Multifunction timer device

A timer device for use with a container, comprising:

• a housing adapted to be attached to a container;
• a controller with at least one of a timer circuit and a counter in said housing;
• a display on said housing for displaying information from said timer circuit;
• and
• a reset trigger having a fastening means for attaching the trigger to the container separate from the housing, whereby at least one of the counter or the timer circuit is automatically incremented or reset when the housing moves relative to the reset trigger upon opening the container.

A timer device for use with a container, comprising:

• a housing adapted to be attached to a container;
• a controller with a timer circuit, a counter and a memory device contained in said housing;
• a display interface on said housing for selectively displaying information from said timer circuit, counter and memory device;
• a multifunction input button which is operable in a plurality of predetermined sequences to select from among a plurality of operating and display modes of the timer devices
• wherein said controller is operative to effect the display of the time of day or date of a previous actuation of said timer device in response to a first predetermined button actuation sequence,
• wherein said controller is further operative to effect a timer start/reset and to display a current timer value in response to a second predetermined button actuation sequence, and
• wherein said controller is further operative to increment/decrement a counter value and to display said counter value in response to a third predetermined button actuation sequence;
• and
• a reset trigger having a fastening means for attaching the trigger to the container separate from the housing, whereby at least one of the counter or the timer circuit is automatically incremented or reset when the housing moves relative to the reset trigger upon opening the container.

A method of displaying a time date stamp on a container, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a timer device to the container, said timer device including a housing, a controller with a timer circuit, a counter and a memory device contained in said housing, a display interface on said housing for selectively displaying information from said timer circuit, counter and memory device, and a multifunction input button which is operable in a plurality of predetermined sequences to select from among a plurality of operating and display modes of the timer device, wherein said controller is operative to effect the display of the time of day or date of a previous actuation of said timer device in response to a first predetermined button actuation sequence, wherein said controller is further operative to effect a timer start/reset and to display a current timer value in response to a second predetermined button actuation sequence, and wherein said controller is further operative to increment/decrement a counter value and to display said counter value in response to a third predetermined button actuation sequence;
• fastening a reset trigger to the container separate from the housing, whereby at least one of the counter or the timer circuit is automatically incremented or reset when the housing moves relative to the reset trigger upon opening the container;
• and
• operating said multifunction input button on said timer device according to one of said predetermined sequences to select one of said operating modes for said timer circuit.