CA2376222A1 - Defrosting detector - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention, called a Defrost Detector, relates to the prevention of food spoilage and if consumed may lead to consequent food poisoning. It is a temperature sensitive device. It senses if the food was exposed to above freezing temperatures (defrosting conditions) for a longer period of time by displaying a clearly visible warning color indication. The activation of this device can not be reversed, which makes it tamperproof. It is a food freezing accessory and should be used in the food industry where food is packaged, shipped, stored and frozen for later consumption. The devices is to become part of the frozen food package and has to be installed or mounted in such a way that it can be easily recognized.

Description

Background of the Inventiion When purchasing frozen food it is imperative that it has been uninterruptedly kept frozen, in other words one has to hope and trust that the "system" works.
Unfortunately seeing frozen food placed outside of "reach in coolers" by inconsiderate people makes one think: what if somebody has been putting my purchase back into the freezer ? Sure enough, this phenomena substantiated itself and my family came down with very painful food poisoning.
This experience led me to this idea. We must learn to live with Freezer burn, over aged storage and bad quality.
However, frozen food which defrosted for whatever reason and than refrozen must be detected and must stay out of circulation. The danger of rapidly multiplying bacteria causing food poisoning with the added affiliated pains and sufferings is unacceptable and must be prevented.
This little device does just that.
Activation of the device could be the result of: a cooler failure; a break down during transportation; time delays when loading or delivering; overloading a "reach-in-cooler" whereby the food was exposed to defrosting conditions for too long; etc.
Bacteria growth definitely occurs during the above mentioned conditions. Said growing and rapidly multiplying bacteria causes food poisoning and the consumption of said food is dangerous and can cause death. Thousands of people have very painful food poisoning everyday.
Statistics speak for themselves: Although the U.S. food supply is considered the safest in the world, an estimated 9,000 Americans die every year from food poisoning.
Between 9 million and 33 million become sick every year from some form of food poisoning (http:~%www.cnn.cor~z~'HEALTH'9704/03/food.safety). In Canada, food poisoning is estimated to cost Canadians one billion dollars a year in medical and legal fees, lost wages, etc.
(http:lvvww.gov. mb. calagriculturelhomeec%be04s01. html).

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one to make, use and install this invention.
The device consists of a plastic pouch of approximately 1 "x 2"x 3/16" high.
Said pouch configurations are that of a strong hollow plastic compartment with a small window. Half of the pouch is clear and see through (Fig.l-3), the other halves content is not visible (Fig.l-9). The bottom of the pouch is a base plate(Figure 1-5) with 1/8" holes (Fig. l-4) at both ends for manual mounting applications to food packaging .
The underside of said plate is to be prepared for glue mounting applications to the food package in the freezing stage. The pouches non-see through side is to be filled with water and choice of food coloring or an other suitable liquid. This is achieved by placing the detector in a vertical position (in which it is also frozen), whereby the clear window side is above the liquid compartment. A water absorbing tissue or a bar code has to be inserted in this position before freezing. Built-in stoppers (Fig.1-8 indicated but not visible) would hold said inserts and also the frozen liquid in a stable position when attached to the frozen food and transported. Said inserts should also be bulky enough not to slide down into the coloring compartment or the must be installed via glue or fused with heat or pressure. The filler opening (Fig. l-7) also has to be sealed up in a similar way. The closing of the pouch can also be done with or without the benefit of an extra furnished lid (Fig. l-7). The Detector is now ready to be frozen solid and be kept (with many others) in a large vacuumed pouch-bag until needed for packaging. Said large vacuumed pouch-bag will keep the Defrosting Detector free from annoying frost and ready for use. Once attached to a frozen food package it can not be tampered with or used again if activated. The color warning display is non reversible.

If a bar code is to be incorporated into the clear pouch-window, the bar's code's texture is to be made of a water-absorbing kind. When activated the bar code would absorbs the colored liquid and become unregisterable. In any case there should be a piece of absorbing tissue placed inside of the clear plastic window indicating very clearly a non reversible deficiency.
There are many ways to build this Detector. A water based liquid with food coloring as a temperature sensing solution seems to be the most efficient, it is also harmless if accidentally spoiled with food. But a chemical substitute can also be used.

Claims (12)

1:A Device enabling one to see if the sub zero temperature went above zero degrees Celsius for a longer period of time.

2: A device consisting of a plastic pouch measuring about 2"x 1" x 3/16" high.

3: Said pouch is configured to be a strong plastic compartment with a clear window half of it's size.

4: Said pouch has holes in order to be manually mounted to a food package.

5: Said pouch's underside is prepared to allow glueing to a food container.

6: The pouch is to be filled to about half of its size with a water based food coloring or a suitable chemical solution

7: Said pouch comprises of a filler opening which is to be closed with or without the benefit of an extra provided lid, heat, pressure or tape.

8: The pouch is comprised of a plastic partial separator located between the two compartments.

9: Said plastic separator is to stabilize the frozen liquid and the inserted tissue in order to reduce impact movements during shipping and storage

10: Said pouch is to be frozen in a vertical position whereby the clear window stays upright.

11: A color absorbing tissue and/or a bar code is to be inserted into said pouch in said vertical position before freezing as defined in claim 10.

12: The contents of the pouch will melt if exposed to defrosting conditions whereby the clear window will show this condition in a non reversible color display.