WO1994013548A1

WO1994013548A1 - Meal box with a tip-up lid

Info

Publication number: WO1994013548A1
Application number: PCT/SE1993/000898
Authority: WO
Inventors: Göran Pettersson
Original assignee: Pettersson Goeran
Priority date: 1992-12-07
Filing date: 1993-10-29
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Also published as: SE9203681L; SE470357B; SE9203681D0; AU5661794A

Abstract

A meal box for use in aircraft and on ships, said box having a trough-shaped bottom (1) and a lid (3) which can be placed upright on its edge on the bottom plate (11). The rear wall (35) of the lid is partially or entirely replaced by the rear wall (15) of the bottom. In upright position the side walls (32, 33) of the lid (3), flexible at the rearmost part, are moved towards each other and secured to the side walls (12, 13) of the bottom (1). In its upright position the lid (3) may be provided with devices such as shelves on which to temporarily place cutlery, cups, napkins, etc.

Description

Meal box with a tip-up lid

The present invention relates to a meal box with bottom plate, front and rear walls, side walls and a lid with top plate and corresponding walls, intended for distributing, serving and consuming complete meals or single courses directly from the box, and for the necessary cutlery, plates, cups for beverages, etc.

Meal boxes of this type are still universally used for serving meals on aircraft, ships, trains, buses and other means of transport. The meal box is intended to be placed on a table approximately the same size as the box. The table is often secured on the back of the seat in front of the diner and can be folded up or down as required. Apart from the space offered by the open meal box, there is nowhere to place articles not currently in use. The meal box should therefore be optimally designed so that the available space is utilized in the best possible way and consumption of food and drink is facilitated. The risk should also be taken into account of cutlery falling, glasses or bottles being upset, etc. thereby staining the clothes of the diner.

A meal box of this type is described, for instance, in Swedish published specification No. 460663 (patent application No. 8604983). In the known box the lid is rigidly joined to the rear wall of the box by side wall parts connected to the lid and to the rear wall of the box, which is hinged to the rear side edge of the bottom and constitutes a support surface resting on a support surface below it, for the lid when opened to a substantially vertical position. The available space for placing articles not currently in use is thereby increased by the rear wall of the box being folded down. However, due to the increased area taken up by the box, this entails a risk of the rear wall getting in the way of the seat-back on which the table is fitted, particularly when the passenger in front alters the inclination of the seat-back and leans back. This means that the space available on the side of the meal box opposite the diner is limited.

One object of the present invention is to provide a meal box that efficiently utilizes the space available for its placing while at the same time the area available for setting aside the contents of the box such as cutlery, cups and the like is increased by standing the lid on edge without risk of the upright side colliding with the seat-back in front. The object is achieved according to the present invention in that a meal box of the type described in the introduction, the lid of which is arranged to be placed upright on its edge on the bottom plate and can be secured to the side walls of the bottom. When secured in upright position the lid is preferably in contact with the rear wall of the bottom.

The side walls of the upright lid may preferably be secured to the side walls of the bottom. Positioning means are preferably arranged to secure the upright lid to the bottom, said means comprising first securing elements arranged internally on the side walls of the bottom for cooperation with second securing elements arranged externally on the side walls of the lid.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention the lid has no rear wall or only a partial rear wall. The rearmost corner areas of the side walls of the lid, at a distance from the top plate, are flexible towards and away from each other. When the box is closed the rear wall is preferably entirely or partially replaced by the rear wall of the bottom, said rear wall of the bottom being raised in relation to the side walls of the bottom. The rear wall of the bottom may be provided with an opening near the bottom plate, for insertion of heated dishes. It is also preferred that when the box is closed the rear wall of the bottom is partially enclosed by the rear wall of the lid.

According to another preferred aspect of the invention the lid is secured to the bottom when the box is closed, to prevent displacement in vertical direction, by means of positioning means comprising securing elements arranged in the rear wall of the bottom and securing elements arranged at the rear edge of the side walls of the lid and positioning means comprising securing elements arranged at the front wall of the bottom and the front wall of the lid.

According to a third preferred aspect of the invention the distance between the rearmost corner areas of the side walls spaced from the top plate of the lid is greater when the box is closed than when the lid is placed upright on its edge on the bottom plate.

Additional advantages and features of the invention are revealed in the preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of the invention described in the following. In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings Figure 1 shows said preferred embodiment of the meal box according to the invention in perspective and with the lid in open position, standing on its edge on the bottom plate,

Figure 2 shows the embodiment according to Figure 1 in perspective and with the lid in closed position,

Figure 3 shows the embodiment according to Figure 1 from the same angle but with invisible contours indicated,

Figure 4 shows the embodiment according to figure 2 from the same angle but with invisible contours indicated,

Figure 5 shows a section (detail) through one of the securing members on the rear wall of the box along the line A-A drawn in the plane of the lid top in Figure 4, and parallel to the associated side wall, with the lid in closed position,

Figure 6 shows a section (detail) through one of the securing members on the side walls of the box along the line B-B drawn in the wide wall in Figure 3, and vertical to this line, with the lid in open position, and

Figure 7 shows the embodiment according to Figure 1 from the same angle but somewhat modified by the addition of surfaces on which to place articles not in use.

The meal box shown in the drawings comprises a bottom 1 onto which food in containers or wrapped food is placed, and a separate lid 3. Both the bottom 1 and the lid 3 are made of stiff but yielding plastic, the lid 3 being preferably made of transparent plastic so the contents of the box can be seen before it is opened.

The bottom 1 is in the form of a trough-shaped food tray. A front wall 14, two walls 12, 13 and a rear wall 15 project from its rectangular bottom plate 11. All the walls slant outwards at an angle of approximately 100° and form corners extending obliquely outwards and upwards. The wall intended to face the user of the box is designated the front wall 14. The side walls 12, 13 and front wall 14 are the same height and are defined by an upper edge 23. A short distance from the upper edge 23 the side walls 12, 13 and front wall 14 are provided with a flange 16 running parallel to the upper edge 23, the upper surface of the flange being parallel to the bottom plate 11. The rear wall 15 is considerably higher (approximately three times) than the other walls 12, 13, 14 and becomes symmetrically narrower from the area where the upper edge 23 joins the rear wall 15 at a right angle, towards it upper edge parallel to the bottom plate 11. The rear wall 15 thus has the shape of two trapezes of different heights, abutting each other with their bases of equal length, the upper edge 24 being shorter than the rear edge of the bottom 11. The free side edges of the rear wall that are not connected to any other part of the bottom 1 are designated 26 and 27.

The lid 3 has a rectangular top plate 31 with three outwardly sloping walls connected to it, a front wall 34 and side walls 32, 33. A wall section 35 is connected to the fourth edge - the rear edge - of the top plate, the height of this wall section being slight in comparison with the height of the other lid walls 32, 33 and 34 and its function, as will be described later, differing from that of the other lid walls 32, 33, 34.

Figure 2 shows the box in closed state, i.e. with the lid 3 in place. The edges 44, 45, 46, of the lid walls 32, 33 and 34 parallel to the top plate 31 rest on the circumferential flange 16 and are prevented from backward or lateral movement by parts of the bottom walls 12, 13 and 14, respectively, which extend between the flange 16 and the upper edge 23 and form a U-shaped frame 17, the ends of which abut the rear wall 15. The zone of the top plate 31 connected to the reduced rear wall section 35 rests on the upper edge 24 of the bottom rear wall 15; the walls section 35 thus grips the rear wall 15, thereby preventing forward movement of the lid 3. The lid 3 is thus secured against all horizontal movement. As additional security, sealing and stiffening, the free sections of the rear edges of the side walls 32, 33 of the lid 3 are also provided with engagement ridges 38, 39 corresponding in function to the wall section 35, these ridges gripping the rear wall 15 of the bottom at its free side edges 26 and 27. However, the engagement ridges 38, 39 do not extend all the way to the wall section 35 (with which they define a plane), i.e. the rear edges of the side walls 32, 33 lack engagement ridges in the part located in or near the wall section 35. The lid 3 is secured against unintentional removal, i.e. against movement away from the bottom 1, by securing means at the front and rear of the box. The securing member on the front of the box is formed by a recess, not shown, in the centre of the base (front portion) of the frame 17, and a protrusion (not shown) on the inside of the front wall 34 of the lid to fit into this recess. The lid is secured at the rear by means of two protrusions 20, 21 arranged symmetrically on the free side edges 26, 27 of the rear wall 15 of the bottom 1, these protrusions extending towards each other from the edges 26, 27. The protrusions 20, 21 are applied externally on the rear wall 15 and engaged in the sections of the rear edges of the side walls 32, 33 that lack engagement ridges.

Thus in closed position of the box the rear wall 15 of the bottom 1 also serves as rear wall for the lid 3, the lid 3 being substantially without a rear wall. For this reason the rear wall 15, unlike the other walls, is flat and unbroken, as well as being bent outwards (backwards) from the rear edge of the bottom plate 11. The engagement ridges 38, 39 of the rear, free edges of the side walls 12, 13 of the bottom 1 are suited to the slope of the rear wall 15 so that, in closed position of the box, the engagement ridges 38, 39 are in contact with the outside of the rear wall 15. The angle defined by the side walls 32, 33 of the lower edges 44, 45 of the lid 3 and the free, rear edges of these side walls 32, 33 is approximately 95°.

The lid 3 can be opened and removed by first separating the parts of the front securing members of the lid, for instance by pulling up a tongue 40 applied on the front of the lid 3 so that the front wall 34 of the lid 3 is deformed, i.e. bent outwards, after which the front of the lid 3 can be lifted slightly (still by holding the tongue 40, but now lifting it upwards) and thereafter moved a millimetre or so backwards enabling the rear securing members (20, 21 with the sections of the free, rear edges of the side walls 32, 33 of the lid 3 that lack engagement ridges) to disengage. The lid 3 can then be removed using both hands.

To place the lid 3 on the bottom plate 11, the inside of the lid is turned towards the user and brought into upright position with its front side 34 uppermost and the rear wall section 35 lowermosL The lid 3 is now placed with the rear edge of the top plate 31 (i.e. with the rear wall section 35) against the rear part of the bottom plate 11 and moved backwards until it comes into contact with the rear wall 15. Thereafter the relatively flexible rear (now lowermost) portions of the side walls 32, 33 of the lid 3 are pressed towards each other so they can be inserted between the side walls 12, 13 of the bottom and secured there by means of protrusions 36, 37 applied externally on the walls 32, 33 close to each corner. Said protrusions 36, 37 are inserted into slots formed by pairs of longitudinal protrusions 28, 29 (only the pair in wall 12 is shown) arranged internally on the side walls 12, 13 of the bottom 1.

Figure 7 shows a modification of the embodiment described above, it having discrete surfaces for laying aside articles not currently in use. The slightly downwardly bent end 51 of an L-shaped, plastic shelf support 50 packed in the box has been positioned in the groove in a support strip 52 arranged on the inside of the side wall 32 of the lid. The other end 53 rests on the bottom plate 11. A circular aperture 55 is provided in the shelf 50 to serve as holder for a plastic cup, glass or similar drinking vessel. Small bottles can also be secured in this way. The space below the shelf 50 may be used to place used plates (containers for meal boxes are usually rectangular in shape), napkins, left-overs and the like.

The outside of the front wall 34 of the lid 3 is provided with a shallow, trough-shaped recess 54 to serve as reinforcement and on which to place articles not currently in use, e.g. cutlery. Many other similar arrangements and combinations are feasible. At manufacture the bottom plate may be provided in known manner with recesses or elevated portions dividing the bottom into suitable sections in which to place food containers, cutlery, condiment packets and the like, preventing them from being jumbled together when the box is subjected to jolts and thereby ensuring that the contents of the box is presented attractively to the guest. If the arrangement in Figure 7, or similar arrangements, are used in a meal box with shaped bottom, the specific arrangement must of course be taken into account when designing the shelf support. Further advantages can thus be achieved in according with the present invention.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A meal box with bottom (1) comprising a substantially rectangular bottom plate (11), a front wall (14), side walls (12, 13) and a rear wall (15), and a removable lid (3) comprising a substantially rectangular top plate (31), a front wall (34), side walls (32, 33) and a rear wall (35) joined to the side walls (32, 33) and top plate (31), intended for distributing and serving complete meals or single courses with cutlery, plates, cups for beverages, etc. to be eaten from with the bottom plate (11) resting on a support, characterised in that the lid (1) is placed upright on its edge in the bottom plate (11) and secured to the side walls (12, 13) of the bottom (1)

2. A meal box as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the upright lid (1) is in contact with the rear wall ( 15) of the bottom ( 1).

3. A meal box as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the side walls (32, 33) of the upright lid (3) can be secured to the side walls (12, 13) of the bottom (1).

4. A meal box as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that positioning means are arranged to secure the upright lid (3) to the bottom (1), said means comprising first securing elements (28, 29) arranged internally on the side walls (12, 13) of the bottom and cooperating with second securing elements (36; 37) arranged externally on the side walls (32, 33) of the lid (3).

5. A meal box as claimed in claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the lid (3) has no rear wall or only a partial rear wall.

6. A meal box as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the rearmost comer areas of the side walls (32, 33) of the lid, at a distance from the top plate (33), are flexible towards and away from each other.

7. A meal box as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterised in that when the box is closed the rear wall (35) is entirely or partially replaced by the rear wall (15) of the bottom (1), said rear wall (15) of the bottom (1) being raised in relation to the side walls (12, 13) of the bottom.

8. A meal box as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that when the box is closed the rear wall (15) of the bottom (1) is partially enclosed by the rear wall (35) of the lid (3).

9. A meal box as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that when the box is closed the lid (3) is secured to the bottom (1) to prevent displacement in vertical direction by means of positioning means comprising securing elements (20, 21) arranged in the rear wall (15) of the bottom (1) and securing elements (38, 39, 35) arranged at the rear edge of the side walls (32, 33) of the lid and positioning means comprising securing elements arranged at the front wall (14) of the bottom (1) and the front wall (34) of the lid (3).

10. A meal box as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the distance between the rearmost comer areas of the side walls (32, 33) spaced from the top plate (31) of the lid (3) is greater when the box is closed than when the lid (3) is placed upright on its edge on the bottom plate (11).