Low cost method for creating product condition reports from field inspections

• US 8,874,408 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Gardner Pfanstiehl
• Original Assignee: John Gardner Pfanstiehl
• Inventors: Pfanstiehl, John Gardner
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US13/024,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 702/127, 702/170
• US Class Current: 702/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A low cost method of measuring parameters of a product in the field, such as the coating thickness on an individual vehicle, sends the measurement data set to a common pocket-size device also carried by the inspector, labels the data set, and transmits the data set to a remote computer to produce a product condition report. Alternately, the data can be transmitted directly to a remote buyer. The method is a low cost, practical and efficient because the inspector in the field only requires two pocket-size wireless devices. Inspectors are freed from carrying relatively bulky or heavy computers in the field. Furthermore, the method employs devices already owned by a numerous inspectors and the method requires no proprietary or expensive equipment. The remote computer permits the efficient addition of further information to create detailed reports that are organized or compiled and transmitted to customers.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently measuring the exterior coating thickness of a vehicle in the field to produce a vehicle condition report containing objective documentation reporting the condition of the body and paint of said vehicle, comprising:

a) taking a plurality of measurements of the coating thickness of exterior body panels of a vehicle at predetermined locations in a predetermined sequence using a pocket-size, battery-powered coating thickness gauge,

b) automatically storing said plurality of measurements of the coating thickness of exterior body panels of said vehicle at predetermined locations in a predetermined sequence in an internal memory in said gauge in a complete coating thickness data set using an internal program in said coating thickness gauge,

c) starting a vehicle data set application program in a pocket-size, battery-powered device having a wireless receiver, an electronic circuit that wirelessly transmits data to a network, a display and an interface for user input,

d) transmitting said plurality of measurements of the coating thickness of exterior body panels of said vehicle at predetermined locations in a predetermined sequence in said complete coating thickness data set wirelessly from said coating thickness gauge to said device,

e) receiving said plurality of measurements of the coating thickness of exterior body panels of said vehicle at predetermined locations in a predetermined sequence in said complete coating thickness data set from said coating thickness gauge into said device,

f) transmitting said data set from said device and,

g) receiving said data set into a remote computer or a remote smartphone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

inputting vehicle information into said application running on said device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

a) starting a vehicle report software program on said remote computer,

b) inputting additional information when necessary using said vehicle report software program,

c) creating a vehicle condition report, and

d) transmitting said vehicle condition report to a printer or to an interested party'"'"'s remote computer or to an interested party'"'"'s smartphone.