Containerized liquid coating product supply business method

• US 6,959,284 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colors Direct, LLC
• Original Assignee: John L. Howes
• Inventors: Howes, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US09/543,764
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/20, 705/23, 705/37, 705/35, 700/115, 700/216, 700/233, 700/239
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• 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 consumer places an order for liquid coating product directly with a supplier via the internet or telecommunications. Customer order information is entered into a customer order subsystem on a computer, is compiled, processed and then utilized by a production subsystem governing a production line for containerized liquid coating product inclusive of all colorants required to obtain particular, non-standard, colors. Batching with regard to liquid coating base, delivery date and geographic delivery address is suggested. Shipping assemblies and packages specific customer orders for commercial transport service directly to the delivery address given by the consumer. Customer order information including verified content is indicated by a container identifier in assurance of quality. Attachment of a label upon each container after filling with blended liquid coating base and colorant with information printed and/or a bar or other digital code is suggested. Superior precision in colorant addition than that obtainable by a local retailer ensures consistent color, tone, and shade for particular, non-standard, colors in diverse containers and orders. Standard containers may be partially filled and non-standard volume plastic containers may also be utilized in fulfillment of precise order quantities. Production to order minimizes inventory. Product information including digital assistance in selection of base, color, and volume for a given-application and placing an order is readily provided on an internet web site or a dedicated terminal in a kiosk.

Claims

1. A method for the direct supply for containerized liquid coating product inclusive of a customized color to an ultimate consumer of the liquid coating product by a supplier remote from the ultimate consumer thereby enabling bypassing of local retailers, said method comprising the steps of:

accepting, over a computer network through an internet website from at least one ultimate consumer, a customer order placed directly with a remote supplier specifying customer order information including indication of a liquid coating base, a color, a quantity, delivery address and identification of the ultimate consumer;

entering said customer order information into a customer order subsystem comprised of software maintained on a computer;

compiling said customer order information with a computer and processing the results of this compilation with a production subsystem to yield production parameters;

operating, in observance of said production parameters yielded by said production subsystem, a containerized liquid coating production line for producing in a single batch a customer specified non-standard quantity 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;

fractionally filling a container with the customer specified non-standard quantity of liquid coating base;

adding colorant for color customization to the liquid coating base in precise amounts corresponding to the non-standard quantity of liquid coating base, where the precise amounts are added in proportion to said non-standard quantity;

assembling containerized liquid coating product resulting from said production line fulfilling at least one individual customer order and packaging the resulting assemblage as required for shipment to the customer; and

causing the transporting of each said assemblage of containerized liquid coating product fulfilling each said customer order to the delivery address specified by the ultimate consumer in placing the customer order;

whereby each said ultimate consumer obtains delivery of a customer specified quantity and color of containerized liquid coating product directly to a specified address in accordance with said customer order information; and

wherein the web site provides assistance in the selection of liquid coating product appropriate to a given job as defined by information input by the ultimate consumer.

2. A method for the direct supply for containerized liquid coating product inclusive of a customized color to an ultimate consumer of the liquid coating product by a supplier remote from the ultimate consumer thereby enabling bypassing of local retailers, said method comprising the steps of:

accepting, over a computer network from at least one ultimate consumer, a customer order placed directly with a remote supplier specifying customer order information including indication of a liquid coating base, a color, a quantity, delivery address and identification of the ultimate consumer;

entering said customer order information into a customer order subsystem comprised of software maintained on a computer;

compiling said customer order information with a computer and processing the results of this compilation with a production subsystem to yield production parameters;

operating, in observance of said production parameters yielded by said production subsystem, a containerized liquid coating production line for producing in a single batch a customer specified non-standard quantity 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;

fractionally filling a container with the customer specified non-standard quantity of liquid coating base;

adding colorant for color customization to the liquid coating base in precise amounts corresponding to the non-standard quantity of liquid coating base, where the precise amounts are added in proportion to said non-standard quantity;

assembling containerized liquid coating product resulting from said production line fulfilling at least one individual customer order and packaging the resulting assemblage as required for shipment to the customer; and

causing the transporting of each said assemblage of containerized liquid coating product fulfilling each said customer order to the delivery address specified by the ultimate consumer in placing the customer order;

whereby each said ultimate consumer obtains delivery of a customer specified quantity and color of containerized liquid coating product directly to a specified address in accordance with said customer order information.