Date indicating device

• US 8,966,793 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Custren
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Custren
• Inventors: Custren, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US13/738,306
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 40107-120, 404/93, 405/03, 116/295, 116/284, 116/308, 235/117.R, 235/114
• US Class Current: 40/111
• CPC Class Codes: G09D 3/00 Perpetual calendars
• CPC Class Codes: G09D 3/06 with rotatable members
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2023/0025 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/16 by clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/202 for labels being formed by a combination of interchangeable elements, e.g. price labels G09F3/203 - G09F3/207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/40 in which the desired character is selected from a number of characters arranged one beside the other, e.g. on a common carrier plate

Abstract

A date indicating device attachable to food storage containers is selectably set to indicate the date that the food product inside of the container. The device can be attached to the upper rim of the lid or handle of the container. The device includes a plurality of adjustable knobs which enable the date to be set and includes the month, day, and year.

Claims

1. A date indicating device comprising:

an enclosure defining a hollow internal volume, comprising;

a top panel;

a bottom panel opposite said top panel;

a front panel;

a rear panel laterally opposed to said front panel and comprising a writing surface;

a writing opening located on said front surface configured to expose said writing surface; and

,

a pair of longitudinally opposed side panels;

a spring clamp attached to an exterior of said enclosure;

a plurality of date indicia disposed within said internal volume and visible through said enclosure to visually indicate a date; and

,

a plurality of adjustable knobs disposed within said internal volume and mechanically connected to said date indicia configured to set said date.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cover attached to said rear panel configured to cover said writing surface.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said rear panel further comprises an integral track configured to slidably receive said cover.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises a plurality of date openings configured to expose said plurality of date indicia.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises a plurality of knob openings configured to expose said plurality of knobs.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said spring clamp comprises:

a fixed member rigidly attached to said enclosure;

a U-shaped spring comprising an end attached to said fixed member and an opposing end; and

,

a clamping member attached to said opposing end of said spring;

wherein said spring biases said clamping member in a closed position; and

,

wherein said clamping member is movable to an open position relative to said fixed member about said spring.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of knobs comprises:

a first knob rotatably attached to said rear panel and protruding through said front panel;

a second knob rotatably attached to said rear panel and protruding through said front panel; and

,

a third knob rotatably attached to said rear panel and protruding through said front panel.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said front panel further comprises:

a first knob opening through which said first knob protrudes;

a second knob opening through which said first knob protrudes; and

,

a third knob opening through which said third knob protrudes.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said plurality of date indicia comprises:

a month gear rotatably attached to said rear panel and mechanically connected to said first knob, said month gear comprising a plurality of month indicia visible through said front panel;

a day gear rotatably attached to said rear panel and mechanically connected to said second knob, said day gear comprising a plurality of day indicia visible through said front panel; and

,

a year gear rotatably attached to said rear panel and mechanically connected to said third knob, said year gear comprising a plurality of year indicia visible through said front panel.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said front panel further comprises:

a month opening through which one of said plurality of month indicia is visible;

a day opening through which one of said plurality of day indicia is visible; and

,

a year opening through which one of said plurality of year indicia is visible.

11. A date indicating device comprising:

an enclosure comprising a top panel, a bottom panel opposite said top panel, a front panel, a rear panel laterally opposed to said front panel, and a pair of longitudinally opposed side panels defining a hollow internal volume;

a spring clamp attached to said enclosure;

a first knob rotatably attached to said rear panel and protruding through said front panel;

a second knob rotatably attached to said rear panel and protruding through said front panel;

a third knob rotatably attached to said rear panel and protruding through said front panel;

a month gear rotatably attached to said rear panel and mechanically connected to said first knob, said month gear comprising a plurality of month indicia visible through said front panel;

a day gear rotatably attached to said rear panel and mechanically connected to said second knob, said day gear comprising a plurality of day indicia visible through said front panel; and

,

a year gear rotatably attached to said rear panel and mechanically connected to said third knob, said year gear comprising a plurality of year indicia visible through said front panel.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said spring clamp comprises:

a fixed member rigidly attached to said rear panel;

a U-shaped spring comprising an end attached to said fixed member and an opposing end; and

,

a clamping member attached to said opposing end of said spring;

wherein said spring biases said clamping member in a closed position; and

,

wherein said clamping member is movable to an open position relative to said fixed member about said spring.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said front panel further comprises:

a first knob opening through which said first knob protrudes;

a second knob opening through which said first knob protrudes; and

,

a third knob opening through which said third knob protrudes.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said front panel further comprises:

a month opening through which one of said plurality of month indicia is visible;

a day opening through which one of said plurality of day indicia is visible; and

,

a year opening through which one of said plurality of year indicia is visible.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said rear panel further comprises a writing surface and said front panel comprises a writing opening configured to expose said writing surface.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a cover attached to said rear panel configured to cover said writing surface.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said rear panel further comprises an integral track configured to slidably receive said cover.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said enclosure and said spring clamp are made of plastic.