Patent Publication Number: US-9423312-B2

Title: Impact indicator

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     During manufacturing, storage or transit, many types of objects need to be monitored due to the sensitivity or fragility of the objects. For example, some types of objects may be susceptible to damage if dropped or a significant impact is received. Thus, for quality control purposes and/or the general monitoring of transportation conditions, it is desirable to determine and/or verify the environmental conditions to which the object has been exposed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The impact indicator includes: a housing; and a detection assembly configured to detect receipt by the housing of an acceleration event. The detection assembly comprises first and second indicias displayable thereby, wherein the first indicia is displayed in an unactivated state of the impact indicator, and wherein in response to detecting the acceleration event, the second indicia is displayed, the second indicia further comprising an indication of a direction of the acceleration event. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, an impact indicator includes: a housing having a window; and a detection assembly configured to alternately display first and second encoded indicias within the window in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event, the first and second encoded indicias being uninterpretable without a key or being machine-read, and wherein the first and second encoded indicias comprise respective first and second encoded portions, the first and second encoded portions providing an indication of impact activation and a direction of received impact. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, an impact indicator includes: a housing comprising at least one window for displaying an indication of impact status; and a detection assembly configured to alternately display within the at least one window a first, second or third indicia, wherein each of the first second and third indicias comprises an indication of impact status, and wherein at least two of the first, second and third indicias comprise an indication of two different impact directions, one of the at least two of the first, second and third indicias displayed within the window in response to receipt by the housing of a predetermined magnitude of acceleration event. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present application, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams illustrating respective front and rear views of an embodiment of an impact indicator according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating respective front and rear views of the impact indicator of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in an activated state according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIG. 2B  in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIG. 3A  in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4A  is another diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in an activated state according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIG. 4A  in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of an impact indicator according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIG. 5A  in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  in an activated state in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  in another activated state in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIG. 7A  in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a mass member of the impact indictor illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating respective non-activated and activated states of the impact indicator illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  with the mass member illustrated in  FIG. 8  according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a mass member of the impact indictor illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a mass member for an impact indicator according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are diagrams illustrating respective non-activated and activated states of an impact indicator with the mass member illustrated in  FIG. 11  according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device and technique for impact detection and indication. According to one embodiment, an impact indicator includes a housing and a detection assembly configured to detect receipt by the housing of an acceleration event. In response to detecting the acceleration event, the detection assembly causes a display element coupled to the housing to provide an encoded indication of impact status. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable impact and/or acceleration event detection and indication relative to an object while the impact indication comprises an encoded indicia or indicia that is not readily discernible for identifying whether the object has been subjected to an impact. In this regard, because the encoded indicia is not readily decipherable without a key or other type of deciphering code/instrument (e.g., a barcode reader if the indicia is a barcode), a person viewing the impact indicator may not be able to readily determine whether the impact indicator has been activated (i.e., subjected to/responded to a received impact), thereby reducing the likelihood that the user may attempt to reset the impact indicator to a non-activated status. 
     With reference now to the Figures and in particular with reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , exemplary diagrams of an impact indicator  10  are provided in which illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.  FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating a front view of impact indicator  10 , and  FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating a rear view of impact indicator  10 . In  FIGS. 1A and 1B , indicator  10  is a portable device configured to be affixed to or disposed within a transport container containing an object of which impact and/or acceleration events associated therewith are to be monitored. Embodiments of impact indicator  10  monitor whether an object has been exposed to an impact or some level of an acceleration event during manufacturing, storage and/or transport of the object. In some embodiments, impact indicator  10  may be affixed to a transport container using, for example, adhesive materials, permanent or temporary fasteners, or a variety of different types of attachment devices. The transport container may include a container in which a monitored object is loosely placed or may comprise a container of the monitored object itself. It should be appreciated that  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , impact indicator  10  comprises a housing  12  having a detection assembly  14  disposed therein. In the illustrated embodiment, detection assembly  14  is configured to detect and indicate impact or acceleration events in either of two different directions, indicated by direction  16  or direction  18  relative to indicator  10  in  FIG. 1B  (i.e., in direction  16 / 18  or at an angle thereto having a directional vector component in a corresponding direction  16 / 18 ). However, it should be understood that assembly  14  may be configured for detecting/indicating an impact event corresponding to a single direction (as will be described further below). Further, it should be understood that additional detection assemblies  14  may be included in indicator  10  to provide impact detection/indication in additional directions. 
     In some embodiments, housing  12  is configured and/or constructed from a clear or semi-opaque material having a masking label  20  located on a front side thereof or affixed thereto ( FIG. 1A ). In some embodiments, masking label  20  is configured having one or more apertures or “windows”  22  for providing a visual indication of impact detection. For example, as will be described further below, in response to indicator  10  being subjected to or receiving some predetermined level of impact or acceleration event, detection assembly  14  causes a visual indication to be displayed within or through one or more of windows  22  to provide a visual indication that the monitored object has or may have been subjected to some level of impact. However, it should be understood that other methods may be used to provide a visual indication that detection assembly  14  has moved and/or been otherwise placed into an activated state indicating that indicator  10  has experienced a shock, impact or acceleration event. It should also be understood that housing  12  may be configured and/or manufactured from other materials (e.g., opaque materials having one or more windows  22  formed therein). 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , detection assembly  14  is illustrated in a non-activated or initial pre-detection state (i.e., prior to being subjected to an acceleration event). In the illustrated embodiment, detection assembly  14  comprises a weight or mass member  30  and spring members  40  and  42 . Housing  12  comprises sidewalls  46  and  48  located on opposite sides of mass member  30 . Sidewalls  46  and  48  form a translation path to enable movement of mass member  30  within housing  12  in response to housing  12  or indicator  10  being subjected to an acceleration event. For example, in  FIG. 1B , mass member  30  is located in a non-activated position  50  within housing  12 . Additionally, referring to  FIG. 1A , a medial surface portion  52  of mass member  30  is located within and/or is otherwise visible within window  22 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1B , spring members  40  and  42  bias mass member  30  to the non-activated position  50  in the pre-detection state of indicator  10 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, spring members  40  and  42  comprises leaf springs  56  and  58 , respectively; however, it should be understood that other types of biasing elements may be used. In  FIG. 1B , sidewall  46  has formed therein recesses or seats  62  and  64  for holding respective ends  68  and  70  of leaf springs  56  and  58 . Sidewall  48  has formed therein recesses or seats  74  and  76  for holding respective ends  80  and  82  of leaf springs  56  and  58 . Leaf springs  56  and  58  are formed having a length greater than a width of mass member  30  (e.g., as measured in a direction from sidewall  46  to sidewall  48 ). The ends  68  and  80  of leaf spring  56  are located in respective seats  62  and  74  such that leaf spring  56  is positioned in an orientation transverse to the movement path of mass member  30 . The ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  are located in respective seats  64  and  76  such that leaf spring  58  is positioned in an orientation transverse to the movement path of mass member  30 . For example, the translation path formed by sidewalls  46  and  48  enables movement of mass member  30  in the directions indicated by  16  and  18 . 
     Ends  68  and  80  of leaf spring  56  are located in seats  62  and  80 , and ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  are located in respective seats  64  and  76 , such that leaf springs  56  and  58  have convex surfaces facing each other. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, leaf springs  56  and  58  are biased towards each other. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1B , leaf springs  56  and  58  each extend laterally across a medial portion of mass member  30  between opposing arcuately formed walls  88  and  90  of mass member  30 . Leaf springs  56  and  58  are biased toward each other and support mass  30  in the non-activated position  50  (e.g., leaf springs  56  and  58  contact and support respective walls  88  and  90  of mass member  30  to retain mass member  30  in the non-activated position  50 ). It should be understood that mass member  30  may be otherwise formed and/or spring members  40  and  42  may be otherwise configured and/or positioned relative to mass member  30  to retain and/or bias mass member  30  to the non-activated position  50 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating respective front and rear views of indicator  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in an activated state. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , indicator  10  and/or housing  12  has been subjected to an impact and/or acceleration event in a direction corresponding to direction  16  of a level and/or magnitude to overcome the bias force of spring members  40  and  42  and thereby cause mass member  30  to move from non-activated position  50  to an activated position  96 . In response to the acceleration event, leaf spring  56  inverts and a convex portion thereof applies a biasing force against wall  88  of mass member  30  to bias mass member  30  to the activated position  96 . Additionally, in response to the acceleration event and movement of mass member  30  to the activated position  96 , ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  are drawn out of respective seats  64  and  76 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 2A , in the activated position  96 , a different portion of mass member  30  is located within and/or is otherwise visible in window  22  than when mass member  30  is in the non-activated position  50 . For example, in the non-activated position  50 , a medial portion of mass member  30  (e.g., medial surface portion  52  ( FIG. 1A )) is located within and/or is otherwise visible in window  22 . However, in response to movement of mass member  30  to the activated position  96 , a surface portion  98  located adjacent medial surface portion  52  is located within and/or is otherwise visible in window  22 . As will be described further below, mass member  30  may contain, at different locations thereon, different types and/or forms of indicia on a side thereof facing window  22  corresponding to the non-activated and activated positions of mass member  30  within housing  12  to provide an indication as to whether indicator  10  has been subjected to a certain level or magnitude of acceleration event/impact. 
       FIG. 3A  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 2B  of indicator  10 , and  FIG. 3B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 3A  of indicator  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 2B, 3A and 3B , as described above, in response to an acceleration event in direction  16  of a level and/or magnitude to overcome the bias force of spring members  40  and  42 , leaf spring  56  inverts and a convex portion thereof applies a biasing force against wall  88  of mass member  30  to bias mass member  30  to the activated position  96 . Additionally, ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  are drawn out of respective seats  64  and  76 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , sidewalls  46  and  48  have formed therein indent regions  102  and  104 , respectively, that are set back and/or offset from adjacent wall surfaces  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  of sidewalls  46  and  48 , respectively. Indent region  102  is located along sidewall  46  between seats  62  and  64 , and indent regions  104  is located along sidewall  48  between seats  74  and  76 . In response to movement of mass member  30  to the activated position  96 , ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  are drawn out of respective seats  64  and  76  and become positioned within respective indent regions  102  and  104 . Indent regions  102  and  104  prevent or substantially prevent ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  from returning to respective seats  64  and  76 . Thus, if indicator  10  is subjected to another acceleration event in a direction opposite direction  16  (e.g., direction  18 ) in an attempt to reset and/or re-position mass member  30  in the non-activated position  50  after being in an activated state, indent regions  102  and  104  resist the return of ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  to seats  64  and  76 , thereby resulting in an additional bias force in the direction  16  that would need to be overcome in an opposite direction to effectuate movement of mass member  30  toward the non-activated position  50 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of indicator  10  with mass member  30  located in another activated position  116  (e.g., on a side of housing  12  opposite activated position  96 ), and  FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 4A . For clarity, referring to  FIG. 1B , mass member  30  is depicted therein in non-activated position  50 . Activated positions  96  and  116  are referenced in  FIG. 1B  to illustrate locations within housing  12  where mass member  30  will be located when in activated positions  96  and  116 . Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , if indicator  10  has been subjected to an acceleration event in direction  16  that caused mass member  30  to move to activated position  96  ( FIG. 2B ) and thereafter is subjected to another acceleration event in direction  18  (e.g., an unauthorized attempt to reseat mass member  30  in the non-activated position  50  or in response to some other impact event) of a level and/or magnitude to overcome the force(s) applied by leaf springs  56  and  58 , leaf springs  56  and  58  both collapse or invert and mass member  30  moves from activated position  96 , past non-activated position  50 , to the activated position  116 . For example, in response to the acceleration event in direction  18  of a level and/or magnitude to overcome the force(s) applied by leaf springs  56  and  58 , leaf springs  56  and  58  both collapse or invert such that convex portions thereof apply a biasing force against wall  90  of mass member  30  to bias mass member  30  to activated position  116 . Additionally, ends  68  and  80  of leaf spring  56  are drawn out of respective seats  62  and  74  and become positioned within respective indent regions  102  and  104 . Thus, in response to movement of mass member  30  from activated position  96  to activated position  116 , leaf springs  56  and  58  are biased in a same direction (e.g., toward wall  90  of mass member  30 ) and ends  68 ,  70 ,  80  and  82  of respective leaf springs  56  and  58  are located within indent regions  102  and  104 , respectively, to prevent or substantially prevent leaf springs  56  and  58  to returning to seat  62 ,  64 ,  74  or  76 , thereby further preventing or substantially preventing mass member  30  from returning (in a maintained durational state) to non-activated position  50  after being in an activated state. 
       FIG. 5A  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of indicator  10  in accordance with the present disclosure, and  FIG. 5B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 5A  of indicator  10 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , sidewalls  46  and  48  each have formed therein an additional spring seat  120  and  122 , respectively. Seat  120  is located along sidewall  46  between seats  62  and  64 , and seat  122  is located along sidewall  48  between seats  74  and  76 . Similar to seats  62 ,  64 ,  74  and  76 , seats  120  and  122  comprise a recessed area along respective sidewalls  46  and  48  for receiving ends  68 / 80  and  70 / 82  of respective leaf springs  56  and  58  in response to indicator  10  being subjected to an impact or acceleration event of sufficient magnitude to cause movement of mass member  30  (e.g., as described above in connection with  FIGS. 2A, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B ). For example,  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating indicator  10  shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  with mass member  30  located in the activated position  96 . Because leaf springs  56  and  58  are configured having a length greater than a lateral width of the translation path for movement of mass member  30 , the ends of leaf springs  56  and  58  will seek the widest lateral dimension between sidewalls  46  and  48  to relieve tension forces therein. Thus, for example, in response to indicator  10  being subjected to an acceleration event in direction  16  of a magnitude sufficient to overcome the bias forces of leaf springs  56  and  58 , mas member  30  will move from non-activated position  50  toward activated position  96 , leaf spring  56  will collapse and/or invert and apply a biasing force toward wall  88  of mass member  30 , and ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  will be drawn out of respective seats  64  and  76  and become located in respective seats  120  and  122 . Seats  120  and  122   102  and  104  prevent or substantially prevent ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  from returning to respective seats  64  and  76 . Thus, if indicator  10  is subjected to another acceleration event in a direction opposite direction  16  (e.g., direction  18 ) in an attempt to reset and/or re-position mass member  30  in the non-activated position  50  after being in an activated state, indent regions  102  and  104  resist the return of ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  to seats  64  and  76 , thereby resulting in an additional bias force in the direction  16  that would need to be overcome in an opposite direction to effectuate movement of mass member  30  toward the non-activated position  50 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of indicator  10  of  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6  with mass member  30  located in activated position  116 , and  FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 7A . If indicator  10  has been subjected to an acceleration event in direction  16  that caused mass member  30  to move to activated position  96  ( FIG. 6 ) and thereafter is subjected to another acceleration event in direction  18  (e.g., an unauthorized attempt to reseat mass member  30  in the non-activated position  50  or in response to some other impact event) of a level and/or magnitude to overcome the force(s) applied by leaf springs  56  and  58 , leaf springs  56  and  58  both collapse or invert and mass member  30  moves from activated position  96 , past non-activated position  50 , to the activated position  116 . For example, in response to the acceleration event in direction  18  of a level and/or magnitude to overcome the force(s) applied by leaf springs  56  and  58 , leaf springs  56  and  58  both collapse or invert such that convex portions thereof apply a biasing force against wall  90  of mass member  30  to bias mass member  30  to activated position  116 . Additionally, ends  68  and  80  of leaf spring  56  are drawn out of respective seats  62  and  74  and become positioned within respective seats  120  and  122 . Thus, in response to movement of mass member  30  from activated position  96  to activated position  116 , leaf springs  56  and  58  are biased in a same direction (e.g., toward wall  90  of mass member  30 ) and ends  68 ,  70 ,  80  and  82  of respective leaf springs  56  and  58  are located within seats  120  and  122 , respectively, to prevent or substantially prevent leaf springs  56  and  58  to returning to seat  62 ,  64 ,  74  or  76 , thereby further preventing or substantially preventing mass member  30  from returning (in a maintained durational state) to non-activated position  50  after being in an activated state. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of mass member  30  of indicator  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, mass member  30  functions as a display element to indicate the activation status of indicator  10 . For example, in  FIG. 8 , a surface  130  of mass member  30  facing outwardly through window  22  ( FIG. 1A ) is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, surface  130  comprises a non-activated surface portion  132  and activated surface portions  134  and  136 . Each of surface portions  132 ,  134  and  136  may comprise different colors, marking or other types of indicia that are visually exposed through window  22  in either a non-activated or activated state of indicator  10 . For example, non-activated surface portion  132  comprises a surface portion of mass member  30  that will be visible through window  22  when mass member  30  is located in the non-activated position  50 . Activated surface portion  136  comprises a surface portion of mass member  30  that will be visible through window  22  when mass member  30  is located in the activated position  96  (e.g.,  FIGS. 2A and 2B ), and activated surface portion  134  comprises a surface portion of mass member  30  that will be visible through window  22  when mass member  30  is located in the activated position  116  (e.g.,  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). In some embodiments, surface portions  132 ,  134  and  136  comprise color codes to visually indicate whether indicator  10  is in a non-activated or activated state (i.e., an activated state indicating that indicator  10  has been subjected to some predetermined level or magnitude of impact or acceleration event). For example, surface portion  132  may comprise a white coloring, and surface portions  134  and  136  may comprise a red coloring. Thus, in a non-activated state, the white coloring of surface portion  132  would be visible within window  22 . In an activated state (depending on the direction and/or quantity of acceleration events received), a red coloring corresponding to one of surface portions  134  or  136  would be visible through window  22 . In this embodiment, a single window  22  is used as an example (e.g., a single window  22  placed in a position corresponding to the non-activated position  50  for mass member  30 ). However, it should be understood that different window quantities and/or placement may be used. For example, in some embodiments, two windows may be utilized each corresponding to an activated position of mass member  30  (e.g., one window located in a position corresponding to the activated position  96  for mass member  30 , and another window located in a position corresponding to the activated position  116  of mass member  30 ). In this example, color coding of surface portions  134  and  136  may be omitted (e.g., color coding surface portion  132  a red color or other desired color that would be visible through either the window corresponding to activated position  96  or the activated position  116 ). 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , surface portions  132 ,  134  and/or  136  may comprise a barcode or other type of indicia (e.g., a numeric code, an alphanumeric code, or other type of encoded indicia, etc.) to indicate the activation or impact status of indicator  10  (e.g., a status identifier that may be encoded, machine-perceptible instead of human-perceptible, etc.). For example, in the illustrated embodiment, surface portion  132  includes a barcode indicia  140  representing the code/indicia of “SW087654321,” and surface portions  134  and  136  include barcode indicia  142  and  144 , respectively, representing the code/indicia of “SW187654321.” In some embodiments, each of surface portions  132 ,  134  and  136  may comprise the same coloring (or the omission of different colors thereon). The barcode indicia  140 ,  142  and  144  may include information corresponding to manufacturer information, serial number information and status information. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first two characters/digits may be used to identify manufacturer or company information, the third character/digit may be used to indicate activation status, and the remaining characters/digits may be used to indicate serial number information. It should be understood that the various characters/digits of the barcode or other type of encoded indicia may be varied to represent different types of information. In some embodiments, the various characters/digits or other type of encoded indicia may be human-imperceptible and/or undecipherable as to the type and/or specific detail of the information represented by the encoded indicia. Thus, in this example, the third character/digit of “0” in indicia  140  indicates a non-activated status, while the third character/digit of “1” in indicia  142  and  144  indicates an activated status of indicator  10 .  FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating utilization of the barcode indicia  140 ,  142  and  144  for indicating activation status of indicator  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9A , in a non-activated state (e.g., before being subjected to and/or experiencing some predetermined level or magnitude of impact/acceleration), indicia  140  is visible through window  22 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9B , after receiving and/or being subject to some predetermined level or magnitude of impact/acceleration, indicia  142  or  144  would be visible through window  22 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9B , in response to receipt of an acceleration event in the direction  16 , for example, indicia  144  is visible within window  22 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of mass member  30  of indicator  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 10 , surface  130  of mass member  30  facing outwardly through window  22  ( FIG. 1A ) is depicted. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , each of surface portions  132 ,  134  and  136  may comprise different colors, markings or other types of indicia that are visually exposed through window  22  to provide an indication of a direction of impact/acceleration in an activated state of indicator  10 . For example, surface portion  132  may comprise a white coloring, surface portion  134  may comprise a yellow coloring, and surface portion  136  may comprise a red coloring. Thus, in a non-activated state, the white coloring of surface portion  132  would be visible within window  22 . In an activated state, in response to receipt of some predetermined level or magnitude of impact/acceleration in the direction  16 , the red coloring of surface portion  136  would be visible through window  22 . In an activated state, in response to receipt of some predetermined level or magnitude of impact/acceleration in the direction  18 , the yellow coloring of surface portion  134  would be visible through window  22 . Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, mass member  30  functions as a display element for indicating an activation state of indicator  10  and/or a direction of impact if received. Therefore, indicator  10  may be configured to indicate an impact event as well as a direction of that impact event. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , surface portions  132 ,  134  and  136  may also include barcode or other type of encoded indicia for indicating a direction of an impact event (e.g., a status and/or directional identifier that may be encoded, machine-perceptible/machine-decipherable instead of human-perceptible/human-decipherable, etc.). For example, in the illustrated embodiment, surface portion  132  includes a barcode indicia  150  representing the code/indicia of “SW087654321,” surface portion  134  includes barcode indicia  152  representing the code/indicia of “SW287654321,” and surface portion  136  includes barcode indicia  154  representing the code/indicia of “SW187654321.” In some embodiments, each of surface portions  132 ,  134  and  136  may comprise the same coloring (or the omission of different colors thereon). In this embodiment, the third character/digit is used to indicate a status of activation and, if activated, a direction of the received impact. For example, the third character/digit of “0” in indicia  150  indicates a non-activated status. If indicia  154  is visible in window  22 , the third character/digit of “1” in indicia  154  indicates an activated status of indicator  10  and that indicator  10  received an acceleration event in the direction  16 . If indicia  152  is visible in window  22 , the third character/digit of “2” in indicia  152  indicates an activated status of indicator  10  and that indicator  10  received an acceleration event in the direction  18 . Thus, indicator  10  may be configured to indicate both an impact event status and a directional indication of a received impact event. It should be understood that instead of barcode indicia, an alphabetic, numeric, alphanumeric, or other type of enciphered and/or encoded indicia may be used to indicate impact event status and/or a directional indication of a received impact event such that, although the indicia is human-perceptible, the indicia may not be readily interpretable and/or decipherable without a key or other deciphering information. For example, a code indicia such as “SW087654321” in non-barcode form may be used. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of mass member  30  of indicator  10  in accordance with the present disclosure, and  FIGS. 12A and 12B  are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of indicator  10  with two status windows  22  (identified as window  22   1  and  22   2 ) utilizing the embodiment of mass member  30  illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 11 , surface  130  of mass member  30  comprises non-activated surface portion  160  and  162  and an activated surface portions  164 . Surface portions  160 ,  162  and  164  may comprise different colors, marking or other types of indicia that are visually exposed through windows  22   1  and/or  22   2  in either a non-activated or activated state of indicator  10 . For example, activated surface portion  164  comprises a surface portion of mass member  30  that will be visible through window  22   1  when mass member  30  is located in the activated position  96  ( FIGS. 2B and 11B ) and visible through window  22   2  when mass member  30  is located in the activated position  116  ( FIG. 4A ). In a non-activated state (e.g., non-activated position  50  ( FIG. 1B )), surface portions  160  and  162  are visible through respective windows  22   1  and  22   2 . Thus, referring to  FIG. 12A , before activation or before being subjected to some predetermined level or magnitude of acceleration event, surface portions  160  and  162  are visible through respective windows  22   1  and  22   2 . In response to receiving some predetermined level or magnitude of acceleration event, movement of mass member  30  causes surface portion  162  to become visible through one of windows  22   1  or  22   2  (depending on the direction of impact event). In  FIG. 12B , for example, in response to an impact event in the direction  16 , surface portion  164  becomes visible through window  22   1 . 
     Thus, indicator  10  may be configured in various manners to provide different types of visual indications of activation status. For example, in some embodiments, a color-based display element or display element having barcode or other type of indicia may be provided separate and apart from mass member  30  to provide a visual indication of indicator  10  status via window(s)  22 . For example, in some embodiments, spring member  40  and/or  42  may be coupled to another element other than mass member  30  that slides, moves and/or otherwise becomes located within window(s)  22  in response to activation of indicator  10 . In another embodiment, spring member  40  and/or  42  may be further coupled to a latch mechanism, pivoting member/element or other type of structure that slides, translates or pivots into an area of window(s)  22  in response to activation of indicator  10 . In yet other embodiments, housing  12  may include one or more indicator/display elements located proximate to activated positions  96  and  116  that slide, translate or pivot into an area of window(s)  22  in response to mass member  30  moving into respective activated positions  96  and  116 . Indicator  10  may also include a switch or other type of electronic module that causes a visual indication within window(s)  22  in response to indicator  10  activation. For example, in some embodiments, indicator  10  may include a switch, power source and a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other type of electronic display element positioned within window(s)  22  or otherwise located on housing  12  to display a color, barcode or other type of indicia or code indicating an impact detection status, direction of impact and/or other type(s) of information (e.g., manufacturer, serial number, etc.). As an example, indicator  10  may include a switch element located near or at activation position  96  and/or a switch element located near or at activation position  116  that, in response to contact of either switch element by mass member  30 , a color, barcode or other type of indicia or code is changed or displayed on the display unit. In this example, using a barcode indicia for example, the display unit may initially display one barcode indicia and electronically change the barcode indicia in response to detecting an impact (including different barcodes based on direction of impact). Thus, it should be understood that a variety of structure and/or methods may be used to indicate impact detection and/or impact direction. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B , two spring members  40  and  42  are used to retain (at least initially) mass member  30  in a non-activated state or position  50  and to prevent mass member  30  from re-seating in non-activated position  50  after an impact event has caused activation of indicator  10 . However, it should be understood that a quantity of spring members may be greater or fewer. For example, in some embodiments, indicator  10  may be configured for unidirectional mass member  30  movement (e.g., in direction  16 ). In this embodiment, for example, housing  12  may be configured with an additional wall or increased length of mass member  30  such that mass member  30  only moves from non-activated position  50  to activated position  96 . In this embodiment, for example, spring member  40  may be omitted while spring member  42  retains the mass member  30  in the non-activated position. In response to an acceleration event in direction  16  of sufficient magnitude to overcome the retention force of spring member  42 , mass member  30  moves to the activated position  96 , and ends  70  and  82  of leaf spring  58  are drawn out of seats  64  and  76  and into indent regions  102  and  104  (or seats  120  and  122 ) to thereafter retain mass member  30  in the activated position  96 . It should also be understood that the shape and/or configuration of mass member  30  may vary. For example, instead of walls  88  and  90 , mass member  30  may comprise posts or other types of surface features to provide a bearing surface against which one or more of spring members  40  and  42  may apply a force. 
     In some embodiments, spring member  40  and/or  42  is selected and/or otherwise configured to bias and/or otherwise retain mass member  30  in certain positions (e.g., non-activated position  50  and/or activated positions  96 / 116 ) until and/or unless a predetermined level or magnitude of impact/acceleration is experienced by indicator  10 . For example, impact indicator  10  may be configured for various levels of impact or acceleration activation by setting a particular weight of mass member  30 , selecting/configuring a particular thickness and/or material of spring members  40 / 42 , etc. For example, in some embodiments, spring members  40 / 42  may be configured from a polymer material (e.g., such as a Duralar® material) that may maintain a substantially constant spring tension force over a desired temperature spectrum, thereby alleviating an inadvertent activation of indicator  10  that may otherwise result from a temperature change. 
     Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure enable impact and/or acceleration event detection while preventing or substantially preventing a re-setting of the state of the impact indicator  10  once a predetermined level or magnitude of impact has occurred. For example, in some embodiments, the mass member  30  of indicator  10  is configured to move from a non-activated position to an activated position in response to an acceleration event. If indicator  10  receives an acceleration event that may be performed in an attempt to re-set indicator  10  to the non-activated state (e.g., a level or magnitude sufficient to cause a reverse movement of mass member  30 ), the mass member  30  moves from one activated position to another activated position. Further, spring members  40  and/or  42  and/or housing  12  are configured prevent or substantially prevent re-seating of the mass member  30  in the non-activated state or position once indicator  10  has been activated. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.