IE903393A1 - An automatic parking coupon - Google Patents

Abstract

A timer comprising a lamination containing a piece of porous wick material (1), and a reservoir of liquid (6), said liquid (6) and/or said porous wick (1) being such that when the reservoir is opened and the liquid (6) released it soaks into the porous wick (1) to thereby create a visible trace of the liquid on or in the porous wick; a face part (2) of the lamination being transparent such that said visible trace can be seen; said wick material (1) having imposed thereon or positioned adjacent thereto a series of markings which cover the time range over which the timer is to be used. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing the timer.

Description

The present invention relates to a timer for visibly • , · .

Indicating elapsed time and nor· particularly to | timer for visibly indicating elapsed tine in such a manner that, once the timer hae been started, it cannot be resat, slowed or otherwise tampered with. The timer according to tha invention is capable of a wide variety of different applications, but is particularly useful as a substitute for existing parking meters.

A number of prior proposals have been made for substitute parking sets». One example being a timer comprising a case containing a piece of porous sheet naterial and a reservoir of liquid arranged so that when the liquid reservoir is opened liquid soaks into the paper. Tho liquid and/or paper being coloured or impregnated with a dye so that the passage of the liquid up or down the paper leaves a visible trace. The device functions as a timer because the I rate of progress of the liquid up or down the paper le I dependent upon time.

None of the existing propose la appear to have dealt successfully with inherent difficulties imposed on such s timer by temperature fluctuations. The rate of movement of the liquid up or down the porous sheet materiel depends on the viscosity of the liquid and the viscosity of the majority of liquids is normally temperature dependent. A number of proposals have been made to overcome this problem but none •eem to have been entirely successful.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device of the above general type which obviates the &-LLXJIH MJH ι».Κ above identified disadvantages and accurately compensates for viscosity fluctuations due to changes in temperature while • I ·« not unduly increasing the complexity or coat of heJ timer device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there la provided a timer comprising a lamination containing a piece of porous wick material, and a reservoir of liquid, said liquid and/or naid porous wick being such that when the reservoir ia opened and the liquid released it soaks into the porous wick to thereby create a visible trace of the liquid on or in the porous wick; a face part of the lamination being transparent such that said visible trace can be seen) said wick material having imposed thereon or positioned adjacent thereto a series of markings which cover the time range over which the timer is to be used.

According to a second aspect of the invention ther* is provided a method of manufacturing the timer according to the I first aspect of the invention, ι I Preferably the porous wick is paper or a substrate et least partially coated with a porous plastics material (e.g. mwthylhydroxyethyulcellulose) or plaster of peril.

Preferably the poroue wick is encased in a layer of impervious material for example a polypropylene or polyester film. Across the bottom section of one of the laminated films is an opening through the film and above thia is e band of aluminium foil or a line of hot melt adhesive whioh is bonded to the film. The lamination has attached to the back thereof a third laminate which is sealed around ita edges thus forming a cavity between the laminates. This cavity has IE 903393 γ*-'.? ;11 ? 1J v*. * «««led therein a volume of fluid. The paper wick le preferably pre-coated on the back «ide with a solution consisting of a viscosity correction agent and a ^y Operation of the preferred timer device ia described below.

Further aspect of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspect will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which I figure 1 shows a front view of a preferred example of timer ticket; Figure 2 shows a rear view ef the tloket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section on the lines ΑΆ through the ticket shown in Figure 1? and; Figure 4 shows a section on the lines B-B through the ticket shown in Figure 1, ί The following example of the timer device will be » described with reference to the production of e parking meter coupon and it la to be appreciated that the same technology can be utilised in other situations.

The coupon consists of a porous paper wick 1 encased in layers of impervious film material, front and back 2 and 3 respectively. This covering film material can be a hot melt glue coated cr co-eircruded polyester film. The layers of film 2 and 3 are laminated together around their periphery. Across the bottom section of the film 3 there is an opening through the centre film and above this ia a band of aluminium - 5 IE 903393 foil, polyester strip or hot melt traee 4 which is bonded by a hot melt glue to the centre film J on the wick aide.

. I ·.

Attached to the back of the centre film 3 is(a third film S that is sealed around its edges thus forming a cavity between the laminated film· 3 and 9. Within this cavity is sealed a volume of fluid 6* The paper wick element l is pr·-coated on its back surface facing film 3 with a solution consisting of a viscosity correction agent and a dye.

The specification for the materials that have been found in the applicant's trials and experiments to be most suitable are, a) Front film 3 - clear co-extruded or hot melt adhesive coated polyester film of 13 micron thickness. b) Middle film 3 - aluminium metallized polyester film or co-laminated aluminium ι foil between polypropylene or I polyethylene films to provide gg necessary water vapour impermeability and high bond strength. c) Paper wick element 1 • for tines of j hour, 1 hour and 3 hour duration paper of lS0g/m3 comprising 60% hardwood and 30% softwood pulp, with no filler, no siting or other additives but with a density of 500 to SSOxg/ SEP 15 <*) e) 21)33 BALDWIN SON CHCH 794 P01 - β m3j and for ti»·· abov^ 2 hour· to about β hour· paper'of lSOg/aj comprising 100% softwood pulp with a density of 700 Kg/»\ The viscosity correction agent used on the surface of the eleisent 1 or wick Is material such as an aqueous solution of high moleoular weight fraction gelatine with coloured dye suoh as rhodamine impregnated part way Into the thlcknese of the paper wick.

Aluminium foil 4 · standard commercial 15 micron aluminium foil» with a lacquer coating or hot melt'glue coating to prevent water vapour transmission through any pin holes.

Fluid $ - an agueous solution of calolum chloride and potassium chloride to give the required freesing point depression/ viscosity correction agent solubility and hindered gelling properties* Back file 5 - aluminium metallised polyester film of 25 micron thickne·· or similar vapour barrier film to «) IE 903393 ---' £'· < _ ι; f *'.* » G*-r. - 7 I provide necessary water vapour impermeability. * 1..

The ticket when laminated together ia actiyated by rupturing, pulling, puncturing or positively breaking seal which is ruptured by movement associated with the generally flexible timer.

This rupturing allows the fluid β to flow through the slit or holes in the film.

M the fluid β is drawn up the paper wick 1 by capillary action the dye is drawn to the front of the paper, thus indicating the fluid height up the wick.

The solubility of the viscosity correcting agent (VCA) is dependent on the fluid temperature, such that at differing temperatures, or over changing temperatures, the viscosity of IS the fluid and dissolved VGA remains relatively constant. as the main variable affecting the rate that the fluid front progresses up the paper wick, ia viscosity variation of I the fluid, with temperature, thus dissolving of the VGA provides a rate of fluid migration up the paper wick that ia 2o comparatively unaffected by temperature variations from environmental conditions. Tha elapsed time is indicated by the fluid front passing a height Indication mark that is printed on the film, ticket or paper wick 2. The fluid will continue on peat the height mark and henee gives an 2j indication of the time passed the expiry time or in this case 'time over parked'.

The top flap of the ticket is designed to be folded over a car window and hung on the drivers elds window.

IE903393 -—~ ,..-- · A method of manufacturing the ticket requires the blotting paper to be coated with the vcA and dye solution, • I*« using a direct reverse roller coating printing operation or similar, optionally the paper nay be heated to 150-170*G for a controlled time to modify the VGA's soluabllity to that required to give a constant viscosity of tha fluid as it travels up the paper* This modification is similar to that used in the photographic industry for the hardening of gelatine used in films.

The paper wick elements can be cut from a roll of treated paper, then positioned on the film 3.

To achieve this the film 3 is heated to maka the adhesive coating slightly tacky, then the wicks are positioned on tha film.

This film is then passed between heated rollers or over a heated plate where the top film 2 is laminated to the centre film.

I The use of heat activated adhesives on both files and I soft rubber heated rollers, means that the molten glue is pushed into all the gaps around the paper wick. The option is to use an aluminium foil, polyester strip ox hot melt trace ae a weir.

Directly after the heater rollers ths lamination passes through cold soft rubber rollers to 'set' the adhesive.

The forming of the back pouch on the ticket, lamination and filling with the fluid, is an adaption of standard liquid sachet forming equipment.

One aspect not discussed in the above description ie Che incorporation of an air cavity in the upper portion of the IE 903393 - »« > paper wick 1. This cavity ia necessary to provide accurate time measurement in the upper half of the wick.

• I * « The preferred version above has been designed to produce particular elapsed times and it is envisaged that by minor modifications and variations the ticket can be designed to provide for differing elapsed times to suit particular users requirements.

A particular example of the invention has been described herein by way of example and it la envisaged that improvements and modification· can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. , λ timer coaprieing a lamination containing a place of a f i, porom wick material, and a raaervolr of litjuld^ aaid liquid and/or said porous wick being such that whan tha reservoir is

2. λ timer aa claimed in alaim 1 wherein the porous wick is encased in layer of impervious material such as a polypropylene or polyester film. IS

3. λ timer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein aaross the bottom section of the centre lamination film is an opening through tha film and above this ia a band of hot mslt I adhesive which is bonded to the wick and to the, film, «

4. A timer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 2o wherein the lamination has attached to the back thereof a third film laminate which ia sealed around Its edges thus forming a cavity between the laminates. 5. Wherein the centre film can be a composite laminate film to provide the necessary bond or seal strength and water vapour impermeability.

5. A timer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cavity has sealed therein a volume of fluid. 25 β.

6. A timer ae claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the porous wick is pre-coated on the back side with a solution consisting of a visco·ity correction agent and a dye.

7. A timer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims - ii wherein the film le hot melt glue coated or co-extruded.

8. A timer ae claimed in claim 7 wherein th· film la a • I · a clear film of substantially 12 micron thiekneesj >

9. A timer aa claimed in any one of the preceding claim· 9 opened and tha liquid released It soaks into the porous wick to thereby create a visible trace of the liquid on or in the porous wiak; a face part of the lamination being transparent such that said visible trace can be seen; said wick material having Imposed theraon or positioned adjacent thereto a 10. And 2 hour duration ifl paper of about lSOg/a? comprising about 80% hardwood end about 20% softwood pulp, with no filler, no ailing or other additives but having a density of approximately 900 to 550Xg/m^.

10. A timer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the porous wick element for time· of { hour, 1 hour 10 seriea of markings which cover the time range over which the timer ia to be used.

11. A timer as claimed in any one of claims l to 9 wherein

12. λ timer aa claimed in any one of the preceding claim· » wherein a viscosity correction or compensating agent used on 20 the surface of the element is an agueous solution of gelatine with a dye impregnated part way into the thlcknese of the porous wick.

13. A timer as claimed in any one of the preceding elaiAB wherein the aluminium foil is a standard commercial 15 micron 25 aluminium foil, with a lacquer coating cr hot melt glue coating to prevent water vapour transmission through any pin holes.

14. A timer as daisied in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fluid gives the required frees ing point depression, the viscosity correction agent solubility and hindered gelling properties such as calcium chloride or ill, potassium chloride. ( >

15. Dye solution, using a direct reverse roller coating printing operation or similar. 15, λ timer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 5 wherein the rear film la an aluminium metallised polyester film of about 25 micron thickness or a similar vapour barrier film to provide water vapour Impermeability. 15 the porous wick element for times of above 2 hours to about 8 hours is paper of about leog/m^ comprising 100% softwood pulp having a density of about 700Kg/m^ or greater.

16. A timer substantially aa hereinbefore described with reference to the drawinga. 10

17. λ method of manufacturing a timer according to any one of the preceding claims.

18. A method as claimed in alaim 17 wherein th* manufacturing of th* ticket requires the paper or wick material to be coated with the viscooity correction agent and

19. A method aa claimed ln claim 17 or claim 19 wherein optionally the gelatine is modified by erose-linking agentsor I ' methods as known in the photographic industry such as heating 20 to 160-170’C, high humidity, ultraviolet radiation agents, Or chemical cross-linking agents.

20. Λ method of manufacturing a timer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to th* accompanying drawinga.