# US 2025/0093318 A1 · Spike type freshness sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0093318 A1 - Document ID: US20250093318A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/469,184 - Filed: 2023-09-18 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-18 - Applicants: The Kroger Co. - Inventors: Addison Carter; Miriam Kolis; Anastacia Dwyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093318A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/0022: {using a number of analysing channels} - G01N 33/02: Food - G01N 33/12: Meat; Fish - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer positioned on the lower surface of the cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, wherein the spike has a tapered portion forming a terminal distal end of the spike. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, further comprising a communication means housed in the cap and configured to transmit data from the sensor element to a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The freshness sensor of claim 4, wherein the communication means is a RFID chip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The freshness sensor of claim 4, wherein the communication means is a NFC chip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, further comprising sensor paper positioned within the cavity and adjacent to the sensor element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor element is configured to monitor gaseous volatile biogenic amines. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor element comprises a volatile nitrogen sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, wherein the expansion portion includes a plurality of longitudinal members that are positioned parallel and adjacent to each other when the spike is inserted into the packaging housing, the longitudinal members further configured to bulge outward and separate to define channels between the bulged longitudinal members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The freshness sensor of claim 1, wherein the spike includes an outer shell and an inner shell positioned within the outer shell, the outer shell having the expansion portion, and the inner shell defining a plurality of perforations in fluid communication with the cavity defined by the spike. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The freshness sensor of claim 11, wherein the outer shell of the spike includes an upper portion having a tooth extending away from the lower surface of the cap, and a lower portion defining a first groove and a second groove, the lower portion having the expansion portion; wherein, the upper portion and the lower portion are configured to rotate relative to one another; and wherein, upon rotating the upper portion from a first position in which the tooth of the upper portion is located within the first groove to a second position in which the tooth of the upper portion is located within the second groove, the lower portion is pushed away from the lower surface of the cap causing the expansion portion of the outer shell to expand. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The freshness sensor of claim 11, wherein the outer shell of the spike includes a removable collar positioned adjacent to the lower surface of the cap and a lower portion, the lower portion having the expansion portion; and wherein, upon removing the collar, the lower portion of the outer shell is pushed towards the lower surface of the cap causing the expansion portion of the outer shell to expand. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The freshness sensor of claim 11, wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are configured to slide relative to one another; and wherein an inner surface of the outer shell and an outer surface of the inner shell are configured to engage when the outer shell is pushed towards the lower surface of the cap causing the expansion portion of the outer shell to expand. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The freshness sensor of claim 14, wherein the outer shell includes a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion, the narrower lower portion of the outer shell having the expansion portion; wherein the inner shell includes a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion; and wherein the narrower lower portion of the outer shell is narrower than the wider upper portion of the inner shell such that, when the outer shell is pushed towards the lower surface of the cap, the wider upper portion of the inner shell forces the narrow lower portion of the outer shell outward. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The freshness sensor of claim 14, wherein the inner surface of the outer shell includes a narrowed portion such that, when the outer shell is pushed towards the lower surface of the cap, the inner shell forces the narrowed portion of the outer shell outward. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The freshness sensor of claim 17, wherein the electrodes are molded into the spike. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The freshness sensor of claim 17, wherein the spike includes an upper portion adjacent to and affixed to the cap, a lower portion forming a tapered distal end of the spike, and a middle portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion; wherein the electrodes are electrical wires extending along an outside of the middle portion of the spike. ### Claim 20 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the cap further houses a sensor element and the spike includes a cavity defined by the spike, the cavity in fluid communication with the sensor element, and an expansion portion; wherein, after inserting the freshness sensor into the perishable product, the expansion portion is expanded to form a hollow in the perishable product to thereby allow gas exchange between the hollow and the sensor element by way of the cavity. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the spike includes electrodes in electrical communication with the communication means, the electrodes configured to measure bulk phase electrical properties of the perishable product.