WO2001069558A1

WO2001069558A1 - System for maintaining supplies of consumable items

Info

Publication number: WO2001069558A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/008578
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Yanes
Original assignee: Sumistradora Canaria De Oficina, S.L.; Rothwell, G., Franklin
Priority date: 2000-03-16
Filing date: 2001-03-16
Publication date: 2001-09-20
Also published as: AU2001249244A1

Abstract

A system for maintaining supplies of consumable items includes a container (10) for holding the consumable items and indicia (18) provided on the container (10) instructing the user of the consumable items to obtain replacement consumable items as items are removed from the container (10). The indicia (18) are provided in such a manner as to be readily noticeable by the user and so as to graphically indicate to the user the user's important role in ensuring that the reliable supply of consumable items is maintained. The container (10) is preferably a cupboard with left and right doors (12, 14). A door blocking mechanism (16) is provided on one of the doors. The door blocking mechanism (16) is automatically deployed when the door is first opened and thereafter prevents the door from being completely closed. The door blocking mechanism (16) includes indicia (18) instructing the user how to obtain replacement items.

Description

SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING SUPPLIES OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/189,892 filed 16 March 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Summary of the Invention

This invention relates to a system for providing a reliable supply of consumable items to the consumable item customer. In particular, the invention relates to a system whereby the consumable item customer is provided with repeated, easy to follow instructions for insuring that consumable items are replaced by the consumable item supplier as they are taken from a consumable item container.

In many endeavors where consumable items are regularly consumed in the progress of the endeavor, progress of the endeavor can be slowed or halted by an interruption in the supply of the consumable items. For example, in an office setting, the business of the office can be interrupted by an interruption in the supply of stationery and/or other office supplies, e.g. paper, pens, pencils, labels, envelopes, etc. As customers routinely remove items from a repository of the items, replenishment of the consumable items taken is frequently overlooked. Accordingly, supplies of one or more items may run out, potentially creating costly and burdensome delays. Often it is necessary to incur the costly and time-consuming step of sending a person to the nearest supplier to obtain the consumable items.

The present invention addresses this problem by providing a system and method for maintaining a constant and reliable supply of consumable items. The system includes a container for holding the consumable items and indicia placed on the container instructing and reminding the customer to obtain replacement consumable items as the consumable items are removed from the container. The indicia is provided in such a manner as to be readily noticeable by the user and so as to graphically indicate to the user the user's important role in ensuring that the reliable supply of the consumable items is maintained. The readily noticeable indicia minimizes the likelihood that the important step of obtaining replacement consumable items as the items are used is not overlooked and the graphically-suggestive nature of the indicia provides motivation and encourages the necessary initiative on the part of the customer. Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, including the methods of operation and the function and interrelation of the elements of structure, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this disclosure, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a container-cupboard employed in connection with the system of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial view of the cupboard with the right-hand door thereof open and a door-blocking mechanism deployed.

Figure 3 is a partial view of the cupboard illustrating a door-blocking mechanism in a deployed state and instructional indicia provided on the doors of the cupboard.

Figure 4 is a view of a container key and clipboard associated with the system of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a form to be completed to obtain replacement consumable items.

Figure 6 schematically represents a telephone line link between a consumable item supplier and a container for consumable items located at the customer's premises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention provides a convenient and reliable means for having on-hand in a suitable container an adequate supply of consumable items, for example office and stationery products and supplies. The consumable items are provided within a container-cupboard 10 that is shipped by a supplier to the end user/customer pre-filled with sufficient quantities of the consumable items to cover a predetermined period of time, e.g. 45 to 60 days. The container-cupboard, which can be provided in different sizes depending on the number of products and quantities required by each individual end user or customer, typically has two front doors, e.g. a left door 12 and a right door 14. When one of the doors is opened, a door-blocking mechanism 16 is automatically deployed so as to prevent the doors from thereafter being re-closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the door-blocking mechanism 16 is a rectangular aluminum plate that is spring-activated into the deployed position upon the opening of the right-side door 14. Instructional indicia 18 are provided on the side of the door-blocking mechanism 16 that is visible to an end user when the mechanism 16 is in the deployed condition shown in Figure 2. The instructional indicia 18 provides instructions for securing replacement consumable items to replace items as they are consumed from the container-cupboard 10. For example, the instructions 18 may include a message such as the following: "PLEASE FORWARD TODAY'S CONSUMPTIONS TO FAX NUMBER l-800-###-####."

Other instructional indicia are provided directly on the doors 12, 14 to provide constant reminders to the customer to obtain replacement items as the consumable items are taken from the container-cupboard 10. These instructions are preferably provided in an eye-catching symbolic manner so as to be readily noticed and so as to graphically convey the message that the customer is an important element in the process for replenishing consumable items for the container-cupboard 10. For example, in a preferred embodiment, a first set of instructions 22 may state that "THE USER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ABLE TO BEGIN THE CYCLE. . . BY IMMEDIATELY FORWARDING HIS CONSUMPTIONS TO FAX NUMBER l-800-###-####." A second set of instructions 24 is provided to advise the user of the expected response to the user's action of obtaining replacement items. For example, instructions 24 may indicate "THE SUPPLIER IMMEDIATELY REPLACES THE CONSUMPTIONS." The instructions 22 and 24 may be arranged in such a manner as to graphically convey the interdependent cyclic nature of the transaction whereby the first portion of the cycle entails the user obtaining (i.e. placing an order for) replacement items, and the second part of the cycle is a supplier providing (i.e. filling the order for) the replacement items at the request of the consumer. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the instructions 22 are provided within the boundaries of a generally semi-circular arrow 20 that is of a vibrant, attention-grabbing color, for example bright red. The second portion of the instructions 24 is also provided in a generally semi-circular format of reverse curvature so as to complete the suggestion of a complete cycle initiated by the arrow 20. The door-blocking mechanism 16 is arranged so that it, and the instructions 18 printed on it, are located in the middle of the instructional indicia 22 and 24 when the doors are closed as much as permitted by the door-blocking mechanism 16.

Other indicia may be provided on the doors as desired. For example, at the tip of the arrow 20, the supplier's logo and contact information can be provided as at 26, and at the tail of the arrow 20, a diagram of the container-cupboard 10 can be provided as at 28. Thus, reminders to the customer to obtain replacement items (e.g. by filling in and faxing a reorder form to the supplier) are repeatedly stressed, as the customer is an important element in the replacement cycle who, by this action, provides the supplier the necessary information to replace and invoice the customer's supply. A key 32 to the container-cupboard 10 is delivered to the customer tethered (e.g., by a chain) to a clipboard 30 that is initially removably attached to the front doors 12, 14 of the container-cupboard 10. A cover provided over the clipboard 30 includes the same indicia 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 that is provided on the front doors 12 and 14 of the container-cupboard 10. Under the cover and attached to the clipboard is a supply of reorder forms 34 to be filled out by the customer as items are taken from the container-cupboard 10. The instructional indicia provided on the cover of the clipboard 30 provides yet another reminder to the customer in the same graphically-suggestive format to put in an order for replacement items as those items are taken from the container-cupboard 10. The forms 34 are to be filled out and forwarded to the supplier (e.g. by fax) each time some product or products are removed from the container-cupboard 10. Alternatively, the form can be forwarded to the supplier at predefined intervals of time (e.g. once daily) or when some predetermined number of items have been written onto the form. Instructions for properly filling out a reorder form 34 and a diagram of a completed order form provided as an example may be included, for example, on the inside of the cover over the clipboard 30. Of course filling out a reorder form 34 is only a preliminary step in obtaining replacement items. The form must be communicated, e.g., by fax, to the item supplier.

As a backup measure to accommodate customers who forget or for other reasons fail to forward reorder requests to the supplier, an electronic device 36 as shown in Figure 6 is preferably installed inside the container-cupboard 10. The electronic device can be coupled, for example via a telephone line 40, directly to the supplier's computer 42 and communicate customer identification information, such as a customer code, and the day and hour that the container-cupboard 10 was opened to the supplier so as to be stored on the supplier's computer 42. In this manner, if the supplier knows that the container-cupboard 10 has been opened but has received no reorder requests for some predetermined period of time, the supplier can contact the customer to inquire about the customer's resupply requirements and to remind the customer of the need to properly forward those resupply requirements to the supplier as they are incurred. The electronic device 36 may include a speaker and microphone and be adapted so as to open a voice telephone line to the supplier upon the opening of the container-cupboard 10 so that when the container-cupboard 10 is opened, a telephone call is automatically placed to the supplier and the customer, standing at the container-cupboard 10, can place a verbal order for additional supplies of needed consumable items. Furthermore, a barcode scanner 38 can be incorporated with the electronic device 36, and the consumable items can be provided with barcode tags so that as an item is removed from the container-cupboard 10, the item can be scanned and the resupply information can be forwarded directly to the supplier.

While the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method for maintaining a reliable supply of consumable items within a container holding the consumable items comprising providing on the container indicia instructing a user of the consumable items to obtain replacement items as consumable items are removed from the container so as to maintain the reliable supply of consumable items within the container, said indicia being provided in such a manner so as to be readily noticeable by the user and so as to graphically indicate to the user the user's important roll in ensuring that the reliable supply of the consumable items is maintained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said indicia are provided in two generally semicircular arrangements that together are suggestive of a cycle whereby a supplier provides the replacement consumable items upon notification by the user that such items are required.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein indicia provided in a one of the generally semicircular arrangements are placed within the boundaries of a generally semicircular shaped arrow.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a key adapted to open a door of the container, said key being tethered to a clipboard holding at least one form to be completed by the user as a preliminary step in obtaining the replacement consumable items.

5. A system for maintaining a reliable supply of consumable items comprising: a container for holding a supply of consumable items; and indicia placed on said container instructing a user of the consumable items to obtain replacement consumable items as consumable items are removed from the container so as maintain the reliable supply of consumable items, said indicia being provided in such a manner so as to be readily noticeable by the user and so as to graphically indicate to the user the user's important roll in ensuring that the reliable supply of the consumable items is maintained.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said container includes a door and a door blocking mechanism that is automatically deployed when the door is first opened, said door blocking mechanism being constructed and arranged to prevent the door from being completely closed after the door is first opened.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising indicia placed on said door blocking mechanism instructing the user how to obtain the replacement consumable items, said indicia being viewable by user when the door blocking mechanism is deployed, wherein said door blocking mechanism is so positioned that the indicia instructing the user how to obtain the replacement consumable items is in close proximity to the indicia instructing the user to obtain replacement consumable items when said door is closed as much as is permitted by said door blocking mechanism.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said indicia instructing the user to obtain replacement consumable items are provided in two generally semicircular arrangements that together are suggestive of a cycle whereby a supplier provides the replacement consumable items upon notification by the user that such items are required.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein indicia provided in a one of the generally semicircular arrangements are placed within the boundaries of a generally semicircular shaped arrow.

10. The system of claim 5, further comprising: a key adapted to open a door of said container; and a clipboard holding at least one form to be completed by the user as a preliminary step in obtaining the replacement consumable items, said key being tethered to said clipboard.

11. The system of claim 5, further comprising an electronic communication device associated with said container and constructed and arranged to provide electronic communication between the container and a supplier of the consumable items.