Color memory toy

Abstract

A color-changeable toy having a toy body to which a quasi-reversible thermochromic material is applied in a pattern. This material stably holds either of two colored states in a range of ordinary room temperatures. However, the material reversibly changes to one of the states above this range and to the other below this range. Thereby, by using commonly available heat and chilling sources such as ice, hot water or breath, one of the colors can be selected. A breath blow pipe can be used in conjunction with the toy and have an external appearance associated with that of the toy, e.g., gun and soldier.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A color memory toy, comprising: 
 a toy body having an outer surface; and    a quasi-reversible thermochromic coloring material applied to said surface and having a temperature hysteresis characteristic for changing between a first and second colored state, wherein said material changes from said first colored state to said second colored state completely at a upper temperature above a first temperature when said material is heated, maintains a present one of said first and second colored states within a two-color holding temperature range between said first temprature and a second temperature, and changes from said second colored state to said first colored state completely at a lower temperature below said second temperature when said material is cooled, wherein said two-color holding temperature range is within a range of ordinary temperature.    
     
     
         2 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said two-color holding temperature range is from about 10° C. to about 35° C.  
     
     
         3 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 2 , wherein both of said lower and upper temperatures are obtainable in human environment.  
     
     
         4 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said lower temperature is within a range of from about 0° C. to about 15° C. and said upper temperature is within a range of from about 27° C. to about 90° C.  
     
     
         5 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said toy body has a 3-dimensional outer surface and said coloring material is applied to only a portion thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A color or memory toy as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first and second colored states manifest different visible colors.  
     
     
         7 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 5 , wherein one of said first and second colored states manifest a visible color and the other of said first and second colored states is substantially colorless.  
     
     
         8 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a temperature invariant colored material applied between said thermochromic coloring material and said toy body.  
     
     
         9 . A color memory toy as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said temperature invariant colored material is visibly patterned.  
     
     
         10 . A color memory toy combination as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a breath blowing means separate from said toy body, said breath blowing means comprising a shaped body, a funnel-shaped mouthpiece on an outside of said shaped body, and a pipe portion connected to said mouthpiece on a first side of said shaped body, passing through said shaped body to a second side thereof and having an open end projecting from said second side.