Food Container with Attachable Timer for Storage Time Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food storage containers lack a reliable means to track storage time, leading to potential consumption of spoiled food and increased food waste, as consumers often cannot determine if stored food is safe to eat.
Innovation Solution
A food storage container system with a built-in timer and display that tracks the storage duration, optionally connectable to smartphones for alerts and providing recipe suggestions, and featuring sensors for spoilage detection, ensuring freshness and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional containers are used for food storage, then the container structure is simple and cost-effective, but the food storage time tracking is unreliable and food safety cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the container body, lid, and timer assembly into an integrated food storage system. The timer assembly is selectively attachable to the container lid, merging time-tracking functionality with the storage container to ensure food safety without requiring a completely new complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer assembly serves multiple functions: it tracks storage time, provides visual alerts when food is approaching expiration, and can be attached to or removed from the container lid. This multi-functionality addresses food safety concerns while maintaining container versatility.
2Reliability
If a timer assembly is integrated into the container lid, then food storage time tracking is reliable, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The timer assembly is designed as a separate, selectively attachable component rather than being permanently integrated into the container lid. This segmentation allows the time-tracking function to be added only when needed, reducing the base container complexity while maintaining reliable time tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer assembly can be selectively attached to and removed from the container lid, providing dynamic functionality. The container can operate in a simple state without the timer or a complex state with the timer attached, allowing users to adapt the system complexity to their needs.
3Reliability
If the timer assembly is permanently integrated into the lid, then time tracking is continuous, but the ease of cleaning and maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The timer assembly is designed as a separate component that can be detached from the container lid. This segmentation enables the timer to be removed for cleaning or replacement without disassembling the entire container, significantly improving ease of maintenance while maintaining continuous time tracking capability when attached.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer assembly can be extracted from the container lid for cleaning or replacement. This extraction capability allows the electronic components to be maintained separately from the food-contact surfaces, improving hygiene and ease of repair while preserving time tracking functionality.
4Reliability
If visual alerts are added to indicate food expiration, then food safety is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly uses color changes (such as green to red indicators) to communicate food freshness status and expiration alerts. This visual feedback mechanism enhances food safety by providing intuitive, easy-to-understand alerts without requiring complex display systems or multiple components.
Data Source
AI summary
A food storage container system which includes one or more food storage container assemblies. Each food storage container assembly has a container body and a lid designed and configured to work in functional combination to promote food storage means and with the lid containing timing means for tracking time elapsing during use (when storing food). The food storage container assemblies may be made of glass, plastic or other suitably equivalent material that is food- and dishwasher-safe. The lid of the container will be slidable into the base with an indented handle for sliding in and out of the body. The invention will contain an attachable timer that will slid into frond of container and be locked with a snapable button. The timer may comprise a display screen that shows a digital or non-digital display of time.