Coloring book or the like with ink-reactive, fragrance-releasing areas

Abstract

A coloring book or the like is provided with image areas that release an appropriate fragrance upon being colored or painted by the user. Microcapsules that contain fragrance oil for a particular fragrance associated with the image area are deposited on the image area of the substrate. Inert walls of materials such as gelatin restrain the fragrance within the microcapsules until activated. A color dispenser such as a felt tip marking pen is adapted to include a reactive agent that when applied to the image area in the normal course of coloring will cause release of the fragrance by rupturing or otherwise interacting with the microcapsules such as by diffusing into the microcapsules and replacing and releasing the oil. The reactive agent may be a solvent such as an alcohol or ketone or a surfactant contained in an aqueous solution mixed with the normal ink or paint of the marking pen. The invention enables release of fragrances in the normal course of coloring an image without requiring action such as scratching or pulling apart of the sheets on which the image is placed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.