US2457043A - Lunch box - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 21, 1948. HlSTAND 2,457,043

LUNCH BOX Filed June 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 31' INVENTOR.

- f lbertmfistand, $241M 7 AW Dec. 21, 1948. A. R. HISTAND 2,457,043,

' LUNCH Box Filed June 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUNCH BOX Albert Ralph Bistand, Oroyden, Pa.

Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,720

1 Claim. 1

-My invention has general reference to boxes and analogous containers for the storage and carrying of food and drink; while itrelates more particularly, to the form or type thereof including cooling means for the preservation and contaminative protection of food and drinks against deterioration.

Devices of the type referred to, while somewhat satisfactory generally, possess one pronounced disadvantage in that they fail to be fully effective for the protection of foods susceptible to quick contamination and rapid spoiling such as lunches carried by workers and others. Many attempts. have heretofore been made to furnish a sanitary and eflicient lunch box with varying degrees of satisfaction, such as by insulating the lunchbox, or by providing the same with means for the storage of a suitable refrigerant therein; and, thev and which includes a removable container for the sealed retention of an ice-cube or cubes, such as are conventionally produced in the freezing-unit of household refrigerators.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lunch-box of the species indicated in the preceding paragraph in which one or more removable ice-cube containers are usable, and/or each of such container embodying means whereby said containers or containers is or are positionally adjustable in the lunch box.

With the above stated and other objects in view as well as incidental advantages, my invention essentially consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which are hereinafter fully described and, more particularly, recited in the concluding claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved lunch-box" in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the main or hollow top closure open.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding view to the preceding figure, but showing an inner or auxiliary closure in semi-open location.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the improved lunch-box of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same taken approximately as indicated by the broken line and arrows 5--5; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the removable ice-container, hereinafter fully described, with the cover therefor elevated.

In describing the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, like terms and characters of reference will be employed for the purpose of ease in understanding the several views; but it is to be understood each such term is intended to embrace all reasonable equivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the improved lunch-box of this invention comprises a conveniently rectangular body portion 6 defined by hollow side, end and bottom walls I, 8, 9 respectively, each of which includes an interfltted sheet of insulation or analogous material III; while it is to be observed the body-portion 6 has the inner-surrounding upper edge beveled at H for snug seating-reception of the complementally shaped edge I! ofan auxiliary-closure ii of like formation and appropriate dimensions; said closure I! being movably attached to one side wall of the body-portion by leaf hinges ll, while it may be provided with a finger-nail catch l3 to facilitate raising the same, see Figs. 2 and 3-. The auxiliary-closure I! it is to be further noted is of surroundingly less area than the body-portion 6 in order to define a peripheral ledge l5 about the top of the later, for a purpose hereinafter explained, see Figs. 2-5 to best advantage.

Referring now to the main cover on top It, the same is more or less of conventional pattern and section, while it is to be .noted the same comprises outer an dinner shell components l1, IS with an intervening insulation sheet l8; and to the inner component It there is secured by means 20 a support 2| embodying spring portions 22 adapted for grippage of a typical thermos-bottle 23 including a cup-closure 24 of known form. Particular attention, however, is directed to the fact that the surrounding edge of the top component I! is outwardly offset at 25 to snugly en- Sage over the confronting outer upper part of the body portion 6; whereas the relatively spaced surrounding edge of the inner component I8 is angled outwardly to provide a channel-section lip 26 adapted to clampingly-engage on and holddown the auxiliary closure i3, when the top it is retained in active position by the snap-grasps 21, as readily understood by those conversant with the art. It is also to be observed that the lip 26 of the component it also serves to effectively prevent the confronting edge of the insulation sheet [9 from exposure; while the top cover it is fulcrumed to the body portion 6 by suitable hinges 28, and the snap-grasps 21 engage pins 29 fast to the top lip 25 in accordance with known practice; whereas 30 designates the customary carrier-strap.

Attention is here directed to the provision of the inner shell number 3| of the body bottom wall 9, as well as the spacedly-confronting inner shell member 32 of the inner closure l3, with vertically opposing ribs 33, 34 respectively; said ribs being equally spaced from the body and walls 8 and medially lengthwise of the side wall 7 for a purpose later on set forth. Engageable with any one opposing pair of the ribs 33, 34 is the removable ice-cube container, comprehensiveiy designated 35 in Figs. 3-6; while on reference preferably to Fig. 6 it will be seen said container comprises a main receptacle 36-for the ice-cubes 31, Figs. 4 and 5and a cellular-cover 38. The retainer receptacle 36 is provided about its top with a relatively inset lip or extension 39 and associated gasket 40 on which the cellular cover 38 is adapted to sealingly seat so that no moisture from the interior of said receptacle 36 can escape outwardly. It is also to be noted the container 35 is preferably, although not essentially, moulded or otherwise formed of a suitable transparent plastic; while the bottom thereof, as well as the cover 38, are both formed with grooves M, 42 respectively for engagement by a selected pair of the opposing ribs 33, 34 as desired. Now it will be readily understood that, when the container 35 is charged with ice 3! and selectively positioned as desired in the body portion 6 of the improved lunch-box that the food stored in the remainder of said portion 6 is not only preserved from spoiling under all normal conditions but that it is likewise protected from contamination by any seepage of moisture thereinto. It is also to be remarked that two such containers 35 may be used, one at each end of the body portion 6;

or one such container can be medially located thereacross, in an obvious manner. Furthermore, it will be equally apparent the width of the container 35 may be such as to extend across the body portion 6, if it is desired to use a larger amount of or, more cubes 31 therein.

From the foregoing it is felt the merits and advant ges of my improved lunch-box, or the like, will be fully understood; also that changes in the structural features will suggest themselves to those conversant with the art without departing from the essential features of this invention; and accordingly, all such changes or modifications are contemplated as may reasonably come within the terms and scope of the following claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In a temporary storage carrier or lunch box of the type described including the closure and a removable ice container means for selectively-locating and positionally-holding the icecontainer within the said carrier or box comprising opposingly-related-ribs across the inner bottom face of said container and correspondingly across the under face of the inner closure; and grooves in the outer bottom face of the container and complementally sectioned grooves in the outer upper face of its cover for selective coaction with a pair of the opposing ribs aforesaid.

ALBERT RALPH HISTAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Silva Aug. 19, 1947

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