GB2425113A

GB2425113A - Container openable to form a tray

Info

Publication number: GB2425113A
Application number: GB0507541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Farish
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-14
Also published as: GB0507541D0; GB2425113B

Abstract

A container especially for use with an airline-style trolley comprises portions (1, 2) hinged together to form a closed container which can be opened out to form a tray. When in the form of a tray, a locking device prevents the tray from closing up and a backstop prevents the tray from opening more than 180{. The locking device may be a sliding catch arrangement a sliding bar arrangement or a sliding clip arrangement (8).

Description

1 2425113

CONTAINER

This invention relates to a container and in particular to a container for an airline-style trolley.

Meal boxes for trolleys for the airline and railway industries are well known. A meal box or container fits on tray runners in the trolley and comprises a way of presenting food and snacks as well as other items to the passengers.

A particular variant of these are meal boxes for children, whereby the closed box containing a drink and snacks is stored in the trolley. At mealtime, the box would be opened, placed on a tray and additional hot food added before handing to the child. After the food has been consumed, the child would be left with the box, which when closed forms a small carry case or lunch box which the child can play with and keep as a memento. It may also contain other simple toys and games to occupy the child during the journey, particularly on a long flight.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container comprising two portions each to receive material, the two portions being joined together by a hinge device and being closable to form a substantially closed container and there being a locking device to lock the two portions in a rigid, open condition to act as a form of tray for the material in the container.

The container preferably comprises a backstop to prevent the two portions opening beyond the substantially 180 alignment.

The backstop may comprise at least one member on the outside of one of the portions that abuts an outside part of the other portion.

The at least one member may be in the form of a fin and each portion may have a fin, the two fins inter-engaging when the portions are in their 180 opened condition.

The two portions may be joined together by a hinge of flexible material.

Each portion may be substantially identical.

The locking device may comprise at least one clip engaging a spine between the two portions and/or a sliding catch. The locking device may include an insertable bar which may be in the form of a ruler, which is detachable for separate use.

The container may more particularly be in the form of a meal box for liquid and/or solid refreshment. In addition, it can be constructed to form a carry-case. it will be appreciated that the two portions therefore can form a substantially rectangular box when closed.

The container may be formed of a plastics material and/or card.

The container is preferably dimensioned to fit an airline-style trolley and therefore the container itself can be identified as an airline-style trolley container.

It follows that the invention also extends to an airline-style trolley provided with slide rails for supporting meal trays, the trolley containing and supporting on its rails at least one container substantially as defined above.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of an airline-style trolley container in a closed condition, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the underneath of the container shown in Fig. 1 in an opened condition, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the container in its opened condition and showing one form of locking device, Fig. 4 is a sectional side view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another form of container in a partly-opened condition, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 5 in a fully-opened condition and showing a variant in the locking device, Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and illustrating the locking device in greater detail, Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and illustrating the construction of container to accommodate another form of locking device, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the container shown in Fig. 8 and showing the locking device installed with the container in its opened condition, and Fig. 10 is a sectional side view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1 shows the container which comprises two portions 1 and 2, which may be substantially identical, closed to form a closed container. A handle 3 is provided so that the container forms a carry-case.

The container is also shaped to provide compartments in which various articles and and/or items of food or drink may be accommodated. it will be appreciated that many different designs of container can be envisaged to accommodate various articles and/or items of food and drink.

Fig. 2 shows the container in its opened condition and it will be noted that the two portions 1, 2 are joined by a hinge 4 of flexible material.

In order to prevent the two portions opening beyond a substantially 1800 alignment, a backstop is provided and, in the embodiment shown, the backstop comprises two pairs of fins 5A, 5B, which abut one another when the two portions 1, 2 are opened out to form a tray.

In order to form the rigid tray when the portions are open and therefore to prevent the two portions from closing, a locking device is provided.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the locking device is in the form of a slide lock or clip 6 mounted in one of the portions, for example the base, which clip 6 is mounted on the base of its portion and can be slid into engagement with a cut- out 7 of the other portion in order to maintain the two portions in a substantially 180 opened-out relationship when acting as a tray.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a variation, in which each portion 1, 2 is provided at their common edges 1A, 2A, or spine, with two pairs of grooves 7A, 7B, each pair of grooves 7A, 7B receiving a clip 8, which may be disposable. When the clips 8 are slid onto the respective pairs of grooves 7A, 7B, the two portions 1, 2 are locked substantially in their tray-forming condition.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the container with a locking device in the form of a sliding bar 9, which can form a ruler.

Apertures are provided in both the lid and base portions and each portion 1, 2 is provided with a set of raised portions 10 or the like, with which corresponding recessed portions or cut-outs 9A of the bar 9 can engage in order to lock the two portions together.

Once the tray has served its use, the ruler 9 can be used as a separate item.

It will be appreciated that the various locking devices shown and described can be used either alone or in any combination; for example, the ruler 9 can be provided in each case.

Also, the container is provided with a catch arrangement hA and 113, in order to keep the container closed.

The container may be formed of plastics material which is injection moulded, with the two portions 1, 2 being separately moulded and subsequently interlocked by the flexible hinge 4.

It will be appreciated that the present container eliminates the need in an airline situation for an additional tray on which the meal box is placed. The present container or box is configured into its rigid tray form and is stored in the airline trolley. The tray, with contents including food and drink in both the lid and base portions, can be safely passed over seated passengers without the risk of folding up and subsequent spillage of content. After the food has been consumed, the tray can be unlocked and returned to the box form, where it functions as a small case or lunch box for keep-sake purposes.

As mentioned above, the actual appearance and dimensions of the container can vary according to needs but in particular, it is designed to fit (open or closed) into an airline trolley.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A container comprising two portions each to receive material, the two portions being joined together by a hinge device and being closable to form a substantially closed container and there being a locking device to lock the two portions in a rigid, open condition to act as a form of tray for the material in the container.

2. A container according to claim 1 and comprising a backstop to prevent the two portions opening beyond a substantially 1800 alignment.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said backstop comprises at least one member on the outside of one of the portions that abuts an outside part of the other portion.

4. A container according to claim 2, wherein said at least one member is in the form of a fin.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein each portion has a said fin, the two fins inter- engaging when the portions are in their opened condition.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two portions are joined together by a hinge of flexible material.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each portion is substantially identical.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device comprises at least one clip.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device is a sliding catch.

10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device includes an insertable bar to act as a spine for the portions.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein said insertable bar is in the form of a ruler, which is detachable for separate use.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims and being in the form of a meal box for liquid and/or solid refreshment.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims and being constructed to form a carry-case.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two portions form a substantially rectangular box.

15. A container according to any one of the preceding claims and being formed of a plastics material and/or card.

16. A container according to any one of the preceding claims and being adapted to fit an airline-style trolley.

17. A container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An airline-style trolley container having JO the features of the container according to any one of the preceding claims.

19. An airline-style trolley container, substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. An airline trolley provided with slide rails for supporting meal trays, the trolley containing and supporting on its rails at least one container according to any one of the preceding claims.