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US 2006/0219725 A1Published application
Multimode distribution container
OwnerJay Ferroinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are an apparatus, a distribution system, and methods of distribution and post-distribution processing. The apparatus includes a first surface defining a container including a first non-zero volume having an opening; a second surface defining a cover for the opening; and a volume-modifying portion coupled to at least one of the surfaces, the volume-modifying portion including a first mode and a second mode, the first mode producing the first volume and the second mode producing a second volume different from the first volume.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first surface defining a container including a first non-zero volume having an opening;
- a second surface defining a cover for said opening;
- and
- a volume-modifying portion coupled to at least one of said surfaces, said volume-modifying portion including a first mode and a second mode, said first mode producing said first volume and said second mode producing a second volume different from said first volume.
1 more element
A distribution system, comprising:
- a plurality of containers, each said container including a first surface defining a first non-zero volume having an opening, a second surface defining a cover for said opening;
- and a volume-modifying portion coupled to at least one of said surfaces, said volume-modifying portion including a first mode and a second mode, said first mode producing said first volume and said second mode producing a second volume greater than said first mode;
- and
- wherein said first mode defines a distribution mode having one or more items disposed in said first volume and wherein said second mode defines a processing mode for a post-distribution processing of said one or more items within said second volume and wherein said distribution mode produces a first packing density for said plurality of containers greater than a second packing density of said plurality of containers in said second mode.
1 more element
A method for distributing an item;
- the method comprising:
- a) dispensing the item into a container including a first surface defining a first non-zero volume having an opening, a second surface defining a cover for said opening;
- and a volume-modifying portion coupled to at least one of said surfaces, said volume-modifying portion including a distribution mode and a processing mode, said distribution mode producing said first volume and said processing mode producing a second volume greater than said first mode;
- b) covering said opening using said second surface;
- and
- c) distributing the container in said distribution mode.
3 more elements
An item processing method, the method comprising:
- a) receiving the item in a container including a first surface defining a first non-zero volume having an opening, a second surface defining a cover for said opening;
- and a volume-modifying portion coupled to at least one of said surfaces, said volume-modifying portion including a distribution mode and a processing mode, said first mode producing said first volume and said second mode producing a second volume greater than said first mode wherein said distribution mode includes the item disposed in said first volume;
- and thereafter
- b) transitioning said container to said processing mode from said distribution mode;
- and thereafter
- c) processing the item in said second volume.
3 more elements
An item processing method, the method comprising:
- a) receiving the item in a container including a surface defining a first non-zero volume having an opening and a volume-modifying portion coupled to said surface, said volume-modifying portion including a distribution mode and a processing mode, said first mode producing said first volume and said second mode producing a second volume greater than said first mode wherein said distribution mode includes the item disposed in said first volume;
- and thereafter
- b) transitioning said container to said processing mode from said distribution mode;
- and thereafter
- c) processing the item in said second volume.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.