Package impact indicator(s) registering location and elapsed time from impact

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247825-B2
Application number	US-201815997933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2018
Priority date	Jun 5, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

Impact indicators which include an impact registering structure are provided for a package. The impact registering structure registers a location and an elapsed time of an impact of excessive force on the package. The structure includes a first region, a second region, and a barrier film. The first region contains a first element, and the second region contains a second element. The first and second elements are selected to register the location and the elapsed time of the impact when coming in contact. The barrier film separates the first and second regions, and is calibrated to rupture with a specified impact force. Once ruptured, the first element and the second element contact, in part, to provide a location indication of the rupture in the barrier film and a time elapsed indication indicative of the elapsed time from the rupture in the barrier film.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An impact indicator for a package, the impact indicator comprising:
a multi-layer impact registering structure to register, when associated with the package, a location and an elapsed time of an impact of excessive impact force on the package, the multi-layer impact registering structure including:
a first layer containing a first element;
a second layer containing a second element, wherein the first layer is a first planar layer, the second layer is a second planar layer, and the first element and the second element are selected to register location of the impact on the multi-layer impact register structure and the elapsed time of the impact when coming in contact due to the impact; and
a barrier film isolating the first and second planar layers, the barrier film being a planar film calibrated to rupture with a specified impact force, and once ruptured, the first element and the second element contacting, in part, to provide an indication of a particular location in the multi-layer impact registering structure experiencing a greatest impact force due to the impact, and a time elapsed indication indicative of the elapsed time from the rupture in the barrier film.

2. The impact indicator of claim 1 , wherein the first element of the first layer is a colorimetric element, and the second element of the second layer is an activating agent for the colorimetric element, the colorimetric element changing color in a time-elapsed manner in a region of exposure to the activating agent.

3. The impact indicator of claim 2 , wherein the colorimetric element comprises a PH sensitive dye and the activating agent comprises an acid or base suspended in a neutral liquid which reacts with the colorimetric element.

4. The impact indicator of claim 1 , wherein the barrier film is calibrated to rupture with the specified impact force perpendicular to the multi-layer impact registering structure.

5. The impact indicator of claim 1 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are coplanar layers of the multi-layer impact registering structure separated by the barrier film.

6. The impact indicator of claim 5 , wherein the first element comprises an indicator dye, and the second element an absorbing agent, wherein rupture of the barrier film results in the first element being partially absorbed into the second element, with a location of the absorption providing the location indication of the rupture in the barrier film and a rate of absorption providing the time elapsed indication indicative of elapsed time from the rupture in the barrier film.

7. The impact indicator of claim 5 , wherein the barrier film is calibrated to rupture with the specified impact force planar to the multi-layer impact registering structure.

8. The impact indicator of claim 1 , wherein the location indication resides, in part, within at least one of the first layer or the second layer at a position of the barrier film within the impact registering structure experiencing the excessive impact force on the package.

9. The impact indicator of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer impact registering structure further includes an adhesive on at least one side thereof to facilitate adhering the multi-layer impact registering structure to the package.

10. The impact indicator of claim 9 , wherein the adhesive is coupled to at least one of the first layer or the second layer of the multi-layer impact registering structure.

11. An assembly comprising:
a package; and
an impact indicator associated with the package, the impact indicator comprising:
a multi-layer impact registering structure coupled to the package for registering a location and an elapsed time of an impact of excessive impact force on the package, the multi-layer impact registering structure including:
a first layer containing a first element;
a second layer containing a second element, wherein the first layer is a first planar layer, the second layer is a second planar layer, and the first element and the second element are selected to register the location of the impact on the multi-layer impact register structure and the elapsed time of the impact when coming in contact due to the impact; and
a barrier film isolating the first and second planar layers, the barrier film being a planar film calibrated to rupture with a specified impact force, and once ruptured, the first element and the second element contacting, in part, to provide an indication of a particular location in the multi-layer impact registering structure experiencing a greatest impact force due to the impact, and a time elapsed indication indicative of the elapsed time from the rupture in the barrier film.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first element of the first layer is a colorimetric element, and the second element of the second layer is an activating agent for the colorimetric element, the colorimetric element changing color in a time-elapsed manner in a region of exposure to the activating agent.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the barrier film is calibrated to rupture with the specified impact force perpendicular to the multi-layer impact registering structure.

14. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are coplanar layers of the multi-layer impact registering structure separated by the barrier film.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first element comprises an indicator dye, and the second element an absorbing agent, wherein rupture of the barrier film results in the first element being partially absorbed into the second element, with a location of the absorption providing the location indication of the rupture in the barrier film and a rate of absorption providing the time elapsed indication indicative of elapsed time from the rupture in the barrier film.

16. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the barrier film is calibrated to rupture with the specified impact force planar to the multi-layer impact registering structure.

17. A method of fabricating an impact indicator for a package, the method comprising:
providing a multi-layer impact registering structure to register, when associated with the package, a location and an elapsed time of an impact of excessive impact force on the package, the providing including:
providing a first layer containing a first element;
providing a second layer contain a second element, wherein the first layer is a first planar layer, the second layer is a second planar layer, and the first element and the second element are selected to register location of the impact on the multi-layer impact register structure and the an elapsed time of the impact when coming in contact due to the impact; and
isolating the first and second planar layers by a barrier film, the barrier film being a planar film calibrated to rupture with a specified impact force, and once ruptured, the first element and the second element contacting, in part, to provide an indication of a particular location in the multi-layer impact registering structure experiencing a greatest impact force due to the impact, and a time elapsed indication indicative of the elapsed time from the rupture.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first element of the first layer is a colorimetric element, and the second element of the second layer is an activating agent for the colorimetric element, the colorimetric element changing color in a time-elapsed manner in a region of exposure to the activating agent.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are coplanar layer

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Ward Brett
• Green William J
• Foshee Callum

Classifications

• G01P15/06

  using members subjected to a permanent deformation · CPC title

• B65D79/02 Primary

  Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport ({B65D79/005 takes precedence } ; measuring devices G01) · CPC title

• G01P15/036 Primary

  for indicating predetermined acceleration values · CPC title