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US 2026/0085983 A1Published application
Multifunctional thermal exposure indicator for objects
OwnerBaxter Douglas Whitman Krug, Ian Scott Starkinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multifunctional thermal exposure indicator can provide, among other disclosed features, immediate reversible indications of overtemperature as well as irreversible indications of excessive thermal loading. Additionally, the multifunctional thermal exposure indicator can provide, among other disclosed features, semi-reversible indications of undertemperature thermal loading, such as exposure to temperatures below the freezing point of water.
Claims20
A thermal exposure indicator, comprising:
- a first multilayer indicator further comprising:
- a first sublayer comprising a first design that is non-thermochromic;
- a second sublayer comprising a first thermochromic pigment that undergoes a first transition from a first color to transparent when subject to at least a first threshold temperature for longer than a first duration, wherein the first design becomes visible through the second sublayer after the first transition;
- a third sublayer further comprising:
- a second thermochromic pigment that undergoes a second transition from a second color to a third color when subject to at least a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature;
- and
- a third thermochromic pigment that undergoes a third transition from a fourth color to transparent when subject to at least a third threshold temperature for a second duration, wherein the second sublayer becomes visible through the third thermochromic pigment after the second transition and wherein the third thermochromic pigment remains irreversible with respect to the second transition when the temperatures exceed a fourth threshold temperature.
4 more elements
An 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 comprising a first thermochromic pigment that undergoes a first transition from a first color to transparent when subject to at least a first threshold temperature for longer than a first duration, wherein the first design becomes visible through the second sublayer after the first transition;
- a third sublayer further comprising:
- a second thermochromic pigment that undergoes a second transition from a second color to a third color when subject to at least a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature;
- and
- a third thermochromic pigment that undergoes a third transition from a fourth color to transparent when subject to at least a third threshold temperature for a second duration, wherein the second sublayer becomes visible through the third thermochromic pigment after the second transition and wherein the third thermochromic pigment remains irreversible with respect to the second transition when the temperatures exceed a fourth threshold temperature.
5 more elements
An 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 comprising a first thermochromic pigment that undergoes a first transition from a first color to transparent when subject to at least a first threshold temperature for longer than a first duration, wherein the first design becomes visible through the second sublayer after the first transition;
- a third sublayer further comprising:
- a second thermochromic pigment that undergoes a second transition from a second color to a third color when subject to at least a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature;
- and
- a third thermochromic pigment that undergoes a third transition from a fourth color to transparent when subject to at least a third threshold temperature for a second duration, wherein the second sublayer becomes visible through the third thermochromic pigment after the second transition and wherein the third thermochromic pigment remains irreversible with respect to the second transition when the temperatures exceed a fourth threshold temperature;
- and
- a second multilayer indicator further comprising:
- a fourth sublayer comprising a second design that is non-thermochromic;
- and
- a fourth thermochromic pigment that undergoes a third transition from transparent to a fifth color when dropping below a fifth threshold temperature, wherein the second design is obscured after the third transition, wherein the third threshold temperature ranges from about 27.8° C. to about 29.4° C. and the second duration is at least 15 minutes, wherein the first threshold temperature is about 29.4° C. and the first duration is at least 60 minutes, and wherein the first threshold temperature is about 35° C. and the first duration is at least 15 minutes.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.