Abstract: Systems, computer programs, and methods for coordinating automated components and employee activities to facilitate fulfillment of orders for items and/or services sold by retailers and made available for delivery or pick-up at a retail location are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: receiving an order; selecting a preferred source location for each retail item in the order; preparing a first portion of the order at a fulfillment center; preparing a second portion of the order at a first store; preparing a third portion of the order at a second store; combining the first and second order portions and loading the combined order portions onto a transportation vehicle for transfer to the second store; and assembling the order including the first, second, and third order portions at the second store.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 23, 2022
Date of Patent:
October 3, 2023
Assignee:
H-E-B, LP
Inventors:
Kedar Dilip Patel, David Lee Goans, Jr.
Abstract: A cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2022
Date of Patent:
January 17, 2023
Assignee:
H-E-B, LP
Inventors:
Eric Newland Wooldridge, Daniel Bailey Jacobs
Abstract: A cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 21, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2022
Assignee:
H-E-B, LP
Inventors:
Eric Newland Wooldridge, Daniel Bailey Jacobs
Abstract: A cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 13, 2021
Date of Patent:
May 3, 2022
Assignee:
H-E-B, LP
Inventors:
Eric Newland Wooldridge, Daniel Bailey Jacobs