Patent US4917643A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4917643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy vehicle with thermochromic material
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-26
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2007-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A toy vehicle spray painted with paint containing thermochromic material which changes color as the temperature of the vehicle varies. Selected portions of the toy vehicle may be painted with the thermochromic material to provide a variety of patterns, designs, numbers, letters or other indicia which change color in response to temperature variations. In addition, different portions of the toy vehicle may be painted with different paints containing different color thermochromic materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith Hippely
- 👤 Larry R. Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:59
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/26; A63F; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/10; A63F2250/1026; A63F2250/1031; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic paint means comprises thermochromic paint containing said thermochromic material painted onto said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein substantially all of said vehicle body is painted with said thermochromic paint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toy vehicle of claim 3 wherein the appearance is changed from an opaque dirty car to a transparent clean car and vice versa.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein substantially all of said vehicle body is coated with said thermochromic paint containing said thermochromic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic material changes color from a colored opaque material resembling a dirty car to a transparent material resembling a clean car.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle body is made out of metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle body is made out of plastic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means forming a design having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color of said design in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means forming a design having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color of said design in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means forming at least one letter having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color of said letter in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means forming at least one letter having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color of said letter in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means forming at least one number having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color of said number in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from at least a portion of said vehicle body being coated with thermochromic paint means forming at least one number having an initial color, said thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance by changing said initial color of said number in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said thermochromic paint means including thermochromic material capable of changing color due to said temperature variation in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from (a) a first portion of said vehicle body being coated with a first thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said first thermochromic paint means including a first thermochromic material, and (b) a second portion of said vehicle body being coated with a second thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said second thermochromic paint means including a second thermochromic material, said first and second thermochromic materials capable of changing color due to said temperature variation from a first color at a first temperature to a second color at a second temperature in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an initial appearance resulting from (a) a first portion of said vehicle body being coated with a first thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said first thermochromic paint means including a first thermochromic material, and (b) a second portion of said vehicle body being coated with a second thermochromic paint means for changing said initial appearance in response to temperature variation of said vehicle body, said second thermochromic paint means including a second thermochromic material, said first and second thermochromic materials capable of changing color due to said temperature variation from a first color at a first temperature to a second color at a second temperature in order to vary said initial appearance of said vehicle body to a substantially different appearance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The toy vehicle of claim 12 wherein said first and second thermochromic materials have different first colors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toy vehicle of claim 13 wherein said first and second thermochromic materials change color to different second colors at different second temperatures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The toy vehicle of claim 13 wherein said first and second thermochromic materials change color to different second colors at about the same second temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The toy vehicle of claim 12 wherein said first thermochromic material changes color from a colored opaque material to a transparent material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The toy vehicle of claim 12 wherein said first and second thermochromic materials have the same first color.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toy vehicle of claim 17 wherein said first and second thermochromic materials change color to different second colors at different second temperatures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The toy vehicle of claim 17 wherein said first and second thermochromic materials change color to different second colors at about the same second temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |