GB2585126A

GB2585126A - Garment label, garment, system comprising a garment and a method of controlling garment returns

Info

Publication number: GB2585126A
Application number: GB2004433.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephenson Denise
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-26
Filing date: 2020-03-26
Publication date: 2020-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-26
Also published as: GB2585126B; GB201904155D0; WO2020194246A1; GB202004433D0

Abstract

A garment label 10 comprises a temperature sensor, a timing device and a data output device. The temperature sensor is configured to respond to a change in temperature, e.g. body temperature above a predetermined temperature. The timing device is configured to time how long the temperature of the garment label remains above the predetermined temperature. The data output device is configured to display and/or transmit data comprising at least one of the time recorded by the timing device and whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than a predetermined time interval. A point-of-sale terminal 30 may be provided for interrogating the label and is configured to convey to a user of the terminal a first signal if the time recorded by the timing device is greater than the predetermined time interval and a second, different signal if the time recorded by the timing device is not greater than the predetermined time interval. Such a garment label can be useful to combat the problem of garments being returned to retailers for refunds after being worn, known as “wardrobing”.

Description

Garment Label, Garment, System comprising a Garment and a Method of Controlling Garment Returns The present invention concerns a garment label, a garment comprising such a label, a system comprising such a garment, and a method of controlling garment returns.

The present application claims priority from UK patent application no. GB 1904155.7 entitled "Sensory Clothing Returns Label" filed in the name of the present applicant on 26 March 2019, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background of the Invention

There is an increasing problem in the garment retail sector with people buying a garment to wear just once or only a few times and then returning it to the retailer from which they have purchased the garment, in order to obtain a refund of its purchase price. This process, known as "wardrobing", generates waste through returned garments which are soiled and/or damaged, some of which cannot be repackaged and resold by the retailer and which must therefore be disposed of, which is bad for the environment. Wardrobing is also uneconomic for the retailer because of the extra work it creates for the retailer in processing the returns, and diminishes the profits which the retailer would otherwise be able to make from sales of unreturned garments. The problem of wardrobing applies in the context of both high-street and online sales. This problem has received attention in the press (see, for example, the BBC News story "The People who Return Most of what they Buy" (28 November 2018) by Katie Hope at www.bbc.co.uk/nev/s/business-45279638) and is described in greater detail in the article "What to Do about Wardrobing?" by Liz Parks published in the Stores magazine of the National Retail Federation, Volume 101, No. 5 (July 2019), pp. 48-49 (ISSN 0039-1867).

One solution to the problem of wardrobing which has been proposed and recently adopted is for a retailer to affix a tag to a garment before its sale and then to demand that if the garment is returned to the retailer by a purchaser following its sale, the retailer will only offer a refund of the purchase price of the garment if the tag is still in place on the garment and is intact. The tag is typically located on the garment in a prominent position, such as on the chest of a shirt, with the intention that the purchaser cannot wear the garment without the tag being visible to other people. An example of such a tag is the R-Turn tagTM with warning label, available from Checkpoint Systems, Inc. of Thorofare, New Jersey, USA.

Although this proposed solution has some advantages in diminishing the problem with wardrobing, it still has some drawbacks, in that it does not prevent a garment from being worn by a purchaser at home for an extended period of time with the tag still in place, or a garment from being worn by a purchaser outside their home with the tag still in place but hidden, for example, by being covered by a scarf or other item of clothing. In either such case, the garment could still be returned by the purchaser to the retailer for a refund with the tag still in place on the garment and intact.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved solution to the problem of wardrobing.

Further background information which is helpful to understand the present invention is that there exist in the prior art garment labels comprising means for radio-frequency identification (RFID) of a garment to which such a label is affixed. An example of such a garment label comprising means for RFID of the garment is shown in Figs. 1A to 1C, wherein Fig. 1A is a front view of the label, Fig. 1B is a view of light transmitted through the label showing the means for RFID of the label contained therein, and Fig. It is a rear view of the label. A garment bearing such a label allows contactless automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) of the garment, such as for stock tracking during sales, as well as to help prevent thefts of stock from retail outlets.

Also known in the art are chemical compounds which are able to change colour according to their temperature, known as thermochromes. Some thermochromic materials change colour reversibly, exhibiting a first colour state below a transition temperature and a second, different colour state if heated above the transition temperature, returning to the first colour state once more if they are then cooled back down to below the transition temperature again (typically, however, with some hysteresis in the colour change around the transition temperature). These two colour states may be a first colour and a second, different colour. Alternatively, the change in colour exhibited by such thermochromic materials around the transition temperature may be a change between a coloured state and a colourless state.

Thermochromic materials include thermochromic dyes and pigments. Reversible thermochromic dyes with a transition temperature in the range of human body temperature have been applied to many items, including garments, which have been marketed under the brand Hypercolor' by the Generra Sportswear Company of Seattle, USA, starting in 1991. Reversible thermochromic dyes with a transition temperature in the range of human body temperature and their application to garment fabrics have also been investigated experimentally and described in "Investigating the Relationship between Thermochromic Pigment based Knitted Fabrics Properties and Human Body Temperature" by Fateen Ajeeb et al. published in the 1SOR Journal of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Volume 4, Issue No. 3 (May-June 2017), pp. 44-52 (ISSN 2348-0181). The application of reversible thermochromic dyes to provide temperature-monitoring clothing is described in US patent application publication no. 2009/0046760 Al.

However, there are also thermochromic materials, including thermochromic dyes and pigments, which change colour irreversibly, exhibiting a first colour state below a transition temperature and a second, different colour state if heated above the transition temperature, but which fail to return to the first colour state if they are then cooled back down to below the transition temperature again and instead remain in the second, different colour state. Like reversible thermochromic materials, these first and second colour states may be different colours from each other or they may instead be a coloured state and a colourless state. Some examples of irreversible thermochromic pigments and capsules are described in international patent application publication no. WO 2013/101592.

Finally, it is also known in the prior art to provide an indicator device for detecting or reporting a period of time over which the device is exposed to an environmental agent, such as a change in atmospheric conditions or pH. Such devices may be applied to perishable goods and/or packaging to show whether the packaging and/or device has been compromised. Examples of such indicator devices are described in international patent application publication nos. WO 2014/053846 Al and WO 2017/216542 Al. In one embodiment, WO 2014/053846 Al describes such indicator devices incorporated into a time-temperature indicator, which can be used, for example, to demonstrate when frozen foodstuffs have been subjected to an increase in temperature.

Object of the Invention An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved garment label, a garment comprising such a label, a system comprising such a garment, and a method of controlling garment returns.

Description of the Invention

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a garment label comprising a temperature sensor, a timing device and a data output device. The temperature sensor is responsive to a change in temperature of the garment label to above a predetermined temperature. The timing device is configured to time how long the temperature of the garment label sensed by the temperature sensor remains above the predetermined temperature. The data output device is configured to display and/or transmit data comprising at least one of the time recorded by the timing device and whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than a first predetermined time interval.

Thus, if such a garment label is affixed to a garment in a location on the garment where the label reaches the predetermined temperature when the garment is worn, the temperature sensor can respond to the change in temperature of the garment label which is caused by the body heat of the person wearing the garment. The length of time which the timing device records that the temperature of the garment label remains above the predetermined temperature acts as a proxy for the length of time that the garment is worn. Thus if the garment is subsequently returned to its point of sale for a refund, the data output device can be made to display and/or transmit data which can be used to determine whether on the one hand, the garment is unworn or has only been worn for a short period of time (for example to try the garment on for size, fitting, style and so on) or on the other hand, has been worn for a longer period of time, for example to attend a work or social event. If the time recorded by the timing device is found to be greater than the first predetermined time interval, the request for a refund can then be rejected by the retailer, whereas if the time recorded by the timing device is found not to be greater than the first predetermined time interval, the request for a refund can be accepted by the retailer and the garment can be returned.

Such a garment label has several advantages over those of the prior art. Firstly, it can be permanently incorporated into a garment as part of the garment's manufacturing process, for example in addition to or as part of the garment's care instruction label, and does not need to be added on to the garment by a retailer after its manufacture. Secondly, the garment label does not have to be removed by a purchaser of the garment after its purchase and can just be left in place. Thirdly, whereas prior art tags which are designed to prevent wardrobing can be defeated by being hidden (for example, by being covered by a scarf or other item of clothing), since the visual appearance of the garment label of the invention is immaterial to its operation, it cannot be defeated just by being hidden from view. Thus the garment label of the invention can be used to prevent a garment from being worn by a purchaser for an extended period of time before being returned for a refund, regardless of whether the garment is worn by the purchaser either at home or outside.

Moreover, whereas prior art tags which are designed to prevent wardrobing only act as a visual deterrent, the garment label of the invention can be considered to be a "smart" garment label because it is able to record the garment's history of being worn before it is returned. Thus if a garment is returned for a refund, but the length of time recorded by the timing device is found not to be greater than the first predetermined time interval, the retailer can accept the garment back and provide a refund, safe in the knowledge that the garment has only been tried on but has not been used, and can therefore be returned to stock for resale to another customer.

Preferably, the predetermined temperature is at least 25 degrees Celsius and is less than the range of normal human body temperature. On the one hand, the predetermined temperature should preferably be more than the ambient temperature of the environment, in order to avoid the ambient temperature from triggering a false positive response by the temperature sensor. The predetermined temperature can be adapted to suit different ambient temperature conditions in different geographical locations. For example, the predetermined temperature can be chosen to be higher in locations with warmer climates and lower in locations with cooler climates. The predetermined temperature should therefore preferably be at least about 25 degrees Celsius, more preferably at least about 27 degrees Celsius, more preferably still at least about 29 degrees Celsius, and most preferably at least about 31 degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, the predetermined temperature should preferably also be less than the range of normal human body temperature, in other words, not more than about 36.5 degrees Celsius, in order to ensure that the temperature sensor is able to respond to a change in temperature of the garment label which is caused by the garment being worn.

Preferably, the first predetermined time interval should be at least about 1 minute and less than about 3 hours. Thus the first predetermined time interval can be selected either to prevent the garment from being worn at all before being returned (for example, for reasons of hygiene, such as for underwear) or to be long enough to allow a purchaser to try the garment on in order to check the garment for size, fitting, style and so on, whilst still being short enough to prevent the purchaser from wearing the garment for an extended period of time. For example, the first predetermined time interval can be at least about 5 minutes, preferably 15 minutes, more preferably at least about 30 minutes, and more preferably still at least about an hour, in order to avoid false positives which may otherwise be caused by transient changes in the temperature of the environment. On the other hand, the first predetermined time interval should also be not more than about 4 hours, preferably not more than about 3 hours, and more preferably not more than about 2 hours.

The temperature sensor may comprise chemical and/or electrical components, which are responsive to a change in temperature of the garment label to above a predetermined temperature. For example, in some embodiments, the temperature sensor may comprise a thermochromic material which undergoes an irreversible change in colour state at the predetermined temperature. The change in colour state may be a change from a first colour to a second, different colour, or it may be a change from a coloured to a colourless state or vice versa. In other embodiments, the temperature sensor may comprise a negative temperature coefficient thermistor.

The timing device may also comprise chemical and/or electrical components. For example, in some embodiments, the timing device may comprise a thermochromic material which undergoes an irreversible change in colour state at the predetermined temperature, but which also continues to change colour according to the length of time that it remains above the predetermined temperature, such that the final colour of the timing device indicates how long the garment label has remained above the predetermined temperature. In other embodiments, the timing device may comprise an integrated circuit.

The data output device may also comprise chemical and/or electrical components. The data output device may also display and/or transmit data. For example, if the data output device comprises chemical components, the data output device may give a visual indication of the length of time that the garment label has remained above the predetermined temperature, which can then be read. Alternatively or additionally, if the data output device comprises electrical components, the data output device may also be able to transmit the data. For example, in one possible embodiment, the data output device may comprise a short-range radio-frequency communications module.

The data output by the data output device may comprise the time recorded by the timing device and/or whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than the first predetermined time interval. In other words, the data output device may be configured simply to provide the length of time that the garment label has remained above the predetermined temperature for a subsequent comparison with the predetermined time to be performed elsewhere. On the other hand, the aforementioned elements of the garment label may be configured to perform a comparison of the length of time that the garment label has remained above the predetermined temperature with the predetermined time before the data is displayed and/or transmitted by the data output device.

In some embodiments, the data output device may be configured to display and/or transmit data indicating whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than a second predetermined time interval which is longer than the first predetermined time interval.

Such a garment label has the advantage that it can be used to discriminate not just between two different states of the garment, respectively corresponding, for example, to "unworn" and "worn", but between three different states, respectively corresponding to "unworn", "light wear" (for example, to try the garment on for size, fitting, style and so on) and "worn".

In such a case, for example, the second predetermined time interval may be at least about minutes, preferably at least about 20 minutes, more preferably at least about 30 minutes and more preferably still at least about an hour. On the other hand, the second predetermined time interval should be not more than about 4 hours, preferably not more than about 3 hours, more preferably not more than about 2 hours, and more preferably still not more than about 90 minutes.

If the garment label comprises electrical components, in some embodiments, the garment label may further comprise an electrical power source which is configured to supply electrical power to at least one of the temperature sensor, the timing device and the data output device. For example, the electrical power source may comprise a micro supercapacitor, which is configured to start discharging (in order to supply electrical power) when the temperature sensor first senses that the temperature of the garment label is above the predetermined temperature.

In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a garment comprising a label according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the label is affixed to the garment in a location on the garment where the label reaches the predetermined temperature when the garment is worn. For example, for a garment intended to be worn on the top half of the body, the label may advantageously be affixed to the garment in the region of the armpit. In another example, for a garment intended to be worn on the bottom half of the body, the label may advantageously be affixed to the garment in the region of the base of the spine.

In a third aspect, the present invention also provides a system comprising a garment according to the second aspect of the invention and a point-of-sale terminal comprising a data reception device, a data processing module and a user interface. The data reception device is configured to read and/or receive the data from the data output device of the garment label. The data processing module is configured to process the data read and/or received by the data reception device to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than the first predetermined time interval. The user interface is configured to convey to a user of the point-of-sale terminal a first signal if the time recorded by the timing device is greater than the first predetermined time interval and a second, different signal if the time recorded by the timing device is not greater than the first predetermined time interval.

For example, the first signal may be a red light and the second, different signal may be a green light.

Thus if such a garment is brought back to its point of sale by the purchaser of the garment for a refund, the point-of-sale terminal can be used to read and/or receive the data from the data output device of the garment label in order to determine whether the garment should be accepted back by the retailer and whether the refund should be given to the purchaser or not.

In some possible embodiments, the data processing module may be configured to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than the second predetermined time interval, and the user interface may be configured to convey to the user of the point-of-sale terminal a third signal different from the first and second signals if the time recorded by the timing device is greater than the second predetermined time interval.

In such cases, for example, the third signal may be a red light, the first signal may be an amber light and the second signal may be a green light.

Thus, in such a case, if such a garment is brought back to its point of sale by the purchaser of the garment for a refund, the point-of-sale terminal can be used to read and/or receive the data from the data output device of the garment label in order to determine whether the garment is in a state corresponding to "unworn", has only been subject to "light wear" (for example, to try the garment on for size, fitting, style and so on) or "worn", and the retailer can decide accordingly whether the garment should be accepted back and whether the purchaser should be given the requested refund or not.

In some possible embodiments, the data processing module may be programmable, in order to adjust the length of the first and/or second predetermined time intervals.

In some embodiments, the data reception device may, for example, comprise an optical scanner configured to read the data output device of the garment label. In another possible embodiment, the data reception device may alternatively or additionally comprise a short-range radio-frequency communications module configured to interact with a corresponding short-range radio-frequency communications module of the data output device of the garment label.

In some embodiments, wherein the garment label comprises an electrical power source, the point-of-sale terminal may further comprise an electrical charging device which is configured to charge the electrical power source of the garment label when the garment is sold.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention also provides a method of controlling garment returns, the method comprising affixing a garment label according to the first aspect of the invention to a garment in a location on the garment where the label reaches the predetermined temperature when the garment is worn, then when the garment is returned to its point of sale, reading and/or receiving the data from the data output device of the garment label, and determining whether the time recorded by the timing device of the garment label is greater than the first predetermined time interval. If so, generating a first signal, whereas if not, generating a second, different signal.

In some embodiments, the method may comprise, before determining whether the time recorded by the timing device of the garment label is greater than the first predetermined time interval, determining whether the time recorded by the timing device of the garment label is greater than the second predetermined time interval, and if so, generating a third signal different from the first and second signals.

For example, the third signal may be a red light, the first signal may be an amber light and the second signal may be a green light.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention also provides a computer program product or a program code or system for executing one or more than one of the methods hereinbefore described.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is given by way of example and in association with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A to 1C show a garment label comprising means for radio-frequency identification of a garment to which the label is attached; Fig. 2 schematically represents a garment label according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 schematically represents an embodiment of a garment comprising a garment label such as that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 schematically represents an embodiment of a system comprising a garment such as that shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a block diagram schematically representing an embodiment of a point-of-sale terminal forming part of the system shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a flow diagram schematically representing an embodiment of a method of controlling garment returns; and Fig. 7 is a flow diagram schematically representing an embodiment of another method of controlling garment returns.

Detailed Description

Fig. 2 schematically represents a garment label 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The garment label 10 is made of a woven fabric material in a similar manner to the garment label shown in Figs. 1A to 1C, and comprises the following components contained therein. A temperature sensor 12, a timing device 14, a data output device 16 and an electrical power source 18. The temperature sensor 12 is responsive to a change in temperature of the garment label 10 to above a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature in this embodiment is set to be 32 degrees Celsius. The timing device 14 is configured to time how long the temperature of the garment label 10 sensed by the temperature sensor 12 remains above the predetermined temperature. The data output device 16 is configured to transmit data comprising the time recorded by the timing device and whether the time recorded by the timing device is greater than a first predetermined time interval. In this embodiment, the first predetermined time interval is set to be 15 minutes. The electrical power source 18 is configured to supply electrical power to the timing device 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the temperature sensor 12 comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor. The timing device 14 comprises an integrated circuit which includes a timing module configured to generate a clock signal, a memory for recording how long the temperature of the garment label 10 remains above the predetermined temperature, and associated logic circuitry. The data output device 16 comprises a short-range radio-frequency communications module. The electrical power source 18 comprises a micro supercapacitor, which is charged up at a time that a garment to which the garment label 10 is affixed is sold. Since a micro supercapacitor can readily retain its charge for more than 6 weeks without self-discharging, this gives the garment label 10 enough electrical power to last until after a typical return-for-refund period of 28 days has expired. The micro supercapacitor is configured to start discharging when the thermistor first senses that the temperature of the garment label 10 is above the predetermined temperature. With the electrical power supplied to it from the micro supercapacitor, the timing device 14 can then readily operate for more than the 15 minutes of the first predetermined time interval, and records in memory how long the temperature of the garment label 10 remains above the predetermined temperature until after this time period has expired.

Fig. 3 schematically represents an embodiment of a garment 20 comprising a garment label 10 such as that shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the garment 20 is a top, and as can be seen in Fig. 3, the garment label 10 is affixed to the garment 20 in a location 22 which is in the region of an armpit. Thus when the garment 20 is worn, the garment label 20 is brought into close proximity with the wearer's body and is warmed by the body heat of the wearer to above the predetermined temperature.

Fig. 4 schematically represents an embodiment of a system 1 comprising a garment 20 such as that shown in Fig. 3 and a point-of-sale terminal 30. When the garment 20 is brought within range of the point-of-sale terminal 30, the point-of-sale terminal 30 emits a signal 42 to interrogate the garment label 10, and the short-range radio-frequency communications module of the data output device 16 in the garment label 10 transmits data 46 in response to signal 42, which comprises the temperature versus time data previously stored in the memory of the timing device 14.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram schematically representing an embodiment of a point-of-sale terminal 30, such as that which forms part of the system 1 shown in Fig. 4. The point-of-sale terminal 30 comprises a data reception device 32, a data processing module 34, a user interface 36 and an electrical charging device 38. The data reception device 32 is configured to receive the data from the data output device 16 of the garment label 10. The data processing module 34 is configured to process the data received by the data reception device 32 to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than the first predetermined time interval. The user interface 36 is configured to convey to a user of the point-of-sale terminal 30 a first signal if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than the first predetermined time interval and a second, different signal if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is not greater than the first predetermined time interval. The electrical charging device 38 is configured to charge the electrical power source 18, of the garment label 10, which in the illustrated embodiment is the aforementioned micro supercapacitor, when the garment 20 is sold. In this embodiment, the data processing module 34 is programmable via the user interface 36, which comprises a touch-sensitive display screen, in order to adjust the length of the first predetermined time interval at the same time. Thus a user of the point-of-sale terminal 30 may set the length of the first predetermined time interval according to such parameters as the type of garment being sold, its purchase price, and so on.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, the data reception device 32 comprises a short-range radio-frequency communications module, which is configured to interrogate the corresponding short-range radio-frequency communications module of the data output device 16 in the garment label 10 as described above in relation to Fig. 4, in order to receive the temperature versus time data previously stored in the memory of the timing device 14, if the same garment 20 is then returned to the point of sale for a refund. The data processing module 34 then takes this temperature versus time data and compares it with the first predetermined time interval which was previously set at the time of the sale of the garment 20, in order to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than the first predetermined time interval. The display screen of the user interface 36 then displays a red light if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than the first predetermined time interval and a green light if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is not greater than the first predetermined time interval. Thus the user of the point-ofsale terminal 30 can decide whether to accept the garment 20 and provide a refund to the purchaser or to reject the purchaser's request for a refund and the garment on the basis of and with the evidence conveyed to them by the user interface 36.

Alternatively, if the data processing module 34 is configured to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than a second predetermined time interval which is longer than the first predetermined time interval, the display screen of the user interface 36 displays a red light if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than the second predetermined time interval, an amber light if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is greater than the first predetermined time interval but not greater than the second predetermined time interval, and a green light if the time recorded by the timing device 14 is not greater than the first predetermined time interval. Thus the user of the point-of-sale terminal 30 can determine whether the state of the garment 20 respectively corresponds to "worn", "light wear" or "unworn".

Whereas exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above in relation to Figs. 1 to 5 by reference to a garment label, garment and system comprising electrical components, further alternative embodiments of the present invention may also be envisaged by the skilled person, which comprise chemical components in place of electrical components. In such chemically based embodiments, at least one of the temperature sensor 12, the timing device 14 and the data output device 16 may comprise a thermochromic material which undergoes an irreversible change in colour state at the predetermined temperature, and the data reception device 32 may correspondingly comprise an optical scanner which is configured to read the data output device 16 of the garment label by reading the colour and/or other visual features of the data output device 16, such as a size of a part thereof which exhibits such an irreversible change in colour state.

Fig. 6 is a flow diagram schematically representing an embodiment of a method 100 of controlling garment returns. The method 100 comprises firstly, at the time of a garment's manufacture, affixing 101 a garment label 10, such as that shown in Fig. 1, to a garment 20, such as that shown in Fig. 2, in a location 22 on the garment where the label 10 reaches the predetermined temperature when the garment 20 is worn. The method 100 further comprises, when the garment 20 is returned to its point of sale, reading and/or receiving 102 the data from the data output device 16 of the garment label 10, determining 103 whether the time recorded by the timing device 14 of the garment label 10 is greater than the first predetermined time interval, and if so, generating 104a a first, warning signal, such as a red light, whereas if not, generating 104b a second, different signal, such as a green light.

Fig. 7 is a flow diagram schematically representing an embodiment of another method 200 of controlling garment returns, wherein those features of the method 200 which are the same as features of the method 100 are represented by boxes bearing the same respective reference numerals. Thus the embodiment of the method 200 represented in Fig. 7 additionally comprises in comparison to the method of Fig. 6, before determining 103 whether the time recorded by the timing device 14 of the garment label 10 is greater than the first predetermined time interval, determining 201 whether the time recorded by the timing device 14 of the garment label 10 is greater than the second predetermined time interval, and if so, generating 202 a third signal which is different from the first and second signals.

Claims

Claims 1. A garment label (10) comprising: a temperature sensor (12) responsive to a change in temperature of the garment label (10) to above a predetermined temperature; a timing device (14) configured to time how long the temperature of the garment label (10) sensed by the temperature sensor (12) remains above the predetermined temperature; and a data output device (16) configured to display and/or transmit data comprising at least one of the time recorded by the timing device (14) and whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) is greater than a first predetermined time interval.
2. A garment label (10) according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature is at least 25 degrees Celsius and is less than the range of normal human body temperature.
3. A garment label (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first predetermined time interval is at least 1 minute and less than 3 hours.
4. A garment label (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data output device (16) is configured to display and/or transmit data indicating whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) is greater than a second predetermined time interval which is longer than the first predetermined time interval.
5. A garment label (10) according to claim 4, wherein the second predetermined time interval is at least 10 minutes and less than 4 hours.
6. A garment label (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the temperature sensor (12), the timing device (14) and the data output device (16) comprises a thermochromic material which undergoes an irreversible change in colour state at the predetermined temperature.
7. A garment label (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature sensor (12) comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
8. A garment label (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an electrical power source (18) configured to supply electrical power to at least one of the temperature sensor (12), the timing device (14) and the data output device (16).
9. A garment label (10) according to claim 8, wherein the electrical power source (18) comprises a micro supercapacitor configured to start discharging when the temperature sensor (12) first senses that the temperature of the garment label (10) is above the predetermined temperature.
10. A garment label (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data output device (16) comprises a short-range radio-frequency communications module.
11. A garment (20) comprising a label (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the label (10) is in a location (22) on the garment where the label (10) reaches the predetermined temperature when the garment (20) is worn.
12. A system (1) comprising: a garment (20) according to claim 11; and a point-of-sale terminal (30) comprising: a data reception device (32) configured to read and/or receive the data from the data output device (16) of the garment label (10); a data processing module (34) configured to process the data read and/or received by the data reception device (32) to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) is greater than the first predetermined time interval; and a user interface (36) configured to convey to a user of the point-of-sale terminal (30) a first signal if the time recorded by the timing device (14) is greater than the first predetermined time interval and a second, different signal if the time recorded by the timing device (14) is not greater than the first predetermined time interval.
13. A system (1) according to claim 12 as dependent on claim 4, wherein: the data processing module (34) is configured to determine whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) is greater than the second predetermined time interval; 5 and the user interface (36) is configured to convey to the user of the point-of-sale terminal (30) a third signal different from the first and second signals if the time recorded by the timing device (14) is greater than the second predetermined time interval.
14. A system (1) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the data reception device (32) comprises a short-range radio-frequency communications module.
15. A system (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 14 as dependent on claim 8, further comprising an electrical charging device (38) configured to charge the electrical power source (18) of the garment label (10) when the garment (20) is sold.
16. A method (100) of controlling garment returns, the method comprising: affixing (101) a garment label (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 to a garment (20) in a location (22) on the garment where the label (10) reaches the predetermined temperature when the garment (20) is worn; when the garment (20) is returned to its point of sale, reading and/or receiving (102) the data from the data output device (16) of the garment label (10); determining (103) whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) of the garment label (10) is greater than the first predetermined time interval; and if so, generating (104a) a first signal; whereas if not, generating (104b) a second, different signal.
17. A method (200) according to claim 16, wherein the garment label (10) is according to claim 4 or any one of claims 5 to 10 as dependent on claim 4, and the method comprises: before determining (103) whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) of the garment label (10) is greater than the first predetermined time interval, determining (201) whether the time recorded by the timing device (14) of the garment label (10) is greater than the second predetermined time interval; and if so, generating (202) a third signal different from the first and second signals.
18. A computer program product or a program code or system for executing one or more than one of the methods of claims 16 and 17.