METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TINTING AND SELLING PAINT

• US 20110282763A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Color Commerce, LLC
• Original Assignee: Color Commerce, LLC
• Inventors: Pesicek, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/00 Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services

Abstract

A method and a system for ordering paint to cover a surface includes, retrieving a color value from a machine-readable memory to a processor. The processor retrieves a paint quantity from a machine-readable memory. The processor compiles an order for paint including the paint quantity and color value and then transmits the order from the processor to a vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value when painted upon the surface and allowed to dry.

Claims

1. A method for ordering paint to cover a surface comprises:

at a processor, retrieving a color value from a machine-readable memory;

at the processor, retrieving a paint quantity from a machine-readable memory;

at the processor, compiling an order for paint including the paint quantity and color value; and

transmitting the order from the processor to a vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value when painted upon the surface and allowed to dry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving includes:

illuminating a sample with a light having at least one known color;

sensing colors within the light reflected from the sample upon illuminating to determine the color value; and

storing the color value in association with the sample.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the illuminating includes illuminating with colors within the light, the colors each being selected from the group consisting of the visible spectrum; and

the sensing includes sensing colors includes sensing colors being selected from the group consisting of the visible spectrum.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the illuminating includes illuminating with at least one color within the light, the at least one color being selected from the group consisting of the infrared spectrum and the ultraviolet spectrum; and

the sensing includes sensing colors includes sensing at least one color being selected from the group consisting of the infrared spectrum and the ultraviolet spectrum.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving a paint quantity includes:

retrieving at least a first and a second dimensions of the surface;

calculating an area of the surface based upon at least the first and the second dimensions of the surface;

selecting a suitable ratio expressing the quantity of paint to cover a surface of a known area; and

calculating a quantity of paint necessary to cover the surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the selecting a suitable ratio includes interviewing the user to determine a quality of the surface.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein retrieving at least a first and a second dimensions of the surface includes activating at least one rangefinder to ascertain the first and second dimension.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting through a communication port selected from a group consisting of radio communication, cell phone link, and a wired communications port.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes:

receiving from a user payment information at a vendor server;

receiving the transmitted order from the processor to the vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value; and

formulating the paint in accord with the order.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving a paint quantity includes:

capturing an image of the surface with a camera;

amending the image of the surface based upon the retrieved color value; and

displaying the image as amended at a display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the order includes the further steps of:

displaying questions relating to painting accessories; and

amending the order based upon the answers to include an order for painting accessories.

12. An apparatus for formulating a quantity of paint to cover a surface, the paint being forumulated in accord with a color value, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a color sensor and light source for measuring the color value of a sample and to transmit a signal indicative of the color value to the processor;

a display upon which the processor generates an interview of a user;

a user interface to allow the user to responding to the interview; and

an order template stored in a machine-readable memory in operative communication with the processor such that based upon interview responses and the measured color value, the processor can complete an order to formulate a quantity of paint in accord with the color value.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a camera to capture an image of the surface and formulate an image signal the camera sends to the processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

written instructions stored in the memory to instruct the processor to perform the steps of;

amending the image of the surface based upon the color value; and

displaying the image as amended at a display.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

written instructions stored in the memory to instruct the processor to perform the steps of;

receiving from a user payment information at a vendor server;

receiving the transmitted order from the processor to the vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value; and

formulating the paint in accord with the order.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one rangefinder for determining at least one length dimension of the surface and for communicating the length dimension to the processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

written instructions stored in the memory to instruct the processor to perform the steps of;

retrieving at least a first and a second dimensions of the surface;

calculating an area of the surface based upon at least the first and the second dimensions of the surface;

selecting a suitable ratio expressing the quantity of paint to cover a surface of a known area; and

calculating a quantity of paint necessary to cover the surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a touch-sensitive surface on the display and a keyboard.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

written instructions stored in the memory to instruct the processor to perform the steps of;

displaying questions in an interview;

receiving answers through the user interface; and

amending the order based upon the answers.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the written instructions stored in the memory to instruct the processor to perform the steps of:

displaying questions relating to painting accessories; and

amending the order based upon the answers to include an order for painting accessories.