System for signaling that a product expiration date has passed

• US 6,826,119 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sherena D. Fortune
• Original Assignee: Sherena D. Fortune
• Inventors: Fortune, Sherena D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/751,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 368/243, 368/10, 116/206, 235/462.01, 235/462.02, 235/494, 705/22-28
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

System for signaling that a product expiration date has passed. The bar code indicia system for signaling that a product has expired includes a bar code indicia, a detecting means of detecting the bar code indicia and a signaling means for signaling to a consumer that the product has passed a date of detection.

Claims

1. A bar code indicia system for signaling when an expiration date of a product has passed, said bar code indicia system comprising:

a bar code indicia indicating the expiration date of the product such that said bar code indicia is readable after the expiration date of the product, said bar code indicia being marked on the product;

a detecting means for scanning said bar code indicia such that detecting means is for detecting the expiration date of said bar code indicia;

a signaling means being operationally coupled to said detecting means, said signaling means being for signaling to a potential buyer that the expiration date of the product occurred before a date of detection of said bar code indicia; and

said signaling means comprising a translucent cylindrical housing and a light, said cylindrical housing being mounted on a counter such that said cylindrical housing extends upwardly from said counter, said light being illuminatable upon actuating by said detecting means, said light being removably mounted in said housing opposite said counter such that said light is adapted for being readily seen by the potential buyer positioned anywhere along the length of said counter when said light is illuminated by said detecting means.

2. The bar code indicia system of claim 1, wherein said bar code indicia comprises a plurality of bars being marked on the product, each of said bars being arranged in a manner indicating a particular expiration date of the product.

3. The bar code indicia system of claim 2, wherein each of said bars is orientated substantially parallel to each other.

4. The bar code indicia system of claim 2, further comprising:

a substrate having a top surface, each of said bars being marked on said top surface of said substrate.

5. The bar code indicia system of claim 4, wherein said substrate has a bottom surface with an adhesive thereon for attachment to the product.

6. The bar code indicia system of claim 1, wherein detecting means comprises:

a scanner being adapted for scanning bar code indicia;

a processor being connected to said scanner; and

wherein said signaling means is coupled to said processor.

7. The bar code indicia system of claim 6, wherein said processor is adapted to compare the date of detection of the bar code indicia to the expiration date of the product represented by the bar code indicia and to cause said signaling means to signal to the buyer when that the expiration date is before the date of detection.

8. The bar code indicia system of claim 6, wherein said scanner is mounted in a counter having a scanner window, said scanner being positioned under said scanner window.

9. A bar code indicia system for signaling when an expiration date of a product has passed, said bar code indicia system comprising:

a detecting means for scanning a bar code indicia, said bar code indicia being readable after the expiration date of the product;

a signaling means being operationally coupled to said detecting means, said signaling means being for signaling to a potential buyer that the expiration date of the product occurred before a date of detection of said bar code indicia; and

said signaling means comprising a translucent cylindrical housing and a light, said cylindrical housing being mounted on a counter such that said cylindrical housing extends upwardly from said counter, said light being illuminatable upon actuating by said detecting means, said light being removably mounted in said housing opposite said counter such that said light is adapted for being readily seen by the potential buyer positioned anywhere along the length of said counter when said light is illuminated by said detecting means.

10. The bar code indicia system of claim 9, wherein said detecting means comprises:

a scanner being adapted for scanning bar code indicia;

a processor being connected to said scanner; and

wherein said signaling means is connected to said processor.

11. The bar code indicia system of claim 10, wherein said processor is adapted to compare a date of detection of the bar code indicia to the expiration date of the product represented by the bar code indicia and to cause said signaling means to signal to the buyer when the expiration date is before the date of detection.

12. The bar code indicia system of claim 10, wherein said scanner is mounted in said counter having a scanner window, said scanner being positioned under said scanner window.

13. System for signaling that a product expiration date has passed, said bar code indicia system comprising:

a bar code indicia being readable after the expiration date of the product, said bar code indicia comprising;

a substrate, said substrate having a top surface, wherein said substrate comprises a label having a bottom surface with an adhesive applied thereon for attachment to the product;

a plurality of bars being marked on said top surface of said substrate, each of said bars being arranged on said substrate in a manner indicating a particular expiration date of the product, each of said bars being orientated parallel to each other;

a detecting means for detecting said bar code indicia, said detecting means comprising;

a scanner being adapted for scanning bar code indicia, said scanner being mounted under a counter having an upper surface for holding the products to be scanned; and

a processor being coupled to said scanner, said processor being adapted for comparing the current date to the expiration date of the product and signaling to the consumer that the expiration date on the product has passed;

a signaling means for signaling when the expiration date of the product has passed, said signaling means being coupled to said processor, said signaling means comprising a translucent cylindrical housing and a light, said cylindrical housing being mounted on a counter such that said cylindrical housing extends upwardly from said counter, said light being illuminatable upon actuating by said detecting means, said light being removably mounted in said housing opposite said counter such that said light is adapted for being readily seen by the potential buyer positioned anywhere along the length of said counter when said light is illuminated by said detecting means.