US2349751A - Lunch box - Google Patents

Description

H. M. PIKER LUNCH BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1939 5 Sheets -Sheet l INVENTOR. HERBEAT N. PIKER ZQZM ATTORNEY.

H. M. PIKER May 23, 1944.

mmca BOX Filed Sept. 20. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Hm: as M. PMER 75 ATTORNEY.

May 23, 1944. HIM. PIKER LUNCH BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HERBERT M. PIKER ATTORNEYA.

H. M. PIKER May 23, 1944.

LUNCH BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J u a n I n l l l l I I l l 1 I I I I I l l-ifjllllllll. a 1 A p M P U a 5 J w H 1/.

Bu .5 A m m Wm M R WT %m [H N .m s H May 23, 1944.

\ M. PIKEP LUNCH BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. HERBERT M. P/KER BY ATTORNEY- Patented May 23, 1944 UNITED LUNCH BOX Herbert M. Piker, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Hamilton Metal Products Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 20, 1939, Serial No. 295,791.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lunch boxes, such as are employed with lunch kits. It is an object of this invention to provide a lunch box having the box itself pressed or formed from a single blank of sheet material and in which the exterior dimensions of the box areno greater than that of boxes of this kind hereto-fore employed, and in which the bottle is partly-within the box, without, however, sacrificing any of the capacity of former lunch boxes, and in fact increasing the capacity of such a box.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a box capable of having use asv above and having regular lines and rounded corners, thereby aitording a box that can be readily and expeditiously cleaned, and materially advancing the sanitary conditions of these boxes, when they are used as lunch boxes,

A furtherobject of this invention is the provision of a lunch box or a similar box, which is provided with vertical rounded corners and formed from a folded, stamped or died out blank, and which is relatively heavily reinforced in-the stamping operation for maintaining the final configuration thereof, and particularly the rounded vertical corners. f

It is another object of this invention to provide a lunchbox having a box proper,. a lid hingedly connected thereto and a so-calledvacuum bottle support so formed and co-operating with one another as to materially reduce thecost of the lunch box or lunch kit, while materially increasing the capacity of the box while holding the general outside dimensions of. the box substantially equal to those of lunch boxes or lunch kits as here-to-fore, known and used.

A still further object of the invention islthe provision of a lunch box having the "so-called vacuum bottle support connected therewith, and which support may be arranged to increase the capacity of the box when the vacuum bottle is not utilized, and which support may be entirely dispensed with at the option of theuser without interfering with the general construction of the box and cover, or disturbing the hinge con nection of the box and cover, and which dispensing of the bottle support further increases the capacity of the lunch box.

It is also a specific object of this invention to provide-a novel, inexpensive, yet highly efficient catch for securing the cover in a closed position on the box, and which catch. will operate even though the box has been mistreated to. a point beyond which catches here-to-fore known and used would be inoperative. l l

. vFig. 1 is a front elevational view of a lunch box embodying the improvements of this invention.

Fig. 2.is an end elevational view, as seen from the right hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is. an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the box itself with the cover removed, showing in section the cover hinge on the box.

Fig; 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional, elevational view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

I Fig. 7 isa fragmentary, horizontal view, taken on line 'l-! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through the catch, taken on line 9-9 of Fig, 1. r i

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the catch, as seen from line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, plan and sectional view, taken on line I ll I of Fig. 9.

, Fig. 12 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification in the construction and assembly of the lunch kit embodying the improvements of this invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view, taken on line |3l3 of Fig. 12.

:Fig. 14 isa fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view, taken in a plane below Fig. 13, on line I4*|4 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is an extended plan view of a blank, from which the box is formed and showing the various cuttings, stampings and bend lines along which the blank is formed.

Fig. 16 is a detailed sectional View, taken on line Iii-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the latch spring forming an important detail of the invention.

similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

the shoulder 44 and therefore parallel with the front when in upstanding position and thereby providing a flange 45 behind the cover bead 23. The ends of the front portion 33a of the blank are provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs 46 which extend longitudinally of the front a distance somewhat greater than the periphery of the rounded corner cuts 38 of the bottom, these ribs having their outer ends open and inner ends closed and acting as corrugajtions for stiffening the ends of the portion 33a Specifically, and in general, the lunch box of this invention comprises the box proper, indicated in general by the reference character 2|], to which is hingedly secured the top or cover 2|. The cover 2| is a drawn shell having a transverse cross section, as indicated inFig. 3, and, as will be seen from Fig. 3, has its lon itudinal corners rounded, providing a fiat top portion 22. In plan, the cross section follows generally the outline of the plan of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and with its vertical corners correspondingly rounded. The lower edge of the top or cover 2| is turned onitself to provide a reinforcing bead 23.. The fiat portion 22 of the cover 2| is utilized for attaching thereto a carrying handle, and this handle may take any desirable form. As specifically shown in the drawings, the said fiat portion 22 is provided with spaced pairs of piercings 214 and 25 to provide sockets. each pair are in axial alignment, and respectively receive similar bail handles 26 and 21, which together constitute the carrying handle for the lunch box or kit.

The box proper 28 is formed from a metal blank 28, shown in extended plan in Fig. 15. This blank i somewhat similar to the blank illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,912,915, issued to Corresponding sockets of when bent or formed around the cut corners 38.

The back portion of the blank is of the same general dimensions as the front portion 33a,

' and is provided with dotted lines 41, 48 and 49,

respectively corresponding to dotted lines 4|, 42 and43 of the front portion, and are for the same purpose as said dotted end bend lines of front portion 33a. As will be seen, however, the dotted or bend line 49 does not extend for the entire length of the back portion 35, but only inwardly of the ends thereof to the tops of the elongated apertures and 5|. These apertures 58 and 5|, however, have their lower ends connected by a dotted or bend line 52 which supplies the remainder of the bend line 49. The purpose for this'is to provide a space for the hinge extension 53 of the top 2|, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In other words, a shoulder similar to 44 is provided throughout the length of the back portion with the portion between the back shoulder portions lowered to accommodate the hinge bead of the top. Beyond the elongated perforations 50 and 5|,the back portion 35 is provided with a pair Louis M. Piker on June 6, 1933, but is an improvement thereover in several particulars, as will be pointed out later. The sheet metal blank 28 is provided centrally thereof with-a portion 29 constituting the bottom of the box and outlined or defined by dotted lines 30, 3|, 32 and 33, which respectively define th lower ends of the front 33a, right hand end 34, back 35 and left hand end 36. Extendingfrom the dotted lines 3| and 33, or the bottoms of the ends 34 and 33, is a narrow strip or neck, represented at its ends by cut lines 31. The bottom portion 29 has each of its corners similarly rounded, as at 38, and these rounded corners outline or define the roundness of the corner in the bent up box. As will be seen, the cut portion of these rounded corners extends from the points 39 at the ends of the longitudinal dotted or bend lines'30 and 32 to the points 40 at the inner ends of the neck or stripcut lines 31.

The front portion 330. of the box is' of greater length than the bottom portion 29, as defined by dotted or bend lines 3| and 33. The outer ends of the front portion 33a is provided with dotted lines 4|, 42 and 43, which-are bend lines, and on which the blank is bent or folded as follows: the portion of the blank between the dotted or bend line 4| and the outer edge of the blank is folded onto the portion between the bend lines 4|l and 42 to provide a reinforced upper-edge for the front of the box, the portion between the bend lines 43 and 42 is bent to project at right angles to the remainder of the'front, and willtherefore be parallel with the box bottom 29 when in assembled position to provide the shoulder 44 on which rests the cover bead- 23, as seen for example in Fig. 3, and the remainingportion between bend lines 4| and '42 is bent at right'angles to of inwardly projecting lugs 54 and 55, which, as will later be made clear, act as hinge pin stops.

The box'end portions 34 and 36 are identical in construction, and it is deemed sufficient if but one of them be described in detail for the other, end portion 34 for example. The end portion 34, when in finally bent up position, is slightlynar rower than the width of the bottom portion 29, asdefined by the dotted or bend lines 30 and 32.

p The end portion 34 has extending longitudinally thereof, and as continuations of the neck or strip cut lines 31., dotted or bend lines 51 and 58. Outwardlyof the bend lines 51 and 58 are bend lines 59 and 68, which bend lines 59 and 6B are spaced from the bend lines 51 and 58 a distance substantially equal to the length of the neck or strip cut lines 31. Outwardly of the bend lines 59 and 68, the end portion 34 has flaps BI and 62, which, for. clearance in assembly, have their upper and lower ends suitably cut away to the points of the bend lines 59 and 60. The material between bend lines '51 and 59 and 58 and 60 is adapted to extend at right angles to the body of the end 34 and form shoulders, such as 33, illustrated in Fig. '1, and which shoulders extend vertically of the box in alignment with the neck or strip ends 31. When the box is in finally assembled position, the shoulders 63 close the outer, open ends of the ribs 43, as clearly illustrated in Fig. '7. The flap portions 6| and 62 are bent against the inner surface of the rounded corners of the ends of the front and back portions, and these flap portions are each provided with one or more ribs I04. Beyond the upper ends of the flaps 6| and 52 is a tongue 64 having a width equal to the space between dotted or bend lines 51 and 58. This tongue 54 is provided longitudinally thereof with dotted lines 65, 66 and 61, which correspond to the dotted lines 4|, 42 and 43 of the front portion 33a, and are for the same purpose namely for providing a cover shoulder 44 and flange 45. It

aeears will be appreciated, however, that. the material between dotted. lines 65 and 61. is greater than that between dotted lines 42 and 43 in order to keep the peripheral flange at the ends of the front and back portions in alignment with the peripheral flange of the side, and to provide for the offset in the ends, as required by the neck or strip cut lines 31.. ,Within the body of the end portion 34, there is providedseveral similar piercings 58 which are bent to form air openings or louvres 69, see Fig. 8, for the box.

In erecting the blank, the end. portions 34 are first bent upwardly from the position. shown in Fig. 15, causing the shoulder 63 of said end portions to align with the neck or strip cuts 31-. The front and back portions 33a and 35. are then bent upwardly, and the ends of said portions formed around. the bottom corner cuts 38 to dispose the openends of the ribs 46 into substantial contact with the shoulders 36, and thereby close the inner ends of said ribs. With the parts in this position, the end flaps BI and 62 are pressed against the inner face of thecorners, all as i1- lustrated in Fig. 7.

It should be noted that the ribs I04 in the end flaps BI and 62 are locatedbelow the dotted or bend line 61, the samedistance that the uppermost rib '46 of the front and back portions 33a and 35 is located below the dotted or bend lines 43 and 49. These flap ribs I04 are adapted to enter and nest with the said front and back up-, permost ribs 46 for the purpose of vertically aligning the overlapped flaps and ends of the front and back portions. It will be understood that the flaps may be provided with more than one rib I04 if desired, and infact. may have the same number of ribs as there areribs 45.

The flaps and contacting ends of the front and back portions 33a and 35 are then secured-to one another as by a plurality of spot welds 10, see Fig. 8, or this connection may be made by seaming or any other known method of combining metal parts. By this construction, the lower edges of the front and back portions of the blank, namely, the portion thereof extending beyond the points 39, are contacting the edge of the bottom portion 29 along the out line 38. In order toefe fectively close this joint, the bottom portion 39 is provided with an upstanding orembossed rib. This rib takes the form of an X shape, shown in dotted or bend lines ll in Fig. 1.5. It will be noted that the ends of these arms flare to meet the points 39 and 40 of the bottom round corner cuts and to provide a closed corner where the sides and bottom meet. I

As was noted above, the top 2| is provided with an extension to form the hinge extensions53, the lower end of this hinge extension being turned on itself, as at 12 in Fig. 3. to receive the hinge pin or pins as will later be described. The hinge pin bead I2 is or may be substantially identical with the bead 23 at the lower ends of the cover side and end walls, and when made as above described, the back of the lunch box or kit seems to have the central portion of the beaddropped.

' The foregoing box blank and cover,'while specifically illustrated in the drawings, and here-tofore described, as forming a lunch box, it will be appreciated that with a few changes it may be adapted to various other uses, such as an individual metal file box, storage'case, and in fact any box, receptacle, case or the like having walls connected to one another around. rounded corners.

, Continuing: with the specific disclosure of the (I respectively on the pins TI and I8.

lunch box, and with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5,, there is provided a: so-called vacuum bottle carrier. This bottle carrier-is formed from a single length of wire substantially V-shaped, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 when viewed in plan. As shown in this Fig. 4 the bottle carrier has a short angular arm 13 and a relatively longer angular arm 14. These arms are joined at their apex by a straight connecting piece 15 which is hook shaped, as shown most clearly at 16 in Fig. 5. The other ends of the arms 13 and 14 are respectively turned or extended toward one another toprovide hinge pins 11 and 18 which enter from opposite ends of the cover hinge bead 12. In observing the carrier arms 13 and 14 from one or the otherends. of thebox, said arms are arcuately bent, as at 19 in Fig. 3, to form a cradle for the so-calledvacuum bottle 80, indicated in phantom lines in Fig.3. The hook I6 and connecting piece 15 at the apex of the botthe carrier is received in an inwardly disposed notch or-seat 8| which is formed in the box flange 45 at a point toone side of the longitudinal center thereof, since in the form illustrated, a latch mechanism, to be described later, occupies the longitudinal center of the box. It will be appreciated that if the latch or other lock means were provided off center, the hook and connecting piece 16 and 15 would be located at the longitudinal. centerof the box, and the carrier arms 13 and 14 would then probably be of equal length and equal divergence to one another.

The insertion of the hinge pins H and 18 into the top hinge bead is limited by lugs 83, and 84,

are so related tothe pins and their respective bottle carrierarms l3 and 14 as to bring the bend 85, see Fig. 7, between the hinge pin and its arm, directly against the inward lugs 54 and 55. of these connections is particularly illustrated in Fig. 7. The natural spring in the bottle carrier.

arms 13 and 14', and the co-operation of their hinge lugs 83 and 84 and arm bends 85 with the lugs 54 and 55, tend to maintain a frictional engagement between the lugs 83 and 84 and the cover hinge bead 12, so that when there is no bottle on the carrier the movement of the cover carries with it the carrier, .until the carrier is substantially vertically of the box. Furthermore, with this type of construction, the lugs 83 and 84 limit the movement of the. hingepins toward one another, while the bends 85 at the ends of the arms Hand 14, contacting with the lugs 54 and 55, prevent the outward movement of these pins. This construction carries with it another advantage, in. that, should the user desire not, at any time, to use and to dispense with the bottle carrier, the wire may be nipped just at the outer edge of the lugs 54 and 55, without in any wise endangering the hinge connection of the cover with the box, since the hinge pins will be retained in position in exactly the same manner as above described.

Since the forward support, namely, the connecting piece 15 and hook 16 of the bottle carrier, is located behind the wall of the cover 2|, the said bottle support, if it were desired not to use the bottle, could be positioned as shown in dotted lines at 82 in Fig. 3, thereby increasing the capacity of the lunch box to the extent shown by the space between the solid and dotted line positions. of the bottle carrier in Fig. 3, and at the same time keep the upper lever of the contents of the box below the top thereof.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14 a slightmodification is These lugs One 3 illustrated, in that use isthere made of a separate hinge pin and bottle carriezfland with the hinge pin 81 the full distance between the lugs 54 and 55 and' is retained in position against displacement by these lugs. Immediately below the hinge, the back 88 of the box, corresponding to the portion 35 of the blank, is provided with piercings to form sockets 89 and 90 adapted to receive hinge-or pivot arms 9| and 92, respectively formed at the inner end of bottle carrierarms I3 and I4. With this construction, if it is desired to dispense'with the bottle carrier, it is only necessary to outwardly spring the arms I3 and 14', and thereby disengage it from the box. With' this construction also, if it is desired not to use the so-called "vacuum bottle, and thereby increase the capacity of the box, it may be swung upward into the cover, as shown'in dotted. lines at 82 in Fig. 12.- a

From the above, it will be appreciatedthat the capacity of the lunch box is greater than lunch boxes here-to-fore employed, even though the general external dimensions are substantially the same, and that the capacity of the lunch box can be increased without in any wise deranging' the parts thereof, or can be further increased by dispensing with the bottle carrier.

In order to hold the cover in a closed position, use is made of a novel latch mechanism. For this purpose, the front portion 33a of the box blank is provided with a pair of apertures 93 and 94, through the former of which extends a rivet 95'for securing the lower end I05 of a fiat steel spring strip 96, see Figs. 9 and 17. 'A button 91 is secured to thelatch for the operation of said latch spring. The latch 96 is of considerable width, as shown most clearly in Figs. 10, 11 and 17, and is formed to lie closely against the inner surface of the front wall of the box, and in order to insure this, the lower end I05 of the latch is bent toward the box front so that when said lower end is secured by the rivet 95, the latch is biased toward the box front. Intermediate its ends, the latch is bent outwardly, as at 09, to pass around the cover shoulder and box flange 44' and 45, and-rest against the inner surface of the flange 45; The upper end of the latch 96 is bent outwardly and downwardly to the body portion, as'shown at I00, and passes through an elongated aperture IOI in the front wall of the cover 2|. The outward and downward angle of the locking fingers I00 is such that pressure thereon from the cover 2| will cause the latch to move inward andthen snap through the cover aperture 'IOI. It will readily be appreciated that inward pressure, to the right as seen in Fig. 9, on the buttonflI will flex the spring steel latch 96 sufficiently to withdraw the locking finger 'I 00 from the aperture IIlI, so that the cover may be actuated about its hinge connection. It should be noted that this latch is highly efiicient, since the latch need only have a small part of its fiat locking finger I00 within the aperture IOI to hold the cover in position; this position is illustrated in dotted lines at I02 in Fig. 11. If desired, the finger I00 may be provided with an aperture I03 for the reception of a suitable lock pintle to prevent undesirable opening of the cover.

The modification shown in Figs. 18 and 19 utilizes no front end support for the bottle carrier while still having the bottle carrier position within the box as shown in the other drawings and above described. This bottle carrier is formed from a single length of wire and is a substantially rectangular frame instead of a V- shaped frame, and comprises a pair of arms I98 and IM having their one ends bent toward one another'to form hinge pins I08 and I09. These hinge pins I08 and I09, similar to hinge pins I7 and I8, simultaneously hingedly mount the carrier on thebox and connect the cover to the box. It will be understood that, if desired, the cover could be hingedly connected to the box by aseparate hinge pm as in Fig. 12, for example. The arms I06 and I01 may be curved, as at II to form a cradle, contacting with the exterior of the bottle, and the arms have their otherends joined by the bar section III, Between the cradlesIIIl of the arms proper I06 and I01 and their respective hinge pins I08 and I09 is a vertical portion II2, which lies against the inner surface of the back the the box, as seen clearly in Fig. 19. This vertical portion I I2 of the arms'maintain them in a shelf like, horizontal position, on which rests the bottle 80. By bending the arms relative to their vertical portions II2 so as to tilt upwardly a very slight amount, the bottle may, in effect, be clamped between them and thenlto the top of the cover, thereby eliminating any rattle or movement of the bottle within the box and cover after the cover is secured in closed position. v

The bottle support illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 and just described, is primarily intended for use with round bottles, while in Fig. 20v is mus. trated a modification in the shape of the carrier for supporting a substantially square bottle. The only change necessary is thatthe arms I06 and IN, instead of having the cradles I I0, may be formed substantially straight as shown at H3 with their ends upwardly curved as at H4 an joined by a bar section'such as I I1.

With each of the constructions illustrated and described, it will be noted that the bottle carrier is hingedly mounted on the box and is provided with means which co-operate with the box for maintaining the carrier in proper position. In the forms illustrated in Figs. 3 and 12, these cooperating means is the hooked ends IS on .the bottle carrier and the front wall of the box, While in the form illustrated in Fig. 19, these co-operating means is the vertical portion N2 of; the bottle carrier and the back wall of the box.

From the foregoing, it will be readily appraciated that the construction illustrated in the drawings, and particularly described, will meet all of the objects initially set forth, as well as other objects not specifically mentioned.

What is claimed is: r

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a box having an upper open end, a cover for the box for enclosing the open end of the box, and a combined hinge and arcuately shaped bottle carrier having one end formed for simultaneously hingedly connecting the cover to the box and having its other end hooked over the open end of the box with the arcuately shaped supporting portion of the carrier depending within the box.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a box having an upper open end, a cover for the box for enclosing the open end of the box, and a combined hinge and arcuately shaped bottle carrier having one end formed for simultaneously hingedly connecting the cover to the box and having its other end hooked over the openend of the box with the arcuately shaped supporting portion of the carrier depending within the box, said connection of the carrier to the" open end of the box being behind the closing cover whereby the carrier may be oscillated within the cover.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a box having an upper open end, a cover for the box for enclosing the open end of the box, a combined hinge and arcuately shaped bottle carrier having one end formed for simu1- taneously hingedly connecting the cover to the box and having its other end hooked over the open end of the box with the arcuately shaped supporting portion of the carrier depending within the box, and means for retaining the cover in a closed position. 1

4. In a lunch box of the class described, the combination with a box proper and cover hingedly connected therewith, of a bottle carrier of general V-shaped construction and having the free ends of its arms bent toward one another for forming a hinge connection of the carrier to the box, its other end hooked shaped for engagement with the opposite wall of the box for holding it in carrying flsition and the body portion of the said arms between the hinge and hook arcuately shaped for disposition within the box.

5. In a lunch box of the class described, the combination with a box proper and cover hingedly connected therewith, of a bottle carrier of general V-shaped construction and having the free ends of its arms bent toward one another for forming a hinge connection of the carrier to the box, its other end hooked shaped for engagement with the opposite wall of the box for holding it in carrying position and the body portion of the said arms between the hinge and hook arcuately shaped for disposition within the box,

said engagement of the carrier hook with the box wall being behind the cover whereby the carrier may be oscillated within the cover.

6. In a lunch box of the class described, the combination with a box proper and cover having cooperating hinge eyes and channel, of a bottle carrier of general V-shaped configuration and having the free ends of its arms bent toward one another and forming a hinge connection of the carrier to the box and simultaneously hingedly connecting the cover and box hinge eyes and channel, and the joined ends of the arms being hooked shaped for engagement with the upper ends of the wall, and means associated with the hinge ends of the arms and the box for limiting the axial movement of the hinge in each direction.

7. In a lunch box of the class described, the combination with a box proper and cover having cooperating hinge eyes and channel, of a bottle carrier of general V-shaped configuration and having the free ends of its arms bent toward one another and forming a hinge connection of the carrier to the box and simultaneously hingedly connecting the cover and box hinge eyes and channel, the joined ends of the arms being hooked shaped for engagement with the upper ends of the wall, and means associated with the hinge ends of the arms and the box for limiting the axial movement of the hinge in each direction, comprising lugs on the hinge pins engaging the box and cover hinge eyes and channel and lugs on the box for engaging the outer ends of the hinge Din.

- HERBERT M. PIKER.

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