US20080141448A1

US20080141448A1 - Device for displaying indicia and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US20080141448A1
Application number: US11/611,103
Authority: US
Inventors: Luke Berry; Robert Huxley
Original assignee: Innovative Solutions Oceania Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Innovative Solutions Oceania Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-14
Filing date: 2006-12-14
Publication date: 2008-06-19

Abstract

A layered device 1 is configured to be disposed on a side wall or base of a device for receiving urine from a user. The layered device 1 comprises a backing layer 3 configured to adhere to the side wall or base of the device for receiving urine. A printing layer 4 disposed over part or all of the backing layer 3. The printing layer 4 is configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images. The layered device 1 further comprises a printed heat activated screening layer disposed over the printing layer and configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for displaying indicia and method of making same and, in particular, to a urine heat activated device for displaying indicia.
The invention has been developed primarily for use in displaying advertising to urinating users and for use in assisting toilet training toddlers and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.
The toilet training of young children and toddlers has long been the subject of research and innovation. Significant numbers of potty, toilet and urinal devices have been developed to assist in the training of children to use toilets. Some devices simply comprise a toilet seat that is sized to suit a toilet training toddler when seated, and these toddler seats simply sit on top of a conventional toilet seat.
In other devices, a ladder or step poison is provided to assist the toilet training toddler ,in reaching the heights of a toddler sized toilet seat atop a conventional toilet seat. In a recent development, published International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU2006/001914 provides a potty and potty seat which is contoured to raise the legs of the toilet training toddler when seated thereon so as to more readily facilitate the actions associated with a toddler using the toilet.
Whilst the very many known toilet training devices assist with the physical action associated with a toilet training toddler using the device and make this more comfortable for the toddler to use, such known toilet training devices do not provide any practical assistance in generating enthusiasm in a toilet training toddler to want to use a toilet.
It is also known that advertisers of goods and/or services often encounter difficulties in imparting their advertising or marketing message to a target audience. A difficulty experienced can be just in having members of the target audience being exposed and viewing an advertisement, however, retaining the attention of a member of the target audience without them being distracted by other activities is particularly difficult Airships such as the blimp and massive illuminated signage are examples of the lengths some advertisers will go to ensure that part or all of the target audience actually see their message as well as to attempt to retain their attention. Whilst advertisement size and/or novelty value (for example novel types of display mechanisms or delivery means) can improve the advertisers chances of imparting their message as intended, many advertisers simply do not have the resources or the funding to commit to such advertising programs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for displaying indicia that almost invariably will be seen by a target audience and whose attention will almost invariably be kept for at least a predetermined period of time, or to provide a device for displaying indicia to a target audience that will provide a useful alternative.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a toilet training apparatus that assists in encouraging a child or toddler to urinate in a toilet device, or to provide a useful alternative.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a layered device configured to be disposed on a side wall or base of a device for receiving urine from a user, said layered device comprising:

- a backing layer configured to adhere to said side wall or base of said device for receiving urine;
- a printing layer disposed over part or all of said backing layer, said printing layer configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and
- a printed heat activated screening layer disposed over said printing layer and configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

According to second aspect of the present invention there is provided a flotation device configured to float in a water reservoir at the bottom of a device for receiving urine from a user, said flotation device comprising:

- one or more outer device surfaces;
- a printing layer disposed over part or all of said outer device surface(s), said printing layer configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and
- a printed heat activated screening layer disposed over said printing layer and configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

According to third aspect of the present invention there is provided a urinal having layered device according to the first aspect of the invention and disposed on a side wall or base thereof for receiving urine from a user.
According to fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a urinal having a flotation device according to the second aspect of the invention and floating in a water reservoir at the bottom of said urinal for receiving urine from the user.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a layered device configured to be disposed on a side wall or base of a device for receiving urine from a user, said method comprising the steps of:

- printing a backing layer configured to adhere to said side wall or base of said device for receiving urine;
- printing a printing layer over part or all of said backing layer and configuring said printing layer to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and
- printing a printed heat activated screening layer over said printing layer and configuring same to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

According to sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a flotation device configured to float in a water reservoir at the bottom of a device for receiving urine from a user, said method comprising the steps of:

- providing one or more outer device surfaces;
- printing a printing layer over part or all of said outer device surface(s) and configuring said printing layer to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and
- printing a printed heat activated screening layer over said printing layer and configuring same to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

According to seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided an adhesive first-aid dressing strip configured to be adhered over a skin wound, said dressing strip comprising:

- a backing layer having an upper face and a lower face, said lower face having an adhesive disposed significantly thereover and a dressing patch disposed partially thereover;
- a printing layer disposed over part or all of said backing layer upper face, said printing layer configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and
- a printed heat activated screening layer disposed over said printing layer and configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to a temperature of at least or exceeding a predetermined temperature.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a toilet training apparatus comprising:

- one or more layered devices according to the first aspect of the invention or one or more flotation devices according to the second aspect of the invention, each device having a different predetermined text and/or graphical image printed on respective said printing layers; and
- an accomplishment chart comprising a plurality locations for progress items to be disposed thereon for display wherein each location has a progress item disposed thereover after said printing layer image is exposed a predetermined number of times to urine from a toilet training user.

It can therefore be seen that there is advantageously provided a layered device that is configured to be disposed in a urinal device which is configured to display indicia indicative of some of message when the layered device is exposed to urine at at least a predetermined temperature and which can keep the attention urinating users by virtue of the users typically looking where they are urinating. This is likewise advantageously the case with the flotation device configured to float in the water reservoir at the bottom of the urinal device.
It can also be seen that there is advantageously provided a toilet training apparatus which uses a layered device such as a sticker or a flotation device which are configured to reveal an image on their printing layers when exposed to urine at or above a predetermined temperature provided by a toilet training toddler. In this way, the child not only is encouraged to urinate in the toilet so as to reveal indicia on the layered device or flotation device, but the toilet training toddler also has an incentive via the accomplishment chart to continually reveal indicia under layer devices or flotation devices disposed in the urinal.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a layered device in accordance with a preferred embodiment showing a printing layer unexposed, partially exposed and fully exposed;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the layered device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevated perspective view of a flotation device in accordance with another preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a urinal device having a layered device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a cross-section along the line 4-4 through the urinal of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a pair of accomplishment charts for use in a toilet training apparatus in accordance with another preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an adhesive of first-aid dressing strip in accordance with another aspect of the invention showing a printing layer unexposed, partially exposed and fully exposed.

Referring to the drawings generally, like reference numerals are used throughout the description of the preferred embodiment to refer to like components and/or steps and/or features unless the contrary intention appears.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there shown a layered device 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The layered device of FIG. 1 is shown in three different states of display as described below.
The layered device 1 is substantially planar and is configured to be disposed on a side wall or a base in a device for receiving urine from a user. The device for receiving urine can be a toilet, a potty, a urinal or other preferred device. The layered device 1 comprises a backing layer 3 configured to adhere to the side wall or base in the device for receiving urine.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the backing layer 3 comprises a vinyl having an adhesive disposed on a rear side of the backing layer 3. The adhesive disposed of the backing layer 3 is configured to allow the layered device 1 to be affixed to the side wall base in the device for receiving urine.
A printing layer 4 is disposed over part or all of the backing layer 2 on the opposite side to the adhesive. The printing layer 4 is digitally printed on the backing layer 2 so as to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printing layer provides an image of a children's train character 5.
The layered device 1 further comprises a printed heat activated screening layer 6 disposed over the printing layer 4. The heat activated screening layer 6 is formed from a leuco-dye which changes from opaque to substantially transparent in response to a change in temperature in the range of 3 C to 6 C. It will be appreciated any type of thermoactivatable ink can be used to form screening layer 6 provided it becomes substantially transparent in response to urine that causes the layer 6 to be heated a predetermined temperature.
The printed heat activated screening layer 6 is configured to become transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature in the range of 21° C. to 31° C. Of course, any preferred temperature range from 15° C. to 35° C. can be used as desired.
The printed heat activated screening layer 6 is screen printed over the printing layer 4 and the screening layer 6 has a thickness of between 50 micrometers to 100 micrometers. Although not shown in the drawings, the printed heat activated screening layer 6 can be formed in two or more discretely applied layers. It will be appreciated that the use of the coating layer 8 is optional and is applied to provide a longer wearing layered device 1 when preferred.
The layered device 1 comprises a coating layer 8 disposed over the printed heat activated screening layer 6. This is best shown in FIG. 2 which is a side view of the layered device 1 of FIG. 1. The coating layer 8 is configured to protect the printed heat activated screening layer 6 from degradation in response to exposure to urine.
In use, the layered device 1 is adhered to a side wall of a urinal. The side wall is most preferably a rear side wall which a urinating user will face when using the device for receiving urine. Once attached to the side wall of the urinal, the layered device 1 is disposed opposite a user standing in front the device for receiving urine. The user urinates directly on to the layered device 1 or on to the urinal sidewall which runs down over the layered device 1. If the temperature of the urine is at least 27° C. to 31° C., the printed heat activated screening layer 6 is caused to become transparent or partially transparent so as to allow the printing layer to be viewed therethrough.
In this way, the user will be looking to the direction of the urinal sidewall where they intend to be urinating, and will be attracted to the layered device 1 as the printed heat activated screening layer 6 becomes transparent. So far as the most urinating users will maintain their gaze in the direction of urination, their attention will be advantageously drawn to, and retained by, the layered device 1.
FIG. 1 shows the layered device 1 in three states of display in response to urine incident thereon. From top, the screening layer 6 is not transparent as it has not been exposed to urine of at least 27° C.; the screening layer 6 is partially transparent so as to partially exposed the printing layer 4 thereunder; and when the screening layer 6 is fully transparent exposing the printing layer 4 where the entire screening layer 6 has been exposed to urine at a temperature of at least 27° C. This is as the user would view the layered device 1 when urinating. When the urine of least 27° C. ceases to be incident on the layered device 1, the temperature of the screening layer 6 decreases and once it reduces below 27° C. it reverts back to being opaque or not transparent so as to obscure the printing layer 4.
It will be appreciated that, although not illustrated, the predetermined text and/or graphical images disposed on the printing layer can be other indicia in addition to a children's train character shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1. For example, the text and/or graphical images of the printing layer 4 can comprise another children's character, an advertisement for a vendor's goods and/or services, a community service notice, or indicia indicative of a message for the urinating user to practice good hygiene. It will be appreciated that any preferred message, text and/or images or advertisement can be provided.
Although not illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printed heat activated screening layer 6 or the coating layer 8 can include part text and/or images which are visible to a user in the absence of urine having a temperature of at least 27° C. being incident on the screening layer 6 of the layered device 1. The part text and/or images whilst being viewable without exposure to urine is also viewable in conjunction with the text and/or graphic images of the printing layer once the printed heat activated screening layer 6 becomes transparent. That is, part of an image can be present all of the time and the remaining part of the image formed by the printing layer 4 forms a combined image with the part text and/or images once the screening layer 6 is transparent.
In other alternative embodiments (not illustrated), the backing layer 3 can be formed from a magnetic material or have a magnetic material in place of the adhesive. In this way, the layered device 1 can be attached to the side wall or base in a urinal device that is formed from a metallic material.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a flotation device 30 in accordance with another preferred embodiment. The flotation device 30 is in the form of a table tennis or ping-pong ball configured to float when immersed in water. The flotation device 30 has a single outer surface 31. It will be appreciated that the outer surface 31 can be formed from two or more outer surfaces components.
The flotation device 30 is configured to float in a water reservoir at the bottom of a device for receiving urine from a user. The device for receiving urine from the user comprises a toilet, a potty or a urinal having a water reservoir disposed at the bottom.
A printing layer (not illustrated) is disposed over part of the outer device surface 31 underneath a printed heat activated screening layer 6. The printing layer is configured to provide a predetermined text and/or graphical images, for example, a children's train character as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the printing layer is disposed beneath the heat activated screening layer 6 on a top portion 33 of the flotation device 30.
The printed heat activated screening layer 6 is disposed at least over the printing layer, as described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and is configured to become transparent in response to being exposed to urine at a temperature in the range of 27° C. to 31° C.
In use, the flotation device 30 is disposed in a water reservoir in the bottom of the device for receiving urine. The device can be a toilet, potty, urinal or other preferred device. A user urinates in the urinal on to the device 30. Once the temperature of the screening layer 6 rises to at least 27° C. to 31° C. it becomes transparent. FIG. 3 shows the screening layer 6 opaque as it is not exposed to urine of at least 27° C. so that the printed layer 4 visible.
In order to maintain the orientation of the flotation device 30 in a preferred direction, a weight 34 is disposed on an underside of the flotation device 30. In this way, a clasping means can be used to retrieve the device 30 from the urinal. In some preferred embodiments, the weight 34 is a magnet or metal and the clasping means includes a piece of metal or magnet respectively at one end of the clasping means to remove the use of mechanical clasping means.
This allows the printed layer 4 to be biased to face upwardly from the water to allow it to be exposed to urine and not to cool too rapidly below to 27° C. to 31° C. The urinating user then advantageously maintains their attention on keeping the flotation device 30 exposed to urine thereby exposing the user to the indicia on the printed layer.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a urinal device 40 in the form of a wall amounted urinal device. The urinal 40 is disposed in a bathroom or like location. A urinal back wall 41 is disposed adjacent a building wall (not illustrated) and a pair of sidewalls 42 extend outwardly from the back wall 41. A urinal base 43 further includes a splash tray 44 disposed at a front of the urinal base 43.
A layered device 1 in the form of the sticker is adhered to the urinal back wall 41. The layered device 1 is as described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows a top view of a cross-section along the line 4-4 through the urinal of FIG. 4.
When a user faces the urinal 40, they will typically be aiming for the back wall 41 and/or the base 43. When the layered device 1 is exposed to urine having a temperature of at least 27° C. to 31° C., the screening layer 6 becomes transparent and the printing layer 4 becomes visible to the user. The indicia and/or images disposed on the printing layer 4 are then viewed by the urinating user.
As described above, the layered device 1 and/or the flotation device 30 can be disposed in a toilet, potty, urinal or other device configured to receive urine so as to encourage toilet training toddlers to use the toilet. In a toilet training apparatus, a plurality of layered devices 1 and/or flotation devices 30 are provided wherein each layered device 1 includes a different text and/or image on respective printing layers 4. Likewise with the plurality of flotation devices 30, a different text and/or image is provided on respective printing layers 4 of each flotation device 30. In this way, no two layered devices 1 have of the same printing layer 4 and no two flotation devices 30 have the same printing layer 4. This can be used to keep a toilet training toddlers attention so that they do not anticipate seeing a particular image and/or text.
The toilet training apparatus further includes an accomplishment chart 50, a preferred embodiment of a pair of charts 50 are shown in FIG. 6, one for girls (left) and one for boys (right). Each accomplishment chart includes a plurality of the locations 51 in a grid arrangement in the preferred embodiment shown. The locations 51 are each configured for receiving a progress item (not illustrated) in the form of a sticker or other display indicia thereover when the toilet training toddler exposes the printing layer 4 on either the layered device 1 &/or the flotation device 30 one or a predetermined number of times by correctly aiming their urine stream. Most preferably, the progress item is a sticker bearing an image corresponding to an image on the layered device 1 or flotation device 30 having a printing layer that has been revealed.
The chart 50 is mounted to a wall or door or a window or a screen in a toilet area or other location accessible to a child. The chart 50 could also be disposed in a book or in a mechanically bound folder, for example, in a pre-school environment where 10 or more children require charts and walls are simply not large enough.
The toilet training user is encouraged to reveal further characters on the layered device 1 or the flotation device 30 so as to fill all locations 51 with progress items (not illustrated). Once all locations 51 have a progress item disposed thereover, a prize or gift can be provided to the child in recognition of the accomplishment of completing the chart.
It will be appreciated that the accomplishment chart 50 can, instead of being a poster configured to be mounted to a wall or door or window or the like, be disposed on paper and stored in a folder (not illustrated). In this way, each of a plurality of toilet training children in a class room environment can have an accomplishment chart disposed in a loose-leaf folder or in a book and a central location provided for the viewing or modification of the charts. Such an arrangement is useful where there is not enough wall space, for example, when the toilet training apparatus is used in a class of 20 or more children.
Although not illustrated, it will also be appreciated that the accomplishment chart 50 can be stored electronically on a computing device. The locations 51 can be configured to electronically receive progress items. The charts can be printed or displayed on a computer screen output display.
Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a layered device 60 in the form of an adhesive first aid dressing strip 60. The dressing strip 60 is configured to be adhered over a skin wounded to assist the healing thereof. The dressing strip 60 comprises a backing layer 61 having an upper surface 62 and a lower surface (not illustrated). The lower surface of the backing layer 61 includes an adhesive disposed substantially over the lower surface and a dressing patch (not illustrated) is disposed substantially in the centre of the lower surface of the backing layer 61.
A printing layer 4 is disposed over a predetermined portion of the upper surface 62 of the dressing strip 60. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the upper surface 62 of the backing layer 61 over the dressing patch is undecorated and only includes breathing apertures but no printing layer 4. It will be appreciated that the printing layer can be disposed over all of the upper surface 62.
The printing layer 4 carries images of a prior art children's dragon character 64. A printed heat activated screening layer 6 is disposed over the printing layer 4. The printed heat activated screening layer is substantially as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and is configured to become transparent or substantially transparent in response to a temperature at least or exceeding 27° C. to 31° C.
In use, the first aid dressing strip 60 is adhered to a child's skin with the dressing patch disposed directly over a wound (not illustrated). As heat is conducted from the child's skin to the dressing strip 60, the printed heat activated screening layer 6 is caused to heat up and when its temperature is at least 27° C. to 31° C., this layer becomes transparent. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the top figure shows the dressing strip 60 with the printed heat activated screening layer 6 being opaque or non-transparent.
The middle representation of FIG. 6 shows the case where the heat activated screening layer 6 has started to reach a temperature of between 27° C. to 31° C. so that the screening layer 6 is partially transparent and the printing layer 4 is partially revealed. The bottom part of FIG. 6 shows the case where the heat activated screening layer has reached 27° C. to 31° C. and the screening layer is substantially transparent so as to fully reveal of the printing layer 4.
The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The term “comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of “including” or “having” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.

Claims

1. A layered device configured to be disposed on a side wall or base of a device for receiving urine from a user, said layered device comprising:

a backing layer configured to adhere to said side wall or base of said device for receiving urine;

a printing layer disposed over part or all of said backing layer, said printing layer configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and

a printed heat activated screening layer disposed over said printing layer and configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

2. A layered device according to claim 1 being substantially planar.

3. A layered device according to claim 1 wherein said backing layer comprises a vinyl having an adhesive disposed on a backing layer side opposite to said printing layer, or said backing layer comprises a vinyl having a magnetic mounting means disposed on a backing layer side opposite to said printing layer.

4. A layered device according to claim 1 comprising a printed heat activated screening layer protective coating layer disposed thereover.

5. A layered device according to claim 1 comprising a part printed imaging layer printed over said printed heat activated screening layer, said part printed imaging layer comprising indicia configured to be viewed without exposure to urine at at least said predetermined temperature and wherein the part printed indicia is configured to also be viewed in conjunction with said indicia provided by said printing layer.

6. A layered device according to claim 1 wherein said indicia and/or said part printed imaging layer indicia comprise a picture of the children's character, an advertisement, a community service notice, or indicia indicative of a message for said user to practice good hygiene.

7. A layered device according to claim 1 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer is configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine at at least a temperature of 27° C. to 31° C.

8. A layered device according to claim 1 wherein said device for receiving urine from a user comprises a toilet, a potty, or a urinal.

9. A layered device according to claim 1 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer is screen printed on to said printing layer, and said printing layer is digitally printed on said backing layer.

10. A layered device according to claim 1 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer has a thickness of 50 μm to 100 μm.

11. A floatation device configured to float in a water reservoir at the bottom of a device for receiving urine from a user, said flotation device comprising:

one or more outer device surfaces;

a printing layer disposed over part or all of said outer device surface(s), said printing layer configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and

12. A flotation device according to claim 11 being substantially spherical and wherein said outer device surface is composed of a plastics material.

13. A flotation device according to claim 11 comprising a print heat activated screening layer protective coating layer disposed thereover.

14. A flotation device according to claim 11 comprising a part printed imaging layer printed over said printed heat activated screening layer, said part printed imaging layer comprising indicia configured to be viewed without exposure to urine at at least said predetermined temperature and wherein said part printed indicia is configured to also be viewed in conjunction with said indicia provided by said printing layer when said printed heat activated screening layer is exposed to said urine.

15. A flotation device according to claim 11 wherein said indicia and/or said part printed imaging layer indicia comprise a picture of the children's character, an advertisement, a community service notice, or indicia indicative of a message for said user to practice good hygiene.

16. A flotation device according to claim 1 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer is configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine at at least a temperature of 27° C. to 31° C.

17. A flotation device according to claim 11 wherein said device for receiving urine from a user comprises a toilet, a potty, or a urinal.

18. A flotation device according to claim 11 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer is screen printed on to said printing layer, and said printing layer is digitally printed on said device outer surface.

19. A flotation device according to claim 11 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer has a thickness of 50 μm to 100 μm.

20. A flotation device according to claim 11 wherein said device outer surface comprises an upper outer surface and a lower outer surface, said upper outer surface configured to float and face upwardly from water in said device for receiving urine from said user and said lower outer surface including a ballast weight configured to orient said flotation device when floating in said device for receiving urine so that said upper outer surface faces upwardly.

21. A flotation device according to claim 11 wherein said device outer surface comprises a table tennis or ping-pong ball.

22. A urinal having layered device according to claim 1 disposed on a side wall or base thereof for receiving urine from a user.

23. A urinal having a flotation device according to claim 11 floating in a water reservoir at the bottom of said urinal for receiving urine from the user.

24. A method of providing a layered device configured to be disposed on a side wall or base of a device for receiving urine from a user, said method comprising the steps of:

printing a backing layer configured to adhere to said side wall or base of said device for receiving urine;

printing a printing layer over part or all of said backing layer and configuring said printing layer to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and

printing a printed heat activated screening layer over said printing layer and configuring same to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to urine of at least a predetermined temperature.

25. A method of providing a flotation device configured to float in a water reservoir at the bottom of a device for receiving urine from a user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing one or more outer device surfaces;

printing a printing layer over part or all of said outer device surface(s) and configuring said printing layer to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and

26. An adhesive first-aid dressing strip configured to be adhered over a skin wound, said dressing strip comprising:

a backing layer having an upper face and a lower face, said lower face having an adhesive disposed significantly thereover and a dressing patch disposed partially thereover;

a printing layer disposed over part or all of said backing layer upper face, said printing layer configured to provide predetermined text and/or graphical images; and

a printed heat activated screening layer disposed over said printing layer and configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to a temperature of at least or exceeding a predetermined temperature.

27. An adhesive first-aid dressing strip according to claim 26 wherein said printed heat activated screening layer is configured to be transparent or substantially transparent in response to exposure to at least a temperature of 27° C. to 31° C.

28. A toilet training apparatus comprising:

one or more layered devices according to claim 1, each device having a different predetermined text and/or graphical image printed on respective said printing layers; and

an accomplishment chart comprising a plurality locations for progress items to be disposed thereon for display wherein each location has a progress item disposed thereover after said printing layer image is exposed a predetermined number of times to urine from a toilet training user.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said accomplishment chart is configured to be: mounted to a wall or door or a window or a screen; disposed in a book; or disposed in a mechanically bound folder.

30. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said progress items are in the form of stickers bearing indicia.

31. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said layer devices or said flotation devices are configured to be substituted by other layer devices or flotation devices respectively once each said location has a progress item disposed thereover.

32. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said progress items bear images corresponding to an image on a layered device or flotation device which has been exposed a predetermined number of items to urine from said toilet training user.

33. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said accomplishment chart is configured to indicate the earning of a prize after all locations contain progress items disposed thereover.

34. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said accomplishment chart is configured to be stored on a computer and displayed or printed thereby, and said progress items disposed thereover are electronically applied.

35. A toilet training apparatus comprising:

one or more flotation devices according to claim 11, each device having a different predetermined text and/or graphical image printed on respective said printing layers; and