US20140319016A1 - Executive lunch box - Google Patents
Executive lunch box Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140319016A1 US20140319016A1 US14/215,755 US201414215755A US2014319016A1 US 20140319016 A1 US20140319016 A1 US 20140319016A1 US 201414215755 A US201414215755 A US 201414215755A US 2014319016 A1 US2014319016 A1 US 2014319016A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lunch box
- attachment
- locking mechanism
- attached
- bag
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
- A45C11/20—Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/10—Arrangement of fasteners
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a lunch box, and more particularly, to a lunch box adapted to be firmly secured to a larger bag or case.
- a bag or case such as a briefcase, suitcase, purse, hand bag, or the like
- the bag or case carried by the individual is usually too small, too full, or too unsanitary to contain the lunch box. The individual is therefore left with having to handle two items instead of one.
- an embodiment of the present invention comprises a lunch box configured for attachment to a portable container.
- the lunch box includes a body having an interior accessible through an opening, a lid movably attached to the body and configured to selectively cover the opening, and a locking mechanism attached to the body and having a first attachment component and a second attachment component.
- the locking mechanism has (i) a first attached configuration wherein the first attachment component is selectively coupled to the second attachment component such that a portion of the portable container is selectively retained between the locking mechanism and the body, and (ii) a second attached configuration wherein at least one of the first and second attachment components is selectively coupled to a portion of the portable container.
- FIG. 1 is a front side elevational view of a lunch box in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a back side elevational view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a back side perspective view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 with a locking mechanism in a first configuration for attachment to the handle of a bag;
- FIG. 4 is a back side perspective view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in a second configuration
- FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a first example bag to which the lunch box of FIG. 1 may be attached;
- FIG. 6 is a front side elevational view of a lunch box attached to a second example bag in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of a lunch box 10 .
- a body 12 of the lunch box 10 is preferably of a soft construction and is made from vinyl that contains foam insulation (not shown) to maintain temperature within the interior of the lunch box 10 .
- the body 12 may be of hard or soft construction and may be manufactured from other materials, such as aluminum, tin, plastic, leather, or like food-safe fabrics, polymers, metals, or combinations thereof
- the body 12 preferably has the shape of a square or rectangular cube, but may have other shapes such as cylindrical, parallelepiped, or the like.
- FIG. 1 preferably has a fold-over lid 14 to cover an opening (not shown) of the body 12 accessing the interior thereof, and may be secured using a fastener 16 that in FIG. 1 takes the form of a turnkey.
- a fastener 16 that in FIG. 1 takes the form of a turnkey.
- Other fasteners may be used as well, such as the belt and buckle combination shown in FIG. 6 , hook-and-loop fasteners, clasps, clips, clamps, or the like.
- the lid 14 may also be detachable from the body 12 or take other configurations. In some embodiments, the lid 14 may be omitted and the body 12 may be opened and closed using a fastener or the like.
- a handle 18 may be provided on the lid 14 or a portion of the body 12 of the lunch box 10 to enable a user to conveniently carry the lunch box 10 .
- the handle 18 may be attached to the lid 14 or body 12 by conventional methods, such as rivets or other mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or the like.
- the lunch box 10 may include one or more rings 20 ( FIG. 3 ), each of which may be secured to the body 12 or lid 14 by a fastener 22 .
- the rings 20 are configured to support a strap (not shown) that may have hooks (not shown) thereon which mate with the rings 20 .
- the interior of the lunch box 10 may include a number of pockets or compartments (not shown) that may be designed for general or specific storage.
- a pocket may be provided for a water bottle, utensils, reusable ice packs, napkins, or the like.
- the interior is also preferably designed to contain conventionally sized food containers in addition to the specific compartments.
- the pockets or compartments can be integrally formed by the body 12 or may be attached thereto, as is conventionally known. Zippers or other closure mechanisms (not shown) may be provided on the body 12 to allow access to compartments in a manner other than through the lid 14 .
- one side of the body 12 may include a zipper to allow quick access to the water bottle compartment in the interior.
- Pockets or compartments may also be provided on the lid 14 or on the outside of the lunch box 10 , as desired.
- the lunch box 10 is configured for attachment to a conventional briefcase, suitcase, purse, handbag, or the like.
- a first example bag 30 is shown in FIG. 5 .
- the first example bag 30 has a body 31 and includes a pair of elongated straps 32 attached to the body 31 for use as handles.
- a second example bag 34 is shown in FIG. 6 as having a body 35 with a single handle 36 attached thereto via metal loops 37 .
- the lunch box 10 is provided with a fastening mechanism 40 as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the fastening mechanism 40 includes a pair of carabiner clips 42 , each of which may be secured to a length of chain 44 .
- a ring 46 is preferably attached to each chain 44 at a respective end opposite the corresponding carabiner clip 42 .
- Each ring 46 is preferably respectively secured to the body 12 of the lunch box 10 via a fabric loop 48 , which may be attached to the body 12 by stitching, mechanical fasteners, rivets, adhesives, or the like.
- each combination of a fabric loop 48 , ring 46 , chain 44 , and carabiner clip 42 has a total length L when in a substantially horizontal position.
- the length L is such that when the fastening mechanism 40 is in the configuration shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., the carabiner clips 42 are interlocked with each other), each carabiner clip 42 exerts a pulling force on the other carabiner clip 42 . As a result, the locking mechanism 40 is taut against the body 12 of the lunch box 10 .
- FIG. 3 shows the lunch box 10 in the process of attachment to an elongated strap 32 of the first example bag 30 .
- the locking mechanism 40 is preferably locked around the elongated strap 32 proximate a location where the elongated strap 32 is coupled to the body 31 of the first example bag 30 .
- the taut configuration of the locking mechanism 40 holds the lunch box 10 tightly against the first example bag 30 to prevent excessive movement with respect thereto.
- adjustment straps may be included to allow for tightening or loosening of the locking mechanism 40 around the elongated strap 32 .
- a spring may be added to the locking mechanism 40 , such as between the chain 44 and the carabiner clip 40 to maintain the locking mechanism 40 in a taut configuration.
- the locking mechanism 40 has a second configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 .
- the carabiner clips 42 can be used to connect to existing features of a bag.
- each of the carabiner clips 42 of the lunch box 10 is coupled to a corresponding metal loop 37 of the second example bag 34 .
- This configuration of the locking mechanism 40 allows the lunch box 10 to be connected to a bag even if the preferred configuration ( FIG. 2 ) is impractical for use with the bag to which the lunch box 10 is to be attached.
- locking mechanism 40 is shown as having carabiner clips 42 , other types of clips or detachable mechanical fasteners may be used in keeping with the invention.
- construction of the locking mechanism 40 is not limiting, as the stated components thereof are merely exemplary.
- the carabiner clips 42 may be attached directly to fabric loops 48 thereby omitting the rings 46 and chains 44 .
- certain components of the locking mechanism 40 may be replaced with equivalents thereof.
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- Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
Abstract
A lunch box, configured for attachment to a portable container, includes a body having an interior accessible through an opening, a lid movably attached to the body and configured to selectively cover the opening, and a locking mechanism attached to the body and having a first attachment component and a second attachment component. The locking mechanism has (i) a first attached configuration wherein the first attachment component is selectively coupled to the second attachment component such that a portion of the portable container is selectively retained between the locking mechanism and the body, and (ii) a second attached configuration wherein at least one of the first and second attachment components is selectively coupled to a portion of the portable container.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/788,817, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Executive Lunch Box,” currently pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
- Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a lunch box, and more particularly, to a lunch box adapted to be firmly secured to a larger bag or case.
- People travelling to work, meetings, or other events will often take a bag or case, such as a briefcase, suitcase, purse, hand bag, or the like, to carry important items. Often it is also desired to bring along a lunch or other type of food or drink that would best be kept in a separate lunch box or lunch bag for various reasons (e.g., cold storage, avoiding messes, or the like). Unfortunately, the bag or case carried by the individual is usually too small, too full, or too unsanitary to contain the lunch box. The individual is therefore left with having to handle two items instead of one.
- Systems where a small bag may be attached to a larger bag or case are currently available. However, many of these systems require the larger bag to have a custom type of locking mechanism for receiving and retaining the smaller bag. Other systems are designed for use with a variety of larger bags, but the connection between the two bags often leaves the smaller bag loosely coupled, so that during walking or travel the smaller bag moves around with respect to the larger bag, creating annoyances and potential damage to either of the bags or their contents.
- It would be desirable to provide a lunch box that may be secured to a variety of types of larger bags or cases but maintains a tight fit to prevent the aforementioned relative movement of the lunch box to the larger bag or case.
- Briefly stated, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a lunch box configured for attachment to a portable container. The lunch box includes a body having an interior accessible through an opening, a lid movably attached to the body and configured to selectively cover the opening, and a locking mechanism attached to the body and having a first attachment component and a second attachment component. The locking mechanism has (i) a first attached configuration wherein the first attachment component is selectively coupled to the second attachment component such that a portion of the portable container is selectively retained between the locking mechanism and the body, and (ii) a second attached configuration wherein at least one of the first and second attachment components is selectively coupled to a portion of the portable container.
- The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
-
FIG. 1 is a front side elevational view of a lunch box in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a back side elevational view of the lunch box ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a back side perspective view of the lunch box ofFIG. 1 with a locking mechanism in a first configuration for attachment to the handle of a bag; -
FIG. 4 is a back side perspective view of the lunch box ofFIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in a second configuration; -
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a first example bag to which the lunch box ofFIG. 1 may be attached; and -
FIG. 6 is a front side elevational view of a lunch box attached to a second example bag in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. - Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Additionally, the words “a” and “an” mean “at least one.”
- Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown in
FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of alunch box 10. Abody 12 of thelunch box 10 is preferably of a soft construction and is made from vinyl that contains foam insulation (not shown) to maintain temperature within the interior of thelunch box 10. However, thebody 12 may be of hard or soft construction and may be manufactured from other materials, such as aluminum, tin, plastic, leather, or like food-safe fabrics, polymers, metals, or combinations thereof Thebody 12 preferably has the shape of a square or rectangular cube, but may have other shapes such as cylindrical, parallelepiped, or the like. Thelunch box 10 inFIG. 1 preferably has a fold-overlid 14 to cover an opening (not shown) of thebody 12 accessing the interior thereof, and may be secured using afastener 16 that inFIG. 1 takes the form of a turnkey. Other fasteners may be used as well, such as the belt and buckle combination shown inFIG. 6 , hook-and-loop fasteners, clasps, clips, clamps, or the like. - The
lid 14 may also be detachable from thebody 12 or take other configurations. In some embodiments, thelid 14 may be omitted and thebody 12 may be opened and closed using a fastener or the like. - A
handle 18 may be provided on thelid 14 or a portion of thebody 12 of thelunch box 10 to enable a user to conveniently carry thelunch box 10. Thehandle 18 may be attached to thelid 14 orbody 12 by conventional methods, such as rivets or other mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or the like. Alternatively or additionally, thelunch box 10 may include one or more rings 20 (FIG. 3 ), each of which may be secured to thebody 12 orlid 14 by afastener 22. Therings 20 are configured to support a strap (not shown) that may have hooks (not shown) thereon which mate with therings 20. - The interior of the
lunch box 10 may include a number of pockets or compartments (not shown) that may be designed for general or specific storage. For example, a pocket may be provided for a water bottle, utensils, reusable ice packs, napkins, or the like. The interior is also preferably designed to contain conventionally sized food containers in addition to the specific compartments. The pockets or compartments can be integrally formed by thebody 12 or may be attached thereto, as is conventionally known. Zippers or other closure mechanisms (not shown) may be provided on thebody 12 to allow access to compartments in a manner other than through thelid 14. For example, one side of thebody 12 may include a zipper to allow quick access to the water bottle compartment in the interior. Pockets or compartments may also be provided on thelid 14 or on the outside of thelunch box 10, as desired. - The
lunch box 10 is configured for attachment to a conventional briefcase, suitcase, purse, handbag, or the like. Afirst example bag 30 is shown inFIG. 5 . Thefirst example bag 30 has abody 31 and includes a pair ofelongated straps 32 attached to thebody 31 for use as handles. Asecond example bag 34 is shown inFIG. 6 as having abody 35 with asingle handle 36 attached thereto viametal loops 37. - To facilitate attachment to a bag such as the
example bags lunch box 10 is provided with afastening mechanism 40 as shown inFIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment, thefastening mechanism 40 includes a pair ofcarabiner clips 42, each of which may be secured to a length ofchain 44. Aring 46 is preferably attached to eachchain 44 at a respective end opposite thecorresponding carabiner clip 42. Eachring 46 is preferably respectively secured to thebody 12 of thelunch box 10 via afabric loop 48, which may be attached to thebody 12 by stitching, mechanical fasteners, rivets, adhesives, or the like. It is preferred that each combination of afabric loop 48,ring 46,chain 44, andcarabiner clip 42 has a total length L when in a substantially horizontal position. Preferably, the length L is such that when thefastening mechanism 40 is in the configuration shown inFIG. 2 (i.e., thecarabiner clips 42 are interlocked with each other), eachcarabiner clip 42 exerts a pulling force on theother carabiner clip 42. As a result, thelocking mechanism 40 is taut against thebody 12 of thelunch box 10. -
FIG. 3 shows thelunch box 10 in the process of attachment to anelongated strap 32 of thefirst example bag 30. Thelocking mechanism 40 is preferably locked around theelongated strap 32 proximate a location where theelongated strap 32 is coupled to thebody 31 of thefirst example bag 30. The taut configuration of thelocking mechanism 40 holds thelunch box 10 tightly against thefirst example bag 30 to prevent excessive movement with respect thereto. If desired, adjustment straps (not shown) may be included to allow for tightening or loosening of thelocking mechanism 40 around theelongated strap 32. In addition, a spring (not shown) may be added to thelocking mechanism 40, such as between thechain 44 and thecarabiner clip 40 to maintain thelocking mechanism 40 in a taut configuration. - It is further preferred that the
locking mechanism 40 has a second configuration shown inFIGS. 4 and 6 . With the carabiner clips 42 unlocked from one another, the carabiner clips 42 can be used to connect to existing features of a bag. For example, inFIG. 6 , each of the carabiner clips 42 of thelunch box 10 is coupled to acorresponding metal loop 37 of thesecond example bag 34. This configuration of thelocking mechanism 40 allows thelunch box 10 to be connected to a bag even if the preferred configuration (FIG. 2 ) is impractical for use with the bag to which thelunch box 10 is to be attached. - While the
locking mechanism 40 is shown as having carabiner clips 42, other types of clips or detachable mechanical fasteners may be used in keeping with the invention. Similarly, the construction of thelocking mechanism 40 is not limiting, as the stated components thereof are merely exemplary. For example, the carabiner clips 42 may be attached directly tofabric loops 48 thereby omitting therings 46 andchains 44. Similarly, certain components of thelocking mechanism 40 may be replaced with equivalents thereof. - From the foregoing, it can be seen that embodiments of the present invention comprise a lunch box. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (9)
1. A lunch box configured for attachment to a portable container, the lunch box comprising:
a body having an interior accessible through an opening;
a lid movably attached to the body and configured to selectively cover the opening;
a locking mechanism attached to the body and having a first attachment component and a second attachment component, the locking mechanism having:
(i) a first attached configuration wherein the first attachment component is selectively coupled to the second attachment component such that a portion of the portable container is selectively retained between the locking mechanism and the body, and
(ii) a second attached configuration wherein at least one of the first and second attachment components is selectively coupled to a portion of the portable container.
2. The lunch box of claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment components include carabiner clips that are coupled to one another in the first attached configuration and coupled to the portable container in the second attached configuration.
3. The lunch box of claim 2 , wherein the carabiner clips are each secured to the body by a fabric loop.
4. The lunch box of claim 3 , wherein the first and second attachment components each include a ring secured to the respective fabric loop and coupled to the respective carabiner clip.
5. The lunch box of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second attachment components includes a length of chain arranged between the respective ring and carabiner clip.
6. The lunch box of claim 1 , wherein the lid is secured to the body to close the opening with a fastener.
7. The lunch box of claim 6 , wherein the fastener is one of a turnkey or a buckle.
8. The lunch box of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a handle arranged thereon.
9. The lunch box of claim 1 , wherein the body is insulated.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/215,755 US20140319016A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-03-17 | Executive lunch box |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361788817P | 2013-03-15 | 2013-03-15 | |
US14/215,755 US20140319016A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-03-17 | Executive lunch box |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140319016A1 true US20140319016A1 (en) | 2014-10-30 |
Family
ID=51788354
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/215,755 Abandoned US20140319016A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-03-17 | Executive lunch box |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20140319016A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4257463A (en) * | 1979-06-21 | 1981-03-24 | Rosemarie Monaco | Combination carrying cases |
US6230771B1 (en) * | 2000-03-07 | 2001-05-15 | Sherri Renee Hellenbrand | Modular carry-all assembly |
-
2014
- 2014-03-17 US US14/215,755 patent/US20140319016A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4257463A (en) * | 1979-06-21 | 1981-03-24 | Rosemarie Monaco | Combination carrying cases |
US6230771B1 (en) * | 2000-03-07 | 2001-05-15 | Sherri Renee Hellenbrand | Modular carry-all assembly |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KINDLE HILL, LLC, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GLASSMAN, SALY A.;YANTES, ROBYN;SIGNING DATES FROM 20140613 TO 20140617;REEL/FRAME:033263/0664 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |