TEMPERATURE-SENSING PATCH

• US 3,661,142 A
• Filed: 02/05/1970
• Issued: 05/09/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharn Incorporated 5700 Memorial HWY Ste 202D Tampa FL A Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eric Flam
• Inventors: Flam, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Chamblee, Hugh R.
• Application Number:
  US05/008,902
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2,156,2H 73/356
• US Class Current: 374/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/21 Circular sheet or circular blank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer

Abstract

This temperature-sensing patch comprises a flexible backing web having a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on one side and a plurality of discrete temperature-sensitive, color-responsive indicators adhered on the other side thereof. Each of the indicators comprises a layer of encapsulated liquid crystals which change in color responsive to temperature changes within a predetermined temperature range.

Claims

2. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 wherein the predetermined temperature range of each indicator differs.

3. The temPerature-sensing patch of claim 2 wherein the predetermined temperature range of adjacent indicators overlap.

4. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 wherein the adjacent indicators are separated by a border of contrasting color.

5. The temperature-sensing indicator of claim 1 wherein said backing web is circular and said indicators are disposed in spaced pie-shaped sectors about the center thereof.

6. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 5 wherein said web is substantially black in color and the spaces between adjacent indicators are substantially white in color.

7. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 including an overlying substantially-transparent flexible covering for said indicators.

8. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 7 wherein said covering comprises a transparent plastic film adhered thereto.

9. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 7 wherein said covering comprises a clear lacquer coating.

10. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 wherein the encapsulated liquid crystals of each indicator contain a plasticizer to enhance conformability of each indicator to said flexible backing web.

11. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 10 wherein said plasticizer comprises glycerol.

12. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 wherein said flexible backing web comprises a black polyvinyl chloride film.

13. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is an acrylate-type adhesive.

14. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 including a primer coating on said other side thereof to increase the adhesion of said indicators to said web.

15. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 14 wherein the primer coating comprises a dried latex colloidal suspension.

16. The temperature-sensing patch of claim 1 including a peelable facing material covering the exposed surfaces of said pressure-sensitive adhesive.