Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein useful to assess or determine available cargo capacity for multiple vehicles associated with crowdsourced delivery agents. In some embodiments, systems are provided to assess delivery vehicles and may include multiple electronic user devices each having a delivery agent interface operating thereon and an association with one or more crowdsourced delivery agents. At least one control circuit is communicatively coupled to the electronic user devices. By one approach, the control circuit may estimate delivery requirements for purchased orders, which includes volume requirements and geometric configurations of purchased orders. The control circuits may evaluate vehicles associated with crowdsourced delivery agents to determine which are suitable for delivery of the purchased order, and present, to the appropriate electronic user devices, an opportunity to deliver at least a portion of the purchased order to a delivery location.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to facilitating the vehicle pick up of orders at shopping facilities. In some embodiments, there is provided a system including: an electronic interface for receiving an order corresponding to a customer and for receiving a time period during which the customer requests to pick up the order; a control circuit configured to: determine the location of the customer; determine a plurality of shopping facilities near the customer's location; determine when the order would be available for pick up; determine the subset of shopping facilities where the order would be available within the time period requested by the customer; transmit the location to the customer; and at least one shopping facility where the order is made available for pick up by the customer during the requested time period.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to facilitating the vehicle pick up of orders at shopping facilities. In some embodiments, there is provided a system including: an electronic interface configured to receive an order corresponding to a customer; a control circuit configured to: determine the location of the customer; determine shopping facilities near the customer's location; determine time intervals when the order will be available for pick up at each of the shopping facilities; transmit a visual representation indicating the time intervals of availability at the shopping facilities; and a shopping facility where the order is made available for pick up by the customer during one of the time intervals.

Abstract: A composite package for a water heater includes a two-part folded cardboard assembly as a top support panel and a two-part folded cardboard assembly as a bottom support panel. The two members that comprise the top support panel each being as a generally rectangular cardboard member which is folded so as to result in a double-thickness center area and oppositely disposed downwardly depending side walls. These two members are then turned 90 degrees to each other so as to create an open, box-like structure. Virtually the same procedure is followed for the fabrication of the bottom support panel. Each of the four folded cardboard members include a centrally disposed and generally rectangular reinforcement which may either be plastic, metal or a similar relatively rigid material and this reinforcement is secured to the folded cardboard.

Abstract: A composite package for a water heater includes a two-part folded cardboard assembly as a top support panel and a two-part folded cardboard assembly as a bottom support panel. The two members that comprise the top support panel each begin as a generally rectangular cardboard member which is folded so as to result in a double-thickness center area and oppositely disposed downwardly depending side walls. These two members are then turned 90 degrees to each other so as to create an open, box-like structure. Virtually the same procedure is followed for the fabrication of the bottom support panel. Each of the four folded cardboard members include a centrally disposed and generally rectangular reinforcement which may either be plastic, metal or a similar relatively rigid material and this reinforcement is secured to the folded cardboard.

Abstract: A composite package for a water heater includes a two-part folded cardboard assembly as a top support panel and a two-part folded cardboard assembly as a bottom support panel. The two members that comprise the top support panel each begin as a generally rectangular cardboard member which is folded so as to result in a double-thickness center area and oppositely disposed downwardly depending side walls. These two members are then turned 90 degrees to each other so as to create an open, box-like structure. Virtually the same procedure is followed for the fabrication of the bottom support panel. Each of the four folded cardboard members include a centrally disposed and generally rectangular reinforcement which may either by plastic, metal or a similar relatively rigid material and this reinforcement is secured to the folded cardboard.