Lunch box having a simulative exterior configuration and an interactive figure

A child's lunch box has an exterior configuration which is simulative of a selected motif. An exteriorly accessible compartment further carries both the selected motif. An interactive figure is positionable in the exteriorly accessible compartment and is costumed to cooperate with and to interact with the exterior motif of the lunch box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed generally to a child's lunch box. More 
particularly, the present invention is directed to a child's lunch box 
having a simulative exterior configuration. Most specifically, the present 
invention is directed to a child's lunch box having a simulative exterior 
configuration and an interactive figure. The simulative exterior 
configuration of the lunch box may take one of any number of shapes, such 
as a space rocket, firehouse, castle, or the like. A portion of this 
exterior configuration forms either an integral insulated container or 
provides an interior space sized to receive a beverage container. The 
interactive figure, such as a spaceman, fireman, princess or knight is 
positionable in an exteriorly accessible compartment. The interior of this 
compartment continues the theme or motif depicted by the simulative 
exterior of the lunch box. The interactive figure is removable from its 
exteriorly accessible compartment and is usable for play with the lunch 
box. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Children from early pre-school through elementary grades often have need 
for a lunch box. Such a box is, of course, needed to transport and store a 
lunch or snack and beverage while the child is attending school, camp, is 
visiting a friend, or participating in a picnic or the like. This lunch 
box needs to be sturdy, easily transportable, and generally utilitarian. 
There are any number of lunch boxes presently available which satisfy 
these criteria. These presently available lunch boxes are also often very 
boring to the child and thus are often forgotten, not used, ignored and 
not thought about. 
As any parent will attest, a child's interest in eating often has little to 
do with the food itself. The most visually stimulating and tasty meal may 
well be ignored if the child is either not ready or willing to eat, or is 
distracted by other happenings. Similarly, a rather bland, uninteresting 
meal will be rapidly consumed if the child believes that it relates to his 
or her favorite cartoon, or television hero. A trip to any toy store will 
provide support for this theory based on the wide variety of child's lunch 
boxes that are available. The majority of these lunch boxes are provided 
with bright colors and visual graphics. However, they do not provide a 
structure with which the child can truly interact. 
Most children have very active imaginations which will allow a child to 
engage in extended play with an object that appeals to him. The play 
object must provide some motivation for the play. A lunch box which is 
provided with graphic scenes of favorite characters is visually attractive 
but the attraction quickly fades when the child realizes that there is 
little possibility to actually interact with the lunch box. 
A child is more apt to care for and to remember an object or play article 
that appeals to the child. A review of the contents of any lost and found 
collection in a typical pre-school or elementary school will result in the 
discovery of any number of lunch boxes. More often than not, these have 
been left behind on the school bus, in the cafeteria, or on the playground 
by an owner who was not particularly attached to the lunch box and who was 
not overly concerned about keeping it with him. Although most forgotten 
lunch boxes usually eventually find their way back to their owner, some 
never do and must be replaced. Even the ones that do return often do so 
only after a sufficient period of time that they have been replaced. 
It will thus be apparent that a need exists for a child's lunch box which 
will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. The lunch box of 
the present invention provides such a device and is a significant 
improvement over prior art devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a child's lunch box. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a child's lunch box 
having a simulative exterior. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a child's lunch box 
having an exterior compartment. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a child's lunch 
box having an interactive figure. 
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a child's lunch 
box having a simulative exterior configuration including an insulated 
beverage receiving compartment. 
As will be discussed in greater detail in the description of the preferred 
embodiments which are set forth subsequently, the present invention is 
directed to a child's simulative lunch box which also includes an 
interactive figure that is carried in an exterior compartment. In the 
preferred embodiment, the exterior of the lunch box is configured to 
simulate a rocket ship. The interactive figure is depicted as a spaceman 
and is positionable in an exteriorly accessible compartment with an 
interior configuration representative of a rocket or space ship's 
interior. The lunch box, while being generally rectangular, has an 
exterior portion which, in the depicted embodiment, forms the body of the 
rocket. This portion of the box may be an insulated receptacle for 
beverages, or may provide an enlarged interior storage compartment which 
will receive a separate insulated beverage container or a generally 
conventional can of soft drink, carton of milk, box of juice or the like. 
The simulative exterior of the lunch box, together with the interactive 
figure, attracts the child to the box and keeps his attention during 
consumption of the contents of the box. The color scheme of the exterior 
of the box can be made as vivid and individual as desired. Thus even 
though multiple boxes having the same overall exterior shape may be made, 
each may be colored differently. In addition, one or more individualized 
interactive figures can be provided for each box. In this way, the child 
will be able to relate to, and associate with, his own box. This 
association and interaction will keep the child's attention during meal 
time and will encourage the child to eat the food carried in the lunch 
box. 
The lunch box and the figure or figures carried in the exterior compartment 
of the box are selected and provided so that they will interact with each 
other. Thus the child can use the box and figure as props for any number 
of games and other play activities that his mind will create. In this way 
the lunch box of the present invention is far superior to prior devices 
which may have initially attracted the child's attention but did nothing 
to hold it. 
The lunch box of the present invention will be treated as more than just 
another food-carrying device by the child. Instead of being forgotten or 
ignored like a paper bag, the lunch box of the present invention will be a 
meaningful possession to the child. It is something that the child can 
have fun with and thus will want to keep with him. Since it is a play 
object, as well as a lunch box, it will not be as likely to be forgotten 
or misplaced. 
The lunch box of the present invention is not only functional, it is also 
fun. It allows the child to exercise his imagination while aiding him in 
the consumption of his lunch or snack. Its interactive capabilities ensure 
that it will be used and enjoyed. Thus the lunch box of the present 
invention is a substantial advance in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring initially to FIG. 1, there may be seen, generally at 20, a first 
preferred embodiment of a lunch box in accordance with the present 
invention. Lunch box 20 is depicted as being generally rectangular in 
overall shape. It has a front cover, generally at 22, and a rear body, 
generally at 24, which are hingedly connected by an elongated piano type 
bottom hinge, generally at 26, as may be seen in FIG. 3. Body 24 of lunch 
box 20 has a mouth rim 28 which engages with a cooperatively shaped cover 
mouth rim 30. A spring steel or similar cover latch 32 is carried in a 
body recess 34. The cover latch 32 is engageable with a cover latch seat 
36 which is positioned in a cooperating cover latch seat recess 38. A 
generally U-shaped lunch box handle 40 is pivotably attached to an upper 
surface 42 lunch box body 24 and is pivotable about suitable pivot pins 
(not shown) between a raised, use position, as depicted in FIG. 3 and a 
lowered storage position where handle 40 is receivable in a storage well 
44 in the top surface 42 of the body 24 of the lunch box 20. This 
abovedescribed lunch box shape is generally conventional and is therefore 
not set forth in great detail. It will be understood that while the lunch 
box will be discussed as being generally rectangular, that other shapes, 
such as square, trapezoidal, ovoid and the like are within the scope of 
the present invention. It will further be understood that the lunch box 
will preferably be made using suitable moldable plastic compositions. 
Other materials, such as metal, wood and the like could also be utilized. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, as well as to FIGS. 2-7, the body 24 of the 
lunch box 20 includes a generally rocket ship shaped portion, generally at 
46. The rocket ship 46 is formed on body 24, generally at the left front 
corner of the body 24, as seen in FIG. 1. This rocket ship 46 includes a 
generally cylindrical rocket body 48 with the axis of the cylinder being 
generally vertical when the lunch box 20 is resting on support feet 50. A 
nose cone 52 is positioned atop cylindrical rocket body 48. Spaced, 
radially outwardly directed fins 54 are secured to the lower portion of 
rocket body 48 and cooperate with support feet 50 to keep the lunch box 20 
in a stable upright position. A simulative viewport 56 may be provided on 
the side of cylindrical rocket body 48. A ladder 58 may also be secured to 
the side of cylindrical rocket body 48. 
Cover 22 of lunch box 20 includes, as may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 
and 10, an exteriorly accessible compartment generally at 60. Compartment 
60 is defined by a generally square or rectangular flange, generally at 62 
which cooperates with a cooperatively shaped front door, generally at 64. 
This compartment door 62 is openable with respect to flange 62 by use of a 
suitable hinge pin and pintle assembly, generally at 66, as seen in FIGS. 
3 and 10. Hinge pins 68 on the door 64 will be received in suitable hinge 
pintles 70 on the compartment flange 62. This will allow the door, 
generally at 64, to be supported for swinging motion with regard to the 
compartment defining flange 62. A suitable resilient plastic latch 72 for 
the compartment door 64 is molded on an exterior surface of flange 62 
generally opposite to compartment door hinges 66. 
A transparent plastic porthole generally at 74 is provided on compartment 
cover 64. This porthole 74 is supported by a truncated cone-shaped support 
ring 76 which can be shaped to provide an iris lens-like appearance. 
A FIG. 80 is positionable within the interior of lunch box cover 
compartment 60. This FIG. 80 will be sized and costumed to be interactive 
with the exterior motif of the lunch box 20. In the depicted preferred 
embodiment, since lunch box 20 has a rocket ship 46 as an exterior motif, 
the interactive FIG. 80 will be depicted as a rocket ship crewperson and 
will be suitably attired. The FIG. 80 may be provided with a seat 82 and a 
workstation or table 84 at which to be seated. Although not specifically 
depicted in the drawings, it will be understood that the interior of the 
exteriorly accessible compartment, generally at 60, may be provided with 
suitable molded gauges, panels and other accessories which will further 
the exterior motif depicted on the body 24 of the lunch box 20. 
Turning now to FIG. 4, the rear of the body 24 of the lunch box 20 is shown 
generally at 86. This rear portion 86 of lunch box body 24 may be molded 
to simulate a computer screen, generally at 88. Suitable simulative 
buttons 90 and data entry and display pads 92 may also be provided on the 
rear surface 86 of lunch box body 24. It will be understood that these 
buttons, pads and screens, while not being functional, can be provided 
with suitable coloration and surface characteristics that will make them 
appear real, especially in the eyes of a child. The use of this exterior 
computer simulation further enhances the overall exterior motif of the 
lunch box. It will be understood that this exterior motif is not limited 
to a rocket ship but can, as will be discussed shortly, take a number of 
forms. 
Turning now to FIG. 8, a first preferred embodiment of an interior of the 
lunch box 20 in accordance with the present invention will be seen. In 
this first preferred embodiment, an interior storage space generally at 
100 is formed in the body 24 of lunch box 20 by the hollow cylindrical 
rocket body portion 48 of the lunch box body 24. This interior storage 
space 100 is sized to receive a small removable insulated beverage holder, 
depicted in dashed lines at 102. Instead of an insulated beverage holder, 
this interior storage space 100 could receive a conventional canned 
beverage, a carton of milk, a box of juice, or the like. If desired, a 
simple securement strap (not shown) could be provided to hold the beverage 
container in place during transport of the lunch box. The placement of 
this beverage holder or container 102 in the cylindrical rocket body 
interior storage space 100 effectively provides greater storage capacity 
for the lunch box 20. This storage area would not be available in a 
conventionally shaped lunch box. 
In a second preferred embodiment of the lunch box of the present invention, 
as depicted in FIG. 9, an insulated beverage storage receptacle is formed 
integrally with the cylindrical rocket ship body 46 of lunch box body 24. 
A mouth 110 for the integral receptacle is molded on a portion of the 
upper surface 42 of the box body 24. This mouth 110 has external threads 
112 which engage internal threads 114 formed on the inner surface of the 
rocket ship nose cone 52. Thus the nose cone 52 acts as a removable cover 
for the liquid reservoir that in this second preferred embodiment, is 
defined by the cylindrical portion 46 of the lunch box body 24. It will be 
understood that in use, the nose cone cover 52 is unscrewed from the mouth 
threads 112. The lunch box 20 can now be inclined to pour the contents of 
the integral beverage container into a suitable cup (not shown). In 
accordance with the invention, the removable cover, whose actual 
configuration will vary depending on the exterior motif being displayed, 
can be used as a liquid holding receptacle. 
The exterior motif of the lunch box 20, the depiction of the interior of 
the exteriorly accessible compartment 60, the costume and appearance of 
the FIG. 80, and the computer screen or other visual display on the rear 
surface 86 of the body 24 will all be related so that they all interact. 
In this way, a child using the lunch box 20 will be apt to remove FIG. 80 
from compartment 60 and use the figure in conjunction with the lunch box 
20 to act out imagined events. The incorporation of the simulated visual 
display or computer screen on the rear 86 of the body 24 of the lunch box 
will further allow this interaction between the lunch box 20, the FIG. 80 
and the child. 
While the exterior motif of the lunch box 20 depicted in the drawings is a 
rocket ship and the interactive FIG. 80 is depicted as a space man or the 
like, other interactive exterior motifs and figures are within the scope 
of the present invention. Although not specifically depicted, it will be 
understood that the exterior motif of the lunch box can be a castle with 
the cylindrical body portion 46 being a turret of the castle. In this 
configuration, the interactive figure could be a princess or a knight. In 
another configuration, the exterior motif could be a firehouse or police 
station. In either of these exterior configurations, the hollow upright 
portion of the body could be configured to resemble a fire truck or a 
police car. The interactive figure would then be a fireman or firewoman or 
a policeman or policewoman. Further exterior configurations are also 
within the scope of the invention but are not specifically set forth 
herein. Their commonality resides in the incorporation of an exterior 
motif on the surface of the lunch box, an exteriorly accessible 
compartment other than for the storage of food, and an interactive figure 
costumed to complement the exterior motif and sized to be receivable in 
the exteriorly accessible compartment. 
While preferred embodiments of a lunch box in accordance with the present 
invention have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be 
apparent to one of skill in the art that a number of changes in, for 
example, the type of hinge structures used, the specific lunch box latch 
and handle configuration, the type of plastics used for the lunch box and 
the like may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of 
the invention, which is accordingly t be limited only by the following 
claims: