Container and method of making a container

Abstract

A container includes a hydrochromic material associated with at least a portion of a wall of the container. The hydrochromic material may be visible from the exterior of the container. The hydrochromic material may have a first appearance when in a dry form and a second appearance, different from the first appearance, when the hydrochromic material becomes hydrated.

1 . A container, comprising: 
 walls arranged to define a receptacle; and    a hydrochromic material associated with at least a portion of the walls and visible from an exterior of the container, the hydrochromic material having a first appearance when in a generally dry state and a second appearance, different from the first appearance, when the hydrochromic material becomes hydrated.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first appearance and the second appearance are selected from the group consisting of colors, patterns and opaqueness.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrochromic material permanently changes from the first appearance to the second appearance when the hydrochromic material becomes hydrated.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first appearance and the second appearance are selected from the group consisting of colors, patterns and opaqueness.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrochromic material being in the dry form when the receptacle is empty and becoming hydrated when the receptacle is filled with a liquid that causes condensation to come into contact with the hydrochromic material.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid is a chilled liquid.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the first appearance and the second appearance are selected from the group consisting of colors, patterns and opaqueness.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the walls have an appearance that substantially matches the first appearance of the hydrochromic material.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the change of hydrochromic material from the first appearance to the second appearance is permanent.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the walls are made of a material chosen from a plastic, a paper, and a wax-coated paper.  
   
   
       11 . A method of changing an appearance of a hydrochromic material, comprising: 
 providing a dry hydrochromic material having a first appearance that substantially matches an appearance of a substrate;    applying the dry hydrochromic material to at least a portion of the substrate;    permitting the generation of condensation on the substrate; and    hydrating the hydrochromic material to cause the hydrochromic material to assume a second appearance different from the first appearance.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first appearance, the second appearance, and the appearance of the substrate are selected from the group consisting of colors, patterns and opaqueness.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said hydrating causes the hydrochromic material to permanently assume the second appearance.  
   
   
       14 . A method of making a container, comprising: 
 connecting a bottom wall with a peripheral side wall;    providing a dry hydrochromic material having a first appearance that substantially matches an appearance of the peripheral side wall; and    applying the dry hydrochromic material to at least a portion of the peripheral wall such that the hydrochromic material is visible from an exterior of the container, the hydrochromic material having a second appearance, different from the first appearance, when the hydrochromic material becomes hydrated.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first appearance, the second appearance, and the appearance of the peripheral side wall are selected from the group consisting of colors, patterns and opaqueness.  
   
   
       16 . An inventory control method, comprising: 
 providing a container configured to contain a product;    introducing a product into the container; and    changing an appearance of indicia on at least a portion of the container when condensation forms on the container, the indicia being visible from an exterior of the container.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said revealing indicia includes: 
 providing the indicia with an initial color that substantially matches a color of the container; and    changing the indicia to a second color, different from that of the container, when the indicia becomes hydrated.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said changing the indicia includes introducing a liquid into the container.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said liquid is a chilled liquid.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said indicia is permanently revealed.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the indicia indicates that the container has contained a product.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said providing includes applying a dry hydrochromic material to at least a portion of the container.