EP0576481A1 - Elapsed time indicator - Google Patents
Elapsed time indicatorInfo
- Publication number
- EP0576481A1 EP0576481A1 EP92906472A EP92906472A EP0576481A1 EP 0576481 A1 EP0576481 A1 EP 0576481A1 EP 92906472 A EP92906472 A EP 92906472A EP 92906472 A EP92906472 A EP 92906472A EP 0576481 A1 EP0576481 A1 EP 0576481A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- glass
- elapsed time
- time indicator
- indicator
- soluble
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
- G04F1/00—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals without driving mechanisms, e.g. egg timers
- G04F1/02—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals without driving mechanisms, e.g. egg timers by consuming prefixed quantities of materials, e.g. by burning candle
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G07C1/00—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people
- G07C1/02—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people not involving the registering, indicating or recording of other data
Definitions
- This invention relates to elapsed time indicators which provide a visual indication that a fixed period of time has elapsed, and in particular to elapsed time indicators which contain soluble glass.
- elapsed time indicators are operated by a large variety of mechanisms, including mechanisms which are triggered by a manufacturing or packing step and are used to indicate when a product has become too old to fulfill its intended purpose.
- a dye which undergoes a chemical reaction and therefore changes colour has been used to indicate the useful life of an insecticide.
- a product in a packaging is determined to be time expired when evaporation of an opaque liquid from the package causes a coloured part of the package to become visible.
- the present invention is concerned with providing a solution to the above-mentioned drawback.
- an elapsed time indicator which provides a visual indication after a fixed period of time has passed, the visual indication being brought about, in use, by dissolution of a soluble glass part which is opaque and initially obscures a non-soluble coloured portion of the indicator, in an aqueous based solvent which is present at the beginning of the period.
- the elapsed time indicator comprises a shaped piece of soluble glass which is placed over a backing plate, wherein the piece of glass and the backing plate are of contrasting colours.
- the glass is soluble and as it is dissolved into the aqueous based solvent the contrasting colour of the backing plate becomes visible to the human eye.
- the backing plate is made from a plastic material and the glass is shaped in the form of a disc.
- the elapsed time indicator is for use with an aqueous based solvent which is water.
- the elapsed time indicator may be adapted for use with all kinds of aqueous based solvents.
- the soluble glass for use with the present invention may comprise anyone of the known soluble glass systems, silicates, borates, phosphates or organic glass.
- the soluble glass is a phosphate glass having a phosphorous pentoxide (P-CL.) concentration in the region of 40-48 ⁇ mol.
- the glass solubility can be varied. In this way the solubility of the shaped piece of glass can be controlled, and with the ability to vary the thickness of the glass the elapsed time for exposure of the backing plate can be adjusted.
- the soluble glass can be coloured by the addition of colouring agents such as cobalt, or colour can be generated by gamma irradiation which could be used to sterilise the device.
- Devices in accordance with the present invention have several uses, for example, they can be used to indicate the exhaustion of the working life of a filter in a domestic water jug.
- fig 1 is a cross section through a water jug filter exhaustion indicator before use
- fig 2 is a cross section through a water jug filter exhaustion indicator when it is indicating that the fixed time has elapsed.
- the elapsed time indicator comprises cylinder 40 having at its base a brightly coloured plastic disc 41.
- the disc is covered with a layer of opaque soluble glass 42, so that, when water is poured into the cylinder and overflows through outlets 43. a layer of water 44 forms in contact with the soluble glass and commences the dissolution process. After a fixed time the glass has been removed to reveal the disc 4l as shown in figure 5.
- This type of indicator is particularly useful for indicating in devices that are frequently topped up with water, such as water jug filters.
- the soluble glass layer of the elapsed time indicator may comprise any one of the following compositions:
- the rate of dissolution of glass 11 in particular is substantially independent of water hardness.
- Ave II.72 mg/day over 12 days 4 6.1, 6.2, 5-8, 5-4, 5-5. 6.0, 5-2, 5.3. 6.7. 6.0
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Non-Biological Materials By The Use Of Chemical Means (AREA)
- Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
Abstract
Un indicateur de temps écoulé fournit une indication visuelle après un délai fixe, l'indication visuelle étant réalisée par la dissolution d'une partie d'un verre soluble qui est opaque et qui dans un premier temps cache une partie colorée non soluble de l'indicateur dans un solvant aqueux, par exemple l'eau, qui est présent au début du cycle.An elapsed time indicator provides a visual indication after a fixed time, the visual indication being achieved by dissolving a portion of a water glass which is opaque and initially conceals a non-soluble colored portion of the indicator in an aqueous solvent, for example water, which is present at the start of the cycle.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB919106199A GB9106199D0 (en) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-03-22 | Elapsed time indicator |
GB9106199 | 1991-03-22 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0576481A1 true EP0576481A1 (en) | 1994-01-05 |
Family
ID=10692087
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92906472A Ceased EP0576481A1 (en) | 1991-03-22 | 1992-03-16 | Elapsed time indicator |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0576481A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH06507480A (en) |
AU (1) | AU1366292A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2106560A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9106199D0 (en) |
IL (1) | IL101307A0 (en) |
WO (2) | WO1992016915A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2795533A1 (en) | 1999-06-22 | 2000-12-29 | Science Et Tec | Method for measuring fixed period of time for vehicle parking purposes by using non-miscible liquids that after initial shaking separates after set time period |
WO2002000552A2 (en) * | 2000-06-23 | 2002-01-03 | Innova/Pure Water, Inc. | Water-filter lifetime indicator |
US8624735B2 (en) | 2010-11-18 | 2014-01-07 | Yael Debra Kellen | Alarm system having an indicator light that is external to an enclosed space for indicating the specific location of an intrusion into the enclosed space and a method for installing the alarm system |
US8599018B2 (en) | 2010-11-18 | 2013-12-03 | Yael Debra Kellen | Alarm system having an indicator light that is external to an enclosed space for indicating the time elapsed since an intrusion into the enclosed space and method for installing the alarm system |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2419909A1 (en) * | 1978-03-17 | 1979-10-12 | Esswein Sa | Indicator warning that water softener needs more regeneration salt - uses float cup which rises when not weighted down with salt |
DE3410651C3 (en) * | 1984-03-23 | 1994-07-14 | Bauknecht Hausgeraete | Salt container with a closable fill opening and a float in a cage as a display device |
DE3535363A1 (en) * | 1985-10-03 | 1987-01-08 | Dietrich Klaus | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MARKING NEW PARTS |
AU7031587A (en) * | 1986-02-24 | 1987-09-09 | Scientific Applied Research (Sar) Plc | Cooking indicator |
GB8909046D0 (en) * | 1989-04-21 | 1989-06-07 | Pilkington Controlled Release | Controlled delivery devices |
-
1991
- 1991-03-22 GB GB919106199A patent/GB9106199D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-03-16 EP EP92906472A patent/EP0576481A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1992-03-16 CA CA002106560A patent/CA2106560A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-03-16 WO PCT/GB1992/000462 patent/WO1992016915A1/en active Application Filing
- 1992-03-16 JP JP4506041A patent/JPH06507480A/en active Pending
- 1992-03-16 WO PCT/GB1992/000463 patent/WO1992016916A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-03-16 AU AU13662/92A patent/AU1366292A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-03-20 IL IL101307A patent/IL101307A0/en unknown
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9216916A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IL101307A0 (en) | 1992-11-15 |
WO1992016916A1 (en) | 1992-10-01 |
JPH06507480A (en) | 1994-08-25 |
GB9106199D0 (en) | 1991-05-08 |
CA2106560A1 (en) | 1992-09-23 |
AU1366292A (en) | 1992-10-21 |
WO1992016915A1 (en) | 1992-10-01 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19930911 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU MC NL SE |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19941223 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED |
|
18R | Application refused |
Effective date: 19950616 |