Time or time-temperature indicating articles

• US 6,916,116 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neogen Food Safety US Holdco Corporation (Neogen Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bommarito, G. Marco, Diekmann, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagan, Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US10/405,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 374/105, 374/102, 374/106, 374/101, 374/104, 374/162, 116/207, 116/206, 116/219, 116/216, 116/308, 116/220, 368/89, 368/327
• US Class Current: 374/102
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/00 Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals without driving mechanisms, e.g. egg timers

Abstract

Time or time-temperature indicating articles are described comprising a housing enclosing: (a) a first fluid reservoir at least partially filled with a first fluid; (b) a substrate comprising a plurality of channels; (c) a second fluid reservoir in fluid communication with at least one channel of the substrate; and (d) a barrier located between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir. The article can be manipulated at a desired point in time by opening the barrier to allow at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and to contact at least one channel of the substrate. The article is designed to provide an indication of the progress of the fluid as it moves through the channels of the substrate.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a housing enclosing;

(a) a first fluid reservoir at least partially filled with a first fluid;

(b) a substrate comprising a plurality of channels;

(c) a second fluid reservoir in fluid communication with at least one channel of the substrate; and

(d) a barrier located between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir;

wherein the article can be manipulated at a desired point in time by opening the barrier to allow at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and to contact at least one channel of the substrate;

wherein the article is designed to provide an indication of the progress of the fluid as it moves through the channels of the substrate; and

wherein the second reservoir has a volume that is greater than a volume of the first reservoir, and is a sufficient to prevent the fluid from the first reservoir from being forced directly into the substrate upon opening the barrier.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein each fluid is selected from the group of viscous fluids, viscoelastic fluids, and combinations thereof.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate is cube-corner retroreflective sheeting.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate is retroreflective and wherein the progress of the fluid as it migrates through the channels of the substrate is evidenced by total internal reflectance in the retroreflective substrate.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a timer.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a time-temperature indicator.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of channels of random size and shape.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the substrate is a web, fabric, porous material, porous paper or a porous membrane.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a microstructured surface comprising a plurality of channels having a predetermined size and shape.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein each channel is substantially identical to an adjacent channel or the substrate.

11. The article of claim 9, wherein the substrate is retroreflective.

12. The article of claim 1, wherein the second fluid reservoir is compression resistant.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the second reservoir comprises a compression resistant elongated tube having an inlet opening, an internal passageway for the flow of fluid, a first outlet that is in fluid communication with the substrate, and a second outlet that is located proximate a vent hole.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the second reservoir comprises a tube having an interior passageway for the flow of fluid and wherein the interior passageway is sized to provide a capillary pressure when in contact with the fluid that is less than the capillary pressure of the channels or the substrate when in contact with the fluid.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein the second reservoir comprises a tube comprising a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polymer, or metal.

16. The article of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top film and a base film that are adhered together with a layer of adhesive.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the top film further comprises a scale that is positioned on a portion of the top film through which the progress of the fluid flow may be viewed and which extends in the direction of fluid flow.

18. The article of claim 16, wherein the top film further comprises a microstructured surface.

19. The article of claim 16, wherein the top film further comprises a raised protrusion that form a portion of a sidewall of the first fluid reservoir.

20. The article of claim 16, wherein the top film further comprises a raised protrusion that forms a portion of a sidewall of the second reservoir.

21. An article comprising:

a housing enclosing;

(a) a first fluid reservoir at least partially filled with a first fluid;

(b) a substrate comprising a plurality of channels;

(c) a compression resistant reservoir comprising an elongated tube having an inlet opening, an internal passageway for the flow of fluid, a first outlet that is in fluid communication at least one channel of the substrate, and a second outlet that is in communication with a vent hole; and

(d) a barrier located between the first fluid reservoir and the inlet opening of the compression resistant reservoir;

wherein the article can be manipulated at a desired point in time by opening the barrier to allow at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the first reservoir to the compression resistant fluid reservoir and to contact at least one channel of the substrate; and

wherein the article is designed to provide an indication of the progress of the fluid as it moves through the channels of the substrate.