GB2379210A

GB2379210A - A Combined Portable Container and collapsible table with integral stove and light.

Info

Publication number: GB2379210A
Application number: GB0121078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jin-Chiao Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-30
Filing date: 2001-08-30
Publication date: 2003-03-05
Also published as: GB0121078D0

Abstract

A leisure container equipped with an extensible pulling handle and stove comprises a hollow casing (10) having two castors (12) located on two corners at the bottom and two movable handles mounted to two lateral sides at selected locations, a hollow case (20) housed in the casing (10) and having a pair of hinge brackets (23) extended outwards, each hinge bracket (23) having a hinge pin (231), a lid (30) having a pivotal lid handle (32) in the center, and two movable table top panels (40, 41) each having two hinge slots (401, 411) pivotally engaged with the hinge brackets (23). One table top panel (40) has an extensible pulling rod (42) located therein, and the other table top panel (41) has a stove trough (43) located thereon. The stove trough (43) is surrounded by a heat insulation guarding collar (432) and may be covered by a cap (50) to prevent it from collecting dust.

Description

LEISURE CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container and particularly a leisure container equipped with a pulling handle and a stove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, higher living standards and long week ends have motivated many people to take whole family for outdoor trips and activities. Outdoor trips and activities often need some containers to hold clothing and goods. A wide variety of containers which can also function as table tops have been developed and introduced for this purpose. However a lot of those containers have handles located only on two side walls for people to carry. It becomes a burden or even risky for people to carry when the containers are heavy. Moreover, most of the containers have table top panels attached to two lateral sides and provide only flat support function for goods. The function of the containers are simple and plain, and do not have much additional usage or value besides holding goods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing disadvantages, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved container that has an extensible pulling handle to allow the container be moved by

pushing or pulling without carrying to save efforts and time, and also has a table top panel which may function as a stove for cooking.

The container of the invention mainly consists of a casing with two casters attached to the bottom at two comers, two movable handles mounted to selected locations on the casing, a case housed in the casing having jutting hinge brackets and hinge pins, a lid having a movable lid handle, two movable table top panels pivotally engaged with the casing on two sides through hinge slots and hinge brackets of the case have respectively an extensible pulling handle, and a stove trough for holding a stove surrounded by a heat insulation guarding collar and covered by a cap to prevent from collecting dust.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of the lid of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of a movable lid handle of

the invention.

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of a movable table top panel to support a stove.

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary perspective view of a coupling lug.

FIG. 4C is a fragmentary perspective view of a caster.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lighting means.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section of a snap clip.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention, after assembled.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the invention, with the table top panels extended.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the invention, with the pulling handle extended.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9 for an embodiment of the invention, the container of the invention mainly consists of : A hollow casing 10 which has a latch slot 11 formed respectively on a front and a rear side at the bottom in a middle section, two casters 12 mounted to two comers of the bottom spaced from the latch slot 11, and two movable handles 13

mounted to two lateral sides of the casing 10. Each caster 12 is covered by a reflection mask 121 as shown in FIG. 4C; A hollow case 20 housed in the casing 10 including an inner rim 21 located at the peripheral inner side of the top end and an outer rim 22 surrounding the top peripheral end of the case 20.

There is a movable tray 211 mounted to the inner rim 21. The outer rim 22 on the front and the rear side have respectively a pair of hinge brackets 23 jutting outwards. Each of the hinge brackets 23 has a hinge pin 231 mounted thereon. The outer rim 22 at two lateral sides have respectively an indented recess 24. The indented recess 24 has an anchor block 241 attached thereon with two spaced anchor arms 242 extended from the anchor block 241.

The anchor arms 242 hold a bar Sl ; A lid 30 for covering the case 20 having a cavity 31 formed in the center for pivotally holding a lid handle 32 through a pin S2.

The pin S2 is coupled with a restore spring S3 for nestling the lid handle 32 in the cavity 31 (shown in FIG. 3). There are two control blocks 33 located at two sides of the lid 30. Each control block 33 is extended downwards from the lid 30 and engages with a substantially L-shaped hook 331 in a transverse direction. The bottom end of the control block 33 has a bore 332 corresponding to the bar Sl of the anchor arms 242; Two movable table top panels 40,41 each having two hinge slots 401,411 matching the hinge brackets 23 of the case 20. The hinge slots 401, 411 have respectively two opposing hinge

apertures 402,412 located on two sides thereof to match the hinge pin 231 of the hinge bracket 23. The table top panels 40,41 further have respectively a movable latch blade 403,413 located at a position matching the latch slot 11 of the casing 10. At the middle portion of one table top panel 40, there is an extensible pulling rod 42 with a grip handle 421. The grip handle 421 has a pushbutton 422. At one side of the table top panel 40, there is a lighting means 423 nesting inside and a switch 424. The lighting means 423 is covered by a cover lid 425; Another table top panel 41 has an indented stove trough 43 bordering at two sides by coupling clips 431 which hold a rod S4.

The stove trough 43 is surrounded at the outer perimeter by a heat insulation guarding collar 432. There is a gas switch 433 located below the guarding collar 432. The stove trough 43 further may be covered by a cap 50 which has two ear rings 51 at two sides for moving and carrying the cap 50. On the inner side of the table top panels 40,41, there are also two wedge slots 44 for pivotally engaging with an extensible bracket 45. Another end of the inner side has a snap clip 46 for holding the extensible bracket 45.

Referring to FIG. 7 for assembling the invention, at first, the case 20 is disposed into the casing 10. When to cover the case 20 with the lid 30, move the control block 33 towards the center to retreat the hook 331 inwards until the bore 442 engaging with the bar Sl, then release the control block 33. The lid 30 will be engaged

securely with the case 20. The lid handle 32 on the lid 30 will be at a resting position when released due to the restoring force of the spring S3. The table top panels 40,41 are pivotally hinged on the hinge pins 231 on the hinge brackets 23 of the case 20 through the hinge apertures 402,412 in the hinge slots 401,411. Thus the table top panels 40,41 may be moved up or down as desired.

When in use, move the control block 33 at one side of the lid 30 towards the center to retreat the hook 331 inwards, the hook 331 will be disengaged from the bar Sl and allow the lid 30 be lifted upwards at one end. When moving the two control blocks 33 at two sides towards the center simultaneously, the hooks 331 at two sides will be retreated inwards to disengage from the bars S 1 at two ends, then the lid 30 may be moved away from the case 20. When to extend the table top panels 40,41, move the latch blades 403, 413 to disengage from the latch slots 11, then the table top panels 40, 41 may be moved and extended freely. Then extend the extensible bracket 45 for a selected length to stand on the ground surface, the table top panels 40,41 can be held steadily for use as shown in FIG. 8. The lighting means 424 at one side of the table top panel 40 may be turned on through the switch 423 when using at night.

When there is a desire for cooking, a cooking ware T may be placed on the stove trough 43 located on another table top panel 41, and turn on the gas switch 433 below the stove trough 43 to cook as desired. Hence this invention not only can be used for holding

goods, also can be used for cooking. When cooking is finished or not used, the cap 50 may be laid on the stove trough 43 to keep the table top panel 41 flat and smooth. The ear ring 51 has a hook 52 located at the lower end to engage with the rod S4 held by the coupling lugs 431. Its function and operation is substantially same as the control block 33 of the lid 30, thus details will be omitted here. When not in use, the table top panels 40,41 may be moved downwards to engage the latch blade 403,413 with the latch slot 11, then the whole package will become a packed container again. Depress the pushbutton 422, the pulling rod 42 may be pulled out through handle grip 421. Then the container may be moved by pulling or pushing easily with the aids of the casters 12.

Referring to FIG. 10 for another embodiment of the invention, the extensible rod 42 may also be contained in a separate board 60 which is fastenable to one side of the table top panel 40. The board 60 may have a storage compartment 61 which is openable from one side for holding articles.

In summary, the invention offers the following advantages: The movable table top panels 40,41, besides being lifted and extended to function as usual table tops, the panel 41 at one side may also be equipped with the stove trough 43 for cooking use. The invention thus provides extra value in addition to holding goods. It also may be moved easily with less efforts and labors, and has greater usefulness.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A leisure container equipped with extensible pulling handle and stove, comprising: a hollow casing having a latch slot and a caster located on the exterior at the bottom, and two movable handles mounted respectively to two lateral sides at selected locations; a hollow case housed in the casing having an inner rim and an outer rim proximate the top end thereof, the inner rim having a movable tray mounted thereon, the outer rim having a pair of hinge brackets jutting outwards from a front side and a rear side thereof, each of the hinge brackets having a hinge pin mounted thereon, the outer rim also having two lateral sides each having an indented recess, the indented recess having an anchor block attached thereon with two spaced anchor arms mounting to the anchor block for holding a bar; a lid for covering the case having a cavity pivotally engaged with a lid handle through a pin which is coupled with a restore spring for harnessing the lid handle, and two control blocks located at two sides of the lid, each control block being extended downwards from the lid and engaging with a hook in a transverse direction, and having a bore formed at the bottom thereof corresponding to the bar held by the anchor arms; two movable table top panels each having two hinge slots, each hinge slot having two opposing hinge apertures located on

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two sides thereof to match the hinge pin of the hinge bracket, the table top panels further having respectively a movable latch blade located at a position matching the latch slot of the casing, one table top panel having an extensible pulling rod with a grip handle located at a middle portion thereof, the grip handle having a pushbutton, the table top panel also having a lighting means and a switch located at one side thereof, the lighting means being covered by a cover lid; and another table top panel having an indented stove trough bordered at two sides by coupling clips for holding a rod, a heat insulation guarding collar surrounding the outer perimeter of the stove trough, a gas switch located below the guarding collar, and a cap for covering the stove trough, the cap having two ear rings located at two sides for moving and carrying the cap; the table top panels further having respectively two wedge slots located on an inner side for pivotally engaging with an extensible bracket at one end, the inner side having another end mounted with a snap clip for holding the extensible bracket.
2. The leisure container of claim 1, wherein the extensible rod is located in a separated board fastenable to one side of the table top panel, the board having a storage compartment which is openable from one side of the board.
3. The leisure container substantially as herein described is illustrated with reference to accompanied drawings of FIGS. 1,2, 3,4A, 4B, 5,6, 7,8, and 9.