Combo kit and method of providing a combo kit

• US 20050267776A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Selby, David A., Kirby, Michael W., Horan, Shaun
• Application Number:
  US11/063,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267776A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

A combo kit selection system and methods operable to facilitate the configuration and purchase of a power tool combination kit. In some aspects, the method of providing the power tool combo kit provides the economic benefit of purchasing power tools in a combo kit while providing the flexibility of purchasing power tools individually.

Claims

1. A method of purchasing a combination kit, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of items;

generating a purchase request based on a configuration of the plurality of items as a combination kit; and

purchasing the combination kit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of selecting a plurality of items includes selecting one of a power tool, a battery, a battery charger, a starter kit, an accessory, a consumable, and a carrying case.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes at least one power tool and at least one starter kit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items are the same items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items includes both cordless power tools and corded power tools.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the combination kit is a single purchase unit.

7. A computer program embodied by a computer readable medium capable of being executed by a computer, the computer program for use in a combo kit selection system, the computer program comprising:

an item module operable to generate a list of items; and

a module operable to configure a plurality of selected items from the list of items as a combination kit.

8. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the module operable to configure is operable to generate a combination kit configuration report including a single price for all of the selected items.

9. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the list of items includes one of a power tool, a battery, a battery charger, a starter kit, an accessory, a consumable, and a carrying case.

10. The computer program of claim 7, further comprising an inventory module operable to track an availability and a location of each of the items that comprise the list of items.

11. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the module operable to configure includes a purchase module operable to generate a combination kit configuration report including a single price for all of the selected items.

12. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the module operable to configure includes a rental module operable to present a list of items capable of being rented and to calculate a cost of renting an item.

13. The computer program of claim 7, further comprising a trade-in module operable to automatically generate a report including an identification of a first item being traded-in and a second item being received in exchange for the first item.

14. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the trade-in module includes a suggestion module operable to automatically provide a list of items that can be obtained when the first item is traded-in in addition to a specified monetary amount.

15. A method of automatically configuring a combination power tool kit, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of items;

determining whether the selected items qualify for a combination discount;

if the selected items qualify for a combination discount, generating a combination kit configuration report including a single price for all of the selected items; and

if the selected items do not qualify for a combination discount, generating a suggestion to modify at least one of the selected items.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the act of selecting a plurality of items includes selecting one of a power tool, a battery, a battery charger, a starter kit, an accessory, a consumable, and a carrying case.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of items includes at least one power tool and at least one starter kit.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of items are the same items.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the act of determining whether the selected items qualify for a combination discount includes determining a total number of the items selected and a total cost of the selected items.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of items is organized based on one of price and profession.