WO2008154707A1

WO2008154707A1 - Consumables container

Info

Publication number: WO2008154707A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000912
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boris Bilich
Original assignee: I.C. Pals Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-20
Filing date: 2008-06-20
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: AU2008265527A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a container (10) comprising a substantially hollow body (12), the body (12) having divided therein a recess (14), a removable cap (16) being provided allowing access (14) to the hollow body (12) such that a liquid may be stored therein, the removable cap (16) having provided thereabout a removable plate (38), the removable cap (16) also acting to positively locate the removable plate (38) with respect to the body (12), the removable plate (38) locating or bearing a decorative or educational decal.

Description

"Consumables Container"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a consumables container. More particularly, the consumables container of the present invention is intended for use in, amongst other things, the housing of both food and beverage items in a convenient and portable package making the container suitable for use, for example, as a lunch box.

Background Art

Presently, containers for pre-prepared food, such as sandwiches and fruit, take the form of a plastic container with a removable lid. A user places their food into the container and transports it with them until a suitable time for them to access and eat the content.

A specific drink container can also be placed into the container or may be carried separately. If frozen beforehand and into the container a consequence of this arrangement may be that the food is kept cold. If a sufficiently long period of time is taken before the food is consumed, all or a part of the drink will have melted, allowing it also to be consumed. This method of placing the frozen drink container within the container for the food items necessarily results in a larger container than might otherwise be necessary. An additional problem presented by this arrangement is the fact that only a small portion of the food is exposed directly to the cooling effect of the presence of the frozen drink container.

Fundamentally, the use of a separate drink container in the above manner leaves the user with two separate containers, one for the food and another for the drink. One or the other is consequently more easily mislaid. This is a particular problem when the containers are used by children or in busy workplaces.

US Patent 7013671 describes a 'lunch bottle pack' designed to carry both a liquid container and receive items for storage. In this manner, lunch packages are received within recesses in an outer surface of the liquid container and an insulated jacket passed over the liquid container and contained lunch packages. When a user wishes to access the lunch packages they must remove the insulated jacket which may cause other unintended items to fall out of their recesses at the same time.

The consumables container of the present invention has as one object thereof to overcome substantially the abovementioned problems of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Disclosure of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a consumables container comprising a substantially hollow body having provided therein a recess, a removable cap being provided allowing access to the hollow body such that a liquid may be stored therein, the removable cap in turn having provided thereabout a removable plate, the removable cap also acting to positively locate the removable plate with respect to the body, the removable plate locating or bearing a decorative or educational decal.

Preferably, the recess is provided with a lid able to be secured to the body. The lid may preferably be hingedly connected to the body.

Still preferably, the lid is provided with a press-latch whereby it may be retained in a closed position.

Preferably, the recess is substantially surrounded by the liquid stored in the hollow body. The removable cap is received on a hollow spigot provided on the hollow body. The spigot and removable cap are threaded in a complimentary manner.

Preferably still, the removable cap has provided thereon a spout adapted to provide both an open and closed arrangement.

Preferably, the body has a handle.

Preferably, the handle is located on the upper surface of the body.

Preferably still, the handle has a plurality of gripping means to enable user to hold it firmly and for ease of drinking.

Preferably, the handle is substantially extended from one end of a surface of the hollow body to another end thereof.

Preferably, the removable cap has provided thereabout a removable plate. The removable plate preferably has an aperture through which the spigot is received.

In one form of the present invention, the removable plate has a decal provided thereon.

In one form of the present invention, the decal is retained between the removable plate and the threaded spigot and secured tightly against the body with the threaded cap.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The container of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to two embodiments thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an exploded upper perspective view of a consumables container in accordance with the present invention, a lid thereof being shown in an open position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the consumables container of Figure 1 , the lid being shown in a closed position; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the consumables container of Figure 1 , with the lid shown in a closed position; and

Figure 4 is an upper perspective of the consumables container of the present invention showing a decal applied to a removable plate thereof.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention

In Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a consumables container 10 comprising a substantially hollow body 12, the body 12 having provided therein a recess 14, a removable cap 16 being provided allowing access to the hollow body 12 such that a liquid or beverage may be stored therein.

The recess 14 of container 10 is provided to locate therein consumables such as lunch sandwiches (not shown). The recess 14 is surrounded on four sides and a base by the hollow body 12 and, in turn, by liquid stored therein.

A lid 18 is hingedly affixed 20 to the container 10, as illustrated in Figure 1 , in an open position. In Figure 2, the lid 18 is illustrated in a closed position. The lid is pivotally affixed to a lower edge of a first side 22 of the container 10. The lid 18 is provided with a press-latch 24 adapted to substantially close the recess 14.

Access to the recess 14 is provided through releasing the press-latch 24 on the lid

18 from the notch 26 located on the upper edge of the first side 22 of the container.

The container 10 is provided with a handle 28 disposed on an upper surface 30 of the container 10. The handle 28 extends substantially from a first end 32 and a second end 34 of the upper surface 30. The handle 28 has a plurality of gripping means 36 to enable a user (not shown) to hold it firmly and for ease of drinking.

The removable cap 16 has provided thereabout a removable plate 38, the removable cap 16 also acting to positively locate the removable plate 38 with respect to the body 12, the removable plate 38 having provided thereon a picture 39 or educational decal, as shown in Figure 4.

On the first end 40 of the container 10, there is provided a threaded spigot 42 where liquid can be dispensed and accessed to the hollow body 12. The liquid in the hollow body 12 is physically separated from the area defined by the recess 14. As a result, the food or content stored in the recess 14 is not directly contacted by the liquid.

A removable cap 16 is provided to seal the threaded spigot 42 and thus close access to the hollow body 12. The removable cap 16 has provided thereon a spout 44 adapted to provide both an open and closed arrangement, in generally known manner.

The removable plate 38 has an aperture 46. The spigot 42 is received through the aperture 46.

In use, a user (not shown) wishing to store and carry their lunch (not shown), for example, may first open the removable cap 16 by unscrewing it from the threaded spigot 42. Then a beverage is poured into the hollow body 12 through the open spigot 42 and the spigot 42 closed by re-threading the cap 16 onto the spigot 42. The beverage fills the hollow body 12 and once the consumables container 10 is placed in a freezer the beverage solidifies/freezes, or at least cools.

When the user wishes to transport their lunch they can open the lid 18 through operation of the press-latch 24 in known manner. The lunch is placed into the recess 14 and the lid 18 closed. The lunch in the recess 14 is kept cold by the close proximity of the frozen or cool liquid provided in the hollow body 12.

The user may wish to also drink the cool beverage from the spout 44 after having opened same, in known manner. The placement of the handle 28 makes drinking from the spout 44 particularly convenient.

In the above described manner the beverage provided for drinking by the user also functions to keep the user's food cool and unspoilt for at least a short time.

Should the user wish, the removable plate 38 may be swapped with other similar plates but perhaps bearing differing decals. Such an arrangement is envisaged to be particularly applicable for use by children. In another embodiment of the present invention it is envisaged that the removable plate may be formed of a clear plastics material and an intermediate decal bearing sheet (not shown) provided between the removable plate 38 and the first end 40 of the consumables container 10. Such an intermediate decal bearing sheet would be similarly interchangeable.

It is envisaged that there may be circumstances in which a user may wish to store a hot or warm drink. This would facilitate the storage items that the user wishes to keep warm for a short period of time.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

The Claim Defining the Invention is as Follows

1. A container comprising a substantially hollow body, the body having divided therein a recess, a removable cap being provided allowing access to the hollow body such that a liquid may be stored therein, the removable cap having provided thereabout a removable plate, the removable cap also acting to positively locate the removable plate with respect to the body, the removable plate locating or bearing a decorative or educational decal.

2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is provided with a lid able to be secured to the body.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the lid may be hingedly connected to the body.

4. A container according to claim 2, wherein the lid is provided with a press-latch whereby it may be retained in a closed position.

5. A container according to claim 2, wherein the recess is substantially surrounded by the liquid stored in the hollow body.

6. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the removable cap is received on a hollow spigot provided on the hollow body.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the spigot and removable cap are threaded in a complimentary manner

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the removable cap has provided thereon a spout adapted to provide both an open and closed arrangement.

9. A container according to claim 6, wherein the removable cap has provided thereabout a removable plate.

10. A container according to claim 6, wherein the removable plate has an aperture through which the spigot is received.

11.A container according to claim 1 , wherein the body has a handle.

12. A container according to claim 11 , wherein the handle is located on the upper

13.A container according to claim 11 , wherein the handle is substantially extended from one end of a surface of the hollow body to another end thereof.

14. A container according to claim 11 , wherein the handle has a plurality of gripping means to enable user to hold it firmly and for ease of drinking.

15. A container substantially as described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4.