GB2580009A - Novelty article - Google Patents

Abstract

System comprising a novelty article comprising an augmented reality (AR) trigger having a first appearance when an environmental parameter is within a first range and a second appearance when the environmental parameter is within a second range, and an electronic device, comprising a camera and screen, configured to: detect the AR trigger within a captured image of the novelty article displayed on the screen; overlay first computer generated (CG) features on the image when the AR trigger has the first appearance; overlay second CG features on the image when the AR trigger has the second appearance. AR triggers may comprise markings or indicia. Novelty articles may be mugs, drinking vessels, tableware, cookware, cutlery, crockery, coasters, beer mats, baby bottles, drinking straws or posters. Environmental parameters may be temperature, illumination or radiation intensity, humidity, back-lighting presence or absence. The novelty item may include: a pigment sensitive to infra-red (IR), ultra-violet (UV), or moisture; or a thermochromic pigment that changes colour, transparency or opacity in response to temperature. The thermochromic pigment may comprise leuco dye or liquid crystals in a coating, membrane or layer of the novelty article. The novelty article may include a mask to block or transmit incident electromagnetic radiation.

Description

Novelty Article 1 Novelty Article 3 The present invention relates to generally to the field of novelty articles and in particular to 4 novelty articles suitable for triggering an augmented reality on an electronic device.

6 Background to the Invention

8 There are many novelty items that are available. An example of a novelty drinking vessel 9 is a coffee mug which displays funny pictures and/or text. These novelty drinking vessels are popular because they provide a vessel having a humorous design as a means of 11 encouraging laughter and provoking the individual in a playful way for entertainment 12 purposes.

14 However, after a while the humorous design on the drinking vessel may become tiresome and thus lose their comical value. As a result, such novelty items are required to be 16 replaced regularly to ensure the originality and spontaneity of the humorous design.

1 Summary of the Invention

3 It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a novelty article that obviates 4 or at least mitigates one or more of the aforesaid disadvantages of the novelty article known in the art.

7 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a novelty article 8 comprising: 9 an augmented reality trigger covering an area of the novelty article; wherein, when an environmental parameter is within a first range the augmented 11 reality trigger has a first appearance, and 12 when the environmental parameter is within a second range the augmented reality 13 trigger has a second appearance, different to the first appearance.

Optionally, when the environmental parameter is within a third range the augmented reality 16 trigger has a third appearance different to the first and second appearances.

18 Most preferably, the environmental parameter is temperature. Temperature may be an 19 ambient temperature or a temperature of the novelty article.

21 Most preferably, the novelty article further comprises at least one thermochromic pigment.

23 Preferably, the augmented reality trigger comprises a first area and a second area.

Preferably, the at least one thermochromic pigment is configured to have a first colour 26 within the first temperature range and a second colour within the second temperature 27 range. Optionally, the at least one thermochromic pigment may be configured to have a 28 third colour when the temperature of the novelty article is within a third temperature range.

Preferably, when the novelty article is within the first temperature range the first colour of 31 the at least one thermochromic pigment is contrasting or different to the colour of the first 32 area and the same or similar to the colour of the second area. In this embodiment the 33 thermochromic pigment acts to reveal the first area and conceal the second area.

1 Alternatively, when the novelty article is within the first temperature range the first colour of 2 the at least one thermochromic pigment is the same or similar to the colour of the both first 3 area and second area of the augmented reality trigger. In this embodiment the 4 thermochromic pigment acts to conceal both the first and second areas.

6 Preferably, when the novelty article is within the second temperature range the second 7 colour of the at least one thermochromic pigment is the same or similar to the colour of the 8 first area and contrasting or different to the colour of the second area. In this embodiment 9 the thermochromic pigment acts to conceal the first area and reveal the second area.

11 Alternatively, when the novelty article is within the second temperature range the second 12 colour of the at least one thermochromic pigment is contrasting or different to the colour of 13 the both first area and second area. In this embodiment the thermochromic pigment acts 14 to reveal both the first area and second area.

16 The at least one thermochromic pigment may be reversible. For example, the colour of 17 the at least thermochromic pigment reverts back to the first colour when at the temperature 18 of the article reverts to within first temperature range. The at least one colour of the 19 thermochromic pigment may be reversible.

21 Optionally, the augmented reality trigger may comprise a third area. The augmented 22 reality trigger may comprise a fourth area. The augmented reality trigger may comprise a 23 plurality of areas.

Optionally, the two or more areas of the augmented reality trigger may overlap.

27 The article may comprise a plurality of thermochromic pigments. Each thermochromic 28 pigment may have a different colour within the first temperature range. Each 29 thermochromic pigment may have a different colour within the second temperature range.

31 The first temperature range may be colder than the second temperature range. The first 32 temperature range may be lower than the second temperature range.

34 The first temperature range may be between 0°C and 25°C and the second temperature range may be between 26°C and 100°C.

2 The first temperature range may be warmer than the second temperature range. The first 3 temperature range may be higher than the second temperature range.

The first temperature range may be between 26°C and 100°C and the second temperature 6 range may be between 0°C and 25°C.

8 Preferably, the augmented reality trigger comprises markings and or indicia.

The at least one thermochromic pigment may be embedded in or integral with the novelty 11 article body. The at least one thermochromic pigment may be embedded in or integral 12 with a portion or section of the article body. The at least one thermochromic pigment may 13 be in a coating, membrane or layer of the novelty article. The at least one thermochromic 14 pigment may be in a section or portion of a coating, membrane or layer of the novelty article.

17 The at least one thermochromic pigment may comprise a leuco dye or liquid crystals.

19 Alternatively, the environmental parameter may be: intensity of illumination with electromagnetic radiation (e.g. visible light, UV light, IR radiation); and/or the humidity 21 level; and/or the presence or absence of back lighting.

23 The novelty article may comprise: an IR sensitive pigment; a UV sensitive pigment; and/or 24 a moisture sensitive pigment.

26 Alternatively, the novelty article may comprise a mask to selectively block and/or transmit 27 an incident band of the electromagnetic spectrum.

29 The novelty article may be selected from the group including but not limited to a drinking vessel, tableware, cookware, crockery, cutlery; coasters, beermats, baby bottles, drinking 31 straws, posters and the like.

33 The at least one thermochromic pigment may be configured to be substantially transparent 34 within a first temperature range and substantially opaque within a second temperature range, or vice versa. Transparency and opacity are in this regard equivalent to a first and 1 a second colour; as such references to colours can be substituted for transparency and or 2 opacity within the various preferred and optional features of aspects of the invention.

4 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for producing a novelty article, the method comprising: 6 * providing an augmented reality trigger covering an area of the novelty article; 7 * providing the augmented reality trigger with a first appearance, when an 8 environmental parameter is within a first range; and 9 * providing the augmented reality trigger with a second appearance, when the environmental parameter is within a second range.

12 Embodiments of the second aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement 13 the preferred or optional features of the first aspect of the invention or vice versa.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising: 16 a novelty article in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; and 17 an electronic device comprising a camera and an electronic screen, 18 wherein electronic device is configured: 19 to capture an image; detect an augmented reality trigger within the image; and 21 overlay a first set of one or more computer generated features to the image 22 displayed on the electronic screen when the augmented reality trigger has a first 23 appearance; and 24 overlay a second set of one or more computer generated features to the image displayed on the electronic screen when the augmented reality trigger has a 26 second appearance.

28 Preferably, the computer generated features are time-dependent.

Optionally, the computer generated features may comprise sounds and or vibrations.

32 Embodiments of the third aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement the 33 preferred or optional features of the first or second aspects of the invention or vice versa.

Brief Description of Drawinas

2 There will now be described, by way of example only, various embodiments of the 3 invention with reference to the drawings, of which: Figure 1 presents a schematic perspective view of a novelty article in accordance with an 6 embodiment of the present invention at a first temperature range; 8 Figure 2 presents a schematic perspective view of the novelty article of Figure 1 at a 9 second temperature range; 11 Figure 3 presents a schematic perspective view of a system comprising the novelty article 12 of Figure 1 at a first temperature range and an electronic device; 14 Figure 4 presents a schematic perspective view of a system comprising the novelty article of Figure 1 at a second temperature range and an electronic device; 17 Figure 5 presents a schematic perspective view of a novelty article in accordance with an 18 alternative embodiment of the present invention at a second temperature range; Figure 6 presents a cross-sectional view of a novelty article in accordance with a further 21 alternative embodiment of the present invention being back-lit with a light source; and 23 Figure 7 presents a cross-sectional view of the novelty article shown in Figure 6 with the 24 light source off.

26 In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and 27 drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale 28 and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and 29 features of embodiments of the invention.

31 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 33 An explanation of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 34 to 7.

1 Figure 1 and 2 depict a novelty article which takes the form of a mug 1. The mug 1 2 comprises a main body 2, an exterior surface 3 and a handle 4. The main body 2 of the 3 mug 1 is suitable for holding a fluid. The exterior surface 3 of the mug 1 comprises an 4 augmented reality trigger 5 and a thermochromic pigment 6. The augmented reality trigger 5 may be printed upon the exterior surface 3 of the mug 1 containing the thermochromic 6 pigment 6.

8 The thermochromic pigment 6 is embedded in or integral with the main body 2 of the mug 9 1. As a number of alternatives, the thermochromic pigment 6 may be embedded in or integral with a portion or section of the main body 2 of the mug 1. The thermochromic 11 pigment 6 may be in a coating, membrane or layer of the mug 1. The thermochromic 12 pigment 6 may be in a section or portion of a coating, membrane or layer of the mug 1.

14 The augmented reality trigger 5 may take the form of markings and or indicia. The augmented reality trigger 5 further comprises a first area 7 and a second area 8.

17 As can be seen in Figure 1, when the mug 1 is at a temperature within a first temperature 18 range, the thermochromic pigment 6 is configured to have a first colour 9. The first colour 19 9 is contrasting or different to the first area 7 of the augmented reality trigger 5 such that the first the first area 7 is visible. The first colour 9 is the same or similar to the second 21 area 8 of the augmented reality trigger 5 such that the second area 8 is concealed. Figure 22 1 depicts a first appearance or form of the augmented reality trigger.

24 As can be seen in Figure 2, when the mug 1 is at a temperature within a second temperature range, the thermochromic pigment 6 is configured to have a second colour 26 10. The second colour 10 is the same or similar to the first area 7 of the augmented reality 27 trigger 5 such that the first area 7 is concealed. The second colour 10 is contrasting or 28 different to the second area 8 of the augmented reality trigger 5 such that the second area 29 8 is visible. Figure 2 depicts a second appearance or form of the augmented reality trigger.

32 When the mug 1 returns to a temperature within the first temperature range having been in 33 a temperature within the second temperature range, the colour of the thermochromic 34 pigment 6 reverts back to the first colour 9 from the second colour 10. In other words, the thermochromic pigment 6 is reversible.

2 The first temperature range is colder or lower than the second temperature range. For 3 example, the first temperature range may be 0°C and 25°C corresponding to a cold, chilled 4 drink and the second temperature range may between 26°C and 100°C corresponding to a hot drink such as a coffee or tea. Alternatively, the first temperature range may warmer or 6 higher than the second temperature range.

8 Figure 3 and 4 presents a schematic perspective view of a system comprising the mug 1 9 and an electronic device 11. The mug 1 contains a fluid 12 and the fluid 12 is typically the dominate factor in determining the temperature of the mug 1. ii

12 The electronic device 11 comprises a camera 13, an electronic screen 14, speakers 15 13 and a vibration module 16. The electronic screen 14 displays an image 17 of the mug 1 as 14 captured by the camera 13. The electronic device 11 is configured to detect an augmented reality trigger e.g. the augmented reality trigger 5 within the image 17.

16 Dependent on the appearance or form of the detected augmented reality trigger 5, the 17 electronic device 11 overlays a set of computer generated features 18 to the image 17.

19 Figure 3 depicts the mug 1 within a first temperature range, as shown in Figure 1, where only the first area 7 of the augmented reality trigger 5 is visible. The electronic device 11 21 detects the first area 7 of the augmented reality trigger 5 and as a result, overlays a first 22 set of computer generated features 19 to the image 17. The first set of computer 23 generated features 19 take the form of, for example, multiple circles.

Figure 4 depicts the mug 1 within a second temperature range, as shown in Figure 2, 26 where only the second area 8 of the augmented reality trigger 5 is visible. The electronic 27 device 11 detects the second area 8 of the augmented reality trigger 5 and as a result, 28 overlays a second set of computer generated features 20 to the image 17. The second set 29 of computer generated features 20 take the form of, for example, multiple triangles.

31 In other words, an augmented reality as displayed on the electronic device 11 is based 32 upon a real-time indirect view of the real world where the real world is supplemented with 33 computer generated sensory features.

1 The augmented reality trigger 5 may trigger additional computer generated sensory 2 outputs such as sounds from the speakers 15 and or vibrations from the vibration module 3 16.

As an alternative, when the mug 1 is at a temperature within a first temperature range, in 6 contrast to Figure 1, the first colour 9 is the same or similar to both the first 7 and second 8 7 areas of the augmented reality trigger 5 such that the both first 7 and second 8 areas are 8 concealed. In this alternative of the first appearance or form of the augmented reality 9 trigger 5, it is the absence of the augmented reality trigger 5 which corresponds to the first set of computer generated features 19. ii

12 As an alternative, Figure 5 shows the mug 1 at a temperature within a second temperature 13 range. In contrast to the mug 1 as shown in Figure 2, the second colour 10 of the 14 thermochromic pigment 6 is contrasting or different to both the first 7 and second 8 area of the augmented reality trigger 5 such that both the first 7 and second 8 area are visible. In 16 this embodiment, the electronic device 11 detects both the first 7 and second 8 area of the 17 augmented reality trigger 5 and as a result, overlays a second set of computer generated 18 features 20 to the image 17.

As further alternatives, it will be appreciated that: the mug 1 may comprise more than one 21 augmented reality trigger 5; the augmented reality trigger 5 may comprise three of more 22 areas 7, 8; the augmented reality trigger 5 may be located an interior surface 21; there 23 may be two or more thermochromic pigments 6; and the thermochromic pigments 6 may 24 transition between more than two colours with a variation in temperature.

26 For example, the first temperature range may be 0°C and 15°C corresponding to a cold, 27 chilled drink, the second temperature range may between 15°C and 30°C corresponding to 28 a room temperature drink and a third temperature range may be between 30°C and 100°C 29 corresponding to a hot drink such as a coffee or tea. The thermochromic pigment may be a first colour at the first temperature range, a second colour at the second temperature 31 range and a third colour at a first temperature range.

33 The first and second (and third and so on) appearances of the augmented reality trigger 34 are different (from each other). This difference (or differences) in appearance can be, as in the examples described above, the result of a change in colour of a thermochromic 1 pigment. Alternatively, the same or equivalent effect may be achieved by a change in 2 transparency (for example between transparent and opaque or vice versa) of the 3 thermochromic pigment, revealing or concealing an underlying image. Further 4 alternatively, as in the example which follows, the difference in appearance can be the result of the presence, or absence, of illumination such as backlighting. In practice, any 6 change in appearance due to environmental parameters, however achieved, shall be 7 understood to be sufficient to enable the invention to be performed. For example, in 8 another embodiment, not described in detail here, the augmented reality trigger may be 9 made visible upon illumination by UV light or IR radiation, and remain invisible in the absence thereof (or vice versa). ii

12 Figures 6 and 7 depict an alternative embodiment of the novelty article which takes the 13 form of a poster 22 comprising a substrate 23, an augmented reality trigger 24 and a mask 14 25. The substrate 23 is translucent or semi-transparent and comprises a first surface 26 substantially opposing a second surface 27. The mask 25 is located on the second 16 surface 27 of the substrate 25 and the mask 25 comprises an aperture 28. Figure Sand 7 17 also depicts a light source 29 which when on, emits light 30 towards the second surface 27 18 of the poster 22.

Figure 6 shows the augmented reality trigger 24 of the poster 22 comprises a first area 31 21 and a second area 32. The first area 31 is located upon the first surface 26 of the 22 substrate 23. More specifically, the first area 32 is, for example, printed on the first surface 23 26 of the substrate 23.

In addition, Figure 6 shows the second area 32 takes the form of a projection of the 26 aperture 28 of the mask 25 onto the first surface 26 of the substrate 23 when the second 27 surface 27 is illuminated by the light source 29. The light 30 from the light source 29 28 directed towards the second surface 27 of the substrate 23 passes through the aperture 29 28 of the mask 25, transmits through the semi-transparent substrate 23 and forms the second area 32 on the first surface 26 of the substrate 23. In other words, when the 31 poster 22 is backlit by light source 29 the second area 32 on the first surface 26 of the 32 substrate 23 is visible.

34 In contrast to Figure 6, Figure 7 shows that when the light source 29 is off, the second area 32 is not visible on the first surface 26 of the substrate 23.

2 A corresponding system comprises the poster 22 and the electronic device 11 shown in 3 Figures 3 and 4. The electronic device 11 displays an image of the first surface 26 of the 4 poster 22 as captured by the camera 13. When the light source 29 is off, the electronic device 11 detects only the first area 31 of the augmented reality trigger 24 and as a result, 6 overlays a first set of computer generated features to the displayed image.

8 When the light source 29 is on, the electronic device 11 detects both the first 31 and 9 second 32 areas of the augmented reality trigger 24 and as a result, overlays a second set of computer generated features to image. ii

12 As a further alternative, it will be appreciated that instead of the second area 32 of the 13 augmented reality trigger 24 being formed by light 30 transmitted through the substrate, 14 the second area 32 may take the form of a shadow cast upon the first surface 26, in other words, the absence of light 30. The mask 25 in this alternative would be the negative or 16 reverse of that shown in Figures 6 and 7.

18 In summary, both embodiments of the novelty article, the mug 1 and poster 22, comprise 19 an augmented reality trigger 5,24 where the visible area of the augmented reality trigger 5,24 varies according to an environmental parameter. The environmental parameter may 21 be, for example, temperature, the intensity of illumination by electromagnetic radiation 22 (e.g. visible light, UV light, IR radiation, sunlight),humidity level and or backlighting.

24 When the environmental parameter is temperature, the novelty article may comprise a thermochromic pigment 6 which changes colour (or transparency) to reveal or conceal part 26 or all of the augmented reality trigger 5. In other words, with a variation in temperature, a 27 thermochromic pigment, also termed thermochromic mask, is cleared to reveal or blocked 28 to conceal an additional image underneath the thermochromic pigment 6.

Further, if the environmental parameter is illumination by electromagnetic radiation (UV, 31 IR, sunlight) or humidity level the novelty article comprises, IR, UV or moisture sensitive 32 pigments which change colour (or transparency) to reveal or conceal part or all of the 33 augmented reality trigger 5 or where the augmented reality trigger changes, for example, 34 by an additional colour appearing on top of a primary visible image.

1 When the environmental parameter is backlighting, the augmented reality trigger 24 2 changes depending on the presence or absence of light. In other words, when the novelty 3 article is backlit, a shadow which either forms part or all of the augmented reality trigger (or 4 frames part or all of the augmented reality trigger), appears through the primary visible image.

7 An advantage of the mug 1 and poster 22 described above is that they both comprise an 8 augmented reality trigger 5,24 which can trigger an augmented reality when the mug 1 or 9 poster 22 is viewed through an electronic device 11. The comical aspect of the mug 1 and poster 22 is not limited to just an image upon the exterior 3 or first 26 surface. The 11 augmented reality features, or in other words the computer generated features 18, may 12 vary in time, incorporate a range of sensory outputs, vary on the electronic screen 14 13 beyond the physical extend of the mug 1 or poster 22 and can be changed by updating the 14 electronic device software. The advantage of the augmented reality trigger 5,24 varying with the temperature of the mug 1 or the illumination of the poster 22, for example, 16 facilitates varying the corresponding augmented reality content as viewed via the 17 electronic device 11. Of course, any novelty item which comprises an augmented reality 18 trigger as described herein shall benefit from the foregoing advantages.

A novelty article is disclosed. The novelty article comprises an augmented reality trigger.

21 When an environmental parameter, such as temperature, is within a first range the 22 augmented reality trigger has a first appearance and when the environmental parameter is 23 within a second range the augmented reality trigger has a second appearance, different to 24 the first appearance. The augmented reality trigger, or absence thereof, is detectable by an electronic device. The electronic device supplements an image of the real-world and 26 overlays computer generated features to create an augmented reality. The computer- 27 generated features have the advantage that they can vary in time, incorporate a range of 28 sensory outputs and can be updated such that the novelty article does not date.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration 31 and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise 32 form disclosed. The described embodiments were chosen and described in order to best 33 explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others 34 skilled in the art to best utilise the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, further 1 modifications or improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of 2 the invention as defined by the appended claims.