GB2309451A - A lunch-box - Google Patents

A lunch-box Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2309451A
GB2309451A GB9601433A GB9601433A GB2309451A GB 2309451 A GB2309451 A GB 2309451A GB 9601433 A GB9601433 A GB 9601433A GB 9601433 A GB9601433 A GB 9601433A GB 2309451 A GB2309451 A GB 2309451A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wall structure
lunch
box according
wall
cavity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9601433A
Other versions
GB9601433D0 (en
Inventor
Brian Kellner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9601433A priority Critical patent/GB2309451A/en
Publication of GB9601433D0 publication Critical patent/GB9601433D0/en
Publication of GB2309451A publication Critical patent/GB2309451A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
    • A45C11/20—Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/02—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
    • F25D3/06—Movable containers
    • F25D3/08—Movable containers portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
    • F25D2303/083—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid using cold storage material disposed in closed wall forming part of a container for products to be cooled
    • F25D2303/0831—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid using cold storage material disposed in closed wall forming part of a container for products to be cooled the liquid is disposed in the space between the walls of the container
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/804—Boxes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/806—Dispensers

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)

Abstract

A lunch-box (1) has a wall structure (5, 7, 9) which forms a first compartment (15) adapted in use to contain a packed meal and one or more second compartments adapted to contain a liquid. The second compartment may surround the first and may have a nozzle (23) and screw cap (25) for dispensing the liquid.

Description

A LUNCH-BOX The present invention relates to a lunch-box.
A lunch-box is a container having a compartment for receiving a packed meal, such as a packed lunch, and is carried by a user in a holdall, rucksack or the like to a destination where the user eventually consumes the meal.
Lunch-boxes are regularly used by schoolchildren, sunbathers, hikers, workers, etc. for containing a packed lunch which typically includes sandwiches, yoghurt, fruit, chocolate and the like.
One drawback of lunch-boxes used to date is that they have not been designed to take account of the fact that it is usually several hours after the packed meal is prepared before it is consumed. The packed meal will therefore lose some of its freshness due to it becoming warm. Additionally, some of the components of packed meals are better consumed when cold.
One proposal for dealing with this problem has been to place the lunch-box with its contents into a cooler bag the interior of which is kept cool by ice packs. Use of a cooler bag, however, is not practical in all circumstances, for example for hikers and schoolchildren.
Another drawback of lunch-boxes proposed to date is that they are not provided with the capacity for containing a drink. Drinks have therefore hitherto had to be carried separate from a lunch-box.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a lunchbox with means for overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior lunch-box proposals.
According to the present invention there is provided a lunch-box having a wall structure arrangement which forms a first compartment adapted in use to contain a packed meal and one or more second compartments adapted to contain a liquid. In accordance with the invention liquid contained in the second compartment or compartments can be frozen before a packed meal is placed in the first compartment. The frozen liquid keeps the first compartment, and thus the packed meal, cool until it melts. The melting time of a liquid such as water should ensure that if the packed meal is consumed within several hours then the packed meal will still be cool when eaten.
In an embodiment of the invention the wall structure arrangement comprises a plurality of wall structure regions which bound the first compartment and one of the wall structure regions takes the form of a closure which is movable between a first position in which it closes off access to the first compartment and a second position in which it allows access to the first compartment.
In an embodiment of the invention each wall structure region presents an inner face and an outer face and the inner faces bound the first compartment.
In an embodiment of the invention one of the wall structure regions takes the form of a cavity wall which comprises an inner wall which presents the inner face and an outer wall which presents the outer face and which is spaced outwardly of the inner wall to define a cavity therebetween, the cavity between the inner wall and the outer wall being the or one of the second compartments.
In another embodiment of the invention a plurality of juxtaposed wall structure regions collectively take the form of a cavity wall which comprises an inner wall which presents the inner faces and an outer wall which presents the outer faces and which is spaced outwardly of the inner wall to define a cavity therebetween, the cavity being the or one of the second compartments.
In yet another embodiment of the invention the wall structure arrangement forms a plurality of segregated second compartments and a plurality of wall structure regions each take the form of a cavity wall, each cavity wall comprising an inner wall which presents the inner face and an outer wall which presents the outer face and which is spaced outwardly of the inner wall to define a cavity therebetween with each cavity being one of the second compartments.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described a first set of wall structure regions form a base wall structure, a second set of wall structure regions form a top wall structure spaced above the base wall structure, and a third set of wall structure regions form a side wall structure which extends from the base wall structure to the top wall structure.
In an embodiment of the invention at least one of the wall structure regions forming the base wall structure takes the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
In a further embodiment of the invention at least one of the wall structure regions forming the side wall structure takes the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described at least one of the wall structure regions forming the base wall structure and at least one of the wall structure regions forming the side wall structure collectively take the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
In an embodiment of the invention a plurality of the wall structure regions which form the side wall structure each take the form of one of the cavity walls with the cavities of the cavity walls being segregated from one another to provide a plurality of segregated second compartments.
In an embodiment of the invention at least one of the wall structure regions forming the top wall structure takes the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described the base wall structure and the side wall structure collectively form a lunch-box body and at least one of the wall structure regions forming the top wall structure is the closure. Conveniently, all of the wall structure regions forming the top wall structure collectively form the closure.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described the top wall structure is a lid releasably securable to the lunch-box body.
In an embodiment of the invention the base wall structure and the side wall structure are integrally formed into the lunch-box body from a plastics material and the lid is also formed from a plastics material.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described resealable dispensing means are provided to enable a user to drink the liquid contained in the second compartment or second compartments when the liquid has melted. Alternatively, the second compartment or second compartments can be sealed liquid containment compartments so that the liquid contained therein is frozen over and over again to keep successive packed meals cool.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described each wall structure region forming the side wall structure is a side wall, the base wall structure is of polygonal cross-section and each side wall upstands from the edge of one of the sides of the base wall structure.
In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described the lunch-box has one second compartment and the side walls and base wall structure collectively take the form of the cavity wall whose cavity is the second compartment.
By way of example embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of a lunchbox in accordance with the invention comprising a body portion and lid portion with the lid portion shown with a cutaway, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the body portion shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is cross-sectional side view of the body portion taken along line A-A in Figure 2.
Referring to the Figures there is shown generally at 1 a lunch-box comprising a body portion 3 and a lid portion 5 releasably securable to the body portion 3. The body portion 3 is formed by a base wall 7 and a plurality of side walls 9 which extend upwardly from the base wall 7.
The side walls 9 and base wall 7 each present an inner face 11 and an outer face 13. The inner faces 11 of the side walls 9 and base wall 7 are bounding faces of a first compartment 15 in which a packed meal is locatable.
The lid portion 5 also presents an inner face and an outer face with the inner face also being a bounding face of the first compartment 15 when releasably secured to the body portion 3.
As can be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3, the side walls 9 and base wall 7 are cavity walls, that is to say, comprising an inner wall 17 which presents the inner face 11 and an outer wall 19 which presents the outer face 13 and which is spaced from the inner wall 17 to define a cavity 21 therebetween. The cavities 21 in the base wall 7 and side walls 9 communicate with one another so that they collectively form a second compartment which surrounds the first compartment 15 on each side and at the bottom. One can consider the body portion 3 to be formed by a double wall structure.
The second compartment is designed to contain a liquid, for example water. Resealable dispensing means in the form of a nozzle 23 and screw cap 25 are provided to enable the user of the lunch-box 1 to drink the liquid contained in the second compartment.
As well as providing a drink dispenser, the second compartment formed by the cavities 21 can play a second role. After pouring liquid into the second compartment through the nozzle 23, or other inlet means which may be provided, the liquid is frozen by, for example, placing the body portion 3 in a freezer overnight. A packed meal placed in the first compartment 15 the following day will then be kept cool by the frozen liquid. This is especially convenient where the lunch-box 1 is to be used in a hot environment, e.g. the beach, or where components of the packed meal are best eaten when slightly chilled, e.g. yoghurt and chocolate.
If the packed meal is not to be eaten for several hours after it is packed into the lunch-box 1 then the frozen liquid will have melted by that time so that the liquid can be drunk with the meal which will still be fresh due to the cooling effect of the original frozen state of the liquid.
It is clear that a liquid with a slow melt time but which is unsuitable as a drink is equally suited for containment in the second compartment. The nozzle 23 in this case is solely used for filling and unfilling the second compartment, not for dispensing metered amounts of drink.
As can be seen, the structure of the lunch-box 1 is simple. The body portion 3 and lid 5 could therefore easily be moulded from a plastics material. This would make the lunch-box 1 cheap to manufacture, particularly as the tooling needed for manufacture would not need to be specialised. Alternative materials, such as metal, and manufacturing methods could, however, easily be used instead.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not illustrated) the second compartment is a sealed compartment. In this instance the liquid contained in the second compartment is frozen over and over again to keep successive packed meals cool.
It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that embodiments other than the exemplary embodiments described hereinabove could achieve the same ends and that such embodiments fall within the scope of the present invention. The full scope of the invention is to be understood by reference to the claims.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS:
1. A lunch-box having a wall structure arrangement which forms a first compartment adapted in use to contain a packed meal and one or more second compartments adapted to contain a liquid.
2. A lunch-box according to claim 1, wherein the wall structure arrangement comprises a plurality of wall structure regions which bound the first compartment and wherein one of the wall structure regions takes the form of a closure which is movable between a first position in which it closes off access to the first compartment and a second position in which it allows access to the first compartment.
3. A lunch-box according to claim 2, wherein each wall structure region presents an inner face and an outer face and wherein the inner faces bound the first compartment.
4. A lunch-box according to claim 3, wherein one of the wall structure regions takes the form of a cavity wall which comprises an inner wall which presents the inner face and an outer wall which presents the outer face and which is spaced outwardly of the inner wall to define a cavity therebetween, and wherein the cavity between the inner wall and the outer wall forms the or one of the second compartments.
5. A lunch-box according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of juxtaposed wall structure regions collectively take the form of a cavity wall which comprises an inner wall which presents the inner faces and an outer wall which presents the outer faces and which is spaced outwardly of the inner wall to define a cavity therebetween, and wherein the cavity is the or one of the second compartments.
6. A lunch-box according to claim 3, wherein the wall structure arrangement forms a plurality of segregated second compartments, wherein a plurality of wall structure regions each take the form of a cavity wall, each cavity wall comprising an inner wall which presents the inner face and an outer wall which presents the outer face and which is spaced outwardly of the inner wall to define a cavity therebetween, and wherein each cavity forms one of the second compartments.
7. A lunch-box according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein a first set of wall structure regions form a base wall structure, a second set of wall structure regions form a top wall structure spaced above the base wall structure, and a third set of wall structure regions form a side wall structure which extends from the base wall structure to the top wall structure.
8. A lunch-box according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the wall structure regions forming the base wall structure takes the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
9. A lunch-box according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the wall structure regions forming the side wall structure takes the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
10. A lunch-box according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the wall structure regions forming the base wall structure and at least one of the wall structure regions forming the side wall structure collectively take the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
11. A lunch-box according to claim 7 when appendant to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the wall structure regions which form the side wall structure each take the form of one of the cavity walls with the cavities of the cavity walls being segregated from one another to provide the plurality of segregated second compartments.
12. A lunch-box according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the wall structure regions forming the top wall structure takes the form of the or one of the cavity walls.
13. A lunch-box according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the base wall structure and the side wall structure collectively form a lunch-box body and wherein at least one of the wall structure regions forming the top wall structure is the closure.
14. A lunch-box according to claim 13, wherein all of the wall structure regions forming the top wall structure collectively form the closure.
15. A lunch-box according to claim 14, wherein the top wall structure is a lid releasably securable to the lunch-box body.
16. A lunch-box according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the base wall structure and the side wall structure are integrally formed into the lunch-box body.
17. A lunch-box according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the lunch-box body is formed from a plastics material.
18. A lunch-box according to claim 15 or claim 16 or 17 when appendant to claim 15, wherein the lid is formed from a plastics material.
19. A lunch-box according to any of the preceding claims, wherein resealable dispensing means are provided to enable a user to drink the liquid contained in the second compartment or second compartments.
20. A lunch-box according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the second compartment or second compartments are sealed liquid containment compartments.
21. A lunch-box according to any of claims 7 to 18, wherein each wall structure region forming the side wall structure is a side wall, wherein the base wall structure is of polygonal cross-section and wherein each side wall upstands from the edge of one of the sides of the base wall structure.
22. A lunch-box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures of drawings.
GB9601433A 1996-01-24 1996-01-24 A lunch-box Withdrawn GB2309451A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9601433A GB2309451A (en) 1996-01-24 1996-01-24 A lunch-box

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9601433A GB2309451A (en) 1996-01-24 1996-01-24 A lunch-box

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9601433D0 GB9601433D0 (en) 1996-03-27
GB2309451A true GB2309451A (en) 1997-07-30

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GB9601433A Withdrawn GB2309451A (en) 1996-01-24 1996-01-24 A lunch-box

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005108884A1 (en) * 2004-05-06 2005-11-17 Robert Anthony Long Reduced temperature storage container
DE102010045338A1 (en) * 2010-09-14 2013-03-21 Heiko K. Parzies Breakfast cooling container for storing and cooling e.g. cheese in household, has battery integrated in dual bottom that is filled with food product-safe coolant in leak-proof manner, where coolant is made to gel-like compound in freezer

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3613872A (en) * 1969-04-10 1971-10-19 James G Donnelly Receptacle device for food and beverage products or the like
US4206343A (en) * 1978-09-13 1980-06-03 Mousel Canellen K Combination lunch bucket
US4249392A (en) * 1978-05-22 1981-02-10 Shimano Industrial Company, Limited Constant temperature box
US4286440A (en) * 1979-10-03 1981-09-01 Frank Taylor Compartment cooler
US4287943A (en) * 1978-07-05 1981-09-08 Shimano Industrial Company, Limited Heat insulating box
US4319629A (en) * 1978-04-28 1982-03-16 Shimano Industrial Company Limited Constant temperature box
US4577475A (en) * 1985-04-09 1986-03-25 Herrera Samuel R Portable cooler
US5390797A (en) * 1993-06-03 1995-02-21 Smalley; Chris Food-carrying case

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3613872A (en) * 1969-04-10 1971-10-19 James G Donnelly Receptacle device for food and beverage products or the like
US4319629A (en) * 1978-04-28 1982-03-16 Shimano Industrial Company Limited Constant temperature box
US4249392A (en) * 1978-05-22 1981-02-10 Shimano Industrial Company, Limited Constant temperature box
US4287943A (en) * 1978-07-05 1981-09-08 Shimano Industrial Company, Limited Heat insulating box
US4206343A (en) * 1978-09-13 1980-06-03 Mousel Canellen K Combination lunch bucket
US4286440A (en) * 1979-10-03 1981-09-01 Frank Taylor Compartment cooler
US4577475A (en) * 1985-04-09 1986-03-25 Herrera Samuel R Portable cooler
US5390797A (en) * 1993-06-03 1995-02-21 Smalley; Chris Food-carrying case

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005108884A1 (en) * 2004-05-06 2005-11-17 Robert Anthony Long Reduced temperature storage container
GB2430482A (en) * 2004-05-06 2007-03-28 Robert Anthony Long Reduced temperature storage container
DE102010045338A1 (en) * 2010-09-14 2013-03-21 Heiko K. Parzies Breakfast cooling container for storing and cooling e.g. cheese in household, has battery integrated in dual bottom that is filled with food product-safe coolant in leak-proof manner, where coolant is made to gel-like compound in freezer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9601433D0 (en) 1996-03-27

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