U.S. patent application number 14/624660 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-20 for portable package carrying case.
The applicant listed for this patent is NESTEC SA. Invention is credited to Aaron Misener, Curtis Taylor.
Application Number | 20150232262 14/624660 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53539747 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150232262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor; Curtis ; et
al. |
August 20, 2015 |
PORTABLE PACKAGE CARRYING CASE
Abstract
A portable package carrying case can be used to carry a
plurality of food containers. Various versions of the case are
provided. Methods for carrying food containers are also provided.
The cases and the methods enable containers to be easily secured in
the case, preferably while the containers remain at least partially
visible, and also enable the containers to be easily removed from
the case.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Curtis; (Chargin
Falls, OH) ; Misener; Aaron; (Chargin Falls,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NESTEC SA |
Vevey |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
53539747 |
Appl. No.: |
14/624660 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61941653 |
Feb 19, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
426/108 ;
220/4.24; 220/4.33; 53/467; 53/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/62 20130101;
B65B 5/08 20130101; B65B 43/38 20130101; B65D 71/36 20130101; B65D
75/324 20130101; B65D 25/108 20130101; B65D 2313/02 20130101; B65D
71/50 20130101; B65B 7/26 20130101; B65D 77/0446 20130101; B65D
75/24 20130101; B65D 71/0003 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/62 20060101
B65D085/62; B65B 7/26 20060101 B65B007/26; B65B 43/38 20060101
B65B043/38; B65B 5/08 20060101 B65B005/08; B65D 25/10 20060101
B65D025/10; B65D 71/36 20060101 B65D071/36 |
Claims
1. A case comprising: a first side; a second side configured to
reversibly move between an open configuration and a closed
configuration relative to the first side; and wells in the case
formed by the closed configuration of the second side relative to
the first side, each of the wells comprising a top end, a bottom
end and a circumferential wall, wherein the first side forms a
first portion of the top end of each of the wells, a first portion
of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a first portion of the
circumferential wall of each of the wells, wherein the second side
forms a second portion of the top end of each of the wells, a
second portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a second
portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells.
2. The case of claim 1, wherein the top end of each of the wells
consists of the first and second portions of the top end, the
bottom end of each of the wells consists of the first and second
portions of the bottom end, and the circumferential wall of each of
the wells consists of the first and second portions of the
circumferential wall.
3. The case of claim 1, wherein, for each of the wells, the first
and second portions of the top end have identical dimensions
relative to each other, the first and second portions of the bottom
end have identical dimensions relative to each other, and the first
and second portions of the circumferential wall have identical
dimensions relative to each other.
4. The case of claim 1, wherein the first and second sides have
identical dimensions relative to each other.
5. The case of claim 1, wherein each of the wells is a
cylinder.
6. The case of claim 5, wherein the first side forms a half of the
cylinder, and the second side forms the other half of the
cylinder.
7. The case of claim 1, comprising slots in at least one of the
first or second side, each of the slots forms an opening through
the circumferential wall of a corresponding well.
8. The case of claim 1, wherein each of the wells has a uniform
circumference from the top end to the bottom end, the case
comprises packages of food positioned in the wells, and the
packages of food have a circumference equal to the uniform
circumference of each of the wells.
9. A method comprising: inserting packages into a first side of a
case; and connecting a second side of the case to the first side to
form a closed configuration of the case, the connecting of the
second side forms wells in the case, each of the wells comprising a
top end, a bottom end and a circumferential wall, the first side
forms a first portion of the top end of each of the wells, a first
portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a first portion
of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, and the second
side forms a second portion of the top end of each of the wells, a
second portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a second
portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, the
closed configuration at least partially encloses the packages in
the case.
10. The method of claim 9, comprising moving the case from the
closed configuration to an open configuration by disconnecting at
least a portion of the second side from the first side.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the packages is
cylindrical and comprises food, and each of the wells is
cylindrical.
12. A case comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall; a side wall that
extends from the top wall to the bottom wall; wells formed by the
top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells having an opening
that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of
the case; and securing members extending perpendicular to the top
and bottom walls of the case, wherein, for each of the wells, one
of the securing members is positioned on one side of the opening
and another one of the securing members is positioned on an
opposite side of the opening.
13. The case of claim 12, wherein the securing members reversibly
connect and disconnect to at least one of the top wall, the bottom
wall, or the side wall of the case.
14. The case of claim 12, wherein the securing members are flexible
and configured to deflect from an original position to a bent
position that allows insertion of a package into a corresponding
well and configured to regain the original position to at least
partially enclose the package within the corresponding well.
15. The case of claim 12, comprising cylindrical packages of food
positioned in the wells.
16. A method comprising: removing from a case at least one selected
securing member of a plurality of securing members connected to the
case, the case comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall
that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall, and wells formed
by the top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells has an opening
that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of
the case, and for each of the wells, one of the plurality of
securing members is positioned on one side of the opening and
another one of the plurality of securing members is positioned on
an opposite side of the opening; inserting packages into at least
one selected well of the case; and securing the packages in the
case by reconnecting to the case the at least one selected securing
member which was removed from the case, the reconnecting of the at
least one securing member at least partially encloses the packages
in the at least one selected well.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising removing at least one of the
packages from the case by (i) removing at least one of the
plurality of securing members and (ii) then removing the at least
one of the packages from one of the wells adjacent to the at least
one of the plurality of securing members which is removed.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the packages is
cylindrical and comprises food.
19. A method comprising: inserting packages into one or more wells
in a case comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall that
extends from the top wall to the bottom wall, the wells are formed
by the top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells has an opening
that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of
the case, and for each of the wells, a securing member that is
flexible is positioned on one side of the opening and another
securing member that is flexible is positioned on an opposite side
of the opening, the inserting of the packages comprising deflecting
at least one of the securing members from an original position to a
bent position; and securing the packages in the case, the securing
of the packages comprising the original position being regained by
the at least one of the securing members which was deflected.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising removing a selected package
from the case, the removing comprising exerting force on the
selected package through a slot in the side wall of the case, the
slot positioned on an opposite side of the well from the
opening.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the packages is
cylindrical and comprises food.
22. A case comprising: a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom
wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening
that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall
of the first unit; a second unit comprising a top wall, a bottom
wall, and second wells, each of the second wells having an opening
that extends from the top wall of the second unit to the bottom
wall of the second unit, the second unit connected to the first
unit such that the opening of each of the second wells faces an
opposite direction relative to the opening of each of the first
wells; and securing members extending perpendicular to the top
walls and the bottom walls, wherein, for each of the first and
second wells, one of the securing members is positioned on one side
of the opening and another one of the securing members is
positioned on an opposite side of the opening.
23. The case of claim 22, wherein the securing members reversibly
connect and disconnect to at least one of the first unit or the
second unit.
24. The case of claim 22, wherein the securing members are flexible
and configured to deflect from an original position to a bent
position that allows insertion of a package into a corresponding
well and configured to regain the original position to at least
partially enclose the package within the corresponding well.
25. The case of claim 22, comprising cylindrical packages of food
positioned in at least one of the first well or the second
well.
26. A method comprising: removing from a case at least one selected
securing member of a plurality of securing members connected to the
case, the case comprising a first unit comprising a top wall, a
bottom wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an
opening that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the
bottom wall of the first unit, the case further comprising a second
unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each
of the second wells having an opening that extends from the top
wall of the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the
second unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of
each of the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to
the opening of each of the first wells, and for each of the first
and second wells, one of the plurality of securing members is
positioned on one side of the opening and another one of the
plurality of securing members is positioned on an opposite side of
the opening; inserting packages into at least one selected well;
and securing the packages in the case by reconnecting to the case
the at least one selected securing member which was removed from
the case, the reconnecting of the at least one securing member at
least partially encloses the packages in the at least one selected
well.
27. The method of claim 26, comprising removing at least one of the
packages from the case by (i) removing at least one of the
plurality of securing members and (ii) then removing the at least
one of the packages from one of the wells adjacent to the at least
one of the plurality of securing members which is removed.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the packages is
cylindrical and comprises food.
29. A method comprising: inserting packages into one or more wells
in a case comprising a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom
wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening
that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall
of the first unit, the case further comprising a second unit
comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each of the
second wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of
the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the second
unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of each of
the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to the
opening of each of the first wells, and for each of the first and
second wells, a securing member that is flexible is positioned on
one side of the opening and another securing member that is
flexible is positioned on an opposite side of the opening, the
inserting of the packages comprising deflecting at least one of the
securing members from an original position to a bent position; and
securing the packages in the case, the securing of the packages
comprising the original position being regained by the at least one
of the securing members which was deflected.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein each of the packages is
cylindrical and comprises food.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/941,653, filed on Feb. 19, 2014, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Various containers are known for transporting packages such
as cans of food. For example, boxes and bags are typically used to
transport such packages. However, these known containers do not
allow an individual to easily access a specific package from those
stacked in the container and often do not allow an individual to
view the packages.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention relates to an arrangement to
conveniently transport a plurality of food items, particularly to
an arrangement to conveniently transport a plurality of packaged
food items that are packaged in the same or similar shaped, sized
and configured packaging, more particularly to a portable package
carrying case that is designed to conveniently transport a
plurality of packaged food items that are packaged in the same or
similar shaped, sized and configured packaging, and still more
particularly to a portable package carrying case that is designed
to enable convenient loading, unloading and transporting of a
plurality of packaged food items that are packaged in the same or
similar shaped, sized and configured packaging.
[0004] Accordingly, in a general embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a case comprising: a first side; a second side configured
to reversibly move between an open configuration and a closed
configuration relative to the first side; and wells in the case
formed by the closed configuration of the second side relative to
the first side, each of the wells comprising a top end, a bottom
end and a circumferential wall, wherein the first side forms a
first portion of the top end of each of the wells, a first portion
of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a first portion of the
circumferential wall of each of the wells, wherein the second side
forms a second portion of the top end of each of the wells, a
second portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a second
portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells.
[0005] In an embodiment, the top end of each of the wells consists
of the first and second portions of the top end, the bottom end of
each of the wells consists of the first and second portions of the
bottom end, and the circumferential wall of each of the wells
consists of the first and second portions of the circumferential
wall.
[0006] In an embodiment, for each of the wells, the first and
second portions of the top end have identical dimensions relative
to each other, the first and second portions of the bottom end have
identical dimensions relative to each other, and the first and
second portions of the circumferential wall have identical
dimensions relative to each other.
[0007] In an embodiment, the first and second sides have identical
dimensions relative to each other.
[0008] In an embodiment, each of the wells is a cylinder. The first
side can form a half of the cylinder, and the second side can form
the other half of the cylinder.
[0009] In an embodiment, the case comprises slots in at least one
of the first or second side, each of the slots forms an opening
through the circumferential wall of a corresponding well.
[0010] In an embodiment, each of the wells has a uniform
circumference from the top end to the bottom end, the case
comprises packages of food positioned in the wells, and the
packages of food have a circumference equal to the uniform
circumference of each of the wells.
[0011] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
method comprising: inserting packages into a first side of a case;
and connecting a second side of the case to the first side to form
a closed configuration of the case, the connecting of the second
side forms wells in the case, each of the wells comprising a top
end, a bottom end and a circumferential wall, the first side forms
a first portion of the top end of each of the wells, a first
portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a first portion
of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, and the second
side forms a second portion of the top end of each of the wells, a
second portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a second
portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, the
closed configuration at least partially encloses the packages in
the case.
[0012] In an embodiment, the method comprises moving the case from
the closed configuration to an open configuration by disconnecting
at least a portion of the second side from the first side.
[0013] In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and
comprises food, and each of the wells is cylindrical.
[0014] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
case comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall; a side wall that
extends from the top wall to the bottom wall; wells formed by the
top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells having an opening
that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of
the case; and securing members extending perpendicular to the top
and bottom walls of the case, wherein, for each of the wells, one
of the securing members is positioned on one side of the opening
and another one of the securing members is positioned on an
opposite side of the opening.
[0015] In an embodiment, the securing members reversibly connect
and disconnect to at least one of the top wall, the bottom wall, or
the side wall of the case.
[0016] In an embodiment, the securing members are flexible and
configured to deflect from an original position to a bent position
that allows insertion of a package into a corresponding well and
configured to regain the original position to at least partially
enclose the package within the corresponding well.
[0017] In an embodiment, the case comprises cylindrical packages of
food positioned in the wells.
[0018] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
method comprising: removing from a case at least one selected
securing member of a plurality of securing members connected to the
case, the case comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall
that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall, and wells formed
by the top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells has an opening
that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of
the case, and for each of the wells, one of the plurality of
securing members is positioned on one side of the opening and
another one of the plurality of securing members is positioned on
an opposite side of the opening; inserting packages into at least
one selected well of the case; and securing the packages in the
case by reconnecting to the case the at least one selected securing
member which was removed from the case, the reconnecting of the at
least one securing member at least partially encloses the packages
in the at least one selected well.
[0019] In an embodiment, the method comprises removing at least one
of the packages from the case by (i) removing at least one of the
plurality of securing members and (ii) then removing the at least
one of the packages from one of the wells adjacent to the at least
one of the plurality of securing members which is removed.
[0020] In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and
comprises food.
[0021] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
method comprising: inserting packages into one or more wells in a
case comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall that extends
from the top wall to the bottom wall, the wells are formed by the
top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells has an opening that
extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of the
case, and for each of the wells, a securing member that is flexible
is positioned on one side of the opening and another securing
member that is flexible is positioned on an opposite side of the
opening, the inserting of the packages comprising deflecting at
least one of the securing members from an original position to a
bent position; and securing the packages in the case, the securing
of the packages comprising the original position being regained by
the at least one of the securing members which was deflected.
[0022] In an embodiment, the method comprises removing a selected
package from the case, the removing comprising exerting force on
the selected package through a slot in the side wall of the case,
the slot positioned on an opposite side of the well from the
opening.
[0023] In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and
comprises food.
[0024] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
case comprising: a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall,
and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening that
extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall of
the first unit; a second unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall,
and second wells, each of the second wells having an opening that
extends from the top wall of the second unit to the bottom wall of
the second unit, the second unit connected to the first unit such
that the opening of each of the second wells faces an opposite
direction relative to the opening of each of the first wells; and
securing members extending perpendicular to the top walls and the
bottom walls, wherein, for each of the first and second wells, one
of the securing members is positioned on one side of the opening
and another one of the securing members is positioned on an
opposite side of the opening.
[0025] In an embodiment, the securing members reversibly connect
and disconnect to at least one of the first unit or the second
unit.
[0026] In an embodiment, the securing members are flexible and
configured to deflect from an original position to a bent position
that allows insertion of a package into a corresponding well and
configured to regain the original position to at least partially
enclose the package within the corresponding well.
[0027] In an embodiment, the case comprises cylindrical packages of
food positioned in at least one of the first well or the second
well.
[0028] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
method comprising: removing from a case at least one selected
securing member of a plurality of securing members connected to the
case, the case comprising a first unit comprising a top wall, a
bottom wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an
opening that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the
bottom wall of the first unit, the case further comprising a second
unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each
of the second wells having an opening that extends from the top
wall of the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the
second unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of
each of the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to
the opening of each of the first wells, and for each of the first
and second wells, one of the plurality of securing members is
positioned on one side of the opening and another one of the
plurality of securing members is positioned on an opposite side of
the opening; inserting packages into at least one selected well;
and securing the packages in the case by reconnecting to the case
the at least one selected securing member which was removed from
the case, the reconnecting of the at least one securing member at
least partially encloses the packages in the at least one selected
well.
[0029] In an embodiment, the method comprises removing at least one
of the packages from the case by (i) removing at least one of the
plurality of securing members and (ii) then removing the at least
one of the packages from one of the wells adjacent to the at least
one of the plurality of securing members which is removed.
[0030] In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and
comprises food.
[0031] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
method comprising: inserting packages into one or more wells in a
case comprising a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall,
and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening that
extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall of
the first unit, the case further comprising a second unit
comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each of the
second wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of
the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the second
unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of each of
the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to the
opening of each of the first wells, and for each of the first and
second wells, a securing member that is flexible is positioned on
one side of the opening and another securing member that is
flexible is positioned on an opposite side of the opening, the
inserting of the packages comprising deflecting at least one of the
securing members from an original position to a bent position; and
securing the packages in the case, the securing of the packages
comprising the original position being regained by the at least one
of the securing members which was deflected.
[0032] In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and
comprises food.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a
portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure,
in an open configuration.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 1, in a closed
configuration.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 2, in the closed
configuration and in a standing position.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
a portable package carrying case according to the present
disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 4, with food
containers placed therein.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 5, in a standing
position.
[0039] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the portable package carrying case according to the present
disclosure, with food containers placed therein.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 7, in a standing
position.
[0041] FIG. 9 is a back perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 7, in a standing
position.
[0042] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the portable package carrying case according to the present
disclosure, with food containers placed therein.
[0043] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 10.
[0044] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 10, with food
containers placed therein and in a standing position.
[0045] FIG. 13 is a back perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 10, with food
containers placed therein and in a standing position.
[0046] FIG. 14A is a front plan view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 10.
[0047] FIG. 14B is a side plan view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 10.
[0048] FIG. 14C is a cross-section view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 10.
[0049] FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the portable package carrying case according to the present
disclosure, with food containers placed therein.
[0050] FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the portable package carrying case according to the present
disclosure, with food containers placed therein.
[0051] FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the portable package carrying case according to the present
disclosure, with food containers placed therein.
[0052] FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 17.
[0053] FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of the second unit in
the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in FIG.
17.
[0054] FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the first unit in the
embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in FIG.
17.
[0055] FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 17.
[0056] FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the
portable package carrying case shown in FIG. 17, partially
disassembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0057] Several non-limiting embodiments of a portable package
carrying case 10 according to the present invention are
illustrated. In each of the embodiments, the portable package
carrying case 10 is designed to carry a plurality of food container
items 20. The portable package carrying case 10 is particularly
applicable for use with canned items and will be described with
particular reference thereto; however, it will be appreciated that
the portable package carrying case 10 can be used to carry other
types of goods (e.g., pet food, canned soup, canned meat, canned
seafood, canned fruit, canned vegetables, containers of
mints/breath fresheners, containers of gum, containers of candy,
beverage containers, spice containers, frozen beverage concentrates
containers, containers of yogurt, containers of refrigerated or
frozen bakery goods, containers of ice cream or sorbet, votive
candles, etc.). The term "food" means a product or composition that
is intended for ingestion by an animal, including a human, and
provides at least one nutrient to the animal.
[0058] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, one non-limiting embodiment of
the portable package carrying case 10 is illustrated. The size,
shape and material of the portable package carrying case 10 are
non-limiting. The portable package carrying case 10 is illustrated
as being designed to hold up to thirty food containers 20; however,
it can be appreciated that the portable package carrying case 10
can be designed to hold more than or less than thirty food
containers 20. The portable package carrying case 10 is illustrated
as being a two-piece system; however, the portable package carrying
case 10 can be formed of more than or less than two pieces. Each of
the two pieces is illustrated as being a mirror configuration of
one another; however; this is not required.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first side 11 of the portable
package carrying case 10, when the portable package carrying case
10 is in the open position, is designed to receive the food
containers 20. Once the desired amount of the food containers 20
are loaded into the first side 11 of the portable package carrying
case 10, the second side 12 of the portable package carrying case
10 can be moved to the closed position thereby securing the food
containers 20 in the portable package carrying case 10, as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first side 11 and the second side
12 of the portable package carrying case 10 can be connected
together by any means (e.g., hinge, flexible connector, etc.). As
can be appreciated, the first side 11 and the second side 12 are
not required to be connected together when in the open position.
The two sides can be connected together when in the closed position
by any number of means (e.g., latch, Velcro, snap lock, etc.), for
example any means that enable the first side 11 to reversibly
connect to the second side 12 to close the case 10 such that the
case 10 can be opened without tools and without breaking the case
10.
[0060] One or both of the first side 11 and the second side 12 of
the portable package carrying case 10 can include one or more slots
13 to enable partial viewing of the food containers 20 in the
portable package carrying case 10 when the portable package
carrying case 10 is in the closed position. The one or more slots
13 can be used to view the types of products in the portable
package carrying case 10 and/or can be used to access
identification information on the food containers 20 (e.g., bar
code, etc.). As can be appreciated, the portable package carrying
case 10 can be formed of a clear or semi-clear material so that the
one or more slots can be eliminated; however, this is not
required.
[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 4-14, other non-limiting embodiments
of the portable package carrying case 10 are illustrated. The
portable package carrying case 10 is illustrated as formed of a
single piece for holding the food containers 20; however, this is
not required. The one-piece embodiment of the portable package
carrying case 10 includes container wells 14, for example three of
the container wells 14, which are each designed to receive a
plurality of the food containers 20. As can be appreciated, the
portable package carrying case 10 can include more than or less
than three of the wells 14.
[0062] Each of the container wells 14 includes a securing member 15
that is designed to retain the food containers 20 in the
corresponding container well 14. The configuration of the securing
member 15 is non-limiting. As illustrated in FIGS. 4-14, the
securing member 15 can be a flexible member (e.g., rubber member,
plastic member, etc.) and/or can be a rigid or flexible removable
member. When the securing member 15 is flexible, the food container
20 can be pushed into the corresponding container well 14, thereby
causing the securing member 15 to deflect and thus allow the
container 20 to enter the well 14. In this embodiment, once the
food container 20 is in the well 14, the securing member 15 moves
back to its original position, thereby securing the container 20 in
the well 14.
[0063] The portable package carrying case 10 can include the slot
13 on each of the wells 14. The one or more slots 13 can be used to
view the types of products in the portable package carrying case 10
and/or can be used to access identification information on the food
containers 20 (e.g., bar code, etc.). As can be appreciated, the
portable package carrying case 10 can be formed of a clear or
semi-clear material so that the one or more slots 14 can be
eliminated; however, this is not required. The slot 14 can also
optionally be used to facilitate in the removal of the food
container from the well. When the securing member 15 is flexible, a
user can cause the food container 20 to be removed from the well 14
by pushing the food container 20 out of the well 14 via the slot
13, thereby causing the securing member 15 to deflect and thus
allow the food container 20 to be removed from the well 14. As can
be appreciated, the food container 20 can be removed from the well
14 by other or additional means. The portable package carrying case
10 can optionally include a carrying handle 30 to facilitate in the
carrying of the portable package carrying case 10. The portable
package carrying case 10 can include printed material; however,
this is not required.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 15, another non-limiting configuration
of the portable package carrying case 10 is illustrated. In this
configuration, the portable package carrying case 10 includes the
handle 30 and comprises a first unit 16 and a second unit 17. Each
of the units 16,17 includes two of the wells 14 that are designed
to receive a plurality of food containers 20; however, it can be
appreciated that each of the units 16,17 can include more than or
less than two of the wells 14. The food container 20 can be
retained in and/or removed from the wells 14 in a similar manner as
described above with regard to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS.
4-14; however, this is not required. Each of the units 16,17 can be
detachably connected together; however, this is not required. The
units 16,17 can be connected together by a variety of means (e.g.,
snap lock, Velcro, latch, etc.).
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 16, another non-limiting configuration
of the portable package carrying case 10 is illustrated. This
embodiment of the portable package carrying case 10 is similar to
the portable package carrying case 10 of FIG. 15, but has a
slightly different configuration.
[0066] Referring now to FIGS. 17-22, another non-limiting
configuration of the portable package carrying case 10 is
illustrated. The portable package carrying case is similar to the
portable package carrying case 10 of FIG. 15, but has a slightly
different configuration.
[0067] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among
those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained, and since certain changes may be made in the
constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the
above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The
invention has been described with reference to preferred and
alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding
the detailed discussion of the invention provided herein. This
invention is intended to include all such modifications and
alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present
invention. It is also to be understood that the following claims
are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of
the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of
the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to
fall therebetween. The invention has been described with reference
to the preferred embodiments. These and other modifications of the
preferred embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention
will be obvious from the disclosure herein, whereby the foregoing
descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of
the invention and not as a limitation. It is intended to include
all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *