WO1997000783A1 - Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation - Google Patents

Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997000783A1
WO1997000783A1 PCT/GB1996/001488 GB9601488W WO9700783A1 WO 1997000783 A1 WO1997000783 A1 WO 1997000783A1 GB 9601488 W GB9601488 W GB 9601488W WO 9700783 A1 WO9700783 A1 WO 9700783A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
temperature
product
representation
ink
temperature sensitive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1996/001488
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Timothy James Cameron Fraser
Original Assignee
Timothy James Cameron Fraser
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Timothy James Cameron Fraser filed Critical Timothy James Cameron Fraser
Priority to GB9726544A priority Critical patent/GB2318323B/en
Priority to AU61333/96A priority patent/AU6133396A/en
Publication of WO1997000783A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997000783A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F3/00Board games; Raffle games
    • A63F3/06Lottos or bingo games; Systems, apparatus or devices for checking such games
    • A63F3/065Tickets or accessories for use therewith
    • A63F3/0685Tickets or accessories for use therewith having a message becoming legible after a chemical reaction or physical action has taken place, e.g. applying pressure, heat treatment, spraying with a substance, breaking microcapsules
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42DBOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D15/00Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
    • B42D15/02Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44FSPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/08Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects characterised by colour effects
    • B44F1/10Changing, amusing, or secret pictures

Definitions

  • Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation
  • the present invention relates to a product comprising a temperature sensitive element and which changes appearance depending upon temperature.
  • a product bearing a representation comprising a substrate carrying a temperature sensitive first element and a second element, at a first temperature the first and second elements combining to obscure the representation, and at a selected second temperature the appearance of at least the first element changing to reveal the representation.
  • the product is a printed product, for example, paper, a greetings card, an item of stationery, a label and the like.
  • the second element is preferably a conventional temperature stable ink.
  • the temperature stable ink defines the representation with the first element creating an obscuring or confusing pattern adjacent to or overlapping the representation.
  • the representation may be in the form of words and/or symbols.
  • the temperature sensitive first element is preferably a temperature sensitive ink which changes its appearance depending on temperature.
  • the representation to be revealed may be printed in a conventional ink, in a shade and texture that matches that of the temperature sensitive ink at ambient temperature. This change in appearance experienced by the temperature sensitive ink may be a colour change, or most preferably a visual change such that the first element is visible in the visible spectrum at the first temperature but invisible in the visible spectrum at the second temperature.
  • the change in appearance of the temperature sensitive first element occurs in a reversible manner.
  • the temperature sensitive element may change appearance at one of a variety of temperatures.
  • the temperature sensitive element has one appearance at ambient temperatures, between about 10° - 30°C, and changes appearance at either lower temperatures (for example, refrigeration temperatures of about 4°C) or higher temperatures (for example, body temperature of about 37°C) .
  • the temperature sensitive element changes appearance at temperatures higher than normal ambient temperatures, for example >30°C.
  • the representation is obscured at or below ambient temperatures and is revealed at temperatures above 30°C, typically at or around body temperature. This would permit the representation to be revealed by, for example, breathing on the product or pressing a hand on the product.
  • the temperature sensitive element changes appearance at temperatures lower than normal ambient temperatures, for example >10°C.
  • the representation is obscured at or above ambient temperature and is revealed at temperatures below 10°C.
  • the present invention provides a printed paper or card product bearing a representation and carrying a temperature sensitive first ink and a second ink, at ambient temperatures the first and second inks combining to obscure the representation and at or near body temperature the appearance of the first ink changing to reveal the representation.
  • the product may be in the form of a greetings card, for example a birthday card or valentine's card.
  • a representation in the form of a personal message may be printed on the card using a temperature stable ink, but the message is normally obscured by a temperature sensitive ink. The receiver of the card warms the print, which results in the temperature sensitive ink becoming effectively invisible against a background, thus revealing the personal message.
  • the product may form part of a book, wherein the product is designed to have an educational function. For instance, the book may be a children's book in which a series of questions are put to the child. The child may be then offered a number of answers, of which only one is correct. Beside each answer is a patch or area of obscured print.
  • the product may be used to help with the learning of a foreign language.
  • a student would be shown an object, such as a ball, and beside this object is a patch or area of obscured print. The student would then decide what the object is, in the foreign language, before placing his or her hand over the patch, to reveal the word or words (in the same manner as described above) in the foreign language, thereby revealing whether or not they were correct.
  • the product may be in the form of a competition card.
  • a competitor In order for a competitor to determine whether they are a winner or loser, they apply heat, for example by breathing, onto a patch of heat stable print which has been obscured by a temperature sensitive print. The heat so applied results in the temperature sensitive print becoming effectively invisible and revealing a temperature stable message such as "You Win” or "You Lose".
  • Figure 1 shows a competition card in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at a first temperature
  • Figure 2 shows the competition card of Figure 1, at a second temperature.
  • Figure 3 shows a competition card in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention at a first temperature
  • Figure 4 shows the competition card of Figure 3, at a second temperature.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a competition card, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the card 10 has been printed with a space cartoon which shows a space alien apparently talking to an astronaut in an alien language.
  • the alien words 12 are shown in a "speech bubble" 13 coming from the alien's mouth.
  • the alien words 12 have been printed using temperature sensitive characters 14 and temperature stable characters 16.
  • the temperature stable characters 16 represent a message in English. However, at an ambient temperature of around 10°-30°C, the heat sensitive characters 14 and heat stable characters 16 have a similar appearance and so the English message is obscured.
  • the competitor heats the "speech bubble" by placing his or her hand over it, or by breathing on it.
  • the temperature sensitive characters then become effectively invisible, by blending into the background, because of the rise in temperature.
  • the message depicted by the heat stable characters then appears, as shown in Figure 2. In this particular instance the competitor is a winner.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a competition card, in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the card 20 has been split into two halves 22, 24.
  • One half 22 is printed with instructions 23 for the competitor. In this case the competitor has to chill the card to reveal whether or not they have won.
  • the other half 24 has been printed using two inks.
  • One of the inks is temperature stable and conveys a winning or losing message 26 and the other ink is temperature (cold) sensitive and provides an obscuring background to the message 26.
  • the background 28 and message 26 are shown as different shades. However, in actual use, at the first temperature of around 20 - 30°C, the shades of the message 26 and the background 28 will be substantially identical, so that the message 26 cannot be seen and is obscured by the background 28.
  • the competitor cools the card 22 to below 10°C, for example, by placing the card 20 in a refrigerator.
  • the temperature sensitive background 28 then changes colour allowing the temperature stable "win” (or "lose") message to appear, as shown in Figure 4.
  • the present invention may be embodied in a humorous greetings card including instructions that, for the message to be revealed the card must be placed next to the recipient's heart. The resulting exposure of the card to the recipient's body heat (or any other heat source) warms the card sufficiently to reveal the previously hidden or obscured message.
  • more than one message may be carried by a card, the different messages being revealed as the card is exposed to higher temperatures.

Abstract

There is disclosed a product, such as a competition card (10) or greetings card, bearing an initially hidden representation. The product comprises a substrate carrying a temperature sensitive first element (14) and a temperature stable second element (16). At ambient temperatures the first and second elements (14, 16) combine to obscure the representation, however at a higher temperature the appearance of the temperature sensitive element (14) changes to reveal the representation.

Description

Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation.
The present invention relates to a product comprising a temperature sensitive element and which changes appearance depending upon temperature.
There are various dyes available which will change colour with a change in temperature. This attribute has been used, for example, in the manufacture of HYPERCOLOUR™ T-shirts, which change colour due to the wearer's body heat. Temperature sensitive inks have also been used which are effectively invisible at room temperature and become visible upon cooling. These inks have been used by soft drinks manufacturers to indicate when the contents of a soft drinks can or bottle are desirably cold.
According to the present invention there is provided a product bearing a representation, the product comprising a substrate carrying a temperature sensitive first element and a second element, at a first temperature the first and second elements combining to obscure the representation, and at a selected second temperature the appearance of at least the first element changing to reveal the representation.
Typically the product is a printed product, for example, paper, a greetings card, an item of stationery, a label and the like.
The second element is preferably a conventional temperature stable ink. Most preferably, the temperature stable ink defines the representation with the first element creating an obscuring or confusing pattern adjacent to or overlapping the representation. The representation may be in the form of words and/or symbols. The temperature sensitive first element is preferably a temperature sensitive ink which changes its appearance depending on temperature. Thus, the representation to be revealed may be printed in a conventional ink, in a shade and texture that matches that of the temperature sensitive ink at ambient temperature. This change in appearance experienced by the temperature sensitive ink may be a colour change, or most preferably a visual change such that the first element is visible in the visible spectrum at the first temperature but invisible in the visible spectrum at the second temperature. Preferably, the change in appearance of the temperature sensitive first element occurs in a reversible manner. The temperature sensitive element may change appearance at one of a variety of temperatures. Preferably the temperature sensitive element has one appearance at ambient temperatures, between about 10° - 30°C, and changes appearance at either lower temperatures (for example, refrigeration temperatures of about 4°C) or higher temperatures (for example, body temperature of about 37°C) .
In one embodiment the temperature sensitive element changes appearance at temperatures higher than normal ambient temperatures, for example >30°C. In such a case the representation is obscured at or below ambient temperatures and is revealed at temperatures above 30°C, typically at or around body temperature. This would permit the representation to be revealed by, for example, breathing on the product or pressing a hand on the product.
In a further embodiment the temperature sensitive element changes appearance at temperatures lower than normal ambient temperatures, for example >10°C. In this case the representation is obscured at or above ambient temperature and is revealed at temperatures below 10°C.
This would permit the representation to be revealed by, for example, placing the product in a refrigerator or freezer.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a printed paper or card product bearing a representation and carrying a temperature sensitive first ink and a second ink, at ambient temperatures the first and second inks combining to obscure the representation and at or near body temperature the appearance of the first ink changing to reveal the representation.
In one embodiment, the product may be in the form of a greetings card, for example a birthday card or valentine's card. A representation in the form of a personal message may be printed on the card using a temperature stable ink, but the message is normally obscured by a temperature sensitive ink. The receiver of the card warms the print, which results in the temperature sensitive ink becoming effectively invisible against a background, thus revealing the personal message. In another embodiment, the product may form part of a book, wherein the product is designed to have an educational function. For instance, the book may be a children's book in which a series of questions are put to the child. The child may be then offered a number of answers, of which only one is correct. Beside each answer is a patch or area of obscured print. The child then places his or her hand over the patch corresponding to the answer which he or she believes to be correct. The heat from the child's hand results in the temperature sensitive ink becoming invisible and revealing the temperature stable ink message which shows the answer to be "correct" or "incorrect". In a similar educational application the product may be used to help with the learning of a foreign language. A student would be shown an object, such as a ball, and beside this object is a patch or area of obscured print. The student would then decide what the object is, in the foreign language, before placing his or her hand over the patch, to reveal the word or words (in the same manner as described above) in the foreign language, thereby revealing whether or not they were correct. It would also be possible to print the object in temperature sensitive ink, such that heating the object causes the object to effectively disappear and reveal the words in the object's place. In another application, the product may be in the form of a competition card. In order for a competitor to determine whether they are a winner or loser, they apply heat, for example by breathing, onto a patch of heat stable print which has been obscured by a temperature sensitive print. The heat so applied results in the temperature sensitive print becoming effectively invisible and revealing a temperature stable message such as "You Win" or "You Lose".
These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a competition card in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at a first temperature; and
Figure 2 shows the competition card of Figure 1, at a second temperature.
Figure 3 shows a competition card in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention at a first temperature; and
Figure 4 shows the competition card of Figure 3, at a second temperature.
Figure 1 illustrates a competition card, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The card 10 has been printed with a space cartoon which shows a space alien apparently talking to an astronaut in an alien language. The alien words 12 are shown in a "speech bubble" 13 coming from the alien's mouth. The alien words 12 have been printed using temperature sensitive characters 14 and temperature stable characters 16. The temperature stable characters 16 represent a message in English. However, at an ambient temperature of around 10°-30°C, the heat sensitive characters 14 and heat stable characters 16 have a similar appearance and so the English message is obscured.
To reveal the message, the competitor heats the "speech bubble" by placing his or her hand over it, or by breathing on it. The temperature sensitive characters then become effectively invisible, by blending into the background, because of the rise in temperature. The message depicted by the heat stable characters then appears, as shown in Figure 2. In this particular instance the competitor is a winner.
Figure 3 illustrates a competition card, in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. The card 20 has been split into two halves 22, 24. One half 22 is printed with instructions 23 for the competitor. In this case the competitor has to chill the card to reveal whether or not they have won. The other half 24 has been printed using two inks. One of the inks is temperature stable and conveys a winning or losing message 26 and the other ink is temperature (cold) sensitive and provides an obscuring background to the message 26. For ease of visualisation and understanding of the Figure, the background 28 and message 26 are shown as different shades. However, in actual use, at the first temperature of around 20 - 30°C, the shades of the message 26 and the background 28 will be substantially identical, so that the message 26 cannot be seen and is obscured by the background 28.
In order to reveal the message 26, the competitor cools the card 22 to below 10°C, for example, by placing the card 20 in a refrigerator. The temperature sensitive background 28 then changes colour allowing the temperature stable "win" (or "lose") message to appear, as shown in Figure 4.
It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. In one example, the present invention may be embodied in a humorous greetings card including instructions that, for the message to be revealed the card must be placed next to the recipient's heart. The resulting exposure of the card to the recipient's body heat (or any other heat source) warms the card sufficiently to reveal the previously hidden or obscured message. In still further embodiments more than one message may be carried by a card, the different messages being revealed as the card is exposed to higher temperatures.

Claims

1. A product bearing a representation, the product comprising a substrate carrying a temperature sensitive first element and a second element, at a first temperature the first and second elements combining to obscure the representation, and at a selected second temperature the appearance of at least the first element changing to reveal the representation.
2. The product of claim 1 wherein a product is a printed product.
3. The product of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second ' element is a temperature stable ink.
4. The product of claim 3 wherein the second element defines the representation with the first element creating an obscuring or confusing pattern adjacent to or overlapping the representation.
5. The product of any of the preceding claims wherein the temperature sensitive first element is formed of temperature sensitive ink.
6. The product of any of the preceding claims wherein the first element is formed of a temperature sensitive ink and the second element is formed of a temperature stable ink and defines the representation, the conventional ink being printed on the substrate in a shade and texture that matches that of the temperature sensitive ink at ambient temperature.
7. The product of any of the preceding claims wherein the first element is visible in the visible spectrum at the first temperature but is effectively invisible in the visible spectrum at the selected second temperature.
8. The product of any of the preceding claims wherein the change in appearance of the temperature sensitive first element occurs in a reversible manner.
9. The product of any of the preceding claims wherein the temperature sensitive element has one appearance at ambient temperatures, and changes appearance at higher temperatures.
10. The product of claim 9 wherein the representation is obscured at or below ambient temperatures and is revealed at temperatures at or around body temperature.
11. The product of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the temperature sensitive first element has one appearance at ambient temperatures and changes appearance at lower temperatures.
12. A printed paper or card product bearing a representation and carrying a temperature sensitive first ink and a second ink, at ambient temperatures the first and second inks combining to obscure the representation and at or near body temperature the appearance of the first ink changing to reveal the representation.
PCT/GB1996/001488 1995-06-21 1996-06-19 Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation WO1997000783A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9726544A GB2318323B (en) 1995-06-21 1996-06-19 Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation
AU61333/96A AU6133396A (en) 1995-06-21 1996-06-19 Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9512637.1 1995-06-21
GBGB9512637.1A GB9512637D0 (en) 1995-06-21 1995-06-21 Temperature sensitive product

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997000783A1 true WO1997000783A1 (en) 1997-01-09

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/GB1996/001488 WO1997000783A1 (en) 1995-06-21 1996-06-19 Temperature-sensitive product bearing a representation

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AU (1) AU6133396A (en)
GB (1) GB9512637D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1997000783A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999033533A1 (en) * 1997-12-29 1999-07-08 Ge Spelutveckling Ab Interactive gaming device
GB2334932A (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-09-08 Rover Group A sun visor
GB2365789A (en) * 2000-08-12 2002-02-27 Colin Riley Games based upon revealing hidden images
GB2435632A (en) * 2006-03-03 2007-09-05 Canon Europa Nv Manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label
WO2009127858A1 (en) * 2008-04-15 2009-10-22 Novalia Ltd Printed article

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2371304A1 (en) * 1976-11-18 1978-06-16 Int Products Services Pictures which change their form with changing temp. - are made of layers of liquid crystals which change colour when warmed by hand contact or with electrical element
US4650707A (en) * 1985-05-28 1987-03-17 Thermotech D.L.C., Inc. Temperature indication means for fire fighters
GB2188283A (en) * 1986-03-21 1987-09-30 Advertising And Marketing Asso Prize-generating printed substrates
US5079049A (en) * 1989-10-04 1992-01-07 The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. Artificial plant that stably exhibits different colors
US5223958A (en) * 1988-12-30 1993-06-29 Hyperdesign, Inc. Heat activated amusement device employing microencapsulated thermochromic liquid crystal
US5375271A (en) * 1993-09-30 1994-12-27 Kel-Gar, Inc. Bath mat having temperature related indicia

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2371304A1 (en) * 1976-11-18 1978-06-16 Int Products Services Pictures which change their form with changing temp. - are made of layers of liquid crystals which change colour when warmed by hand contact or with electrical element
US4650707A (en) * 1985-05-28 1987-03-17 Thermotech D.L.C., Inc. Temperature indication means for fire fighters
GB2188283A (en) * 1986-03-21 1987-09-30 Advertising And Marketing Asso Prize-generating printed substrates
US5223958A (en) * 1988-12-30 1993-06-29 Hyperdesign, Inc. Heat activated amusement device employing microencapsulated thermochromic liquid crystal
US5079049A (en) * 1989-10-04 1992-01-07 The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. Artificial plant that stably exhibits different colors
US5375271A (en) * 1993-09-30 1994-12-27 Kel-Gar, Inc. Bath mat having temperature related indicia

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999033533A1 (en) * 1997-12-29 1999-07-08 Ge Spelutveckling Ab Interactive gaming device
US6659865B1 (en) 1997-12-29 2003-12-09 Igs Limited Interactive gaming device requiring sensory input
GB2334932A (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-09-08 Rover Group A sun visor
GB2365789A (en) * 2000-08-12 2002-02-27 Colin Riley Games based upon revealing hidden images
GB2435632A (en) * 2006-03-03 2007-09-05 Canon Europa Nv Manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label
WO2009127858A1 (en) * 2008-04-15 2009-10-22 Novalia Ltd Printed article

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6133396A (en) 1997-01-22
GB9512637D0 (en) 1995-08-23

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