Food inventory system

• US 5,487,276 A
• Filed: 05/05/1994
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dianna Namisniak, Lee Namisniak
• Original Assignee: Dianna Namisniak, Lee Namisniak
• Inventors: Namisniak, Lee, Namisniak, Dianna
• Primary Examiner(s): TANNER, HARRY B
• Application Number:
  US08/239,981
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 62/125, 62/126, 62/127, 62/129, 62/157, 62/158, 116/307, 116/308, 116/205, 283/55, 206/459.1, 206/459.5, 340/585, 340/588, 368/10, 368/89, 368/107, 368/108, 368/109
• US Class Current: 62/125
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/04 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00

Abstract

A method and device for ensuring the consumption of perishable food items before a safe storage lifetime for the items has elapsed. A base unit is mounted near or removably attached to a food storage location such as a refrigerator and allows identification and timing of the stored food items. When an item is placed into the storage location, its name and storage lifetime are recorded on the base unit. This recording may be accomplished manually by writing directly onto the base unit or by use of handwritten or preprinted labels, or recording may be accomplished electronically through a microprocessor-controlled base unit. For ease of later location the item may be optionally stored inside of food storage containers that are color coded to the base unit. A numeric display is provided so that the length of time an item has been stored can be readily determined and compared with the safe storage lifetime. The base unit also provides an electronic warning display for each stored item. The warning display gives visual warning when the elapsed time approaches and then reaches the safe storage time.

Claims

1. A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

a base unit, located near the storage location;

at least one numeric display on the base unit to display elapsed time;

cataloging means on the base unit for recording the name and storage lifetime of the item of food; and

means for activating the numerical display,

whereby the stored food item listed on the base unit may be safely consumed until the numeric display shows that the item has been stored beyond its useful lifetime.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of identifiers visible on the base unit, an identifier associated with each recorded item name; and

a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container being marked with an identifier, the identifier matching at least one identifier on the base unit.

3. A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

a base unit, located near the storage location;

timing means in the base unit for measuring elapsed time;

cataloging means on the base unit for recording the name and storage lifetime of the item of food;

input means for inputting the storage lifetime provided by the cataloging means;

logic means for comparing the storage lifetimes with the elapsed time and outputting a comparison result; and

warning means for warning an operator when the comparison result determines that the storage lifetime is approached and then reached, whereby the stored food item listed on the base unit may be safely consumed until the warning means indicates that the item has been stored beyond its useful lifetime.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the warning means comprises a a visually perceptible warning that indicates when the storage lifetime is approached and then reached.

5. The device of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of select buttons, one for each item of food recorded by the cataloging means, for selecting the item on which the input means is to operate.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the input means comprises a numeric display with a button to increment the display and a button to decrement the display so that the storage lifetime provided by the cataloging means is inputted, and wherein the elapsed time can be displayed on the numeric display.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein at least the timing means and the logic means are provided by a microprocessor.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein information for the cataloging means is input through one of preprinted and handwritten tabs that may be removably attached to the base unit, and a keypad to provide the name and the storage lifetime of the item of food.

9. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of identifiers visible on the base unit, one identifier associated with each item of food; and

a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container marked with an identifier, the identifier matching at least one of the identifiers on the base unit.

20. The device of claim 3, wherein operation of the timing task operates in a mode selected from the group consisting of:

a count up mode wherein a a numeric tally is incremented according to the elapsed time;

a count down mode wherein a preset lifetime is decremented according to the elapsed time; and

an expiration date mode wherein a current date is compared to an expiration date of the item.

10. A device to ensure the consumption of perishable food items stored in a refrigerator before the items are stored beyond their useful storage lifetimes, comprising:

a base unit removably attached to the refrigerator;

a plurality of item slots on the base unit;

a plurality of visible identifiers on the base unit, an identifier associated with each item slot;

a plurality of selection switches, a selection switch associated with each item slot for making that slot a selected item slot;

means for cataloging comprising means to provide a written representation of the name of a food item, and a numeric representation of useful storage lifetime of the item, and means to associate the name and the lifetime with each item slot on the base unit;

means for timing for measuring elapsed time;

means for inputting the storage lifetime of the selected item slot including a numerical display and switches to increment and decrement the display;

means for engaging the timing process;

means for comparing input storage lifetimes with elapsed time and outputting a comparison result;

a plurality of indicators for warning an operator when the useful storage lifetime of the item is approached and then reached based on the comparison result; and

a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container marked with an identifier, the identifier matching at least one of the identifiers on the base unit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein information for the cataloging means is input by one of preprinted and handwritten tabs that may be removably attached magnetically to the base unit, and a keypad.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein at least the timing means and the comparison means are provided by a microprocessor.

13. A method to ensure the consumption of perishable food items before the items are stored beyond their useful storage lifetimes, comprising the steps of:

providing an item of food to be stored;

providing a storage location;

providing a base unit, located near the storage location, bearing a plurality of item slots, the item slots structured for receiving a written representation of the name of the food item, and a numeric representation, in timing increments, of the useful storage lifetime of the item, and having a timing device operating with the same timing increments as the storage lifetime and capable of giving warnings;

placing the item of food into the storage location;

selecting an item slot that is not associated with a name and lifetime;

placing the name and lifetime of the item of food in association with the selected item slot;

inputting the lifetime; and

activating the timing device,

whereby the stored food item listed in the selected item slot may be safely consumed until the timing device gives warning that the item has been stored beyond its useful lifetime.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the storage location is selected from a group comprising a pantry, a freezer, and a refrigerator.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of placing the name of the item of food in association with the selected item slot is provided by one of preprinted and handwritten tabs removably attached to the base unit, and a keypad.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the timing increments are selected from a group comprising days, weeks, and months.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of identifiers visible on the base unit, an identifier associated with an item slot;

providing a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container being marked with an identifier, the identifier matching at least one identifier on the base unit;

selecting a storage container appropriately sized to fit the item of food to be stored;

placing the food item into the open container and closing the container before placing the item into the storage location; and

ensuring that the identifier associated with the selected item slot matches the identifier of the selected container.

18. A method to ensure the consumption of perishable food items before the items are stored beyond their useful storage lifetimes, comprising the steps of:

providing an item of food to be stored;

providing a refrigerator;

providing a base unit detachably mounted to the refrigerator bearing a plurality of item slots, a plurality of visible identifiers, an identifier associated with an item slot, a plurality of selection switches and warning indicators, one switch and one indicator associated with an item slot, the item slots structured to receive both a written representation of the name of the food item, and also a numeric representation, in days, of the useful storage lifetime of the item, and having a timing device to measure elapsed time in days, activating and deactivating switches for the timing device, a numerical display associated with the timing device, input switches for the timing device;

providing a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container marked with an identifier, the identifier matching the identifier associated with at least one of the item slots on the base unit;

selecting a storage container sized to fit the food item to be stored;

placing the item into the open container and closing the container;

placing the selected storage container holding the food item into the refrigerator;

choosing an item slot that does not contain a name and lifetime and whose identifier matches the identifier of the selected storage container;

placing the name and lifetime of the food item in the selected container in association with the chosen item slot;

operating the selection switch associated with the chosen item slot;

operating the input switches to input the storage lifetime; and

activating the timing device so that the warning indicator associated with the item slot will announce when the storage lifetime is approached and then reached.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of placing the name of the item of food in association with the selected item slot is provided by one of preprinted and handwritten tabs removably attached magnetically to the base unit, and a keypad.

21. A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

a base unit;

timing means in the base unit for measuring elapsed time;

input means for inputting a storage lifetime of the item of food;

logic means for comparing the storage lifetime with the measured elapsed time; and

warning means for warning an operator when the logic means indicates that the elapsed time has reached the storage lifetime, whereby the stored food item may be safely consumed until the timing means determines that the item has been stored beyond its storage lifetime.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the warning means further comprises a second warning means for warning an operator that the elapsed time is approaching the storage lifetime so that the stored food item may be safely consumed before the timing means determines that the item has been stored beyond its storage lifetime.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the operation of the warning task operates in a mode selected from the group consisting of:

a visually perceptible warning that indicates when the storage lifetime is approached and then reached, and an audibly perceptible warning that indicates when the storage lifetime is approached and then reached.

23. A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

a base unit equipped with means for removably attaching the base unit to the food storage location;

a numeric display on the base unit for displaying elapsed time in timing increments, the elapsed timing increments selected from the group consisting of days, weeks and months; and

means for automatically incrementing or decrementing the numeric display according to the elapsed timing increment.