Patent US6741523B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6741523B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microstructured time dependent indicators
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 2000-05-15
•
Granted: 2004-05-25
•
Expires: 2020-05-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides microstructured time dependent indicators including timers, time/temperature indicators, etc. The indicators are preferably highly accurate and easy to read. The invention also includes indicators which are game pieces, calendars, greeting cards, etc. The indicators function by flow of a material through channels of a microstructured substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Marco Bommarito
- 👤 Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek
- 👤 Raymond P. Johnston
- 👤 David J. Yarusso
- 👤 Curtis L. Larson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:41
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F1/00; G01; G01K; G01K3/00; G01K3/02; G01K3/04; G04F13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An article comprising: (a) a substrate having a microstructured surface, wherein the microstructured surface of the substrate defines a plurality of channels having a predetermined channel pattern; (b) a fluid wherein the fluid is separated from the substrate until activation of the article is desired; wherein the article is designed such that it can be manipulated at a desired point in time to allow contact of the fluid with at least some of the channels of the substrate in order to activate the article; and wherein the article is designed in such a manner as to provide an indication of the progress of fluid as it migrates through the channels of the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An article comprising: (a) a substrate having a microstructured surface, wherein the microstructured surface of the substrate defines a plurality of channels having a predetermined channel pattern; (b) a fluid wherein the fluid is separated from the substrate until activation of the article is desired; wherein the article is designed such that it can be manipulated at a desired point in time to allow contact of the fluid with at least some of the channels of the substrate in order to activate the article; and wherein the article is designed in such a manner as to provide an indication of the progress of fluid as it migrates through the channels of the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article comprises only one fluid and only one substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the channels of the substrate are interconnected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from the group of consisting of viscous fluids, viscoelastic fluids, and combinations thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the substrate is retroreflective.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the substrate is cube-corner retroreflective sheeting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the substrate is retroreflective and wherein the progress of the fluid as it migrates through the channels is evidenced by frustration of the total internal reflectance in the retroreflective substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is designed such that there is essentially no leakage of the fluid from the article prior to or subsequent to activation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fluid has a fluid flow front as it migrates through the channels and wherein each fluid front variation is less than about 5 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fluid has a fluid flow front as it migrates through the channels and wherein each fluid front variation is less than about 3 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fluid has a fluid flow front as it migrates through the channels and wherein each fluid front variation is less than about 1 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer which according to the Capillary Action Test Method displays a time when in a vertical position that is within about ±50 percent of an identical timer in a horizontal position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer which according to the Capillary Action Test Method displays a time when in a vertical position within about ±25 percent of an identical timer in a horizontal position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer which according to the Capillary Action Test Method displays a time when in a vertical position that is within about ±10 percent of an identical timer in a horizontal position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer and wherein the article displays a time at an expiration point that is within about ±25 percent of the actual elapsed time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer and wherein the article displays a time at an expiration point that is within about ±10 percent of the actual elapsed time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a timer and wherein the article displays a time at an expiration point that is within about ±5 percent of the actual elapsed time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the substrate has two opposing major surfaces, one being identified as the first major surface and the other being identified as the second major surface, wherein the second major surface has a series of essentially parallel channels therein, wherein the channels are essentially of uniform length and uniform shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fluid is separated from the substrate by a barrier until activation of the article is desired, wherein the barrier can subsequently be manipulated at a desired point in time to allow contact of the fluid with at least some of the channels of the substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has diffractive properties.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has diffusive properties.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is partially internally reflective.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has optical characteristics and wherein the progress of the fluid as it migrates through the channels of the substrate is evidenced by the frustration of the optical characteristics of the substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3018611A
Cited
US2337534A
Cited
US2896568A
Cited
US3046786A
Cited
US3190178A
Cited
US3243303A
Cited
US3480402A
Cited
US3520124A
Cited
US3632695A
Cited
US3926402A
Cited
US3954011A
Cited
US4025159A
Cited
US3999946A
Cited
US4349598A
Cited
US4154107A
Cited
US4212153A
Cited
US4229813A
Cited
US4195058A
Cited
US4212393A
Cited
US4408557A
Cited
US4292916A
Cited
US4432656A
Cited
US4222268A
Cited
US4382700A
Cited
US4432630A
Cited
US4542982A
Cited
US4779120A
Cited
US4428321A
Cited
US4588258A
Cited
US4643122A
Cited
US4629330A
Cited
US4917503A
Cited
US4812053A
Cited
US4938563A
Cited
US5066098A
Cited
US4895428A
Cited
US5045283A
Cited
US5053339A
Cited
US4903254A
Cited
US4987849A
Cited
US5058088A
Cited
US5107470A
Cited
US5138488A
Cited
US5364132A
Cited
US5446705A
Cited
US5120137A
Cited
US5317980A
Cited
FR2702046A1
Cited
US5514120A
Cited
US5393787A
Cited
US5728446A
Cited
US5450235A
Cited
US5691846A
Cited
US5650215A
Cited
JPH08110384A
Cited
US5667303A
Cited
US5959777A
Cited
WO1999006589A1
Cited
US5999307A
Cited
WO1999066282A1
Cited
WO1999065664A1
Cited
WO1999065704A1
Cited
WO1999065593A1
Cited
WO1999065595A1
Cited
WO1999065541A1
Cited
WO1999065542A1
Cited
WO2000042958A1
Cited
FR2789486A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-25 | 2007-11-24 | 2008-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-25 | 2011-11-24 | 2012-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-25 | 2015-11-24 | 2016-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |