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:
Jul. 03, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1998
Theodore F. Eberle, Chicago, IL (US);
Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation, Alsip, IL (US);
Abstract
A shelf life indicating structure including a substrate printed with an oxygen sensitive ink in combination with an oxygen scavenging layer is disclosed. The oxygen scavenging layer prevents oxygen reaching the substrate for a predetermined interval. Once the finite oxygen scavenging capability of the layer is exhausted, oxygen reaches the substrate, thereby activating a visible indication such as a color change, in the ink. The substrate and layer may be formed into a patch or label for a package, and covered with an oxygen impermeable layer, such as a strip of aluminum foil which can be peeled off to initiate a shelf life indication structure. A method associated with the shelf life indicating structure is also provided.