U.S. patent application number 14/215755 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-30 for executive lunch box.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kindle Hill, LLC. Invention is credited to Saly A. GLASSMAN, Robyn Yantes.
Application Number | 20140319016 14/215755 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51788354 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140319016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GLASSMAN; Saly A. ; et
al. |
October 30, 2014 |
EXECUTIVE LUNCH BOX
Abstract
A lunch box, configured for attachment to a portable container,
includes a body having an interior accessible through an opening, a
lid movably attached to the body and configured to selectively
cover the opening, and a locking mechanism attached to the body and
having a first attachment component and a second attachment
component. The locking mechanism has (i) a first attached
configuration wherein the first attachment component is selectively
coupled to the second attachment component such that a portion of
the portable container is selectively retained between the locking
mechanism and the body, and (ii) a second attached configuration
wherein at least one of the first and second attachment components
is selectively coupled to a portion of the portable container.
Inventors: |
GLASSMAN; Saly A.; (Gwynedd
Valley, PA) ; Yantes; Robyn; (Philadelphia,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kindle Hill, LLC |
Gwynedd Valley |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51788354 |
Appl. No.: |
14/215755 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61788817 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/549 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/10 20130101;
A45C 11/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/549 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/20 20060101
A45C011/20 |
Claims
1. A lunch box configured for attachment to a portable container,
the lunch box comprising: a body having an interior accessible
through an opening; a lid movably attached to the body and
configured to selectively cover the opening; a locking mechanism
attached to the body and having a first attachment component and a
second attachment component, the locking mechanism having: (i) a
first attached configuration wherein the first attachment component
is selectively coupled to the second attachment component such that
a portion of the portable container is selectively retained between
the locking mechanism and the body, and (ii) a second attached
configuration wherein at least one of the first and second
attachment components is selectively coupled to a portion of the
portable container.
2. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein the first and second
attachment components include carabiner clips that are coupled to
one another in the first attached configuration and coupled to the
portable container in the second attached configuration.
3. The lunch box of claim 2, wherein the carabiner clips are each
secured to the body by a fabric loop.
4. The lunch box of claim 3, wherein the first and second
attachment components each include a ring secured to the respective
fabric loop and coupled to the respective carabiner clip.
5. The lunch box of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second
attachment components includes a length of chain arranged between
the respective ring and carabiner clip.
6. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein the lid is secured to the body
to close the opening with a fastener.
7. The lunch box of claim 6, wherein the fastener is one of a
turnkey or a buckle.
8. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a handle
arranged thereon.
9. The lunch box of claim 1, wherein the body is insulated.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/788,817, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled
"Executive Lunch Box," currently pending, the entire contents of
which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a
lunch box, and more particularly, to a lunch box adapted to be
firmly secured to a larger bag or case.
[0003] People travelling to work, meetings, or other events will
often take a bag or case, such as a briefcase, suitcase, purse,
hand bag, or the like, to carry important items. Often it is also
desired to bring along a lunch or other type of food or drink that
would best be kept in a separate lunch box or lunch bag for various
reasons (e.g., cold storage, avoiding messes, or the like).
Unfortunately, the bag or case carried by the individual is usually
too small, too full, or too unsanitary to contain the lunch box.
The individual is therefore left with having to handle two items
instead of one.
[0004] Systems where a small bag may be attached to a larger bag or
case are currently available. However, many of these systems
require the larger bag to have a custom type of locking mechanism
for receiving and retaining the smaller bag. Other systems are
designed for use with a variety of larger bags, but the connection
between the two bags often leaves the smaller bag loosely coupled,
so that during walking or travel the smaller bag moves around with
respect to the larger bag, creating annoyances and potential damage
to either of the bags or their contents.
[0005] It would be desirable to provide a lunch box that may be
secured to a variety of types of larger bags or cases but maintains
a tight fit to prevent the aforementioned relative movement of the
lunch box to the larger bag or case.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Briefly stated, an embodiment of the present invention
comprises a lunch box configured for attachment to a portable
container. The lunch box includes a body having an interior
accessible through an opening, a lid movably attached to the body
and configured to selectively cover the opening, and a locking
mechanism attached to the body and having a first attachment
component and a second attachment component. The locking mechanism
has (i) a first attached configuration wherein the first attachment
component is selectively coupled to the second attachment component
such that a portion of the portable container is selectively
retained between the locking mechanism and the body, and (ii) a
second attached configuration wherein at least one of the first and
second attachment components is selectively coupled to a portion of
the portable container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments
of the invention, will be better understood when read in
conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are
presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front side elevational view of a lunch box in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a back side elevational view of the lunch box of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a back side perspective view of the lunch box of
FIG. 1 with a locking mechanism in a first configuration for
attachment to the handle of a bag;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a back side perspective view of the lunch box of
FIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in a second configuration;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a first example bag to
which the lunch box of FIG. 1 may be attached; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a front side elevational view of a lunch box
attached to a second example bag in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Certain terminology is used in the following description for
convenience only and is not limiting. The words "right", "left",
"lower", and "upper" designate directions in the drawings to which
reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to
directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center
of the device and designated parts thereof The terminology includes
the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar
import. Additionally, the words "a" and "an" mean "at least
one."
[0015] Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown in FIG.
1 a preferred embodiment of a lunch box 10. A body 12 of the lunch
box 10 is preferably of a soft construction and is made from vinyl
that contains foam insulation (not shown) to maintain temperature
within the interior of the lunch box 10. However, the body 12 may
be of hard or soft construction and may be manufactured from other
materials, such as aluminum, tin, plastic, leather, or like
food-safe fabrics, polymers, metals, or combinations thereof The
body 12 preferably has the shape of a square or rectangular cube,
but may have other shapes such as cylindrical, parallelepiped, or
the like. The lunch box 10 in FIG. 1 preferably has a fold-over lid
14 to cover an opening (not shown) of the body 12 accessing the
interior thereof, and may be secured using a fastener 16 that in
FIG. 1 takes the form of a turnkey. Other fasteners may be used as
well, such as the belt and buckle combination shown in FIG. 6,
hook-and-loop fasteners, clasps, clips, clamps, or the like.
[0016] The lid 14 may also be detachable from the body 12 or take
other configurations. In some embodiments, the lid 14 may be
omitted and the body 12 may be opened and closed using a fastener
or the like.
[0017] A handle 18 may be provided on the lid 14 or a portion of
the body 12 of the lunch box 10 to enable a user to conveniently
carry the lunch box 10. The handle 18 may be attached to the lid 14
or body 12 by conventional methods, such as rivets or other
mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or the like. Alternatively or
additionally, the lunch box 10 may include one or more rings 20
(FIG. 3), each of which may be secured to the body 12 or lid 14 by
a fastener 22. The rings 20 are configured to support a strap (not
shown) that may have hooks (not shown) thereon which mate with the
rings 20.
[0018] The interior of the lunch box 10 may include a number of
pockets or compartments (not shown) that may be designed for
general or specific storage. For example, a pocket may be provided
for a water bottle, utensils, reusable ice packs, napkins, or the
like. The interior is also preferably designed to contain
conventionally sized food containers in addition to the specific
compartments. The pockets or compartments can be integrally formed
by the body 12 or may be attached thereto, as is conventionally
known. Zippers or other closure mechanisms (not shown) may be
provided on the body 12 to allow access to compartments in a manner
other than through the lid 14. For example, one side of the body 12
may include a zipper to allow quick access to the water bottle
compartment in the interior. Pockets or compartments may also be
provided on the lid 14 or on the outside of the lunch box 10, as
desired.
[0019] The lunch box 10 is configured for attachment to a
conventional briefcase, suitcase, purse, handbag, or the like. A
first example bag 30 is shown in FIG. 5. The first example bag 30
has a body 31 and includes a pair of elongated straps 32 attached
to the body 31 for use as handles. A second example bag 34 is shown
in FIG. 6 as having a body 35 with a single handle 36 attached
thereto via metal loops 37.
[0020] To facilitate attachment to a bag such as the example bags
30, 34, the lunch box 10 is provided with a fastening mechanism 40
as shown in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening
mechanism 40 includes a pair of carabiner clips 42, each of which
may be secured to a length of chain 44. A ring 46 is preferably
attached to each chain 44 at a respective end opposite the
corresponding carabiner clip 42. Each ring 46 is preferably
respectively secured to the body 12 of the lunch box 10 via a
fabric loop 48, which may be attached to the body 12 by stitching,
mechanical fasteners, rivets, adhesives, or the like. It is
preferred that each combination of a fabric loop 48, ring 46, chain
44, and carabiner clip 42 has a total length L when in a
substantially horizontal position. Preferably, the length L is such
that when the fastening mechanism 40 is in the configuration shown
in FIG. 2 (i.e., the carabiner clips 42 are interlocked with each
other), each carabiner clip 42 exerts a pulling force on the other
carabiner clip 42. As a result, the locking mechanism 40 is taut
against the body 12 of the lunch box 10.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the lunch box 10 in the process of attachment
to an elongated strap 32 of the first example bag 30. The locking
mechanism 40 is preferably locked around the elongated strap 32
proximate a location where the elongated strap 32 is coupled to the
body 31 of the first example bag 30. The taut configuration of the
locking mechanism 40 holds the lunch box 10 tightly against the
first example bag 30 to prevent excessive movement with respect
thereto. If desired, adjustment straps (not shown) may be included
to allow for tightening or loosening of the locking mechanism 40
around the elongated strap 32. In addition, a spring (not shown)
may be added to the locking mechanism 40, such as between the chain
44 and the carabiner clip 40 to maintain the locking mechanism 40
in a taut configuration.
[0022] It is further preferred that the locking mechanism 40 has a
second configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. With the carabiner
clips 42 unlocked from one another, the carabiner clips 42 can be
used to connect to existing features of a bag. For example, in FIG.
6, each of the carabiner clips 42 of the lunch box 10 is coupled to
a corresponding metal loop 37 of the second example bag 34. This
configuration of the locking mechanism 40 allows the lunch box 10
to be connected to a bag even if the preferred configuration (FIG.
2) is impractical for use with the bag to which the lunch box 10 is
to be attached.
[0023] While the locking mechanism 40 is shown as having carabiner
clips 42, other types of clips or detachable mechanical fasteners
may be used in keeping with the invention. Similarly, the
construction of the locking mechanism 40 is not limiting, as the
stated components thereof are merely exemplary. For example, the
carabiner clips 42 may be attached directly to fabric loops 48
thereby omitting the rings 46 and chains 44. Similarly, certain
components of the locking mechanism 40 may be replaced with
equivalents thereof.
[0024] From the foregoing, it can be seen that embodiments of the
present invention comprise a lunch box. It will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the
embodiments described above without departing from the broad
inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the
invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed,
but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
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