Abstract: The invention is a system for monitoring a plurality of cold cases located in a retail food establishment. The system employs a wireless mesh network, which uses monitoring computers in communication with the cold cases for sending temperature data to a master control computer located in a retail establishment, by the most efficient route, even if the most efficient route is first through a second monitoring computer and secondly to the main computer. The invention also employs an inventive microprocessor-controlled temperature monitoring and display device which mounts on each cold case and which emits various colored lights to serve as a visible indicator of the temperature condition of a cold case. The emitted, colored, light is visible from both the front and side of the display device, which allows untrained store personnel to readily determine the temperature condition of a cold case by referring to a color coding chart.

Abstract: A separator for use in a battery may include a primary separator layer, wherein the primary separator layer has a peripheral region and an interior region, and wherein the primary separator layer is configured to conduct electrolyte from the peripheral region to the interior region. The separator may also include a secondary separator layer in fluid communication with the primary separator layer, wherein the secondary separator layer includes a material that is less porous than the primary separator layer and wherein the secondary separator layer is configured to receive electrolyte at least from the interior region of the primary separator layer.