Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~69340 c~
- 1 - PILOT 13
Method for Energizing Energization-Operated
Toy Element and Energization-Operated Toy
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for
electrically energizing an energization-operated toy
element and an energization-operated toy. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an
energizing method which employs an electric double
layer capacitor as energization means for electrically
energizing a toy element which is operated upon
application of low voltage and an energization-operated
toy which uses said method.
Related Backqround Art
Hitherto, application of voltage directly from a
battery or an AC adapter was mainly employed for
electrically energizing an energization toy load.
Therefore, in an energization heat generation color
changing toy, for example, a resistant heating member
such as Nichrome wire or a conductive circuit was apt
to be overheated. Thus, a sensor, a switch or the like
for preventing this was inevitable. As a result,
electrically energization means which can be employed
easily without troubles including the above-mentioned
overheating was required.
2169340
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide
an energizing method as well as an energization-
operated toy, which utilizes a discharge current of an
electric double layer capacitor as energization means
for electrically energizing a toy element which is
operated upon application of low voltage, and in
particular, as energization means for electrically
energizing a resistant heating member in an
energization heat generation color changing toy
element, so as to supply a required electric current
smoothly, and which can be operated safely without
troubles due to an overheating or a short circuit.
According to the present invention, there are
provided a method for electrically energizing an
energization-operated toy element and an energizing
operation toy which are characterized in that an
electric double layer capacitor 31 is employed as
energization means for electrically energizing a toy
element which is operated upon application of low
voltage, the capacitor is charged upon reception of a
current from a DC power source, and the charged
electric power is used to electrically energize a toy
load as a discharge current to operate the toy element.
Further, there is provided an energization heat
generation color changing toy which comprises: an
energization heat generation color changing element
2169~40
provided with a resistant heating member for generating
heat upon application of DC voltage and a thermal color
changing layer disposed in contact with or close to
said heating member, energization means 3 consisting of
the electric double layer capacitor for supplying a
discharge current to the resistant heating member to
generate heat; and a power source for charging said
capacitor by supplying DC voltage from 0.5 V to 9.0 V
to the capacitor. There is further provided a method
for electrically energizing an energization-operated
toy element which is characterized in that the electric
double layer capacitor is interposed in the route to
the power source as the energization means for
electrically energizing the toy load which is operated
upon application of low voltage and said electric
double layer capacitor is charged upon reception of a
DC current from the power source to send a discharge
current to energize and operate the toy load. Further
there is provided an energization-operated toy which
comprises the toy load to be operated upon application
of DC low voltage, the power source, the electric
double layer capacitor to be charged upon reception of
a direct current from said power source for supplying a
discharge current to said toy load, and a switch 5, and
which is arranged such that said charging and
discharging operations are effected, linking with a
switching on/off operation of said energization switch
21~9340
-- 4 --
so as to make said toy load operable at the time of
discharging operation.
As the above-mentioned electric double layer
capacitor, a known capacitor can be used. Such
capacitor is arranged to comprise a mixed system of
activated charcoal and electrolyte (solution of dilute
sulfuric acid) in a basic cell thereof, and insulating
porous separator is interposed for preventing a short
circuit which may be caused by contact between the
activated charcoals. When the above-mentioned two
different phases of solid and liquid are brought into
contact, positive and negative electric charges are
distributed with very short distances therebetween at
an interface of said two phases. When voltage is
applied to said capacitor from an external unit, the
capacitor operates to store a further larger charge in
a short time. As a result, such capacitor functions
effectively as means for energizing a toy element which
is operated upon application of low voltage according
to the present invention. As such capacitor, Gold
Capacitor AL series (trade name) made by Matsushita
Electric Parts Co., Ltd., (having a cylindrical form,
voltage-proof against 2.5 V per cell, capacity of
0.22 F (outer diameter: ~6.8 x L21 mm) to 100 F (outer
diameter: ~18 x L35 mm) are available on the market.
The above-mentioned electric double layer
capacitor performs a function of a storage battery, has
~1693~0
-- 5
a larger electric capacity than a normal capacitor, and
is capable of instant discharge of a large current.
Since the capacitor divides the electric power of the
power source battery into small amounts, an amount of
discharge electric power is limited. Thus, troubles
which may be caused by overheating can be prevented,
and a temperature sensor or a control circuit is
unnecessary. Also, even if the capacity of the power
battery is decreased, it only takes a longer charge
time and a discharge output at one time is
substantially constant so that the battery can be used
economically. Moreover, the discharge characteristics
of the capacitor are superior than those of a battery
so that a required current can be discharged instantly.
The toy element causes, for example, drive, light
emission, heat generation upon application of DC low
voltage (0.5 V to 9.0 V) or thermal color change
following said heat generation, and the like.
As the above-mentioned DC power source, a battery
such as a dry battery, a solar battery, or the like, or
a converted DC current by an AC adapter can be
employed. The electric double layer capacitor is
charged upon reception of a current from said DC power
source, discharges a large current instantaneously, and
functions effectively to operate the toy element 2
repeatedly without deteriorated even if the charging
and discharging operations are repeated.
693~0
The energizing method or the energization-operated
toy according to the present invention is mainly broken
down into a system in which the electric double layer
capacitor is applied in an isolated state as a simple
substance and another system in which the electric
double layer capacitor is interposed between the load
and the power source.
In the system in which said electric double layer
capacitor is applied in an isolated state, a protective
member which consists of a plastic cylinder or the like
houses the main portion of the capacitor in order to
render handiness, safety and durability, and terminal
portions 33 are provided to be connectable to
electrodes of the load. There is further provided a
short circuit preventing mechanism or the like for
avoiding a short circuit caused by the terminal
portions 33 contacting to a conductive material other
than said electrodes 23. A plastic mold or the like
which is made in the form of a toy in order to improve
toy characteristics can be employed for the protective
member 32 mentioned above. Further, the power source
body 4 is arranged such that a battery 41 is set in a
case 42. A mechanism 35 for preventing erroneous
connection may be provided between said power source 41
and the electric double layer capacitor 31, or a light
emission member 37 may be connected to the electric
double layer capacitor 31 to be lighted up in its
- ~69340
-- 7
charged state or in the usable state.
On the other hand, in the system in which the
electric double layer capacitor 31 is interposed on the
route to the power source 41 in an assembled state, a
switch 5 is interposed on the route to the load 21. It
is arranged such that energization to the electric
double layer capacitor 31 is kept in a turned-on state
and the capacitor 31 is in a charged state, and
energization to the load 21 is in a turned-off state in
the normal mode, while the energization to said load 21
is in a turned-off state and the energization to said
capacitor 31 is in a turned-off state in the operating
mode, can be switched over reversely interlockingly
with turned-on state, and these modes can be switched
over reversibly. In this case, it may be arranged such
that a plurality of loads 21 can be operated by a
single electric double layer capacitor 31.
For the energization heat generation color
changing toy 1, the thermal color changing material for
forming the thermal color changing layer 22 which is
disposed in contact with or close to the energization
heating load 21 may be, for example, a thermal color
changing material containing a conventionally known
thermal color changing pigment, that is, a thermal
color changing material containing three components
including, for example, an electron donating coloring
organic compound, an electron accepting compound and an
~1~93~
-- 8
organic compound medium for reversibly causing a color
reaction of the above two compounds, or a thermal color
changing material showing thermal color changing
characteristics of said components in a form of fine
particles of a resin solid solution (disclosed, for
example, in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-
35414, No. 51-44706, No. 1-29398, etc.). The above-
mentioned compounds are color-changed at a temperature
just above or below a predetermined temperature (color
changing point), and exist only in specific one state
out of the two states above and below the color
changing point in a normal temperature range. That is,
the other state is maintained only while the heat or
cool heat required for appearance of said state is
applied, but returns to the state appearing in the
normal temperature range when said heat or cool head is
stopped to be applied (that is, the compounds change
color by indicating a small width of hysteresis
concerning a temperature - color density depending on
change in temperature).
There is also disclosed the thermal color changing
layer 22 in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-
17154, colored by a thermal color changing material
which contains a color storing temperature sensitive
color changing pigment color-changing with indicating a
large hysteresis characteristics (that is, said
material color-changes in largely different routes when
~l~s3~a
the form of a curve plotted along changes in coloring
density due to charges in the temperature shows that
the temperature increases from a low temperature side
from the color changing temperature range and when,
reversely, it decreases from a high temperature side
from the color changing temperature: the phase changed
at a temperature not higher than the color changing
point on said low temperature side or a temperature not
lower than the color changing point on said high
temperature side can be stored and maintained).
A non-thermal color changing layer 25 (a solid
print, illustration, or the like by ordinary non-color-
changing ink) may be properly disposed on a lower layer
or an upper layer of said thermal color changing layer
22 so that a change in the phase caused by color change
of the thermal color changing layer 22 can be visually
recognized in more versatile forms.
A load for color-changing said thermal color
changing layer 22, that is, the conductive resistant
heating member 21, may be a heating circuit and the
like made of a thin plate or a metallic thin wire made
of iron, copper, copper alloy, brass, stainless steel,
nichrome, nickel, titanium, tungsten, nickel-chromium
alloy or other metallic material, or rope made of
metallic thin wires twined together, conductive plastic
material, copper foil, nickel-chromium alloy foil,
aluminum foil or other metallic evaporated film, or a
-- ~169340
- 10 -
heating circuit and the like printed with various kinds
of conductive ink. It is noted that as said metallic
thin wire, one with the plated surface may be also
effectively used.
A heating circuit made of said metallic foil,
metallic thin film such as a metallic evaporated film
is a conductive heating circuit provided on the surface
of non-conductive support member 24. Said metallic
thin film is made of a thin film having the thickness
of 400 ~ to 100 ,um and an amount of heat generation per
unit area in a normal temperature range in a range from
10 x 10-3 W/cmZ to 3 W/cm2, which is selected from
metals having a volume resistivity at a normal
temperature in a range from 1.4 x 10-6 Q cm to
2.5 x 10-5 Q cm, and is arranged to be capable of
thermally color changing the thermal color changing
layer 22 upon application of voltage from 0.8 V to
15 V. A metal for forming the metallic thin film layer
includes excellently conductive metallic materials such
as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, nickel, zinc, tin,
titan, gold, silver, etc., which has a volume
resistivity in a range from 1.4 x 10-6 Q cm to
2.5 x 10-5 Q cm. These metallic materials are of
comparatively low cost, and a system employing a thin
film made of copper having a low resistivity is the
most effective. More specifically, a system in which a
desired heating circuit is disposed by etching a copper
21~9~
-- 11
foil layer (normally having the thickness of 2 ~m to
50 ,um or around, and more preferably from 3 ,um to
15 ,um) formed on a substrate surface such as a plastic
film, or the like satisfies practical requirements in
terms of feasibility, conductivity, durability, heating
performance, or the like, of said circuit.
The thickness range may be from 400 ~ or around by
metal evaporation to 100 ,um or around by other metallic
foil, depending on each purpose.
An amount of heat generation per unit area is from
10 X 10-3 W/cm2 to 3 W/cm2, preferably from
50 x 10-3 W/cm2 to 2 W/cm2, and more preferably from
200 x Io-3 W/cm2 to 1 W/cm2. By setting an amount of
heat generation in the preferable range mentioned
above, the heating temperature is promptly increased to
a desired one, and is maintained to be safe without any
danger which may be caused by overheating, or the like.
In a system having an amount of heat generation of
less than 10 x 10-3 W/cm2, the heat is not generated in
a short period of time if the applied voltage is low.
On the other hand, if an amount of heat generation
exceeds 3 W/cm2, the heat is generated to a high
temperature instantaneously to be dangerous.
The applied voltage, if being less than 0.5 V, can
hardly increase the temperature to change the color of
the thermal color changing layer 22 to be visualized in
the normal temperature range in a short period of time.
~1~9~40
- 12 -
On the other hand, if the applied voltage is not less
than 15 V, it is not suited to be used in toys and the
like. Normally, a voltage from a DC power source in a
range from 1.0 V to 9 V, more preferably from 1.5 V to
6.0 V is applied.
On the upper layer of the above-mentioned
conductive heating circuit, except in a special system,
normally dispersed ink of non-color-changeable pigment
or the like is printed with masking to form a non-
color-changeable base layer for preventing visual
recognition of said circuit. Then, a non-color-
changeable image 25 is formed on said non-color-
changeable base layer with non-thermal color changeable
ink so as to form the thermal color changing layer 22
for preventing visual recognition of said non-color-
changeable image at a normal temperature on the upper
layer of said non-color-changeable layer 25. In this
case, the conductive heating circuit is designed to
form a pattern corresponding to the non-color-
changeable image 25 so that the thermal color changinglayer 22 is color-changed by heat generation to
visualize the non-color-changeable image 25.
For the above-mentioned metallic wire, one which
has the diameter of 0.015 mm to 1.5 mm can satisfy the
required flexing performance, and is preferably used in
terms of a temperature raising and a time therefore due
to application of desired DC voltage. Also, as the
21~93'10
- 13 -
above-mentioned metallic rope, at least two of metallic
wires having the diameter of 0.015 mm to 0.5 mm are
twisted together to form the rope having the outer
diameter 0.03 mm to 1.5 mm.
The toy element 2 can be constituted by forming
the thermal color changing layer 22 on the surface of
the above-mentioned metallic wire or metallic rope.
However, the toy element is normally formed by
attaching to the wire or rope plastic sheet material or
cloth formed with the thermal color changing layer 22
by the use of an adhesive or other attaching means.
Specifically, dresses or decorations for dolls can be
made by this method. In this case, if the surface of
said wire material was coated with a hot-melt resin in
advance and this processed member is employed, the
above-mentioned attachment can be effected more
satisfactorily.
The conductive resistant heating member made of
said metallic wire or metallic rope is not only used
for attachment to said sheet material, but can
constitute the thermal color changing toy element 2 by
being inserted into a central hole in the case of an
imitation pearl or the like which is covered with the
thermal color changing layer 22 on its spherical
plastic surface.
216934û
-
- 14 -
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a view for explaining the external
appearance of an energization heating color changing
toy according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a view for explaining a relationship
between a reception of a charge current from the power
source by an energization means according to the
present invention and a supply of a discharge current
to energization heating load;
Fig. 3 is a view for explaining the external
appearance of an essential portion of the energization
means according to the embodiment;
Fig. 4 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-
section of a terminal portion of the energization meansin an enlarged manner according to the embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the
essential portion of an electrode portion of the power
source body in an enlarged manner according to the
embodiment;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for
explaining the essential portion of the essential
portion of the energization heating color changing
element in an enlarged manner according to the
embodiment;
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for
explaining the essential portion of the terminal
~1~9~40
.
- 15 -
portion of the energization means in an enlarged manner
according to another embodiment;
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for
explaining the essential portion of the energization
heating color changing element in an enlarged manner
according to still another embodiment;
Fig. 9 is a view for showing another embodiment of
the energization heating color changing element of the
present invention and explaining a plane state in which
the thermal color changing layer is color-changed by
the heat generation upon energization to visualize a
non-color-changing image;
Fig. 10 is a view for explaining a plane state of
the energization heating color changing element of Fig.
9 in a non-energized mode;
Fig. 11 is a view for explaining a conductive
heating circuit of the energization heating color
changing element of Fig. 9;
Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining a circuit of a
energization-operated toy according to the present
invention;
Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining another
circuit of the energization-operated toy according to
the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining a thermal
color changing element to which the circuit of Fig. 12
is applied;
~1~93~0
- 16 -
Fig. 15 is a view for longitudinally explaining
the essential structure of a driving toy provided with
the circuit of Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view for showing a state
before the thermal color changing of the driving toy of
Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view for showing a
thermally color-changed state of the car toy of Fig.
15;
Fig. 18 is a diagram for explaining another
circuit of the energization-operated toy according to
the present invention;
Fig. 19 is a perspective view for showing a light-
emitted state of the car toy provided with the circuit
of Fig. 18; and
Fig. 20 is a perspective view for showing a
thermally discolored state of the car toy provided with
the circuit of Fig. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1 (with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8)
As the electric double layer capacitor 31, one of
Gold Capacitor AL series (made by Matsushita Electric
Parts Co., Ltd., having cylindrical external appearance
and having voltage proof against 2.5 V of a single
cell, the electrostatic capacity of 3.3 F, the internal
resistance 0.3 (Q) at 1 KHz, the outer diameter of
216~3~0
~12.5 x L 23.0 mm, and the diameter of the terminal of
0.8 mm~) is used. Said capacitor 31 is housed in the
protective member 32 made of plastic material, the both
terminals 33 thereof are connected to a brass eyelet
331 to constitute the terminal portion 33. Said
terminal portion 33 is positioned at the front opening
end of said protective member 32 and is contained in
the annular projection 34 for preventing a short
circuit. In the axial direction in the vicinity of
said opening end, there is provided a projecting streak
35 for preventing an erroneous connection with a power
source body 4. At the rear end of said protective
member 32, a part of a light emission diode 37
connected to said capacitor 31 is assembled in a
projecting manner. Thus, the electrical energization
means 3 is constituted. The above-mentioned light
emission diode 37 is lighted up when being charged in
order to visually confirm a state of the energization
means 3.
The power source body 4 for supplying a charge
power to said energization means accommodates two dry
batteries of 1.5 V in a plastic case 42 thereof.
Electrodes 43 (brass eyelets) of said dry batteries are
positioned at an opening portion on the upper surface
of the case 42. A cut-away portion 44 is provided on
at said opening portion to be engaged with said
projecting streak 35 so as to be detachably attached to
~1~9340
- 18 -
said terminal portion 33 without erroneous connection.
The energization heating color changing element 2
is provided with a pattern which consists of heating
tracks formed by copper foil on the surface of a sheet-
shaped non-conductive support member 24 and the thermal
color changing layer 22 which is formed on the upper
layer of said heating track pattern with non-thermal
color changeable masking and coating layer
therebetween. (Said thermal color changing layer 22
develops its color at a temperature less than 35C, and
loses the color at a temperature not less than
35C). An electrode 23 (formed by connecting the brass
eyelets) is provided at the end portion of said heating
track.
When the terminal portion 33 of said energization
means 3 is connected to the electrodes 43 of the power
source body 4 and is charged for 10 seconds, and then
said energization means 3 is isolated, and if the
terminal portion 33 is connected to the electrode 23 of
said energization heating color changing element 2 and
energizes said element 2, the thermal color changing
layer 22 which is in a colored state at a room
temperature of 27C can be maintained in a colorless
state and the temperature of the heating track is not
raised more than 48C.
For reference, if a current is applied to said
heating track directly from a power source battery
21~93~0
-- 19 --
(3 V), a current of 1.07 A is measured, while in the
energization means 1 by said electric double layer
capacitor, an initial current of 1.37 A is measured,
thus it being understood that a current required for
the thermal color changing can be supplied
instantaneously.
Since the current continues to flow for a long
time in said direct application from the battery, the
temperature of the heating track is raised to 80C or
higher.
Embodiment 2 (With reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 11)
Fig. 9 shows a state in which the thermal color
changing layer 22 loses its color by heating upon
energization and a non-color-changing image 25 (a
constellation pattern) appears, while Fig. 10 shows a
non-energized state in which said non-color-changeable
image 25 is masked by the thermal color changing layer
22.
Fig. 11 shows a conductive heating circuit for
bringing said constellation pattern into existence, in
which the portion A is corresponding to a star and the
portion B to a line for connecting stars.
The conductive heating circuit in the above
description is a heating circuit having the width of
2 mm which is formed by etching a process film base
member with copper-evaporated thin film having the
thickness of 0.3 ,um thereon formed on a PET film
-- ~kl~34~
- 20 -
(polyethylene terephtalate film), and constitutes the
electrode 23 with the both ends thereof having the
width of 5 mm. (Normally, an annular conductive member
is attached to said circuit in order to connect to the
terminal portion 33 of the energization means 3 more
easily.) Said energization heating circuit has the
full length of 45 cm and an amount of heat generation
per unit area of approximately 1.23 W/cm2.
After a print layer with non-color-changeable
white pigment ink is formed on the upper layer of said
conductive heating circuit to mask said circuit, the
non-color-changing image 25 (constellation pattern) is
printed with non-color-changeable ink and said
constellation pattern is subjected to a masking
printing with reversible thermal color changeable ink
(which is colorless at 30C or higher temperature, and
black at a temperature less than 30C) so as to form
the thermal color changing layer 22.
When DC voltage of 12 V is applied onto the
energization heating color changing element 2 thus
obtained, the thermal color changing layer 22 which is
formed on the constellation pattern 25 becomes
colorless so that the constellation pattern becomes
visualized. When the above energization is released,
the thermal color changing layer 22 becomes black again
and the constellation pattern returns to be invisible.
In this case, depending on the characteristics
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- 21 -
that the electric double layer capacitor 31 is of low
voltage and has a comparatively large capacity, rapid
charging/discharging operations are performed and the
electric double layer capacitor 31 functions as an
energization heating means upon application of low
voltage effectively.
Further, since the electric double layer capacitor
31 divides an amount of electricity of the power source
battery into small units and stores them depending on
the characteristics thereof, an over-current is not
continuously discharged so that a trouble which may be
caused by overheating can be avoided.
Embodiment 3 (not illustrated)
Three piano wires each having the diameter of
0.16 mm, and the full length of 20 cm were prepared.
Metallic eyelet members were attached to the both ends
of each piano wire to form the electrode 23, thereby
constituting the energization resistant heating member
21.
Non-thermal color changing layers of a striped
pattern having red, blue and yellow stripes were
disposed at proper positions properly with proper
spaces therebetween on the surface of a doll dress
which was made of white cloth, and further on the upper
surface thereof, the thermal color changing layer 22
which was colored to become black at a temperature less
than 33C and became colorless at 33C or higher
9340
- 22 -
temperature was further provided. The above-mentioned
energization resistant heating member 21 was boned to
the back of the cloth on which each non-thermal color
changing layer was positioned to constitute a thermal
discolorable doll dress 2.
When the energization means 3 of the embodiment 1
was applied, in the doll dress which was black at a
room temperature of 25C, the thermal color changing
layer 22 became colorless so as to visualize the
striped pattern of red, blue and yellow stripes of the
lower layer. Upon termination of the energization, the
entire original surface returned to make the black
dress.
Embodiment 4 (not illustrated)
A piano wire which had the wire diameter of
0.22 mm and the full length of 90 cm and was plated
with copper was positioned at the central portion in
the axial direction of a belt-like vinyl chloride sheet
(coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive) having the
width of 5 mm and the full length of 88 cm so that a
belt-like vinyl chloride sheet having the same
structure as that mentioned above was bonded in a face-
to-face manner to cover said piano wire. Thus, the
belt-like energization heating color changing element 2
was obtained.
A red non-thermal color changing layer is formed
on said belt-like vinyl chloride sheet. And on the
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- 23 -
upper layer thereof, a thermal color changing layer 22
having the same configuration as that in the embodiment
3 is printed and formed.
When said energization heating color changing
element 2 is flexed into the form of a petal of a tulip
so as to constitute an artificial flower, and if this
artificial fiower is energized in the same manner, the
petal can be changed from black into a petal of a red-
striped pattern.
Embodiment 5 (With reference to Fig. 12 to Fig.
19 )
Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining a circuit
structure according to the present invention. This
circuit is comprised of a toy load 21 which is operated
upon application of DC low voltage, a power source 41,
an electric double layer capacitor 31 and a switch 5.
Said capacitor 31 is charged upon reception of DC
voltage from the power source 41 to supply a discharge
current to the load 21. In this connection, said
switch 5 is arranged such that a contact piece having
the point B as its cardinal point can be switched to be
contacted to a contact C on the power source side or a
contact A on the load side so that its
charging/discharging function mentioned above can be
displayed effectively. The contact piece is held to be
in a turned-on condition on the power source side
(contacting to the contact C) in the normal mode, while
~1~9~ 10
- 24 -
it is set to be switchable to be in a turned-on
condition on the load side (contact A) in the operating
mode so that the load 21 can be smoothly operated upon
discharging operation following the charging operation,
and re-charge can be immediately allowed by switching
after the discharge power is used up.
Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining a circuit in
which a plurality of toy loads can be operated by a
single electric double layer capacitor.
Switches (SW.l, SW.2, SW.3) are respectively
connected to said three kinds of loads. These switches
are of a type that switching to the contact a and that
to the contact b are interlinked, whereby a charge from
the power source 41 formed by the electric double layer
capacitor 31 is interlinked with a discharge to the toy
loads 21 to control the switching operation.
Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining a circuit in
an embodiment to which the basic circuit structure in
Fig. 12 is applied.
This diagram shows a specific example in which
the thermal color changing layer 22 is color-changed by
heat generated by the energization resistant heating
member 21. In this example, a thermal color changing
element 2 which consists of a reversible thermal color
changing layer 22 (its point of color changing is
35 C) disposed on the upper layer of said energization
resistant heating member 21 (which is a heating circuit
21G~ 340
- 25 -
made of metallic foil, having a resistivity of 0.8 Q,
and the heating area of 1.5 cm2) is attached to the
circuit with an electric double layer capacitor 31
interposed between the thermal color charging element 2
and the power source 41 (which uses two dry batteries
of 3.0 V and 1.5 V). This circuit is arranged to be
charged or discharged freely by a switch 5. In this
case, one of Gold Capacitor AL series (made by
Matsushita Electric Parts Co., Ltd., having cylindrical
external appearance, having voltage proof against 2.5 V
of a single cell, the electrostatic capacity of 3.3 F,
the internal resistance of 0.3 (Q) at 1 KHz, the outer
diameter of ~12.5 x L23.0 mm, and the diameter of the
terminal thereof of 0.8 mm~) is used as the electric
double capacitor 31. (Same electric double layer
capacitor and power source are also employed in the
subsequent embodiments).
Fig. 15 is a view for longitudinally explaining an
essential portion of a toy car 1 provided with the
circuit in Fig. 14. In this car toy 1, there is
provided a thermal color charging layer 22 which
changes its color following heating upon energization
on the surface of a plastic bonnet. An operator 6 of a
bumper type which is projected from the front part of
the body operates forward and backward to control a
discharging/charging operations so as to cause said
energization resistant heating member 21 to generate
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heat and to change color of the thermal color changing
layer 22.
Said operator 6 is provided with a switching
function, and is mounted on the body via a spring to be
movable forward and backward in the axial direction.
The operator 6 is arranged to be switchable in an
interlinking manner to be in a turned-on state on the
power source side in the normal mode, and to be in a
turned-on state on the load side in the operating mode.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the car toy
1 in a condition before the thermal color changing is
performed. The operator 6 is held in a turned-on state
on the power source side and the electric double layer
capacitor 31 is in a charged state.
Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the car toy
1 of Fig. 16 in a state in which thermal color changing
is being operated. In this state, the operator 6 is
displaced backward by the pressure (e.g. impact) from
the front part, the energization resistant heating
member 21 is heated upon reception of the discharge
power from the electric double layer capacitor 31, and
the thermal color changing layer 22 changes its color.
Fig. 18 shows a specific example of the circuit
which operates the plurality of loads (1), (2) and (3),
as shown in Fig. 13. In this example, as the loads 21,
there are provided members both for light emission and
for energization heating color change. The switch SW.1
~1~3~0
is connected to the light emission member 37 and the
switch SW.2 is to the energization resistant heating
member 21, respectively. Said switches are arranged
such that the energization is freely switchable by
connection with the contact a and the contact b so that
the supply of a charge power from the power source 41
to the electric double layer capacitor 31 is
alternately switched to the light emission member 37 or
the energization resistant heating member 21 in an
interlinking manner with the supply of a discharge
power from said capacitor 31 to the light emission
member 37 or the energization resistant heating member
21.
Fig. 19 illustrates the car toy 1 which is
comprised of a plastic body provided with the circuit
of Fig. 18. In this figure, the operator 6 (having a
switching function with a similar arrangement described
with reference to Fig. 15, by which charging and
discharging operations by the electric double layer
capacitor 31 are reversibly switched over upon forward
or backward driving of the toy 1) is provided in front
or in the rear of the body so that the switch SW.1 is
displaced to be in a turned-on state on the light
emission member 37 side upon a forward movement of the
operator 6 in the rear of the body so as to light the
light emission member 37.
Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the car toy for
3 ~ 0
- 28 -
illustrating a state in which the switch SW.2 is
switched into a turn-on state on the energization
resistant heating member 21 side and the thermal color
changing layer 22 is color changed by the heating upon
energization.
By employing the electric double layer capacitor
as the energization means for energizing the
energization-operated toy element which is operated
upon application of low voltage, it is possible to
effectively display the characteristics of rapid
charging/discharging operations.
In the system in which the above-mentioned
electric double layer capacitor is isolated, after
being connected to the power source and charged upon
reception of a required current, and is employed as a
simple substance, said electric double layer capacitor
discharges the power to the operating element and,
after the electric power was used up, the above-
mentioned charge operation is repeated and the electric
double layer capacitor can be used for the energizing
operation by the repeated discharge operations, thereby
improving convenience.
In the system in which the thermal color changing
layer is color-changed upon heat generation of the
resistant heating member, a proper electric current is
instantaneously supplied to the resistant heating
member to effectively change the color of the thermal
21693~0
- 29 -
color changing layer.
In this case, the electric double layer capacitor
divides electric power of the power battery into small
units to store, depending on the characteristics
thereof so that an over-current is not continuously
discharged to the energization heating member. As a
result, any trouble due to an overheating is generated.
Further, since there are provided a short-circuit
preventing mechanism, an erroneous connection
preventing mechanism, a guide mechanism, a light
emitting mechanism at the charging/discharging time and
the like, even a child can handle the toy without any
erroneous operation and can use it properly. The toy
satisfies safety and practical requirements as well as
its operating effects due to a low voltage. Thus, the
present invention is effective for an energization
operation toy, more specifically, an energization
heating color changing toy.
Also, in the system in which the electric double
layer capacitor is interposed between the power source
and the load in an assembled manner, since the
energization switch is also interposed, the
energization to the electric double layer capacitor is
kept in a turned-on state to be in a charged state and
the energization to the toy loads is in a turned-off
state in the normal mode, while the energization to
said toy load is in a turned-on state and the
633~0
- 30 -
energization to said capacitor is in a turned-off state
in the operation mode. Said states are reversibly
switchable in an interlinking manner so as to satisfy
the toy characteristics.
