Computerized, monitored, temperature affected, delivery system for perishable goods

• US 6,536,189 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ThermaFreeze Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Thermal Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Murray, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US09/366,446
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 534/40, 534/49, 534/72, 534/19, 534/74, 534/84, 535/07, 531/27, 531/364, 531/395, 531/75, 534/15, 534/45, 206/204, 206/545, 206/584, 206/522, 206/521, 206/459.1, 426/109, 426/393, 426/396, 62/60, 623/72, 705/1, 705/26, 700/216, 229/118, 229/905, 229/125.39
• US Class Current: 53/440
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/001 of foodstuffs, combined with their conservation B65B25/041, B65B25/062, B65B25/067 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells

Abstract

A “safe delivery”^SM system for delivering perishable groceries (120/120′), including an inexpensive, corrugated cardboard box (100); a source of cold (or heat as needed) maintaining the temperature inside the box within a desired temperature range for hours, using an all encompassing pouch of packet material (110/10), used individually (FIGS. 2 & 3) or collectively (FIGS. 5 & 6), with each packet (17) containing a super-absorbent polymer (14, FIG. 12) which is hydrated (14′, FIG. 12A) and then either frozen (e.g., in a freezer) or heated (e.g., in a microwave), without producing moisture as the polymer returns to its natural state; a protective cover (130) protecting the box and its contents from heat radiation (e.g., sunlight). Other components (e.g., bubble wrap 140, sealing tape 133) prevent heat attacking convection and/or conduction, with the cover having multiple plies with an outer metallized surface (131); a time/temperature monitoring alert (134) indicating when either a maximum predetermine temperature or a maximum allowed, elapsed time from packing to opening has been exceeded. If so, the customer knows that the perishable items are not warranted to be safe, and the customer is responsible for contacting the purveyor for a return of the goods. A computerized methodology (FIG. 1) insures that the purveyor knows at least approximately when the customer has opened the packed groceries, etc., using a predictive calculator and an automated tracking system, in which the customer is obligated to transmit a unique code, preferably through an automated telephonic or Internet system, when the package is opened.

Claims

1. A delivery system for temperature sensitive, perishable goods, including at least one temperature sensitive, perishable item, by a purveyor of the goods, comprising the following steps:

a) taking an order for goods from a customer which includes an order for at least the one temperature sensitive, perishable item and arranging for the delivery of the perishable item to a customer designated location within a time range agreeable to the customer and the purveyor, setting a maximum elapsed time for shipping, delivery and opening of the packaging for the ordered perishable item from the time the packaged item goes into shipping until the time the packaged item should be unpacked and appropriately used or stored, and entering that order and attendant data into a computerized data base and associating it with a unique alphanumeric code;

b) after step “

a”

packaging the temperature sensitive, perishable item into an encompassing, temperature generating sub-unit, along with additional, temperature change-blocking packing material, which sub-unit maintains, in combination with the other packaging material to be applied in the packaging of the ordered item, the perishable item in the area which the sub-unit encompasses within a temperature range that prevents temperature damage to the perishable item for a period of hours and consistent with the agreed to maximum elapsed time period;

c) actuating a monitor that monitors at least a maximum, predetermined, elapsed period of time and entering a time associated with the time of actuation of the monitor into the computerized data base and physically associating the monitor with the item being packaged;

d) after steps “

a”

&

“

b”

using the additional temperature-change-blocking packing material to encompass the temperature generating sub-unit and its encompassed perishable item and putting the additional packing material and the sub-unit with its perishable item in a container and closing the container;

e) delivering the closed container containing the sub-unit and its encompassed perishable item to the customer specified location;

f) providing information to the customer with respect to re-contacting the purveyor when the delivered package is opened, providing the purveyor with the unique alphanumeric code; and

g) tracking in the computerized data base at least when the customer re-contacts the purveyor and provides the unique alphanumeric code and the time of the customer re-contact.

2. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein there is further included in connection with step “

c”

the further step of;

evaluating the amount of time that has elapsed since the performance of either step “

c”

or step “

d”

; and

in connection with step “

g”

the further step of;

tracking in connection with the computerized data base whether the customer has confirmed the delivery and opening of the packaged item in a timely manner, and, if not, actuating a repetitive customer contacting telephone calling system to remind the customer with a pre-recorded message of the need to confirm when the delivered package has been opened, which calling system is repeated every few minutes until a successful contact has been made or until the maximum elapsed time limit has been exceeded.

3. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the customer'"'"'s order includes both frozen and refrigerated perishable items, including at least one ordered frozen item and at least one ordered refrigerated item, and wherein there is further included in connection with steps “

b” and

“

d”

the steps of;

individually packaging the frozen item within a temperature generating encompassing sub-unit; and

collectively packaging the combined refrigerated item and the individually packaged frozen item into a second, collectively encompassing, temperature generating sub-unit.

4. The delivery method of claim 3, wherein in connection with the individualized packaging of the frozen item there is included the further step of:

inserting the packaged sub-unit with its encompassed frozen item into an individualized pouch of multiply material, in which one ply is bubble wrap.

5. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein there is included between steps “

a” and

“

b”

the step of;

using in connection with the computerized data base test and historical data to evaluate the ordered perishable item and, by calculation, predict the needed form and amount of temperature generating material to safely pack and deliver the ordered perishable item in the agreed to maximum elapsed time and within a safe temperature range for the ordered perishable item.

6. The delivery method of claim 5, wherein there is further included the step of using the calculations done in the steps of claim 5 to guide the purveyor'"'"'s shipping personnel in packaging the ordered perishable items.

7. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein there is included in connection with steps “

c”

&

“

d”

the step of;

including the monitor with the container and including with the monitor instructions for the customer in performing step “

f.”

8. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein there is included in connection with step “

c”

the step of;

monitoring with a single monitor both the maximum elapsed time as well as the passing of a maximum allowed temperature; and

wherein there is included before step “

d”

the step of;

placing the single monitor in with the perishable item within the inside of the container before it is closed.

9. The delivery method of claim 8, wherein there is further included in connection with the steps of claim 8, the step of:

including with the single monitor printed instructions for the customer in performing step “

f.”

10. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the customer'"'"'s order includes both frozen and refrigerated perishable items, including at least one ordered frozen item and multiple ordered refrigerated item, and wherein there is further included in steps “

b” and

“

d”

the steps of;

individually packaging the frozen item within a temperature generating encompassing sub-unit; and

collectively packaging the combined refrigerated items and the individually packaged frozen item into a second, collectively encompassing, temperature generating sub-unit.

11. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein in connection with steps “

b” and

“

d”

there is included the step of;

using a corrugated cardboard box for the container.

12. The delivery method of claim 11, wherein in connection with steps “

b” and

“

d”

there is included the step of;

using with the corrugated cardboard box an interior lining of bubble wrap material for the container.

13. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein in connection with step “

d”

there is included the step of;

placing a flexible cover of water-retardant material completely around the container.

14. The delivery method of claim 13, wherein in connection with step “

d”

there is included the step of;

sealing the flexible cover of water-retardant material completely around the container using reusable, adhesive tape.

15. The delivery method of claim 13, wherein in connection with step “

d”

there is included the step of;

sealing the flexible cover of water-retardant material completely around the container using reusable, “

hook and loop”

fastening material.

16. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the ordered perishable item includes at least one non-frozen, refrigerated item, and wherein the ordered item is to be delivered in an extremely low ambient temperature, below zero degrees F., and wherein in connection with steps “

b” and

“

d”

there is included the steps of;

surroundingly encompassing the sub-unit with its perishable, non-frozen, refrigerated item within it in a material containing a number of surrounding packets having super-absorbent, hydrated polymer contained therein and using it as a barrier to prevent the cold temperature of the extremely cold ambient from freezing the non-frozen, refrigerated perishable item with the encompassed sub-unit providing a source of cold maintaining the perishable item for at least the agreed to maximum elapsed period of time, while the hydrated packet material prevents the cold temperature of the extremely cold ambient from freezing the refrigerated perishable item.

17. The delivery method of claim 16, wherein, in further connection with step “

d” and

in connection with the steps of claim 16, there is included the further step of;

heating the hydrated packet material before surrounding it around the sub-unit.

18. The delivery method of claim 17, wherein the sub-unit has outer surfaces, and wherein, in further connection with step “

d” and

in connection with the steps of claim 17, there is included the further step of;

effectively placing a heat barrier layer between the hydrated packet material and the outer surfaces of the sub-unit preventing the heat from the heated hydrated packet material from being substantially transferred to the surrounded sub-unit.

19. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein there is included the further step of:

using as part of the packaging material a multiply material, in which a first ply is a temperature-change-blocking, foam material.

20. The delivery method of claim 19, wherein there is included the further step of:

using as part of the packaging material the multi-ply material of claim 19 having a second ply of a metallized material.

21. The delivery method of claim 20, wherein there is included the further step of:

using as part of the packaging material the multi-ply material of claim 20 having a third ply of bubble wrap.