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US 2011/0238601 A1Published application
Method for Ice Distribution
OwnerTalmadge B. Reed, JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The method is for distributing ice to the foodservice industry utilizing the existing foodservice infrastructure. This invention enables new markets and new revenue sources for the ice selling vendor based on utilizing the foodservice distribution infrastructure. This method allows the ice manufacturer to do business on a national or global scale.
Claims17
A method for selling or distributing ice between an ice selling vendor and a foodservice distributor, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) a foodservice distributor placing an order for packaged ice with an ice selling vendor;
- (b) the ice selling vendor confirming that the order can be fulfilled;
- (c) if the ice selling vendor cannot fulfill the order, the ice selling vendor contracts with a third party ice vendor to fulfill the order;
- (d) the vendor packages the ice in plastic bags;
- (e) the vendor inserts the plastic bags inside the container;
- (f) the vendor closes and seals the container;
- (g) the vendor confirms that the order is large enough to justify shipment on pallets;
- (h) if the vendor confirms that the order is not large enough to justify shipment on pallets, the vendor does not use pallets, the containers are shipped independently;
- (i) the vendor delivers the containers to foodservice distributor warehouse;
- (j) foodservice distributor pays ice selling vendor;
- (k) ice selling vendor confirms whether or not the order was contracted out to a third party ice vendor;
- (l) if ice selling vendor confirms the order was contracted out to a third party ice vendor, ice selling vendor pays third party ice vendor;
- and (m) order is complete.
10 more elements
A method of distributing ice, comprising:
- providing ice in plastic bags;
- providing containers;
- providing pallets;
- completing an order of said ice by first having a foodservice distributor place an order for packaged ice with an ice selling vendor;
- verifying that the order can be fulfilled by ice selling vendor, wherein when said order is verified it cannot be fulfilled, the ice selling vendor contracts with a third party ice vendor to fulfill the order;
- packaging the ice in plastic bags;
- inserting said bags inside the container;
- closing the container;
- sealing the container;
- verifying that the order is large enough to justify shipment on pallets, wherein when said order is not large enough to justify shipment on pallets, vendor ships the containers without pallets;
- delivering the containers to the foodservice distributor's warehouse;
- receiving payment from the foodservice vendor for the order of ice;
- verifying that the ice selling vendor contracted the order out to a third party and paying third party ice vendor for the order, wherein when order was not contracted out to a third party the ice selling vendor does not pay anyone.
10 more elements
A method of distributing ice between an ice selling vendor and a foodservice distributor, comprising:
- providing ice;
- providing containers;
- and providing a means for utilizing the foodservice distribution infrastructure wherein the ice selling vendor collects revenue for ice from customers throughout the globe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.