Roof box with monitoring and reminding of shelf life of contents

Abstract

The present application relates to a roof box with monitoring and reminding the shelf life of the content, comprising a box body part and a roof part which are integrated with each other; the roof part is made up of two same size inclined plates which are bonded to form a herringbone-shaped split roof with a ridge in the middle; the downward central part of the roof part is communicated with the inside of the box body part, and the two sides of the roof part have certain triangular spaces inwardly; a pouring outlet and a cover are arranged at the central position of one of the inclined plates; the roof box further comprises a reminding device which is partially arranged in one of the triangular spaces; the present application does not need to change the structure of the original roof box, and a device with reminding and prompting functions is designed by utilizing the space of the structure itself; the core power part utilizes a pre-charged air bag as a power source; the cooperating fixing components are few, and the moving components are small and delicate; therefore, the overall weight is increased very little, the overall product cost is increased a little, and good practicability is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of fresh milk container technology, specifically relating to a gable box with the function of monitoring and reminding the shelf life of the contents. Background Technology

[0002] Chinese patent document CN201620699272X, entitled "A Fresh-Keeping Liquid Milk Gable Box and Gable Box Blank," discloses a fresh-keeping liquid milk gable box and a gable box blank. The fresh-keeping liquid milk gable box is formed by folding and heat-sealing the gable box blank. The gable box blank includes a main body cut from a paper-plastic composite sheet. The main body is divided into several adjacent surfaces by multiple longitudinal folds. Each surface of the main body can be folded and connected to form a gable box. The main body has a side edge on the left or right side. The side edge is used to overlap and heat-seal with the inner wall of the other side of the main body. The side edge includes a first part and a second part that are folded and connected. The second part is folded from the edge of the first part so that its outer side is connected to the outer wall of the first part, and its inner side is connected to the inner wall of the other side of the main body, and then heat-sealed.

[0003] Chinese patent document CN 209956410 U discloses a splash-proof roof box structure. The main body of the box is a cuboid structure; the top of the box has a roof-shaped structure; the top of the box includes a liquid outlet, a top A surface, and a top B surface; the liquid outlet is located on the top A surface; the top A surface and the top B surface have an asymmetrical structure, and the area of ​​the top A surface is larger than that of the top B surface; the two sides of the top of the box have inward concave structures, and the positions where the two sides contact the top A surface are respectively provided with arc-shaped indentation structures, so that the top A surface forms an arc-shaped structure when the liquid is poured; it also includes a venting groove, which is located inside the liquid outlet. Its advantages are: by placing the liquid outlet on the top A surface with a small inclination, it can effectively ensure that the liquid flows out smoothly; by providing a venting groove inside the liquid outlet, the inside of the box can be connected to the outside air, so that the pressure inside and outside the roof box is balanced, avoiding splashing when poured.

[0004] Fresh milk boasts the best nutritional value and taste among milk products, but its shelf life is short and requires precise temperature control. It's typically sold in gable-top cartons, with an outer layer of Somo milk, a middle layer of fiber, and an inner layer of aluminum foil for hot-fill products. Fresh milk has a shelf life of 7 days and should be refrigerated (2-6°C). Exceeding these conditions will cause it to spoil quickly, potentially leading to health problems if consumed. Currently, no known packaging provides warnings about approaching or expired expiration dates. Fresh milk is generally sold in 2L or larger containers at significantly higher prices than regular milk, making it difficult to consume the entire contents at once. Therefore, waste due to expiration or accidental consumption without realizing it's expired is very common.

[0005] In addition, in practice, because the containers do not have reminder or prompt functions, there is a repetitive workload for sales staff to check the shelf life every day when selling, and consumers forget to put it in the refrigerator in time after taking it home, resulting in waste due to expiration. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a rooftop box that monitors and reminds users of the shelf life of its contents. Its overall structural and functional features overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art.

[0007] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: A roof box that monitors and reminds the contents of a product, comprising an integral box body and a roof body; the roof body is formed by bonding two identical sloping plates to create a herringbone-shaped roof with a ridge in the middle; the central portion of the roof body communicates with the interior of the box body, and the two sides of the roof body have triangular spaces extending inwards; a pouring outlet and a cover are provided at the center of one of the sloping plates; the roof box also includes a reminder device partially located within one of the triangular spaces, the reminder device comprising: a reminder component partially located in the ridge indicating that the product is about to expire, an airbag with a nozzle, and a clamping component for securing the airbag.

[0008] Preferably, the clamping assembly includes a fixed clamp fixed to an inclined plate on the side away from the cover, and a movable clamp hinged to the fixed clamp; the reminder assembly includes a vertically arranged guide channel located above the movable clamp, and a rod-shaped reminder element that partially passes through the guide channel and is bendable; the rod of the reminder element is divided into an upper rod section and a lower rod section that are hinged to each other, the end of the lower rod section is rounded, and there is also a piston section extending outward about the middle of the lower rod section for abutting a compression spring; at the position of the movable clamp near the hinge, below the corresponding rounded end. It has a protrusion with a rounded top surface, and a notch channel for the round head to enter, located adjacent to the protrusion and still close to the hinge. A compression spring is fitted between the outer periphery of the lower rod section and the inside of the guide channel. Under normal conditions, the compression spring pushes the lower rod section downward, and the round head contacts the protrusion with an arc surface. As the air pressure of the airbag decreases, the round head descends at a slow speed that is imperceptible to the naked eye. As the air pressure of the airbag decreases further, the round head and the protrusion are separated, and the lower rod section descends rapidly by a large section under the force of the compression spring. While the method of gradually depressurizing the airbag over time has some accuracy deviation, it doesn't require perfect precision for the alert function. The addition of an air nozzle for active depressurization adjustment improves accuracy. Furthermore, the rounded head and protruding part form an arc-shaped contact surface. This contact method directs the force of the compression spring to the movable clamp, maintaining external pressure on the airbag and aiding in the air nozzle's depressurization, without causing the airbag to stop descending. In other words, as the airbag shrinks, the arc-shaped contact area also decreases until they no longer contact each other and the lower segment descends rapidly. Before this, the change in the arc-shaped contact area has minimal impact on the descent of the lower segment. In terms of time, this means that the alerting device, acting as a lever, will not show any change for the first few days. Only after the set number of days, i.e., after the lower segment has descended rapidly, will the alerting device change from a horizontal to a vertical position, making it clearly visible (the depressurization rate of individual airbags may vary slightly, but the error will be within one day).

[0009] Preferably, the diameter of the piston section is the same as the diameter of the guide channel. This allows the rod-type reminder to stand stably.

[0010] Preferably, the upper opening of the guide channel has a smaller diameter than other parts and the same diameter as the main body of the reminder pole, while the upper opening has a rounded chamfer. The rounded chamfer facilitates a smooth transition at the hinge of the upper and lower pole sections.

[0011] Preferably, the round head is adjacent to and fixed to a downward-pointing spike on the lower rod section, and the piston section also has a fixed blocking part downwards. The blocking part and the round head serve the same function, but the contact area is smaller, and the design ensures that the two parts completely separate when the final shelf life is reached.

[0012] Preferably, the reminder component indicating that the product has expired or deteriorated is provided on the inclined plate with the cover and on the same side as the reminder component. The reminder component includes: two guide rails fixed on the inclined plate with the cover and parallel to each other, following the slope direction of the inclined plate; a passage on the inclined plate at the lower end of the guide rails; a winding indicator tape fixed to the end of the fixed clamp; a brake paper tape to stop the reel of the winding indicator tape; a needle cutter fixed to the end of the movable clamp and rotatable for piercing the brake paper tape; and a striking block fixed to the end of the fixed clamp for impacting the needle cutter to perform the piercing action.

[0013] Preferably, a fixed container box is provided at the position where the brake paper strip is fixed to the inclined plate, and the container box is partially covered by the brake paper strip. The interior of the container box is divided into at least two regions, upper and lower, by at least one filter screen. The partially covered brake paper strip is located in the lower region of the space, and a liquid medium is injected into the upper region of the space. The state of the medium changes from thick to thin as the temperature changes from low to high, and it is set so that the fluidity of the medium cannot pass through the target filter screen when the temperature is below 6°C under refrigeration.

[0014] Preferably, a sealing plate is pasted onto the triangular space, especially on the side where the reminder device is installed.

[0015] Preferably, a receiving chamber is fixed to the inner side of the fixing clamp, and the inward end of the airbag is tightly placed in it.

[0016] As a preferred option, the reminder is a flag.

[0017] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0018] This invention does not require altering the original roof box structure. Instead, it utilizes the space within the structure itself to design a device with reminder and prompting functions. The core power component uses a pre-inflated airbag as a power source. With fewer fixed parts and smaller moving parts, the overall weight increase is minimal. Functionally, it provides reminders for items that are about to expire and those that have already expired, issued twice at two different time periods. This provides effective reminders for both sales personnel and consumers who have already purchased the item.

[0019] In summary, the improvements of this invention can solve the defects existing in the prior art, with little increase in the overall product cost, and have good practicality. The technical advantages of this invention are: (1) By utilizing the active adjustment function of the air nozzle, the pressure relief speed can be adjusted according to different shelf-life requirements, which improves the adaptability of the system; (2) The mechanical transmission design with arc surface contact ensures stable force transmission and system reliability; (3) The dual monitoring mechanism (time + temperature) and dual reminder mode (expiring soon + expired) provide users with comprehensive shelf-life management; (4) All technical parameters can be determined through simple experiments, which facilitates industrialization. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the overall structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 The diagram shows a partial structural representation of the invention, with the enclosed plate hidden.

[0022] Figure 3 It indicates Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0023] Figure 4 This diagram shows a partial structural view of the reminder component after it is activated, with the enclosed plate hidden.

[0024] Figure 5 It indicates Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0025] Figure 6 This diagram shows a partial view of the structure of the reminder component of the present invention from another angle after it is activated, with the enclosed plate hidden.

[0026] Figure 7 It indicates Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point D;

[0027] Figure 8 It indicates Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point E in the middle;

[0028] Figure 9 It indicates Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point C;

[0029] Figure 10 It indicates Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point F in the middle;

[0030] Figure 11 This diagram shows the structure of the reminder device after its components are assembled.

[0031] Marked in the image:

[0032] Box body 1, roof 2, sloping plate 21, ridge 22, triangular space 23, cover 24, reminder device 3, reminder component 31, guide channel 311, flag 312, upper rod section 01, lower rod section 02, compression spring 03, round head 31a, spike 31b, piston part 31c, blocking part 31d, prompt component 32, guide rail 321, passage 322, rewind indicator strip 323, brake paper strip 324, needle cutter 325, impact block 326, airbag 33, clamping component 34, protrusion 34a, notch channel 34b, fixed clamp 341, movable clamp 342, container box 4, filter screen 41, storage compartment 5. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings: Example 1

[0034] A gable box that monitors and reminds users of the shelf life of its contents is provided. In this embodiment, the contents are mainly fresh milk. The monitoring targets are the storage temperature of the fresh milk and the storage date under refrigeration. Specifically, when the storage date is close to less than 2 days, the gable box will raise a flag as a reminder. When the storage date has expired, the gable box will display the word "expired" or other reminders that the milk should not be consumed in the reminder area.

[0035] The specific structure is as follows: Figure 1-4 As shown, it includes a box body 1 and a roof 2 that are integrated with each other; the roof 2 is formed by bonding two sloping plates 21 of the same size to form a gable roof with a ridge 22 in the middle; the central part of the roof 2 is connected to the interior of the box body 1, and the two sides of the roof 2 have a certain triangular space 23 inward, and a pouring outlet and a cover 24 are set at the center of one of the sloping plates 21.

[0036] The roof box also includes a reminder device 3 located within one of the triangular spaces 23. The reminder device 3 includes: a reminder component 31 indicating impending expiration located in the ridge 22; a reminder component 32 indicating expired or spoiled located on the inclined plate 21 with a cover 24 and on the same side as the reminder component 31; an airbag 33 with an air nozzle; and a clamping component 34 for securing the airbag 33. The clamping component 34 includes a fixed clamp 341 fixed to the inclined plate 21 on the side away from the cover 24, and a movable clamp 342 hinged to the fixed clamp 341. The reminder component 31 includes a vertically arranged guide channel 311 located above the movable clamp 342, and a bendable flag 312 partially passing through the guide channel 311. The flag 312 has a pole body that is hinged to each other. The upper pole section 01 and the lower pole section 02 are designed to bend at the hinge to facilitate the flag 312 from a horizontally concealed state to a vertically displayed state. The end of the lower pole section 02 is a round head 31a, and a downward-pointing spike 31b is attached to the round head 31a and fixed to the lower pole section 02. Approximately in the middle of the lower pole section 02, there is also an outwardly extending piston section 31c with the same diameter as the guide channel 311, which is used to abut against the compression spring. Below the piston section 31c, there is also a fixed blocking section 31d. Near the hinge position of the movable clamp 342, below the round head 31a, there is a protrusion 34a with a rounded top surface. Adjacent to the protrusion 34a and still close to the hinge position, there is a notch channel 34b for the round head 31a and the spike 31b to enter. The upper opening diameter of the guide channel 311 is smaller than that of other positions and is consistent with the diameter of the main body of the flag 312. At the same time, the upper opening has a rounded chamfer. A compression spring 03 is fitted between the outer periphery of the lower pole section 02 and the interior of the guide channel 311. Under normal conditions, the compression spring 03 pushes the lower pole section 02 downward.

[0037] Regarding the operating principle of the reminder component 31: According to the positions and connections of the aforementioned components, initially, after the fresh milk is filled, the airbag 33 is inflated to the required pressure, and the air nozzle of the airbag 33 is set to slowly depressurize. At this time, the movable clamp 342 is lifted by the airbag 33, and the round head 31a is pressed against the protrusion 34a under the force of the compression spring 03. The round head 31a and the protrusion 34a are in arc-shaped contact. As the air pressure of the airbag 33 decreases, the round head 31a continues to descend at a slow speed imperceptible to the naked eye. After the air pressure of the airbag 33 further decreases (in this embodiment, it is set to about 5 days), the round head 31a and the protrusion 34a are separated, and under the force of the compression spring 03, the lower rod segment 02 descends rapidly by a large section. Until the blocking part 31d lands on the protrusion 34a, the blocking part 31d at the same contact point also has an arc. The contact between the two can also continue to descend under the slow depressurization of the airbag 33. At this time, due to the large descent of the lower rod section 02, a part of the upper rod section 01 is pulled into the notch channel 34b. In this way, when 5 days have passed since the expiration date, the flag 312 changes from a horizontal hidden type to a vertical warning, which serves as a reminder to consumers or salespersons so that they can take appropriate action.

[0038] like Figure 4-11 As shown, the prompting component 32 includes: two parallel guide rails 321 fixed on the inclined plate 21 with the cover 24 on one side; a passage opening 322 on the inclined plate 21 at the lower end of the guide rails 321; a winding indicator tape 323 fixed to the end of the fixed clamp 341; a brake paper tape 324 for stopping the reel of the winding indicator tape 323; a needle-type cutter 325 fixed to the end of the movable clamp 342 and rotatable for puncturing the brake paper tape 324; and a needle-type cutter 325 fixed to the end of the fixed clamp 341 for puncturing the brake paper tape 324. The impact block 326 pierces the needle-type cutter 325; under normal conditions, the free end of the rewind indicator tape 323 is pulled out and passes through the passage 322 and falls into the guide rail 321. The top of each of the two guide rails 321 is fixed to the rewind indicator tape 323 by an elastic rib. At the spool of the rewind indicator tape 323, a brake plate (the brake plate is a conventional known technology and is not shown in the figure) is set. One end of the brake paper tape 324 pulls the brake plate and the other end is fixed on the inclined plate 21, so that the forces of the rewind indicator tape 323 and the elastic rib are balanced.

[0039] Regarding the operating principle of the prompt component 32: Following the previous operation steps, as time continues, the blocking part 31d and the protrusion 34a gradually shift away until they are completely separated. Under the force of the compression spring 03, the lower rod section 02 descends rapidly by a large distance. This descent causes the spike 31b to directly pierce the airbag 33, which quickly deflates. The movable clamp 342, losing the support of the airbag, descends rapidly again under the force of the compression spring 03. At this time, the needle cutter 325 touches the brake paper strip 324, piercing and scratching it. Furthermore, through the collision of the impact block 326, the needle cutter 325 reverses the piercing action. This multi-angle piercing action ensures that the tension of the damaged brake paper strip 324 is insufficient to resist the tension of the elastic band and is completely broken. At this time, the rewind indicator tape 323 is pulled to the top of the two guide rails 321 by the elastic band. The indicator tape unfolds in the indicator area. The relevant prompts are pre-written in the rewind indicator tape 323, thus achieving the purpose of prompting. In practical applications, the initial inflation pressure and depressurization rate of the airbag 33 can be set as follows: Based on the specific shelf-life requirements of the product, the depressurization rate is adjusted via the air nozzle so that the separation time between the round head 31a and the protrusion 34a corresponds to the preset reminder time of the shelf-life. This adjustment process is a routine operation for those skilled in the art and requires no complex equipment or special technical means.

[0040] Furthermore, the prompting component 32 can also monitor the storage temperature. Specifically, a fixed container 4 that partially covers the brake paper strip 324 needs to be installed at the position where the brake paper strip 324 is fixed to the inclined plate 21. The interior of the container 4 is divided into at least two regions, upper and lower, by at least one filter 41. The partially covered brake paper strip 324 is located in the lower region, and a liquid medium is injected into the upper region. This medium changes its consistency from thick to thin as the temperature increases, such as pure honey, blended oil, or other substances with this property. It is set to operate at cold temperatures. When the temperature is below 6°C under refrigerated conditions, the fluidity of the medium cannot pass through the 150-mesh filter 41. Therefore, when fresh milk is placed at room temperature for a certain period of time, such as 25°C, the medium will, after approximately 4 hours, flow along the slope of the inclined plate 21 towards the filter 41 and then penetrate downwards to wet the brake paper strip 324. We know that the tensile strength of paper decreases significantly when wet. Therefore, utilizing this characteristic, the brake paper strip 324 is broken by the tension of the elastic ribs, allowing the winding indicator strip 323 to unfold, thus enabling the monitoring of temperature changes and achieving the aforementioned indication purpose. The temperature monitoring mechanism of this invention is based on the following technical principle: selecting a medium with high viscosity below 6°C and significantly reduced viscosity at 25°C (such as pure honey, blended oil, etc.), and using the filtration characteristics of a 150-mesh filter to detect temperature changes. In specific implementation, the mesh size of the filter 41 can be determined through simple experiments based on the viscosity characteristics of the selected medium, ensuring that the medium cannot pass through the filter at refrigerated temperatures, but can penetrate at room temperature within approximately 4 hours. This temperature monitoring system is mainly suitable for ambient temperatures above 15℃. Although its sensitivity is reduced in low-temperature environments, it still has practical value because the destructive effect of low temperatures on the shelf life of fresh milk is also reduced.

[0041] To improve the overall aesthetics of the roof box, a sealing plate is affixed to the triangular space 23, especially on the side where the reminder device 3 is installed.

[0042] To improve the stability of the airbag 33 in the clamping assembly 34, a receiving chamber 5 is fixed to the inner side of the fixing clamp 341 for the inward-facing end of the airbag 33 to be tightly placed therein.

[0043] The contents of this embodiment can also be other similar food products.

[0044] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to replace them, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A roof box for monitoring and reminding about the shelf life of its contents, comprising an integral box body (1) and a roof part (2); the roof part (2) is formed by two identical inclined plates (21) bonded together to form a gable roof with a ridge (22) in the middle; the downward center of the roof part (2) is connected to the interior of the box body (1), and the two sides of the roof part (2) have a certain triangular space (23) extending inward, with a pouring outlet and a cover (24) provided at the center of one of the inclined plates (21), characterized in that, The roof box also includes a reminder device (3) partially located in one of the triangular spaces (23). The reminder device (3) includes: a reminder component (31) partially located in the ridge (22) indicating that the product is about to expire; an airbag (33) with a nozzle; and a clamping component (34) for securing the airbag (33). The clamping assembly (34) includes a fixed clamp (341) fixed on an inclined plate (21) on the side away from the cover (24), and a movable clamp (342) hinged to the fixed clamp (341); the reminder assembly (31) includes a guide channel (311) vertically arranged above the movable clamp (342), and a rod-shaped reminder element that partially passes through the guide channel (311) and is bendable; the rod of the reminder element is divided into an upper rod section (01) and a lower rod section (02) that are hinged to each other, the end of the lower rod section (02) is a round head (31a), and there is also a piston part (31c) extending outward for abutting the compression spring at about the middle of the lower rod section (02); at the position of the movable clamp (342) near the hinge, below the corresponding round head (31a) is a A protrusion (34a) with a circular arc surface on the top surface has a notch channel (34b) for the round head (31a) to enter, located adjacent to the protrusion (34a) and still close to the hinge. A compression spring (03) is sleeved between the outer periphery of the lower rod section (02) and the inside of the guide channel (311). Under normal conditions, the compression spring (03) pushes the lower rod section (02) downward, and the round head (31a) and the protrusion (34a) are in arc surface contact. As the air pressure of the airbag (33) decreases, the round head (31a) continues to descend at a slow speed that is not visible to the naked eye. After the air pressure of the airbag (33) decreases further, the round head (31a) and the protrusion (34a) are separated, and the lower rod section (02) descends rapidly by a large section under the force of the compression spring (03).

2. The roof box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the piston section (31c) is the same as the diameter of the guide channel (311).

3. The roof box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper opening diameter of the guide channel (311) is smaller than that of other positions and is consistent with the diameter of the main body of the reminder piece, while the upper opening has a rounded chamfer.

4. The roof box according to claim 1, characterized in that, Adjacent to the round head (31a) and fixed to the lower rod section (02) is a downward-pointing spike (31b), and the piston part (31c) also has a fixed blocking part (31d) downward.

5. The roof box according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a reminder component (32) that indicates that the product has expired or deteriorated, which is provided on the inclined plate (21) with the cover (24) and on the same side as the reminder component (31). The reminder component (32) includes: two guide rails (321) fixed on the inclined plate (21) with the cover (24) and parallel to each other, in the direction of the slope of the inclined plate (21); a passage (322) provided on the inclined plate (21) at the lower end of the guide rails (321); a winding indicator tape (323) fixed to the end of the fixed clamp (341); a brake paper tape (324) for stopping the reel of the winding indicator tape (323); a needle cutter (325) fixed to the end of the movable clamp (342) and rotatable for piercing the brake paper tape (324); and a striking block (326) fixed to the end of the fixed clamp (341) for striking the needle cutter (325) to pierce it.

6. The roof box according to claim 5, characterized in that, A fixed container box (4) is provided at the position where the brake paper strip (324) is fixed to the inclined plate (21), and partially covers the brake paper strip (324). The interior of the container box (4) is divided into at least two regions, upper and lower, by at least one filter screen (41). The partially covered brake paper strip (324) is located in the lower region of the space. A liquid medium is injected into the upper region of the space. The medium changes from thick to thin as the temperature changes from low to high. It is set so that when the temperature is below 6°C under refrigeration, the fluidity of the medium cannot pass through the 150-mesh filter screen (41).

7. The roof box according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing plate is pasted on the side of the triangular space (23) where the reminder device (3) is located.

8. The roof box according to claim 1, characterized in that, A receiving chamber (5) is fixed to the inner side of the fixed clamp (341), and the inward end of the airbag (33) is tightly placed in it.

9. The roof box according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The reminder item is a flag (312).

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