Plural intrinsic expiration initiation application indicators

• US 20030185706A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CMC Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CMC Daymark Corporation (CMC Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ribi, Hans O.
• Granted Patent: US 6,787,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/229 for investigating time/temperature history

Abstract

A device for monitoring the expiration of goods includes a substrate and an unreacted composition affixed thereto which is intrinsically reactive to one or both of its thermal environment and the length of time following activation. The reactivity results in a color formation of the composition with the color formation being a single color upon reaction to one of said thermal environment or length of time and multiple colors upon reaction to both. The device may be a label affixed to a container containing the goods to be monitored or may be printed directly on a container.

Claims

1. A device for visually ascertaining the expiration of perishable goods comprising

(a) a substrate;

(b) an unreacted composition affixed to said substrate, said composition being activatible and, upon activation, being intrinsically reactive to one or both of (i) its thermal environment and (ii) the length of time following activation, said reactivity resulting in color formation of said composition, said color formation being a single color upon reaction to one of (i) or (ii) and being multiple colors upon reaction to both (i) and (ii).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said composition is a pluralistic material which, upon activation, performs multiple indication functions.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said composition comprises a diacetylenic monomer having the capability of being polymerized to a colored polydiacetylenic state.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said monomer is a member of the group consisting of a straight chain aliphatic carbon chain, a single chain lipid, a symmetric bis compound, a dual chain molecule, a linear or branched compound, aromatic or non-aromatic groups, have carbamate groups, carbonyl groups, ester linkages, amide linkages, polyethylene, polypropylene linkages, bridging groups, peptide linkages, azide linkages, thiol linkages, carbohydrate linkages, urethane linkages.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said monomer is a 16 carbon chain diacetylenic compound to which has been added a doping agent, said doping agent being a member selected from the group consisting of (i) a diacetylenic monomer differing from said composition by not more than 10 carbon atoms and (ii) metal salt forms.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said doping agent is in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of said monomer.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is further treated with a micro-crystal nucleating material.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said nucleating material and said composition are applied together to said substrate with a solvent carrier.

9. A device according to claim 7 wherein said nucleating material is a member of the group consisting of silicones, talc powders, fine grain fibers, dye powders, filtration materials, mineral powders, titanium dioxide powder, starch powders, ceramic powders, insoluble clear plastic resin powders, polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols.

10. A device according to claim 3 further including a polymerized plural intrinsic expiration indicating material between said substrate and said monomer.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is dissolvable in water.

12. A device for visually ascertaining the expiration of perishable goods comprising a substrate, said substrate having one or more first zones and one or more second zones, said one or more first zones having affixed thereto a polydiacetylenic polymer changeable in color upon variation in temperature, said polymer being N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide, and at least one of said one or more second zones having affixed thereto an unreacted crystalline composition which is reactive to one or both of (i) its thermal environment and (ii) the length of time following activation, said reactivity resulting in color formation of said composition, said color formation being a single color upon reaction to one of (i) or (ii) and being multiple colors upon reaction to both (i) and (ii).

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said crystalline composition comprises a diacetylenic monomer having the capability of being polymerized to a colored polydiacetylenic state.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said substrate is dissolvable in water.

15. A device for detecting expiration of goods susceptible to deterioration over time comprising:

(a) a substrate having a surface permeable to liquids applied thereto;

(b) an expiration initiation ink;

(c) a printing ink affixed to said surface in patterns of coverage and non-coverage, said printing ink in said patterns of coverage being impermeable to said initiation ink;

said device characterized in that said initiation ink is affixed to one of said patterns.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said patterns of coverage include a plurality of discrete zones, said zones having varying degrees of coverage of said printing ink.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said printing ink is applied to said zones as a plurality of dots with some zones having a greater concentration of dots than other of said zones.

18. A device according to claim 15 wherein said expiration initiation ink is a pluralistic material which, upon activation, performs multiple indication functions.

19. A device according to claim 15, wherein said expiration initiation ink comprises a diacetylenic monomer having the capability of being polymerized to a colored polydiacetylenic state.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein said monomer is a member of the group consisting of a straight chain aliphatic carbon chain, a single chain lipid, a symmetric bis compound, a dual chain molecule, a linear or branched compound, aromatic or non-aromatic groups, carbamate groups, carbonyl groups, ester linkages, amide linkages, polyethylene, polypropylene linkages, bridging groups, peptide linkages, azide linkages, thiol linkages, carbohydrate linkages, urethane linkages.

21. A device according to claim 19, wherein said monomer is a 16 carbon chain diacetylenic compound to which has been added a doping agent, said doping agent being a member selected from the group consisting of (i) a diacetylenic monomer differing from said composition by not more than 10 carbon atoms and (ii) metal salt forms.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said doping agent is in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of said monomer.

23. A device according to claim 15 wherein said substrate is further treated with a micro-crystal nucleating material.

24. A device according to claim 23 wherein said nucleating material and said composition are applied together to said substrate with a solvent carrier.

25. A device according to claim 23 wherein said nucleating material is a member of the group consisting of silicones, talc powders, fine grain fibers, dye powders, filtration materials, mineral powders, titanium dioxide powder, starch powders, ceramic powders, insoluble clear plastic resin powders, polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols.

26. A device according to claim 15 wherein said substrate is dissolvable in water.

27. A device for monitoring expiration of goods comprising:

(a) a member having a surface permeable to a liquid compound which, when applied to said surface and dried, has the capability of changing color upon (i) the passage of time and (ii) reaching a specific temperature;

(b) a plurality of discrete areas on said surface, at least some of said discrete areas having applied to a portion thereof a coating substantially impervious to said liquid compound, the portion of coverage of said coating to different ones of said discrete areas being varied; and

(c) said liquid compound applied to one of said discrete areas.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein said coating comprises a plurality of dots of varying amounts of coverage in different ones of said discrete areas.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein the amount of coverage varies from 0.1% for one of said discrete areas to 100% for another of said discrete areas.

30. The device of claim 27 wherein the amount of coverage varies from about 0.5% for one of said discrete areas to about 90% for another of said discrete areas.

31. The device of claim 27 wherein said member comprises a substrate dissolvable in water.

32. The device of claim 27 wherein said liquid compound comprises an organic solvent mixture formulation containing ethanol/dichloromethane or methanol/dichloromethane.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein said ethanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared using a solvent composition containing, by volume, a ratio of five parts absolute ethanol to one part dichloromethane.

34. The device of claim 32 wherein said ethanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared by combining 200 milligrams of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one milliliter of ethanol/dichloromethane.

35. The device of claim 32 wherein said methanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared using a solvent composition containing, by volume, a ratio of five parts absolute methanol to one part dichloromethane.

36. The device of claim 32 wherein said methanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared by combining 200 milligrams of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one milliliter of methanol/dichloromethane.

37. The device of claim 32 further including a second discrete area on said surface, said second discrete area having applied thereto polydiacetylenic polymer of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide.

38. The device of claim 37 further including first and second colorations on said surface outside of said first discrete area and said second discrete area, said first coloration indicating the color to which said first discrete area having said organic solvent mixture applied thereto and dried will change upon passage of time, said second coloration indicating the color to which said second discrete area will change upon reaching a specified cooking temperature.

39. The device of claim 38 further including a third coloration indicating color to which said second discrete area will thereafter change upon cooling to a temperature in the range of 35°

F. to 45°

F. and being maintained in said range for a specified period.

40. A device for monitoring expiration of goods comprising:

(a) a member having a surface,

(b) a liquid compound applied to said surface and dried, said liquid compound as dried on said surface having the capability of changing color upon (i) the passage of time and (ii) reaching a specific temperature;

(c) a plurality of discrete areas on said surface, at least some of said discrete areas having applied thereto colorations of varying intensities; and

(d) said liquid compound applied to one of said discrete areas.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein said liquid compound comprises an organic solvent mixture formulation containing an organic solvent mixture of ethanol/dichloromethane or methanol/dichloromethane.

42. A device for monitoring expiration of goods comprising:

(a) a member having a surface permeable to a liquid compound which liquid compound, when applied to said surface and dried, has the capability of changing color upon (i) the passage of time and (ii) reaching a specific temperature;

(b) a discrete area on said surface having applied to at least a portion thereof a coating substantially impervious to said liquid compound; and

(c) said liquid compound applied to said discrete area.

43. The device of claim 42 wherein said coating comprises a plurality of dots.

44. The device of claim 42 wherein the amount of coverage on said discrete area is between 0.1% and 100%.

45. The device of claim 42 wherein the amount of coverage of said coating on said discrete area is between 0.5% and 90%.

46. The device of claim 42 wherein said member comprises a substrate dissolvable in water.

47. The device of claim 42 wherein said liquid compound comprises an organic solvent mixture formulation containing ethanol/dichloromethane.

48. The device of claim 47 wherein said ethanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared using a solvent composition containing, by volume, a ratio of five part absolute ethanol to one part dichloromethane.

49. The device of claim 47 wherein said ethanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared by combining five parts, by volume, of N-ethanolhexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one part of dicholormethane.

50. The device of claim 47 wherein said methanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared using a solvent composition containing, by volume, a ratio of five parts absolute methanol to one part dichloromethane.

51. The device of claim 47 wherein said methanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared by combining 200 milligrams of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one milliliter of methanol/dichloromethane.

52. The device of claim 47 further including a second discrete area on said surface, said second discrete area having applied thereto polydiacetylenic polymer of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide.

53. The device of claim 47 further including first and second colorations on said surface outside of said first discrete area and said second discrete area, said first coloration indicating the color to which said first discrete area having said organic solvent mixture applied thereto and dried will change upon passage of time, said second coloration indicating the color to which said second discrete area will change upon reaching a specified cooking temperature.

54. The device of claim 53 further including a third coloration indicating the color to which said second discrete area will thereafter change upon cooling to a temperature in the range of 35°

F. to 45°

F. and being maintained in said range for a specified period.

55. A device for monitoring expiration of goods comprising:

(a) a member having a surface for receiving a liquid compound which liquid compound, when applied to said surface and dried, has the capability of changing color upon (i) the passage of time and (ii) reaching a specific temperature;

(b) a discrete area on said surface having applied thereto a coloration;

(c) said liquid compound applied to a portion of said discrete area.

56. The device of claim 55 wherein said liquid compound comprises an organic solvent mixture formulation containing ethanol/dichloromethane or methanol/dichloromethane.

57. The device of claim 56 wherein said ethanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared using a solvent composition containing, by volume, a ratio of five part absolute ethanol to one part dichloromethane.

58. The device of claim 56 wherein said ethanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared by combining five parts, by volume, of N-ethanolhexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one part of dichloromethane.

59. The device of claim 56 wherein said methanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared using a solvent composition containing, by volume, a ratio of five parts absolute methanol to one part dichloromethane.

60. The device of claim 56 wherein said methanol/dichloromethane formulation was prepared by combining 200 milligrams of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one milliliter of methanol/dichloromethane.

61. The device of claim 56 further including a second discrete area on said surface, said second discrete area having applied thereto polydiacetylenic polymer of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide.

62. The device of claim 60 further including first and second colorations on said surface outside of said first discrete area and said second discrete area, said first coloration indicating the color to which said first discrete area having said organic solvent mixture applied thereto and dried will change upon passage of time, said second coloration indicating the color to which said second discrete area will change upon reaching a specified cooking temperature.

63. The device of claim 55 wherein said liquid compound comprises a diacetylenic monomer having the capability of being polymerized to a colored polydiacetylenic state.

64. The device of claim 63 wherein said monomer is a member of the group consisting of a straight chain aliphatic carbon chain, a single chain lipid, a symmetric bis compound, a dual chain molecule, a linear or branched compound, aromatic or non-aromatic groups, carbamate groups, carbonyl groups, ester linkages, amide linkages, polyethylene, polypropylene linkages, bridging groups, peptide linkages, azide linkages, thiol linkages, carbohydrate linkages, urethane linkages.

65. The device of claim 63 wherein said monomer is a 16 carbon chain diacetylenic compound to which has been added a doping agent, said doping agent being a member selected from the group consisting of (i) a diacetylenic monomer differing from said composition by not more than 10 carbon atoms and (ii) metal salt forms.

66. The device of claim 65 wherein said doping agent is in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of said monomer.

67. The device of claim 55 wherein said surface is treated with a micro-crystal nucleating material.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein said nucleating material and said liquid compound are applied to said surface with a solvent carrier.

69. The device of claim 67 wherein said nucleating material is a member of the group consisting of silicones, talc powders, fine grain fibers, dye powders, filtration materials, mineral powders, titanium dioxide powder, starch powders, ceramic powders, insoluble clear plastic resin powders, polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols.

70. The device of claim 55 wherein said member is dissolvable in water.

71. A method comprising applying to a container containing a perishable product, an expiration indicator comprising an organic solvent mixture formulation containing (i) ethanol/dichloromethane or methanol/dichloromethane and (ii) diacetylenic monomer.

72. The method according to claim 71 further including the step of preparing said ethanol/dichloromethane by combining, by volume, five parts absolute ethanol with one part dichloromethane.

73. The method according to claim 71 further including the step of preparing said ethanol/dichloromethane by combining 200 milligrams of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide with one milliliter of ethanol/dichloromethane.

74. The method according to claim 71 further including the step of preparing said methanol/dichloromethane by combining, by volume, five parts absolute methanol with one part dichloromethane.

75. The method comprising applying to a container containing a perishable product a monitor comprising polydiacetylenic polymer of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide.

76. A method comprising applying to a container containing a perishable product, multiple indicators including at least one indicator based upon time and at least one indicator based upon temperature.

77. A method comprising applying to a container containing a perishable product, in a first area, an organic solvent mixture formulation containing (i) ethanol/dichloromethane or methanol/dichloromethane and (ii) diacetylenic monomer and, in a second area, an indicator comprising polydiacetylenic polymer.

78. The method according to claim 77 wherein said monomer is N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyneamide and said indicator is a polymer of N-ethanol-hexadeca-5,7-diyeamide.

79. The method according to claim 77 wherein said step of applying comprises applying both said organic solvent mixture formulation and said monitor to a flexible plastic bag.

80. The method according to claim 77 wherein said step of applying comprises applying both said organic solvent mixture formulation and said indicator to a rigid container.

81. The method according to claim 77 wherein said step of applying comprises applying both said organic solvent mixture formulation and said indicator to a label and further includes the step of applying said label to said container.

82. The method according to claim 77 wherein said step of applying comprises applying both said organic solvent mixture formulation and said indicator to a label which is dissolvable in water and further includes the step of applying said label to said container.