Food inventory system

A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

• a base unit, located near the storage location;
• timing means in the base unit for measuring elapsed time;
• cataloging means on the base unit for recording the name and storage lifetime of the item of food;
• input means for inputting the storage lifetime provided by the cataloging means;
• logic means for comparing the storage lifetimes with the elapsed time and outputting a comparison result;
• and
• warning means for warning an operator when the comparison result determines that the storage lifetime is approached and then reached, whereby the stored food item listed on the base unit may be safely consumed until the warning means indicates that the item has been stored beyond its useful lifetime.

A device to ensure the consumption of perishable food items stored in a refrigerator before the items are stored beyond their useful storage lifetimes, comprising:

• a base unit removably attached to the refrigerator;
• a plurality of item slots on the base unit;
• a plurality of visible identifiers on the base unit, an identifier associated with each item slot;
• a plurality of selection switches, a selection switch associated with each item slot for making that slot a selected item slot;
• means for cataloging comprising means to provide a written representation of the name of a food item, and a numeric representation of useful storage lifetime of the item, and means to associate the name and the lifetime with each item slot on the base unit;
• means for timing for measuring elapsed time;
• means for inputting the storage lifetime of the selected item slot including a numerical display and switches to increment and decrement the display;
• means for engaging the timing process;
• means for comparing input storage lifetimes with elapsed time and outputting a comparison result;
• a plurality of indicators for warning an operator when the useful storage lifetime of the item is approached and then reached based on the comparison result;
• and
• a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container marked with an identifier, the identifier matching at least one of the identifiers on the base unit.

A method to ensure the consumption of perishable food items before the items are stored beyond their useful storage lifetimes, comprising the steps of:

• providing an item of food to be stored;
• providing a storage location;
• providing a base unit, located near the storage location, bearing a plurality of item slots, the item slots structured for receiving a written representation of the name of the food item, and a numeric representation, in timing increments, of the useful storage lifetime of the item, and having a timing device operating with the same timing increments as the storage lifetime and capable of giving warnings;
• placing the item of food into the storage location;
• selecting an item slot that is not associated with a name and lifetime;
• placing the name and lifetime of the item of food in association with the selected item slot;
• inputting the lifetime;
• and
• activating the timing device,
• whereby the stored food item listed in the selected item slot may be safely consumed until the timing device gives warning that the item has been stored beyond its useful lifetime.

A method to ensure the consumption of perishable food items before the items are stored beyond their useful storage lifetimes, comprising the steps of:

• providing an item of food to be stored;
• providing a refrigerator;
• providing a base unit detachably mounted to the refrigerator bearing a plurality of item slots, a plurality of visible identifiers, an identifier associated with an item slot, a plurality of selection switches and warning indicators, one switch and one indicator associated with an item slot, the item slots structured to receive both a written representation of the name of the food item, and also a numeric representation, in days, of the useful storage lifetime of the item, and having a timing device to measure elapsed time in days, activating and deactivating switches for the timing device, a numerical display associated with the timing device, input switches for the timing device;
• providing a plurality of food storage containers in a variety of different sizes, each container marked with an identifier, the identifier matching the identifier associated with at least one of the item slots on the base unit;
• selecting a storage container sized to fit the food item to be stored;
• placing the item into the open container and closing the container;
• placing the selected storage container holding the food item into the refrigerator;
• choosing an item slot that does not contain a name and lifetime and whose identifier matches the identifier of the selected storage container;
• placing the name and lifetime of the food item in the selected container in association with the chosen item slot;
• operating the selection switch associated with the chosen item slot;
• operating the input switches to input the storage lifetime;
• and
• activating the timing device so that the warning indicator associated with the item slot will announce when the storage lifetime is approached and then reached.

A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

• a base unit;
• timing means in the base unit for measuring elapsed time;
• input means for inputting a storage lifetime of the item of food;
• logic means for comparing the storage lifetime with the measured elapsed time;
• and
• warning means for warning an operator when the logic means indicates that the elapsed time has reached the storage lifetime, whereby the stored food item may be safely consumed until the timing means determines that the item has been stored beyond its storage lifetime.

A device to ensure the consumption of an item of perishable food before the item has been held in a storage location beyond its useful storage lifetime, the device comprising:

• a base unit equipped with means for removably attaching the base unit to the food storage location;
• a numeric display on the base unit for displaying elapsed time in timing increments, the elapsed timing increments selected from the group consisting of days, weeks and months;
• and
• means for automatically incrementing or decrementing the numeric display according to the elapsed timing increment.