ES1071976U - Condition indicating device for limited lifespan objects - Google Patents

Abstract

Status signaling device for objects with a limited useful life, characterized in that it comprises a casing (1) with an adhesive base (11) for fixing it to an object, an electrical circuit comprising inside a casing (1). electric battery (3), associated with a non-reversible switch (4) operable from the outside of the casing (1), and then an appreciable visual indicator (2) from the outside of the casing (1), means for detecting impacts (5) and a timing means. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Status signaling device for objects of limited shelf life.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a status indicating device for life objects limited, more specifically to signal the lifespan of an object since its first use and if that object has received a impact or strong blow that may have affected its properties use.

Background of the invention

There is currently a lot of products on the market that have a limited shelf life in the weather. In many cases the useful life corresponds to a time determined from the date of manufacture, so it is normal for during said manufacture said expiration date is printed on the object or packaging that contains it, so that the user knows from which moment the product cannot be used or is not safe to continue with its use, such as in packaged foods and preserves, cosmetic products, certain chemicals and others.

However, other objects have a lifespan related to use, and therefore object storage before its use it does not alter it or it affects very little its properties. In this case, the actual expiration date is not corresponds to the date calculated from the date of manufacture and the useful life of the object, since said date of Actual expiration is dictated by the date of first use and life useful that has been assigned to the object in optimal conditions. A example are biker helmets, which calculates their useful life regarding its use, these helmets being totally unalterable between its manufacture and its sale to the user.

In other cases, as chemicals that are mixed at the time of use, such as two-component adhesives, the shelf life of said product starts when the user performs the mix or open the container, and does not depend on the date of manufacture of the product, being its components more stable separately.

There is also another problem that affects certain objects or items, which should be discontinued if they have received a considerable impact that affects its structure or safe use capacity, for example the helmets of motorcyclists, who after a fall, the helmet may appear outwardly a good condition, but its internal structure is what damaged enough that it is not advisable to continue With its use. This occurs in protective helmets and in particular motorcycle helmets, which have some suitable characteristics to cushion possible impacts, reducing the risk of damage to the user in the case of accident.

This resistance can be reduced important when the helmet receives an impact of such intensity, that does not break it, but that can produce fissures and weakening of the conforming material thereof. These impacts they can occur for example in accidental falls of the helmet to ground.

The same problem arises in certain packaging that can receive an impact, such as a fall during its transport, and not show outwardly important brands. Without However fragile objects contained in the packaging can have broken or suffer significant deterioration. These damages are not appreciate until the packaging is opened and the condition is checked or operation of the content, which causes claims or returns to manufacturers, even if the object was originally in perfect state.

The same goes for certain carcasses electronic products can withstand impact without showing brands visible, but electronic components and internal structure It can be damaged due to this impact. In this way the product is damaged by a cause beyond its nature and by So hard to repair.

Description of the invention

The object status indicating device of limited useful life, object of this invention, presents some particularities intended to allow a user to know if a product is expired for having reached the end of its useful life and which also warns you that if the object has suffered an impact, such as a fall or similar accident and is not in conditions of optimal use, although externally it does not present marks that evidences said damage in its structure.

According to the invention, the device it comprises a housing with an adhesive fixing base on a object, being inside a housing a circuit electric comprising an electric battery, associated with a non-reversible switch operable from outside the housing, and then a visual indicator, this indicator being visible from the outside of the housing, means of impact detection and timing means.

In this way, the user who wishes to control the state of use of a new object, without impacts and in optimal state, for example a motorcycle helmet without discarding other products, adheres the device to the object in question, and activates it in its first use, by means of the non-reversible switch. Immediately the visual indicator will show that the status is correct until the timing means or impact detection means deactivate this visual indicator. The impact detection means turn off the visual indicator when the object receives an impact considerable. In turn, at the end of the useful life with which they are programmed the timing means the visual indicator also ceases to indicate validity, so it is indicated that the object leaves of being safe for aging.

For example, the non-reversible switch it comprises a sheet of insulating material arranged between two electrical contacts, said sheet protruding through a groove of the housing for removal and thus start the device, when Close the circuit by joining both contacts.

In one embodiment the timing means comprise a timer programmed with a period of time determined, for example 3 years the device application in a biker helmet, this timer being connected to the non-reversible switch, being at the exit of this Timer connected visual indicator.

In another embodiment the timing means they consist of the whole electric battery and the visual indicator, calibrated for electricity consumption to produce the depletion of the electric battery in a certain time at the aforementioned electric battery due to the constant consumption of the visual indicator and the limited electric power capacity that It has the electric battery.

In one embodiment the visual indicator is a LED that indicates the correct state through its illumination, and once the device is activated its shutdown indicates that The object or product is no longer in optimal condition.

In another embodiment the visual indicator is a calibrated scaled marker, such as a countdown clock, a progress bar or an indicator with a needle that moves through a scale between a minimum and the maximum lifetime.

In one embodiment the detection means of impacts comprise two concentric conductive rings, joined by the less a frangible conductive filament than in case of breakage interrupts the passage of current between the two conductive rings, although other mechanisms that produce the same are not ruled out effect of interrupting the electrical circuit that powers the visual indicator

Description of the figures

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to facilitate the understanding of characteristics of the invention, is attached herein descriptive a set of drawings in which, for illustrative purposes and not limiting, the following has been represented:

- Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the device.

- Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the electrical circuit.

- Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the means of impact detection.

- Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a device, in which the visual indicator is a marker numerical.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As can be seen in the figures referenced the status signaling device for objects of Limited shelf life comprises a housing (1) with an adhesive base (11) of fixation on an object, being inside said housing (1) an electrical circuit with a visual indicator (2) appreciable from the outside of said housing (1) to appreciate the signaling of the valid state of the object, within the useful life and without receiving any impact that has diminished its mechanical qualities or operation

The electrical circuit comprises a battery electric (3) power, connected to a switch not reversible (4) operable from the outside of the housing (1) by means of a removable insulating strip (41), meeting continuation of this non-reversible switch (4) means of impact detection (5) and timing means, being connected the visual indicator (2), I feel in this case the indicator visual (2) an appreciable LED diode across the surface of the translucent housing (1), to signal the correct state of the object.

The timing means are constituted by a timer (6) of disconnection programmed within a period of specific time since activation by connecting to the battery electric (3), so that once the switch is actuated reversible (4) activates the visual indicator (2) for a while programmed maximum, for example years or a few months.

The impact detection means (5) are consisting of two concentric electric conductive rings (51), joined by at least one frangible conductive filament (52) than in a original position enables the passage of electric current between both concentric conductive rings (51) connected to respective electrical circuit poles. In the case of an impact, inertia of the two conductive rings (51) pulls the conductive filament frangible (52), interrupting the electrical circuit.

In another embodiment the visual indicator (2) is a calibrated scaled marker, thus represented in figure 4 by A countdown screen.

Once nature is sufficiently described of the invention, as well as a preferred embodiment, for the appropriate purposes that the materials, form, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, as long as this does not imply an alteration of the essential features of the invention claimed in continuation.

Claims (6)

1. Status signaling device for objects of limited useful life, characterized in that it comprises a housing (1) with an adhesive base (11) for fixing on an object, an electrical circuit comprising an electrical circuit comprising a housing inside it (1). electric battery (3), associated with a non-reversible switch (4) operable from the outside of the housing (1), and then a visual indicator (2) appreciable from the outside of the housing (1), detection means of impacts (5) and timing means. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the timing means comprise a timer (6) programmed with a certain period of time, connected to the output of the non-reversible switch (4), and to whose output the visual indicator is connected ( 2) for activation when said non-reversible switch is activated and deactivated at the end of the programmed time. 3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the timing means are constituted by the whole of the electric battery (3) and the visual indicator (2), calibrated with an electric consumption that causes the depletion of the electric battery (3) in a certain time. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the visual indicator (2) is an LED. 5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the visual indicator (2) is a calibrated scaled marker. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impact detection means (5) are constituted by two concentric conductive rings (51) connected by at least one frangible conductive filament (52) which in case of breakage interrupts the current flow between the two conductive rings (51).