Method for energizing energization-operated toy element and energization-operated toy

• US 5,932,992 A
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co. Ltd (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co. Ltd (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Kyoji, Matsunami, Nobuaki, Miyashita, Naomasa, Kito, Tsutomu, Tomatsu, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, KYUNG E
• Application Number:
  US09/102,056
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/166, 320/167
• US Class Current: 320/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A method for energizing an energization-operated toy element in which an electric double layer capacitor is employed as energization means for energizing a toy element which is operated upon application of low voltage, the capacitor is charged upon reception of a current from a DC power source, and the charged electric power is used to energize a toy load as a discharge current to operate the toy element. An energization-operated toy which comprises an energization heating color changing element provided with an energization resistant heating member for generating heat upon application of the DC voltage and a thermal color changing layer disposed in contact with or close to the heating member, energization means consisting of an electric double layer capacitor for generating heat by supplying the discharge current to the energization resistant heating member, and a power source for supplying the DC voltage from 0.5 V to 9.0 V to the capacitor.

Claims

1. An energization operated toy, comprising:

an energization heat generating color changing unit, a power source unit and an energization unit, said energization heat generating color changing unit, power source unit and energization unit being electrically separated from each other when they are not in use;

said energization heat generating color changing unit comprising (i) an energization resistant heat generating element selected from the group consisting of metallic foil, metallic wire, metallic rope and a printed image using conductive ink, (ii) a thermal color changing layer which is disposed in contact with or close to the energization resistant heat generating element, and (iii) a pair of first electric terminals, said pair of first electric terminals being electrically connected to said energization resistant heat generating element and being adapted to electrically connect to said energization unit;

said power source unit comprising (i) a case for receiving a power source for supplying a DC voltage from 0.5 V to 9 V, and (ii) a first connecting portion providing a pair of second electric terminals, said pair of second electric terminals being adapted to electrically connect said power source to said energization unit;

said energization unit comprising;

(i) an electric double layer capacitor having a voltage-proof capability against at least 2 V and an electrostatic capacity from 0.22 F to 100 F, (ii) a hand-held type protective casing in which at least a main portion of said electric double layer capacitor is received, (iii) a second connecting portion providing a pair of third electric terminals, said pair of third electric terminals being adapted to electrically connect to said pair of first electric terminals and said pair of second electric terminals, wherein said pair of third electric terminals is adapted not to electrically connect to both of said pairs of first and second electric terminals simultaneously;

said pair of third electric terminals being electrically connected to said electric double layer capacitor, wherein said pair of third electric terminals are surrounded by a pair of generally annular projections provided at a portion of said protective casing separating each of said pair of third electric terminals in order to prevent a conductive element from inadvertently short-circuiting between the third electric terminals;

whereby, said energization heat generating color changing unit is functionally operated by electrically connecting said pair of third electric terminals of said energization unit to said pair of second electric terminals of said power source unit by engaging said second and first connecting portions, thereby electrically connecting said energization unit to said power source to charge said double layer capacitor;

disengaging said second connecting portion of said energization unit from the first connecting portion of said power source unit to electrically disconnect said power source from said double layer capacitor; and

electrically connecting said pair of third electric terminals of said energization unit to the pair of first electric terminals of said energization heat generation color changing unit to discharge a current from said double layer capacitor to said energization heat generating color changing unit to generate heat and cause said thermal color changing layer to change color.