Storage containers, systems and methods

Abstract

A system embodiment includes a container base having an identifier of one container type encoded according to one scheme and a container lid including the identifier of the container type encoded according to the scheme. A method implementation of assembling containers includes selecting a container base from a plurality of container bases and establishing a type of the container base by recognizing an identifier encoded on the base according to a scheme. Then, selecting from a plurality of container lids, a container lid having an encoded identifier matching the identifier on the container base and engaging the selected container lid with the selected container base. An app implementation accepts a choice of container category, receives input of an identifier for the container, accepts input of contents and location of the container, generates a current date or receives an input date, associates and stores the category, identifier, contents, date and location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for assembling containers, comprising:
 a first container base including an identifier for a first container type, the identifier being encoded on the first container base according to a first scheme; and   a first container lid including another identifier for the first container type, the identifier being encoded on the first container base according to the first scheme.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first scheme of container type encoding includes one or more characters recognizable by touch. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first container base includes a type identifier provided according to a second scheme and the first container lid includes a type identifier provided according to the second scheme. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the second scheme includes a first color. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in any of  claim 3 , wherein the first container base includes a type identifier encoded according to a third scheme and the first container lid includes a type identifier encoded according to the third scheme. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the third scheme includes one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of additional container bases including type identifiers different from the first type identifier and encoded according to first, second and third schemes; and a plurality of additional container lids including type identifiers different from the first type identifier and encoded according to the first, second and third schemes. 
     
     
         8 . A method of assembling containers, comprising:
 selecting, from among a plurality of container bases, a first container base;   establishing a type of the first container base by recognizing an identifier encoded on the base according to a first scheme;   selecting, from among a plurality of container lids, a first container lid having an encoded identifier matching the identifier on the container base; and   engaging the first container lid with the first container base.   
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein recognizing the identifier includes recognizing an alphanumeric character encoded on the container base. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein selecting the first container lid includes selecting a first lid having the alphanumeric character of the container base. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein recognizing the identifier includes recognizing one or more alphanumeric characters by touch. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein selecting the first container lid includes selecting a first lid having the one or more colors. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein recognizing the identifier includes recognizing one or more shapes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein engaging the first lid with the first container includes snapping a resilient first lid lip to a resilient first base lip. 
     
     
         15 . A user device computer implemented method comprising;
 accepting a user choice of a category of container;   receiving user input of an identifier for the container;   accepting user input of contents of the container;   generating a current date or receiving a date input by the user;   accepting user input of a location of the container;   associating the category, identifier, input contents, generated or input date, and location; and   storing the category, identifier, input contents, generated or input date, and location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 allowing the user to input the same identifier for at least one other container;   accepting user input of contents of the at least one other container;   generating a current date or receiving a date input by the user;   accepting user input of a location of the container;   associating the category, identifier, input contents, generated or input date, and location for the at least one other container ; and   storing the input contents of the at least one other container, generated or input date, and location associated with the at least one other container with the category, identifier, input contents, generated or input date, and location of the container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing the user a search bar;   receiving at least part of at least one keyword input by the user in the search bar;   searching stored input contents, categories, identifiers, dates, and/or locations for the at least part of one keyword; and   displaying results of the searching for the user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the storing comprise storing the category, identifier, input contents, generated or input date, and location to at least one of the user device, a general purpose processor based device associated with the user device, a remote storage site, and a computing cloud. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising offering the user a selection to capture a photograph of the contents using the user's device and/or to select a stock photograph of contents of the type input by the user, and storing the photograph with the category, identifier, input contents, generated or input date, and location. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising offering the user an interface to set at least one alert to remind the user of contents of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising offering the user an option in the interface to send at least one alert to a third party. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the third party is selected from a contact list in the user device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising offering the user an option to randomly generate a recipe for food in the container from a list of recipes. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the option is selected by the user shaking the user device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing the user an interface to post recipes to a social website, other website, a blog, or a forum.