Temperature sensors
First Claim
1. A temperature sensor device for use in testing cooked foods for recording when a predetermined safe cooking temperature has been reached, comprising, in combination:
- a substantially non-porous elongate substrate having a colored patch formed adjacent at least one end thereof;
a particulate thermochromic material having a trigger temperature equal to said predetermined safe cooking temperature covering and visually obscuring said patch, anda transparent sealable film covering and hermetically sealing said one end of said substrate including said thermochromic material, wherein said thermochromic material;
(1) upon exposure to said predetermined safe cooking temperature, becomes sufficiently transparent so as to permit said colored patch to appear visible through the overlying thermochromic material, and (2) upon an abrading motion on the transparent sealable film, may be restored to a visually obscuring state, said device being further characterized by a response time not exceeding about ten seconds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low cost, disposable temperature sensor comprising a non-porous rigid substrate having a colored patch of a contrasting color, covered by a thermochromic material which obscures the colored patch. The thermochromic material, which has a color in the visual range which completely obscures the underlying colored patch, is selected to have a melting or solidus point such that when the material is exposed to a predetermined temperature, the thermochromic material permanently changes to a relatively transparent color whereby the colored patch on the substrate is rendered visible through the thermochromic material. A transparent cover or film encapsulates the thermochromic material place on the substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprises a paperboard product, and includes printed indicia for making a permanent record. The sensor has particular utility in measuring safe cooking temperature of food,
123 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A temperature sensor device for use in testing cooked foods for recording when a predetermined safe cooking temperature has been reached, comprising, in combination:
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a substantially non-porous elongate substrate having a colored patch formed adjacent at least one end thereof; a particulate thermochromic material having a trigger temperature equal to said predetermined safe cooking temperature covering and visually obscuring said patch, and a transparent sealable film covering and hermetically sealing said one end of said substrate including said thermochromic material, wherein said thermochromic material;
(1) upon exposure to said predetermined safe cooking temperature, becomes sufficiently transparent so as to permit said colored patch to appear visible through the overlying thermochromic material, and (2) upon an abrading motion on the transparent sealable film, may be restored to a visually obscuring state, said device being further characterized by a response time not exceeding about ten seconds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification