초록 ▼

A device and system for determining the status of the contents of a container by measuring the period of time which has elapsed since the opening of the container. The present invention provides a flexible mechanism for enabling the user to determine the usability or efficacy of the contents of the

A device and system for determining the status of the contents of a container by measuring the period of time which has elapsed since the opening of the container. The present invention provides a flexible mechanism for enabling the user to determine the usability or efficacy of the contents of the container, since such contents typically experience a higher rate of degradation once the container has been opened. Furthermore, the manufacturer is able to provide information related to the expiration date of an unopened container at the time of manufacture, but cannot determine the time at which the container is opened, and hence the expiration date after opening.

대표청구항 ▼

A device and system for determining the status of the contents of a container by measuring the period of time which has elapsed since the opening of the container. The present invention provides a flexible mechanism for enabling the user to determine the usability or efficacy of the contents of the

A device and system for determining the status of the contents of a container by measuring the period of time which has elapsed since the opening of the container. The present invention provides a flexible mechanism for enabling the user to determine the usability or efficacy of the contents of the container, since such contents typically experience a higher rate of degradation once the container has been opened. Furthermore, the manufacturer is able to provide information related to the expiration date of an unopened container at the time of manufacture, but cannot determine the time at which the container is opened, and hence the expiration date after opening. o both the first conductive strip and the first seesaw plate when the first conductive strip is in the normal operation condition and also allowing the first conductive strip to bend freely to the breaking condition and wherein with the first conductive strip in the breaking condition, when the first seesaw plate is moved to the disengaged position, the link drives the first conductive strip to move in unison with the first seesaw plate to the normal operation condition, the movement of the first conductive strip causing the coupler to move a second one of the conductive strips in unison with the first conductive strip. 5. The switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the link is coupled to the first end of the first seesaw plate and forms an elongated slot having a predetermined longitudinal dimension defined by upper and lower ends of the elongated slot, the free end of the first conductive strip being received in the elongated slot and being allowed to move with respect to the elongated slot, the longitudinal dimension being such that when the first end of the first seesaw plate moves between the engaged and disengaged positions, the free end of the first conductive strip does not engage the upper and lower ends of the elongated slot and is thus not caused to move by the link and such that with the first conductive strip in the breaking condition, when the first seesaw plate moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the free end of the first conductive strip engages and is driven by the lower end of the elongated slot to move back to the normal operation condition. 6. The switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the link is coupled to the free end of the first conductive plate and forms an elongated slot having a predetermined longitudinal dimension defined by upper and lower ends of the elongated slot, the first end of the first seesaw plate being received in the elongated slot and being allowed to move with respect to the elongated slot, the longitudinal dimension being such that when the first end of the first seesaw plate moves between the engaged and disengaged positions, the first end of the first seesaw plate does not engage the upper and lower ends of the elongated slot and the first conductive strip is not caused to move by the link and such that with the first conductive strip in the breaking condition, when the first seesaw plate moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the first end of the first seesaw plate engages the upper end of the slot and drives the link to move the free end of the first conductive strip back to the normal operation condition. 7. The switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a biasing element having a first end pivotally connected to the casing and a second end coupled to the free end of at least one of the conductive strips, the biasing element applying a retention force to retain the at least one conductive strip in the breaking condition. 8. The switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the biasing element comprises a U-shaped leaf spring having a first leg pivotally connected to the casing and a second end coupled to the free end of the conductive strip. 9. The switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the leaf spring is configured to have the coupling between the second leg and the conductive strip movable between opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the first leg to the casing when the conductive strip is moved between the normal operation condition and the breaking condition. 10. The switch as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a bolt threadingly received in an inner-threaded hole of the casing, a groove being defined in the bolt to pivotally receiving an extension of the first leg of the spring thereby pivotally connecting the first leg to the casing. 11. The switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein the groove of the bolt is position-adjustable with respect to the casing by turning the bolt with respect to the casing. 12. The switch as claimed