Hand-holdable toy light tube with color changing film
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A toy light tube comprising:
- a handle including an end;
a tube of color shifting film extending from said end; and
a light source connected to said handle,wherein when activated, said light source interacts with at least a portion of said tube of color shifting film producing an optical effect visible to at least one of a user or observer, wherein said color shifting film comprises alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials is birefringent, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along first and second axes in the plane of said layers is at least about 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis mutually orthogonal to said first and second axes is less than about 0.05.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hand-holdable toy light tube comprising a handle, a light source and a tube of color shifting film. The light source is preferably disposed within an end of the handle. The tube of color shifting film extends from the end of the handle. During use, light from the light source interacts with the tube of color shifting film, producing a brilliant colored effect. Movement of the handle and thus of the tube of color shifting film produces multiple colors.
92 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A toy light tube comprising:
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a handle including an end; a tube of color shifting film extending from said end; and a light source connected to said handle, wherein when activated, said light source interacts with at least a portion of said tube of color shifting film producing an optical effect visible to at least one of a user or observer, wherein said color shifting film comprises alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials is birefringent, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along first and second axes in the plane of said layers is at least about 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis mutually orthogonal to said first and second axes is less than about 0.05. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of making a toy light tube including:
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providing a handle including an end; disposing a light source within said handle; and curving a sheet of color shifting film around said end of said handle such that said sheet of color shifting film extends from said handle, wherein said color shifting film comprises alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials is birefringent, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along first and second axes in the plane of said layers is at least about 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis mutually orthogonal to said first and second axes is less than about 0.05. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A toy light tube comprising:
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a handle including an end; a tube of color shifting film extending from said end; and a light source connected to said handle, wherein when activated, said light source interacts with at least a portion of said tube of color shifting film producing an optical effect visible to at least one of a user or observer, wherein said color shifting film comprises alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials is birefringent, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along first and second axes in the plane of said layers is at least about 0.05, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis mutually orthogonal to said first and second axes is less than about 0.05, wherein at least a portion of said tube of color shifting film is configured such that when viewed from a first location, said portion of said tube of color shifting film exhibits a first color, and when viewed from a second location, said portion of said tube of color shifting film exhibits a second color different from said first color, and wherein said light source is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation having at least one wavelength in the range from 4×
10-7 to 7×
10-7.
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Specification
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Current Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
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Original Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
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InventorsWeber, Michael F., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Hanson, Gary B.
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Primary Examiner(s)O'Shea, Sandra
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Assistant Examiner(s)HONEYMAN, MARSHALL S
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Application NumberUS09/006,088Time in Patent Office903 DaysField of Search362/186, 362/293, 362/806, 362/202, 446/219, 446/485, 446/484, 53/397, 428/30, 428/29US Class Current362/293CPC Class CodesA63H 33/009 Toy swords or similar toy w...A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow ...F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices w...F21V 33/0084 Hand tools; ToolboxesF21V 9/45 by adjustment of photolumin...
