DISSOLVING SUBSTRATE WITH REMAINING MESSAGE

Described is a dissolving substrate with a remaining message. The substrate is formed of water-soluble paper such that it dissolves when exposed to water. Notably, printed upon the substrate is an offset printing ink that is water-resistant. Thus, when the substrate dissolves, the message or imagery as printed with the offset printing ink remains and floats upon the water for further use or enjoyment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus having a message affixed to a dissolving substrate.

(2) Description of Related Art

Paper is traditionally a flexible cellulosic material that is generally formed to withstand a certain amount of moisture. Such existing paper items allow for ink to be printed thereon and remain intact upon getting wet. However, while generally stable, such papers do not provide for the unique affect of disappearing or otherwise dissolving to reveal a printed message.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a water-soluble substrate that reveals a message upon dissolving.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus having a message (formed of water-resistant ink) affixed to a dissolving substrate. The substrate is formed of water-soluble paper such that it dissolves when exposed to water. Notably, printed upon the substrate is an offset printing ink that is water-resistant. Thus, when the substrate dissolves, the message or imagery as printed with the offset printing ink remains and floats upon the water for further use or enjoyment.

In another aspect, the dissolving substrate is formed in the shape of a toy item

In yet another aspect, the toy item is shaped like a tea bag that further comprises other toy items contained therein.

Further, the dissolving substrate is a water-soluble paper formed of at least wood pulp and carboxy methyl cellulose.

In another aspect, the dissolving substrate is a water-soluble paper formed of between 30% and 70% wood pulp and between 30% and 70% carboxy methyl cellulose.

In yet another aspect, the dissolving substrate is a water-soluble paper formed of approximately 50% wood pulp and approximately 50% carboxy methyl cellulose.

In another aspect, the water-resistant ink is formed of carbon black, a coloring pigment, a phenolic resin, one or more oils, and a wax.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus having a message affixed to a dissolving substrate. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to an item formed of a dissolving substrate with an image or message attached thereto. The substrate upon which the image or message is applied to is made from any dissolving material, a non-limiting example of which includes a water-soluble paper, such as a cellulosic mixture paper. A non-limiting example of such a cellulosic mixture paper includes paper formed of wood pulp (CAS.65996-61-4) and carboxy methyl cellulose (CAS.9004-32.4), mixed as desired to form the paper. For example, each of said components can be between 0.1 and 99.9% of the material, to collectively form 100%. However, desirably, the wood pulp to carboxy methyl cellulose is between 30-70% each of the mixture paper and, more desirably, approximately 50% each. Thus, although not limited thereto, the cellulosic mixture paper is formed of approximately 50% wood pulp and approximately 50% carboxy methyl cellulose.

Further, the water-resistant ink or material that forms the image or message is formed of any printable or otherwise apply-able material that will remain upon dissolving of the substrate. It is important that the ink be water resistant to resist water-in-ink emulsification (e.g. repel rather than absorb water). A non-limiting example of such a water-resistant ink includes an offset printing ink. A non-limiting example of such an offset printing ink is the ink mixture formed from the following:

Thus, the invention is generally directed to a dissolving substrate (e.g., water soluble paper) with a water-resistant ink positioned thereon (e.g., printed thereon). The invention can be formed into a variety of products with a variety of uses.

As a non-limiting example and as depicted inFIG. 1A, the dissolving substrate100can be shaped as a real or toy tea bag with the water-resistant ink102positioned or otherwise printed thereon. Also depicted inFIG. 1Ais a tea bag hang tag104that can be attached to the substrate100using any suitable technique, such as a string being heat sealed to the substrate100.

In use, a child or user would position the tea bag in a cup of water, at which point it would dissolve. After the water-soluble paper dissolved, the water-resistant ink104(e.g., offset printing ink) would remain and float on the surface of the water to reveal the message that was printed on the side of the tea bag. The message can be any desired message, including text, symbols, or images, as desired and/or appropriate.

The water-resistant ink104could be clear or a color that is similar to the water-soluble paper such that the message is difficult to see until the water-soluble paper dissolves. For example, the colors were reversed inFIG. 1Bto illustrate that the colors of the water-resistant ink can be clear or matched to the color of the substrate100as shown inFIG. 1A. For further illustration,FIG. 2depicts the substrate100as print sheets for forming the tea bag and upon which the water-resistant ink104is printed.

In other aspects, the water-resistant ink104could be colored to be dissimilarly colored from the water-soluble paper. In yet another aspect, the ink may include thermal ink therein to change colors upon changing temperatures due to the water.

Thus, a can be appreciated, there are a variety of embodiments/applications in which the present invention can be implemented. As a non-limiting example and as described herein, the substrate100can be shaped and formed to operate as a tea bag, either a real tea bag or toy tea bag. For example and as shown inFIG. 3, the tea bag (as a toy) can be included in a playset that includes a variety of play toys.

In this non-limiting example, the playset includes a cup300in which the various toys can be packaged, such a doll302, play creamer304with doll accessories, a faux sugar packet306with doll accessories, a tea bag308that holds other small toys310, and a lid312that fits atop the cup300. In this aspect, the toy tea bag308is formed of the dissolving substrate100with the water-resistant ink104printed thereon. Thus, in this particular playset, a user can place the toy tea bag308within water which will cause the substrate100to dissolve and reveal the small toys310and the remaining message formed of the water-resistant ink. Therefore and as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the invention as described herein has many applications in accordance with the scope of the present invention.