Patents by Inventor Joel Alan Rutledge

Joel Alan Rutledge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10865084
    Abstract: Examples provide a configurable item display dolly. The item display dolly includes a plurality of attachment slots for attaching support arms that hold trays and/or items. In a closed configuration, the support arms are configured to hold the trays a minimum distance apart. In an open configuration, two or more of the support arms are separated a maximum distance apart to enable users to access items on the item display dolly. The item display dolly transports trays of items from a storage area in a transport mode and converts to an item display device in a display mode. A controller component analyzes sensor data, including weight data and temperature data, to update item display dolly inventory, identify broken/damaged items, alert users when trays are empty and/or trigger maintenance or other action if temperature levels fall outside acceptable cold-chain compliance temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Alexander, Joel Alan Rutledge
  • Publication number: 20190308863
    Abstract: Examples provide a configurable item display dolly. The item display dolly includes a plurality of attachment slots for attaching support arms that hold trays and/or items. In a closed configuration, the support arms are configured to hold the trays a minimum distance apart. In an open configuration, two or more of the support arms are separated a maximum distance apart to enable users to access items on the item display dolly. The item display dolly transports trays of items from a storage area in a transport mode and converts to an item display device in a display mode. A controller component analyzes sensor data, including weight data and temperature data, to update item display dolly inventory, identify broken/damaged items, alert users when trays are empty and/or trigger maintenance or other action if temperature levels fall outside acceptable cold-chain compliance temperature ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew D. Alexander, Joel Alan Rutledge