Environmental history monitor with security features
AssigneeTemptime Corporation
InventorsMarielle K. Smith, Mohannad Abdo, Thi N. Do, Brian S. Huffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Environmental monitors for monitoring a predetermined environmental exposure, for example, an historical heat exposure such as a cumulative ambient heat exposure and/or a peak ambient heat exposure may include an environmental indicator material and a security material. The environmental monitor may be configured to attach to a host product for monitoring the predetermined environmental exposure of the host product, and additionally serve as an anti-counterfeiting indicator.
Claims23
An environmental monitor, comprising:
- a substrate;
- an environmental indicator material supported by the substrate and configured to change its color state responsive to a predetermined environmental exposure other than light exposure;
- and
- a security material supported by the substrate, the security material being either a photochromic material configured to change its color state when exposed to specific light wavelengths or a luminescent material configured to give a bright appearance of a predetermined color when exposed to the specific light wavelengths;
- wherein the environmental monitor is selected from the group consisting of a humidity exposure monitor, an oxygen exposure monitor, a freeze monitor, a thaw monitor, a peak heat exposure monitor, a cumulative heat exposure monitor, a current temperature indicator, a pH indicator, and combinations thereof;
- and
- wherein the change of the color state of the environmental indicator material is a change of transparency which reveals or obscures the security material.
An environmental exposure indicator, comprising:
- a substrate;
- an environmental indicator material supported by the substrate being opaque in an initial color state and configured to change its color state to transparent responsive to a predetermined environmental exposure other than light exposure;
- a background supported by the substrate and beneath the environmental indicator material and having an apparent color to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions that is the same or similar as the apparent color of the environmental indicator material in its initial color state, so that under normal lighting conditions, the change of color state of the environmental indicator material is not apparent to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions;
- a security material supported by the substrate and beneath the environmental indicator material, the security material being either a photochromic material configured to change its color state when exposed to specific light wavelengths or a luminescent material configured to give a bright appearance of a predetermined color when exposed to the specific light wavelengths;
- wherein the environmental monitor is selected from the group consisting of a humidity exposure monitor, an oxygen exposure monitor, a freeze monitor, a thaw monitor, a peak heat exposure monitor, a cumulative heat exposure monitor, a current temperature indicator, a pH indicator, and combinations thereof.
The environmental exposure indicator of 22, wherein the environmental indicator material, and the environmental exposure indicator further comprising a second environmental indicator material configured to change its color state responsive to a second predetermined environmental exposure other than light exposure, so the change in color state of the second environmental indicator material is visible to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.