Abstract:
An apparatus and associated method for dating items to be refrigerated or stored, wherein the apparatus includes a display, controller buttons for selecting a desired label to be printed, a built-in printer capable of printing labels exiting from a cartridge holding the labels. The apparatus includes the ability to print the current date and time along with text indicia designating certain food types or symbol indicia representative of various food types such as beef, poultry, pork and fish.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to convenient device for labeling and in particular, dating food items to be refrigerated and other items to be stored. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are devices known in the art related to label makers where the desired indicia on a label can be typed in using a keyboard and the label can then be printed with the desired indicia. Typically, these devices are relatively complex due to the flexibility of printing almost any desired indicia on a label. The labels are in the form of a cartridge available commercially through most office supply companies. In some cases, computer illiterate or challenged people can have a difficult time operating what is effectively a miniature computer/keyboard combination with a built-in printer to print the labels. 
         [0003]    What is needed is a more convenient, much simpler to operate device that can be conveniently mounted on a desired household article, such as a refrigerator, or on a wall section next to an appliance, where the device is pre-programmed to present a calendar date and a label with a desired indicia or symbol together with the date and/or time can be generated, thereby allowing the homeowner to place a label on the item being refrigerated or stored. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    As can be surmised from above, the invention is such a more convenient, much simpler to operate device that can be conveniently mounted on a desired household article, such as a refrigerator, or on a wall section next to an appliance. The device pre-programmed to present a calendar date and optionally time and a label with a desired indicia or symbol together with the date and time, if applicable, can be generated, thereby allowing the homeowner to place a label on the item being refrigerated or stored, with identifying indicia on the label. 
         [0005]    The device has a plurality of buttons or activation switches, also hereinafter referred to as the controller or controller portion of the device, that when activated, print out a label. For example, one button may be programmed to print a date and indicia such as “FISH” or a button to print a date and indicia that has a character symbol representing a fish. Another indicia example may be the word “BEEF” or a symbol representing beef such as a cow image. Another indicia example may be the word “POULTRY” or a symbol representing poultry such as a bird, or hen image. Another indicia example may be the word “PORK” or a symbol representing a pork such as a pig image. Another option may be to have a button that when activated prints no indicia except for the date and possible combination of date and time. This latter button would effectively be a blank button. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the device will have five buttons or other means of activating the desired indicia to be printed on the label. One would be blank as described above and the remaining four would correspond to a choice for beef, poultry, pork and fish. The blank button could be activated when other miscellaneous items are to be refrigerated or stored, such as soup, spaghetti sauce, vegetables and the like. 
         [0007]    The device can also be used for dating other non-refrigerated items as well where a date is desired. Again, in this case, the blank button would be used. The printed label with the date/time only could be further optionally annotated that the content is “SOUP”, “NUTS”, “SAUCE”, “VEGIES”, “CORN”, “PEAS”, “PICTURES”, “DOCUMENTS”, etc. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the device has means for displaying at least the calendar date, such as an LCD screen. It should also have an easy loadable cassette compartment for pre-loading the label cartridge and it should be battery operated. 
         [0009]    Typically, the device is kept in a holder that is mountable to an appliance facia such as a refrigerator door or side using a magnet or a hook and loop fastener device such as that made by the VELCRO® Corporation. Alternatively, the holder can be screwed or otherwise fastened to a convenient location such as a wall or wall trim or cabinet surface. The holder is effectively a cradle with a generally open front to facilitate viewing the display screen and the desired print activation buttons. 
         [0010]    As with most of these electronic devices, the device includes micro-processing means that is pre-programmed to store the desired parameters to be printable when specific buttons are activated and to maintain a calendar date and if desired, time. It is understood that one skilled in the art as a programmer, given the parameters to be generated and the printable function included within the device can develop the necessary software to operate the device. 
         [0011]    The convenience of such a device is advantageous to the household. When a container of beef has to be frozen, simply pushing a button on the device designated for the beef label generates a label with at least the date on it and either text indicia chosen to represent beef or a symbol indicia chosen to represent beef. Optionally, time could also be programmed to print out on the label as well. The labeling is fast, convenient, simple (the pushing of one button) and allows for rapid identification of the content of the container being refrigerated or stored. If a salsa is being refrigerated or stored in the freezer, then the blank button can be activated to print a label with date/time indicia and the homeowner can optionally, using a pen, print the text “Salsa” on the label. 
         [0012]    In an alternative embodiment, the invention includes an extended downwardly directed back portion extending downward from the back side of the holder for the apparatus wherein a front side of the extended downwardly directed back portion is adapted to hold a note pad. This is a convenient tool for a homeowner to use to note grocery items that need to be picked up at the store. The note pad can be placed on the back portion in a number of ways known in the art such as by using a clip riveted to the back portion (clipboard type) or using hook and loop fasteners or using a magnet type of attachment, etc. 
         [0013]    The device will have means typical of such computerized electronic devices to set the current date and optionally, the current time. This can be done using the controller portion of the device using buttons independent of the buttons used for activating the printing of a label. The time and date setting feature can be incorporated on the front face, side face or back side of the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective conceptual view of one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a back side view of  FIG. 1  depicting one method of locating the holder on a surface of an appliance or other surface using one or more magnets; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a view of the labeling device of the present invention as depicted in  FIG. 1  with the print out of a typical example of a label; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  depicting additional data and symbols to be printed on an eventual label; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a depiction of another method of locating the invention to a surface using hook and loop fasteners; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective conceptual depiction of another embodiment of the invention further adding an extended portion for a note pad; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 8A-8J  are representative samplings or examples of the types of data or information that the present invention can be programmed to print out; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a conceptual schematic of the operating features and necessary components related to the operation of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, in particular  FIGS. 1-6  and  FIGS. 8A-8J  and  9 , the invention  10  is an apparatus  12  for recording a date on a container  14  for storing food or other items  16  to be stored. The apparatus or device comprises micro-processing means  18  for programming selected calendar date data  20   a  and desired indicia  20   b  and/or symbols  20   c  representative of a content  16  (food or item to be stored) inside a container  14  to be labeled using a label  22  printed from the apparatus  12 . Typical of any electronic device using a micro-processor  18  with the ability to print, the apparatus includes data storage means  24  for storing said calendar date data  20   a  and said desired indicia  20   b  and/or symbols  20   c  representative of said content  16  inside said container  12  to be labeled. The current data is displayed on a screen  26 , which is in communication with the micro-processor  18 . Typical displayed data includes a current date  20   a  or a combination of the current date  20   a  and a current time indicia  20   b.  In a preferred embodiment, the screen display is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
         [0025]    The apparatus further has controller means  28  for activating the printing of a selected label  22  with predetermined indicia  20  to be printed on the selected label  22 , and printer means  30  for printing the selected label  22  with the predetermined indicia  20  to be printed on the selected label  22 . 
         [0026]    Typical of most electronic devices, the apparatus is powered by DC battery means  32 . It can be multiple batteries such as AA or AAA batteries or single batteries such as a 9-volt battery or a flat washer shape battery such as those used in computers and watches. One skilled in the art can size the battery based on the power requirements to display the data and to print the labels as well as the desired compactness of the apparatus. 
         [0027]    The invention  10  includes a holder  34  for holding the device  12  at a desired location. The holder  34  further comprising means  36  for attaching the holder  34  to the desired location. 
         [0028]    The controller means  28  for activating the printing of the selected label  22  with the predetermined indicia  20  to be printed on the selected label  22  comprises a plurality of predetermined activation switches  38  designated for predetermined contents  16  for which the selected label  22  is to be printed. As described above, these switches are typically push buttons  38  as shown conceptually on the drawings. 
         [0029]    The plurality of predetermined activation switches  38  designated for predetermined contents  16  for which the selected label  22  is to be printed comprises designated independent activation switches  38  (5 shown in the drawings by way of example). One is designated for a beef product, a poultry product, a pork product, and a fish product and a fifth one is designated as a generic option (left blank) for printing a date/time label for miscellaneous items such as soup, sauce, or other items to be stored whether in a freezer, refrigerator, or elsewhere. 
         [0030]    The apparatus  12  further comprises a compartment for pre-loading a cartridge  40   a  containing a pre-selected number of blank labels  22  for use with said apparatus  12 . As mentioned above, the cartridges  40   a  holding the labels  22  are readily available commercially in office supply retail stores. When an activation switch  38  is depressed, the appropriate label  22  is printed and is exited from the device  12  for taking and applying to the container  14 . 
         [0031]    The holder  34  can be attached to an appliance or wall or other location in a number of ways known in the art. One preferred way is to provide a laminate magnet  36   a  adhesively attached to a back side  44  of the holder  34  or a hook and loop fastener means  36   b,   36   c  wherein one side  36   b  is adhesively attachable to the back side  44  of the holder and a corresponding opposing side  36   c  is adhesively attachable to a desired location, such as an appliance panel  48 . Another alternative is to use spaced-apart holes or apertures  36   d  where a screw or wall anchor (not shown as such fasteners and anchor systems if needed are well known in the art) can be inserted through the hole  36   d  for mounting the holder  34 . 
         [0032]    In an alternative embodiment as depicted by way of example in  FIG. 7 , the invention is formed in a clipboard type of configuration, the holder  34  further comprises an extended downwardly directed back portion  44   a  wherein a front side  44   b  of said extended downwardly directed back portion  44   a  is adapted to hold a note pad  50 . Again, the note pad  50  itself can be attached in a number of ways such as using a clipboard type of clip, which is well known in the art or using magnets or hook and loop type of fasteners. 
         [0033]    It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.