Food storage tracking system

• US 5,711,160 A
• Filed: 01/26/1996
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• 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, Dianna, Namisniak, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US08/592,544
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 62/125, 62/126, 62/127, 62/129, 62/157, 62/158, 116/307, 116/308, 116/205, 368/10, 368/89, 368/107, 368/108, 368/109, 283/55, 206/459.1, 206/459.5, 340/585, 340/588
• 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 useful storage lifetime for the items has elapsed. A base unit is mounted near, removably attached to, or on 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 and displayed on the base unit. This recording may be accomplished manually by writing directly onto the base unit or by use of handwritten or preprinted magnetic labels, or recording may be accomplished electronically. A list, prestored in memory, of the most commonly stored food items and their approximate lifetimes is provided with the list configured for at least three food storage locations: a refrigerator, a freezer and a pantry. A numeric display is provided so that the length of time an item has been stored can be readily determined and compared with the useful storage lifetime. The base unit also provides electronic warning signals for each stored item. These warning signals, either visual or audible, alert the user as to those food items that have been stored close to the end of their useful storage lifetime and those that have been stored the full length or beyond their useful storage time thus helping the consumer to know which food items should be considered first for consumption to avoid their impending spoilage.

Claims

1. A food storage tracking system, comprising:

a base unit;

a time measuring device for providing time information in the base unit;

storage means in the base unit for storing the identity and storage lifetimes of a plurality of food items;

input means in the base unit for selecting one of the food items in said storage means;

electronic means in the base unit for starting said time measuring device for the selected food item comparing the time information generated for said selected food item with the storage lifetime of the selected food item and generating a signal responsive to the comparison; and

a display on the base unit communicating with said electronic means for displaying the storage lifetime remaining for a selected food item in storage in response to the signal from said electronic means.

2. The food storage tracking system as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic means generates the signal at a predetermined time before the storage lifetime of the selected food item has expired.

3. The food storage tracking system as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic means generates the signal when the storage lifetime of the selected food item has expired.

4. The food storage tracking system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the display produces a visually perceptible warning in response to the signal.

5. The food storage tracking system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the display produces an audibly perceptible warning in response to the signal.

6. The food storage tracking system of claim 5, wherein the audibly perceptible warning comprises an alarm tone, a series of tones, or a voice.

7. The food storage tracking system as defined in claim 1, wherein the base unit is constructed as part of a food storage location.

8. The food storage tracking system of claim 1 further comprising means for maintaining a plurality of distinct lists of a plurality of food items in said storage means.

9. The food storage tracking system of claim 8 wherein each distinct list relates to a different storage location for the food items on that list.

10. The food storage tracking system of claim 9 further comprising means for moving a food item from one list to another.