Label assembly

A label assembly includes a plurality of flexible panels sealed together along their peripheral edges. The plurality of panels includes a bottom layer and a top layer. The top layer is substantially transparent. A thermally reactive material is positioned between the top and bottom panels. The thermally reactive material changes to a color when the thermally reactive material attains a selected temperature. A pressure sensitive adhesive is positioned on a bottom side of bottom layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to label devices and more particularly pertains to a new label device for indicating when the temperature of a food product has risen above freezing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of label devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,927 describes a device that indicates the temperature of a container to which it is attached. Another type of label device is U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,053 having a middle layer which is time reactive to temperature. Another such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,208.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device for indicating when a frozen food item has thawed at some point before consumption. This will alert a person buying the food item that spoilage might have occurred during a thawing period. Additionally, such a device may be configured to indicate other temperature variations aside from

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of flexible panels sealed together along their peripheral edges. The plurality of panels includes a bottom layer and a top layer. The top layer is substantially transparent. A thermally reactive material is positioned between the top and bottom panels. The thermally reactive material changes to a color when the thermally reactive material attains a selected temperature. A pressure sensitive adhesive is positioned on a bottom side of bottom layer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 3thereof, a new label device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 3, the label assembly10generally comprises a plurality of flexible panels12sealed together along their peripheral edges. The plurality of panels12includes a bottom layer14and a top layer16. The top layer16is substantially transparent. The plurality of panels12includes a mesh layer18positioned between the bottom14and top16layers. The top16, bottom14and mesh18layers are preferably comprised of a plastic material that may be vacuum sealed and then heat sealed along their respective peripheral edges. Label indicia22are positioned on the top layer16. A pressure sensitive adhesive24is positioned on a bottom side of bottom layer14and a non-stick covering26is positioned on and covers the adhesive24. An opening30is formed in the label indicia22to see through the top layer16if the label indicia covers the top layer16.

A thermally reactive material28is positioned between the top16and bottom14panels. The thermally reactive material28is configured to change to a color when the thermally reactive material attains a temperature greater than zero degrees Celsius, though that temperature may be altered to a selected temperature if the assembly10is not being used for ensuring that food has remained frozen. The color is ideally a red color. The thermally reactive material28preferably includes two liquid components that become opaque when mixed, and preferably turn a color such as red. The components each preferably have a freezing point generally equal to zero degrees Celsius so that once they melt, the chemicals will mix and change color and the process will be un-reversible. In the present embodiment, the thermally reactive material includes a first component40positioned between the mesh layer18and the top layer16and a second component42is positioned between the mesh layer18and the bottom layer14. The first component40comprises a clear material and the second component comprises a colored material. The first40and second42components melt and mix together when the temperature is greater than the zero degree Celsius. The colored material is colored red and the first40and second42components may comprise water wherein a dye has been added to the second component42.

In use, the label assemblies10are used as conventional labels for frozen food items. Should the food thaw out, the label assembly10, or more particularly the thermally reactive material28, will turn a red color to indicate such. The opening30is positioned in the label indicia22to allow viewing of the thermally reactive material28. Additional components, having different colors, and additional mesh layers may be added to further indicate the amount of thawing that may have taken place. A plurality of the label assemblies10is preferably attached together in strips and separable from each other along perforated lines32.