System of food storage preparation and delivery in finished cooked state

• US 7,183,518 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Near, Nancy Rae Funk
• Original Assignee: Michael Near, Nancy Rae Funk
• Inventors: Near, Michael, Funk, Nancy Rae
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans; Robin
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, VINOD D
• Application Number:
  US11/234,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 219/214, 219/501, 219/506, 219/486, 219/679, 705/7, 705/26, 705/10, 706/52
• US Class Current: 219/214
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations

Abstract

A system configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state includes a computer control interface, a freezer/refrigeration module, a food transport mechanism, a heating/cooking module, and a delivery area. The meal system is configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state. The system may be configured in the form of an independent unit or in the form of a combination of separate modules. The computer control interface, freezer/refrigeration module, food transport mechanism, heating/cooking module, and delivery area may be communicatively interconnected wirelessly or non-wirelessly.

Claims

1. A meal system comprising:

a computer control interface including a user-selectable menu of inventory;

means for communicating with an external supplier of inventory, wherein said user-selectable menu of inventory categorizes said inventory by expiration date, categorizes said inventory by food classifications of individual inventory items and graphically presents said inventory by frequency of usage of individual inventory items and graphically presents said inventory by numeric quantity of individual inventory items;

a freezer/refrigeration module;

a food transport mechanism;

a heating/cooking module; and

,

a delivery area, wherein said meal system is configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state, whereby a user selectively-orders new inventory from the external supplier via said user-selectable menu of inventory and said means for communicating with an external supplier of inventory.

2. The meal system according to claim 1, wherein said meal system is configured in the form of an independent unit.

3. The meal system according to claim 1, wherein said meal system is configured in the form of a combination of separate modules.

4. The meal system according to claim 1, wherein said computer control interface, freezer/refrigeration module, food transport mechanism, heating/cooking module, and delivery area are communicatively interconnected wirelessly.

5. The meal system according to claim 1, wherein said computer control interface, freezer/refrigeration module, food transport mechanism, heating/cooking module, and delivery area are communicatively interconnected non-wirelessly.