The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1994
Henry C Reid, Safety Harbor, FL (US);
Innova Pure Water Inc., Clearwater, FL (US);
Abstract
An elapsed time indicator can easily indicate time periods of over a month, and is extremely versatile, for example being utilizable in a cap of a water bottle. The indicator includes a substantially transparent and substantially straight tube having first and second ends, an interior and an exterior, with a viscous liquid substantially filling the interior of the tube. A visible indicator, such as a polypropylene spherical bead, a magnetite/wax bead, or a fluid immiscible in the viscous liquid, is immersed in the viscous liquid and dimensioned and positioned with respect to the tube so that it can travel from the first to the second end in a known predetermined period of time when the tube is generally vertical. The time it takes for travel may be precisely calculated. The indicator may be held in a stationary position at one end of the tube, e.g. by clamping a flexible tube end, or using a magnet, prior to initial use. A scale may indicate the relative position of the indicator, and more than one indicator in the same tube, or different in-line and adjacent tubes with different indicators, can be provided.