Title: Lunch box with divider structure
Abstract: A lunch box includes a housing that has top and bottom surfaces. The housing further has sidewalls integral with the bottom surface and preferably extending upwardly therefrom. Support members are secured to the plurality of sidewalls. The divider plates are removably attachable to the support members. A divider bar is slidably positionable into corresponding slots on the divider plates. The divider bar also has slots formed along a length thereof. Divider members have a plurality of slots formed therein for selectively engaging the divider bar. The divider bar and the plurality of divider members advantageously cooperate with each other for maintaining food products during transportation. The lunch box further has a zipper for attaching the top surface to the housing. A flexible handle is also connected to the housing.
Patent Number: 7,004,323 Issued on 02/28/2006 to Symonds
| Inventors:
|
Symonds; Theresa H. (49 Woodstone Rd., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
776047 |
| Filed:
|
February 12, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
206/542; 220/533; 426/120 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
A45C 11/20 (20060101); B65D 25/04 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
206/541-542,545-550
220/532-533,541-542
426/110,119-120
190/110
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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| 2011996 | Aug., 1935 | Belk.
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| 2061965 | Nov., 1936 | Graeser.
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| 2496296 | Feb., 1950 | Lobl.
| |
| 2672232 | Mar., 1954 | Kessell, Jr.
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| 3079028 | Feb., 1963 | Rosner.
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| 3381782 | May., 1968 | Ikelheimer.
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| 3432025 | Mar., 1969 | Luhe.
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| 3491909 | Jan., 1970 | Ikelheimer.
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| 3859819 | Jan., 1975 | Kaplan.
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| 4260004 | Apr., 1981 | Domke.
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| 4842032 | Jun., 1989 | Mastronardo.
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| D302904 | Aug., 1989 | Dunkeld, Jr.
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| 4932548 | Jun., 1990 | Bensinger.
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| 5103998 | Apr., 1992 | Caro et al.
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| 5244268 | Sep., 1993 | Derrickson.
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| 5501338 | Mar., 1996 | Preston.
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| D371056 | Jun., 1996 | Sullivan.
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| 6910560 | Jun., 2005 | Dulin.
| |
Primary Examiner: Gehman; Bryon P.
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a lunch box and, more particularly, to a lunch box
containing a plurality of storage dividers for separating food products positioned therein.
2. Prior Art
Numerous manufacturers have provided food carriers (commonly known as "lunch
boxes"), designed and marketed specifically for children, and for the manual laborer,
or so-called "blue collar" worker. In addition, many other kinds of people also
carry food to their places of work, or elsewhere, using a plain paper bag.
One common shortcoming of prior art lunch boxes is their inability to effectively
separate food products. For example, a user often carries soft sandwiches and rigid
soda cans in his or her lunch box. During transportation, such items moved around
and press against each other as the lunch box is repetitively repositioned. Consequently,
some of the softer food products become damaged thereby causing their ingredients
to ooze in the lunch box and become contaminated and uneatable.
Accordingly, a need remains for a lunch box that contains storage dividers
for overcoming the above-noted shortcomings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide a lunch box for separating food products contained therein.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided
by a lunch box including a housing that has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis
and generally planar top and bottom surfaces. The housing further has a plurality
of sidewalls integral with the bottom surface and preferably extending upwardly
therefrom in a substantially vertical direction.
The present invention further has a plurality of oppositely disposed support
members secured to select ones of the plurality of sidewalls. The plurality of
support members have top and bottom edges extending substantially orthogonal to
the axis and substantially parallel to the select sidewalls.
The lunch box further includes a plurality of divider plates that have rear surfaces
removably attachable to the plurality of support members respectively. Advantageously,
such divider plates may be removed from the lunch box when a user desires to employ
the lunch box in a conventional manner. The plurality of divider plates further
have front surfaces including a plurality of oppositely facing appendages selectively
spaced therealong and extending outwardly therefrom at a substantially parallel
direction to the axis respectively. The plurality of appendages selectively define
a plurality of slots therebetween. The plurality of divider plate slots may extend
downwardly along a substantially vertical path for receiving and maintaining the
plurality of divider members at corresponding vertical directions.
The present invention further includes an elongated divider bar that may be slidably
positionable into corresponding ones of the plurality of slots for defining a first
plurality of cavities within the housing. The divider bar may also have a plurality
of slots formed along a length thereof.
The lunch box further includes a plurality of divider members including elongated
bodies and top and bottom edge portions spaced apart from each other. Such divider
members have a plurality of slots formed therein for selectively engaging the divider
bar so that the first plurality of cavities may be subdivided into a second plurality
of cavities within the housing. The divider bar and the plurality of divider members
advantageously cooperate with each other for receiving and selectively maintaining
a plurality of food products within the plurality of first and second cavities
during transportation thereof. Of course, a user may selectively adjust the size
and arrangement of such cavities as required for his/her particular application.
The plurality of divider member slots may extend upwardly from the bottom edge
portions and terminate generally medially between the bottom and top edge portions
respectively. The plurality of divider member slots may also extend along a substantially
vertical direction so that same may be selectively positioned along a length of
the divider bar and between the plurality of divider plates. The plurality of divider
members further comprise a plurality of end portions integral with the plurality
of bodies respectively and may be spaced from the plurality of associated slots thereof.
Such a plurality of end portions define a plurality of stop portions for preventing
the plurality of divider members from transversely moving beyond the divider bar.
The plurality of divider members, the plurality of divider plates, and the divider
bar may be formed from plastic or other suitable materials, well-known to a person
of ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention may further include a zipper for selectively attaching
the top surface to the housing. A flexible handle having opposed end portions may
also be connected to the housing for allowing a user to maintain a secure grip
of the lunch box.
Claims
What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the
United States is:
1. A lunch box for isolating food products therein, said lunch box comprising:
a housing having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and a generally planar
top surface, said housing further having a generally planar bottom surfaces, said
housing further having a plurality of sidewalls integral with said bottom surface
and extending upwardly therefrom in a substantially vertical direction;
a plurality of oppositely disposed support members secured to select ones of
said plurality of sidewalls, said plurality of support members having top and bottom
edges extending substantially orthogonal to the axis and substantially parallel
to said select sidewalls;
a plurality of divider plates having rear surfaces removably attachable to said
plurality of support members respectively, said plurality of divider plates further
having front surfaces including a plurality of oppositely facing appendages selectively
spaced therealong and extending outwardly therefrom at a substantially parallel
direction to the axis respectively, said plurality of appendages selectively defining
a plurality of slots therebetween;
an elongated divider bar being slidably positionable into corresponding ones
of said plurality of slots and for defining a first plurality of cavities within
said housing, said divider bar having a plurality of slots formed along a length
thereof, and
a plurality of divider members including elongated bodies having a plurality
of slots formed therein respectively and for being selectively engaged with said
divider bar so that the first plurality of cavities can be subdivided into a second
plurality of cavities within said housing, said divider bar and said plurality
of divider members cooperating with each other for receiving and selectively maintaining
a plurality of food products within the plurality of first and second cavities
during transportation thereof.
2. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein said plurality of divider members further
have top and bottom edge portions spaced apart from each other, said plurality
of divider member slots extending upwardly from said bottom edge portions and terminating
generally medially between said bottom and top edge portions respectively.
3. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein said plurality of divider member slots extend
along a substantially vertical direction so that said plurality of divider members
can be selectively positioned along a length of said divider bar and between said
plurality of divider plates.
4. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein said plurality of slots of said plurality
of appendages extend downwardly along a substantially vertical path for receiving
and maintaining said plurality of divider members at corresponding vertical directions.
5. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein said plurality of divider members further
comprise: a plurality of end portions integral with said plurality of bodies respectively
and being spaced from said plurality of slots formed within said plurality of bodies,
said plurality of end portions defining a plurality of stop portions for preventing
said plurality of divider members from transversely moving beyond said divider bar.
6. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein said plurality of divider members and said
plurality of divider plates and said divider bar are formed from plastic.
7. The lunch box of claim 1, further comprising:
a zipper for selectively attaching said top surface to said housing; and
a flexible handle having opposed end portions connected to said housing and for
allowing a user to maintain a secure grip of said lunch box.
8. A lunch box for isolating food products therein, said lunch box comprising:
a housing having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and a generally planar
top surface, said housing further having a generally planar bottom surfaces, said
housing further having a plurality of sidewalls integral with said bottom surface
and extending upwardly therefrom in a substantially vertical direction;
a plurality of oppositely disposed support members secured to select ones of
said plurality of sidewalls, said plurality of support members having top and bottom
edges extending substantially orthogonal to the axis and substantially parallel
to said select sidewalls;
a plurality of divider plates having rear surfaces removably attachable to said
plurality of support members respectively, said plurality of divider plates further
having front surfaces including a plurality of oppositely facing appendages selectively
spaced therealong and extending outwardly therefrom at a substantially parallel
direction to the axis respectively, said plurality of appendages selectively defining
a plurality of slots therebetween;
an elongated divider bar being slidably positionable into corresponding ones
of said plurality of slots and for defining a first plurality of cavities within
said housing, said divider bar having a plurality of slots formed along a length
thereof; and
a plurality of divider members including elongated bodies having a plurality
of slots formed therein respectively and for being selectively engaged with said
divider bar so that the first plurality of cavities can be subdivided into a second
plurality of cavities within said housing, said divider bar and said plurality
of divider members cooperating with each other for receiving and selectively maintaining
a plurality of food products within the plurality of first and second cavities
during transportation thereof, said plurality of divider members further having
top and bottom edge portions spaced apart from each other, said plurality of divider
member slots extending upwardly from said bottom edge portions and terminating
generally medially between said bottom and top edge portions respectively.
9. The lunch box of claim 8, wherein said plurality of divider member slots extend
along a substantially vertical direction so that said plurality of divider members
can be selectively positioned along a length of said divider bar and between said
plurality of divider plates.
10. The lunch box of claim 8, wherein said plurality of slots of said plurality
of appendages extend downwardly along a substantially vertical path for receiving
and maintaining said plurality of divider members at corresponding vertical directions.
11. The lunch box of claim 8, wherein said plurality of divider members further
comprise: a plurality of end portions integral with said plurality of bodies respectively
and being spaced from said plurality of slots formed within said plurality of bodies,
said plurality of end portions defining a plurality of stop portions for preventing
said plurality of divider members from transversely moving beyond said divider bar.
12. The lunch box of claim 8, wherein said plurality of divider members and said
plurality of divider plates and said divider bar are formed from plastic.
13. The lunch box of claim 8, further comprising:
a zipper for selectively attaching said top surface to said housing; and
a flexible handle having opposed end portions connected to said housing and for
allowing a user to maintain a secure grip of said lunch box.
14. A lunch box for isolating food products therein, said lunch box comprising:
a housing having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and generally planar
top surface, said housing further having a generally planar bottom surfaces, said
housing further having a plurality of sidewalls integral with said bottom surface
and extending upwardly therefrom in a substantially vertical direction;
a plurality of oppositely disposed support members secured to select ones of
said plurality of sidewalls, said plurality of support members having top and bottom
edges extending substantially orthogonal to the axis and substantially parallel
to said select sidewalls;
a plurality of divider plates having rear surfaces removably attachable to said
plurality of support members respectively, said plurality of divider plates further
having front surfaces including a plurality of oppositely facing appendages selectively
spaced therealong and extending outwardly therefrom at a substantially parallel
direction to the axis respectively, said plurality of appendages selectively defining
a plurality of slots therebetween;
an elongated divider bar being slidably positionable into corresponding ones
of said plurality of slots and for defining a first plurality of cavities within
said housing, said divider bar having a plurality of slots formed along a length
thereof; and
a plurality of divider members including elongated bodies having a plurality
of slots formed therein respectively and for being selectively engaged with said
divider bar so that the first plurality of cavities can be subdivided into a second
plurality of cavities within said housing, said divider bar and said plurality
of divider members cooperating with each other for receiving and selectively maintaining
a plurality of food products within the plurality of first and second cavities
during transportation thereof, said plurality of divider members further having
top and bottom edge portions spaced apart from each other, said plurality of divider
member slots extending upwardly from said bottom edge portions and terminating
generally medially between said bottom and top edge portions respectively, said
plurality of divider member slots extending along a substantially vertical direction
so that said plurality of divider members can be selectively positioned along a
length of said divider bar and between said plurality of divider plates.
15. The lunch box of claim 14, wherein said plurality of slots of said plurality
of appendages extend downwardly along a substantially vertical path for receiving
and maintaining said plurality of divider members at corresponding vertical directions.
16. The lunch box of claim 14, wherein said plurality of divider members further
comprise: a plurality of end portions integral with said plurality of bodies respectively
and being spaced from said plurality of slots formed within said plurality of bodies,
said plurality of end portions defining a plurality of stop portions for preventing
said plurality of divider members from transversely moving beyond said divider bar.
17. The lunch box of claim 14, wherein said plurality of divider members and
said plurality of divider plates and said divider bar are formed from plastic.
18. The lunch box of claim 14, further comprising:
a zipper for selectively attaching said top surface to said housing; and
a flexible handle having opposed end portions connected to said housing and for
allowing a user to maintain a secure grip of said lunch box.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth
with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both
as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a lunch box, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lunch box shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the lunch box shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken along line 4—4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention
is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather,
this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete,
and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.
The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally in FIGS. 1-4 by the
reference numeral
10 and is intended to provide a lunch box containing a
plurality of storage dividers for separating food products positioned therein.
It should be understood that the apparatus
10 may be used to protect many
different food items contained therein.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, the present invention includes a housing
20 that has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and generally planar
top
21 and bottom
22 surfaces. The housing
20 further has
a plurality of sidewalls
23 integral with the bottom surface
22 and
preferably extending upwardly therefrom in a substantially vertical direction.
Now referring to FIG. 2, the present invention further has a plurality of oppositely
disposed support members
30 secured to select ones of the plurality of sidewalls
23. The plurality of support members
30 have top
31 and bottom
32 edges extending substantially orthogonal to the axis and substantially
parallel to the select sidewalls
23. The lunch box further includes a plurality
of divider plates
40 that have rear surfaces
41 removably attachable
to the plurality of support members
30 respectively.
Advantageously, such divider plates
40 may be removed from
the lunch box when a user desires to employ the lunch box in a conventional manner.
The plurality of divider plates
40 further have front surfaces
42
including a plurality of oppositely facing appendages
43 selectively spaced
therealong and extending outwardly therefrom at a substantially parallel direction
to the axis respectively. The plurality of appendages
43 selectively define
a plurality of slots
44 therebetween. The plurality of divider plate slots
44 extend downwardly along a substantially vertical path for receiving and
maintaining the plurality of divider members
50 at corresponding vertical directions.
The present invention further includes an elongated divider bar
50 that
is slidably positionable into corresponding ones of the plurality of slots
44
for defining a first plurality of cavities within the housing
20, as best
shown in FIG. 4. The divider bar
50 also has a plurality of slots
51
formed along a length thereof, as best shown in FIG. 2.
The lunch box further includes a plurality of divider members
70 including
elongated bodies
71 and top
72 and bottom
73 edge portions
spaced apart from each other. Such a divider member
70 has a plurality of
slots
74 formed therein for selectively engaging the divider bar
50
so that the first plurality of cavities is subdivided into a second plurality of
cavities within the housing
20, as best shown in FIG. 2. The divider bar
50 and the plurality of divider members
70 advantageously cooperate
with each other for receiving and selectively maintaining a plurality of food products
within the plurality of first and second cavities during transportation thereof.
Of course, a user may selectively adjust the size and arrangement of such cavities
as required for his/her particular application.
The plurality of divider member slots
74 extend upwardly from the bottom
edge portions
73 and terminate generally medially between the bottom
73
and top
72 edge portions respectively. The plurality of divider member slots
74 also extend along a substantially vertical direction so that same may
be selectively positioned along a length of the divider bar
50 and between
the plurality of divider plates
40. The plurality of divider members
70
further comprise a plurality of end portions
75 integral with the plurality
of bodies
71 respectively and are spaced from the plurality of associated
slots
51 thereof.
Such a plurality of end portions
75 define a plurality of stop portions
for preventing the plurality of divider members
70 from transversely moving
beyond the divider bar
50, as best shown in FIG. 3. The plurality of divider
members
70, the plurality of divider plates
40, and the divider bar
50 are formed from plastic or other suitable materials, well-known to a
person of ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention further includes a zipper
80 for selectively attaching
the top surface
21 to the housing
20. A flexible handle
81
having opposed end portions
82 is also connected to the housing
20
for allowing a user to maintain a secure grip of the lunch box.
The versatile lunch box could appeal to a wide range of individuals who carry
their lunch to school or work. The removable separator allows a variety of foods
to be kept in separate sections of the lunch box. As a result, food arrives at
school or work undamaged, as well as more appealing and appetizing.
While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment,
it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that
the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation.
The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to one skilled in the art.
*
