Indicator, an associated package and associated methods
First Claim
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1. An indicator comprising:
- a time/temperature indicator that irreversibly chances visual appearances based on a combination of predetermined times and temperatures;
an indicator scale in near adjacency to said time/temperature indicator including substantially all of said visual appearances that said time/temperature indicator can display; and
a binary scale in near adjacency with said time/temperature indicator and said indicator scale, said binary scale including a first zone and a second zone, whereby said visual appearances of said time/temperature indicator is matched to a visual appearance on said indicator scale to create a matched area, said matched area being aligned in either said first zone or said second zone.
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Abstract
An indicator including an indicator product that is adapted to change visual appearance, an indicator scale in near adjacency to the indicator product including substantially all of the visual appearances that the indicator product can display and a binary scale in near adjacency with the indicator product and the indicator scale. A package adapted to contain a product is also disclosed including a container for holding the product with an indicator secured to the container. Associated methods of (i) determining whether a product in a package is acceptable; (ii) packaging a product; and (iii) making an indicator label are also disclosed.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An indicator comprising:
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a time/temperature indicator that irreversibly chances visual appearances based on a combination of predetermined times and temperatures; an indicator scale in near adjacency to said time/temperature indicator including substantially all of said visual appearances that said time/temperature indicator can display; and a binary scale in near adjacency with said time/temperature indicator and said indicator scale, said binary scale including a first zone and a second zone, whereby said visual appearances of said time/temperature indicator is matched to a visual appearance on said indicator scale to create a matched area, said matched area being aligned in either said first zone or said second zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A package adapted to contain a product comprising:
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a container for holding said product; and an indicator disposed on said container and visually observable on said container, said indicator comprising; (i) a time/temperature indicator that irreversibly chances visual appearances based on a combination of predetermined times and temperatures; (ii) an indicator scale in near adjacency to said time/temperature indicator including substantially all of said visual appearances that said time/temperature indicator can display; and (iii) a binary scale in near adjacency with said time/temperature indicator and said indicator scale, said binary scale including a first zone and a second zone, whereby said visual appearances of said time/temperature indicator is matched to a visual appearance on said indicator scale to create a matched area, said matched area being aligned in either said first zone or said second zone in order to determine whether said product in said container is acceptable or not. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of determining whether a product in a package is acceptable for use, said method comprising:
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providing a package including a container holding said product, said container having disposed thereon an indicator comprising (i) a time/temperature indicator that irreversibly chances visual appearances based on a combination of predetermined times and temperatures;
(ii) an indicator scale adjacent to said time/temperature indicator including substantially all of said visual appearances that said time/temperature indicator can display; and
(iii) a binary scale in near adjacency with said time/temperature indicator and said indicator scale, said binary scale including a first zone representing that said product is acceptable and a second zone representing that said product is unacceptable;matching said visual appearances of said time/temperature indicator with a corresponding similarly visually appearing portion of said indicator scale to create a matched area; and observing said matched area and determining with which of said first or second zones said matched area is aligned so as to determine whether said product is acceptable or not. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of packaging a product comprising:
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providing a container; placing a product in said container; and providing on said container an indicator comprising (i) a time/temperature indicator that irreversibly changes visual appearances based on a combination of predetermined times and temperatures;
(ii) an indicator scale adjacent to said time/temperature indicator including substantially all of said visual appearances that said time/temperature indicator can display; and
(iii) a binary scale in near adjacency with said time/temperature indicator and said indicator scale, said binary scale including a first zone and a second zone. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of making an indicator comprising:
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providing a label; providing a time/temperature indicator that irreversibly changes visual appearances based on a combination of predetermined times and temperatures; printing on said label (i) an indicator scale including substantially all of said visual appearances that said time/temperature indicator can display and (ii) a binary scale in near adjacency with said indicator with said indicator scale, said binary scale including a first zone and a second zone; and placing said time/temperature indicator on said label in near adjacency with said indicator scale and said binary scale. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification