Patents by Inventor Thomas John Carroll

Thomas John Carroll 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: 10565637
    Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Thomas John Carroll
  • Patent number: 9818250
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines includes a kit determination system with a kit analyzer to determine whether there is a specific kit or kits to recommend or assign to a user. A kit may be pre-assigned to the user by a third party. If there is no kit assigned to the user, a kit may be recommended to the user based on past history and a number of other factors. Also included is a vending machine kit dispensing system for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines, the vending machines being interconnected on a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Carroll, Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20150356809
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines includes a kit determination system with a kit analyzer to determine whether there is a specific kit or kits to recommend or assign to a user. A kit may be pre-assigned to the user by a third party. If there is no kit assigned to the user, a kit may be recommended to the user based on past history and a number of other factors. Also included is a vending machine kit dispensing system for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines, the vending machines being interconnected on a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas John Carroll, Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 8781917
    Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Thomas John Carroll
  • Patent number: 8326701
    Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Thomas John Carroll
  • Publication number: 20100299204
    Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Thomas John Carroll
  • Publication number: 20100299203
    Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Thomas John Carroll