Temperature sensitive device for medicine containers

• US 5,779,364 A
• Filed: 07/29/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christy D. Cugini Jr, Joseph F. Cannelongo
• Original Assignee: Christy D. Cugini Jr, Joseph F. Cannelongo
• Inventors: Cugini, Christy D. Jr., Cannelongo, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORTH, WILLIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/688,150
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 116/207, 116/216, 116/217, 116/218, 116/219, 374/106, 374/160, 374/162, 40/310, 206/459.1
• US Class Current: 374/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/06 using melting, freezing, or softening

Abstract

A temperature indicator utilizing waxes, low-temperature melt metals or polymers attached to a support member that will melt to reveal a visible indicia on the support member thereby serving as an indicator that the product container to which the invention is attached has been heated beyond a predetermined stable temperature of the product.

Claims

1. A medicine safety device for a medicine container which contains a temperature-sensitive medication which loses intended medical efficacy when subjected to a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature, there being no viewable means otherwise provided for determining said loss of medical efficacy prior to taking or administrating said medication, said device consisting of:

a support member having an adhesive means on a first surface thereof for attaching said support member into an exterior surface of the container, a second surface of said support member which faces outwardly from the exterior surface having a viewable warning indicia thereon;

a temperature responsive member connected to said second surface and substantially covering said warning indicia from view, said temperature responsive member being a pastille formed of opaque wax which melts at a temperature substantially at or above the predetermined temperature whereby said warning indicia becomes viewable on the support member after the pastille has melted.

2. In a medicine container having a neck which is reduced in transverse width and which contains a temperature-sensitive medication which loses intended medical efficacy when subjected to a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature, there being no viewable means otherwise provided for determining said loss of medical efficacy prior to taking or administrating said medication, the improvement consisting essentially of:

a support member attached to an exterior surface of said container, an outwardly facing surface of said support member having a viewable warning indicia thereon;

said support member being attached to a narrow neck of said container between a cap end and an enlarged main body portion of said container;

a temperature responsive member connected to said second surface and substantially covering said warning indicia from view, said temperature responsive member being a pastille formed of opaque wax which melts at a temperature substantially at or above the predetermined temperature whereby said warning indicia becomes viewable on the support member after the pastille has melted.

3. In combination, a medicine container for a temperature-sensitive medication which loses intended medical efficacy when subjected to a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature and a medicine safety device attached to said medicine container comprising:

said medicine safety device including;

a support member attached to an exterior surface of said medicine container, an outwardly facing surface of said support member having a viewable warning indicia thereon;

a temperature responsive member connected to said outwardly facing surface and substantially covering said warning indicia from view, said temperature responsive member being a pastille formed of opaque wax which melts at a temperature substantially at or above the predetermined temperature whereby said warning indicia becomes viewable on the support member only after the pastille has melted;

said medicine container having a narrow cap, an enlarged main body portion and a narrow neck smaller in width than that of said main body portion;

said support member being attached to said narrow neck between said cap end and said main body portion whereby handling of said container will not cause said temperature responsive member to inadvertently melt.