JP2008093405A - Lunch box container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lunch box container that efficiently conduct heat to foodstuffs and that can conserve those foodstuffs to which no heat is desirably applied away from a heat source. <P>SOLUTION: The lunch box container includes an outer container 30 with a heating function, which has heat-insulating properties and incorporates a heating means 36, an outer container 40 having heat-insulating properties, and an electric power unit 50 for supplying electric power to the outer container 30 with the heating function. The lunch box container is characterized in that at least an inner container 20 housed in the outer container 30 with the heating function is formed in a tapered shape in which the bottom side is gradually narrowed down in diameter, that a conically shaped heat conductor 38 is mounted on the inner periphery of the outer container 30 with the heating function, and that the tapered part of the inner container 20 is fitted to the heat conductor 38. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lunch box container, and more particularly to a lunch box container that can be stored at an appropriate temperature depending on the contents of the lunch box.

As a heater-type heat insulation lunch box container in which a heater is attached to the bottom of the lunch box and a power source of the heater is attached, there is, for example, Patent Document 1.
JP 2002-345527 A

In the heater-type heat insulation lunch box container described in Patent Document 1, since the heater is simply disposed on the bottom surface of the lunch box, the heat generated by the heater is efficient especially in a low temperature state. However, there is a problem that a cold bento box is sometimes eaten despite being heated and kept warm without being transmitted to the ingredients of the bento box.
In addition, even if the temperature emitted by the heater is transmitted to the lunch box, all the ingredients stored in the lunch box will be heated, so depending on the type of side dishes, it will not be possible to eat at the proper temperature. There is also a problem that food materials are easily damaged in food materials that are not suitable for heat insulation.

  The present invention makes it possible to efficiently transfer the heat generated by the heating means to the food by increasing the contact portion between the inner container that contains the food and the heating means such as a heater, and does not want to add heat. The purpose is to propose a lunch box container that can store food in a state isolated from the heat source.

  The present invention is a lunch box container that can heat and keep some or all of a plurality of inner containers that contain a lunch box, and has heat insulation and an outer container with a heating function that incorporates heating means, and heat insulation. An outer container and a power supply device for supplying power to the outer container with a heating function are provided, and at least the inner container accommodated in the outer container with a heating function has a tapered shape in which a bottom surface side is gradually reduced in diameter. A heat conductor formed in a mortar shape with a gradually decreasing diameter on the bottom surface is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the outer container with a heating function, and the tapered portion of the inner container is fitted to the heat conductor. It is a lunch storage container characterized by being able to combine.

Further, a plurality of the heating means are built in, and the set temperature of each heating means is provided so as to be individually settable. Thereby, a lunch box can be preserve | saved in the state which maintained appropriate temperature according to foodstuffs.
Further, the heating means is arranged so as to directly touch the inner container. Thereby, heating to a heat conductor and an inner side container can be performed efficiently.
Further, the heating means is arranged on the opening side of the outer container with a heating function. By this, the site | part which contacts the exterior frequently is heated intensively, and it can prevent that the whole lunch box container is cooled.

  Another invention is a lunch box container that can heat and keep a part or all of a plurality of inner containers that contain a lunch box, and has a heat insulating property, and a heat conductor and a heating element are integrally formed. The inner side accommodated in at least the outer container with a heating function, comprising an outer container with a heating function having a body, an outer container with heat insulation, and a power supply device for supplying power to the outer container with a heating function The container is formed in a tapered shape with a gradually decreasing diameter on the bottom side, and the heater body is arranged in a mortar shape with a gradually decreasing diameter on the inner peripheral surface of the outer container with a heating function, The tapered portion of the inner container can be fitted to the heater body.

  In addition, a coolant can be disposed between the outer container and the inner container. This is convenient for storing cold side dishes such as salads and for storing bento boxes in summer.

  According to the lunch box container according to the present invention, since there are many contact portions between the inner container for storing the food and the heat source, heat can be efficiently transmitted to the food to be heated. In addition, since the food material that does not want to transmit heat can be stored isolated from the heat source, it is not necessary to eat the heated food material unexpectedly, and the food material is not damaged by heat.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of a lunch box container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a lunch box container. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lunch box container. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG.
The lunch box container 10 in the present embodiment includes an outer container 30 with a heating function that houses an inner container 20 that is packed with a heated and warmed lunch box, and an outer box that houses an inner container 20 that is packed with a bento that is kept cold. It has the container 40 and the power supply device 50 which supplies a power supply to the outer container 30 with a heating function.
The outer container 30 with heating function, the outer container 40, and the power supply device 50 in the present embodiment are formed so that the outer dimensions are the same.

The inner container 20 is composed of a bottomed accommodating portion 22 and a lid 24 having an upper surface opening. The accommodating part 22 is formed in the taper shape which tapers gradually toward the bottom part from the opening part side of an upper surface. Since the inner container 20 in the present embodiment is stacked in the vertical direction and accommodated in the outer container 30 with a heating function as shown in FIG. 2, the storage capacity is slightly different between the lower container 20a and the upper container 20b. . The diameter of the upper end of the lower container 20a is formed to be equal to the diameter of the bottom of the upper container 20b. Therefore, when the lower container 20a and the upper container 20b are stacked up and down, the outer surfaces of the respective side wall surfaces 22a and 22b are arranged in a straight line.
The material of the inner container 20 is preferably a material having high thermal conductivity, and polypropylene is used in the present embodiment. In this Embodiment, the inner container 20 accommodated in the outer container 30 with a heating function and the inner container 20 accommodated in the outer container 40 are formed in the same shape.

The outer container 30 with a heating function includes a bottomed accommodating portion 32 having an upper surface opened and a lid 34. Both the accommodating part 32 and the lid | cover 34 are formed with the heat insulating material. The accommodating part 32 is formed in the taper shape which tapers gradually from the opening part of an upper surface toward a bottom part similarly to the accommodating part 22 of the inner container 20.
In addition, heaters 36, thermostats 36a and 36b, and wirings 36c made of resistors are embedded in the side wall surface 32a of the accommodating portion 32, respectively. The set temperatures of the thermostats 36a and 36b are preferably set to different temperatures.

A heat conduction plate 38 made of an aluminum plate for diffusing heat from the heater 36 is disposed on the inner side surface and the bottom surface of the side wall surface 32 a of the housing portion 32. The heat conducting plate 38 also has a taper shape that gradually tapers from the opening portion on the upper surface toward the bottom surface portion, and is formed so that the taper portion of the accommodating portion 22 of the inner container 20 is in close contact.
An arcuate groove 30z is formed on the outer side of the bottom surface of the outer container 30 with a heating function so as to face two locations. A side wall portion of the recessed groove 30z is formed in the female screw portion MN, and a terminal 36d of the wiring 36c is disposed on the bottom portion of the recessed groove 30z.

  An outer container 40 having only a heat insulating function is connected to the outer lower surface of the outer container 30 with a heating function. The outer container 40 has a deep dish shape whose upper surface is open, and is formed of a heat insulating material. The inner container 20 is accommodated in the inner space of the outer container 40. Since the side wall surface of the outer container 40 stands vertically with respect to the bottom plate and no heat conduction plate is disposed in the inner space of the outer container 40, there is a gap portion between the outer container 40 and the inner container 20. Occurs. The coolant 60 is accommodated in the gap portion.

  On the outside of the upper surface of the outer container 40, there is an arcuate convex part 42 in which a male screw part ON is formed which enters the concave groove 30z of the outer container 30 with heating function and is screwed into the female screw part MN of the concave groove 30z. It is formed in a state facing two places. On the other hand, a concave groove 44 is formed on the lower surface of the outer container 40. A female screw portion MN is formed on the side wall portion of the concave groove 44. A wiring 46 is embedded in the side wall 42 of the outer container 40, and a terminal 46 a of the wiring 46 is disposed so as to appear from the end surfaces of the convex portion 42 and the concave groove 44.

  The circular arc formed by the convex portion 42 and the circular arc formed by the concave groove 30z have the same diameter, but the length of the arc of the convex portion 42 is about half the length of the arc of the concave groove 30z. Is formed. When the outer container 40 is connected to the outer container 30 with the heating function by screwing the convex portion 42 and the concave groove 30z formed as described above, the wiring 46 in the outer container 40 and the wiring in the outer container 30 with the heating function are connected. 36c is electrically connected.

A battery container 50, which is a power supply device that supplies power to the heater 36 in the outer container 30 with a heating function, is connected to the outer lower surface of the outer container 40. A convex portion 52 is provided on the outer upper surface of the battery container 50 in the same manner as the outer container 40. That is, a male screw portion ON is formed on the side wall portion of the convex portion 52, and a terminal 56 of the battery 54 is disposed on the upper end portion of the convex portion 52. The relationship between the convex portion 52 and the concave groove 44 is formed to be the same as the relationship between the convex portion 42 and the concave groove 30z.
The convex portion 52 enters a concave groove 44 provided on the outer lower surface of the outer container 40, and the male screw portion ON of the convex portion 52 is screwed into the female screw portion MN of the concave groove 44 so that the outer container 40 and the battery container 50 are engaged. Are concatenated. The battery 54 built in the battery container 50 is electrically connected to the side wall portion of the outer container 30 with a heating function through the side wall portion of the outer container 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lunch container 10 in the present embodiment has a configuration in which an outer container 30 with a heating function, an outer container 40, and a battery container 50 are connected in series in the vertical direction. It has the same external shape as the launcher and is easy to carry.
In addition, the food item of the lunch box that wants to maintain a warm state is isolated from the storage location of the food item of the lunch box that wants to maintain a cold state, and the heater 36 or the cooling material 60 is disposed in each food material storage location. Can be kept at an appropriate temperature. Furthermore, if the set temperatures of the thermostats 36a and 36b are differentiated, it is more convenient because the food to be heated and kept can be kept at different temperatures depending on the kind of the food. As the set temperature of the thermostats 36a and 36b, if the set temperature of the thermostat 36b corresponding to the heater 36 on the lower side is set higher, the heated air rises, so that power supply to the upper heater 36 can be saved. Can do.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, each planar position and each dimensional condition of the concave groove 30z of the outer container 30 with a heating function, the convex part 42 and the concave groove 44 of the outer container 40, and the convex part 52 of the battery container 50 are as follows. It is provided to become. Therefore, when there is no food for lunch to maintain a cold state, the projection 52 of the battery container 50 can be directly screwed into the concave groove 30z of the outer container 30 with a heating function to enable connection with electrical connection. I have to.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the opening side of the lunch box container in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the heat conductor 38 disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing portion 32 is formed with a height that is lower than the depth of the housing portion 32. That is, a gap portion is formed between the inner container 20 and the accommodating portion 32 on the opening side of the lunch box accommodating container 10. In the present embodiment, the heater 36 is disposed in the gap portion. That is, the inner surface of the upper heater 36 is disposed on the same plane as the inner surface of the heat conductor 38. By arranging the upper heater 36 in such a layout, the inner container 20 and the heat conductor 38 can be brought into direct contact with the heater 36. Further, since the temperature of the heat conductor 38 can be prevented from being lowered by opening and closing the lid (the lid of the lunch box container 10) 34 of the housing portion 32 by the upper heater 36, it is also preferable to lower the heat retention temperature in the entire lunch box container 10. It is advantageous because it can be prevented.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the opening side of the lunch box container in the present embodiment. In the lunch box container 10 in the present embodiment, the heat conductor 38 of the lunch box container 10 in the second embodiment is formed to have a height equal to the depth dimension of the housing part 32, and the upper heater 36 is connected to the wall of the container 32. It is arranged within the thickness. That is, the upper heater 36 does not directly contact the inner container 20 but directly contacts the heat conductor 38. Further, since the contact area between the upper heater 36 and the heat conductor 38 is increased, the heat conductor 38 can be efficiently heated.

  In the second embodiment and the third embodiment, only the upper heater 36 has been described, but the lower heater 36 may have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. In addition, when either one of the second and third embodiments is adopted, it is of course possible to omit the lower heater 36. This is because even if only the upper heater 36 is used, the heat of the upper heater 30 is propagated by the heat conductor 38 and the lower space of the housing portion 32 can be sufficiently heated. It is more preferable if high temperature food is stored in the inner container 20 disposed in the lower space of the storage portion 32. Adopting this configuration is advantageous because the number of heaters 36 is reduced, the power used by the heaters 36 is reduced, and the usable time of the battery 54 is increased.

Although the lunch container according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.
For example, in the present embodiment, the lunch box storage container 10 has been described with respect to the form in which the inner container 20 is stacked and stored in the vertical direction. However, as shown in FIGS. Of course, it is also possible to make it a form. Here, arranging the inner container 20 in a plane means that the inner container 20 is arranged in a plane in the inner space of the outer container 30 with a heating function, and that the outer container 30 and the outer container 40 with a heating function are arranged. It includes both meanings of connecting in a plane. In any form, the outer container 40 is not disposed on the upper side with respect to the outer container 30 with a heating function. This is to prevent the food contained in the outer container 40 from being heated by warm air. Thus, when arrange | positioning an inner side container planarly, the lid | cover 12 as the lunch box accommodation container 10 is used instead of the lid | cover 32 of the outer side container 30 with a heating function.

  For the connection of the outer container 30 with heating function, the outer container 40, and the power supply device 50, the connection structure using the concave groove and the convex portion described in the present embodiment can be applied. Needless to say, the arrangement positions of the concave grooves and the convex portions are appropriately changed according to the connection form of the outer container 30 with heating function, the outer container 40 and the power supply device 50.

In the present embodiment, the heater 36 and the thermostats 36a and 36b for controlling the temperature of the heater 36 are used as the heating means. However, if a heater having PTC characteristics is employed, the arrangement of the thermostat can be omitted. Can do.
In the present embodiment, the heat conductor 38 is independently disposed in the outer container 30 with a heating function. However, in order to make the structure simpler, a sheet-like heat generation to which a copper film or an aluminum film is attached is provided. The body 36A can also be used as the heater body 36A. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the heater body 36 </ b> A need only be arranged in a mortar shape on the inner peripheral surface of the outer container 30 with a heating function, and the manufacture and arrangement of the heat conductor 38 can be omitted. Therefore, the lunch box container can be manufactured at low cost.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the gel-like cold insulating material is used for the cold preservation of the foodstuff to be kept cold, other cold insulating means or cooling means can be used. For example, it can replace with the heater 36 of the outer container 30 with a heating function, can arrange | position a Peltier element to make an outer container with a cooling function, and can cool and preserve the foodstuff accommodated in the outer container with a cooling function. In this case, it is advantageous to form an exhaust heat induction path that guides the exhaust heat from the Peltier element to the outer peripheral portion of the outer container 30 with a heating function because the waste heat can be used effectively.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, although the form using the battery 54 as a power supply of the power supply device 50 has been described, the battery 54 may be any of a reusable type and a disposable type.
As another power source, it is of course possible to use a commercial power source supplied from an electrical outlet or a car battery from a car cigarette lighter as a power source.

  Furthermore, the heaters 36 as heating means do not have to be arranged continuously in the height direction of the lunch box container 10, and a plurality of heaters 36 formed in a required width are arranged at a required interval. It is good also as a form to install. In this case, it goes without saying that each heater 36 is formed to have a tapered shape with a tapered lower side.

It is an assembly perspective view of a lunch box container. It is sectional drawing of a lunch box accommodation container. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing which shows the opening part side vicinity of the lunch box accommodation container in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the opening part side vicinity of the lunch box accommodation container in 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows other embodiment of a lunch box accommodation container. It is the top view which removed the lid | cover of the lunch box accommodation container shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing in the BB line in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Lunch container 20 Inner container 30 Heating function outer container 30z Heating function outer container groove 36 Heater 36a, 36b Thermostat 38 Thermal conductor 40 Outer container 42 Outer container convex part 44 Outer container groove 50 Power supply (Battery container)
52 Convex part 60 of power supply device (battery container) Coolant

Claims (6)

A lunch storage container that can heat and keep some or all of the plurality of inner containers that store the lunch,
An outer container with a heating function that has heat insulation and incorporates a heating means;
An outer container having thermal insulation properties;
A power supply device for supplying power to the outer container with a heating function,
The inner container accommodated in at least the outer container with a heating function is formed in a tapered shape with a gradually decreasing diameter on the bottom surface side,
On the inner peripheral surface of the outer container with a heating function, a heat conductor formed in a mortar shape whose bottom surface gradually becomes a small diameter is attached,
The lunch box container, wherein the tapered portion of the inner container can be fitted to the heat conductor.   2. The lunch box container according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the heating means are built in, and the set temperatures of the respective heating means are individually settable.   The lunch box container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating means is disposed so as to directly touch the inner container.   The lunch box container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating means is disposed on the opening side of the outer container with a heating function. A lunch storage container that can heat and keep some or all of the plurality of inner containers that store the lunch,
An outer container with a heating function having a heater body having heat insulation and a heat conductor and a heating element integrally formed;
An outer container having thermal insulation properties;
A power supply device for supplying power to the outer container with a heating function,
The inner container accommodated in at least the outer container with a heating function is formed in a tapered shape with a gradually decreasing diameter on the bottom surface side,
The heater body is disposed in a mortar shape in which the bottom side gradually becomes a small diameter on the inner peripheral surface of the outer container with a heating function,
A lunch box container, wherein the tapered portion of the inner container can be fitted to the heater body.   The lunch box container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a coolant can be disposed between the outer container and the inner container.

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