U.S. patent application number 10/840664 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for multi compartment container.
Invention is credited to Manley, James Richard, Russell, Allin Nicholas.
Application Number | 20050247596 10/840664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37738763 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manley, James Richard ; et
al. |
November 10, 2005 |
Multi compartment container
Abstract
A multi compartment container where a lid assembly has a lower
part thereof setting down within the compartment defining base yet
itself providing multiple compartments each closable by a lid.
Inventors: |
Manley, James Richard;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Russell, Allin Nicholas;
(Auckland, NZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF JACOBSON HOLMAN
PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
400 SEVENTH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
37738763 |
Appl. No.: |
10/840664 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/775 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/06 20130101; A45C
11/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/775 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/20; B65D
025/54 |
Claims
1. A multi-compartment container comprising or including a moulded
base defining at least one compartment (said at least one
compartment optionally being unpartitioned or at least partly
partitioned), a lid assembly hinging from or otherwise articulating
relative to the base so as to affect closure of said at least one
compartment of the base by at least a partial set down there into,
wherein the lid assembly itself has, at least when considered in
its closed condition, a lower member defining at least one
compartment of the lid assembly, which compartment or compartments
of the lid assembly is or are closable by a lid or lids carried by
the lower member of the lid assembly.
2. A container of claim 1 wherein there is a separate lid for each
compartment defined by the lower member of the lid assembly.
3. A container of claim 2 wherein the lid or lids carried by the
lower member of the lid assembly has or have at least one
projection to act as a living hinge, such projection(s) being
receivable by said lower member.
4. A container of claim 3 wherein each said projection is click fit
retainable in a passageway of the lower member.
5. A container of claim 3 wherein each said projection has been
moulded as a flap otherwise than in the direction to which flange
regions of the lid have been moulded.
6. A container of claim 3 wherein the form of the hinging periphery
of the or each lid is scalloped, bevelled or the like from above to
allow clearance on its opening.
7. A container of claim 1 wherein the lid assembly hinges from the
base on a single hinge axis.
8. A container of claim 7 wherein the hinging of the lid assembly
from the base is as a result of interactions of moulded trunnions
of the base or lower member with the lower member or base
respectively.
9. A container of claim 2 wherein the lid assembly has three lidded
compartments.
10. A container of claim 2 wherein each lid can latch closed.
11. A container in claim 1 wherein the lid assembly's lower member
can latch closed with respect to the base.
12. A container of claim 1 assembled at least predominantly from
moulded plastic components.
13. A container of claim 1 carrying an inducement to use it as a
lunchbox.
14. A container of claim 2 wherein the lid assembly has at least
two compartments of a different size.
15. A container of claim 1 wherein the or each lid assembly
compartment can be opened without the lid assembly as a whole being
moved to open the compartment or compartments of the base.
16. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lid assembly
includes at least one hinge axis of its lid or lids which is
orthogonal to that hinge axis of the lid assembly from the
base.
17. A container of claim 1 wherein the lower member has a
peripheral skirt that at least substantially continuously surrounds
the rim of the base when the lidding assembly closes the base.
18. The use of a container of claim 1 as a lunchbox.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to containers.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The present invention relates to a multi-compartment
container wherein both the main compartment(s) and lidded
compartment(s) can be comprised of singular or multiple
compartments. It is an object of the present invention to provide a
multi-compartment container which at least provides the public with
a useful choice.
[0003] The present invention more particularly, but not necessary,
relates generally to food and/or beverage holders and more
particularly to a lunch holder for holding lunch and snack items.
It is an alternative to known live or other hinge lidded lunch
boxes reliant on partitioning solely of its base (e.g. as disclosed
in GB Patent Specification 2215186A, 2376456A, and 2379436A and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,972) and an alternative to such arrangements as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,277,329 and 5,323,926.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0004] In one aspect the present invention consists in a
multi-compartment container having
[0005] a base defining at least one compartment (whether
unpartitioned or at least partly partitioned) and
[0006] a lid assembly hinging relative to the base so as to affect
closure of said at least one compartment of the base by at least a
partial set down thereinto,
[0007] wherein the lid assembly itself has, at least when
considered in its closed condition, a lower member defining at
least one compartment of the lid assembly, which compartment or
compartments of the lid assembly is or are closable by a lid or
lids carried by the lower member of the lid assembly.
[0008] Preferably there is a separate lid for each compartment
defined by the lower 4 member of the lid assembly.
[0009] Preferably the lid or lids carried by the lower member of
the lid assembly has or have at least one projection to act as a
living hinge, such projection(s) being receivable by said lower
member.
[0010] Preferably each said projection is click fit retainable in a
passageway of the lower member.
[0011] Preferably each said projection has been moulded as a flap
otherwise than in the direction to which flange regions of the lid
have been moulded.
[0012] Preferably the form of the hinging periphery of the or each
lid is scalloped, bevelled or the like from above to allow
clearance on its opening.
[0013] Preferably the lid assembly of said container hinges from
the base on a single hinge axis.
[0014] Preferably the hinging or other articulation of the lid
assembly relative to the base is a single hinge axis hinging of the
lid assembly from the base as a result of interactions of moulded
trunnions of the base or lower member with the lower member or base
respectively.
[0015] Preferably the lower member has a peripheral skirt that at
least substantially continuously surrounds the rim of the base when
the lidding assembly closes the base.
[0016] Preferably the lid assembly of said container includes at
least one hinge axis of its lid or lids which is orthogonal to that
hinge axis of the lid assembly from the base.
[0017] Preferably the lid assembly of said container has three
lidded compartments.
[0018] Preferably each lid of said each lidded compartment can
latch closed (e.g. to the lower member).
[0019] Preferably the lid assembly's lower member of said container
can latch closed with respect to the base.
[0020] Preferably said container is assembled at least
predominantly from moulded plastic components.
[0021] Preferably said container cares an inducement to use it as a
lunchbox.
[0022] Preferably said lid assembly of said container has at least
two compartments of a different size.
[0023] Preferably the or each lid assembly compartment can be
opened without the lid assembly as a whole being moved to open the
compartment or compartments of the base.
[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention said lid
assembly structure may comprise multiple lids each lid defining a
closure structure for at least one compartment or in some cases,
multiple partitioned compartments.
[0025] In another aspect the present invention consists of a
multi-compartment container having a moulding defining a main
compartment, and at least one moulding defining a lidding assembly,
hingedly related to the main compartment moulding,
[0026] wherein said main compartment forms an enclosed space when
said lid assembly is in the closed position relative thereto,
[0027] and wherein said hinging assembly has at least one lid to
give access to a lidding assembly compartment.
[0028] In another aspect the present invention consists in a
multi-compartment container having a base defining at least one
compartment and a lid assembly hinging relative to the base so as
to affect closure of said at least one compartment, said lid
assembly itself defining multi compartments.
[0029] Preferably each compartment of said lid assembly has its own
lid which is hingedly connected in that assembly.
[0030] In one (much less preferred) embodiment of the present
invention said main compartment may be partitioned into at least
two compartments, closure of the lid assembly resulting in
encasement of both compartments simultaneously.
[0031] Accordingly to a further aspect of the invention that is to
provide a multi compartment container substantially as herein
described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] In a further aspect the present invention consists in the
use of a container in accordance with the present invention as a
lunch box.
[0033] Preferably said container can be in combination with a drink
bottle or container.
[0034] As used herein the term "compartment" means where
appropriate (i) the space bounded by walls and/or partitions and
the base and/or (ii) the space enclosed by the lid or lid assembly
that is otherwise some or all of a type (i) space.
[0035] As used herein "and/or" means (as appropriate) "and" or
"or", or both.
[0036] As used herein "(s)" following a noun means (as appropriate)
the singular and/or plural form(s) of the noun.
[0037] Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the
following description which is given by way of example only and
with reference to the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0038] The invention will now be described by way of example only
and with reference to the drawings in which:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary
multi-compartment container according to a preferred embodiment of
the invention, in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed
position,
[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-compartment
container of FIG. 1, in which the lid assembly is illustrated in an
open position thereby revealing the main compartment therein,
[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the multi compartment
container of FIG. 1, in which the lid assembly is illustrated in a
closed position and where a lid assembly lid is shown in an open
position revealing a lid assembly compartment therein,
[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi compartment
container of FIG. 1, in which the lid assembly is illustrated in a
closed position and where a lid assembly lid is shown in an open
position revealing a lid assembly compartment therein,
[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multi compartment
container of FIG. 1, in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed
position and wherein the lid assembly has two lids in the open
position revealing two smaller compartments within the lid
assembly,
[0044] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the multi compartment
container of FIG. 1, in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed
position and wherein the lid assembly has three lids in the open
position revealing multiple compartments within the lid assembly,
one larger and two smaller and all smaller than that of the main
compartment,
[0045] FIG. 7 is an under view of lid assembly showing passageways
of the lower member each of which is to receive at least one
projection of a lid of the lidding assembly,
[0046] FIG. 8 is a top view of one lid of the lid assembly showing
two projections each to provide a live hinge with a common hinging
axis when each is received by a passageway from above of the lower
member,
[0047] FIG. 9 is a reverse view of the lid of FIG. 8, and
[0048] FIG. 10 shows the lid member of FIGS. 8 and 9 positioned
ready for insertion of its projections into the top of the
passageways of the lower member thereby to provide a hinge axis
which will allow that lid to close its compartment as has already
the other two lids preferably similarly received by the lower
member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] In the preferred form of the present invention all
components are moulded from a suitable plastics material.
[0050] Preferably such plastics material is in injection mouldable
material having the requisite characteristics. By way of example
only appropriate materials include polypropylene and nylon.
[0051] For those features such as the lids that are to have
projections that provide live hinges preferably a flexible
polypropylene is utilised.
[0052] In the preferred form of the present invention a lunch box
will be described which has four compartments.
[0053] Shown as container 1 is a multi compartment container
suitable as a lunch box. This particular embodiment defines four
compartments of which a first compartment 4 is revealed when the
lid assembly 2 is hingedly uplifted from the base 3.
[0054] As can be seen the base 3 is preferably not partitioned and
is a single compartment down into which a lower member 5 of the
lidding assembly 2 sets to provide positive indexing whilst a
peripheral flange 6 of the lower member substantially skirts the
rim 7 of the base 3 and preferably sets down on the ledge 8 of the
base 3. Preferably for sealing purposes the lower member 5 wedges
or seats on the inside of the base 3.
[0055] The hinging of the lid assembly 2 preferably relies upon
trunnions of the base which are each received in an opening of a
projection 10 of the lower member 5 of the lid assembly 2.
[0056] The lid assembly 2 carries three lids, namely, 11, 12 and
13, each preferably provided with its own hinge axis provided by
one or more projections 14 which are received in passageways 15 of
the base into which they are click fit engaged (preferably reliant
upon a shoulder of the passageway 15 or in the larger opening shown
in FIG. 7 and the lip 16 of each projection 14). Each projection 14
which defines a hinge axis at 17.
[0057] As can also be seen, preferably on the hinging periphery,
preferably each lid, has a scallop, bevel or the like 18 to ensure
that there is clearance when the lids are opened as shown in the
drawings.
[0058] As can be seen from the fully opened arrangement of FIG. 6
three compartments each separately closable by its lid is defined
in the lid assembly. These compartments provide compartments 19, 20
and 21 corresponding to lids 11, 12 and 13 respectively.
[0059] Preferably each of the compartments is click fit enclosed by
a latching mechanism as shown. For the lids appropriate pliable
members 22 are concerned are provided which each has a projection
adapted to engage into a recess such as 23.
[0060] A pliable clasp type member 24 similarly engages the top of
the base (e.g. under shoulder 25) so as to hold the lower member 5
to the base when the arrangement is closed as shown in for example,
FIG. 1.
[0061] As can be seen also, preferably the projections 14 of each
lid is moulded with the projections 14 other than in their "closed"
relativity with the lid moulding so as to provide a springing
effect at its live hinge on its hinge axis 17 in use which will
assist in the opening of the lid such as lid 13 when the catch 22
is released from recess 23.
[0062] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how such a multi
compartment container can be used as a lunch box with fruit, food,
snacks, and the like being distributed around the compartments and,
if desired, a drink bottle or container located in one of the
compartments such as one of those of the lid assembly.
[0063] The present invention therefore also includes within its
ambit in combination a multi compartment lunch box container in
accordance with the present invention together with a suitable
drink container.
* * * * *