Systems and methods of alerting customers to changes in product temperatures during delivery

• US 10,520,367 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Robert Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jagan, Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US15/621,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20170363479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 374100, 374141, 374106, 374101, 374102, 374103, 374104, 374159, 374161, 374162, 374208, 116208, 116 26, 116207, 116216
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/12 using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/10 in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for alerting customers to product temperature compliance during delivery whereby a retail product intended to be maintained below one or more temperature threshold values through a supply chain delivery process is identified, a temperature threshold value of the retail product is determined, an irreversible thermochromic indicator having an activation temperature that corresponds to the temperature threshold value of the retail product is identified, the thermochromic indicator is affixed to the retail product prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process, and verification, via a user interface, is obtained from a customer receiving the retail product that the thermochromic indicator is in its inactivated state.

Claims

1. A customer alert system for product temperature compliance, the system comprising:

a retail product having a first zone and a second zone intended to be maintained below one or more temperature threshold values through a supply chain delivery process, the supply chain delivery process including at least one portion thereof where the retail product is subject to an uncontrolled temperature environment;

a product database comprising recommended temperature threshold values for a plurality of retail products;

a plurality of irreversible thermochromic indicators, each thermochromic indicator comprising a thermochromic material having a predetermined activation temperature and being capable of irreversibly changing color from an initial color to an activated color when a temperature of the thermochromic material increases above the activation temperature during any point in time during the supply chain delivery process;

a customer user interface; and

a control circuit coupled to the product database and the customer user interface, the control circuit configured to;

identify the retail product intended to be maintained below one or more temperature threshold values through a supply chain delivery process;

determine, based at least on information about the retail product in the product database, a temperature threshold value of each of the first and second zones of the retail product, wherein the first and second zones have different temperature threshold values;

identify a first thermochromic indicator from the plurality of thermochromic indicators, the first thermochromic indicator comprising a thermochromic material having an activation temperature that corresponds to the temperature threshold value of the first zone of the retail product;

identify a second thermochromic indicator from the plurality of thermochromic indicators, the second thermochromic indicator comprising a thermochromic material having an activation temperature that corresponds to the temperature threshold value of the second zone of the retail product;

cause the first and second thermochromic indicators to be affixed to the first and second zones of the retail product, respectively, prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process; and

obtain, via the customer user interface, verification from a customer receiving the retail product that the first and second thermochromic indicators exhibit the initial color associated with each indicator,

wherein the first and second indicators are affixed to an inner packaging of the retail product.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation temperature corresponds to a temperature safety value associated with the retail product such that the thermochromic material changing color from the first initial color to the second activated color indicates that the retail product may be unsafe for its recommended use.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermochromic material comprises at least one of thermochromic ink, thermochromic liquid crystals, thermochromic leuco dye, thermochromic paper, thermochromic polymer, and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermochromic indicator comprises a thermochromic pigment and a binder.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermochromic indicator comprises a substrate having an adhesive surface and a printable surface, and a thermochromic ink printed on the printable surface of the substrate.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the retail product comprises a product selected from the group consisting of food products, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, horticulture products, and combinations thereof.

7. A method for alerting a customer to product temperature compliance, the method comprising:

identifying a retail product having a first zone and a second zone intended to be maintained below one or more temperature threshold values through a supply chain delivery process, the supply chain delivery process including at least one portion thereof where the retail product is subject to an uncontrolled temperature environment;

determining, based at least on information about the retail product in a product database, a temperature threshold value of each of the first and second zones of the retail product, wherein the first and second zones have different temperature threshold values;

identifying a first thermochromic indicator having an activation temperature that corresponds to the temperature threshold value of the first zone of the retail product and a second thermochromic indicator having an activation temperature that corresponds to the temperature threshold value of the second zone of the retail product from a plurality of irreversible thermochromic indicators, each thermochromic indicator comprising a thermochromic material having a predetermined activation temperature and being capable of irreversibly changing color from an initial color to an activated color when a temperature of the thermochromic material increases above the activation temperature during any point in time during the supply chain delivery process;

causing the first and second thermochromic indicators to be affixed to the first and second zones of the retail product, respectively, prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process; and

obtaining, via a user interface, verification from a customer receiving the retail product that the first and second thermochromic indicators exhibit the initial color associated with each indicator,

wherein the first and second indicators are affixed to an inner packaging of the retail product.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the activation temperature corresponds to a temperature safety value associated with the retail product such that the thermochromic material changing color from the initial color to the activated color indicates that the retail product may be unsafe for its recommended use.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the thermochromic material comprises at least one of thermochromic ink, thermochromic liquid crystals, thermochromic leuco dye, thermochromic paper, thermochromic polymer, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the thermochromic indicator comprises a thermochromic pigment and a binder.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the thermochromic indicator comprises a substrate having an adhesive surface and a printable surface, and a thermochromic ink printed on the printable surface of the substrate.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the retail product comprises a product selected from the group consisting of food products, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, horticulture products, and combinations thereof.