Provided is a time measurement apparatus having a transport device for a liquid, at least one sensor and at least one display which is at least communicatively connected to the sensor, is optically freely accessible and is intended to display a contact duration of the time measurement apparatus with the liquid or an item of meta information derived from the contact duration. The transport device includes at least one reservoir region for receiving liquid from an environment of the time measurement apparatus through an entrance area, at least one detection region for detecting the liquid and at least one time region having a number of channels for transporting the liquid from the reservoir region to the detection region in a defined transport duration. The sensor is designed to detect the liquid in the detection region at an end of the time region which is remote from the reservoir region.

An elapsed time indicator comprises a reservoir of a fluid, a porous sheet element and a fluid port located between the reservoir and the porous sheet element. The porous sheet element defines a predetermined area which is separated from the fluid port by a predetermined lateral distance. The fluid is selectively provided from the reservoir to the porous sheet element through the fluid port whereupon the porous sheet element transmits the fluid laterally through the porous sheet element at a predetermined rate away from the fluid port until the fluid impregnates the predetermined area of the porous sheet element so as to cause the predetermined area of the porous sheet element to become transparent or more transparent after expiry of a predetermined time period.

An elapsed time indicator comprises a reservoir of a fluid, a porous sheet element and a fluid port located between the reservoir and the porous sheet element. The porous sheet element defines a predetermined area which is separated from the fluid port by a predetermined lateral distance. The fluid is selectively provided from the reservoir to the porous sheet element through the fluid port whereupon the porous sheet element transmits the fluid laterally through the porous sheet element at a predetermined rate away from the fluid port until the fluid impregnates the predetermined area of the porous sheet element so as to cause the predetermined area of the porous sheet element to become transparent or more transparent after expiry of a predetermined time period.

The present invention relates to a time indicator, and more specifically to a time indicator which can indicate times in a multiple manner, thereby enabling a user to be aware of both an effective period and a period having elapsed after the effective period and to rapidly check whether the time indicator is operating.

The present invention relates to a time indicator, and more specifically to a time indicator which can indicate times in a multiple manner, thereby enabling a user to be aware of both an effective period and a period having elapsed after the effective period and to rapidly check whether the time indicator is operating.

A defrost or thaw measuring device has a dumbbell or hourglass-shaped rotatable compartment with a cavity, the cavity being partly filled with at least two phase change materials having different melting points. The measuring device may determine the time period of thawing at two or more temperature intervals in the refrigeration space.

A defrost or thaw measuring device has a dumbbell or hourglass-shaped rotatable compartment with a cavity, the cavity being partly filled with at least two phase change materials having different melting points. The measuring device may determine the time period of thawing at two or more temperature intervals in the refrigeration space.

A single use disposable elapsed time indicator and methods for using same include an indicator that can have a flexible chamber for holding an aqueous medium and a slot with a viewing window and a longitudinal axis. The slot is connected to the chamber via a passage having a breakable seal therein. An absorbable material is located within and at a first end of the slot that swells upon exposure to the aqueous medium. A graded scale is also included along the longitudinal axis of the slot to indicate periods of elapsed time. The absorbable material is configured to expand from the first end of the slot toward an opposing end of the slot along the longitudinal axis and thereby mark elapsed time on the graded scale.

A single use disposable elapsed time indicator and methods for using same can include an indicator having a chamber and a longitudinal channel for receiving a volatile fluid. A sponge is located and seated in the longitudinal channel and configured to allow evaporation of volatile fluid from within the longitudinal channel to an exterior of the longitudinal channel. A spring is included in the longitudinal channel which presses against an end of the chamber and against a plunger that is seated and moveable in the longitudinal channel along a longitudinal axis thereof. The spring is configured to exert force on and move the plunger from a first end of the chamber toward a second end of the chamber along the longitudinal axis in the longitudinal channel as volatile fluid in the longitudinal channel evaporates through the sponge. The movement of the plunger thereby marks elapsed time along a graded scale.

An elapsed time indicator comprises a porous element, an electrical source, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to receive electrical power from the electrical source and cause a fluid to be received by the porous element in response to expiry of a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be associated with an item such as a perishable item with which the elapsed time indicator is to be associated or to which the elapsed time indicator is to be attached. The predetermined time period may comprise a lifetime or a shelf-life of the item or a predetermined proportion of a lifetime or a shelf-life of the item.