Device for displaying indicia and method of making same

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.

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   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.   
   
   
       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   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.   
   
   
       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   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.