US4313168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid register system
Assignee: Gull Inc
•
Filing: 1980-03-10
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Granted: 1982-01-26
•
Expires: 2000-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A method, system and data network for a fluid register system used for the delivery of fluid commodities to customers at various delivery sites features a portable data capsule containing pricing information; an electrical fluid delivery volume measurement device; and a vehicular mounted calculator for retrieving the pricing data from said data capsule and calculating a billing amount for each fluid delivery with respect to a fluid delivery volume measurement.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter R. Stephens
- 👤 Patricio Berstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:02
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; G; G01; G01F; G01F25/00; G01F25/10; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; G07F9/00; G07F9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of effecting deliveries of fluid commodities to a number of customers at various, respective delivery sites, comprising the steps of: (a) entering into a portable storage medium, customer pricing data and infomation relating to fluid commodities to be delivered to a number of select customers, said pricing data and information being unique for each customer, and which can be different for each customer; (b) placing said portable storage medium into two-way communication with a calculator means to provide for a two-way flow of information and data between said portable storage medium and said calculator means; (c) entering into said calculator select customer codes; (d) obtaining a volume amount measurement of at least one fluid commodity being delivered to each given customer at a delivery site; (e) retrieving from said portable storage medium select pricing data and information corresponding to each respective customer in accordance with said select customer codes; (f) calculating from said volume amount measurements and said corresponding pricing data and information a bill amount for each delivery to each of said corresponding customers; (g) printing each calculated bill amount upon a corresponding customer ticket; and (h) storing each bill amount in said portable storage medium for subsequent retrieval.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of effecting deliveries of fluid commodities to a number of customers at various, respective delivery sites, comprising the steps of: (a) entering into a portable storage medium, customer pricing data and infomation relating to fluid commodities to be delivered to a number of select customers, said pricing data and information being unique for each customer, and which can be different for each customer; (b) placing said portable storage medium into two-way communication with a calculator means to provide for a two-way flow of information and data between said portable storage medium and said calculator means; (c) entering into said calculator select customer codes; (d) obtaining a volume amount measurement of at least one fluid commodity being delivered to each given customer at a delivery site; (e) retrieving from said portable storage medium select pricing data and information corresponding to each respective customer in accordance with said select customer codes; (f) calculating from said volume amount measurements and said corresponding pricing data and information a bill amount for each delivery to each of said corresponding customers; (g) printing each calculated bill amount upon a corresponding customer ticket; and (h) storing each bill amount in said portable storage medium for subsequent retrieval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (i) displaying each calculated bill amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said portable storage medium comprises a non-volatile memory capsule and said calculator means comprises a capsule insertion slot, step (b) of the method further comprising the step of: (i) inserting said capsule into the calculator slot to provide communication between said storage means and said calculator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said calculator means is fixedly mounted upon a fluid commodity delivery vehicle, said method further comprising the steps of: (i) transporting said calculator means to various delivery sites; and (j) controlling the delivery of said fluid commodity via said calculator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (j) storing loading information in said portable storage medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (k) printing a compilation report for said loading and billing information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (j) removing said portable storage medium from communication with said calculator means; and (k) placing said removed portable storage medium in a reader device to obtain stored billing information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: (l) transferring billing information from said reader device to a central computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: (l) displaying a compilation of the billing of a number of deliveries.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-01-25 | 1985-07-27 | 1986-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-25 | 1989-07-27 | 1990-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-25 | 1993-07-27 | 1994-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |