GB2427398A - Lunch box with separate compartments - Google Patents

Abstract

A lunch box is constructed to have 3 separate compartments to each house separate food types. These compartments are individually intended to store protein, salad (or vegetables) and carbohydrates respectively. The compartments are of differing sizes with the ratio of sizes being such as to create a balanced diet of the different food types. The overall size of the lunch box determines the maximum calorific value of the meal within. The box is made of thin, transparent and lightweight plastics material. At least the central compartment may include a removable tray. The box may have symbols adjacent the relevant compartments to depict the different food types that it is intended to house in these respective compartments.

Description

Title: Healthy-Girl Lunch-Box Background: I have never been able to find a lunch-box that would fit in to my handbag, look nice and contain the appropriate amount and balance of food for one lunch meal. I like making my own lunches, and many of my female friends do the same. But with so many of us girls being on a diet all the time, it is terribly frustrating having to count everything you eat, to check the points and calories of everything. This idea is to create a lunch-box that is of convenient size and supports appropriate dietary requirements of (young) women who work in an office environment. Statement of invention: Using our grandmothers "secret ratio", I calculated the volume required for a medium sized lunch box (this particular size is to accommodate a 1,500-1,600 calories a day diet) to contain the right proportion of protein, carbohydrate and salad (vegetables) and developed a three-dimensional size to fit in to the majority of women's handbags. The way the food is displayed is designed to encourage the consumption of salad and vegetables. Advantages: Once you have a lunch-box which has been designed to contain a balanced meal, you do not have to calculate calories, or points - just fill it in with advised foods and it will automatically be nutritious and balanced. The location of the food in the box is such that you are encouraged to eat salads and vegetables, because these are to be positioned in the middle (fig. 1 S), between the carbohydrate and protein compartments (fig. 1 P,C) Design-wise, it is essential that the lid does not leak. Preferably, the lunch-box should be made of thin, transparent and lightweight plastic. For Multiple use lunch boxes, it is preferable that the comers are rounded in the interior (figs. 1&2), in order to make it easier to clean. Preferably, the plastic material should be dish washable and scratch-resistant. For microwave able versions of the lunch box there would need to be a central removable tray for salads Preferably, pictures of the type of food should be depicted on the upper surface of the base of the box - so that people could see what types of food they should put in to each compartment. As long as the ratio is maintained, the size of the box can be decreased / increased and dimensions can be altered, to accommodate a different calorie diet (1,200 or 2,000). The length of the protein compartment was carefully checked against most proteincontaining foods (such as salmon stakes, sausages, chicken and eggs). Introduction to drawings: Figure 1 view of the box from the top Figure 2 view of the box from the front Figure 3 view of the box from the side Figure 4 view of the lid from the top Figure 5 view of the lid from the front Figure 6 view of the lid from the side The measurements of the box are as follows: 19cm x 12 cm x 4cm Compartments are located in this sequence: P on the left, containing protein foods such as: meat, fish, eggs, chicken, sausages. S in the middle, containing salads / vegetables (excluding potatoes) C on the right, containing carbohydrate foods such as: rice, bread, pasta, potatoes, couscous. The measurements of the respective compartments are: P (3.2cm x 12cm x 4cm) S: (9.5cm x 12cm x 4cm) C. (6.3cm x 12cm x 4cm) The lunch-box can be manufactured for 3 commercial uses: 1 sold empty, made of durable material, for filling at home and multiple use. 2 sold empty, made of cheap material - for single use (disposable). 3 sold filled by supermarkets, made of cheap material (disposable).

Claims (1)

1. A lunch-box with 3 compartments.

2. As claimed in Claim 1, the ratio of volumes between protein (fig. 1 P), salad / vegetables (fig. 1 S) and carbohydrates (fig. 1 C) should be 1:3:2

4. As claimed in above Claims, salads are in the middle.