Crush indicating device
First Claim
1. A collapsible crush indicating device, comprising:
- a) a compressible wall having first and second ends, said wall being compressible between said first and second ends;
b) a contrasting agent reservoir located at said first end of said compressible wall;
c) a contrasting agent located in said contrasting agent reservoir;
d) a contrasting agent absorbing medium located at said second end of said compressible wall, said reservoir and said absorbing medium being spaced apart by a gap formed between said first and second ends of said wall when said wall is uncompressed, wherein said compressible wall is adapted to be compressed when force is applied to said compressible wall thereby collapsing said gap and causing said absorbing medium to contact said reservoir so that said absorbing medium absorbs said contrasting agent and thereby indicates that force has been applied to said device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A crush indicating device is disclosed which is designed to be attached to an object or a container for the purpose of indicating whether the object or container subsequently is subjected to excessive force, acceleration or shock. The indicator device has a contrasting agent reservoir filled with a contrasting agent, an absorbing wick and a compressible wall. The compressible wall extends between the wick and the reservoir, holding them in a fixed apart relationship while the wall is uncompressed. Application of force to the device compresses the wall and brings the wick into contact with the reservoir. The wick absorbs contrasting agent from the reservoir, resulting in a marked visible change in the wick which signifies that excessive force has been applied to the device. A base is located at one end of the wall, supporting the reservoir and providing means to attach the device to an object or container. A transparent cover sheet is located at the opposite end of the wall.
34 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A collapsible crush indicating device, comprising:
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a) a compressible wall having first and second ends, said wall being compressible between said first and second ends; b) a contrasting agent reservoir located at said first end of said compressible wall; c) a contrasting agent located in said contrasting agent reservoir; d) a contrasting agent absorbing medium located at said second end of said compressible wall, said reservoir and said absorbing medium being spaced apart by a gap formed between said first and second ends of said wall when said wall is uncompressed, wherein said compressible wall is adapted to be compressed when force is applied to said compressible wall thereby collapsing said gap and causing said absorbing medium to contact said reservoir so that said absorbing medium absorbs said contrasting agent and thereby indicates that force has been applied to said device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A collapsible crush indicating device, comprising:
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a) a flat transparent wall; b) a flat base wall adapted to be attached to a surface; c) at least one compressible wall extending between said transparent wall and said base wall; d) a pad coupled to said base wall adjacent to said compressible wall, said pad containing an indicating liquid; e) an absorbent wick coupled to said transparent wall adjacent to said compressible wall, said wick being separated by a gap from said pad when said compressible wall is uncompressed, said absorbent wick being adapted to absorb indicating liquid from said pad upon contact with said pad, said absorbent wick coming into contact with said pad when said compressible wall is compressed by force being exerted upon said indicating device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for producing a collapsible crush indicating device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a first wall having a contrasting agent absorbing pad located thereon; b) adding contrasting agent to said contrasting agent absorbing pad; c) providing at least one compressible spacer; d) affixing said compressible spacer onto said first wall adjacent to said contrasting agent absorbing pad; e) providing a second transparent wall having an absorbing wick located thereon; f) affixing said second wall onto said compressible spacer so that said spacer extends between said first and second walls and said spacer is adjacent to said absorbing wick, holding said absorbing wick and said contrasting agent absorbing pad in a fixed apart relationship.
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14. A method for producing a collapsible crush indicating device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a first sheet having at least one contrasting agent absorbing pad located thereon; b) at a first location adding contrasting agent to a contrasting agent absorbing pad; c) at a second location, affixing a compressible spacer on said first sheet adjacent to said contrasting agent absorbing pad that has received contrasting agent thereon; d) at a third location, affixing a second transparent sheet having an indicator wick thereon onto said compressible spacer that has been affixed to said first sheet so that said compressible spacer extends between said first and second sheets and said indicator wick lies adjacent to said compressible spacer.
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Specification