Patent ID: 7204199
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
1. A thermal indicator for visually determining and monitoring temperature of cooking food, comprising: a) a body having an orifice; b) indicating means capable of moving through the orifice relative to the body from a first position to a second position for visually indicating when a preselected temperature has been reached and that the food is cooked to a desired temperature and doneness; and c) a thermopolymeric switching medium contained within the body for allowing said indicating means to dynamically indicate when said preselected temperature has been reached, wherein said thermopolymeric switching medium comprises at least one thermopolymeric material that, when at a temperature below the predetermined temperature, maintains said indicating means at the first position, and that, when at a temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, yields to permit release of said indicating means to the second position visually indicating that the food is cooked to a desired temperature and doneness, whereby the thermopolymeric switching medium undergoes a thermal transition from a solid phase to a liquid phase at the predetermined temperature indicating the food is cooked to the desired temperature and doneness.