The toy of claim 23, wherein said reversible thermochromatic layer comprises a reversible thermochromatic material.

25. The toy of claim 24, wherein said reversible thermochromatic material comprises a second color memory dye.

26. The toy of claim 25, wherein said second color memory dye comprises an electron-supplying coloring organic compound, a developer for this compound, and a color changing-temperature adjusting material for determining the temperature of color-changing reaction of the above two components.

27. The toy of claim 25, wherein said second color memory dye assumes a first color below t1 (°

C.) and a second color above t2 (°

C.), wherein t2>

t1, and 5≦

t2-t1≦

35, both of said first and second colors capable of being displayed between t1 and t2.

28. The toy of claim 25, wherein said reversible thermochromatic material comprises a reversible thermochromatic pigment in the form of a resin solid solution.

29. The toy of claim 25, wherein said reversible thermochromatic material is an ink or paint.

30. The toy of claims 28 or 29, wherein said reversible thermochromatic material forms a thermochromatic layer on a substrate.

31. The toy of claim 30, wherein said substrate is made of thermoplastic resin.

32. The toy of claim 30, wherein said thermochromatic layer comprises a sheet.