Compact collapsible lunch box

• US 5,181,612 A
• Filed: 10/25/1991
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yuan W. Liu
• Original Assignee: Yuan W. Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Yuan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/782,653
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 206/514, 206/542, 206/544, 206/545, 206/546, 220/4.28, 220/23.4, 220/23.83, 220/521, 220/522, 64/457.7, 190/102, 190/107, 190/109, 190/111
• US Class Current: 206/546
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0036 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/082 disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

This compact lunch box consists of a collapsible carrier body and a collapsible lower casing both having walls made of a thermal insulative material. In the erected state, the lower casing may be removably mounted with a plurality of mounting webs at the bottom side of the carrier body for containing food and beverage. A thermal pack is provided in a well located within the carrier body for maintaining the food and beverage in a low healthy temperature. In the collapsed state, the lower casing can also be conveniently mounted at the bottom of the carrier body to form a compact assembly which can be stored in a briefcase or a school bag.

Claims

1. A compact collapsible lunch box comprising,

a carrier body member having a cover means hingedly provided on a top portion therein, said carrier body member having a well portion formed in said top portion and a bottom casing portion formed in a bottom portion therein,

said well portion and said bottom casing portion being in communication with each other through at least a rectangular opening formed at a base of said well portion,

a collapsible container member operatively and removably mounted in said bottom casing portion of said carrier body member, said container member having foldable side walls operative to position in a manner perpendicular to a bottom panel in said container member to form a substantially rectangular container therewith,

a plurality of securing web means disposed in the bottom edges of said bottom casing portion,

a plurality of associated securing web means disposed on the side walls of said container member, said securing web means and associated securing web means being operative to secure removably together said carrier body member and said container member.

2. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 1 wherein said side walls of said container member are foldable to lie flatly over said bottom panel to form a collapsible assembly, said bottom panel having a bottom surface,

a plurality of additional securing web means disposed on said bottom surface, said additional securing web means being operative in conjunction with said securing means on said bottom casing portion for securing said collapsible assembly in said bottom casing portion of said carrier body member.

3. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 1 wherein said container member has two mutually opposite long side walls, one dividing panel means pivotally mounted on one long side wall, and a second dividing panel means pivotally mounted to the second long side wall, said one dividing panel means being operative selectively to lie flatly over and perpendicularly to said one long side wall, said second dividing panel means being operative selectively to lie flatly over and perpendicularly to said second long side wall.

4. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 3 wherein said one dividing panel means includes a free edge portion having a securing web means disposed thereon, and said second dividing panel means includes a free edge having an extending securing web means disposed thereon and extending outwards therefrom, said securing web means on said one dividing panel means and said extended securing web means being operative cooperatively to secure said one dividing panel means and said second dividing panel means together removably to form a partition panel within said container member when said container member is in an erected condition.

5. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 4 wherein said cover means, said carrier body member and said container member are made of a thermal insulation material.

6. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 5 wherein said well portion includes a shoulder portion around said rectangular opening, said shoulder portion having a plurality of through openings formed therein, said well portion and said bottom casing portion in said carrier body member being also in communication with each other through said through openings.

7. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 6 including a first plurality of securing web means disposed on said top portion of said carrier body member, a second plurality of securing web means disposed on said cover means, said first plurality of securing web means and said second plurality of securing web means being operative to cooperate with one another to secure said cover means detachably over said carrier body member.

8. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 7 wherein said container member includes two mutually opposite short side walls,

latching means disposed at two top corner portions of said short side walls, associated latching means formed at two top edge portions of said long side walls, said latching means and said associated latching means being operative to secure said short side walls and said long side walls in a position perpendicular to said bottom panel for maintaining said container member in an erected condition.

9. A compact collapsible lunch box according to claim 8 wherein said latching means are substantially cylindrical pins having an enlarged head portion, and said associated latching means are substantially cylindrical bores having a configuration complementary to said cylindrical pins whereby said cylindrical pins are intimately and removably engageable with said cylindrical bores to maintain said short side walls securely mounted to said long side walls when said container member is in said erected condition.