US 2026/0133079 A1Published application

Activatable dual thermal indicators

AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation

InventorsBrian S. Huffman, Sean MacDavitt, Mohannad Abdo

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Activatable dual thermal indicators are disclosed herein. An example is provided by an activatable environmental exposure indicator, including: a substrate, a cover layer overlaying the substrate, a first reservoir and a second reservoir, separately disposed between the substrate and the cover layer and within in an activation region, a first plurality of microcapsules disposed in the first reservoir, each microcapsule of the first plurality of microcapsules including a first payload microencapsulated in a first frangible shell, a second plurality of microcapsules disposed in the second reservoir, each microcapsule of the second plurality of microcapsules including a second payload microencapsulated in a second frangible shell. The second payload includes a second liquefiable material configured to liquefy responsive to a second predetermined environmental exposure.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An activatable environmental exposure indicator, comprising:

a substrate;
a cover layer overlaying the substrate;
a first reservoir and a second reservoir, separately disposed between the substrate and the cover layer and within in an activation region;
a first plurality of microcapsules disposed in the first reservoir, each microcapsule of the first plurality of microcapsules including a first payload microencapsulated in a first frangible shell;
wherein the first payload includes a first liquefiable material configured to liquefy responsive to a first predetermined environmental exposure,
wherein the first frangible shells are configured to rupture responsive to an application of an activation action, releasing the first payload from the first frangible shells, and
wherein the first payload is configured to produce a first observable effect in a first indicator region responsive to the first liquefiable material being liquefied after the first payload is released from the frangible shells,
wherein the first frangible shells are configured to block the first payload from producing the first observable effect in the first indicator region prior to the application of the activation action;
and
a second plurality of microcapsules disposed in the second reservoir, each microcapsule of the second plurality of microcapsules including a second payload microencapsulated in a second frangible shell;
wherein the second payload includes a second liquefiable material configured to liquefy responsive to a second predetermined environmental exposure,
wherein the second frangible shells are configured to rupture responsive to the application of the activation action, releasing the second payload from the second frangible shells, and
wherein the second payload is configured to produce a second observable effect in a second indicator region after the second payload is released from the second frangible shells and when the second liquefiable material is liquefied,
wherein the second frangible shells are configured to block the second payload from producing the second observable effect in the second indicator region prior to the application of the activation action.

11 more elements

A thermal exposure indicator, comprising:

a substrate;
a high temperature excursion indicator coupled to the substrate, comprising:
an indicator region;
a first plurality of microcapsules, each containing a first payload microencapsulated in a first frangible shell, the first payload including a first liquefiable material configured to liquefy when exposed to a temperature above a first predetermined high temperature threshold,
wherein the first frangible shells are configured to rupture responsive to an application of an activation action, releasing the first payload, and
wherein, after being released from the first frangible shells, the first payload is configured to produce an observable effect in the indicator region when liquefied,
wherein, prior to the application of the activation action, the first frangible shells are configured to contain the first payload when the first liquefiable material is liquefied and when the first liquefiable material is not liquefied, such that the first payload is blocked from producing the observable effect in the indicator region even after an exposure to the temperature above the first predetermined high temperature threshold;
a time-temperature indicator, coupled to the substrate comprising:
a migration region;
and
a second plurality of microcapsules, each containing a second payload microencapsulated in a second frangible shell, the second payload including a second liquefiable material configured to liquefy when exposed to a temperature above a second predetermined high temperature threshold, and solidify when exposed to a temperature below the second predetermined high temperature threshold,
wherein the second frangible shells are configured to rupture responsive to the application of the activation action, releasing the second payload, and
wherein, after being released from the second frangible shells, the second payload is configured to migrate through the migration region when the second liquefiable material is liquefied, and to halt migration when the second liquefiable material is solidified,
wherein, prior to the application of the activation action, the second frangible shells are configured to contain the second payload when the second liquefiable material is liquefied and when the second liquefiable material solidified, such that the second payload is blocked from migrating through the migration region even after an exposure to the temperature above the second predetermined high temperature threshold;
and
an activation region aligned with the first plurality of microcapsules and the second plurality of microcapsules, configured such that when a compressive force is applied to the activation region, the activation action is simultaneously applied to both the first plurality of microcapsules and the second plurality of microcapsules.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.