Patent US5493491A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5493491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of ordering, shipping and merchandizing goods and shipping/display assembly therefor
Assignee: Gillette Co LLC
•
Filing: 1994-01-27
•
Granted: 1996-02-20
•
Expires: 2014-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Goods which come in different sizes, shapes, numbers, etc. are packed in assemblies which comprise a tray and a plurality of open-top box-like modules which sit snugly side-by-side in the tray. Each module is prepacked and contains only one size, shape etc. goods. At its destination the loaded assembly, usually along with other loaded assemblies, becomes the display package for the different size, shape, etc. goods. The method of the invention utilizes a lap-top computer working with a mainframe by which the order is placed and immediately gives pricing information. In the case of a custom or tailored order of different numbers of various sizes of goods, the computer is able to indicate whether the order will make up a complete shipment of packing assemblies, with the correct number of pre-filled modules to fill the trays with none left over.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Calcerano
- 👤 Joseph T. Ricci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/44; B65D5/52; B65D5/5206; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/137; B65G1/1373; G06Q10/083; G06Q10/0833; G06Q10/0834; G06Q10/08345; G06Q10/087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A merchandising system for goods having a variety of attributes including size, shape, price and weight, said system comprising: a) at least one assembly which is used as both a shipping container and as a display container for said goods, said assembly comprising: i) rectangular tray filled with a plurality of identical open-top box modules with each module having a plurality of identical compartments; ii) a plurality of packages in each compartment with each compartment filled with said packages with no space left over; and iii) each package containing at least one of said goods having certain of said attributes; b) an information and storage retrieval system comprising: i) a data base which contains information concerning said attributes and other relevant information, including whether the order contains a proper number of said packages, whether said trays will be filled with a prescribed number of said modules and whether each of said compartments in each of said modules is filled with a prescribed number of said packages with no packages left over; and ii) a plurality of information retrieval units, each comprising an information display means and means to communicate with the data base; and c) means for accessing said retrieval units to direct the formation and delivery of both standard and customized orders to ensure complete and proper assemblies and immediately be advised of said attribute information to ensure that the order contains the correct number of said assemblies with each said tray of each said assembly being filled with said modules and with each compartment in each module being filled with said packages and with no packages left over.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A merchandising system for goods having a variety of attributes including size, shape, price and weight, said system comprising: a) at least one assembly which is used as both a shipping container and as a display container for said goods, said assembly comprising: i) rectangular tray filled with a plurality of identical open-top box modules with each module having a plurality of identical compartments; ii) a plurality of packages in each compartment with each compartment filled with said packages with no space left over; and iii) each package containing at least one of said goods having certain of said attributes; b) an information and storage retrieval system comprising: i) a data base which contains information concerning said attributes and other relevant information, including whether the order contains a proper number of said packages, whether said trays will be filled with a prescribed number of said modules and whether each of said compartments in each of said modules is filled with a prescribed number of said packages with no packages left over; and ii) a plurality of information retrieval units, each comprising an information display means and means to communicate with the data base; and c) means for accessing said retrieval units to direct the formation and delivery of both standard and customized orders to ensure complete and proper assemblies and immediately be advised of said attribute information to ensure that the order contains the correct number of said assemblies with each said tray of each said assembly being filled with said modules and with each compartment in each module being filled with said packages and with no packages left over.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A merchandising system of claim 1 wherein each said module contains two identical compartments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A merchandising system of claim 2 wherein said packages include blister cards.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the length of each said module is twice its width.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A merchandising system of claim 1 including a plurality of said assemblies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
283 words
A merchandising system for batteries having a variety of attributes including size, shape, price and weight, said system comprising: a) at least one assembly which is used as both a shipping container and as a display container for said batteries, said assembly comprising: i) a rectangular tray filled with a plurality of identical open-top box modules each of which has a length twice its width and with each module having two identical compartments; ii) a plurality of packages in each compartment with each compartment filled with said packages with no space left over; and iii) each package containing at least one of said batteries having certain of said attributes; b) an information and storage retrieval system comprising; i) a data base which contains information concerning said attributes and other relevant information for each said module, including whether the order contains a proper number of said packages, whether said trays will be filled with a prescribed number of said modules and whether each of said compartments in each of said modules is filled with a prescribed number of said packages with no packages left over; and ii) a plurality of information retrieval units, each comprising an information display means and means to communicate with the data base; and c) means for accessing said retrieval units to direct the formation and delivery of both standard and customized orders to ensure complete and proper assemblies and immediately be advised of relevant information sufficient to ensure that the order contains the correct number of said assemblies with each said tray of each said assembly being filled with said modules and with each compartment in each module being filled with said packages and with no packages left over.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
283 words
A merchandising system for batteries having a variety of attributes including size, shape, price and weight, said system comprising: a) at least one assembly which is used as both a shipping container and as a display container for said batteries, said assembly comprising: i) a rectangular tray filled with a plurality of identical open-top box modules each of which has a length twice its width and with each module having two identical compartments; ii) a plurality of packages in each compartment with each compartment filled with said packages with no space left over; and iii) each package containing at least one of said batteries having certain of said attributes; b) an information and storage retrieval system comprising; i) a data base which contains information concerning said attributes and other relevant information for each said module, including whether the order contains a proper number of said packages, whether said trays will be filled with a prescribed number of said modules and whether each of said compartments in each of said modules is filled with a prescribed number of said packages with no packages left over; and ii) a plurality of information retrieval units, each comprising an information display means and means to communicate with the data base; and c) means for accessing said retrieval units to direct the formation and delivery of both standard and customized orders to ensure complete and proper assemblies and immediately be advised of relevant information sufficient to ensure that the order contains the correct number of said assemblies with each said tray of each said assembly being filled with said modules and with each compartment in each module being filled with said packages and with no packages left over.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A merchandising system of claim 6 including a plurality of said assemblies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A merchandising system of claim 7 wherein said packages include blister cards.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A merchandising system of claim 8 wherein each said tray contains five said modules.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A merchandising system of claim 6 wherein each said tray contains five said modules.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4191288A
Cited
US4636950A
Cited
US4734858A
Cited
US4734858B1
Cited
US4799156A
Cited
US4825624A
Cited
US4984155A
Cited
US5038283A
Cited
US5291396A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-19 | 1999-08-21 | 2000-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-19 | 2003-08-21 | 2004-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-19 | 2007-08-21 | 2008-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |