EP0837011A1 - Récipient avec indicateur de température thermochrome - Google Patents
Récipient avec indicateur de température thermochrome Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0837011A1 EP0837011A1 EP96305975A EP96305975A EP0837011A1 EP 0837011 A1 EP0837011 A1 EP 0837011A1 EP 96305975 A EP96305975 A EP 96305975A EP 96305975 A EP96305975 A EP 96305975A EP 0837011 A1 EP0837011 A1 EP 0837011A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- contents
- temperature
- consumption
- thermochromic ink
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
- B65D79/02—Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a container suitable for containing a food or beverage that is provided with a thermochromic ink which indicates when the contents of the container is at an acceptable temperature for consumption.
- Food and beverage products are commonly stored in containers such as metal cans to prevent or at least significantly restrict microbial spoilage prior to consumption. These generally contain baked beans, chicken soup, peaches or the like which are heat treated, canned, and stored for some months before being removed form the canned, cooked and consumed. Metal cans are also used to store soft drinks. They are best chilled before consuming.
- Thermochromic inks or paints are known. They have been applied to or incorporated within wrist watches (U.S. 5,430,692), fish lures (U.S. 5,222,320) and toys (U.S. 4,917,643).
- the colour change that occurs can be permanent or reversible.
- U.S. patent specification 5,114,112 discloses a food service system wherein individual portions of pre-cooked food are supported on trays within moveable carts.
- Each cart contains a number of food trays that support a food dish which can be covered by an insulated dome that has a thermosensitive knob. The colour of the member indicates whether the food on the dish is still at a safe heating temperature.
- U.S. patent specification 4,805,188 discloses a time-temperature indicator for closed vessels, such as pressure cookers and sterilizers, which has ready visibility around a 360° angle and can function as a lifting knob.
- the present inventors have been faced with the problem of conveniently and cost effectively providing a container for a food or beverage which needs to be cooled or heated to a certain temperature for consumption with means which indicates to a potential consumer that the contents of the container is ready to be consumed.
- thermochromic ink to the container which reversibly indicates when the contents of the container has reached and still retains an acceptable temperature for consumption.
- Metal cans that contain food or beverages can be too hot to handle comfortably. While insulating sleeves of foam and rubber are well known they can be bulky and unattractive. The present inventors have found that expanded polystyrene can provide excellent insulation even when only 100 microns in thickness.
- the present invention relates to a container suitable for containing a food or beverage to which a thermochromic ink has been applied that indicates when the contents of the container has reached an acceptable temperature for consumption.
- the ink undergoes a reversible colour change over a range of acceptable temperatures.
- the container is insulated to enable a customer to handle it comfortably when the contents has reached a temperature within the acceptable temperature range.
- the invention also relates to the use of a thermochromic ink to indicate that the contents of a container is at a temperature that is suitable for consumption, and the use of an expanded polystyrene as an insulating material for a food or beverage container.
- the container of the present invention is one that is suitable for containing a food or beverage, particularly one that needs to be cooled or heated to a certain temperature for consumption.
- Aluminium cans such as those used to contain soft drinks are readily available at relatively low cost but one skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of container shapes, sizes or materials (eg steel or a mixture of steel and aluminium to name but a few) could be used.
- the container will merely be described as a can.
- the container could contain a wide variety of food and beverage products.
- Foods such as soups and sauces and beverages such as tea, coffee and chocolate are particularly suitable.
- the word "tea” is intended to include black, green, oolong, rooibos and mate tea. Naturally herbal and other plant and vegetable matter infusions could also be used.
- coffee and chocolate are available in various forms.
- any coffee or chocolate beverage compositions could include sugar or some other sweetener, milk or some other whitener, cream or some other creamer, flavour, nutritional supplement etc.
- thermochromic ink which indicates when the contents of the container is at an acceptable temperature for consumption.
- Thermochromic inks are known and are commercially available.
- the ink can be applied directly to the can by any art known means, for example by a flexographic or gravure printing process, or on to a sticker, label or other covering that extends over at least part of the external surface of the can.
- thermochromic ink could be applied to the entire outer surface of the can but is more cost effective and convenient to restrict the application to discrete areas.
- One skilled in the art would appreciate that the number and size of these areas could vary greatly but achieve essentially the same result.
- the present inventors however prefer to apply the ink to small predetermined regions on an insulating material that covers at least the sides of the can.
- the containers of the present invention may be stored in a heating or cooling cabinet at the point of sale. Some of the cans displayed may not be sold on a given day so they may be allowed to return to ambient temperature and reheated or cooled the following day. It is therefore an important (but not necessarily an essential) aspect of the present invention that the thermochromic colour change is reliably reversible or at least otherwise repeatable.
- the thermochromic ink must be formulated accordingly. The present inventors have found that THERMELION brand inks are suitable for this purpose, especially MSC 41229.
- thermochromic inks to a container such that one can undergo a reversible colour change while the only can only undergo a permanent colour change. In that way there will be a record as to whether a particular container has already been heated or cooled to a certain temperature.
- thermochromic ink is capable of reversibly indicating that the contents of the can is at a temperature of between 45°C and 55°C and thus suitable for immediate consumption.
- the colour of the ink changes from blue at 45°C (or below) to red at 55°C (or higher).
- the cabinet is thermostatically controlled so that the contents of the can will not exceed the required heating temperature ie about 55°C.
- the container is an aluminium can that contains a tea, coffee or chocolate drink that is intended to be heated to and consumed at about 55°C. It can be uncomfortable for some people to handle a can having its contents at such a temperature.
- the present inventors have therefore provided an insulating sleeve. A number of insulating materials are commercially available but they are often too thick, unsightly or expensive to be suitable for the purpose. After much experimentation the present inventors found that expanded polystyrene is surprisingly suitable. The thickness of the material should be between 100 and 500 microns.
- thermochromic ink may need to be reformulated to give a true indication of the temperature of the contents of the can.
- the expanded polystyrene should preferably be between 150 and 300 microns thick, 160 microns being particularly preferred. One skilled in the art could determine suitable thicknesses where the contents of the can should be consumed at a higher or lower temperature.
- a container of the present invention is intended to contain a food or beverage that is should be consumed when cold. More specially the contents of the container should be between 1°C and 5°C prior to consumption.
- the container is provided with a thermochromic ink that is capable of reversibly indicating when the contents of the container is between those temperatures.
- Such a container can be provided with insulation means as described above to minimise temperature gain and/or ensure that the can is comfortable not too cold to hold.
- the beverage is a hot chocolate which can be stored at ambient temperature but is intended to be consumed at a temperature of about 55°C.
- the entire external surface of each can was sealed with expanded polystyrene for insulation.
- a thermochromic ink was applied to small regions of the sides of the cans.
- the ink is a THERMELION brand ink (specifically MSC 41229).
- the cans were then placed in a heating cabinet.
- the colour of the ink changed from blue at about 45°C to red at about 55°C.
- the cabinet was turned off the inks became blue again. The cycle was repeated to ensure the colour change was fully reversible.
- Cans such as those used in Example 1 were heated to temperatures ranging from 40°C to 80°C and gripped tightly in the palm of the testers hand.
- the calliper of 160 microns was found to provide the desired insulation at 45°C to 55°C.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96305975A EP0837011A1 (fr) | 1996-08-15 | 1996-08-15 | Récipient avec indicateur de température thermochrome |
GB9715817A GB2316385B (en) | 1996-08-15 | 1997-07-25 | A temperature sensitive container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96305975A EP0837011A1 (fr) | 1996-08-15 | 1996-08-15 | Récipient avec indicateur de température thermochrome |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0837011A1 true EP0837011A1 (fr) | 1998-04-22 |
Family
ID=8225054
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96305975A Withdrawn EP0837011A1 (fr) | 1996-08-15 | 1996-08-15 | Récipient avec indicateur de température thermochrome |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0837011A1 (fr) |
GB (1) | GB2316385B (fr) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2345879A (en) * | 1998-12-02 | 2000-07-26 | B & H Liquid Crystal Devices | A security article eg a document or game ticket, including a liquid crystal or thermochromic ink |
ES2147513A1 (es) * | 1998-06-26 | 2000-09-01 | Casal Eulogio Carlos Nunez | Nuevo sistema indicador de temperatura, procedimiento para su fabricacion y aplicaciones. |
WO2002064445A1 (fr) * | 2001-02-15 | 2002-08-22 | Creative Packaging Services Pty Ltd | Contenant conservant la temperature |
WO2003014682A1 (fr) * | 2001-07-04 | 2003-02-20 | DBK ESPAñA, S.A. | Indicateur de diffusion pour diffuseur de substances actives |
WO2004110877A3 (fr) * | 2003-06-09 | 2005-03-10 | Charles Chang | Canette de boisson presentant une pellicule laminee sur sa partie superieure |
DE102006044596A1 (de) * | 2005-09-26 | 2007-05-10 | Meyer Intellectual Properties Ltd. | Thermochromischer Deckel für Kochgeschirr |
EP2511379A1 (fr) | 2011-04-11 | 2012-10-17 | Universidad Pública De Navarra | Dispositif de surveillance du temps-température |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2334092B (en) * | 1998-02-10 | 2001-07-04 | Unilever Plc | A thermosensitive container |
GB9804411D0 (en) * | 1998-03-03 | 1998-04-29 | British American Tobacco Co | Smoking articles and smoking article packaging |
GB9813099D0 (en) * | 1998-06-18 | 1998-08-19 | Leigh Victoria N | Baby bottle feeding teat |
CA2434503C (fr) | 2001-01-12 | 2010-04-06 | Noshmell Pty Ltd | Couvercle pour un recipient a boisson jetable |
AU2002224650B2 (en) * | 2001-01-12 | 2007-09-13 | Noshmell Pty Ltd | A lid for a disposable beverage container |
GB2374583A (en) * | 2001-04-21 | 2002-10-23 | Jackel Int Ltd | Thermochromic indicator for food containers |
GB2382560A (en) * | 2001-11-29 | 2003-06-04 | Rockware Glass Ltd | Environmentally Sensitive Bottle |
US8734200B2 (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2014-05-27 | Mattel, Inc. | Toy playset with a launcher and a material dispenser |
WO2014124189A1 (fr) * | 2013-02-08 | 2014-08-14 | Ach Food Companies, Inc. | Emballage indiquant la température et procédé d'utilisation associé |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4583577A (en) * | 1984-08-27 | 1986-04-22 | Pat Canfield | Container insulator |
JPS61219628A (ja) * | 1985-03-27 | 1986-09-30 | Sanyo Kokusaku Pulp Co Ltd | 保温カツプの製造方法 |
DE3614835A1 (de) * | 1986-05-02 | 1987-11-05 | Asset Handelsgesellschaft M B | Fluessigkeitsbehaelter mit integrierter temperaturanzeige |
JPS63317445A (ja) * | 1987-06-15 | 1988-12-26 | Sanyo Kokusaku Pulp Co Ltd | 断熱性カツプ及びその製造方法 |
US4805188A (en) | 1985-07-03 | 1989-02-14 | Robert Parker | Time-temperature indicator |
DE3836424A1 (de) * | 1988-01-19 | 1989-07-27 | Horst Merz | Spezial-etikett oder aufdruck auf babyflaschen zur bestimmung der idealen trinktemperatur durch reversible farbton-aenderung |
JPH01240473A (ja) * | 1987-11-02 | 1989-09-26 | Mitsui Toatsu Chem Inc | ラベルを付けた容器の製造方法 |
US4917643A (en) | 1987-06-26 | 1990-04-17 | Mattel, Inc. | Toy vehicle with thermochromic material |
DE9203171U1 (de) * | 1992-03-10 | 1992-04-23 | Melitta Haushaltsprodukte GmbH & Co KG, 4950 Minden | Kaffee- oder Teebereiter |
US5114112A (en) | 1991-03-26 | 1992-05-19 | Infanti Chair Manufacturing Corp. | Detachable game stool assembly |
US5222320A (en) | 1992-03-12 | 1993-06-29 | Erickson Nels E | Fishing lures painted with thermochromic paint |
DE4300628A1 (de) * | 1993-01-13 | 1994-07-14 | Brehm International Marketing | Wärmereaktive, temperaturanzeigende Geräte und Materialien, wie Bestecke, Haushaltsgeschirr, Lager - und Verpackungsbehältnisse, Folien, Verkleidungs- und Abdeckmaterialien |
US5430692A (en) | 1992-12-17 | 1995-07-04 | Asulab S.A. | Watch comprising a device for indicating the temperature |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4156365A (en) * | 1976-08-02 | 1979-05-29 | Ferdinand Heinmets | Temperature indicator |
US5400610A (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1995-03-28 | Ero Industries, Inc. | Portable insulated container with temperature indicator |
US5482373A (en) * | 1994-03-16 | 1996-01-09 | Cool-Drink, Inc. | Thermochromatic indicator for beverage containers |
-
1996
- 1996-08-15 EP EP96305975A patent/EP0837011A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
-
1997
- 1997-07-25 GB GB9715817A patent/GB2316385B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4583577A (en) * | 1984-08-27 | 1986-04-22 | Pat Canfield | Container insulator |
JPS61219628A (ja) * | 1985-03-27 | 1986-09-30 | Sanyo Kokusaku Pulp Co Ltd | 保温カツプの製造方法 |
US4805188A (en) | 1985-07-03 | 1989-02-14 | Robert Parker | Time-temperature indicator |
DE3614835A1 (de) * | 1986-05-02 | 1987-11-05 | Asset Handelsgesellschaft M B | Fluessigkeitsbehaelter mit integrierter temperaturanzeige |
JPS63317445A (ja) * | 1987-06-15 | 1988-12-26 | Sanyo Kokusaku Pulp Co Ltd | 断熱性カツプ及びその製造方法 |
US4917643A (en) | 1987-06-26 | 1990-04-17 | Mattel, Inc. | Toy vehicle with thermochromic material |
JPH01240473A (ja) * | 1987-11-02 | 1989-09-26 | Mitsui Toatsu Chem Inc | ラベルを付けた容器の製造方法 |
DE3836424A1 (de) * | 1988-01-19 | 1989-07-27 | Horst Merz | Spezial-etikett oder aufdruck auf babyflaschen zur bestimmung der idealen trinktemperatur durch reversible farbton-aenderung |
US5114112A (en) | 1991-03-26 | 1992-05-19 | Infanti Chair Manufacturing Corp. | Detachable game stool assembly |
DE9203171U1 (de) * | 1992-03-10 | 1992-04-23 | Melitta Haushaltsprodukte GmbH & Co KG, 4950 Minden | Kaffee- oder Teebereiter |
US5222320A (en) | 1992-03-12 | 1993-06-29 | Erickson Nels E | Fishing lures painted with thermochromic paint |
US5430692A (en) | 1992-12-17 | 1995-07-04 | Asulab S.A. | Watch comprising a device for indicating the temperature |
DE4300628A1 (de) * | 1993-01-13 | 1994-07-14 | Brehm International Marketing | Wärmereaktive, temperaturanzeigende Geräte und Materialien, wie Bestecke, Haushaltsgeschirr, Lager - und Verpackungsbehältnisse, Folien, Verkleidungs- und Abdeckmaterialien |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
DATABASE WPI Section Ch Week 8906, Derwent World Patents Index; Class A92, AN 89-044001, XP002028412 * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 011, no. 057 (M - 564) 21 February 1987 (1987-02-21) * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 573 (M - 909) 19 December 1989 (1989-12-19) * |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2147513A1 (es) * | 1998-06-26 | 2000-09-01 | Casal Eulogio Carlos Nunez | Nuevo sistema indicador de temperatura, procedimiento para su fabricacion y aplicaciones. |
GB2345879B (en) * | 1998-12-02 | 2003-03-05 | B & H Liquid Crystal Devices | Security articles |
GB2345879A (en) * | 1998-12-02 | 2000-07-26 | B & H Liquid Crystal Devices | A security article eg a document or game ticket, including a liquid crystal or thermochromic ink |
WO2002064445A1 (fr) * | 2001-02-15 | 2002-08-22 | Creative Packaging Services Pty Ltd | Contenant conservant la temperature |
US7076160B2 (en) | 2001-07-04 | 2006-07-11 | Dbk Espana, S.A. | Dispensing indicator for an active substance dispenser |
WO2003014682A1 (fr) * | 2001-07-04 | 2003-02-20 | DBK ESPAñA, S.A. | Indicateur de diffusion pour diffuseur de substances actives |
CN100510664C (zh) * | 2001-07-04 | 2009-07-08 | Dbk西班牙股份有限公司 | 具有扩散指示器的活性物质扩散器 |
EP1638851A2 (fr) * | 2003-06-09 | 2006-03-29 | Charles Chang | Canette de boisson presentant une pellicule laminee sur sa partie superieure |
EP1638851A4 (fr) * | 2003-06-09 | 2008-06-11 | Charles Chang | Canette de boisson presentant une pellicule laminee sur sa partie superieure |
WO2004110877A3 (fr) * | 2003-06-09 | 2005-03-10 | Charles Chang | Canette de boisson presentant une pellicule laminee sur sa partie superieure |
DE102006044596A1 (de) * | 2005-09-26 | 2007-05-10 | Meyer Intellectual Properties Ltd. | Thermochromischer Deckel für Kochgeschirr |
US7364357B2 (en) | 2005-09-26 | 2008-04-29 | Meyer Intellectual Properties Limited | Thermochromic lid for cookware |
EP2511379A1 (fr) | 2011-04-11 | 2012-10-17 | Universidad Pública De Navarra | Dispositif de surveillance du temps-température |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2316385B (en) | 2000-04-19 |
GB9715817D0 (en) | 1997-10-01 |
GB2316385A (en) | 1998-02-25 |
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