Paint manufacturing systems

• US 20050160077A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colors Direct, LLC
• Original Assignee: Colors Direct, LLC
• Inventors: Howes, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method generally includes electronically receiving an order for a liquid coating over a computer network. The order includes a plurality of inputs relating to a delivery address and a customer-specified color and quantity of liquid coating. The method also includes controllably manufacturing in-a single batch and containerizing the customer-specified color and quantity of liquid coating in accordance with the plurality of inputs. The method further includes causing delivery of the customer-specified color and quantity of containerized liquid coating to the delivery address in accordance with the plurality of inputs.

Claims

1. A method comprising electronically receiving an order for a liquid coating over a computer network, the order including a plurality of inputs relating to a delivery address and a customer-specified color and quantity of liquid coating, controllably manufacturing in a single batch and containerizing the customer-specified color and quantity of liquid coating in accordance with the plurality of inputs, and causing delivery of the customer-specified color and quantity of containerized liquid coating to the delivery address in accordance with the plurality of inputs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein containerizing includes only fractionally filling a container to less than full capacity of liquid coating.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising pricing the fractionally filled container in accordance with the fractional quantity within the fractionally filled container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein containerizing includes containerizing liquid coating in a container having a capacity that is a fractional portion or an uneven multiple of gallons, quarts, pints, and liters.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising pricing the container in accordance with the capacity of the container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein controllably manufacturing includes producing in a single batch a customer-specified quantity of liquid coating that is a fractional portion or an uneven multiples of gallons, quarts, pints, and liters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controllably manufacturing includes producing in a single batch a customer-specified quantity of liquid coating that is an even multiple of at least one of gallons, quarts, pints, and liters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein containerizing includes filling a variable quantity container custom sized to satisfy the customer requirement.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein containerizing includes filling the variable quantity container with a quantity as specified by the customer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein containerizing includes filling the variable quantity container with a quantity as determined by an algorithm.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer network comprises the Internet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes allowing a customer to access an Internet website to input to an order for a liquid coating, the Internet web site capable of providing assistance in the selection of a liquid coating appropriate to a given job as defined by information input by the customer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer-specified color is inputted using a handheld spectrophotometer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer-specified color is inputted via a handheld personal digital assistant.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid coatings are at least one of sold and purchased by at least one or more industries as defined by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC Code) with a date of publication 1987.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one color-enhancing ingredient is added to the colorized liquid coating.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one performance-enhancing ingredient is added to the colorized liquid coating.

18. A method comprising electronically receiving an order for a liquid coating over a computer network, the order including a plurality of inputs relating to a delivery address and a customer-specified color and quantity of liquid coating, making in a single batch a customer-specified quantity of liquid coating that is a fractional portion or an uneven multiple of gallons, quarts, pints, and liters in any customizable color with the addition of colorant to liquid coating base in precision quantities, the producing including fractionally filling a container with a liquid coating base corresponding to the customer-specified color and quantity, and adding colorant for color customization to the liquid coating base in a precise amount corresponding to the customer-specified color and quantity, and causing delivery of the customer-specified color and quantity of containerized liquid coating to the delivery address in accordance with the plurality of inputs.

19. A system enabling production of customized produced-to-order containerized liquid coatings, the system comprising an electronic interface, coupled to a computer network, for allowing a customer to place an order for a liquid coating in a customer-specified color and quantity, a customer order subsystem for receiving the order over the computer network, a production subsystem for compiling information associated with the order and processing the results of the compilation to yield production parameters, and a production line capable of producing in a single batch a customer-specified color and quantity of liquid coating and filling a variable quantity container custom sized to satisfy the customer requirement, the production line operable in accordance with the production parameters to produce in a single batch the particular volume and color of liquid coating in accordance with the order placed by the customer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the production line is capable of fractionally filling a container to less than full capacity of liquid coating.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the production line is capable of containerizing liquid coating in a container having a capacity that is a fractional portion or an uneven multiple of gallons, quarts, pints, and liters.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic interface includes a web site that provides assistance in the selection of liquid coating appropriate to a given job as defined by information input by the customer through the electronic interface.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the assistance in the selection of liquid coating includes identification of a custom color, recommendation of a liquid coating base, and calculation of an appropriate volume for the given job.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the assistance in the selection of liquid coating includes suggestion of at least one custom color-based upon digital input by the customer including at least one of digital video input, digital photograph input, and digital solid modeling input.