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Refrigerator including food product management system

  • US 7,861,542 B2
  • Filed: 04/10/2007
  • Issued: 01/04/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator comprising:

  • a cabinet shell;

    a liner arranged within the cabinet shell defining at least one refrigerated compartment; and

    a food product management system including;

    a container including a lid for storing foodstuffs in the at least one refrigerated compartment;

    a tag provided on the container for indicating a storage duration of a food product placed in the container;

    a timer operatively associated with the tag, said timer counting a passage of at least one of days, hours and minutes, said timer being automatically activated upon the tag being cooled to a predetermined temperature, which is below ambient temperature, and automatically deactivated when a temperature above the predetermined temperature is reached;

    a computer operatively connected to the internet;

    an RFID detector operatively connected to the computer;

    an RFID unit located on the tag and containing information pertaining to at least one foodstuff parameter wherein, upon being placed in a refrigerator, said RFID unit is scanned by the RFID detector for the at least one foodstuff parameter, said computer being adapted to automatically generate an email notification to a consumer regarding the least one foodstuff parameter after a certain period of time on the timer has elapsed; and

    an indicator arranged on the tag signaling passage of a predetermined time period, said indicator changing from a first state prior to the predetermined time period lapsing, to a second state upon reaching the predetermined time period.

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