Abstract:
A container that has perforations oriented so that when the container is opened along the perforations, the container forms a mat. The container may also be configured to form a tray when opened along the perforations. The perforations may be oriented so that the converted container provides a generally planar placemat portion that is integral with a tray portion. The perforations may also be oriented to produce a generally planar mat portion that is detached from the tray portion. The container is preferably made out of paper, cardboard, plastic, foil, metal and wood and is in the form of a bag or box. The use of the convertible container and method therefor allows a user to easily convert the container into a mat and tray that provides a clean surface for the objects and allows the user to easily access the objects once the container is open.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 60/798,783 filed on May 8, 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to containers and mats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container which is convertible to a mat and a method therefor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A conventional container such as a bag or box does not provide a surface for the contents to be placed upon once the container is open that is easily accessible to the user and protects the contents from dirt or contamination. Instead, a user wanting a clean, easily accessible surface to place the contents of the container once the container is opened normally needs a separate mat to rest the contents of the container. For instance, with regard to food providers, fast food establishments and other take-out types of eating places typically serve the food product in bags for carrying to a place to be consumed such as a table, a park bench, a chair, in a vehicle or even on the ground. Since a tray or mat is not provided, a person must take the food out of the bag and place it on the table, for example, usually on the bare surface. A problem with such a procedure is that the table may be unsanitary especially in a food court or the like which could cause illness. Sometimes a napkin is utilized as a makeshift place mat. A problem with using a napkin when placed under a food product such as, for example, a hamburger, the napkin can blow away in the wind when used outdoors when the hamburger is removed from the napkin when being eaten. 
         [0004]    As another example, with regard to automotive parts such as ball bearings, the bearings are greased and come in a container that does not provide a clean, easily accessible surface to protect the work surface from getting soiled from the bearings or the bearings from being contaminated with debris from the work surface. Instead, a user must provide a separate mat. 
         [0005]    In view of the above mentioned problems and limitations of conventional bags and boxes that fail to provide a mat, there is a need for a container that is suitable for holding objects and economical to produce which easily converts to a mat that provides a clean resting surface for the objects and allows the user to easily access the objects. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container employing perforations that is easily converted into a mat by opening the perforations. 
         [0007]    It is another object of this invention to provide a container employing perforations that is easily converted into a mat and a tray by opening the perforations. 
         [0008]    Still a further object of this invention to provide a method for converting a container having perforations into a mat. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a method for converting a container having perforations into a tray and a mat. 
         [0010]    It is another object of this invention to provide a container in the form of a bag or a box that converts into a mat. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a convertible container and mat that is simple in design, economical to manufacture, low in cost, fun and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    This invention results from the realization that there is a great need for an improved container which allows the user to readily transform the container into a mat that provides a safe resting surface for the contents of the container and allows the user easy accessibility to the contents. The container is adapted for use in many different fields. For instance, the container may hold automotive products, hardware products, food products, medical products, toys, etc. 
         [0013]    The above and the other objects are achieved in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which, according to a first aspect, provides a convertible container and mat. The container has a bottom, opposing spaced apart first and second sides, opposing spaced apart first and second faces and each face and each side contiguous with the bottom and each face adjoining the sides; a first line of perforations vertically extending from an open end of the container to a second line of perforations and the second line of perforations horizontally disposed about a perimeter of the container near the bottom and spaced apart therefrom and the perforations able to be opened so that a mat is formed from the container. 
         [0014]    Another illustrative embodiment of the invention, which, according to a second aspect, similar to the first aspect, provides another form of the convertible container and mat. According to another aspect of the invention, a method for converting a container into a mat is provided. 
     
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a convertible container and mat showing a container with perforations; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the convertible container and mat of  FIG. 1  showing the container converted to a mat after opening the perforations; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view showing curved perforations on the container; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view showing straight perforations on the container; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5 to 9  are perspective views showing the sequence for converting the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  from a container to a mat; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a convertible container and mat showing a container with perforations; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the convertible container and mat of  FIG. 10  showing a container converted to a mat after opening the perforations; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view showing curved perforations on the container; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged, view showing straight perforations on the container; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 14 to 16  are perspective views showing the sequence for converting the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 10  from a container to a mat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Looking more particularly to the drawings of  FIGS. 1 to 9 ;  FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a convertible container and a mat of the instant invention, which is indicated generally at  10 , according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The container  12  has a bottom  18 , opposing spaced apart first  20  and second  22  sides, opposing spaced apart first  24  and second  26  faces and each face,  24 ,  26  and each side,  20 ,  22  contiguous with the bottom  18  and each face  24 ,  26  adjoining the sides  20 ,  22 ; a first line of perforations  32 ,  32   a  vertically extending from an open end  28  of the container  12  to a second line of perforations  34 ,  34   a ; the second line of perforations  34 ,  34   a  horizontally disposed about a perimeter of the container  12  near the bottom  18  and spaced apart therefrom and the first line of perforations  32 ,  32   a  and the second line of perforations  34 ,  34   a  each able to be opened so that a mat  14  is formed from the container  12 . It is understood that the container  12  may include the form of a bag or a box. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the convertible container and mat  10  of  FIG. 1  showing the container  12  converted to a mat  14  after opening the perforations  32 ,  32   a  and  34 ,  34   a .  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view showing curved perforations  32 ,  34  on the container  12   10  and  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view showing straight perforations  32   a ,  34   a  on the container  12 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 to 9  show the sequence for converting the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  from a container  12  to a mat  14 . To begin the conversion process, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the first line of perforations  32 ,  32   a  disposed on first face  24  are torn in the direction of the arrow a.  FIG. 6  shows the opening along the second line of perforations  34 ,  34   a  in the direction of arrow b thereby separating the first face  24  in half. As seen in  FIG. 7 , the opening continues to separate first side  20  and second side  22  in the direction of arrows c and d.  FIG. 8  illustrates further opening to separate second face  26  in the direction of arrow e.  FIG. 9  shows smoothing out, in the direction of arrow f, of the mat  14  with a tray  40  formed intact on the mat  14 . 
         [0029]    The container  12  is generally rectangular in shape and is constructed from a material chosen from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, plastic, foil, metal and wood. The first line of perforations  32  and the second line of perforations  34  are curved. Alternately, the first line of perforations  32   a  and the second line of perforations  34   a  are straight. The first line of perforations  32 ,  32   a  is centrally disposed on the first face  24 . The second line of perforations  34 ,  34   a  extends onto the first face  24 , the first side  20  and the second side  22  without extending onto the second face  26 . The tray  40 , having three vertical walls  42  and each wall  42  contiguous with the bottom  18  and adjoining the second face  26 , is formed when the perforations  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  are separated whereby the tray  40  being integral with the mat  14 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a convertible container  30  and mat  50  showing a container  52  with perforations. The container  52  is similar in construction to the above illustrative embodiment. The container  52  has a bottom  64 , opposing spaced apart first  66  and second  68  sides, opposing spaced apart first  70  and second  72  faces and each face,  70 ,  72  and each side,  66 ,  68  contiguous with the bottom  64  and each face  70 ,  72  adjoining the sides  66 ,  68 ; a first line of perforations  56 ,  56   a  vertically extending from an open  5  end  74  of the container  52  to a second line of perforations  58 ,  58   a ; the second line of perforations  58 ,  58   a  horizontally disposed about a perimeter of the container  52  near the bottom  64  and spaced apart therefrom and the first line of perforations  56 ,  56   a  and the second line of perforations  58 ,  58   a  each able to be opened so that a mat  54  is formed therefrom the container  52 . It is understood that the container  52  may include the form of one of a bag and a box. 
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the convertible container and mat of  FIG. 10  showing a container  52  converted to a mat  54  after opening the perforations  56 ,  56   a  and  58 ,  58   a.    
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view showing curved perforations  56 ,  58  on the container  52  and  FIG. 13  is an enlarged view showing straight perforations  56   a ,  58   a  on the container  52 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 14 to 16  show the sequence for converting the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 10  from a container  52  to a mat  54 . To begin the conversion process, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the first line of perforations  56 ,  56   a  is disposed adjoining the first face  70  and the first side  66  is torn in the direction of the arrows j and k.  FIG. 15  shows continuous opening of the second line of perforations  58 ,  58   a  in the direction of arrow  1  thereby completely separating the tray  60  from the mat  54 .  FIG. 16  shows smoothing out, in the direction of arrow m, of the mat  54  with the tray  60  being completely separated. 
         [0034]    The container  52  is generally rectangular in shape and is constructed from a material chosen from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, plastic, foil, metal and wood. The first line of perforations  56  and the second line of perforations  58  are curved. Alternately, the first line of perforations  56   a  and the second line of perforations  58   a  are straight. The first line of perforations  56 ,  56   a  is disposed adjoining the first face  70  and the first side  66 . The second line of perforations extends completely around the perimeter of the container  52  including onto the second face  72 . The tray  60 , having four vertical walls  62  and each wall  62  contiguous with the bottom  64 , is formed when the perforations  56 ,  56   a ,  58 ,  58   a  are separated whereby the tray  60  being independently detached from the mat  54 . 
         [0035]    The following is an explanation as to how the invention may be used for example, as a food container. When the container  52  is used for food products, food is provided and placed into the container  12 ,  52  and carried to a table or eating area by a user. To use the convertible container and mat  10 ,  50 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5 to 9  and in  FIGS. 14 to 16 , a user simply opens the perforations indicated to convert the container  12 ,  52  to a mat  14 ,  54  including tray  40  and  60 , after which the user puts the food thereon, for consumption. The mat  14 ,  54  when used with food products serves as a place mat. 
         [0036]    One practical advantage of the invention is that it provides a mat  14 ,  54  which provides a clean resting surface and protects the contents from being soiled or contaminated. Additionally, the mat  14 ,  54  prevents the contents from soiling the surface under the mat. For instance, when used with food, the container  12 ,  52  allows the user to eat food on the mat  14 ,  54  for sanitary food consumption and the elimination of the spread of germs. Another advantage of the invention is that the container provides a mat  14 ,  54  which forms a safe, easily accessible resting surface for the contents without requiring the user to obtain a separate mat. Still another advantage of the invention is that the convertible container and mat is designed for ease and economy of manufacture as well as for functionality. The invention provides an attractive, highly functional convertible container and mat that is convenient to use. Of course, a wide variety of further uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art. 
         [0037]    The container  12 ,  52  is very useful for use with non-edible items as well as food products and may be used in many different fields including automotive products, hardware products, food products, medical products, toys, etc. For example, the container  12 ,  52  can be used to hold automotive parts whereby the user can open the container and use the mat  14 ,  54  to hold greasy or dirty parts that would otherwise soil the surface they are placed upon. The mat  14 ,  54  is adapted to be easily disposed when the user is finished using the mat. 
         [0038]    In addition to markings on the outside of Applicant&#39;s container, Applicant may also have print on the inside of the container which forms the top surface of the mat  14 ,  54  when the container is converted. The printed matter may comprise entertainment in the form of games, stories, or doodling/drawing activities. The printed matter may also comprise instructions. For instance, the container  12 ,  52  of the present invention may be used to hold construction set pieces. For this particular application, it is desirable that the inside of the container  12 ,  52  includes printed directions for constructing different objects and designates places to position certain pieces to help the user organize and build the construction set. 
         [0039]    As disclosed, it is apparent that the invention can provide other options and applications. One skilled in the art will realize that the foregoing discussion outlines the more important features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the instant invention and to instill a better appreciation of the inventor&#39;s contribution to the art. It must be clear that the disclosed details of construction, descriptions of geometry and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of possible manifestations of the invention. 
         [0040]    It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.