ZA201001893B

ZA201001893B - A display means

Info

Publication number: ZA201001893B
Application number: ZA2010/01893A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: David Anthony Linder; Martinus Phillipus Oosthuizen
Original assignee: Sallvit Trading Cc
Priority date: 2010-03-17
Filing date: 2010-03-17
Publication date: 2011-10-26

Description

. Compl_Sallit ‘a 2 0 1 0 / 0 1 8 ] 3

Comin : . DE

Field of the Invention | NS tS

This invention relates to a display means and, more specifically, to a display means requiring a specific location in use in order for a hidden writing or image to be displayed. . Background to the Invention

Various types of advertising is currently being used in public toilets of, for example, restaurants, pubs, shopping malls, and night clubs. The bulk of such advertising is located on an interior wall of a door of a toilet stall whilst some advertising is located on other items such as hand dryers.

The toilet itself or a urinal is generally not used to display advertising thereon.

Urinals in particular present a good advertising space as users will typically spend some time in front of it standing still.

The inventors therefore believe that a need exists for utilizing this valuable advertising space in a creative manner.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a display means including:- - a hidden image and/or writing applied to a substrate wherein the substrate is in use arranged to come into contact with body heat from time to time and wherein, upon coming into contact with such body heat and being : heated above a predetermined temperature, the image and/or writing becomes visible.

The hidden image and/or writing may be printed or painted using conventional ink.

A thermochromic coating which is opaque at room temperature may overlay the image and/or writing. The colour of the thermochromic coating may be black, blue, or red. :

, Compl_Sallvit " 20 { 0 / 0 1893 .

When exposed to body heat and thereby heated above an activation temperature, the thermochromic coating may become transparent, thereby revealing the image and/or writing applied to the substrate.

In an alternative embodiment, the image and/or writing is printed or painted with a heat sensitive ink which is transparent at room temperature and which becomes opaque when heated above an activation temperature.

The activation temperature may be about 31 degrees Celsius.

The substrate may be a piece of sheet material capable of receiving print-on a front surface thereof. A rear surface of the sheet material may be covered with an adhesive to permit the sheet material to be attached to a surface.

In use, the sheet material may be attached to a surface selected from the group including: a urinal wall, a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a wash basin

In an alternative embodiment, the substrate may be a surface which in use comes into contact with body heat from time to time. The surface may be selected from the group including: a urinal wall, a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a wash basin,

When the display means is applied to the wall of a urinal, body heat from a warm stream of urine coming into contact therewith causes the thermochromic coating to become transparent or the heat sensitive ink to become opaque, thereby revealing the image and/or writing.

When the display means is applied to a toilet seat, body heat from a person using the toilet warms the thermochromic coating or heat sensitive ink so that the image and/or writing becomes visible.

A display means including:- : - a sheet material to which writing and/or an image has been applied: and ~ - a thermochromic coating overlaying the writing and/or image, the coating being opaque at room temperature and becoming transparent when heated above an activation temperature wherein, in use, the display means is positioned so as to from time to time come into contact with body

Compl_Salli . 9 01 0 70 T 03 heat which heats the thermochromic coating to a temperature above the activation temperature.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a display means including:- - a sheet material to which writing and/or an image has been applied; and : - a thermochromic coating overlaying the writing and/or image, the coating being opaque at room temperature and becoming transparent when heated above an activation temperature wherein, in use, the display means is positioned so as to from time to time come into contact with a

B fluid having a temperature higher than the activation temperature which heats the thermochromic coating to a temperature above the activation temperature.

The display means may be located in, for example, a hand basin, a bath, a Jacuzzi, or a shower.

Detailed Description of the Invention N

The invention will now be described by way of the following non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an elevated front view of three urinals to which a display means in accordance with the present invention has been applied; and

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a toilet to which a display means in accordance with the present invention has been applied.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a display means in accordance with the present invention.

The display means 10 includes hidden writing 12 applied to a substrate 14 wherein the substrate 14 is in use arranged to come into contact with body heat from time to time and wherein, upon coming into contact with such body heat and being heated above a predetermined temperature, the writing 12 becomes visible.

Compl_Sallit fo ‘2 0 i 0 / 0 18 93

The writing 12 can be printed or painted using conventional ink. ST

A thermochromic coating 16 which is opaque at room temperature overlays the writing 12. The colour of the thermochromic coating 16 is typically selected from black, blue, or red.

When exposed to body heat and thereby heated above an activation temperature, the thermochromic coating 16 becomes transparent, thereby revealing the writing applied to the substrate 14. : Co

In an alternative embodiment, the writing is printed or painted with a heat sensitive ink 18 which is transparent at room temperature and which becomes opaque when heated above an activation temperature.

The activation temperature of the thermochromic coating 16 or the heat sensitive ink 18 is typically about 31 degrees Celsius.

The substrate can be a piece of sheet material 20 capable of receiving print on a front surface thereof. A rear surface of the sheet material 20 is covered with an adhesive to permit the sheet material 20 to be attached to a surface.

In the embodiments shown, the sheet material 20 is attached to either a urinal wall 22 or to a toilet seat 24.

In an alternative embodiment, heat sensitive ink 18 is applied directly to the urinal : wall 22 or toilet seat 24. Alternatively, ordinary ink could be applied directly to the urinal wall 22 or toilet seat 24, which ink is then covered by the thermochromic coating 16.

When the display means 10 is applied to the urinal wall 22 as shown in Figure 1, body heat from a warm stream of urine coming into contact therewith causes the thermochromic coating 16 to become transparent or the heat sensitive ink 18to become opaque, thereby revealing the writing 12.

In the event that the display means 10 is applied to a crib urinal such as can be found in, for example, a sports stadium, a plurality of display means 10 can be applied at various heights to accommodate men of differing body height.

: le ! '] . .

Compl_Sallvit 2 0 1 0 / 0 1 8 0 J

When the display means 10 is applied to a toilet seat 24, body heat from a person ~ using the toilet warms the thermochromic coating 16 or heat sensitive ink 18 so that the writing 12 becomes visible.

It is to. be appreciated, that the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment or configuration as hereinbefore generally described or illustrated.

Claims

Ha [MN "2010/0193 cL By Claims :

1. A display means including:- : - a hidden image and/or writing applied to a substrate wherein the substrate is in use arranged to come into contact with body heat from time to time and wherein, upon coming into contact with such body heat and being heated above a predetermined temperature, the image and/or writing : becomes visible.

2. A display means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hidden image and/or writing is applied using conventional ink.

3. A display means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a thermochromic coating which is opaque at room temperature overlays the image and/or writing.

4. A display means as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when exposed to body heat and thereby heated above an activation temperature, the thermochromic coating becomes transparent, thereby revealing the image and/or writing applied to the substrate.

5. A display means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the image and/or writing is applied using a heat sensitive ink which is transparent at room temperature and which becomes opaque when heated above an activation temperature.

6. A display means as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the activation temperature is about 31 degrees Celsius.

7. A display means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate is a piece of sheet material capable of receiving print on a front surface thereof and wherein a rear surface of the sheet material is covered with an adhesive to permit the sheet material to be attached to a surface.

8. A display means as claimed in claim 7, wherein in use, the sheet material is attached to a surface selected from the group including: a urinal wall, a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a wash basin ,

. “al Compl_Sallvit ‘ 20 1 0 / 0 18 93

9. Adisplay means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the substrate is a surface which in use comes into contact with body heat from time to time and which is selected from the group including: a urinal wall, a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a wash basin. :

10.A display means including:- - a sheet material to which writing and/or an image has been applied; and - a thermochromic coating overlaying the writing and/or image, the coating being opaque at room temperature and becoming transparent when heated above an activation temperature wherein, in use, the display means is positioned so as to from time to time come into contact with body : heat which heats the thermochromic coating to a temperature above the activation temperature.

11.A display means including:- - a sheet material to which writing and/or an image has been applied; and - a thermochromic coating overlaying the writing and/or image, the coating being opaque at room temperature and becoming transparent when heated above an activation temperature wherein, in use, the display means is positioned so as to from time to time come into contact with a fluid having a temperature higher than the activation temperature which heats the thermochromic coating to a temperature above the activation temperature.

12.A display means as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display means is located in a location selected from the group including: a hand basin, a bath, a Jacuzzi, and a shower.

13.A display means according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

14.A display means as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

: | ag 1 Compl_Sallvit ’ 2 0 L 0 / 0 1 8 9 3

15.A display means including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described. DATED AT PRETORIA THIS 17™ DAY OF MARCH 2010. : HAHN & HAHN INC. APPLICANT'S ATTORNEYS . 10