Product delivery system

• US 7,065,940 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Dudek, David Robert, Jones, John Melvyn Lloyd, Sandiford, Peter, Murray, David Campbell
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASH, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/843,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 534/73, 532/661, 532/85, 533/93
• US Class Current: 53/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A product delivery system is provided wherein consumer products are delivered in bulk to the retail site and can be dispensed to individual containers at the retail site. The consumer products can include products in concentrated form that may be diluted prior to dispense or use. The consumer products can include, for example and without limitation, foodstuffs, beverages, household products and automotive products. The product delivery system can include manufacture and/or blending of one or more consumer products at a product manufacturing site, said one or more consumer products being filled into bulk shuttle reservoirs, said one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs being transported to the retail site, and the consumer products contained in said bulk shuttle reservoirs being transferred to individual storage containers for retail to the consumer.

Claims

1. A product delivery method wherein household cleaning and detergent consumer products are delivered in bulk to a retail site, said product delivery method comprising steps to:

(i) manufacture and optionally blend one or more said household cleaning and detergent consumer products at a product manufacturing site;

(ii) fill said one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products into one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs;

(iii) place said one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs onto one or more pallets;

(iv) transport said one or more pallets to the retail site;

(v) remove one or more of said bulk shuttle reservoirs from said pallets; and

(vi) transfer the household cleaning and detergent consumer products contained in said bulk shuttle reservoirs to individual storage containers at the retail site for retail to the consumer.

2. The product delivery method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more pallets are transported through a product distribution network prior to the transport to the retail site.

3. The product delivery method according to claim 1, wherein the bulk shuttle reservoirs comprise a dry break coupling method.

4. The product delivery method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are in a concentrated form.

5. The product delivery method according to claim 4, wherein said method is adapted to optionally allow consumer product reconstitution prior to the transfer of the household cleaning and detergent consumer products to the individual storage containers.

6. The product delivery method according to claim 5, wherein the optional reconstitution and subsequent transfer of the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products to said individual storage containers is automated.

7. The product delivery method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are transferred to, optionally reconstituted in, and dispensed from a vending machine into said individual storage containers.

8. The product delivery method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are transferred into a reusable individual storage container.

9. The product delivery method according to claim 8, wherein said method is adapted to optionally allow consumer product reconstitution prior to the transfer of the household cleaning and detergent consumer products to the individual storage containers.

10. The product delivery method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are transferred to, optionally reconstituted in, and dispensed from a vending machine into said individual storage containers.

11. The product delivery method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are transferred into a reusable individual storage container.

12. A product delivery method wherein household cleaning and detergent consumer products are delivered in bulk to a retail site, said product delivery method comprising steps to:

(i) manufacture and optionally blend one or more of said household cleaning and detergent consumer products at a product manufacturing site in a concentrated form;

(ii) fill said one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products into one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs;

(iii) transport said one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs to the retail site;

(iv) reconstitute said one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products at the retail site; and

(v) transfer said one or more reconstituted household cleaning and detergent consumer products to individual storage containers at the retail site for retail to the consumer.

13. The product delivery method according to claim 12, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are transferred to and dispensed from a vending machine at the retail site into said individual storage containers.

14. The product delivery method according to claim 12, wherein said individual storage containers for said household cleaning and detergent consumer products comprises reusable containers.

15. A product delivery method wherein household cleaning and detergent consumer products are delivered in bulk to a retail site, said product delivery method comprising steps to:

(i) manufacture and optionally blend one or more said household cleaning and detergent consumer products at a product manufacturing site;

(ii) fill said one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products into one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs;

(iii) transport said one or more bulk shuttle reservoirs to the retail site; and

(iv) transfer said one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products to and dispense from a vending machine into individual storage containers at the retail site for retail to the consumer.

16. The product delivery method according to claim 15, wherein the one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products are transported in a concentrated form in the bulk shuffle reservoirs and wherein said product delivery method is adapted to reconstitute said one or more household cleaning and detergent consumer products at the retail site for dispense through said vending machine.

17. The product delivery method according to claim 15, wherein said individual storage containers for said household cleaning and detergent consumer products comprises reusable containers.