Abstract:
A travel bowl assembly for traveling in a vehicle including a bowl divided into a snack section and a cup holder section. A container extends downward from a bottom of the bowl member, secondarily used as a cup holder insert and assembly support. The cup holder insert can be integrated or removably attached to the bowl. A pliant adapter can be integrated or removably attached to the cup holder insert. The pliant adapter utilizes flexible winglets for compensating between dimensional differences between the cup holder insert and a receiving cup holder. The pliant adapter is formed having a tapered sleeve for sliding the adapter onto a tapered sidewall of the cup holder insert. A cover can be provided, sealing the snack section of the bowl. A lid can be provided, sealing the container. The lid can be fastened to a storage interface disposed on the lower surface of the bowl.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Non-Provisional Utility application is a Continuation-In-Part of, and claims benefit of, co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/263,549, filed on Nov. 3, 2008, which claims benefit of co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/201,207, filed on Aug. 29, 2008, which claims benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/588,541, filed on Oct. 27, 2006, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,527,017, issued on May 5, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to travel accessories, and more particularly, to a travel bowl, including a food container and drink holder carried by a removable cup holder insert, for adaptation to a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people have a desire to eat snacks and drink while traveling in a vehicle. It is considered difficult and distracting to snack and drink while driving. Passengers prefer to have a location to hold their snacks and drinks while traveling to avoid leaving crumbs and other undesirable residue in the vehicle. Drink holders are considered a standard feature in modern vehicles, while food storage compartments are lacking. 
     Snacks are normally stored in the original packaging and positioned in non-optimal places, such as against the seat door pockets, between the seat and the center console, and the like, in order to avoid being spilled. Further, snacks such as fast foods (hamburgers, French fries, and the like) are typically not conducive to the same type of storage or packaging as general consumer grocery products. 
     Accordingly, there remains in the art a need for a travel bowl for holding and storing snacks and drinks in a vehicle where the holder is inexpensive, lightweight, and optionally includes a seal-able cover for preventing snacks from becoming stale. It is desirable for the travel bowl to be securely stabilized within a vehicle when the vehicle is in motion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing a travel bowl assembly for use in a vehicle where the travel bowl assembly is portable, gives rise to manufacturing economy, and is easy to maintain and use. Moreover, the overall construction of the travel bowl assembly provides a removable cover for sealing a snack portion of the bowl while allowing the user to simultaneously secure a drink within the apparatus. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a travel bowl assembly comprising a container comprising a base and sidewall defining a container receptacle for holding food and/or fluids, the receptacle having an oval shaped bowl including a vertical wall and an oval shaped base wall. The travel bowl assembly further includes a lid that is removably attached to a portion of the oval shaped bowl providing a seal for maintaining food within the bowl receptacle. 
     Advantageously, the travel bowl includes a cup holder insert in a shape and size that dimensionally corresponds to a shape and size of a recess of a cup holder in a console of a vehicle such that the cup holder insert is securely retained within the recess of the vehicle&#39;s cup holder. The cup holder insert, and oval shaped bowl are dimensionally configured to provide a selected storage capacity, and can be integrally molded as one piece or a plurality of interconnecting components. Alternatively, the bowl can be provided in any reasonable shape conducive to the application of the present invention. 
     In one aspect, the travel bowl member includes a dividing wall disposed within the oval shaped bowl forming a food storage compartment and a drink holder portion. 
     A bowl lid is provided having a peripheral shape conforming to the food compartment portion of the travel bowl, the lid being removably attached to the shaped bowl by any one of a snap-on feature, a living hinge, a magnet, a clip, a rotating post, a hook and loop, sliding rails, threads, or pressure detents. 
     In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a travel bowl assembly comprising a cup holder insert including a container receptacle for holding snacks, with an upper portion having threads. The travel bowl assembly further includes a threaded recess (a coupling interface) formed within the base of the bowl for detachably receiving the upper portion of the cup holder insert; thereby sealing snacks within a receptacle formed within the cup holder insert. The coupling interface can be provided within the base of the bowl or extending there from. A leveling feature can be provided extending from the base of the bowl, such that the leveling feature compensates for the extending coupling interface thus supporting the bowl ensuring it remains level. 
     Preferably, the cup holder insert includes a shape and size that dimensionally corresponds to a shape and size of a recess of a cup holder that is included in any one of a console of a vehicle including a boat, truck, van, transport, airplane, camper, RV, bus, train, ATV, or table, chair, or any other mode or device that includes a cup holder for securely holding a cup therein. The cup holder insert can include a plaint member for adapting the shape and size of the cup holder insert to the shape and size of a vehicle cup holder. The pliant member can be assembled to or removably attached to the cup holder insert. The pliant member can consist of a series of winglets projecting radially from the exterior wall of the pliant member. 
     In yet another aspect, the cup holder insert and the bowl are either integrally molded as one piece providing the cup holder insert receptacle to be in fluid communication with the bowl receptacle, or the cup holder insert is separately attached to the bowl having a means for detachably receiving formed therein for releasably attaching the cup holder insert to the bowl. The means for detachably engaging may include any one of threads, a bayonet connection, a snap-on feature, a slide means, magnets, pressure detents and the like. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides an adapting sleeve, which compensates for a variety of cup holder designs and dimensions, via a plurality of flexible adapter winglets. The winglets can extend from a tubular sleeve having the dimensions consistent with the mating dimensions of the cup holder insert. The cup holder insert can be tapered (or funnel shaped) providing assistance in mating the tubular sleeve to the cup holder insert. 
     Regarding the embodiments described herein, as well as those covered by the claims, the travel bowl assembly is loaded with food and/or fluid and a lid is removably attached to the travel bowl. The travel bowl assembly is securely inserted within the recess of the cup holder of a vehicle console allowing the oval shaped bowl to extend partially between two front seats of a vehicle. The lid may be opaque or transparent for allowing a user to view the contents stored within the travel bowl. Further, the lid may include an extending grasp for assisting a user in removing the lid from the travel bowl. The cup holder insert, travel bowl and lid may having components fabricated utilizing glass, ceramic, metal, tin, a rigid or resilient material, a light-weight synthetic material or a polymeric material including plastic, rubber, urethane or neoprene material, or any combination thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a travel bowl assembly, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded assembly view of the exemplary travel bowl assembly originally introduced in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the exemplary travel bowl assembly originally introduced in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top planar view of the exemplary travel bowl assembly originally introduced in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the travel bowl assembly introducing a bowl interior compartment sectioning structure; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a bowl member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the bowl member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the bowl member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a first exemplary lid member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 10  is a side sectional view of the first exemplary lid member of the travel bowl assembly, the section taken along section  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a top planar view of a cup holder insert member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the cup holder insert member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a pliant cup holder adapting member as assembled to the cup holder insert member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 14  is an elevation view of the pliant cup holder adapting member shown being assembled to the cup holder insert member of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevation assembly view of the cup holder insert member, a cup holder insert extension member, and the bowl member; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional elevation view of the travel bowl assembly; 
         FIG. 17  is a top planar view of the exemplary lid installed on the travel bowl assembly, further illustrating the interaction of the exemplary lid and a drink; 
         FIG. 18  is a side sectional view of the travel bowl assembly, the section taken along section  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a top planar view of an alternate exemplary lid installed on an alternate embodiment of the travel bowl member, further illustrating the interaction of the alternate exemplary lid and a drink; and 
         FIG. 20  is a side sectional view of the alternate travel bowl assembly embodiment, the section taken along section  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a side elevation view of yet another alternate travel bowl assembly embodiment; 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevation view of a bowl body portion of the travel bowl assembly embodiment, originally presented in  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a side elevation view of a lid and container portion of the travel bowl assembly embodiment, originally presented in  FIG. 21 ; and 
         FIG. 24  is a side sectional view of the alternate travel bowl assembly embodiment, the section taken along a section similar to section  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 ; and 
         FIG. 25  is a side elevation view illustrating a nesting of a plurality of containers for varying a height of the bowl assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular embodiments, features, or elements. Specific structural and functional details, dimensions, or shapes disclosed herein are not limiting but serve as a basis for the claims and for teaching a person of ordinary skill in the art the described and claimed features of embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are represented by like numerals throughout, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a perspective view of a travel bowl assembly  100 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. Additional details of the travel bowl assembly  100  and the individual components are provided in  FIGS. 2 through 14  presented herein. The travel bowl assembly  100  includes a bowl  102 , a cover  120 , and a cup holder insert  130 . The bowl  102  is defined having a bowl body  104  comprising a snack containing section  112  and a drink holder section  116  separated via a bowl sectioning wall  114 . A mount receptacle  106  is provided on a lower face of a base portion of the bowl body  104  and can extend from the bottom (as shown) or project upwards into the snack containing section  112  or drink holder section  116  regions. A leveling feature  110  can be included providing a planar supporting surface should the design of the mount receptacle  106  extend downward from the base of the bowl body  104 . The leveling feature  110  can be of any reasonable form factor, such as two projecting legs as illustrated, a projecting ridge or wall, and the like, working in conjunction with the mount receptacle  106  for supporting the bowl  102  when placed upon a resting surface  150 . The cover  120  provides a seal to retain freshness of snacks disposed within the snack containing section  112  of the bowl  102 . A snap latch ring  126  can be formed about an upper edge of the bowl body  104  providing a means for sealing a cover securing interface  124  of the cover  120  to the bowl body  104 . 
     The travel bowl assembly  100  is secured in the vehicle via the cup holder insert  130 . The cup holder insert  130  is formed having a shape and size substantially similar to a shape and size of a common vehicle cup holder. The cup holder insert  130  is provided, preferably being removably attached to the bowl body  104  via a connection interface disposed between an upper edge of the cup holder insert  130  and the mount receptacle  106 . The cup holder insert  130  is defined via a mount container body  132  having a horizontal base and a sidewall extending upwards from the edge of the horizontal base, forming an object storage receptacle  136 . The object storage receptacle  136  provides a means for storing snacks  119  ( FIG. 16 ) or other small items. Mount securing threads  134  are provided along the upper edge of the cup holder insert  130 , wherein the mount securing threads  134  provide a mating connection interface for removably attaching the cup holder insert  130  to the mount receptacle  106 . Alternately, the mount securing threads  134  can be of any known detachably engaging form factor including any one of threads (as shown), a bayonet connection, a snap-on feature, a slide means, magnets, pressure detents, and the like. 
     A cup holder adapter sleeve  140  can be provided to aid in conforming and securing the cup holder insert  130  to the vehicle cup holder. The cup holder adapter sleeve  140  includes a adapter body  142  having a shape and size similar to the exterior of the mount container body  132  and a plurality of adapter winglet panels  144  extending there from. The adapter winglet panels  144  are preferably thin, pliant ribs extending radially from the exterior surface of the adapter body  142 , providing an adaptive means for ensuring a reliable holding interface between the cup holder insert  130  and the respective cup holder. The preferred shape of the adapter sleeve opening  146  of the adapter body  142  is tubular and tapering having a larger upper opening diameter with a smaller lower opening diameter, ensuring a reliable and repeatable mating between the mount container body  132  and the adapter body  142 . The adapter winglet panels  144  are provided having a thin wall projecting radially from the adapter body  142  with a tapered distal edge. The adapter winglet panels  144  have an initial width at the lower edge, with a span from the central interface edge increasing in the radial direction as the adapter winglet panels  144  as the distal edge progresses towards the upper edge. The cup holder adapter sleeve  140  is fabricated of a pliant material such as nylon. 
     The bowl  102  is presented in  FIGS. 6 through 8 . The bowl  102  is defined having a bowl body  104 , divided into a snack containing section  112  and a drink holder section  116  via the incorporation of a bowl sectioning wall  114  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 7 . The bowl sectioning wall  114  extends upwards from the base of the bowl body  104 , formed in an arc spanning between two sections of the bowl&#39;s vertical wall. The bowl sectioning wall  114  divides the interior of the bowl  102  into two sections: the snack containing section  112  and the drink holder section  116 . The bowl sectioning wall  114  is formed having a size and shape commonly utilized for a cup holder for containing items such as a drink  118 . The exemplary embodiment presents a mount receptacle  106 , having a mount receptacle coupling threads  108 , disposed on a bottom surface of the bowl body  104 . A pair of leveling features  110  projects from the bottom of the bowl body  104 , projecting the same distance as the mount receptacle  106 , thus providing a stable support of the travel bowl assembly  100  when the cup holder insert  130  is removed and the travel bowl assembly  100  is placed on a planar surface. 
     The cover  120  can be provided in a variety of form factors with one exemplary embodiment being presented in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The cover  120  includes features such as a cover securing interface  124  for removably securing the cover  120  to a snap latch ring  126  of the bowl  102  and a extending grasp  128  for assisting the user in removing the cover  120  from the bowl  102 . An optional identification  123  can be disposed upon the lid surface. A first form factor presented seals the entire periphery of the entire upper edge of the bowl  102 . Other geometries will be presented later herein. 
     The cup holder insert  130  is detailed in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , with the cup holder adapter sleeve  140  being assembled in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The cup holder insert  130  is formed having a mount container body  132  extending from a peripheral edge of a bottom forming an object storage receptacle  136 . A mount securing threads  134  is formed along the upper edge of the mount container body  132 . Although the mount securing threads  134  is noted as having threads, it is recognized that other releasably attaching interfaces can be utilized for releasably coupling the cup holder insert  130  to the bowl  102 . It is preferred that the mount container body  132  is tapered, having a smaller diameter along the lower portion of the cup holder insert  130 . The diameter of the mount container body  132  would be compatible with generic cup holders. A cup holder adapter sleeve  140  can be included, being slideably assembled to the cup holder insert  130 . The cup holder adapter sleeve  140  includes a plurality of adapter winglet panels  144  projecting radially from an adapter body  142 . The adapter body  142  is shaped to slideably assemble to the cup holder insert  130 , preferably utilizing a tapered shape to help ensure a reliable interface. The cup holder adapter sleeve  140  would be fabricated of a nylon or nylon-like material. 
     For instances where the bowl  102  needs to be raised from the cup holder insert  130 , a mount extension  160  can be assembled between the cup holder insert  130  and the bowl  102 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15 . The mount extension  160  is fabricated having an extension body  162 , with an extension male threading  164  formed along an upper edge and an extension female threading  166  formed along a lower edge. The extension male threading  164  would be removably attached to the mount receptacle  106  and the extension female threading  166  being removably attached to the mount securing threads  134 . The extension body  162  could be hollow, increasing the available storage volume of the object storage receptacle  136 . The spacing can vary via having mount extension  160  with different lengths, utilizing a plurality of mount extension  160  or combination thereon. 
     Snacks  119  can be stored in the object storage receptacle  136  as illustrated in the sectional view of  FIG. 16 . Alternately, snacks  119  can be stored in the snack containing section  112 , being sealed via the cover  120 . 
     Two (2) alternate bowl configurations are presented in  FIGS. 17 through 20 . The extended bowl sectioning wall  115  can be extended, providing an additional coupling region for securing a cover  121  to the bowl body  104  as illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The cover  121  would include an opening, which provides a clearance for insertion and removal of a drink  118 . By providing a cover securing interface  125 , the user can secure the cover  121  to the bowl  102  and rotate the cover  121  about the drink  118 , thus giving access to snacks stored in the snack containing section  112 . A small notch can be provided along the snap latch ring  126  ( FIG. 2 ) for clearance for the rotation. 
     Alternately, the extended bowl sectioning wall  115  can be extended as previously shown and a portion of the bowl body  104  adjacent to the easy access drink holder section  117  can be formed shorter as illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . The cover  122  would be formed having a crescent shape, exposing the easy access drink holder section  117 . The lower wall section of the bowl body  104  improves access to the drink  118 . 
     The present invention utilizes a cup holder insert  130  as the mounting interface for removably securing the travel bowl assembly  100  to a vehicle cup holder. The present invention can be adapted to other applications such as a stroller, crib, child&#39;s car seat, bicycle, and the like by providing a variation of the cup holder insert  130 . The mount would have a similar interface for securing the mount to the bowl  102 , while having a form factor suitable for securing the travel bowl assembly  100  to a respective object, such as a loop for securing the mount to a handlebar. The loop can have any specific features allowing the loop to tighten and release from the tubular structure. Other designs, such as a quick release camera mount design, and the like can be utilized. 
     The mount container body  132  can be sealed via several means, as illustrated in  FIGS. 21 through 24 . A travel bowl assembly  200  comprises a bowl  202 , similar to the bowl  102  previously introduced. The bowl  202  includes a bowl body  204 , formed having a bowl base and a vertical wall projecting upwards from a perimeter of said base. A container mount receptacle  206  is disposed upon a lower surface of the bowl base for removably attaching the mount container body  132 . This configuration provides a first means for sealing the container portion of the mount container body  132 . A container lid assembly  230  provides an alternate means for sealing the mount container body  132 , versa vi the utilization of the bottom of the bowl body  204 . The container lid assembly  230  is formed including a container lid  232  and a lid coupling interface  234  formed along a coupling edge of the container lid assembly  230 . The container lid assembly  230  is stored when not in use by removably coupling the container lid assembly  230  to a lid storage coupling interface  236  disposed upon the lower surface of the bowl base. The removable coupling is accomplished via a mechanically coupling provided between the lid coupling interface  234  and the lid storage coupling interface  236 . The lid coupling interface  234  can be of any form factor providing a mechanical interface for mating to the mount securing threads  134  provided along a coupling edge of the mount container body  132 . When the container lid assembly  230  and mount container body  132  are removed from the bowl body  204 , the travel bowl assembly  200  remains level on the resting surface  150 , using the bottom of the container mount receptacle  206  and the lid coupling interface  234  as a supporting structure. 
     The bowl sectioning wall  114  can be of any shape such as being angled, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . Alternately the bowl sectioning wall  214  is presented as having a vertical configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . The sectioning wall  214  aids in securing a drink  118  ( FIG. 19 ) within the drink holder section  116  ( FIG. 20 ). The sectioning wall  214  can be either straight as shown herein, or angled as previously presented. The sectioning wall having a vertical configuration increases manufacturability. A production design would be determined by the product designer. 
     A plurality of containers  130 ,  240  can be included with the travel bowl assembly  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 25 . Container  240  comprises the same features as container  130 , including a mount container body  242  and a mount securing threads  244 , while having different heights (H). The containers  130 ,  240  are shaped providing the ability for the user to nest the plurality of containers  130 ,  240  as illustrated. The various heights (H) provides several advantages, including compatibility in different vehicle cup holders, different storage volumes, and the like. Nesting the plurality of containers increases the potential number of heights. 
     The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.