Abstract:
A portable package carrying case can be used to carry a plurality of food containers. Various versions of the case are provided. Methods for carrying food containers are also provided. The cases and the methods enable containers to be easily secured in the case, preferably while the containers remain at least partially visible, and also enable the containers to be easily removed from the case.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/941,653, filed on Feb. 19, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various containers are known for transporting packages such as cans of food. For example, boxes and bags are typically used to transport such packages. However, these known containers do not allow an individual to easily access a specific package from those stacked in the container and often do not allow an individual to view the packages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to an arrangement to conveniently transport a plurality of food items, particularly to an arrangement to conveniently transport a plurality of packaged food items that are packaged in the same or similar shaped, sized and configured packaging, more particularly to a portable package carrying case that is designed to conveniently transport a plurality of packaged food items that are packaged in the same or similar shaped, sized and configured packaging, and still more particularly to a portable package carrying case that is designed to enable convenient loading, unloading and transporting of a plurality of packaged food items that are packaged in the same or similar shaped, sized and configured packaging. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, in a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a case comprising: a first side; a second side configured to reversibly move between an open configuration and a closed configuration relative to the first side; and wells in the case formed by the closed configuration of the second side relative to the first side, each of the wells comprising a top end, a bottom end and a circumferential wall, wherein the first side forms a first portion of the top end of each of the wells, a first portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a first portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, wherein the second side forms a second portion of the top end of each of the wells, a second portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a second portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, the top end of each of the wells consists of the first and second portions of the top end, the bottom end of each of the wells consists of the first and second portions of the bottom end, and the circumferential wall of each of the wells consists of the first and second portions of the circumferential wall. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, for each of the wells, the first and second portions of the top end have identical dimensions relative to each other, the first and second portions of the bottom end have identical dimensions relative to each other, and the first and second portions of the circumferential wall have identical dimensions relative to each other. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the first and second sides have identical dimensions relative to each other. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, each of the wells is a cylinder. The first side can form a half of the cylinder, and the second side can form the other half of the cylinder. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the case comprises slots in at least one of the first or second side, each of the slots forms an opening through the circumferential wall of a corresponding well. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, each of the wells has a uniform circumference from the top end to the bottom end, the case comprises packages of food positioned in the wells, and the packages of food have a circumference equal to the uniform circumference of each of the wells. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: inserting packages into a first side of a case; and connecting a second side of the case to the first side to form a closed configuration of the case, the connecting of the second side forms wells in the case, each of the wells comprising a top end, a bottom end and a circumferential wall, the first side forms a first portion of the top end of each of the wells, a first portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a first portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, and the second side forms a second portion of the top end of each of the wells, a second portion of the bottom end of each of the wells, and a second portion of the circumferential wall of each of the wells, the closed configuration at least partially encloses the packages in the case. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the method comprises moving the case from the closed configuration to an open configuration by disconnecting at least a portion of the second side from the first side. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and comprises food, and each of the wells is cylindrical. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a case comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall; a side wall that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall; wells formed by the top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of the case; and securing members extending perpendicular to the top and bottom walls of the case, wherein, for each of the wells, one of the securing members is positioned on one side of the opening and another one of the securing members is positioned on an opposite side of the opening. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the securing members reversibly connect and disconnect to at least one of the top wall, the bottom wall, or the side wall of the case. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the securing members are flexible and configured to deflect from an original position to a bent position that allows insertion of a package into a corresponding well and configured to regain the original position to at least partially enclose the package within the corresponding well. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the case comprises cylindrical packages of food positioned in the wells. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: removing from a case at least one selected securing member of a plurality of securing members connected to the case, the case comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall, and wells formed by the top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells has an opening that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of the case, and for each of the wells, one of the plurality of securing members is positioned on one side of the opening and another one of the plurality of securing members is positioned on an opposite side of the opening; inserting packages into at least one selected well of the case; and securing the packages in the case by reconnecting to the case the at least one selected securing member which was removed from the case, the reconnecting of the at least one securing member at least partially encloses the packages in the at least one selected well. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the method comprises removing at least one of the packages from the case by (i) removing at least one of the plurality of securing members and (ii) then removing the at least one of the packages from one of the wells adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of securing members which is removed. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and comprises food. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: inserting packages into one or more wells in a case comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall, the wells are formed by the top, bottom and side walls, each of the wells has an opening that extends from the top wall of the case to the bottom wall of the case, and for each of the wells, a securing member that is flexible is positioned on one side of the opening and another securing member that is flexible is positioned on an opposite side of the opening, the inserting of the packages comprising deflecting at least one of the securing members from an original position to a bent position; and securing the packages in the case, the securing of the packages comprising the original position being regained by the at least one of the securing members which was deflected. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the method comprises removing a selected package from the case, the removing comprising exerting force on the selected package through a slot in the side wall of the case, the slot positioned on an opposite side of the well from the opening. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and comprises food. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a case comprising: a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall of the first unit; a second unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each of the second wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the second unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of each of the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to the opening of each of the first wells; and securing members extending perpendicular to the top walls and the bottom walls, wherein, for each of the first and second wells, one of the securing members is positioned on one side of the opening and another one of the securing members is positioned on an opposite side of the opening. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the securing members reversibly connect and disconnect to at least one of the first unit or the second unit. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, the securing members are flexible and configured to deflect from an original position to a bent position that allows insertion of a package into a corresponding well and configured to regain the original position to at least partially enclose the package within the corresponding well. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the case comprises cylindrical packages of food positioned in at least one of the first well or the second well. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: removing from a case at least one selected securing member of a plurality of securing members connected to the case, the case comprising a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall of the first unit, the case further comprising a second unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each of the second wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the second unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of each of the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to the opening of each of the first wells, and for each of the first and second wells, one of the plurality of securing members is positioned on one side of the opening and another one of the plurality of securing members is positioned on an opposite side of the opening; inserting packages into at least one selected well; and securing the packages in the case by reconnecting to the case the at least one selected securing member which was removed from the case, the reconnecting of the at least one securing member at least partially encloses the packages in the at least one selected well. 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, the method comprises removing at least one of the packages from the case by (i) removing at least one of the plurality of securing members and (ii) then removing the at least one of the packages from one of the wells adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of securing members which is removed. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and comprises food. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: inserting packages into one or more wells in a case comprising a first unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and first wells, each of the first wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the first unit to the bottom wall of the first unit, the case further comprising a second unit comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and second wells, each of the second wells having an opening that extends from the top wall of the second unit to the bottom wall of the second unit, the second unit connected to the first unit such that the opening of each of the second wells faces an opposite direction relative to the opening of each of the first wells, and for each of the first and second wells, a securing member that is flexible is positioned on one side of the opening and another securing member that is flexible is positioned on an opposite side of the opening, the inserting of the packages comprising deflecting at least one of the securing members from an original position to a bent position; and securing the packages in the case, the securing of the packages comprising the original position being regained by the at least one of the securing members which was deflected. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, each of the packages is cylindrical and comprises food. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure, in an open configuration. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 1 , in a closed configuration. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 2 , in the closed configuration and in a standing position. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 4 , with food containers placed therein. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 5 , in a standing position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure, with food containers placed therein. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 7 , in a standing position. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a back perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 7 , in a standing position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure, with food containers placed therein. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 10 , with food containers placed therein and in a standing position. 
           [0045]      FIG. 13  is a back perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 10 , with food containers placed therein and in a standing position. 
           [0046]      FIG. 14A  is a front plan view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 14B  is a side plan view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 14C  is a cross-section view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure, with food containers placed therein. 
           [0050]      FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure, with food containers placed therein. 
           [0051]      FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the portable package carrying case according to the present disclosure, with food containers placed therein. 
           [0052]      FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0053]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of the second unit in the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0054]      FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of the first unit in the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0055]      FIG. 21  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0056]      FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the portable package carrying case shown in  FIG. 17 , partially disassembled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0057]    Several non-limiting embodiments of a portable package carrying case  10  according to the present invention are illustrated. In each of the embodiments, the portable package carrying case  10  is designed to carry a plurality of food container items  20 . The portable package carrying case  10  is particularly applicable for use with canned items and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it will be appreciated that the portable package carrying case  10  can be used to carry other types of goods (e.g., pet food, canned soup, canned meat, canned seafood, canned fruit, canned vegetables, containers of mints/breath fresheners, containers of gum, containers of candy, beverage containers, spice containers, frozen beverage concentrates containers, containers of yogurt, containers of refrigerated or frozen bakery goods, containers of ice cream or sorbet, votive candles, etc.). The term “food” means a product or composition that is intended for ingestion by an animal, including a human, and provides at least one nutrient to the animal. 
         [0058]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , one non-limiting embodiment of the portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated. The size, shape and material of the portable package carrying case  10  are non-limiting. The portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated as being designed to hold up to thirty food containers  20 ; however, it can be appreciated that the portable package carrying case  10  can be designed to hold more than or less than thirty food containers  20 . The portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated as being a two-piece system; however, the portable package carrying case  10  can be formed of more than or less than two pieces. Each of the two pieces is illustrated as being a mirror configuration of one another; however; this is not required. 
         [0059]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a first side  11  of the portable package carrying case  10 , when the portable package carrying case  10  is in the open position, is designed to receive the food containers  20 . Once the desired amount of the food containers  20  are loaded into the first side  11  of the portable package carrying case  10 , the second side  12  of the portable package carrying case  10  can be moved to the closed position thereby securing the food containers  20  in the portable package carrying case  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The first side  11  and the second side  12  of the portable package carrying case  10  can be connected together by any means (e.g., hinge, flexible connector, etc.). As can be appreciated, the first side  11  and the second side  12  are not required to be connected together when in the open position. The two sides can be connected together when in the closed position by any number of means (e.g., latch, Velcro, snap lock, etc.), for example any means that enable the first side  11  to reversibly connect to the second side  12  to close the case  10  such that the case  10  can be opened without tools and without breaking the case  10 . 
         [0060]    One or both of the first side  11  and the second side  12  of the portable package carrying case  10  can include one or more slots  13  to enable partial viewing of the food containers  20  in the portable package carrying case  10  when the portable package carrying case  10  is in the closed position. The one or more slots  13  can be used to view the types of products in the portable package carrying case  10  and/or can be used to access identification information on the food containers  20  (e.g., bar code, etc.). As can be appreciated, the portable package carrying case  10  can be formed of a clear or semi-clear material so that the one or more slots can be eliminated; however, this is not required. 
         [0061]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-14 , other non-limiting embodiments of the portable package carrying case  10  are illustrated. The portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated as formed of a single piece for holding the food containers  20 ; however, this is not required. The one-piece embodiment of the portable package carrying case  10  includes container wells  14 , for example three of the container wells  14 , which are each designed to receive a plurality of the food containers  20 . As can be appreciated, the portable package carrying case  10  can include more than or less than three of the wells  14 . 
         [0062]    Each of the container wells  14  includes a securing member  15  that is designed to retain the food containers  20  in the corresponding container well  14 . The configuration of the securing member  15  is non-limiting. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4-14 , the securing member  15  can be a flexible member (e.g., rubber member, plastic member, etc.) and/or can be a rigid or flexible removable member. When the securing member  15  is flexible, the food container  20  can be pushed into the corresponding container well  14 , thereby causing the securing member  15  to deflect and thus allow the container  20  to enter the well  14 . In this embodiment, once the food container  20  is in the well  14 , the securing member  15  moves back to its original position, thereby securing the container  20  in the well  14 . 
         [0063]    The portable package carrying case  10  can include the slot  13  on each of the wells  14 . The one or more slots  13  can be used to view the types of products in the portable package carrying case  10  and/or can be used to access identification information on the food containers  20  (e.g., bar code, etc.). As can be appreciated, the portable package carrying case  10  can be formed of a clear or semi-clear material so that the one or more slots  14  can be eliminated; however, this is not required. The slot  14  can also optionally be used to facilitate in the removal of the food container from the well. When the securing member  15  is flexible, a user can cause the food container  20  to be removed from the well  14  by pushing the food container  20  out of the well  14  via the slot  13 , thereby causing the securing member  15  to deflect and thus allow the food container  20  to be removed from the well  14 . As can be appreciated, the food container  20  can be removed from the well  14  by other or additional means. The portable package carrying case  10  can optionally include a carrying handle  30  to facilitate in the carrying of the portable package carrying case  10 . The portable package carrying case  10  can include printed material; however, this is not required. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIG. 15 , another non-limiting configuration of the portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated. In this configuration, the portable package carrying case  10  includes the handle  30  and comprises a first unit  16  and a second unit  17 . Each of the units  16 , 17  includes two of the wells  14  that are designed to receive a plurality of food containers  20 ; however, it can be appreciated that each of the units  16 , 17  can include more than or less than two of the wells  14 . The food container  20  can be retained in and/or removed from the wells  14  in a similar manner as described above with regard to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 4-14 ; however, this is not required. Each of the units  16 , 17  can be detachably connected together; however, this is not required. The units  16 , 17  can be connected together by a variety of means (e.g., snap lock, Velcro, latch, etc.). 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , another non-limiting configuration of the portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated. This embodiment of the portable package carrying case  10  is similar to the portable package carrying case  10  of  FIG. 15 , but has a slightly different configuration. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIGS. 17-22 , another non-limiting configuration of the portable package carrying case  10  is illustrated. The portable package carrying case is similar to the portable package carrying case  10  of  FIG. 15 , but has a slightly different configuration. 
         [0067]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The invention has been described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed discussion of the invention provided herein. This invention is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present invention. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. These and other modifications of the preferred embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention will be obvious from the disclosure herein, whereby the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.