# US 2015/0149367 A1 · Rental casket distribution system and method

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- Number: US 2015/0149367 A1
- Document ID: US20150149367A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/092,456
- Filed: 2013-11-27
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-27
- Assignees: Thacker Caskets Inc.
- Applicants: Thacker Caskets Inc.
- Inventors: Carl Justin Thacker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150149367A1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0645: Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
- A61G 17/0076: {Metal}
- A61G 17/0106: {Wood}
- A61G 17/041: {Handles}
- A61G 17/042: {Linings and veneer}
- A61G 17/045: {Rack for flowers}
- G06Q 10/083: Shipping
- A61G 2205/10: Bar codes
- A61G 2205/30: Printed labels
- A61G 2205/60: using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)

## Abstract

A rental casket distribution system includes a distribution system administrator in communication with a supplier network, a distributor network and a service provider network to provide rental caskets to service providers for temporary use by a client deceased. A rental casket order is received by the administrator and dispatched to a selected distributor for fulfillment and delivery of a rental casket kit to a service provider. The rental casket kit is assembled to include a returnable, reusable rental casket and may further include one or more of a non-reusable casket insert, casket lining, pillow, and overlay. The rental casket may be customized by the distributor prior to delivery to the service provider. A rental casket price includes a rental casket deposit and a rental fee. The rental casket deposit may be partially or fully refunded as determined by the condition of the rental casket upon return to a distributor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for distributing a rental casket kit, the method comprising:
receiving an order from a service provider for rental of a rental casket kit comprising a reusable rental casket;
receiving a rental casket kit price comprising a rental fee and a rental casket deposit from an administrative system;
assembling the rental casket into the rental casket kit; and
delivering the rental casket kit to the service provider.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving the rental casket from the service provider;
inspecting the returned rental casket to determine the returned condition of the rental casket;
refurbishing the returned rental casket;
wherein refurbishing the returned rental casket includes at least one of cleaning and repairing the rental casket; and
determining a portion of the rental casket deposit refundable to the service provider based on the returned condition of the rental casket.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring a rental casket inventory within a distributor network;
determining availability of the ordered rental casket within the distributor network;
selecting a fulfilling distributor from the distributor network based on the availability of the rental casket from rental casket inventory of the fulfilling distributor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the rental casket kit further comprises a non-reusable casket insert;
assembling a non-reusable casket insert into the rental casket kit; and
delivering the rental casket kit including the casket insert to the service provider.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the rental casket kit comprises a non-reusable component;
assembling the non-reusable component into the rental casket kit; and
delivering the rental casket kit including the non-reusable component to the service provider.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the non-reusable component is one of a casket lining, a casket pillow, and a casket overlay.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:
wherein the rental casket is a customized rental casket;
providing a rental casket kit price comprising a customization fee; and
customizing the rental casket to provide a customized rental casket.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein customizing the rental casket comprises modifying the rental casket to customize at least one of a swing bar, a swing bar mount, a corner element, and an inlay of the rental casket.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving the order from the service provider via a network in communication with an administrative system comprising an ERP system; and
administering the order using the ERP system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
associating an inventory status identifier with the rental casket in the ERP system; and
modifying the inventory status identifier of the rental casket to indicate completion of at least one of order dispatch, order delivery, rental casket return, and rental casket inspection.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
wherein the rental casket kit comprises a non-reusable component;
assembling the non-reusable component to the rental casket kit;
delivering the rental casket kit including the non-reusable component to the service provider;
associating an inventory quantity with the non-reusable component in the ERP system; and
modifying the inventory quantity of the non-reusable component to indicate delivery of the non-reusable component to the service provider.

### Claim 12

A system for distributing a rental casket kit, the system comprising:
a distributor network in communication with an administrative system and a service provider;
the distribution network to perform a method comprising:
receiving an order from a service provider for rental of a rental casket kit comprising a reusable rental casket;
receiving a rental casket kit price comprising a rental fee and a rental casket deposit from an administrative system;
assembling the rental casket into the rental casket kit; and
delivering the rental casket kit to the service provider.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, the method further comprising:
retrieving the rental casket from the service provider;
inspecting the returned rental casket to determine the returned condition of the rental casket;
refurbishing the returned rental casket;
wherein refurbishing the returned rental casket includes at least one of cleaning and repairing the rental casket; and
determining a portion of the rental casket deposit refundable to the service provider based on the returned condition of the rental casket.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, the method further comprising:
determining availability of the rental casket within a distributor network;
selecting the fulfilling distributor from the distributor network based on the availability of the rental casket from the fulfilling distributor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, the method further comprising:
wherein the rental casket kit further comprises a non-reusable casket insert;
assembling a non-reusable casket insert into the rental casket kit; and
delivering the rental casket kit including the casket insert to the service provider.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising:
the distributor network in communication with an ERP system;
the method further comprising:
receiving the order from the service provider via a network in communication with the ERP system; and
administering the order using the ERP system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising:
a supplier network in communication with the administrative system;
wherein in response to receipt of an order for a rental casket kit the administrative system generates a replenishment order to a supplier in the supplier network.

### Claim 18

A computer-readable memory device comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement steps in a method for distributing a rental casket kit, the method comprising:
the distribution network to perform a method comprising:
receiving an order from a service provider for rental of a rental casket kit comprising a reusable rental casket;
receiving a rental casket kit price comprising a rental fee and a rental casket deposit from an administrative system;
assembling the rental casket into the rental casket kit;
delivering the rental casket kit to the service provider;
retrieving the rental casket from the service provider;
inspecting the returned rental casket to determine the returned condition of the rental casket;
refurbishing the returned rental casket;
wherein refurbishing the returned rental casket includes at least one of cleaning and repairing the rental casket; and
determining a portion of the rental casket deposit refundable to the service provider based on the returned condition of the rental casket.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The computer-readable memory device of claim 18, further comprising:
associating an inventory status identifier with the rental casket in an ERP system in communication with the distributor; and
modifying the inventory status identifier of the rental casket to indicate completion of at least one of order dispatch, order delivery, rental casket return, and rental casket inspection.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The computer-readable memory device of claim 19, further comprising:
wherein the rental casket kit comprises a non-reusable component;
associating an inventory quantity with the non-reusable component in the ERP system; and
modifying the inventory quantity of the non-reusable component to indicate delivery of the non-reusable component to the service provider.