Patent Application
20120279880
(1) Field of Invention
The present invention relates to product packaging and, more particularly, to product packaging that includes a toy and an ultraviolet light accessory positioned within the packaging to illuminate the toy.
(2) Description of Related Art
Toys with exposable features have long been known in the art. For example, toys have been devised to change colors when exposed to certain elements.
By way of example, some toy dolls have been devised that include skins or exterior surfaces that change color in response to water exposure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,188 (the '188 patent) discloses toy dolls and figurines having surface portions of reversibly changeable color. The '188 patent teaches a doll with an color changing layer positioned on its exterior that will reversibly change color after exposure to water. Such a feature provides a play pattern of allowing a child to simulate a diaper rash on a doll by “wetting” a diaper. Other play patterns can be envisioned, where, for example, the color changing layer is applied to a baby doll bottle. Thus, by filling the bottle with water, the bottle will change colors. After removing the doll and color changing layer from the water exposure, the color changing layers slowly reverts back to its original color.
Other toys have been devised that change color in response to light exposure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,416 (the '416 patent) discloses a photochromatic toy that changes color as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light. More specifically, the '416 patent describes toy soda bottles that have a photochromatic coating that, when exposed to the ultraviolet light, causes the bottles to change color and appear as if they are full of soda. Upon removing the toy soda bottles from the ultraviolet light exposure, the color in the photochromatic coating slowly reverts back to its original color.
As described above and as used in the prior art, the color changing elements (e.g., color changing layer and/or photochromatic coating) slowly change color in response to the applicable exposure element (e.g., water or ultraviolet light). Alternatively, after removal of the applicable exposure element, the color changing element slowly reverts to its original color. In both cases, the color change from the first to the second color, and reversal from the second color to the first color, is not instantaneous.
Thus, a continuing need exists for a toy having exposable features that are immediately revealed when exposed to ultraviolet light and that are immediately concealed upon removal of the ultraviolet light. Further, a need exists for product packaging having such a toy therein with an ultraviolet light accessory positioned within the packaging to illuminate the toy and reveal the exposable feature.
While considering the failure of others to make use of all of the above components in this technology space, the inventors unexpectedly realized that a unique try me packaging item that positions both a toy and ultraviolet light accessory would allow a potential consumer to view the unique features of the toy therein.
The packaging item includes a transparent packaging shell and a toy positioning packaging. The transparent packaging shell has an opening therethrough to allow for access by a user. The toy positioning packaging is positioned within the transparent packaging shell. The toy positioning packaging includes a toy packing portion and an ultraviolet light accessory portion. The toy positioning packaging is formed to hold both the toy and ultraviolet light accessory such that upon activation, ultraviolet light is directed from the ultraviolet light accessory onto a portion of a toy that includes a reveal pigment. Upon exposure to the reveal pigment, the reveal pigment becomes visible to reveal a unique feature of the toy. The toy is, for example, a figurine.
Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:
The present invention relates to product packaging and, more particularly, to product packaging that includes a toy and an ultraviolet light accessory positioned within the packaging to illuminate the toy. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.
(1) Description
The present invention relates to product packaging and corresponding toys.
More specifically and as shown in
The packaging 100 includes a transparent packaging shell 106 having an opening 108 therethrough. The packaging shell 106 is transparent to allow a potential customer view the toy 102 and light accessory 104 held therein. The packaging shell 106 is formed of any suitable material, a non-limiting example of which includes plastic.
As noted above and as further depicted in
The reveal pigment 202 is any suitable pigment that can be applied to or formed within the toy 102. As a non-limiting example, the reveal pigment 202 is an invisible fluorescent ink that immediately ceases fluorescing upon removal from an ultraviolet light and returns to the first state. A non-limiting example of a suitable reveal pigment 202 is the invisible fluorescent ink as made by New Prismatic Enterprises Co., LTD.
The reveal effect is further depicted in
The UV light accessory 104 includes a UV light (e.g., UV LED) housed therein and a switch for selectively activating the ultraviolet LED. A power source such as a battery is housed within the UV light accessory 104 to power the UV light.
To assist in properly positioning the toy and UV light accessory, the packaging includes a toy positioning packaging 400, as shown in
For further understanding,
Finally,
