Device and method for applying a glowing trail onto a surface

Abstract

A device and method are provided for applying a glowing trail onto a surface on a playmat of material that glows in the dark, which lasts only for a limited time depending on the type and strength of the light and playmat material. The trail can be generated by a game piece that moves on the playmat, or a game board.

1 ) A system comprising a device ( 10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″) with a built-in light ( 40 ) that creates a temporary glow effect ( 30 ) on a playmat ( 20 ,  20 ′) when said device ( 10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″) moves about the playmat ( 20 ,  20 ′). 
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the playmat ( 20 ,  20 ′) comprises a luminescent material. 
     
     
         3 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light ( 40 ) of the device ( 10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″) is variable in intensity of light emitted thereby creating a different duration of the glow effect ( 30 ). 
     
     
         4 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a toy character ( 10 ) moved manually on the playmat ( 20 ), and wherein the built-in light is a UV-light housed in a bottom portion of the toy character ( 10 ), which is activated manually or by a push button. 
     
     
         5 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device ( 10 ′) is a spin top comprising a UV-light source ( 40 ) built into a balancing point of an axis of the spin top ( 10 ′). 
     
     
         6 ) The device of  claim 5 , wherein the UV-light ( 40 ) is activated by a spinning motion of the spin top ( 10 ′). 
     
     
         7 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a vehicle, comprising a light ( 40 ) arranged in a lower portion thereof, said light is activated by motion of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 ) The device of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is self-propelled. 
     
     
         9 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the light ( 40 ) is activated by contact with the playmat ( 20 ). 
     
     
         10 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is user-actuated by a push button or a membrane switch. 
     
     
         11 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the device ( 10 ″) is a chess piece and the play mat ( 20 ) is a chessboard ( 20 ). 
     
     
         12 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein the trail ( 30 ) is indicative of a player's move on the chessboard ( 20 ). 
     
     
         13 ) The playmat ( 20 ,  20 ′) of  claim 2 , further comprising a clear film arranged over the luminescent material ( 70 ).