Spike type freshness sensor
OwnerAddison Carter, Miriam Kolis +1inventors
InventorsAddison Carter, Miriam Kolis, Anastacia Dwyer
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Abstract
A freshness sensor includes a cap housing a sensor element and a spike extending away from a lower surface of the cap. The spike defines a cavity in fluid communication with the sensor element and the spike includes an expansion portion configured to expand after the spike is inserted into packaging housing a perishable product, so as to form a hollow in the packaging or perishable product and thereby allow gas exchange between the hollow and the sensor element by way of the cavity.
Claims22
A freshness sensor comprising:
- a cap housing a sensor element;
- and
- a spike extending away from a lower surface of the cap, the spike including
- a cavity defined by the spike, the cavity in fluid communication with the sensor element, and
- an expansion portion, the expansion portion configured to expand after the spike is inserted into a packaging housing a perishable product and to form a hollow in the packaging or perishable product to thereby allow gas exchange between the hollow and the sensor element by way of the cavity.
A freshness sensor comprising:
- a cap housing electronics;
- an adhesive layer positioned on a lower surface of the cap;
- and
- a spike extending away from the lower surface of the cap, the spike including electrodes in electrical communication with the electronics;
- wherein, the spike is configured for insertion into a packaging housing a perishable product and into the perishable product, the adhesive layer is configured to seal a hole formed in the packaging by the spike, and the electrodes are configured to measure bulk phase electrical properties of the perishable product.
A method for monitoring the freshness of a perishable item, comprising:
- inserting a freshness sensor into a packaging of a perishable item and into the perishable product, the freshness sensor including
- a cap housing communication means, the cap remaining outside of the packaging,
- a spike extending away from a lower surface of the cap, the spike piercing the packaging and perishable product, and
- an adhesive layer positioned on a lower surface of the cap, the adhesive layer sealing a hole formed in the packaging by the spike;
- monitoring the freshness of the perishable product;
- and
- transmitting data from the communication means to a receiving unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.