WO2012156729A1

WO2012156729A1 - Device for monitoring food product usage dates

Info

Publication number: WO2012156729A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/051087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Patikis
Original assignee: Onvention Limited
Priority date: 2011-05-16
Filing date: 2012-05-16
Publication date: 2012-11-22
Also published as: GB201108143D0

Abstract

A device for monitoring food product usage dates includes a date indicator comprising a date scale (102); and a date marker (108) for aligning with an increment of the scale and at least one food marker (110) to display the food usage dates of at least one food product. In use, the date marker (108) is moveable relative to the date scale (102) and the at least one food marker (110).

Description

DEVICE FOR MONITORING FOOD PRODUCT USAGE DATES

The present invention relates to a device for monitoring food product usage dates.

Some regions of the world currently waste food on a large scale. Around 3.6 millions of tons of food is presently thrown away unused every year in the UK alone. Much of this wastage is from domestic or other kitchen environments and is often the due to food not being used within its specified use-by/expiry date. This wastage has financial implications for individuals and companies and also adds to waste disposal loads. Food that is eaten after is expiry date can also cause health problems for individuals, thereby adding to the burden on health services.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to address at least some of the abovementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for monitoring food product usage dates, the device including:

a date indicator comprising a date scale; and a date marker for aligning with an increment of the scale; and

at least one food marker to display the food usage dates of at least one food product,

wherein, in use, the date marker is moveable relative to the date scale and the at least one food marker.

The device may further comprise a component for releasably attaching the device, in use, to a surface. For example, the component may be provided with a suction cup or magnetic attachment device for attaching to the interior or exterior of a fridge.

The number of increments on the scale will differ according to the time period over which the device is to be operated. For example, each increment of the scale may relate to a day of the month or a day of the week.

The device may comprise a plurality of food markers and the food markers may be colour coded in order to relate to different foods or food groups. For example, the device may include a red food marker which relates to the food usage date for red meats; a blue food marker which relates to the food usage date for dairy products; a green food marker which relates to the food usage date for vegetables etc.

The at least one food marker may be moveably attached to the device or may be detachable. The food marker(s) may for example be magnetic. In use, the food marker(s) may be positioned on the device so as to be indicative of the food usage date of a food product. Once positioned by a user the food markers are fixed relative to the date scale such that the date marker may move relative to both the date scale and the at least one food marker.

The food marker(s) may be used to indicate the food usage date or the food markers may be used to indicate a predefined period prior to the food usage date as desired by the user. In one aspect, the food markers may be sufficient in width to overlap a plurality of increments corresponding to a range of dates on the date indicator to indicate a period of time between a predefined date prior to the food usage date and the food usage date. The period of time may vary as desired by the user. The user may be able to select the appropriate marker having the required width in order to indicate the desired period of time for the food product. Alternatively, the width of the food markers may be able to be varied in use, so as to have the required width in order to indicate the desired period of time for the food product as desired by the user.

The date indicator may be mechanised. For example the date indicator may be motorised or powered by a spring mechanism (i.e. the date indicator may be powered by a "wind-up" mechanism). The date marker may be mechanised so as to automatically move along the date scale, for example the date marker may move forward by one increment every 24 hours. Furthermore, the date indicator may be connected to a timer. The device can therefore visually display that the food usage dates of the food items are getting closer to the day's date.

The device may further include a clock. The clock may be positioned in the centre of the device.

The device may be powered by a battery and/or solar panel. The battery may be used as a back-up power source.

The device may also be used to display stock levels of food groups. The date indicator may be divided into a plurality of sections, each section relating to a particular food group, and wherein each section comprises a date scale and a date marker. The date markers for each section may be connected such that they are jointly moveable relative to the date scales (for example by a single mechanism). The user may be able to see from the device that certain items are running low or that certain items do not need to be bought.

The device may further comprise an audio and/or visual alert when the date marker and a food marker are aligned. The food markers may be adapted to display additional information such as for example information describing a storage location e.g. refrigeration or freezer, of the food products. The food markers may be further configured to display information related to calorific value of the food products.

The date scale may be a circular scale and the date marker may be rotatable relative to the date scale and the at least one food marker. The date marker may be a dial. Alternatively, the date marker may be provided by a line or other marking on a transparent cover which can be aligned with an increment of the scale. Alternatively, the date marker may be provided by a slot or opening in a cover which overlays the scale.

The date scale may be provided at a periphery of the device and the date marker may comprise a rotatable bezel. For example, the date indicator comprises a translucent bezel overlaying the scale and the date marker may comprise a slot in the bezel for aligning with an increment of the scale.

The food marker(s) may be rotatable about the axis of rotation of the date marker. For example the device may include a plurality of food markers or "hands". The food markers may be provided as a series of concentric, smaller diameter food markers. The food markers may be rotatable about the axis of rotation of the bezel so that in use, the user can rotate each food marker to the required food usage date of the food product. Alternatively, the food markers may be magnetic concentric food markers enabling the user to layer up the device in a custom way. The food markers may be magnetic food label markers, pre-printed indicating common foods.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit comprising a device as substantially described herein and a plurality of food markers.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1A and 1 B are illustrations of one embodiment of the device of the present invention, and

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the device. Figures 1A and 1 B show an example device 100. The device 100 comprises a circular scale 102 at its periphery. The scale comprises thirty one increments 104 corresponding to each day of the month. The device 100 further comprises a date indicator in the form of a cover which overlays the scale 102 and forms a bezel 106. The bezel may be translucent as shown in Figure 1 . The bezel is provided with a date marker in the form of a slot 108 for indicating the day's date; however, it will be appreciated that alternatives are possible, e.g. an arrow or other pointer. The device 100 may be formed of any suitable material(s), e.g. cardboard and/or flexible plastic.

The device 100 further comprises a plurality of food markers 1 10A - 1 10F. Each marker 1 1 OA - 1 1 OF comprises a dial 1 12 extending from a circular base portion 1 14. Each marker can have a base portion of a different diameter. The markers are stacked on each other on the device 100 such that the base portions 1 14 form a series of concentric circles having common axes.

The plurality of food markers 1 1 OA - 1 1 OF can be each colour coded so as to correspond to a different food group, for example the red food marker corresponds to red meat; the blue food marker corresponds to dairy; and the green marker corresponds to vegetables, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the markers may be labelled with text or graphics representing a food group.

The device 100 further comprises an attachment component (not shown) for attaching the device to a fridge-freezer (not shown). It will be appreciated that the attachment portion can include one or more magnets attached to a back surface of the device. Other attaching arrangements could be used, e.g. clip(s), sucker pad(s) or screw(s). Further, a bracket for fixing the device to a wall or the like may be provided. Optionally, the device 100 may be provided with a storage component (not shown) for spare food markers.

It will be appreciated that the device shown in the drawings is exemplary only and many variations in its design, dimensions, etc are possible. It will also be appreciated that the components shown are of an illustrative nature only and some could be omitted or replaced by alternatives, repositioned on the device, etc.

In use, the user rotates the bezel 106 so that the current day's date on the scale 102 is aligned with the slot 108, which is the 10^th in the example of Figure 1A. The user then rotates each of the six food markers 1 10A - 1 10F so that the dial 1 12 of the marker 1 10 is aligned with the corresponding food usage date for each particular food item. It can be seen from the example of Figure 1A that the food usage date for the first food product is the 18^th; the second food product is the 21 ^st; the third food product is the 27^th; the fourth food product is the 21 ^st; the fifth food product is the 15^th and the sixth food product is the 18^th.

The user can place further information onto each of the food markers (such as for example storage location or calorific value) by, for example, placing further magnetic marker labels or stickers onto each of the food markers to display this additional information. Alternatively, the user may write the information onto each of the food markers as desired. The device 100 may be provided with an attachment device for retaining a writing implement (such as a washable pen for adding information to the food markers).

In some embodiments the bezel 106 can be motorised and is connected to a timer (not shown). The bezel 106 rotates, relative to the scale 102 and the food markers 1 10A-F, by one increment in each 24 hour period. As shown in Figure 1 B, after 24 hours the bezel 106 has rotated and the slot 108 is aligned with the scale 102 so as to indicate that the current date is the 1 1 ^th. By looking at the device, the user can clearly see from the food markers 1 1 OA - 1 1 OF that the food usage dates for the food products are getting closer to the current date as the bezel rotates.

In some embodiments, the device 100 can include a clock 1 16, which can be included at the centre of the device 100, for instance.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment 200 of the device. The device 200 comprises an incremented scale (not shown) divided into seven different sections (not shown) relating to seven different food groups. Each section (not shown) of the scale comprises a plurality of increments (not shown) corresponding to each day of the month. The device 200 further comprises a bezel 206 (in the form of a translucent cover) divided into seven different sections 206A-G relating to seven different food groups. Each section 206A-G of the cover 206 is provided with a date marker slot 208A-G for aligning with an increment of the bezel 206.

The device 200 further comprises a plurality of attachable food markers 210. In the example, the food markers are attachable by magnetic means, but it will understood that alternatives are possible, e.g. a Velcro™ type material or a reusable adhesive. Each food marker 210 is colour coded to a particular food group. Additionally or alternatively, each food marker 210 can be marked (by for example writing on it with a washable pen) so as to relate to a particular food.

The bezel 206 can be motorised and connected to a timer (not shown). In use, the user rotates the bezel 206 and aligns the slots 208A-G of each section 206A-G with the current day's date (or day of the week). The user then selects the appropriate colour coded food marker 210 and places the food marker 210 on the device in the appropriate section of the cover 206 corresponding to the relevant food type. The user aligns the food marker 210 with the food usage date for the food product. The user places further markers on the device for each food product.

The skilled person will appreciate that changes may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the embodiment of Figure 1 may be provided with food markers in the form of simple magnetic or adhesive markers of the type shown in Figure 2.

Use of the device described above can result in less wastage of food, leading to financial and environmental benefits.

Claims

- 10 - CLAIMS

1 . A device (100) for monitoring food product usage dates, the device including: a date indicator comprising a date scale (102) and a date marker (108) for aligning with an increment of the scale; and at least one food marker (1 10) to display a food product usage date of at least one food product, wherein, in use, the date marker is moveable relative to the date scale and the at least one food marker.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the device further comprises a component for releasably attaching the device, in use, to a surface.

3. A device as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, in which the device includes a plurality of food markers (1 10A - 1 10F).

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the plurality of food markers (1 1 OA - 1 1 OF) are colour coded to relate to different foods or food groups.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one food marker (1 10A - 1 10F) is magnetic.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the at least one food marker (1 1 OA - 1 1 OF) is a magnetic food marker, pre-printed indicating common food groups.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one marker (1 10A - 1 10F) is sufficient in width to overlap a plurality - 1 1 - of increments on the scale relating to a range of dates indicating a period of time between a predefined date prior to the food usage date and the food usage date.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the relative movement of the date marker (108) is mechanised.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the date indicator is connected to a timer.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the device further comprises a clock or time/date display (1 16).

1 1 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the device is powered by a battery and/or solar panel.

12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the date indicator is divided into a plurality of sections, each section relating to a particular food group, and wherein each section comprises a said date scale (102) and a said date marker (108).

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, in which each said date marker (108) is connected such that, in use, the date markers are jointly moveable relative to the date scales (102).

14. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the device may further comprise an audio and/or visual alert when the date marker and at least one food marker are aligned.

15. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food markers (1 10) are adapted to display additional information including - 12 - storage location and/or calorific value of the food products.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the date scale (102) is a circular scale and the date marker (108) is rotatable relative to the date scale and the at least one food marker.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, in which the date scale (102) is provided at a periphery of the device and the date marker (108) comprises a rotatable bezel.

18. A device as claimed in either of claim 16 or 17, in which the date indicator comprises a translucent bezel (106) overlaying the date scale (102) and the date marker is provided by a slot (108) in the bezel for aligning with a said increment of the scale.

19. A device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, in which the at least one food marker (1 10) is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the date marker.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, in which the food markers (1 10) comprise a plurality of concentric, food markers of differing diameters.

21 . A kit comprising a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a plurality of food markers.

22. A device for monitoring food product usage dates substantially as described herein and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.