| 摘要 |
A "safe delivery"SM system for delivering perishable groceries (120/120'), including an inexpensive, corrugated cardboard box (100); a source of cold (or heat as needed) maintaining the temperature inside the box within a desired temperature range for hours, using an all encompassing pouch of packet material (110/10), used individually (FIGS. 2 & 3) or collectively (FIGS. 5 & 6), with each packet (17) containing a super-absorbent polymer (14, FIG. 12) which is hydrated (14', FIG. 12A) and then either frozen (e.g., in a freezer) or heated (e.g., in a microwave), without producing moisture as the polymer returns to its natural state; a protective cover (130) protecting the box and its contents from heat radiation (e.g., sunlight). Other components (e.g., bubble wrap 140, sealing tape 133) prevent heat attacking convection and/or conduction, with the cover having multiple plies with an outer metallized surface (131); a time/temperature monitoring alert (134) indicating when either a maximum predetermine temperature or a maximum allowed, elapsed time from packing to opening has been exceeded. If so, the customer knows that the perishable items are not warranted to be safe, and the customer is responsible for contacting the purveyor for a return of the goods. A computerized methodology (FIG. 1) insures that the purveyor knows at least approximately when the customer has opened the packed groceries, etc., using a predictive calculator and an automated tracking system, in which the customer is obligated to transmit a unique code, preferably through an automated telephonic or Internet system, when the package is opened.
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