US2825444A - Lunch box - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1958 J. 1.. WEIR, JR

LUNCH BOX Filed Nov; 15, 1954 INVENTOR. John L. Wei r, Jr.

"I na/V1515 vs. I Moi,

Un d S ates Paten e.

LUNCHBOX John L. Weir, in, Seattle, Wash.

Application November 15, 1954, Serial No. 468,845 5 Claims. (Ci. 266 4) This invention relates to lunch boxes, and it has reference more particularly to improvements in those types of metal lunch boxes that are equipped with a hingedly attached lid or cover portion within which a Thermos bottle is adapted to be contained; the box cover portion being so shaped that when the bottle is disposed lengthwise therein, the cylindrical housing of the bottle will fit firmly thereagainst, and can be held firmly in place by the applying of a spoon, or the like, transversely of the medial portion of the bottle and holdingly engaging the spoon ends with walls of the arched cover at opposite sides of the bottle.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and practical means for holding a Thermos bottle in the manner above noted in the cover or lid portion of a lunch box of the above described character; this novel means being characterized by the use of a spoon of predetermined length that permits it to be applied to the box cover in a particular way, and which spoon has its handle portion equipped at its end for bolding application to a hook, clip or clasp that is fixed to one sidewall of the cover, and when so applied, the end of the bowl of the spoon is positioned for support by engaging with a wall of the box to which the cover is attached thus to hold the spoon in its intended supporting posi- H011.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a clip, clasp or book that may be easily and readily applied to one wall of a lunch box cover for the purpose of fixing a spoon thereto to serve its Thermos bottle supporting function; such hooks, clips or clasps being mounted through the medial plates that serve torprotect the material of the lid from being scratched, dented or otherwise damaged by reason of the wedging action of the spoon when heldin bottle supporting position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention resides in the details of construction of the spoon holding clips, clasps or hooks, and in the details of the spoonand the manner of applying it in the cover portion of the lunch box.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustratedin the accom- .panyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig.. l is a perspective view showinga lunch box as equipped with a spoon and spoon holding means, embodied bylthe present invention; the cover portion being showninits open position;

' Fig.2 is a cross-sectional view of the lunch box cover portion showing the position in which a Thermos bottle is applied thereto, and the mode of application of the spoon for holding the bottle in place.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spoon supporting hook and plate on which the hook is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a wall portion of the box cover and the hook mounting plate, illustrating an alternative manner of securing the plate and hook in place.

2,825,444 ili'altented .Mar. :4, 1958 a 1&

Fig. 5 is a view showing an alternative means; for and mode of attaching the spoon to the box cover.

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewof parts taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing another means for and mode of attaching a spoon in the box cover for support of the Thermos bottle therein.

Fig 8 is a sectional view taken on'the line'8 -'8 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative tom of spoon securing hook designed for use in lieu ofthatof Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring more in detail to thedrawings:

1 designates what may be a lunch box of a type presently in general use, and equipped with a cover portion 2 that is hingedly attached along its lower edge tot he backwall la of the box, by conventional means, as shown at 3, in Figs. 1 and 2, to swing between the open position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and its closedposition'in which it has been shown in dot and dash lines in Fig.42. The box 1 is usually constructed of metal and -is'made in the elongated, rectangular form shown. Boxes now generally in use are about four and three-fourths inches wide, four inches deep and ten inches long. The cover portion 2 is made in the dome form shown in Fig; 2, with its top portion cylindrically curved to conform substantially to the cylindrical curvature of a standard Thermos bottle, such as that designated by reference numeral-5. It is intended, and it is customary to store the Thermos bottle in the cover or lid portion 2, as shown in Fig 1, then to close the cover over the box-for its securement by suitable clasps, such as those shown at-6, inFig. '1, or by other suitable means.

The present invention anticipates the use ot a spoon, or the like for holding the bottle inplace in the cover 2, and invention is based upon the'details of construction of'the speen and of a hook, or the like, for the securement of the spoon in the cover so that it can serve the intended function of supporting the bottle in place as stored in the cover.

In the present showing, 10 designates a spoon that is made in the conventional shape and in a predetermined length to adapt it to be applied to the cover and against the bottle, transversely thereof, as seen inFig. 2. Adjacent its outer end, the spoon handle 10x is formed with a transverse slot 11. This slot is designed to receive a hook therethrough for support of the spoon; the hook being applied to the inside of the front wall of the cover midway of its ends as seen in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, 1 have shown the present preferred form of book andthe hook mounting plate 14. This plate isof thin sheet metal, in near rectangular form. It is applied against the inside of the lid wall and is fixed thereto for example by passing a short bolt 16 through plate and wall as shown in Fig. 2 or by spot welding. Punched inwardly from the plate, in spaced relationship in a direction lengthwise of the cover, are paired loops 1717 in which the oppo site end portions of hook forming wire are contained. wire is so bent as to provide the spoon securing hook-"18 of the form best shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed also, by reference to Fig. 2, that the hook is directed toward the top, and away from the open lower side of the cover or lid. This provides that when I the hook is applied through the slot of the spoon handle, and the handle is directed across the bottle, the end of the bowl of the spoon can come to rest against the box wall. The pressure of the Thermos bottle against the spoon cannot then disengage the spoon handle from the hook.

In the application of the spoon to the box cover for the support of the bottle therein, the procedure is to extend the end of the spoon handle into the cover beyond the hook end, then to pass the end of the hook shank through 7 the spoon slot 11, and swing uthe cover wall to the bottle engaging position, shown in: L Fig. 2., Upon closing the cover, the lower end of the 7 Spoon will then conie to a position or support on the top is Q i 1' the spoon down and against e dge otv the back wall 1a of the lunchbox; as shown in dotted lines inFig. 2;,the wall la being recessed, as at 1x inFiggl, toseat thespoon end therein; ,Thusthespoon, as so positioned and held will retain the bottle securelyin place.,;;-j I t i 7 a To removethe spoon from its bottle retaining position, the covervis opened to position of Fig.2, then the spoon merely grasped by its lower end portion and pulled up-' wardly as the upperend of the handle is pushed inwardly normally disposed close to the cover wall and thus the entrance to .the hook seat is normally closed, but by reason of'theresiliencyof the hook forming wire, the hook can be sprung outwardlyfor the applying or disengaging 'olj the spoon handle. p r t I 7 Q As an alternate form of hook, I providethe device of Fig. 9. This comprises a base, plate 14x that is substantially square, and formed at least two opposite corners and disengaged from the hook. The end of the hook is y with extended ears' '20 that may be passed, through v ,slots' provided therefor in the, cover wall, and, then clinched'to secure the plate in, place. A book 13x is struck from the plate and bent to assume substantially the same form as the hook 18 of Fig.2 and it is used in the same way ashook 18. a, e

"It will be here explained that the plate 14, of Fig. 3

might also be provided with tabs, like the tabs 20 of Fig. 9; for-use in the attachment of the plate 14 to'the' cover I wall, either by themselves or to supplement the bolt 16.

Another alternativeyconstruction ,is shown in Fig. 4,.

wherein it is noted that the wall of the cover has loops 1 17x struckpinwardly therefrom and these are adapted to-nest, as illustrated, within the, loops 17-17 of the 'platel to receive the aligned and outturned end por tions of the wire which secures the hook 18 in place.

, This provision for loops 17x eliminates the need'for the meet a bolt, as in Fig. 3, for the 'securement of the Plate portion of its handle 10x turned backwardly and. for- I wardly to provide a hook-like end portion Iiihf 'Th'is is adapted to' be hooked ovcrtheoutset central'portion of the secured strap, as shown best 'inFig. 6, to hold that end of the 'spoonwhen the spoon is placed in bottled holding position of Fig. 2.

cover wall is' a clip 32, ,.This comprises two coacting yieldable'jawsor fingers 3131 between whichthe knob can-be applied and held. The knob can be pulled from betweenthe jaws, but under normal usethc cli'p :will

its support of the hold the spoon sufficientlyssecure for Thermos bottle. i

In'the useof the spoon securing hooks, as'ofFigsJZ,

K the other form of 'spoon attaching means shown in Figsp7'and 8,1the spoon handle lily is shown togbe equipped at its end with a knob'3tl. ;Attached"to the 7 3,4 or the hook end is accidental release from thehook. The other'end of the spoon'will be supported is closed.

One advantage of the use of the plate 14 of Figs.f3

and 4 or plate 14x of Fig. 9, isthat it prevents pressuref l of the spoon end from'den'ting or marring or deforming 5 the lid wall.

With the parts so 'designed and assembled; the spoon t, V

retains the bottle in place while the cover is 'closedaiand when the cover isopened, the spoon can be easily and readily removed foru'se; and such removal, releases th'e bottle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as.

new therein and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

'1. Ina lunch box of the character described, comprising a box-like body'and acover therefor hinged along one edge to the backwall of the body to swing between closed and open positions; saidcover being of cainpanulate form in cross-section, a Thermos. bottle removq I i ably seated'within the cover, a hook mounting; plate disposed flatly against and fixed to that wall of'thecover that is opposite its hinged edge at a location,'within the cover, intermediate the ends of the bottle a'hook attached to said plate and overlying it, and a spoon disposed in the cover and across the 'bottle'to support itfas disposed fl' 7 within the'cover; said spoon having a slotthrough' the outer end portion of its handle through which; said hook is passed for support of the spoon at that end, and said? 1 spoon being ofsu'ch length'that, when 'so applied,-its

slotted end will bear-against said-plateand'th'e endiof =its bowl will wedgingly engage with the hinged wallot r the cover and will'rest for support when the cover is closed over the body on-the'top edge of the body wall to which the cover is hinged. i

apart,loops pressed outwardly from the plate,- arldsaid hook is'formed from. a single pieceof wire that'is bent' to hook form with the opposite end portions of the wire' extended through said loops to mount the hook onthe plate. a

3. A lunch box as recited pressure thereagainst by the .Thermos bottle.

which the cover is hingedly attached is formed-, witha depression in its top edge" to seat the end of, the spoon g bowl therein as ,a means of retaining it against'displace- V f ment from functional position.

5. A lunch box as in claim 3, whjerein W R eterencesCited in'thefileofthispatent V a 'UmTEDsTATEs PAT N'rsj 188,245 Q Mar. 1

applied through the slot in the endportion of thespoonhandle', "and-thedirection-of j the hook is such that the pressure of the retained Then 1 mos bottle 5 against the spoon. will hold it against any on thebox wall while the cover 2. A lunch box as recited. in'clairn l wherein' said hook mounting plate is formed with aligned, and spaced V incl-aim 1' where ini' the said. hook is directed away from the open sideof the cover toprevent release of the spoon handle therefrom under 4. A lunchbox as'iniclaim 3 wherein the boxwallfto V V thespoon handle iscurvedalong its medial'portion, to conform to the'cur-i i vature of the wall surface ofthe .Thermos .bottleagainst V which it engages when in bottlesupportingposition. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,825,444 March 1958 John L. Weir, Jr

It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above "numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, lines 18, 29, 44 and 64, column 2, lines '7, 2'7, 29 and 6'7, column 3, line 66, and column 4, lines 3 and 4, 23, 49 and 57, for '"Thermos", each occurrence, read vacuum Signed and sealed this 4th day of August 1959.

( SEAL} Attest:

KARL AXLINE ROBERT (J. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents

Images