Abstract:
A refrigerator includes at least one refrigerated compartment and a food product management system. The food product management system includes a container for storing foodstuffs in the at least one refrigerated compartment. The container includes a storage zone and a lid. A tag is arranged on the container to provide a consumer with an indication of whether a food item stored in the container is or is not spoiled. The tag can include a timer having a display, an indicator that changes state upon the passage of a predetermined time period and a computer that notifies a consumer, such as through an email, about a parameter associated with the food item in the container. The tag is affixed to the container with adhesive, snaps, clips, hooks and the like or, alternatively, simply integrally formed with the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a refrigerator incorporating a food product management system. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Relying on refrigeration to prevent food spoilage is widely known in the art. In order to further prevent, or at least slow, food spoilage, most consumers store food stuffs in air-tight containers or wrapped in plastic. Unfortunately, over time, the contents of the container or plastic wrap will still spoil. Food spoilage can be attributed, at least in many circumstances, to a consumer forgetting the date on which a particular container was placed in the refrigerator and therefore failing to consume the food prior to spoiling. 
         [0005]    In order to enable better tracking of stored foodstuffs, there are several devices available to consumers. These devices range from simple indicators or timers to more complex computerized systems. In one example, a dial indicator is provided on a container lid. The dial indicator enables a consumer to establish a date, e.g., month/day, that the foodstuff was placed into the container and refrigerated. Alternatively, the consumer can set a date that the foodstuff is expected to expire. In another example, a timer having an LCD display is attached to a container. The timer counts down lapsed days, hours and minutes. In yet another example, food items are provided with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that are scanned by an RFID reader. The RFID reader forwards information obtained from the RFID tags to a console provided on the refrigerator which stores relevant information, such as food type, the date of refrigeration and an anticipated date of expiration. 
         [0006]    Regardless of these prior proposed arrangements, there still exists a need for a food product management system that can easily and accurately track the shelf life of foodstuffs in a refrigerator. More specifically, there exists a need for a simple, low cost food monitoring and management system that requires little interaction from a consumer to set, monitor and read expiration information pertaining to particular food items stored in a refrigerator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a refrigerator including a food product management system. In accordance with the invention, the food product management system includes a container for storing foodstuffs in the refrigerator. Preferably, the container includes a central storage zone and a lid. A tag is provided on the container that provides a consumer with an indication of a storage duration or a time period until the food item reaches an expiration date. 
         [0008]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the tag includes a timer having a display that indicates the passage of days, hours and/or minutes, with the timer being activated only upon reaching a predetermined, below ambient temperature. That is, once the tag reaches a predetermined refrigerated temperature, the timer automatically activates. In this manner, a consumer can simply read the display to learn how long a particular container has been stored. Alternatively, a time period can be programmed into the tag, either by the consumer or through a pre-programming operation. When using programmed time periods, the timer automatically starts counting down upon reaching the predetermined refrigerated temperature. The timer can be reset either manually or automatically, such as upon reaching ambient temperature. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the tag includes an indicator that signals the passage of a predetermined time period. That is, upon the passage of the predetermined time period, the indicator changes from a first state indicating that the predetermined time period has not lapsed, to a second state indicating that expiration of the predetermined time period is approaching, and then to a third state indicating that the predetermined time period has lapsed. With this arrangement, a consumer can apply a tag having an indication corresponding to the time period closest to expiration of the food item. Once the time period has lapsed, the indication changes state to signal the consumer that the food item may no longer be of acceptable quality. Alternatively, the consumer can program the tag for various desired time periods. Finally, the tag can be either integrally formed with the container, attached to the container with adhesive or provided with a mechanical element, such as a snap, hook clip or the like, that selectively connects to one of the container and the container lid. 
         [0010]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, the food product management system includes a computer operatively connected to the internet. The computer or controller includes, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, an RFID detector that reads or scans RFID units located in the tag as the container is placed in the refrigerator. The RFID unit contains information pertaining to at least one parameter of the container or foodstuff stored therein. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the computer includes a universal bar code reader that scans a universal bar code attached to each container. In a manner similar to that described above, the universal bar code contains information pertaining to at least one parameter of the container or foodstuff stored therein. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the consumer can manually program information pertaining to the container and/or foodstuff into the computer. In any event, at select times, the computer generates an email notification to the consumer regarding the information pertaining to the at least one parameter of the container and/or foodstuff. For example, the computer can, through an email notification, alert the consumer that an expiration date of a particular foodstuff is approaching. 
         [0011]    Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an upper left perspective view of a refrigerator incorporating a food product management system including one or more tags that track, for example, an expiration date of a food item in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an upper left perspective view of a container including a tag constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partial, upper left perspective view of a container incorporating a tag constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an upper left perspective view of a container incorporating a tag constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  2  constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a cabinet  4  having a top wall  6 , a bottom wall  7  and opposing side walls  8  and  9 . In a manner known in the art, refrigerator  2  includes a freezer compartment  12  and a fresh food compartment  14 , with each of freezer compartment  12  and fresh food compartment  14  having an associated freezer compartment door  16  and fresh food compartment door  18  respectively. As shown, refrigerator  2  includes a plurality of shelves  27 - 31  arranged within fresh food compartment  14  for supporting a variety of containers, one of which is indicated at  34 , that store various food items. Refrigerator  2  also includes a plurality of storage bins/shelves  38 - 43  supported on an inner liner (not separately labeled) of fresh food compartment door  18 . Of course, it should be understood that freezer compartment  12  and freezer compartment door  16  can include a corresponding plurality of shelves and/or storage bins (not shown). In any event, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , container  34  includes a main body portion  60  having an exterior wall  61  that defines an interior cavity  63  which is adapted to receive foodstuff(s) and selectively sealed by a lid  66  to maintain freshness of the foodstuff(s) stored therein. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , refrigerator  2  includes a food product management system  78  including a notification device or a tag  80  mounted to container  34 . Tag  80  is provided with a main body  82  that is preferably fixed to exterior wall  61  of container  34 . Of course, it should be readily understood that tag  80  could also be mounted to lid  66  or any other surface of container  34 . In any event, tag  80  includes a display  84  and a plurality of control elements  86 - 88  which enable consumers to program a built-in controller or CPU  94  with a particular time duration. More specifically, control elements  86 - 88  enable a consumer to program CPU  94  to control a timer  95 . Timer  95  can be programmed to count days, hours and/or minutes which correlate to an expected expiration date for the food item stored within container  34 . Preferably, tag  80  further includes a temperature sensor  97  operatively associated with CPU  94  which controls the activation and deactivation of timer  95 . More specifically, timer  95  remains inactive until container  34  reaches a predetermined, refrigerated temperature that is preset within CPU  94 . Once the predetermined temperature has been reached, timer  95  begins to either countdown or count up to the programmed time period. In this manner, a consumer can, at a quick glance, determine how long before a particular food item will expire so as to ensure use of the food item in a timely manner. After container  34  has been removed from fresh food compartment  14 , tag  80  gradually returns to ambient temperature. In further accordance with the invention, once sensor  97  determines that tag  80  has reached a temperature above the predetermined temperature, e.g., an ambient temperature in the order of 65° F. (18° C.), CPU  94  automatically resets timer  95 , thereby allowing the consumer to re-program tag  80  or set aside for future use. 
         [0018]    Reference will now be made to  FIG. 3 , wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts, in describing a food product management system  104  constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, food product management system  104  includes a tag  106  having a main body  108  that is secured to exterior wall  61  of container  34 . Tag  106  includes a plurality of indicators  110 - 112 , preferably lights such as LEDs, and a corresponding plurality of control elements  115 - 117 . In accordance with one aspect of the invention, tag  106  includes a display  118  that can be used by a consumer to program a CPU  120  through the plurality of control elements  115 - 117 . That is, a consumer can program tag  106  with a predetermined time period associated with, for example, an expiration date of a food item stored within container  34 . In a manner similar to that described above, CPU  120  includes a timer  121  and a temperature sensor  122 , with timer  121  being activated upon temperature sensor  122  reaching a predetermined, refrigerated temperature. At an initial portion of the programmed time period, indicator  110  is active or illuminated. Preferably, indicator  110  is green in color. The color green represents that the contents of container  34  are fresh and the expiration date of the food item far off. As the expiration date approaches, indicator  110  is extinguished and indicator  111  is activated. Preferably indicator  111  is yellow in color. The color yellow would represent that the food item is still relatively fresh, but the expiration date is nearing. For example, indicator  111  is activated three days prior to the expiration date. Once the programmed time period has lapsed, e.g., the expiration date has been reached, indicator  111  is extinguished and indicator  112  is activated. Preferably, indicator  112  is red in color, with the color red representing that the foodstuff within container  34  is no longer fresh and should, most probably, be discarded. 
         [0019]    Reference will now be made to  FIG. 4 , wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts, in describing a food product management system  134  constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, food product management system  134  includes a tag  136  having a main body  138  upon which is provided a display  140 , as well as a plurality of control elements  142 - 144 . In addition, tag  136  includes an RFID device  146  positioned within main body  138 . RFID device  146  is programmed with at least one foodstuff parameter, preferably an expiration date associated with a particular food item. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the at least one food stuff parameter is programmed into RFID device  146  through the plurality of control elements  142 - 144  and reviewed on display  140 . Tag  136  is also shown to include a bar code  148  which, in a manner that will be described more fully below, also includes information regarding the foodstuff parameter. In any event, in a manner that will be described more fully below, as container  34  is placed within refrigerator  2 , RFID detector  154  (also see  FIG. 1 ) reads the at least one foodstuff parameter from RFID device  146 . In an alternative configuration, instead of RFID devices, food product management system  134  includes a bar code scanner  158  that is employed to scan bar code  148 . 
         [0020]    The foodstuff parameter contained within RFID detector  154  or bar code  158  is passed to a controller  160  that is operatively connected to a computer  163  mounted to freezer compartment door  16 . Computer  163  includes a display  167  which may include touch screen elements (not separately labeled) or, alternatively, is provided with a keypad  170 . The foodstuff parameter is stored within a memory  175  that is operatively associated with controller  160 . In accordance with this embodiment, computer  163  is operatively connected to the internet such that, once an expiration date of a food item approaches, controller  160  forwards an email, via the internet, to the consumer indicating that a food item is about to expire. Alternatively, controller  160  can forward the information via an intranet or home network  183 . In addition, controller  160  can present on display  163  information regarding the approaching expiration date of one or more food items residing within fresh food compartment  14 . 
         [0021]    At this point, it should be understood that the food product management system constructed in accordance with the present invention enables a consumer to readily ascertain when a particular food item stored within a container is approaching an expiration date. In this manner, the consumer can schedule to consume the particular food item prior to the expiration or readily ascertain that the expiration date has passed and simply discard the food item. Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, while each tag is described as being programmed with a particular time period, it should be readily understood that tags can come preprogrammed and readily affixed to containers based on an expiration date of the food item stored within the container. In addition, while described in terms of containers placed within a fresh food compartment, the containers can also be placed and monitored within the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. Furthermore, it should be readily understood that each tag can be integrated into the main body or lid of a respective container, or attached thereto through the use of any known arrangement, such as an adhesive or various mechanical fasteners including snaps, clips, and the like. It should be realized that the embodiments of the invention as described above can be used in combination, e.g., the RFID arrangement can be used with the indicator lights. Finally, although the use of a plurality of indicator lights has been disclosed to provide the preferred, sequential green, yellow, red color change, a single indicator, such as a multi-color LED, could be employed. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.