Lunch box employing a built-in radio receiver

• US 4,279,342 A
• Filed: 03/24/1980
• Issued: 07/21/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Van Pelt
• Original Assignee: Robert Van Pelt
• Inventors: Van Pelt, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US06/132,778
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 206/542, 220/20, 220/23.83, 220/23.86, 224/46 R, 190/1, 190/43
• US Class Current: 206/542
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence

Abstract

A lunch box incorporates a radio which is positioned on a side surface and held in position by means of a flexible bracket. A side surface has a plurality of apertures for transmitting sound propagating from the radio. The front surface intermediate with the side surface has an aperture to enable a user to access control knobs positioned on the side surface of the receiver. A further aperture is covered by a clear plastic to enable a user to view the station to which the radio is tuned. The radio is retained within the lunch box by means of the above noted bracket which is lined with an insulating foam to protect the radio from the items which may be carried within the lunch box.

Claims

1. A lunch box radio apparatus, comprising:

(a) a rigid box-like assembly having a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces, a front surface and a rear surface to form a box-like assembly having an internal hollow with a top open surface, one of said side surfaces as positioned between said front and rear surfaces having a plurality of sound emitting apertures located thereon, with said front surface having an aperture near said one side surface,

(b) a radio receiver positioned in said hollow and held adjacent said one side surface with a surface of said radio in proximity with said apertures, and at least one control knob positioned adjacent said aperture in said front surface to enable a user of said lunch box to operate said radio via said aperture, and

(c) a cover member pivotally coupled to said rear surface for selectively covering and exposing said top open surface whereby said radio can be operated by said user independent of said cover member.

2. The lunch box radio apparatus according to claim 1, further including bracket means comprising a flexible "L" shaped member coupled to said bottom surface within said hollow and located a predetermined distance from said one side surface with one arm of said "L" secured to said bottom surface and said other arm extending towards said side surface for extending over the top surface of said radio as positioned in said hollow to retain said radio in a desired position with respect to said aperture on said front surface.

3. A lunch box apparatus comprising:

(a) a rigid box-like assembly having a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces, a front surface and a rear surface to form said box-like assembly having an internal hollow with a top open surface, one of said side surfaces as positioned between said front and rear surfaces having a plurality of sound emitting apertures located thereon, with said front surface having an aperture near said one side surface,

(b) a flexible "L" shaped member coupled to said bottom surface within said hollow and located a predetermined distance from said one side surface with one arm of said "L" secured to said bottom surface and said other arm extending towards said side surface,

(c) a radio receiver positioned in said hollow between said side surface and said "L" shaped member, with said other arm extending over the top surface of said radio to retain the same in position, said radio having at least one control knob positioned to be accessed via said aperture in said front surface to enable a user of said lunch box to operate said radio,

(d) a cover member pivotally coupled to said box-like assembly for selectively covering and exposing said top open surface.

4. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 3 further including an insulating layer located with said hollow to cover said side surface, with said layer having corresponding apertures for enabling sound to propagate.

5. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 3 further including an insulating material positioned about the inner surface of said "L" shaped member as facing said side surface.

6. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said control knob is a combination on-off volume control.

7. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 3 further including a clear window located on said one side surface in close proximity to said front surface for allowing a user to view a tuning indicator associated with said radio receiver.

8. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said rigid box-like structure is fabricated from a plastic of the type impervious to the transmission of radio waves.

9. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 3 further including antenna means located on said radio receiver adapted to receive F.M. transmissions.

10. The lunch box apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said flexible "L" shaped member has an aperture on said other arm for surrounding said antenna.