Methods and systems for monitoring a shelf life of a product stored within a container

Abstract

A system for monitoring a remaining shelf life of a product stored within a container is provided. The system includes a container having a bottom and at least one side extending from the bottom, a timer device coupled to the container, and a display coupled to the timer device. The timer device includes an integrated circuit programmed as a timer, and an output device electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. The display is in communication with the output device for displaying the remaining shelf life of the product stored within the container.

1 . A system for monitoring a remaining shelf life of a product stored within a container, the system comprising: 
 a container comprising a bottom, and at least one side extending from the bottom;    a timer device coupled to the container, the timer device comprising an integrated circuit programmed as a timer, and an output device electrically coupled to the integrated circuit; and    a display coupled to the timer device and in communication with the output device for displaying the remaining shelf life of the product stored within the container.    
   
   
       2 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said container further comprises a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides extending from the top and the bottom, wherein the container is manufactured from at least one of paperboard, corrugated paper, and plastic.  
   
   
       3 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the timer device is further programmed with a shelf life of the product stored within the container.  
   
   
       4 . A system in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the output device further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, the timer device is further programmed with a plurality of time intervals comprising the shelf life of the product, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is associated with one of the plurality of the time intervals.  
   
   
       5 . A system in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the timer device is configured to: 
 record as a start time the time when the product is stored within the container;    record the time the product is stored within the container from the start time through the shelf life of the product; and    illuminate each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during each of the associated time intervals, wherein the first light emitting diode is illuminated during the first time interval and each subsequent light emitting diode is illuminated during each subsequent time interval.    
   
   
       6 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the display comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures configured to receive the output device.  
   
   
       7 . A system in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the output device further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes and each of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive one of the light emitting diodes.  
   
   
       8 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the timer device is further programmed with a shelf life of the product stored within the container and a plurality of time intervals comprising the shelf life of the product, the output device further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is associated with one of the plurality of the time intervals, and the display comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of apertures wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive one of the light emitting diodes, the timer device configured to: 
 record as a start time the time when the product is stored within the container;    record the time the product is stored within the container from the start time through the shelf life of the product; and    illuminate each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during each of the associated time intervals, wherein the first light emitting diode is illuminated during the first time interval and each subsequent light emitting diode is illuminated during each subsequent time interval.    
   
   
       9 . A system in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the display substrate comprises indicia associated with each aperture, wherein the indicia for each aperture indicates the time interval associated with the light emitting diode positioned within the corresponding aperture including a period of time remaining on the shelf life of the product.  
   
   
       10 . A system in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the display substrate comprises a plurality of lamps wherein each lamp is positioned within each aperture for receiving one of the light emitting diodes, wherein each lamp is a different color and each color indicating the time interval associated with the light emitting diode positioned within the corresponding lamp including a period of time remaining on the shelf life of the product.  
   
   
       11 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the display comprises a substrate comprising a front side and a rear side, the front side comprising indicia indicating a plurality of time periods remaining on the shelf life of the product, the rear side comprising a depressed section and an adhesive section, the timer device positioned at least partially within the depressed section, the display substrate and the timer device coupled to the container by attaching the adhesive section of the display substrate to the container.  
   
   
       12 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the timer device includes at least one of a reset switch for resetting the timer, and a tamper-proof switch for preventing resetting the timer.  
   
   
       13 . A method for monitoring a remaining shelf life of a product stored within a container, the container having a bottom and at least one side extending from the bottom, the method comprising: 
 providing a timer device including an integrated circuit programmed as a timer, and an output device electrically coupled to the integrated circuit;    attaching the timer device to the container; and    coupling a display to the timer device in communication with the output device for displaying the remaining shelf life of the product stored within the container.    
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein providing a timer device further comprises providing a timer device programmed with a shelf life of the product stored within the container.  
   
   
       15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein providing a timer device further comprises: 
 providing a timer device including an output device having a plurality of light emitting diodes; and    programming the timer device with a plurality of time intervals comprising the shelf life of the product, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is associated with one of the plurality of the time intervals.    
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising: 
 recording a start time using the timer device when the product is stored within the container;    recording the time the product is stored within the container from the start time through the shelf life of the product; and    illuminating each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during each of the associated time intervals, wherein the first light emitting diode is illuminated during the first time interval and each subsequent light emitting diode is illuminated during each subsequent time interval.    
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein providing a timer device further comprises: 
 programming the timer device with a shelf life of the product stored within the container and a plurality of time intervals comprising the shelf life of the product;    providing an output device including a plurality of light emitting diodes wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is associated with one of the plurality of the time intervals;    providing a display including a substrate having a plurality of apertures wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive one of the light emitting diodes;    recording a start time using the timer device when the product is stored within the container;    recording the time the product is stored within the container from the start time through the shelf life of the product; and    illuminating each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during each of the associated time intervals, wherein the first light emitting diode is illuminated during the first time interval and each subsequent light emitting diode is illuminated during each subsequent time interval.    
   
   
       18 . A container assembly for monitoring a remaining shelf life of a product stored within the container, the container having a bottom and at least one side extending from the bottom, the assembly comprising: 
 a timer device coupled to the container, the timer device comprising an integrated circuit programmed as a timer and including a shelf life of the product stored within the container, and a plurality of light emitting diodes electrically coupled to the integrated circuit; and    a display substrate coupled to the timer device, the display substrate including a plurality of apertures wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive one of the light emitting diodes for displaying the remaining shelf life of the product stored within the container.    
   
   
       19 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the timer device is further programmed with a plurality of time intervals comprising the shelf life of the product, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is associated with one of the plurality of the time intervals.  
   
   
       20 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the timer device is configured to: 
 record as a start time the time when the product is stored within the container;    record the time the product is stored within the container from the start time through the shelf life of the product; and    illuminate each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during each of the associated time intervals, wherein the first light emitting diode is illuminated during the first time interval and each subsequent light emitting diode is illuminated during each subsequent time interval.    
   
   
       21 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the display substrate further comprises indicia associated with each aperture, wherein the indicia for each aperture indicates the time interval associated with the light emitting diode positioned within the corresponding aperture including a period of time remaining on the shelf life of the product.  
   
   
       22 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the display substrate further comprises a plurality of lamps wherein each lamp is positioned within each aperture for receiving one of the light emitting diodes, wherein each lamp is a different color and each color indicating the time interval associated with the light emitting diode positioned within the corresponding lamp including a period of time remaining on the shelf life of the product.  
   
   
       23 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the display substrate comprises a front side and a rear side, the front side comprising indicia indicating a plurality of time periods remaining on the shelf life of the product, the rear side comprising a depressed section and an adhesive section, the timer device positioned at least partially within the depressed section, the display substrate and the timer device coupled to the container by attaching the adhesive section of the display substrate to the container.  
   
   
       24 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the timer device includes at least one of a reset switch for resetting the timer, and a tamper-proof switch for preventing resetting the timer.