JP2001038064A - Variable discolorable toy and heating toy - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toy which can easily reversibly change display colors and a heating toy which is capable of easily discoloring the toy. SOLUTION: This reversible discolorable toy has artificial hair 11 including low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystals 2 which are immobilized in a state of varying selection reflection wavelengths according to a cooling initiation temperature. The toy is so formed as to change these liquid crystal 2 to various colors. The low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystals are made transparent by heating to a transition temperature to an isotropic phase or above and are discolored by maintaining the liquid crystals at a temperature at which a desired selection reflection is executed. Further, the discoloration is fixed by rapid cooling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a reversible discolorable toy and a heated toy,
In particular, it relates to a reversible discolorable toy capable of reversibly discoloring a part or the whole to a desired color, and a heating toy for the discoloration.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, clothing with hair coloring and printed patterns has become popular. In toys for infants,
What is desired is not only to enjoy the provided one kind of color, but also to safely enjoy changing the color.

In a conventional toy using a thermochromic material, the discoloration is not reversible, or even if it has reversibility, it is a single color, and the discoloration can be enjoyed by fully utilizing the discoloration. Sex toys were limited.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toy capable of easily changing the display color reversibly using the cholesteric liquid crystal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heated toy that can easily change the color of the toy.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above objects, the reversible color changing toy according to the present invention provides a color containing a low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal which is immobilized in a state in which the selective reflection wavelength differs depending on the cooling start temperature. A display layer is provided on the surface.
Such a low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystal is described in, for example, Adv. M
ater. 1997, 9, No. 14, P1102-1104, some materials are known, and by changing the cooling start temperature from the heated state, reversibly to various colors such as blue, green, yellow, etc. A liquid crystal material that can be changed.

By providing the color display layer on the whole or a part of the toy, the color can be reversibly changed to various colors in the visible region according to the selective reflection wavelength of the low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal. You can enjoy it.

[0008] In particular, as a low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystal,
If a material having a glass transition temperature higher than room temperature is used, discoloration and decoloration of the image of the color display layer at room temperature can be prevented.
Further, by providing a light absorbing layer that absorbs visible light on the back side of the color display layer, the reflected color becomes clear. Further, by providing a protective layer having optical transparency on the surface of the color display layer, deformation, damage and deterioration of the color display layer can be prevented.

Further, the heating toy according to the present invention includes a heating means for heating the color display layer to a temperature at which the color display layer can be changed, and is used in combination with the reversible color changing toy.
You can easily enjoy changing colors.

The low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystal becomes transparent when heated to a temperature higher than the phase transition temperature. Therefore, if the heating means is once heated to a phase transition temperature or higher and then controlled so as to maintain the liquid crystal at a temperature at which desired selective reflection is performed, efficient and stable color change can be performed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a reversible discolorable toy and a heating toy according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Color Display Layer, See FIG. 1) First, an example of the color display layer used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The color display layer 1 is composed of a liquid crystal 2, a resin structure 3, and a spacer 4, and is sandwiched between a base material 5 and a protective layer 7. Intervened. The resin structure 3 and the spacer 4 are for increasing the strength of the color display layer 1 and keeping the thickness constant. As the liquid crystal 2, it is preferable to use a low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystal compound represented by the following chemical structural formulas (A) to (G). Of course, other liquid crystal compounds may be used.

[0013]

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[0014]

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[0015]

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[0016]

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[0017]

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[0018]

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[0019]

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As the various compounds, for example, those having the same basic skeleton but different alkyl chain lengths may be used in combination, or a combination of low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal compounds having different basic skeletons may be used. . Depending on the performance of the low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystal compound used, three or more kinds may be mixed. Various low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal compounds having a cholesterol group other than the exemplified compounds can be used.

It is preferable that at least one of the low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystal compounds has a molecular weight of 1,000 to 1,500. If the molecular weight is 1,000 or less, the memory property is low, and if the molecular weight is 1500 or more, the response to writing deteriorates and the transition temperature to the cholesteric phase becomes too high.

Further, a nematic liquid crystal may be added. When a plurality of types of low-molecular cholesteric liquid crystals are combined or a nematic liquid crystal is used in combination, the reproducibility of display colors can be widened, and discoloration can be performed in a short time.

The color display layer 1 can be formed, for example, by applying and drying a liquid crystal material dissolved in an appropriate solvent. If necessary, other additives and a resin structure 3 or a spacer 4 for keeping the thickness of the color display layer 1 constant are added. Alternatively, a color display layer in which a liquid crystal material is dispersed in a resin matrix may be formed by mixing a liquid crystal material and a polymerizable resin material and performing polymerization phase separation.

The base material 5 may be a constituent material of the toy itself, and may be made of various materials such as resin such as polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, metal, glass, pottery, porcelain, wood, paper, and composite materials thereof. be able to. It is preferable that the material be resistant to heating during discoloration and have waterproofness and water resistance when using hot water.

The protective layer 7 is made of a material that can withstand heating when the color display layer 1 is discolored and has transparency. For example, organic materials such as polyester and polyether sulfone can be used. A transparent inorganic material such as hard glass may be used. Depending on the part of the toy to be used, a flexible one or a rigid one can be used. Such a protective layer 7 is formed, for example, by laminating a resin film or by evaporating an inorganic material.

It is preferable to provide an intermediate layer 6 having a smooth surface in contact with the liquid crystal 2 between the color display layer 1 and the base member 5. By providing such an intermediate layer 6, the helical axis of the liquid crystal 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the base material 5 when the liquid crystal 2 shows the cholesteric layer, regardless of the surface form (particularly, roughness) of the base material 5. Can be turned on.

The intermediate layer 6 may be provided with a function of absorbing visible light by adding carbon black or the like.
If the visible light is absorbed by the lower surface of the color display layer 1 by making at least the surface black, the light having a wavelength other than the reflection wavelength of the liquid crystal 2 can be efficiently absorbed. That is, the interference reflection color of the cholesteric liquid crystal can be displayed with good contrast and clearly visible.

The present inventors have found that in the chemical formula (A), a
= B = 8 and the compound of formula (B) in which the compound of c = 14 is mixed in equal amounts, the color display layer was experimentally produced, and then heated to an isotropic phase once. ~
After adjusting to a temperature of 120 ° C and quenching from that temperature,
The liquid crystal compound exhibited a cholesteric phase in which the helical axis was oriented perpendicular to the intermediate layer, and reflected light having a specific wavelength according to the temperature. It showed a red color at about 60 ° C., a green color at about 75 ° C., and a blue color at about 100 ° C., and solidified in its reflection state by quenching from those temperatures. Here, the rapid cooling is sufficient for natural cooling as it is left after heating at room temperature.

Further, if the mixture is heated to about 120 ° C. or more and then rapidly cooled, it becomes transparent. That is, when the color display layer is rapidly cooled after being heated to 120 ° C. or more, the entire surface of the color display layer becomes transparent. At this time, the visible light is absorbed by the intermediate layer, so that a black display is provided to the observer.

When the color display layer is heated and quenched using hot air, hot water, or the like, the heated portion exhibits a reflection color corresponding to the temperature at which rapid cooling starts. Therefore, when heated to 75 ° C., a green display can be observed on a black background. When selectively heated to 60 ° C, 75 ° C, and 110 ° C,
R (red), G (green), and B (blue) can be developed. Further, if the heating temperature is partially changed, it is possible to develop various colors, and if the heated portion is finely adjusted, full-color development is possible.

When the color display layer provided with the intermediate layer for absorbing visible light is partially set to the selective reflection state, the display color of the liquid crystal is observed with black background. When a colorant that reflects visible light in a specific wavelength range is added to the intermediate layer, the display color of the liquid crystal is observed with a certain color as the background.

(First Embodiment, See FIG. 2) In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the present invention is applied to an artificial hair 11 of a doll toy 10. A black color is applied to the surface of a hair material 5 such as polyester to form an intermediate layer (base) 6, on which a cholesteric liquid crystal 2 is applied to form a color display layer 1. Further, a protective layer 7 is provided thereon.

When the hair 11 of this doll toy 10 is immersed in boiling water, the liquid crystal 2 becomes isotropic and becomes transparent.
1 is the black color of the intermediate layer (base) 6. When waiting for the hot water to cool, the interference reflection wavelength of the liquid crystal 2 gradually shifts to the longer wavelength side, so that the color changes from blue to red. When the desired color is displayed, the doll toy 10 is removed from the hot water, whereby the liquid crystal 2 is rapidly cooled and the color of the hair 11 is fixed.
After being taken out of hot water, it may be soaked in cold water to promote cooling.

(Second Embodiment, See FIG. 3) In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the present invention is a hot air heater 20 used for discoloring the hair 11 of the doll toy 10. In other words, it is configured as a dryer toy adapted to the head of the doll toy 10, and includes a dryer unit 21 and an operation unit 25.

The dryer section 21 is used to cover the head of the doll toy 10, and is provided with a heater 22 for heating and a fan 23 rotated by a motor. The operation unit 25 is provided with a knob 26 for setting a heating temperature (coloring of hair), a button 28 for instructing to return the liquid crystal 2 to an initial state (isotropic phase), and a control circuit (not shown). The knob 26 is slid left and right to set the heating temperature, and the set temperature, that is, the coloring of the hair is displayed by turning on a lamp group 27 attached to the upper part.

In the warm air heater 20 having the above-described configuration, the dryer section 21 is put on the head of the doll toy 10, the knob 26 is adjusted to a desired hair color (temperature), and then the button 28 is turned on. . Then, the dryer section 21 heats the hair 11 for a time sufficient for the cholesteric liquid crystal to return to the isotropic phase, and then lowers the temperature to the temperature set by the knob 26 to make the liquid crystal a desired reflection color, and the reflection color is sufficiently increased. When the heater 22 is turned off after waiting for the stabilization time, the liquid crystal is rapidly cooled (cool air may be blown), and the reflection color is fixed.

(Modifications of First and Second Embodiments) In the first and second embodiments, a combination of a doll toy capable of changing hair color and a dryer-type hot air heater has been described. Alternatively, for example, the skin color of the doll toy may be variable. In this case, the skin color is changed using a toy that is a heater that imitates a tanning device, or the face color of the doll toy is changed using a makeup toy that is a heater that imitates makeup such as lipstick. A form such as changing can be adopted.

(See Third Embodiment, FIG. 4) In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the present invention is applied to a railway model toy 30. The model toy 30 is configured such that a train 31 having a surface coated with an intermediate layer, a liquid crystal, and a protective layer travels on a rail 32, and is provided with a tunnel-shaped hot air heater 35. When the train 31 passes through the hot air heater 35,
The liquid crystal is reset to be transparent and is changed to a desired color.

The color change performed each time the hot air heater 35 is passed may be programmed in a fixed color change order, or the color change order may be set arbitrarily.

(Fourth Embodiment, See FIG. 5) In a fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the present invention is applied to building blocks having various shapes. An intermediate layer, a liquid crystal and a protective layer are applied to the surface of each building block 40. Discoloration is performed with hot water or hot air.

(Fifth Embodiment, see FIG. 6) A fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is an application of the present invention to an assembling type block toy. An intermediate layer, a liquid crystal, and a protective layer are applied to the surface of each block 50. Discoloration is performed with hot water or hot air. Even the blocks 50 of the same shape can be played by arbitrarily changing the surface color.

In the third, fourth and fifth embodiments, a symbol or a character may be written on the surface of the toy by using a toy simulating a hot stamp having a pattern such as a symbol or a character. Good.

(Other Embodiments) The reversible discolorable toy and the heating toy according to the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the invention.

In particular, the reversible discolorable toy can be applied to various toys, and the heated toy can have various configurations according to the configuration and shape of the reversible discolorable toy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a color display layer used in a reversible discolorable toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a reversible discolorable toy according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a heating toy according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a reversible discolorable toy and a heating toy according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a reversible discolorable toy according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a reversible discolorable toy according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Color display layer 2 ... Liquid crystal 5 ... Base material 6 ... Intermediate layer (light absorbing layer) 7 ... Protective layer 10,30,40,50 ... Reversible discolorable toy 20,35 ... Heating toy Wind heater)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A reversible color-changing toy characterized in that a color display layer containing a low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal, which is immobilized in a state where the selective reflection wavelength varies depending on the cooling start temperature, is provided on the surface. 2. The reversible discolorable toy according to claim 1, wherein the low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal has a glass transition temperature higher than room temperature. 3. The reversible color changing toy according to claim 1, wherein a light absorbing layer for absorbing visible light is provided on the back side of the color display layer. 4. The reversible color changing toy according to claim 1, wherein a protective layer having a light transmitting property is provided on a surface of the color display layer. 5. The reversible discolorable toy according to claim 1, wherein the color display layer is discolorable by warm air. 6. The color display layer according to claim 1, wherein the color of the color display layer can be changed by a hot liquid.
Or the reversible discolorable toy according to claim 4. 7. A heating toy comprising heating means for heating the color display layer of the reversible color changing toy according to claim 1 to a temperature at which the color can be changed. 8. The heating means is controlled such that after heating the low-molecular-weight cholesteric liquid crystal to a phase transition temperature at which the liquid crystal returns to a transparent isotropic phase or higher, the liquid crystal is maintained at a temperature at which desired selective reflection is performed. The heating toy according to claim 7, characterized in that: 9. The heating toy according to claim 7, wherein the heating means uses hot air.