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US 12,498,274 B2Granted
Multifunctional thermal exposure indicator
OwnerBaxter Douglas Whitman Krug, Ian Scott Starkinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multifunctional thermal exposure indicator can provide immediate reversible indications of overtemperature as well as irreversible indications of excessive thermal loading. Additionally, the multifunctional thermal exposure indicator can provide semi-reversible indications of undertemperature thermal loading, such as exposure to temperatures below the freezing point of water.
Claims38
A thermal exposure indicator, comprising:
- a first multilayer indicator enabled for affixing to an object to be monitored for thermal exposure, the first multilayer indicator further comprising:
- a first sublayer comprising a first design that is non-thermochromic;
- a second sublayer in contact with and overlaid on the first sublayer, the second sublayer comprising a first thermochromic pigment that irreversibly transitions from a first color to transparent when exposed to temperatures exceeding a first threshold temperature for longer than a first duration, wherein when the second sublayer is transparent, the first sublayer is visible through the second sublayer;
- a third sublayer in contact with and overlaid on the second sublayer, the third sublayer further comprising:
- a first portion comprising a second thermochromic pigment that is reversible from a second color to a third color depending on whether the temperatures exceed a second threshold temperature that is lower than the first threshold temperature, wherein the third color is opaque or transparent;
- and
- a second portion comprising a third thermochromic pigment that undergoes a transition from a fourth color to transparent depending on whether the temperatures exceed a third threshold temperature for a second duration, wherein when the second portion is transparent, the second sublayer is visible through the second portion, and wherein the second portion remains irreversible with respect to the transition when the temperatures exceed a fourth threshold temperature.
4 more elements
An object enabled for thermal exposure monitoring, the object comprising:
- a thermal exposure indicator in contact with the object, the thermal exposure indicator further comprising:
- a first multilayer indicator enabled for affixing to the object, the first multilayer indicator further comprising:
- a first sublayer comprising a first design that is non-thermochromic;
- a second sublayer in contact with and overlaid on the first sublayer, the second sublayer comprising a first thermochromic pigment that irreversibly transitions from a first color to transparent when exposed to temperatures exceeding a first threshold temperature for longer than a first duration, wherein when the second sublayer is transparent, the first sublayer is visible through the second sublayer;
- a third sublayer in contact with and overlaid on the second sublayer, the third sublayer further comprising:
- a first portion comprising a second thermochromic pigment that is reversible from a second color to a third color depending on whether the temperatures exceed a second threshold temperature that is lower than the first threshold temperature, wherein the third color is transparent or opaque;
- and
- a second portion comprising a third thermochromic pigment that undergoes a transition from a fourth color to transparent depending on whether the temperatures exceed a third threshold temperature for a second duration, wherein when the second portion is transparent, the second sublayer is visible through the second portion, and wherein the second portion remains irreversible with respect to the transition when the temperatures exceed a fourth threshold temperature.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.