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US5893082A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-12-23
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Granted: 1999-04-06
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Expires: 2016-12-23
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Abstract

Abstract A computer system for processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry includes a CPU; primary input hardware for entering data and commands to the CPU; output hardware including a display for displaying information; estimating hardware for interacting with a plan print to count and/or scale off measurements of assemblies and/or items on the plan print and input such counts and/or measurements into the CPU for processing; and a memory unit having a stored assembly information record list database and a stored item information record list database and including software means for permitting an operator to command, through the primary input hardware, an opening for concurrent use of any selected number of takeoff windows from the assembly and/or item information record lists; a closing of any open takeoff window; an opening of any additional takeoff window; and a count and/or scaling off of measurements of assemblies and/or items from a plan print with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes.

Inventors

  • 👤 John M. McCormick

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 09:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 197 words
A computer system for processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry comprising: a central processing unit; primary input hardware means for entering data and commands to the central processing unit; output hardware including a display for displaying information; estimating hardware means for interacting with a plan print to count and/or scale off measurements of assemblies and/or items on the plan print and input such count and/or scale off measurements into the central processing unit for processing; and a memory means having a stored assembly information record list database and stored item information record list database; the memory means including software means, responsive to commands through the primary input hardware means, capable of opening, for concurrent use, two, three or more takeoff windows from the assembly information record list and/or the item information record list, for counting and/or scaling off measurements of any of the assemblies and/or items of any of the opened takeoff windows with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes and capable of closing any of the opened takeoff windows without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows and opening another takeoff window without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 197 words
A computer system for processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry comprising: a central processing unit; primary input hardware means for entering data and commands to the central processing unit; output hardware including a display for displaying information; estimating hardware means for interacting with a plan print to count and/or scale off measurements of assemblies and/or items on the plan print and input such count and/or scale off measurements into the central processing unit for processing; and a memory means having a stored assembly information record list database and stored item information record list database; the memory means including software means, responsive to commands through the primary input hardware means, capable of opening, for concurrent use, two, three or more takeoff windows from the assembly information record list and/or the item information record list, for counting and/or scaling off measurements of any of the assemblies and/or items of any of the opened takeoff windows with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes and capable of closing any of the opened takeoff windows without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows and opening another takeoff window without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 62 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein: the software means is capable of opening, for concurrent use, six or more takeoff windows from the assembly information records list and/or the item information record lists, for counting and/or scaling off measurements of any of the assemblies and/or items of any of the opened takeoff windows with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein: the estimating hardware includes a count tool means and a scaling tool means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 62 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein: the software means is capable of opening, for concurrent use, four or more takeoff windows, from the assembly information records list and/or the item information record lists, for counting and/or scaling off measurements of any of the assemblies and/or items of any of the opened takeoff windows with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 238 words
A method of processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry comprising: providing a central processing unit; primary input hardware means for entering data and commands to the central processing unit; output hardware including a display for displaying information; estimating hardware means for interacting with a plan print to count and/or scale off measurements of assemblies and/or items on the plan print and input such count and/or scale off measurements into the central processing unit for processing; and a memory means having a stored assembly information record list database and a stored item information record list database; the memory means including software means, responsive to commands through the primary input hardware means, capable of opening, for concurrent use, two, three or more takeoff windows, from the assembly information record list and/or the item information record list, for counting and/or scaling off measurements of any of the assemblies and/or items of any of the opened takeoff windows with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes and capable of closing any of the opened takeoff windows without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows and opening another takeoff window without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows; entering commands to the central processing unit through the primary input hardware to open a selected number of selected takeoff windows; and effecting a count of and/or scaling off of measurements of assemblies and/or items of any open takeoff window.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 238 words
A method of processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry comprising: providing a central processing unit; primary input hardware means for entering data and commands to the central processing unit; output hardware including a display for displaying information; estimating hardware means for interacting with a plan print to count and/or scale off measurements of assemblies and/or items on the plan print and input such count and/or scale off measurements into the central processing unit for processing; and a memory means having a stored assembly information record list database and a stored item information record list database; the memory means including software means, responsive to commands through the primary input hardware means, capable of opening, for concurrent use, two, three or more takeoff windows, from the assembly information record list and/or the item information record list, for counting and/or scaling off measurements of any of the assemblies and/or items of any of the opened takeoff windows with the estimating hardware for cost estimating purposes and capable of closing any of the opened takeoff windows without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows and opening another takeoff window without closing any of the other opened takeoff windows; entering commands to the central processing unit through the primary input hardware to open a selected number of selected takeoff windows; and effecting a count of and/or scaling off of measurements of assemblies and/or items of any open takeoff window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 5, including: entering the count into the central processing unit through the use of the primary input hardware means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 5, the software means is capable of opening, for concurrent use, six or more takeoff windows from the assembly information record list and/or the item information record list, and initially opening up six takeoff windows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 5, including: initially opening three takeoff windows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 8, including: using the estimating hardware to perform the count and/or scale off measurements from the plan print.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 8, wherein: the software means is capable of opening, for concurrent use, four or more takeoff windows from the assembly information record list and/or the item information record list, and initially opening up four takeoff windows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 10, including: using the estimating hardware to perform the count and/or scale off measurements from the plan print.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5539869A Cited
US5442380A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-04-05 2002-10-05 2003-04-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-04-05 2006-10-05 2007-04-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-04-05 2010-10-05 2011-04-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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