U.S. patent application number 14/446135 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-12 for toy system for sending and reading secret messages.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hasbro, Inc.. Invention is credited to Katherine Fakonas.
Application Number | 20150044935 14/446135 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52449035 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150044935 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fakonas; Katherine |
February 12, 2015 |
TOY SYSTEM FOR SENDING AND READING SECRET MESSAGES
Abstract
A toy system for sending and reading hidden secret messages
including a toy dart or arrow launcher using a dart/arrow with a
surface for preprinted or written messages, a pen if the message is
to be written, and a decoder structure. In one embodiment, the dart
surface includes a red and white camouflage pattern and the message
is in light blue ink. A red filter placed over an opening in the
dart launcher is used for reading messages from the outer surfaces
of the darts before the darts are launched. A separate decoder may
be provided to an intended recipient of secret messages. Other
embodiments to read messages use a red flashlight, or invisible ink
to write a message and ultraviolet light to decode, or heat
sensitive ink to write a message and a heat-generating structure,
including a recipient's hand, to read the message.
Inventors: |
Fakonas; Katherine;
(Chestnut Hill, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hasbro, Inc. |
Pawtucket |
RI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52449035 |
Appl. No.: |
14/446135 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61881253 |
Sep 23, 2013 |
|
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61863524 |
Aug 8, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/71 ;
283/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/71 ;
283/114 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/22 20060101
A63H033/22 |
Claims
1. A toy system for sending and reading a secret message
comprising: a toy projectile, said toy projectile being a foam
projectile having an elongated cylindrical shape formed of foam and
including an outer surface; and a camouflaged pattern on the outer
surface.
2. The toy system of claim 1, including: a message reading
structure for viewing a camouflaged message on the cylindrical
outer surface of the foam projectile.
3. The toy system of claim 2, including: a toy launch apparatus for
discharging the foam projectile; and a message reading apparatus
separate from the toy launch apparatus with said message reading
structure to enable a camouflaged message on the foam projectile
surface to be viewed.
4. The toy system of claim 3, wherein: the camouflaged pattern
includes mottled red and white pattern; and a message in the
mottled red and white pattern is colored light blue.
5. The toy system of claim 4, including: a second message reading
structure connected to the toy launch apparatus.
6. The toy system of claim 5, including: a pen for placing the
light blue secret message on the foam projectile.
7. A toy system for sending and reading a secret message
comprising: a toy launch apparatus for discharging a projectile; a
projectile dischargeable by the toy launch apparatus, the
projectile having an outer surface; and a secret message placed on
the outer surface.
8. The toy system of claim 7, wherein: the secret message is
preprinted on the outer surface of the projectile.
9. The toy system of claim 7, wherein: the outer surface of the
projectile is a mottled red and white pattern; and the secret
message is colored light blue.
10. The toy system of claim 7, including: a first reading structure
mounted to the toy launch apparatus to enable viewing of the secret
message carried by the projectile.
11. The toy system of claim 7, including: a second reading
structure separate from the toy launch apparatus for viewing the
secret message carried by the projectile.
12. The toy system of claim 7, including: a pen for placing the
secret message on the outer surface of the projectile.
13. The toy system of claim 11, wherein: the second reading
structure separate from the toy launch apparatus for viewing the
secret message is a decoder having a filter.
14. The toy system of claim 11, wherein: the second reading
structure separate from the toy launch apparatus for viewing the
secret message is a light source.
15. The toy system of claim 11, wherein: the second reading
structure separate from the toy launch apparatus for viewing the
secret message is a heat source.
16. The toy system of claim 11, wherein: the second reading
structure separate from the toy launch apparatus for viewing the
secret message is a liquid.
17. The toy system of claim 7, including: a first reading structure
mounted to the toy launch apparatus to enable viewing of the secret
message carried by the projectile after the projectile is loaded in
the toy launch apparatus; a second reading structure separate from
the toy launch apparatus for viewing the secret message carried by
the projectile; the projectile dischargeable from the toy launch
apparatus is a foam dart; the surface of the foam dart is a mottled
red and white pattern; and the secret message is light blue in
color.
18. A method for forming a toy system of sending and reading secret
messages comprising the steps of: placing a camouflaged pattern on
an outer surface of a cylindrically shaped foam dart to enable a
secret message to be hidden on the outer surface; and arranging the
foam dart to have a central opening and to be dischargeable from a
toy launch apparatus.
19. The method of claim 18, including the step of; forming an
apparatus for reading the secret message with a filter material,
the apparatus for reading being separate from the toy launch
apparatus.
20. The method of claim 19, including the step of: providing a pen
to print the secret message on the outer surface of the foam dart.
Description
PRIORITY CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
119(e) or 120 from U.S. Provisional Applications No. 61/863,524,
filed, Aug. 8, 2013, entitled "TOY SYSTEM FOR SENDING AND READING
SECRET MESSAGES" and No. 61/881,253, filed, Sep. 23, 2013, entitled
"TOY SYSTEM FOR SENDING AND READING SECRET MESSAGES" which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a toy system for sending
and receiving secret messages, and, more particularly, to a toy
system for sending and reading secret messages hidden on a
projectile where the system includes a toy launch apparatus, the
projectile where the projectile has a surface on which a preprinted
message may be placed or on which a message may be written, and a
decoding or reading structure. The system may use a "camouflage"
arrangement, such as a random red/white pattern over a message in
light blue ink, disappearing or invisible ink, or any other
suitable means for hiding the message from anyone but an intended
recipient who has a reading structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The use of secret messages has been known for decades, if
not longer, for both amusement and espionage purposes. Secret
messages are often written using disappearing or invisible inks
that may be viewed after applying a chemical, heat or water; or
with camouflage colors, that is, printing or writing a message in
one color that blends into a another background pattern of other
colors, such as using light blue ink on a busy red/white background
so as to obscure the message, but where the message may be easily
read when viewed through a red filter.
[0004] A number of patents have been found using secret messages
for amusement including patents in the toy field. By way of
example, Meyer and Luecke patented an "Amusement Device For
Transmitting Messages," in 1983, U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,871, which
purports to disclose a device for transmitting secret messages. The
toy includes a "core" in the form of chewing gum where the core/gum
has a message imprinted on its surface in a way that does not
affect its subsequent use as chewing gum. A sheet coated with a
pressure sensitive transfer substance is wrapped around the
core/gum such that a message can be imprinted on the core by
applying pressure on the exterior of the transfer sheet. The
pressure causes the transfer of a portion of the transfer substance
to the core member. In 1988, Kimura received U.S. Pat. No.
4,725,462, issued for a "Heat Activated Indicia On Textiles," that
purports to disclose a woven fabric textile in the form of a
washcloth having indicia in the form of a hidden message or symbol
imprinted on its surface. The indicia are not visible to the eye
under normal ambient temperatures. However, when the washcloth is
subjected to temperatures above 108 degrees F., such as when
immersed in warm bath water, the hidden indicia appears to the
user. The ink used is known as being "thermochromatic."
[0005] U.S. Pat No. 4,796,921, issued in 1989 to Neiman for a
device entitled "Hidden Printing," purports to disclose a
translucent sheet of paper of any color. A hidden message is
applied to the sheet by ink, which has the same color as the sheet.
However, the hidden message is not visible until the sheet is
positioned between an observer and a light source. When this
occurs, light rays flow through all portions of the sheet except
the portions to which the ink is located and the hidden message can
be observed. In 1993, a Berry U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,958, entitled
"Heat Activated Amusement Device Employing Microencapsulated
Thermochromic Liquid Crystal." The patent discloses a
heat-activated film having first and second surfaces where a
message is printed on the second surface. A thermochromic material
is placed adjacent the second surface and a substrate having the
same color as the printed message is placed adjacent the
thermochromic material so as to hide the message. The message is
made apparent when stimulated by the transfer of thermal energy
from a person's body or a heated object to reveal, by color
differentiation, the hidden message. A patent issue to Tamanini, in
1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,695, entitled "Method of Coding Gifts,"
purports to include a set of stickers each with a specific
"camouflaged" symbol where the stickers are attached to gifts. A
decoder filter card is given to each child identifying the specific
symbol and indicating that all gifts with that symbol belong to
that child. Clue cards are used to allow the child to locate the
identifying symbol cards and the child uses the decoder filter to
uncover the symbols on the stickers. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,656,
the use of light blue ink covered by a pattern of red and yellow to
obscure the light blue ink is called "mezzotint."
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,656, issued to Michaels in 1995 for a
"Toy Picnic Set Having Latent Image Placemat," purports to include
a placemat having a translucent upper surface supporting a
red/yellow obscuring design over an image and a plate formed of a
transparent red material. Placing the plate upon the placemat
overlying the latent image filters out the obscuring design and
reveals the latent image. The same year, U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,201,
issued to Friedel for a "Doll And Method Of Operation," purporting
to disclose a doll having a cavity in the torso covered by a door.
A user tears a sheet from a note pad, writes a "secret" upon the
sheet with disappearing ink, inserts the sheet into a pocket and
lays the pocket upon a shelf in the cavity. The door is locked for
a predetermined time to allow the ink to disappear. A child may
then be told that the doll has received the secret because upon
opening the door, the child finds that the message is gone. In
2002, a Jackson U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,631, for a "Toy For Producing A
Concealed Message And Revealing A Received Concealed Message,"
purports to disclose a toy box having message paper with a busy
reddish pattern, the box having a viewing portion formed by a red
translucent sheet under which the message paper is read.
[0007] These patents and devices are of some interest, however,
they do not disclose or illustrate the use of a hidden message with
a clever toy item having good play value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, an advantageous
method and apparatus are provided in the form of a system including
a toy launch apparatus that is designed to discharge a foam
projectile having a surface upon which a secret message may be
placed, such as by preprinting of the message on the surface or by
handwriting a message. In a game one player may use the launch
apparatus or launcher to send the projectile a considerable
distance to an allied player and the secret message may be used to
coordinate strategy. Or, allied players may each have a launcher to
enable secret messages to be sent back and forth over extended
distances without a need for electronics or battery operated
devices or the use of loud speech that may be heard by an
adversary. Another advantage is that the toy system may be played
with typical soft foam darts and a user may have ordinary darts and
one or more message carrying darts which he/she may easily switch
between when a secret message is intended without drawing attention
of an "enemy" player. The system is robust, compact, simple, easy
to use and inexpensive, and yet has great play value.
[0009] The toy system facilitates sending and reading hidden secret
messages with at least one dart with a surface for a preprinted or
written message, a pen if the message is to be written, and a
decoder structure. The dart surface may include camouflage pattern
with the message applied for example in light blue ink. A red
filter may be placed over an opening in the dart launcher allowing
the sender to review his/her message before discharge of the dart,
with the red filter also used in the decoder structure so that the
recipient likewise may read the message after the dart is
discharged and retrieved.
[0010] Briefly summarized, the invention relates to a toy system
for sending and reading a secret message including a toy launch
apparatus for discharging a projectile, a projectile dischargeable
by the toy launch apparatus, the projectile having a surface for
carrying a secret message, and structure separated from the toy
launch apparatus for reading the secret message carried by the
projectile.
[0011] The invention also relates to a method for sending and
reading secret messages including the steps of acquiring a toy
launch apparatus capable of discharging a projectile, acquiring a
projectile capable of being dischargeable by the toy launch
apparatus, placing a secret message on an outer surface of the
projectile, and acquiring an apparatus separated from the toy
launch apparatus for reading the secret message placed on the
projectile. Other embodiments use a red flashlight to read the
message, or invisible ink to write a message and ultraviolet light
to read the message, or heat sensitive ink to write a message and a
heat-generating structure, including a recipient's hand, to read
the message, or ink that is hydrochromatic in that the ink is
invisible in ordinary light but is readable when wetted by water,
or inks that are chemical responsive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the
invention, the accompanying drawings and detailed description
illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, from which the invention,
its structures, its construction and operation, its processes, and
many related advantages may be readily understood and
appreciated.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a portion of a toy system
for sending and reading hidden secret messages including a toy
launch apparatus shaped like a toy gun and loaded with two darts,
each dart bearing a secret message.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of a pen that may
be included in a toy system if needed to write a secret message on
the darts shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of another portion of the
toy system along with the toy launch apparatus shown in FIG. 1, for
sending and reading secret messages including a decoder structure
separated from the toy launch apparatus, the decoder having a
filter to enable a secret message placed on a dart to be read when
the dart is placed behind the filter.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of a dart
bearing a hidden secret message partially received by a decoder
tube to illustrate the difficulty of reading the message on the
portion of the dart located outside the decoder tube compare to the
ease of reading the message on the portion of the dart located
within the decoder tube.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of another toy system
embodiment for sending and reading secret messages including a
motorized toy launch apparatus, ten darts including five darts for
carrying messages, and a keychain decoder tube.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of yet another toy system
embodiment for sending and reading secret messages including a toy
launch apparatus having a cocking slide, five darts including one
dart for carrying a message, and a keychain decoder tube.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of still another toy system
embodiment for sending and reading secret messages including a toy
launch apparatus with a message reading scope having a filter,
eight message carrying darts, a pen to enable a user to write a
message on a dart, and a keychain decoder tube.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a further toy system
embodiment for sending and reading secret messages including a toy
launch apparatus in the form of a bow, three message carrying
arrows, with an enlarged scaled quiver, and an enlarged scaled
decoder structure.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of another toy system
embodiment for sending and reading secret messages including a toy
launch apparatus, six message carrying darts, a holster, a pen to
be carried by the holster, a pair of decoder glasses, and two
targets also capable of carrying hidden messages.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a portion of another toy
system embodiment for sending and reading secret messages including
a toy launch apparatus, the toy launch apparatus having a message
revealing light and a pen storage region.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of another portion of the
toy system embodiment for sending and reading secret messages shown
in FIG. 10, including a message revealing light separated from the
toy launch apparatus.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of another portion of the
toy system for sending and reading secret messages shown in FIGS.
10 and 11, including a pen capable of writing a message in light
revealing invisible ink.
[0025] FIG. 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D are side elevation views of a
dart having a heat sensitive design printed on the dart and then
revealing the design when heat is applied.
[0026] FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a dart being dipped in water
for revealing a secret message made readable by the water.
[0027] FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a dart being dipped in a
chemical for revealing a secret message made readable by the
chemical.
[0028] FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a dart being heated by a
structure for revealing a secret message made readable by the added
heat.
[0029] FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a dart being heated by hand
for revealing a secret message made readable by body heat.
[0030] FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a red flashlight being
trained on a message-carrying dart for revealing a secret message
made readable by the red light.
[0031] FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a method of forming a toy
system for sending and reading hidden secret messages.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0032] The following description is provided to enable those
skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments set
forth in the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention.
Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives,
however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and
alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 1, there is shown an example of part
of a toy system for sending and reading secret messages in the form
of a toy launch apparatus configured as a toy gun 10 having a
housing assembly 12 including a barrel portion 14, a grip portion
16 and a trigger guard portion 18. A cocking handle 20 is mounted
to the housing assembly 12, as is a trigger 22. The toy gun 10 may
include internal elements (not shown), such as a cylinder housing a
piston and a launch spring, which operate in a typical fashion as
do many launchers currently marketed by Hasbro, Inc., of Rhode
Island to launch foam darts. Three darts, of which only two darts
30, 32 are shown, are loaded in the barrel portion 14 as
illustrated. Each of the darts 30, 32 may be configured as an
elongated cylinder with a central rear opening and made of foam
material, such as darts sold under the brand NERF.RTM..
[0034] Each dart includes an outer surface 34 for receiving and
carrying a hidden message 36 so as to keep the message secret, such
as the messages "U go right" and "retreat." The message is hidden
and "secret" because it is "camouflaged" in a fashion as explained
in detail below. An opening 38 in the side of the barrel portion 14
of the gun is located to partially expose the darts 30, 32 and to
enable a user holding the gun to view and read the secret messages
when the opening 38 is covered with a suitable filter 40 as also
discussed in detail below, so that a message sender may review
his/her message before discharge of the dart. A message read
apparatus or "decoder" as shown in FIG. 3, separated from the toy
launcher gun 10, may have a filter such that a distant recipient
may also read the message after the message carrying dart is
discharged by the sender and retrieved by the recipient.
[0035] The hidden messages may be preprinted on the darts or the
system may include a pen 42, FIGS. 1 and 2, used for hand writing a
secret message. The pen 42 may be removably carried in the grip
portion 16 of the toy gun 10. The grip portion includes an opening
44 into which the pen 42 is inserted. The pen includes a flexible
clip 46 that allows the pen to attach to the grip portion 16 and
stay attached until removed by a user. As also explained in detail
below, the pen may include any suitable ink 48, spanning the
spectrum from disappearing and invisible inks, to heat and water
responding inks, to light blue inks that make any message printed
or written by the ink essentially unreadable in ordinary ambient
lighting, such as lighting found in a typical household and
outdoors.
[0036] It is noted that the toy system needs no pen if the messages
on the darts are preprinted. In the alternative, the shape of the
toy gun may be different as the examples shown in FIGS. 5-7,
attests. Other launcher shapes may be used as long as the apparatus
is able to discharge a form of flying projectile. An example of
another toy launch apparatus is a bow launcher shown in FIG. 8. The
toy launch apparatus may also be a wrist launcher or any elastic
band launcher. If a pen is included in the system it may be carried
separated from the toy gun (or other type of launcher), by or on a
user, for example. Or, the pen may be stored in another item, such
as a holster shown in FIG. 9, or in another portion of the gun, for
example, in the barrel akin to the location of a ramrod used with a
musket, or as part of a simulated scope shown in FIG. 7. While
cylindrical darts are illustrated and described as the projectiles
here, other projectile shapes will also work, such as spherical
projectiles (balls), disc shaped projectiles, or the arrow-like
projectiles shown in FIG. 8, for example.
[0037] Another part of the toy system for sending and reading
hidden or secret messages may be a message reading apparatus or
decoder structure 50, FIG. 3. The decoder 50 may have a frame 52
and an opening 54 to receive a dart 56 as shown. A loop 58 may be
part of the frame 52 and a carabiner 60 or a keychain shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6, may be connected to the loop 58 to allow the decoder
to be connected to another user's gun, a belt loop, a piece of
clothing or the like. Side coverings, such as a side covering 62,
may be connected to the frame and overlay the dart 56. The side
covering 62 is formed of a specific material, such as a red plastic
filter, like the filter 40, FIG. 1, used to cover the gun opening
38 where the filter overlays the darts 30, 32 in the barrel portion
of the toy gun 10.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 4, a dart 70 having a mottled pattern
on an outer surface 72 camouflaging or hiding a preprinted message
74 is shown partially inserted into a message reading structure in
the form of a decoder tube 76. A left side portion 78 of the dart
70 depicts generally how the hidden message 74 will appear to one
looking at the dart in ordinary light where the message is
camouflaged or hidden from view. The viewer may see the mottled
pattern and what appear to be random dark outlines. A right side
portion 80 of the dart 70 illustrates generally how the message
would appear when viewed through the reading tube 76, which acts a
filter. The message carried on the right side portion 80 of the
dart can be readily discerned. As an example, a message printed or
written in light blue ink may be readily hidden or camouflaged by a
mottled surface of random red and white patterns. However, when
viewed through a red filter decoder tube, the message letters
appear dark or black and may be easily read in ambient light. The
mottled pattern may be printed on a film that is then adhered to
the outer surface of a NERF.RTM. brand foam dart or may be printed
directly onto the dart.
[0039] In the alternative, other suitable camouflage patterns and
other suitable colors, besides red and white, may be used. For
example, a swirl design, cloud type lines or multiple dots may work
sufficiently well for purposes here. And instead of a filter tube,
a pair of glasses having red lenses may be used as a decoder
structure.
[0040] The filter material 40, FIG. 1, used in the opening 38 in
the toy gun 10 and for the side covering 62 of the decoder 50 may
be a red lens or a red plastic sheet. Use of the red side covering
on the toy gun allows the sender to read the message on the dart
after loading the dart into the toy gun as shown in FIG. 1. This
ensures that the dart carries the correct message intended by the
sender. The recipient having the decoder 50 is also able to read
the message after retrieving the message-carrying dart. However, a
stranger or third party coming upon the dart will be unable to read
the hidden message and may not even realize that a secret message
is present. The advantage of the toy systems described herein
including the launcher, the dart with a secret message, and the
decoder is somewhat analogous to the use in wartime of a carrier
pigeon although the range is far less, on the order of twenty to a
hundred and fifty feet, but more than sufficient for children's
play battles, resulting in toy systems that are great fun in
use.
[0041] The toy systems for sending and reading secret messages may
take many forms as mentioned above. Referring now to FIG. 5, there
is shown a toy system embodiment for sending and reading secret
messages including a launcher in the shape of a toy gun 90, a
twelve dart clip or magazine 92, twelve foam darts 94, 96, 98, 100,
102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, and a keychain decoder tube
118 for reading messages on dart surfaces. The toy gun 90 may be
motorized with an assembly including a spinning wheel, a motor and
a battery (not shown but well known). The darts may be grouped in a
mix of message carrying darts, such as the darts 94, 96, 98, 100,
102, 104 and non-message carrying darts, such as the darts 106,
108, 110, 112, 114, 116. Or, the darts may all be message carrying
or some other mix of message and non-message carrying darts. Darts
may be stored in the magazine 92 and the magazine may be made of a
filter material. The keychain decoder 118 may also be made of a
filter material, such as red plastic, to enable viewing of a
message.
[0042] A somewhat different toy system embodiment for sending and
reading secret messages is illustrated in FIG. 6, including toy gun
shaped launcher 120 with a simulated scope fashioned of a
flashlight 122, a package of six darts 124, 126, 128, 130, 132,
134, and a keychain decoder structure 136. One of the darts, such
as the dart 134, is designed to carry a message. The toy gun 120
may have a manual cocking slide 138 and a rotatable barrel 140. The
flashlight 122 is a message viewing/reading apparatus or structure
and may have a red LED and a battery.
[0043] Still another toy system embodiment for sending and reading
secret messages is illustrated in FIG. 7, which includes a toy gun
launcher 150, eight message carrying darts 152, 154, 156, 158, 160,
162, 164, 166, a scope shaped decoder structure 168 and a pen 170
incorporated in a scope holder 172. The scope may include a red
lens 174 for reading messages. In addition, the toy gun 150 may
have a mottled outer surface 176 that may also contain hidden
preprinted messages, names, logos, or other designs or handwritten
matter.
[0044] A more exotic toy system embodiment, shown in FIG. 8,
includes a toy bow 180 with a red dot sight, three message carrying
arrows 184, 186, 188, a quiver 190 and a decoder structure 192. The
arrows are shown with mottled or camouflaged patterns on fletchings
194, 196, 198 upon which messages may be preprinted or written. In
the alternative, the arrows may have mottled patterns on the
arrowheads for carrying messages instead of, or in addition to, the
mottled patterns on the fletchings. The toy bow 180 may also have
mottled patterned surfaces for carrying messages, names and/or
logos. To illustrate the breath of the toy system embodiments that
may be possible, the launcher may be a well-known wrist-mounted
device.
[0045] Another toy system embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9, and
includes a launcher shaped as a toy gun 200, six message carrying
darts 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, a holster 214 for the toy gun
200 and also for a pen 216, two practice targets 218, 220, and a
message reading structure in the form of a pair of glasses 222
having red reading filters for lenses. The darts have surfaces for
carrying hidden messages as shown, and the targets 218, 220 and the
toy gun launcher 200 may also have camouflaged surfaces.
[0046] Yet another alternative toy system embodiment for sending
and reading secret messages may include the use of ultraviolet or
black light to read a message written with "invisible ink."
Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, a toy system for sending and reading
secret messages may include a launcher in the form of a toy gun 230
similar to the gun launcher 10, FIG. 1, but having an upper chamber
232 with an ultraviolet LED light 234. The toy gun 230 also has an
opening 236 alongside a loaded dart 238 bearing a message 240 so
that the sender may illuminate the light and read the message
before the dart 238 is discharged from the toy gun. A second
trigger or switch 242 may be used to illuminate the light 234 in
the upper chamber 232. In the alternative and more like the toy gun
shown in FIG. 1, the upper chamber may be integrated into the toy
gun so that the dart may be discharged directly without having to
be relocated. The system for sending secret messages may also
include a pen 244, FIGS. 10 and 12, filled with invisible ink.
[0047] The pen 244 is shown in FIG. 10, being removed from a
compartment 246 in a grip portion 248 of the toy gun 230. An arrow
250 symbolizes removal of the pen, and the pen 244 is shown in
dotted lines stored in the grip portion and in solid lines
separated from the toy gun 250. The pen 244 may be used to write
the messages on the darts 251, 253 as shown in FIG. 12, and then
the pen may be stored in the grip portion compartment 246 of the
toy gun 230. The system for sending and reading secret messages may
also include a separate accessory, namely a handheld flashlight
structure 252, FIG. 11, having an ultraviolet LED light 254, for
use by a recipient of the message for reading the message. A
similar system may include glow-in-the-dark ink or coating that is
readable at night when the ink or coating is excited by a
flashlight. In practice, both the sender and the recipient may have
all four components, a launcher, darts, a pen and an LED decoder
light so that secret messages may be written and sent back and
forth and read. As mentioned above, any third party who stumbles
upon and retrieves a message-carrying dart will in ordinary light
see no discernable message on the dart. It is noted that a
preferable toy system may use preprinted messages so that there is
no need for the toy system to include a pen.
[0048] Still another toy system embodiment for sending and reading
secret messages may include a launcher, darts and perhaps a pen,
but the ink, whether preprinted on the darts or written by the pen,
may be "thermochromatic." Thermochromatic ink is invisible to the
eye in ordinary light but becomes apparent when heat is applied to
a dart 260 (or other projectile) carrying the message as shown in
FIGS. 13A-13D. A decoder structure may simply be a recipient's hand
and his/her body heat, or may be a heat generating apparatus, such
as a hot water dispenser. Without heat, the dart may be a solid
color as shown in FIG. 13A. As heat is applied, text 262 and a
design 264 begin to be revealed as shown in FIG. 13B. When more
heat is applied to the dart 260, the text 262 and the design 264
are completely revealed, as shown in FIG. 13C, and may remain so
for a predetermined time period, such as five seconds. In several
seconds after heat is removed from the dart, the text and design
disappears as shown in FIG. 13D. As mentioned earlier, a third
party finding the dart will see no message. It is noted that in all
embodiments the messages may be erasable by a damp cloth.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 14, a structure for reading a hidden
secret message on a dart 266 may be a container 268 filled with
water 270, or, as shown in FIG. 15, a container 272 filled with a
chemical 274. FIGS. 16 and 17, illustrate a dart 276 being warmed
by a heating structure 278; or, in the alternative, the heating
structure may be a recipient's hand 280 wrapped around a dart 282.
Shown in FIG. 18, the structure for reading a dart 284 is a
flashlight 286 with a red LED 288. It is also noted that the
various launchers, message carrying items, accessories, and
decoders mentioned above may be mixed in different combinations and
may include a pen.
[0050] In operation of the various toy system embodiments described
above, a sender uses a dart or other flying projectile with a
preprinted message, or the sender writes a message on the surface
of a dart or other projectile, and loads the projectile into the
toy gun or other launcher. The message is readable in the toy gun
through a reading structure, such as the filter 40, FIG. 1, the red
filter plastic magazine 92, FIG. 5, by use of the red flashlight
122, FIG. 6, the red filter scope 168, FIG. 7, or the pair of
glasses 222, FIG. 9. The sender than aims the toy gun or other
launcher toward an intended recipient and discharges the
projectile. The projectile may be able to travel a considerable
distance, and the message on the projectile may, for example, be a
piece of strategy or a call for help. After discharge, the
recipient merely picks up the projectile and uses his decoder
structure to view the message. The message may be erased and a new
message may be written, or a new preprinted projectile may be used,
and the projectile is launched back by the recipient to the
original sender. Should a third party or an "enemy" find the
message-bearing dart nothing discernible will be apparent.
[0051] It is noted that packages of camouflaged projectiles by
themselves and packages of projectiles plus a decoder may be
marketed separately and apart from a launcher. The separate
availability enables a user with an existing launcher to use the
projectiles having hidden messages, or the projectiles or
projectiles plus decoder may be sold as replacement pieces.
[0052] The present invention also includes a method 300, FIG. 19,
for forming a toy system for sending and reading secret messages
including the steps of placing a camouflaged pattern on an outer
surface of a cylindrically shaped foam dart to enable a secret
message to be hidden on the outer surface 302, and arranging the
foam dart to have a central opening and to be dischargeable from a
toy launch apparatus 304.
[0053] The toy system disclosed in detail above has great play
value, is fun to use and easy to operate, and is safe, even for
young children, and yet the toy launch apparatus and other
structures involved have a robust, but simple construction, that
may be produced and assembled at a reasonable cost.
[0054] From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been
provided features for a toy system for sending and reading secret
messages and of the method for forming the system. While particular
embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described
in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the
invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim is to cover
all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit
and scope of the invention. The matters set forth in the foregoing
description and accompanying drawings are offered by way of
illustrations only and not as limitations. The actual scope of the
invention is to be defined by the subsequent claims when viewed in
their proper perspective based on the prior art.
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