Toy having image mode and changed image mode

• US 6,053,795 A
• Filed: 01/13/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Whitney, Leland R., Allen, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US09/006,580
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 446/219, 446/479, 446/480, 446/481, 446/485, 40/434, 359/501, 359/487, 359/484
• US Class Current: 446/219
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence

Abstract

A toy or novelty article including an image located thereon, having a reflective "mirror" mode and a transmissive mode, such that a generally opaque material is viewable in the transmissive mode. One preferred embodiment includes a generally opaque material, a first polarizer and a second polarizer. In another aspect, a preferred embodiment, in a first orientation, the first and second polarizers interact to be reflective, and in a second orientation, the first and second polarizers are collectively translucent such that the generally opaque material is viewable therethrough.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a generally opaque material;

a first polarizer and a second polarizer, said first polarizer movable from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to said second polarizer; and

wherein said first and second polarizers collectively interact to be reflective when said first and second polarizers are in said first orientation, and when said first and second polarizers are in said second orientation, said first and second polarizers are transmissive, such that said generally opaque material is viewable therethrough.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein in said second orientation, said first and second polarizers are transparent.

3. The toy of claim 1, wherein said second polarizer has a fixed position relative to said generally opaque material.

4. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein said second polarizer has a fixed position relative to said housing.

5. The toy of claim 1, wherein said first polarizer is rotatable relative to said second polarizer.

6. The toy of claim 5, wherein said first polarizer is rotatable through a range of at least about 90°

relative to said second polarizer.

7. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a generally translucent sheet material including at least one of an image therein or thereon, wherein said first and second polarizers are positioned between said translucent sheet material and said opaque material.

8. The toy of claim 7, wherein said image is copyrightable material.

9. The toy of claim 7, wherein said image is in the shape of a trademark.

10. The toy of claim 7, wherein said generally translucent sheet material is transparent.

11. The toy of claim 7, wherein said image is viewable in said first orientation and said second orientation.

12. The toy of claim 7, wherein said first polarizer is immediately adjacent to said second polarizer, and wherein said first polarizer is located between said generally translucent material and said second polarizer.

13. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism operably coupled to said first polarizer for moving said first polarizer relative to said second polarizer to change said toy between said first orientation and said second orientation.

14. The toy of claim 10, wherein said mechanism includes a gear box for movement of said first polarizer relative to said second polarizer from a remote location.

15. The toy of claim 1, wherein said opaque material is an electroluminescent sheet device.

16. A toy having a reflective mirror mode and a transmissive mode, said toy comprising:

a toy frame;

a generally translucent sheet material including at least one of an image therein or thereon;

a first polarizer including a polarizing direction;

a second polarizer having a polarizing direction, wherein said first polarizer is movable relative to said second polarizer from a first orientation to a second orientation, and such that in said first orientation said first and second polarizers interact to be in said reflective mirror mode, and in said second orientation said first and second polarizers are in said light transmissive mode; and

a generally opaque material having a fixed position relative to said second polarizer;

wherein said first and second polarizers are located between said generally translucent sheet material and said generally opaque material, and wherein said generally opaque material is viewable in said light transmissive mode.

17. The toy of claim 16, further wherein said image is viewable in said reflective mirror mode or said light transmissive mode.

18. The toy of claim 16, wherein said generally opaque material is orange or red.

19. The toy of claim 16, wherein said image is viewable through said generally translucent sheet material when said toy is in said light transmissive mode.

20. The toy of claim 16, further comprising a mechanism for moving said first polarizer relative to said second polarizer such that said first polarizer is movable relative to said second polarizer to change said toy between said reflective mirror mode and said light transmissive mode.

21. The toy of claim 16, wherein said first polarizer is rotatable relative to said second polarizer.

22. The toy of claim 21, wherein said first polarizer is rotatable relative to said second polarizer through a range of at least about 90°

.

23. The toy of claim 16, wherein when said toy is in said reflective mirror mode, said first polarizer'"'"'s polarizing direction is substantially perpendicular to said second polarizer'"'"'s polarizing direction.

24. The toy of claim 16, wherein said generally opaque material is at least partially transmissive, and further comprising a light source located below said generally opaque material.

25. The toy of claim 24, wherein said light source includes an electroluminescent sheet device and power source.

26. The toy of claim 16, wherein said opaque material is an electroluminescent sheet device.

27. The toy of claim 16, wherein said image includes copyrightable material.

28. The toy of claim 16, wherein said image includes at least one trademark.

29. The toy of claim 16, wherein said image includes at least one registered trademark.

30. The toy of claim 16, further comprising a stand mechanically coupled to said frame.

31. A method of operating a toy, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a generally opaque material;

providing a first polarizer and a second polarizer;

moving said first polarizer relative to said second polarizer from a first orientation to a second orientation, such that in said first orientation, said first and second polarizers interact to be reflective, and in a said second orientation, said first and second polarizers are translucent such that said generally opaque material is viewable therethrough.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing a mechanism for moving said fist polarizer relative to said second polarizer.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of moving said first polarizer relative to said second polarizer includes rotating said first polarizer relative to said second polarizer.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said first polarizer is rotated through a range of at least about 90°

relative to said second polarizer.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing a generally translucent sheet material including at least one of an image therein or thereon.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of positioning said first and second polarizers between said generally translucent sheet material and said generally opaque material.

37. A toy comprising:

a first polarizer and a second polarizer, said first polarizer movable from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to said second polarizer;

a light source; and

a flame simulation mechanism located between said second polarizer and said light source;

wherein said first and second polarizers collectively interact to be reflective when said first and second polarizers are in said first orientation, and when said first and second polarizers are in said second orientation said first and second polarizers are collectively transmissive, such that said flame simulation mechanism is viewable therethrough.

38. The toy of claim 37, wherein said flame simulation mechanism further comprises:

a first flame simulation element having a pattern thereon, said first flame simulation element rotatable in said first direction; and

a second flame simulation element having a pattern thereon, said second simulation flame element rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction.

39. The toy of claim 37, wherein said light source includes an electroluminescent sheet device.