FR2778985A1 - Publicity device and freshness indicator for deep-frozen product - Google Patents

Abstract

The publicity device and indicator of product freshness comprises an ice block (1) made from frozen water with added salt (sodium chloride), containing a disc (2) carrying a suitable message or logo. The salt content of the block is controlled according to the required thawing duration and temperature, and it can be made in separate sections with different amount of salt for slower or faster thawing. The block is contained in a perforated rigid box or supple pack attached to the frozen product.

Description

-] 1- The invention relates to a device for advertising and monitoring

  The cold chain. Any frozen food product must respect the cold chain from the sender to the customer or store. Several previous devices are more complicated, less effective or present risks of allergies, toxic or taste for food products.5 The proposed device is simple, inexpensive, easy to use, and allows monitoring of the cold chain without any risk, even if the device is in contact with the food product, while promoting the product or the company. The device is an ice cube designed using water and salt (sodium chloride) dosed according to the time and the desired degree of melting, fitted with an advertising tablet or having the

  shape of the desired company logo.

  The ice cube (1) designed with water and salt (sodium chloride) to an incorporated control tablet (2) representing any desired message. The salt has the effect of melting the ice cube at a temperature below 0 degrees centigrade, the more salt there is the lower the melting temperature. See table attached figure (7-8 and 9). When the ice cube15 is partially degraded, it means that the cold chain has been interrupted without too much gravity, and the customer can warn all parties involved. As soon as the ice has completely disappeared and only the control tablet is in the box, the cold chain has been interrupted long enough to allow partial or total thawing of the product. This would have been refrozen before delivery.20 The ice cube (1) is dosed with salt and water according to the time and the desired degree of thawing, the attached tables give some examples, Figure (7) (8) (9), for an ice cube 5 mm thick and 40 mmn in diameter. The ice cube (1) can be composed of several distinct parts dosed independently in salt to allow a more or less rapid melting of each

parts.

  The ice cube (1) possibly has one or more zones of reduced thickness (3) or projection which can represent any relief shape (4). These thinner areas

  or protrusions allow rapid visualization of the start of melting.

  The device can have these reliefs (5) made of plastic or other material positioned on one or more faces of the ice cube. In this case when the reliefs have separated from the ice cube, it is that there has been the beginning of melting, when only these reliefs are in the carton

  is that there was a significant thawing.

  -2- The ice cube (1) can be placed in a rigid plastic or other case (7) and perforated (8) to allow possible flow. In this case the smaller the ice cube inside the case, the greater the defrosting, if there is no more ice cube

  that only the case is in the box is that there has been significant thawing.

  The ice cube (1) can be put in a flexible container, to allow a deformation during the melting, one can thus frozen the ice cube with any

  form. For example, the frozen ice cube with a twisted shape, loses its shape when it is thawed, even if the device is refrozen it will not resume its twisted shape.

  The ice cube (1) can be on a support (6) whatever it is, to be fixed on any packaging of frozen product. The ice cube is inserted in a support provided with small claws which are planted in all cardboard boxes. When thawed, the ice flows, and only the support remains on the cardboard. In all these cases the devices lose their reliefs, their dimensions, or their aspects during the melting, and in no case allow them to resume their original forms. The pastilles, the plastic reliefs, the cases, the receptacles, the supports remain and prove the presence of the device at the start of the cold chain. The device packaged with the frozen product obliges all parties to respect the cold chain under penalty of immediate sanctions. It can optionally be designed with an antifreeze. The accompanying drawings illustrate three possibilities among all the variants offered, and

three cast iron tables.

  Figure 1 shows the built-in ice cube of an advertising badge, having thinner areas and protrusions on the top of the ice cube and on the side a relief in plastic material. FIG. 2 represents the section of the ice cube incorporated with an advertising badge,

  having thinner zones and protrusions on the top of the ice cube and on the side a relief in plastic material.

  Figure 3 shows the ice cube with an advertising disc inserted in a holder.

  Figure 4 shows the section of the ice cube with advertising disc inserted in a support.

  FIG. 5 represents a rigid and perforated case, with the ice cube inside.

  Figure 6 shows the section of the rigid and perforated case with the ice cube inside.

  -3- Figure 7 represents a graduated table, on the left according to the salt dosage (gram / liter), and below according to the ice degradation time, at a variant temperature between 2 and 4 degrees centigrade, ice cube having a diameter 40 mm and a

thickness of 5 mmn.

  FIG. 8 represents a graduated table, on the left according to the salt dosage (gram / liter), and below according to the degradation time of the ice cube, at a variant temperature of - 2 to - 4 degrees centigrade, ice cube having a diameter of 40 mm and a

thickness of 5 mm.

  Figure 9 represents the degree or the ice cube begins to degrade according to different

dosages.

  With reference to these drawings, the device comprises an ice cube (1) an advertising badge (2) of the thinner zones and projections (3) and (4) a relief in plastic material (5) a support for fixing the ice cubes on the packaging. individual (6) a rigid case (7) perforated to allow the flow (8) .15 The advertising and cold chain monitoring ice cube is intended for any seller or buyer of frozen product, who wants to ensure the non rupture of the

cold chain.

-4-

Claims (2)

CLAIM   1) Cold chain advertising and survival device, characterized in that it has an ice cube (1) designed with water and salt (sodium chloride) and an incorporated control tablet (2) representing all desired message. 2) Device according to claim n 1 characterized in that the ice cube (1) is dosed in salt and water according to the time and the desired degree of thawing. 3) Device according to claim n 1 or claim n 2 characterized in that the ice cube (1) is composed of several distinct parts, dosed independently in salt   to allow more or less rapid melting of each part. 4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   that the ice cube (1) has one or more zones of reduced thickness (3) or protrusions which can represent all forms in relief (4)) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the reliefs (5) are made of plastic mat, positioned on one or more   faces of the ice cube. 6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ice cube (1) is placed in a rigid plastic case (7), and perforated (8)   to allow possible flow. 7) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the ice cube (1) is in a flexible container, to allow deformation during its melting.   8) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the ice cube (1) is with a support (6) to be fixed on a package frozen product.