Glow in the dark toys and articles

Abstract

Toys and other fabric coated articles that glow in the dark. The present invention is preferably directed to a variety of articles, especially stuffed toys, that exhibit luminescence in the dark following light exposure. The toys may be any variety of animal, plant or specific form, including but not limited to mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Methods of manufacture are described that use fabric coated with luminescent material on one side that is used as casings with the rough coating side facing inwardly for toys and other items.

1 . A method for providing glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent properties to a fabric-coated article:
 selecting a fabric coated on one side with photoluminescent material;   using said fabric as a casing for said fabric-coated article wherein said coated side of said fabric is inwardly facing thereby providing glow-in-the-dark function to said article following exposure to light to said untreated side of said fabric.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric-coated article is selected from the group consisting of: toys; sports equipment; household items; clothing; animal and character slippers; animal and character and decorative pillows; key chains; squishy pillows; character animal pens; plus cars, trains boats, bats, ball and beds; glow fabric picture frames; glow fabric picture frames with characters/animals; purses; coin purses; books; puzzles; notepad covers; Halloween costume accessories, tails, masks, ears; Halloween fabric trick or treat bags; fabric coated buttons; Christmas ornaments; shoe laces; shoes; scarves; hats; visor hats; fabric books; fabric rattles; puppets; magnets with plus toy attached or in plus toy; backpacks; barrettes; hair pony tails; ribbon; bibs; belts; socks; cell phone holders; and ear muffs 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric-coated article is a stuffed toy. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric-coated article is a stuffed toy selected from the group consisting of mammals, fish, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, polyester, rayon, nylon and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is polyester. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said photoluminescent material comprises europium. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said photoluminescent material comprises zinc sulfide. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu, Al 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , and Dy 2 O 3 . 
   
   
       10 . A fabric-coated glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent article comprising:
 casing fabric coated on one side with photoluminescent material wherein said coated fabric completely encloses said article and wherein said coated side of said fabric is on the interior side of the article and said uncoated side of said fabric is positioned on the exterior side of the article; and   stuffing material enclosed by said casing fabric; and wherein upon exposure to light said article exhibits glow-in-the-dark luminescence.   
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein said article is a stuffed toy selected from the group consisting of mammals, fish, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. 
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, polyester, rayon, nylon and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises Europium. 
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises Zinc sulfide. 
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein said photo-luminescent material comprises SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu, Al 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , and Dy 2 O 3 .