It's all been done

A few people have liked the idea of bioluminescent beverages, after I posted a picture of glowing ostracods in a wine glass. Sounds like fun, but we'd have to pay royalties. An existing patent seems pretty comprehensive, even including "slimy play material".


This patent represents the origin of novel novelty items by combining entities: manufactured articles and bioluminescence.

Title:

Bioluminescent novelty items

Document Type and Number:

United States Patent 6152358

Abstract:

Novelty items that are combinations of articles of manufacture with bioluminescence generating systems and/or fluorescent proteins are provided. These novelty items, which are articles of manufacture, are designed for entertainment, recreation and amusement, and include toys, paints, slimy play material, textiles, particularly clothing, bubbles in bubble making toys and other toys that produce bubbles, balloons, personal items, such as cosmetics, bath powders, body lotions, gels, powders and creams, toothpastes and other dentifrices, soaps, body paints, and bubble bath, foods, such as gelatins, icings and frostings, beverages such as beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, and glowing ice, fountains, including liquid "fireworks" and other such jets or sprays or aerosols of compositions that are solutions, mixtures, suspensions, powders, pastes, particles or other suitable formulation.