Education and demonstration – Food
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-29
2002-08-13
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Food
C446S001000, C434S430000, C434S238000, C434S370000, C434S407000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06431873
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
On Apr. 28, 1992 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a food guide pyramid, for public use as a dietary aid to better control and monitor individual food consumption. The food guide pyramid disclosed three essential elements of a healthy diet: proportion, moderation, and variety. Diabetics are often taught to monitor the use of selected food groups to aid in regulating their dietary needs, and to better control their intake of fats, sodium and sugars. Likewise, a number of diet programs also use food group monitoring to aid in maintaining a healthy diet, and as a guide to controlled weight loss.
Typically, the base of the food pyramid is designated as the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group, hereinafter designated as the “A” food group, which is generally limited to six to eleven servings per day.
A vegetable group, hereinafter designated as the “B” food group, is generally positioned above the “A” food group on the food pyramid, and is often limited to three to five servings per day.
A fruit group, hereinafter designated as the “C” food group, is positioned adjacent to the “B” food group above the “A” food group. The “C” food group is typically limited to two to four servings per day.
A milk, yogurt & cheese group, hereinafter designated as the “D” food group, is typically located above the “B” food group, and is generally limited to two to three servings per day.
A meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nut group, hereinafter designated as the “E” food group, is usually positioned above the “C” food group, adjacent to the “D” food group. The “E” food group is generally limited to two to three servings per day.
The tip of the pyramid is usually occupied by the fats, oils and sweets group, hereinafter designated as the “F” food group, which is to be used sparingly.
From time to time, the specified foods in a given food group may vary, according to changing dietary standards. For example, carbohydrate counters may group foods differently, by grouping various foods according to their carbohydrate content. Thus, the pyramid may be adapted to monitor food groups by carbohydrate content. Likewise, the food pyramid may also be adapted for use with a variety of special diet plans. Such modifications and adaptations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure and the accompanying claims.
User's of the food pyramid often find it difficult to reconstruct their food use patterns from meal to meal, and from day to day, for comparison over time. This is especially true of busy users who often dine at restaurants and fast food establishments, where they have only limited control of the quantity and selection of various food groups which accompany a selected main course.
It is at times recommended that users of the food pyramid write down their food selections in order to better monitor and control their food consumption patterns. This works best in a controlled environment, such as a home or hospital, where the user is in control of food selection and portion sizes, and works best where the meals are pre-planned in accordance with existing dietary standards.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,165 issuing to Jayne Knox on Jan. 17, 1995 discloses a pocket calorie counter using multiple, movable beads.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,260 issuing to Vance Sharp et. al on Oct. 15, 1974 discloses a diet management device with pins moved to tally the total calories in a 24 hour time period.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,813 issuing to J. H. Hart on Jul. 20, 1965 discloses a calorie counter using pins having at least three prong members, to lock the pins in any of a plurality of holes. The calorie counter adds calories to determine a total calorie count.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,498 issuing to Catherine Tilney on May 9, 1989 discloses a kit of color coded cards having self adhesive labels to match foods of the major food groups in a food exchange list.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,316 issuing to Patricia Thomann on Jan. 12, 1982 discloses a diet control apparatus which uses cards representing the food groups consumed during a 24 hour period.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,603 issuing to Jason Basil on May 23, 1989 discloses a diet control display board for diabetics with movable members representing respective food groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,555 issuing to Florence Adams on Aug. 19, 1986 discloses a diet control booklet having disposable tabs.
U.S. Pat. No. 788,713 issuing to C. Ellis on May 2, 1905 discloses a point counter for holding cards, which includes a hinged portion, and a plurality of perforations, used to keep score.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,011,722 issuing to H. Luhn on Aug. 20, 1935 discloses a recipe guide for mixed beverages, with cards held against a light source to read the combination of ingredients for a selected mixed drink.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,952,461 issuing to A. Boulanger on Sep. 13, 1960 is representative of prior art disclosing a travel game utilizing a plurality of pins on cords.
None of the known cited prior art discloses, nor makes obvious, the advantages of a portable, pocket sized, substantially triangular food group monitoring apparatus, utilizing first and second triangle members which are hinged or otherwise pivotally secured along their base portion, with a plurality of apertures positioned in alignment through the first and second triangle members, and with a punch having a shaft sized to be closely received in any selected one of the apertures.
The punch shaft is sized to penetrate and punch a hole in a triangular sheet placed between the first and second triangle portions of the food triangle, in order to record the quantity and selection of food groups consumed by the user over a specified period of time. Nor does the known prior art provide a convenient means to provide a lasting record of the quantity and selection of food groups consumed on a daily basis over time.
Therefore, what is needed is an easy and reliable way to identify and monitor the quantity and variety of a user's food consumption during the course of a day, particularly with reference to a balanced diet selected from a variety of food groups identified by the food pyramid, as recommended by the USDA, as well as by many dietitians and physicians.
Preferably the apparatus used to monitor food consumption should be inexpensive, portable, easy to use, and provide the user with a permanent record of each day's food group use over an extended period of time. The results may further be used as a periodic review by a user's physician or dietitian to monitor the user's food consumption over time. This is particularly important where food allergies may adversely affect a user's health and well being.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The food group monitoring apparatus disclosed herein, comprises a first triangular member and a second triangular member which are hingedly secured along their base portions, and sized to receive a food pyramid sheet there-between. The first and second triangular members have a plurality of apertures which are aligned through both the first and second triangular members. The apertures are positioned in relation to each of the food groups preprinted on a food triangle sheet, and the quantity of apertures in relation to the food groups is preferably representative of the maximum recommended consumption of each food group during a specified period of time, such as one day.
One or more additional apertures may be provided to record the taking of medication and/or vitamins. A punch is provided for manual insertion into any selected aperture, and the punch is used to punch a hole through the food triangle sheet located between the first and second triangular members, for each portion of a selected food group consumed in a day. The food triangle sheets may be initially supplied in the form of a pad or book for periodic removal therefrom. The food triangle sheets are preferably preprinted, precut and releasably secured into a pad or book for easy access. The punched food triangle sheets are preferably stored in a book, binder or envelope after use, providing a lasting record
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Flagg Rodger H.
Suhol Dmitry
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