APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND REACTING TO THE PRESENCE OF A FLUID

Abstract

A fluid detection and reaction apparatus that physically responds to fluid contact. An open-ended chamber with a hinged cover holds a compressed springy material. The cover/lid is subjected to pressure by the compressed springy material to open the chamber end. A latch is formed between the chamber cover and the rim of the chamber end to generate a holding force that keeps the cover in place. The latch is formed by a water-reactive material that is adapted to will fail or sever under stress when wet. When water contacts the water-reactive material, the material tears, allowing the cover to open the chamber and release the springy material.

Claims

1. A toy apparatus for reacting to the presence of fluid, the apparatus comprising: a chamber having an interior cavity and at least one open end surrounded by a rim; a cover attached to the rim of the chamber at a cover mounting location, the cover having a closed position wherein the cover covers the open end for closing off the interior cavity and an open position wherein the cover does not completely close off the open end; a spring force applied to the cover by a component for urging the cover into its open position, the spring force component being at least one of (i) a reusable, waterproof spring mounted between the cover and the chamber and which biases the cover into an open position, or (ii) a reusable, waterproof material compressed in the interior cavity of the chamber and held in place by the cover when the cover is in its closed position, the compressible material configured to decompress so as to project out of the open end of the chamber when the cover is in its open position; a first attachment mount located on the rim of the chamber adjacent to the open end, the first attachment mount located at a first rim location on the rim which is on an opposite side of the open end from the cover mounting location and a second attachment mount on the cover at a second location which is on an opposite side of the cover from the cover mounting location, the first and second attachment mounts being located such that they are close together when the cover is closed over the open end of the chamber; and a latch separate from the spring force component and which is configured to attach the first and second attachment mounts to one another in a disconnectable manner so as to counter the spring force and hold the cover closed over the open end of the chamber and maintain the cover in its closed position, and wherein either the latch or one of the first and second attachment mounts is removably replaceable and made from a thin water-reactive material configured to sever or tear when wet and subjected to the spring force.

2. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring force is provided by the material compressed within the interior cavity and wherein the material is a springy material.

3. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the latch is made from the thin water-reactive material and is configured to attach the first and second attachment mounts to hold the cover in its closed position over the open end of the chamber to maintain the cover in its closed position, the water-reactive material adapted to readily sever when wet.

4. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is only one open end, and wherein the chamber is tube-like with a closed end opposite the open end.

5. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is attached to the rim at the cover mounting location by a hinge formed from a strap of flexible material.

6. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber cover fits inside the end of the chamber.

7. The toy apparatus of claim 2, wherein the springy material is lightweight plastic mesh that possesses high released volume compared to its compressed volume.

8. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment mounts are rounded small hooks.

9. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water-reactive material is the latch, and the latch is made from paper material.

10. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the latch has at least one hole sized to slip over at least one of the first and second attachment mounts.

11. The toy apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an external mounting attachment on the chamber to enable it to be affixed to a player or other play devices.

12. The toy apparatus of claim 11, wherein the chamber is mounted to a remote control vehicle by the external attachment, and wherein the apparatus is a remote control vehicle stopper adapted to, when hit with water, cause the material contained within the interior cavity to be released and go under wheels of the remote control vehicle.

13. A method of detecting and reacting to the presence of a fluid as part of a game, the method comprising the steps of: providing a toy apparatus according to claim 1; receiving fluid on the toy apparatus; causing the fluid to unlock the cover; and releasing material from inside the chamber, the release of the material providing a visual indication of that water has hit the apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of causing the fluid to unlock the cover involves: causing the fluid to contact the water-reactive material to sever the material, and urging the cover into its open position to release the material.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the toy apparatus is attached to a player and wherein the step of providing visual indication of water detection indicates that a player has been hit or tagged by the fluid contact.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the toy apparatus is attached to a remote control vehicle and wherein the step of releasing material involves deploying a springy material under tires or tracks on the vehicle so as to impede the motion of the vehicle; and wherein the step of providing visual indication of water detection involves the vehicle stopping so as to indicate a fluid hit on the vehicle.

17. A toy apparatus for reacting to the presence of fluid, the apparatus comprising: a chamber defining an interior and having at least one open end surrounded by a rim; a cover hingedly attached to the rim at a cover mounting location, the cover configured to cover the open end in a closed position; a reusable, waterwroof spring-like flexible plastic material adapted to be compressed into the chamber and held in place by the cover in the closed position, the spring-like material configured to decompress so as to project out of the open end of the chamber when the cover is not covering the open end; a first attachment mount located on the rim of the chamber adjacent to the open end, the first attachment mount located at a first rim location on the rim which is on an opposite side of the open end from the cover mounting location, and a second attachment mount located on the cover at a second location which is on an opposite side of the cover from the cover mounting location where the cover hingedly attaches to the rim, the first and second attachment mounts being located in close proximity to each other when the cover is in its closed position; and a latch separate from the spring-like flexible plastic material and which is configured to attach the first and second attachment mounts to one another in a disconnectable manner so as to hold the cover in its closed position over the open end of the chamber to maintain the springy material compressed within the chamber, and wherein either the latch or one of the first and second attachment mounts is removably replaceable and made from a water-reactive material configured to sever or tear when wet and subjected to the spring force.

18. The toy apparatus of claim 17, wherein the latch is made from the water-reactive material and is configured to attach the first and second attachment mounts to hold the cover in its closed position over the open end of the chamber to maintain the springy material compressed within the chamber, the water-reactive material adapted to readily sever when wet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show a form of the invention which is presently preferred. However, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a toy apparatus during use. FIG. 1A illustrates the static target prior to being contacted by water. FIG. 1B illustrates the device being contacted by water. FIG. 1C illustrates the device's response to water contact, wherein the water-reactive material weakens and tears, allowing the cover to hinge open. FIG. 1D illustrates the explosive reaction of the springy material emerging from the chamber under the hinged cover, to indicate that water has contacted the device.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates the force balancing between the spring force of the compacted springy material and the holding force of the latched cover.

[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates the utility of the entertainment device as a water contact indicator in a game of water tag. FIG. 3A illustrates a player after the device is activated.

[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates the utility of the entertainment device as a water contact indicator in a game where remote control vehicles are contacted with water rather than players. Players can battle through throwing water, driving vehicles and trying to avoid water contact on their vehicle. FIG. 4A illustrates a vehicle after the device is activated.

[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment where the chamber has a box shape with a spring-loaded lid. The spring is mounted such that it is applying a spring force urging the lid to open. The holding force of the latched cover keeps the cover closed until the latch is wetted and severs. FIG. 5A illustrates the cover in its open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0049] An example embodiment of fluid presence detection and alerting apparatus 1 includes a chamber 2 that is made from substantially fluid-tight flexible material, for example, a flexible, thin polymer material, and has an open port. A chamber cover 3 is attached to the chamber 2 and covers the port in the chamber; the cover is preferably flexible, pliable (or has limited rigidity). The cover is configured to open when released or unlatched. A springy material 4 is compressed inside the chamber 2, preferably made from a plastic mesh, such as a pouf, and is held in place by the cover 3. Knobs 5 on both the cover 3 and the rim of the chamber 2 are placed such that they align when the cover 3 is closed to compress the springy material 4. The knobs 5 are preferably smooth, hydrophobic, and easily accessible. A water-reactive material component 6 provides the latching to hold the two knobs 5 next to one another, as well as holding the cover in place; the water-reactive material is preferably made from a 100% recycled and rapidly biodegradable paper.

[0050] The apparatus and method of the present invention for fluid presence detection and alerting delivers many of the desirable fluid detecting and alerting advantages identified above. Fluid detection is rapid and reliable without any electrical devices or batteries being required. Fluid contact indication is immediate and highly visual with an extremely large indicator volume being deployed and possessing a flowing motion. Further, the flexible components are preferably soft and configured to be safe for players during play and after deployment of the large volume indicator. Only a tiny amount of fluid or water is required to trigger the indication and reaction. Further the apparatus can be easily deployed as wearable devices on players and deployable devices on other systems, including mobile remote control vehicles. For remote control vehicles the deployed indicator, springy material, acts are a vehicle stopping net that opens under the vehicle's tires and impedes the motion of the vehicle. Rapid and easy resetting of the device's detector is critical to the player's entertainment and is enhanced by the present device. Further, the fluid consistently detected when the device is hit due to the construction of the apparatus. These features overcome many of the problems experienced by prior art.

Preferred Embodiments

[0051] This disclosure describes several example embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the fluid presence detection and alerting for entertainment apparatus and system, including preferred embodiments components, arrangements, and configurations. These examples are provided to simplify the present disclosure. However, these preferred embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0052] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fluid presence detection and alerting system 1. In FIG. 1A in this embodiment, chamber 2 that is made from substantially fluid-tight flexible material, for example, a flexible, thin polymer material, and has an open port. A chamber cover 3 is attached to the chamber 2 and covers the port in the chamber; the cover is preferably flexible, pliable (or has limited rigidity); the cover configured to open when released or unlatched. A springy material 4 is compressed inside the chamber 2, preferably made from a plastic mesh, such as a pouf, and is held in place by the cover 3. Knobs 5 on both the cover 3 and the rim of the chamber 2 are placed such that they align when the cover 3 is closed to compress the springy material 4. The knobs 5 are preferably smooth, hydrophobic, and easily accessible. A water-reactive material component 6 provides the latching to hold the two knobs 5 next to one another, as well as holding the cover in place; the water-reactive material is preferably made from a 100% recycled and rapidly biodegradable paper. Of course, it is also contemplated that the arrangement of knobs 5 and water-reactive material 6 can be quite diverse, including using the water-reactive material as a knob itself, possibly rolled up to form that knob, or latch attachment point.

[0053] FIG. 1B 7 illustrates the device being contacted by water 8. In this embodiment, the water-reactive material can be sized for varying play modes to allow either an extremely small or large target of water-reactive material.

[0054] FIG. 1C 9 illustrates the device's response to water contact, wherein the water-reactive material 10 weakens and tears 11, allowing the cover 12 to hinge open.

[0055] FIG. 1D 13 illustrates the explosive reaction of the springy material 14 emerging from the chamber under the hinged cover, to indicate that water has contacted the device.

[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates the force balancing 15 between the spring force of the compacted springy material 16 and the holding force of the latched cover 17 being held in place by a latch formed from the knobs 18, linked by the water-reactive material 19. A dry water-reactive material 19 provides sufficient force to overcome the spring force from the compressed springy material 16 that pushes to open the cover 17. When a fluid or water contacts the water-reactive material 19, then that material weakens, and its tensile strength is overcome by the spring force, and the cover 16 is pushed open to release the springy material 16.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates the utility 20 of the entertainment device as a water contact indicator in a game of water tag. Player A 21 throw a fluid or water 22 at player B 23 who is wearing the devices 24. When the fluid or water contacts either or both devices 24, player B 25 is marked with water-contact indicators in the form of the deployed springy material 26 (FIG. 3A). Player B 25 is safely, rapidly, reliably and clearly indicated as being hit or tagged by fluid or water.

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates the utility 27 of the entertainment device as a water contact indicator in a game where remote control vehicles are contacted with water rather than players. Player A 28 throws fluid or water 29 at a mobile remote control vehicle 30 that is being driven to try to avoid fluid or water contact on their vehicle. The remote control vehicle has one or more devices 31 attached. When fluid or water contacts either or both devices 33 on the remote control vehicle 32, the springy material 34 is released and deployed, marking the vehicle as being hit with fluid or water. When the vehicle's tires run over the deployed springy material 34, the tires no longer thrust the vehicle 32 because the springy material 34 is attached to the vehicle 32 through the device 33 (FIG. 4B). Thus, the remote control vehicle 32 is effectively stopped by the deployed device 33 when hit by a fluid or water. The vehicle is safely, rapidly, reliably and clearly indicated as being hit or tagged by fluid or water.

[0059] While the water-reactive material forms a latch in the illustrated between the first and second attachment mounts, it is also contemplated that, instead, one of the attachment mounts could be made from the water-reactive material and the latch could, instead, be made from a plastic material.

[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates the modified version of the invention where the opening of the cover on a box-like chamber 35 is controlled by a spring 37. The box 35 has a lid or cover 36 that is attached to the chamber of the box by the spring 37. The spring 37 is configured to bias the cover into its open position (FIG. 5A), thus providing the opening force for causing the cover to open. When the cover is closed and latched (as discussed in the prior embodiment), the biasing action of the spring 37 (i.e., the potential energy) is held in place by the latch. When the latch is wetted and severs, the spring 37 urges the cover 36 to open, releasing the materials inside.

[0061] The chamber 35 can contain any suitable items, including in addition to or in place of the springy material, confetti, small items (e.g., toys), colored dye, or other visual indicators.

[0062] As discussed above, for the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by this specific language, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.