Patent ID: 7360369

Claim:
A refrigeration temperature time monitoring device comprising: a thermometer for measuring an ambient temperature within a refrigerator providing an output when said thermometer detects at least a predetermined temperature; and a timer operatively coupled to said thermometer for counting elapsed time in response to the output of said signal from said thermometer; and a switch operatively coupled between said thermometer and said timer, a power source providing a power input to said switch, said switch switching from a first state to at least a second state when said thermometer measures a temperature above said predetermined temperature and exhibiting said first state when said temperature is below said predetermined temperature, said switch outputting a power signal to said timer when said switch is in said second state, said timer counting an elapsed time in response to said power signal, said thermometer including a face having an analog indicator rotatably mounted on the face moving about said face to indicate measured temperature, said analog indicator electrically coupled to the power source for receiving the power signal and, the switch being disposed on the face at a position corresponding to a position at which said analog indicator indicates measurement of said predetermined temperature; said timer being coupled to said switch and said power source so that said analog indicator moving to a position corresponding to said predetermined temperature closes a circuit to power said timer by providing the power input to said timer.