초록 ▼

A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product has a substrate, a freeze indicator supported by the substrate and a cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator also supported by the substrate. The freeze indicator can provide a visual i

A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product has a substrate, a freeze indicator supported by the substrate and a cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator also supported by the substrate. The freeze indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing or near-freezing temperature and the cumulative time-temperature indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the cumulative time-temperature indicator to a predetermined cumulative time-temperature value. Also disclosed are: a combination freeze indicator and threshold temperature indicator; a combination threshold indicator and cumulative temperature indicator; and three-way combination indicators that can provide indications of cumulative past temperature exposure, exposure to freezing temperatures and exposure to a temperature above a threshold.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product, the combination temperature exposure indicator comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a freeze indicator supported by the substrate; and (c) a cumulative ambient time

The invention claimed is: 1. A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product, the combination temperature exposure indicator comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a freeze indicator supported by the substrate; and (c) a cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator supported by the substrate; wherein the freeze indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing temperature, wherein the cumulative time-temperature indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the cumulative time-temperature indicator to a predetermined cumulative time-temperature value and wherein the cumulative time-temperature indicator and the freeze indicator have similar visual appearances. 2. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 wherein the visual indications provided by the freeze indicator and the cumulative time-temperature indicator are provided in respective indicator areas wherein one of the indicator areas lies within, optionally entirely within, the other indicator area. 3. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 2 wherein the cumulative time-temperature indicator is supported by the freeze indicator and wherein, optionally, the cumulative time temperature indicator area has a transparent appearance prior to providing a visual indication of temperature exposure. 4. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 2 wherein the other indicator area is greater than the one indicator area. 5. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 wherein the freeze indicator and the cumulative time-temperature indicator have visually similar end points. 6. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 5 comprising a reference area having a similar appearance to the freeze indicator and the cumulative time-temperature indicator at their end points. 7. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 further comprising a threshold indicator supported on the substrate to indicate exposure of the combination indicator to a temperature above a threshold wherein the threshold indicator is arranged in a side-by-side relationship with the freeze indicator and the cumulative time-temperature indicator, and has a similar appearance to the cumulative time-temperature indicator and the freeze indicator. 8. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 7 comprising an RFID tag. 9. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 7 wherein both the freeze indicator and the threshold indicator have an initially clear appearance and change to a red appearance in response to exposure to a freezing temperature or a temperature above a threshold, respectively. 10. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 comprising an RFID tag. 11. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 wherein the freeze indicator and the cumulative time temperature indicator are arranged on the substrate in a side-by-side relationship, the substrate being attachable to a host product to be monitored, the combination temperature exposure indicator optionally including an adhesive layer to facilitate attachment to the host product. 12. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 11 wherein the appearance changes of each of the freeze indicator and the cumulative time temperature indicator are irreversible and the appearance of each indicator comprises the same, similarly sized regular geometric shape, the shape optionally being a circle. 13. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 12 wherein the freeze indicator and the cumulative time temperature indicator each have a common indicator appearance comprising an initially light circle which darkens to signal undesired past temperature exposure. 14. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 11 wherein the substrate lacks RFID functionality. 15. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 11 wherein the appearances of each of the freeze indicator and the cumulative time temperature indicator are irreversible and each comprises an initially light circle of similar size, one to the other which darkens to signal undesired past temperature exposure, and wherein the substrate lacks RFID functionality. 16. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 11 wherein the freeze indicator comprises a small indicator volume. 17. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 wherein the freeze indicator comprises a dispersion of solid colloidal particles in a liquid medium, and the freeze indicator optionally comprises a gaseous bubble visible in the indicator of the freeze indicator. 18. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 17 wherein the cumulative time temperature indicator comprises an ink coating including a polymerizable diacetylenic monomer. 19. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 17 wherein the freeze indicator comprises a vapor blocking envelope entirely containing the liquid medium, the vapor blocking envelope being formed of at least one vapor block material providing a loss of not more than 10 percent by weight of the liquid medium in one year of standardized shelf life, the vapor block material optionally having a moisture transmission rate of no more than about 1.0 g/m2/day at a temperature of 38�� C. and a relative humidity of 90%. 20. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 comprising an attachment device for attaching the combination temperature exposure indicator to a host product, the attachment device optionally comprising an adhesive layer, a hook-and-loop fastener system, a mechanical projection, a skewer, a hook, an eye, a tape or a tie. 21. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 comprising an attachment device for attaching the combination temperature exposure indicator to a host product wherein the freeze indicator comprises a small indicator volume, a dispersion of solid colloidal particles in a liquid medium contained in the small indicator volume, a vapor blocking envelope entirely containing the liquid medium, the vapor blocking envelope being formed of at least one vapor block material providing a loss of not more than 10 percent by weight of the liquid medium in one year of standardized shelf life, the vapor block material optionally having a moisture transmission rate of no more than about 1.0 g/m2/day at a temperature of 38�� C. and a relative humidity of 90%, and a visible gaseous bubble in the indicator volume; and wherein the cumulative time temperature indicator comprises an ink coating including a polymerizable diacetylenic monomer. 22. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises two opposed surfaces, wherein the temperature exposure indicators are supported on one of the opposed surfaces, and wherein the combination temperature exposure indicator comprises a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive supported on the other opposed surface and a release liner covering the adhesive. 23. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 1 and the host product, wherein the combination temperature exposure indicator is attached to the host product. 24. A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product, the combination temperature exposure indicator comprising: a substrate; a freeze indicator supported by the substrate, wherein the freeze indicator comprises: (a) an indicator volume; (b) an indicator dispersion of solid particles dispersed in a liquid medium, the indicator dispersion being contained in the indicator volume and being capable of coagulating to provide an irreversible appearance change when subject to freezing; and (c) at least one vapor block member extending around the indicator volume to prevent loss of liquid vapor from the indicator dispersion, and a cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator supported by the substrate; wherein the freeze indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing temperature and the cumulative time-temperature indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the cumulative time-temperature indicator to a predetermined cumulative time-temperature value. 25. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 24 wherein the vapor block member comprises a vapor blocking envelope entirely containing the liquid medium, the vapor blocking envelope being formed of at least one vapor block material providing a loss of not more than 10 percent by weight of the liquid medium in one year of standardized shelf life, the vapor block material optionally having a moisture transmission rate of no more than about 1.0 g/m2/day at a temperature of 38�� C. and a relative humidity of 90%. 26. A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product, the combination temperature exposure indicator comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a freeze indicator supported by the substrate, wherein the freeze indicator comprises a dispersion of solid inorganic pigment particles in an aqueous dispersion medium, the dispersion exhibiting an irreversible appearance change in response to freezing of the dispersion, an indicator volume containing the inorganic pigment dispersion and a viewing window for viewing the dispersion, the freeze indicator optionally comprising an attachment device for securing the indicator to a host product to be monitored; and (c) a cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator supported by the substrate; wherein the freeze indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing temperature wherein the cumulative time-temperature indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the cumulative time-temperature indicator to a predetermined cumulative time-temperature value. 27. A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product, the combination temperature exposure indicator comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a freeze indicator supported by the substrate, the freeze indicator being capable of providing a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing temperature; (c) a cumulative time-temperature indicator supported by the substrate, the cumulative time-temperature indicator being capable of providing a visual indication of exposure of the cumulative time-temperature indicator to a predetermined cumulative time-temperature value; and (d) a threshold indicator supported on the substrate to indicate exposure of the combination indicator to a temperature above a threshold; wherein the freeze indicator is initially transparent, both the cumulative time-temperature indicator and the threshold indicator are disposed behind the freeze indicator in relation to a viewer, and both the cumulative time-temperature indicator and the threshold indicator are viewable through the freeze indicator. 28. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 27 wherein the cumulative time-temperature indicator is initially transparent and the threshold indicator is viewable through the cumulative time-temperature indicator. 29. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 27 comprising a viewable upper surface and three viewing windows in the upper surface, wherein the freeze indicator, the cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator and the threshold indicator are separately viewable through a respective one each of the viewing windows. 30. A combination temperature exposure indicator suitable for attachment to, or association with, a host product, the combination temperature exposure indicator comprising: (a) substrate; (b) a freeze indicator supported on the substrate; and (c) a cumulative ambient time-temperature indicator supported on the freeze indicator; wherein the freeze indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing temperature and the cumulative time-temperature indicator can provide a visual indication of exposure of the cumulative time-temperature indicator to a predetermined cumulative time-temperature value; and wherein the visual indications provided by the freeze indicator and the cumulative time-temperature indicator are provided in respective indicator areas, wherein one of the indicator areas lies within, optionally entirely within, the other indicator area, and wherein the indicator area of the indicator situated more remotely from the substrate has a transparent appearance prior to providing a visual indication of temperature exposure. 31. A combination temperature exposure indicator according to claim 30 comprising an attachment device for attaching the combination temperature exposure indicator to a host product, wherein the freeze indicator comprises a small indicator volume, a dispersion of solid colloidal particles in a liquid medium contained in the small indicator volume, and a vapor blocking envelope entirely containing the liquid medium, the vapor blocking envelope being formed of at least one vapor block material providing a vapor loss of not more than 10 percent by weight of the liquid medium in one year of standardized shelf life, the vapor block material optionally having a moisture transmission rate of no more than about 1.0 g/m2/day at a temperature of 38�� C. and a relative humidity of 90%.