US5756356A — Method of indicating time or temperature-time acc…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A method of indicating a passage of time or a temperature-time accumulated value as a color change, which comprises bringing an oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff of the following formula (1) ##STR3## wherein each R 1 to R 7 is independently hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclic aryl, hydroxyl, amino, cyano, aldehyde, carbonyl or nitro, provided that a combination of adjacent substituents may form an aromatic ring, and X is sulfur, oxygen, selenium or tellurium, and an oxidizing agent into contact with each other to polymerize the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff, and assessing the color change of the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff to determine the passage of time or the temperature-time accumulated value.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 115 words

A method of indicating a passage of time or a temperature-time accumulated value as a color change, which comprises bringing an oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff of the following formula (1) ##STR3## wherein each R 1 to R 7 is independently hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclic aryl, hydroxyl, amino, cyano, aldehyde, carbonyl or nitro, provided that a combination of adjacent substituents may form an aromatic ring, and X is sulfur, oxygen, selenium or tellurium, and an oxidizing agent into contact with each other to polymerize the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff, and assessing the color change of the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff to determine the passage of time or the temperature-time accumulated value.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal salts, oxyacid salts, halogens, dimethylsulfoxide, quinones, naphthoquinones, carbonyl compounds, oxides, organic peroxides, organic peracids, peroxosulfates and nitro compounds.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 142 words

An indicator material for indicating a passage of time or a temperature-time accumulated value of an article as a color change comprising an oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff of the following formula (1) ##STR4## wherein each R 1 to R 7 is independently hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclic aryl, hydroxyl, amino, cyano, aldehyde, carbonyl or nitro, provided that a combination of adjacent substituents may form an aromatic ring, and X is sulfur, oxygen, selenium or tellurium, and an oxidizing agent, the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the oxidizing agent being out of contact with each other before the indicator material is used, the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff being polymerized with the passage of time to undergo a color change by bringing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the oxidizing agent into contact with each other when the indicator material is used.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 142 words

An indicator material for indicating a passage of time or a temperature-time accumulated value of an article as a color change comprising an oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff of the following formula (1) ##STR4## wherein each R 1 to R 7 is independently hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclic aryl, hydroxyl, amino, cyano, aldehyde, carbonyl or nitro, provided that a combination of adjacent substituents may form an aromatic ring, and X is sulfur, oxygen, selenium or tellurium, and an oxidizing agent, the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the oxidizing agent being out of contact with each other before the indicator material is used, the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff being polymerized with the passage of time to undergo a color change by bringing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the oxidizing agent into contact with each other when the indicator material is used.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

An indicator material according claim 3, wherein the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff is contained in a layer of a carrier and the oxidizing agent is contained in a layer of a carrier.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

An indicator material according to claim 4, wherein the carrier containing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff is an adhesive material and/or the carrier containing the oxidizing agent is an adhesive material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

An indicator material according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive material is capable of diffusing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the oxidizing agent at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

An indicator material according to claim 4, wherein the carrier containing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and/or the oxidizing agent is a resin layer laminated on a transparent substrate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

An indicator material according to claim 7, wherein the resin layer is a printed layer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

An indicator material according to claim 4, wherein the indicator material is formed of a layer containing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff in a carrier, a layer containing the oxidizing agent in a carrier and a spacing layer which is present between the layer containing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the layer containing the oxidizing agent and keeps these layers in a non-contact state.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

An indicator material according to claim 9, wherein the spacing layer works to diffuse the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff into the layer containing the oxidizing agent or to diffuse the oxidizing agent into the layer containing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

An indicator material according to claim 9, wherein the spacing layer is spacer material capable of bringing the layer containing the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff and the layer containing the oxidizing agent into contact by an external pressure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

An indicator material according to claim 3, wherein the oxidizing agent in a non-contact state with the oxidation-polymerizable dyestuff is microencapsulated.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

An indicator material according to claim 3, wherein the oxidizing agent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal salts, oxyacid salts, halogens, dimethylsulfoxide, quinones, naphthoquinones, carbonyl compounds, oxides, organic peroxides, organic peracids, peroxosulfates and nitro compounds.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-05-25	2001-11-24	2002-05-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-05-25	2005-11-24	2006-05-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-05-25	2009-11-24	2010-05-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of indicating time or temperature-time accumulated value as color change, and materials therefor

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