Abstract:
The present invention  10  discloses a chemically treated biodegradable material  32  having an image impregnated therein that is only viewable by absorption of uric acid. A mature image  26  is produced on the biodegradable material by reaction with urine  36  to become visible and is designed to encourage infants  12  to use the potty  14  when having to urinate. The present invention  10  reveals a dark outline or sketch of the actual image when reacting to water  38  only. This way the child  12  is still encouraged to make the effort to get to the potty. However, only when uric acid or urine  36  is detected by the present invention will bright and vibrant colors be revealed giving the potty training tot  12  an even greater surprise and even greater reason for wanting to see the images which form when he potties.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to color changing and more specifically to a chemically treated biodegradable material having an image impregnated therein that is only viewable by absorption of uric acid. The image produced on the biodegradable material reacting with urine to become visible is designed to encourage infants to use the potty when having to urinate. 
     The invention when reacting to water alone reveals a dark outline or sketch of the actual image. This way the child is still encouraged to make the effort to get to the potty. Only when uric acid or urine is detected by the invention will bright and vibrant colors be revealed giving the potty training tot an even greater surprise and even bigger reason for wanting to see the images. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other toddler potty training devices. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 456,047 issued to Meyer on Jul. 14, 1891. 
     Another patent was issued to Guthmann on Aug. 29, 1934 as U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,372. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,104 was issued to Fraik, et al., on Apr. 3, 1973 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 17, 1973 to Duskin as U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,672. 
     Another patent was issued to Sokol et al., on Feb. 12, 1980 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,431. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,203 was issued to Schaefer et al on Dec. 23, 1986. Another was issued to Walker, Jr. et al., on Nov. 15, 1988 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,876 and still yet another was issued on May 21, 1991 to Cellists as U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,226. 
     Another patent was issued to Kawashima on Jun. 1, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,956. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,627 was issued to Hire et al on May 10, 1994. Another was issued to Miller et al., on Apr. 2, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,665 
     U.S. Pat. No. 456,047 
     Inventor: Otto Meyer 
     Issued: Jul. 14, 1891 
     The process for producing lines, words, and figures on paper or any other suitable material, which consists in drawing, writing, or printing them with solutions of phenolphthalein, coroline, or any other indicator of alkaline reaction and subsequently subjecting the same to the reaction of an alkali to develop the lines m words, or figures, substantially as described. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,372 
     Inventor: Walter S. Guthmann 
     Issued: Jun. 8, 1937 
     A sympathetic ink, normally invisible when applies to dry paper of sized or unsized type but adapted to be made visible when the paper is wetted, said ink comprising a material affecting the water permeability of the paper, and a solvent therefor having a vapor pressure between approximately 0.1 and 7.5 millimeters of material constituting on the order of 0.25% to 5% of the 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,104 
     Inventor: Robert D. Fraik 
     Issued: Apr. 3, 1973 
     The discolored paper-based feedback systems employ thermograph processes which transfer a pattern of vaporized reactant material selected from the group consisting of: dithooxamide, the N,N-distributed derivatives of dithooxamide, and iron-complexing compound having a benzene ring and at least two hydroxyl groups substituted in adjacent positions on said ring to treated or untreated paper-like receptor sheet to form a storable latent image, i.e. a hidden entry, on the sheet. The latent image can be developed weeks or months later with a coreactant salt. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,672 
     Inventor: Robert B. Duskin 
     Issued: Jul. 17, 1973 
     Colorless painting apparatus having chemically treated sheets which are provided with a color forming reactant, and a supply of colorless paints each of which chemically reacts with the absorbent color forming reactant of each treated sheet for imparting different colored illustrations upon the sheet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,431 
     Inventor: Phillip E Sokol et al 
     Issued: Feb. 12, 1980 
     This invention relates to alkali developable, paper-based systems printed with invisible phenolphthalein inks and made reusable through many development cycles by employing critical concentrations of dye reactants in conjunction with a paper having a defined water soluble acidity-alkalinity. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,203 
     Inventor: Rolf Schaefe, et al 
     Issued: Dec. 23, 1986 
     A sharp imaging, non-smearing system for latent imaging and subsequent visual development of printed text or the like is provided which can be used on a variety of substrates (e.g., paper, metal, cloth, synthetic resins) and is extremely stable and easy to use. The system involves first imaging a substrate with an invisible ink containing a dissociable transition metal salt such as CuSO.sub.4, with subsequent application of a liquid developer containing a solubilized color precursor such as thiooxalic amide which complexes with dissociated transition metal ion to give a sharp, virtually instantaneously developing, long lasting color. Depending upon the metal salt selected, different colors can be obtained upon development. The system of the invention can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in self-testing materials or novelty items. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,876 
     Inventor: Haywood A. Walker Jr. et al 
     Issued: Nov. 15, 1988 
     A sharp imaging, non-smearing system for latent imaging and subsequent visual development of printed text or the like is provided which can be used on a variety of substrates (e.g. paper, metal, cloth, synthetic resins) and is extremely stable and easy to use. The system involves first imaging a substrate with an invisible non-blurring, non-sublimating ink containing a dissociable nickel salt such as NiSo.sub.4, with subsequent application of a liquid developer containing a dispersed color precursor such as dimethylglyoxime which reacts with nickel ion to give a sharp, long lasting red color. The developer preferably includes an accelerator such as NaOH for accelerating the above reaction so as to make it virtually instantaneous. The system of the present invention can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in self-testing materials or novelty items. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,226 
     Inventor: Michael Kulisz 
     Issued: May 21, 1991 
     Disclosed is a system for developing latent images on alkali-based or acid-based paper stock which has been marked with a water-soluble oxidizing agent to form a concealed image. In the system, a marking composition is applied to said paper stock which comprises (a) A water-soluble iodide, (b) Acetic acid, (c) A water-soluble reducing agent, and (d) Water. Preferably, the reducing agent is ascorbic acid and preferably the marking composition also comprises a water-soluble dye. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,956 
     Inventor: Kiyoharu Kawashima 
     Issued: Jun. 1, 1993 
     In the color changing print of this invention, plural areas are printed by using plural types of color changing inks which develop into different colors from the substantially invisible colorless state by reaction with a color changing agent. By the emergence of print from colorlessness and by giving changes in the appearing colors, unexpectedness and entertainingness are provided so that an attractive education may be realized. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,627 
     Inventor: Suzan J. Hirz et al 
     Issued: May 10, 1994 
     A method for locally enhancing the contrast of a yellow image, which method comprises providing a yellow image on a white background, said images comprising yellow areas and white areas, said yellow areas and white areas exhibiting pH levels which differ by at least 0.5 in an aqueous environment, applying too at least a portion of a said yellow image a solution of a pH color changing dye which will change color to a color other than yellow when coated on one of said yellow areas or white areas and not change color when coated on the other of said yellow areas or white areas, thereby forming a colored image duplicating the yellow image in areas where the solution has been applied, said colored image having a visually better contrast than said a yellow image. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,665 
     Inventor: Richard E. Miller 
     Issued: Apr. 2, 1996 
     A coloring system is provided in which an undercolor composition is applied to a substrate to thereby leave a colorless mark. The undercolor composition is then written over with an overcolor composition, thereby causing the undercolor mark to become colored. The overcolor composition may itself contain a colorant. In one embodiment, the color-changing effects are accomplished by employing a dye that is colorless in the presence of high pH and/or a reducing agent, but that becomes colored as the pH is lowered, as the undercolor colorant. In a second embodiment, the color-changing effects are accomplished by employing a dye that is colorless at low pH, but that becomes colored as the pH is raised, as the undercolor colorant. 
     While these chemical treatments may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a chemically treated biodegradable material having an image impregnated therein that is only viewable by absorption of uric acid. A mature image is produced on the biodegradable material by reaction with urine to become visible and is designed to encourage infants to use the potty when having to urinate. The present invention reveals a dark outline or sketch of the actual image when reacting to water only. This way the child is still encouraged to make the effort to get to the potty. However, only when uric acid or urine is detected by the present invention will bright and vibrant colors be revealed giving the potty training tot an even greater surprise and even greater reason for wanting to see the images which form when he potties. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an aid for toilet training infants. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet training aid requiring the infant to urinate to activate the aid to its full potential. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet training aid whose reward like qualities are controlled by the infant. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a behavioral modification stimulus that will encourage the infant to repeat the act through positive reinforcement. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a positive reinforcement stimulus for infant urination comprised of a biodegradable material. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a positive reinforcement stimulus device comprised of a biodegradable material having an image imprinted thereon, along with colored dyes reactive to only uric acids or urine. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a positive reinforcement stimulus device comprised of a biodegradable material having an image imprinted thereon that is not viewable until acted upon by a catalyst such as water. Water, as a reactant will give the invention its basic outline of a character or image making up a black and white or black and clear image in the toilet. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a positive reinforcement stimulus device comprised of a biodegradable material having an image that requires a catalyst in the form of uric acid to view the image fully and vividly colored-in right before their eyes requiring a colored dye or dyes reactive only to uric acid or urine. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a chemically treated biodegradable material having an image impregnated therein that is only viewable when the material is placed in water in a toilet bowl after the child says he or she does not want to urinate. By absorption of an acid base substance such as urine the basic outline of the image will begin to reveal vibrant colors and additional details. The child is encouraged to urinate into a toilet or potty trainer whereupon the caregiver drops the biodegradable material having the invisible image therein whereby said outline of image will become viewable to the child once wet and if the child has urinated. The real reward to child is when vibrant colors fill the outlined image. The object of the invention being to encourage the child to use the toilet whether successfully urinating or not. The child still sees toilet training as something of a reward as opposed to disappointment when failing to actually urinate. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of one example of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of another example of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of another example of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of additional illustrations of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a top view of an additional illustration of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is a toddler  12  being toilet  14  trained by an attendant  16  wherein the present invention  10  provides reward or amusement for the child upon urination. The present invention  10  provides a biodegradable material chemically treated with an image whereby exposure to water displays a dark outline of an image that has previously been impregnated into the biodegradable material. Exposure to urine will enhance the image that was impregnated into the biodegradable material thereby displaying a full image in vibrant colors therefore rewarding the child  12  for urinating in the toilet  14 . 
     Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use by an attending adult  16 . The present invention  10  is a chemically treated biodegradable material having an image impregnated therein that is only viewable by absorption of an acid base substance such as urine. Used in potty training the child  12  is encouraged to urinate into a toilet  14  or potty trainer whereupon the biodegradable material having the invisible image therein will become viewable in vibrant colors to the child if the child has urinated therefore making the child smile happily and encouraging the child to urinate. The object of the invention being to encourage the child to use the toilet. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use by an attending adult  16 . The present invention  10  is a chemically treated biodegradable material having an image impregnated therein that is only viewable by absorption of water and acid base substance such as urine. The child  12  is thrilled and waving bye-bye to the flushies wherein the urine has activated the impregnated image displaying the vibrant colors therein. Toilet  14  is also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a top view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the present invention  10  in a toilet bowl  18  of water  20  having just been placed therein by the caregiver or toddler where a vague or faint outline of an image  22  has appeared after being placed in water  20  only. The biodegradable material has been chemically treated to react with water  20  to expose a predetermined image  22 . It will be explained later that after activation in uric acid a vibrant colored image appears which amuses the child thus entertaining the toddler thus promoting a positive reinforcement when the child urinates in the toilet or potty trainer. 
     Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a top view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the present invention  10  after having been placed in the toilet bowl  18  or potty trainer whereupon water  20  and urine or uric acid  36  being present begins exposing and transforming the image  24 , i.e., an early stage image, which could be of anything including words such as their name or an image of an object with a name or logo from a favorite TV program or super hero, etc. The objective being that the chemical treatment on the biodegradable material reacts with the toddler&#39;s urine displaying the vibrant colored image. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is a top view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the present invention  10  having been placed in the toilet bowl  18  or potty trainer with water  20  and urine or uric acid  36 . The image  26 , i.e., the mature or full image as shown here, which could be of anything including words such as a name or an image of an object with a name or logo from a favorite TV program or super hero, etc. The objective being that the chemical treatment on the biodegradable material reacts with the toddler&#39;s urine displaying the impregnated mature or full image  26  magically coming to life showing colors, e.g., vibrant blues  28  and pastel greens  30 . 
     Turning to FIG. 7, shown therein is a top view of the present invention  10 . Shown is one example of the present invention&#39;s impregnated chemical faint image  22  outline on the biodegradable material. The image  22  can be of any object, letters or art work applied to a biodegradable material with the purpose being that the image is not completely visible until exposed to uric acid. 
     Turning to FIG. 8, shown therein is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a sectional view of the chemically treated biodegradable material  32  having an image impregnated therein that is clearly viewable by absorption of an acid base substance such as urine. The first image could be of an outline of something that the child could guess at the image or any number of solid images, words, letters, art work, etc. The purpose being to have a biodegradable material  32  having a chemically treated area  34  on the material  32  that will become clearly visible composed of a vibrantly colored image only when mixed with uric acid. This will reinforce the desire within the child to learn muscle control over their bladder to be able to see the positive aspect of urinating in the toilet or potty trainer instead of their diaper. 
     Turning to FIG. 9, shown therein is a top view of one example of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10  with the chemical application on the biodegradable material activated by urine  36  displaying a mature image  26  of a bear and below showing the biodegradable material wet by water  38  showing a vague or faint image  22  before exposure of the chemically reactive image having uric acid as the catalyst. Shown are the various colors including pink  40 , blue  42 , teal green  44 , golden brown  44 , medium brown  46 , and white or clear  48 . 
     Turning to FIG. 10, shown therein is a top view of another example of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10  illustrating another before and after view of the chemical application on the biodegradable material activated by urine  36  or uric acid which displays a mature image of a horse  26  and below showing the biodegradable material in water  38  only showing the vague colorless outline of an image  22 . 
     Turning to FIG. 11, shown therein is a top view of another example of the images of the present invention. Shown is the present invention illustrating another before and after view of the chemical application on the biodegradable material activated by urine which displays a mature image  26  of a fish and below showing the biodegradable material being in the form of a fish  22  without any detail. 
     Turning to FIG. 12, shown therein is a top view of additional illustrations of the images of the present invention. The present invention is a biodegradable material having an image thereon that is only fully viewable upon activation by the presence of urine. The mature images  26  that develop in the presence of uric acid and depicted in FIG. 12 are representative of a plurality of graphic images that are possible and are not a limitation of the present invention to any specific image. 
     Turning to FIG. 13, shown therein is a top view of an additional illustration of the images of the present invention. The present invention is a biodegradable material having an image thereon that is only viewable upon activation by the presence of water and urine. The image depicted is a “bowls eye” that can assist male potty trainers in the aiming of discharged urine. Shown is a vague image  22  which forms in the presence of water only and a mature image  26  which forms in the presence of urine or uric acid. 
     In summary, the present invention discloses a a method for toilet training a child having the following steps: a) providing a piece of biodegradable material sized to be placed in a toilet bowl; b) imprinting an image onto the piece of material, wherein the imprinted image comprises a chemical substance which substance causes the imprinted image to be invisible to the human eye so long as the chemical substance is dry, wherein the imprinted image becomes visible to the human eye upon reaction of the chemical substance with water or with a mixture of water and uric acid; c) placing the piece of material in a toilet bowl of water to react the chemical substance with water to form an outline of the image; and, d) allowing an outline of the image to form so as to encourage the child to use the toilet when urinating. Then, in order to form a full image, having the child urinate in the toilet bowl to react the chemical substance with a mixture of water and uric acid to form the full image; and, allowing a full image to form so as to encourage the child to use the toilet when urinating. A full image may comprise a single color or any color from the range of the visible color spectrum. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 
       10  present invention 
       12  toddler 
       14  toilet 
       16  attendant 
       18  toilet bowl 
       20  water 
       22  vague image 
       24  early stage image 
       26  mature image 
       28  vibrant blue color 
       30  pastel green color 
       32  biodegradable material 
       34  chemically treated area 
       36  uric acid or urine 
       38  water 
       40  pink color 
       42  blue color 
       44  golden brown 
       46  medium brown 
       48  white or clear