FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a smart label and method for detecting the temperatures at which the clothes are washed.

The invention is particularly a label system containing use and care conditions in textile products and relates to a system and method that provides color and/or shape change in case the temperature value specified in the washing conditions is exceeded during washing the product.

STATE OF THE ART

The label systems are use that contain instructions for the use and care of the cloths are sewn on the product, in the textile industry. The label systems give information about the details such as fiber type, ratio, usage and care conditions of the garment fabric (at which temperature it is washed, how it is dried, etc.). Despite it is widely used in dimensions of 3 cm x 5.5 cm, various designs are available depending on the product type and demand. It is generally integrated into garments by sewing, printing, or using bonding methods. It is not possible to follow and determine whether the care instructions specified on the label are followed or not with the current garment label technology. Particularly, it is not possible to demonstrate this condition in cases where the error source is improper use and care, in returned products from customers after use. Therefore, maximum amount of defective products is returned and replaced with a new one by considering customer satisfaction, and this situation imposes a burden on manufacturers/sellers.

In the literature search, the utility model TR2017 / 03396 was found. The system relates to a washing system that enables controlling the information on the smart labels (1.1) and smart labels (1.1) that contain the washing, usage, brand, color and type information of the products (1) such as clothes and provides warning when the products (1) that do not have the same washing information are required to be washed together. There is no solution in the system for determining whether the washing temperature of any product has been individually exceeded or not. In the literature search, the patent number TR2018/21196 was also seen. This system is a smart label configuration that shows the labels of food and beverage materials on the retail shelves, especially packaged meat and dairy products by means of smart detection sensors with the color change of the label made of a special material regarding whether the food is in compliance with the standard or not and whether the food is defective or not. In the system, there is no solution to monitor the washing temperature of products such as clothes.

As a result, the abovementioned problems and the problems that cannot be solved in the light of the present art have made it necessary to make an improvement in the relevant technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a label system and method controlling the temperature of washing in order to eliminate the abovementioned disadvantages and to bring new advantages to the relevant technical field.

The main aim of the invention is to develop a system and method that demonstrates the user that the product is deformed due to improper care conditions, when the care conditions specified on a product are exceeded, and to the seller in case of return of the product.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a system and method determining with the naked eye that the product is washed outside the appropriate temperature that causes irreversible color and/or shape change in at least one relevant area created on the product when the washing temperature condition specified on the label is exceeded.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a system and method that allow sellers to understand the problems caused by user error in product return conditions and thus prevent the sellers from making loss in case of improper return demands.

In order to fulfill all aims mentioned above and will be obtained from the following detailed description, the present invention is related to a label system controlling the washing temperature, which demonstrates color change when the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on the information label printed on the ground fabric is exceeded during washing of a product. Accordingly, the system comprises the following;

• at least one first/shape color component area comprising first color/shape component that maintains the color properties of a product at the washing temperature appropriate to the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on the information label during the washing of a product, provides color change and/or shape change by changing phase/shape (melting, transitioning from liquid to solid phase, sublimation, etc.) if the appropriate washing temperature is exceeded,

• surface coating that protects color components against external factors, is transparent, waterproof and impermeable.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive system, it comprises second color/shape component area that protects color/shape property in case a product is washed at a temperature suitable for the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on the information label, forms third color/shape component having a third color/shape by being mixed with the first color/shape component in said first color/shape component area by being melted in case the appropriate washing temperature is exceeded, comprises second color/shape component.

In a preferred embodiment of the system, our invention also comprises an antenna that is embedded on the ground fabric and provides product identification. Said antenna is preferably characterized as an RFID and/or Bluetooth antenna.

Our invention also comprises a label method controlling the washing temperature, which demonstrates color change when the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on the information label printed on the ground fabric is exceeded during washing of a product. Accordingly, the method comprises the following process steps;

• forming the first color/shape component area on the product, which includes the first/shape color component, changes phase/shape (melting, transitioning from liquid to solid, sublimation, etc.) at the washing temperature exceeding the washing temperature given in the information label,

• placing printing and dye pastes containing color components and auxiliary chemicals on the ground fabric by printing and dyeing methods,

• coating the first color/shape component in said first color/shape component area with water and liquid-proof, transparent surface coating by coating and welding methods,

• preserving the color and/or shape properties of the first color/shape component in said first color/shape component area, in case the washing temperature value of the product is lower than the temperature value given on the information label or equal to the temperature value given on the information label,

• changing color/shape of the first color/shape component in the first color/shape component area by changing phase/shape (melting, passing from liquid to solid, sublimation, etc.), in case the washing temperature value of the product exceeds the temperature value given on the information label.

A preferred embodiment of the inventive method system comprises the following process steps,

• forming the second color/shape component area on the product, which contains the second/shape color component mixing with each other by changing phase/shape (melting, transitioning from liquid to solid, sublimation, etc.) at the washing temperature exceeding the washing temperature given in the information label,

• coating the second color/shape component in said second color/shape component area with water and liquid-proof, transparent surface coating by coating and welding methods,

• preserving the color and/or shape properties of the first color/shape component in said first color/shape component area and the second color/shape component in said second color/shape component area, in case the washing temperature value of the product is lower than the temperature value given on the information label or equal to the temperature value given on the information label,

• forming the third color/shape component as a result of mixing the first color/shape component in the first color/shape component area and the second color/shape component in the second color/shape component area by changing phase/shape (melting, passing from liquid to solid, sublimation, etc.), in case the washing temperature value of the product exceeds the temperature value given on the information label.

In a preferred embodiment of our invention, product identification is provided by an antenna embedded on the ground fabric and preferably characterized as RFID and/or Bluetooth.

In order to understand the advantages of the present invention with its structure and additional elements, it shall be evaluated with the following defined figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 , is the schematic view of the inventive system.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Ground fabric 2. Antenna

3. Information label

4. First color/shape component area

5. Second color/shape component area

6. Surface coating

7. Third color/shape component area

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the inventive novelty is described by means of examples only for clarifying the subject matter such that no limiting effect is created. It is a label system controlling the washing temperature, which demonstrates color change when the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on an information label (3) printed on a ground fabric (1) is exceeded during washing of a product. Figure 1 , is the schematic view of the inventive system. Accordingly the system comprises; at least one first/shape color component area (4) comprising first color/shape component that maintains the color properties of a product at the washing temperature appropriate to the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on the information label (3) during the washing of a product, provides color change and/or shape change by changing phase/shape (melting, transitioning from liquid to solid phase, sublimation, etc.) if the appropriate washing temperature is exceeded, surface coating (6) that protects color components against external factors, is transparent, waterproof and impermeable.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive system, it comprises second color/shape component area (5) that preserves its color and/or shape in case product is washed at a temperature suitable for the temperature value specified in the washing conditions given on the information label (3), forms third color/shape component (7) having a third color/shape to be formed by mixing with the first color/shape component in said first color/shape component area (4) by changing phase/shape (melting, passing from liquid to solid, subliming, etc.), contains the second color/form component.

In a preferred embodiment of the system, our invention also comprises an antenna (2) (RFID/Bluetooth etc.) that is embedded on the ground fabric (1) and provides product identification.

The present invention is a smart label to contain at least one color component in addition to the general information label (3) design, which includes antenna (2) component, usage and care instructions, placed on the label ground fabric (1), for example, which has a functional part containing a first color/shape component and a second color/shape component, refers to the smart label system that has at least one impermeable surface coating (6) that includes at least one layer so as to protect the part containing the color component(s), to ensure its sealing and to warn when inappropriate conditions are reached.

The label ground fabric (1) can be made of synthetic and natural polymers used in conventional labels, as well as from innovative polymers. One or a plurality faces of the label ground fabric (1) can be coated with various functional chemicals, depending on the design of the smart label system. The shape, content and location of the antenna (RFID/Bluetooth etc.) (2) can vary according to the smart label system design and its expected functionality. The color components can be obtained by applying a mixture containing at least one chemical component that can change phase/shape with temperature change and at least one dyestuff with the ability to absorb or reflect light, filling material or pigment-based component on the label substrate (1) or by transferring the same on the label ground fabric (1) by preparing the same under external conditions. The sealing surface coating of the color components (6) will cover the color components using coating and welding techniques however they can have transparent property to see the color they have and the color change, if any. The impermeable surface coating (6) may be impermeable to water and other liquids.

Information label (3) is a label that is printed on the ground fabric (1), informs the information containing instructions for use and care, warning, brand, origin, content, etc. visually and in writing. In case, the process is carried out within the washing conditions stated in the information label (3), for example when washing at the appropriate temperature, there is no change in the color component(s) of the label, it preserves its current color and shape. Therefore, visually it is understood that the textile product is washed under suitable conditions. The first color/shape component in the first color/shape component area (4) changes its color/shape by changing phase / shape (melting, passing from liquid to solid, subliming, etc.), as a result of washing performed in the selected temperature conditions by exceeding the washing conditions stated in the information label (3).

In the preferred embodiment of the system, a plurality of color components is selected and applied, preferably 2. In this case, the first color/shape component in the first color/shape component area (4) and the second color component in the second color/shape component area (5) are mixed with each other by changing phase/shape (melting, passing from liquid to solid, sublimation, etc.) and thus, color change is provided by both the shape and the formed third color/shape component (7). Therefore, visually it is understood that the textile product is washed under improper conditions.