Systems and Methods of Alerting Customers to Changes in Product Temperatures During Delivery

• US 20170363479A1
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Robert Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 10,520,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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 having a predetermined activation temperature and being capable of irreversibly changing color from a first color to a second color when a temperature of the thermochromic indicator 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 the retail product;

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

cause the thermochromic indicator to be affixed to the retail product 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 thermochromic indicator exhibits the first color.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature threshold value corresponds to a first zone of the retail product and the thermochromic indicator is affixed to the first zone retail product prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process, and the control circuit is further configured to:

determine, based at least on information about the retail product in the product database, a second temperature threshold value of the retail product, the second temperature threshold value corresponding to a second zone of the retail product;

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

cause the second thermochromic indicator to be affixed to the second zone of the retail product 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 second thermochromic indicator exhibits the first color.

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

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

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

6. 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.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermochromic indicator is affixed to an inner packaging of the retail product.

8. 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.

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

identifying a retail product 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 the retail product;

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

causing the thermochromic indicator to be affixed to the retail product prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process; and

obtaining, via a user interface, verification from a customer receiving the retail product that the thermochromic indicator exhibits the first color.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the temperature threshold value corresponds to a first zone of the retail product and the thermochromic indicator is affixed to the first zone retail product prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process and the method further comprises:

determining, based at least on information about the retail product in the product database, a second temperature threshold value of the retail product, the second temperature threshold value corresponding to a second zone of the retail product;

identifying a second thermochromic indicator from the plurality of a thermochromic indicators, the second thermochromic indicator having a second activation temperature that corresponds to the second temperature threshold value of the retail product;

causing the second thermochromic indicator to be affixed to the second zone of the retail product prior to commencing the supply chain delivery process; and

obtaining, via the customer user interface, verification from a customer receiving the retail product that the second thermochromic indicator exhibits the first color.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the activation temperature corresponds to a temperature safety value associated with the retail product such that the thermochromic indicator changing color from the first color to the second color indicates that the retail product may be unsafe for its recommended use.

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

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermochromic indicator comprises a thermochromic pigment and a binder.

14. The method of claim 9, 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.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermochromic indicator is affixed to an inner packaging of the retail product.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the retail product comprises a product selected from the group consisting of food products, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, horticulture products, and combinations thereof.