Patent ID: 6871184

Claim:
A method of distributing groceries comprising: accepting an order for a grocery item from a customer, said grocery item to be delivered to a delivery destination; placing the grocery item ordered by a customer in a tote; placing the tote onto a removable rack in a warehouse; transferring the rack with the tote thereon into a first vehicle; dispatching the first vehicle to a transfer point between the warehouse and the delivery destination; transferring the rack with the tote thereon from the first vehicle to a second vehicle; delivering the tote to the delivery destination using the second vehicle; and placing the tote into a secure expandable bag attached to a box situated outside the delivery destination by performing a procedure comprising the steps of: removing the secure expandable bag from the box; expanding the bag to an expanded state; opening a first lock on a first opening of the bag; placing the tote in the bag through the unlocked first opening; and locking the first opening of the bag to lock the tote securely within; wherein, when the bag is not used to store the tote, it is in a collapsed state and is stored within the box; and wherein the customer opens a second lock on a second opening of the bag to gain access to the tote stored within.