Patent Publication Number: US-8985363-B2

Title: Food/drink container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and is based on U.S. Patent Application No. 61/699,022, filed Sep. 10, 2012, entitled “Food/Drink Container,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a food container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a snacker with a repositionable handle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many developing young children do not eat large meals, but instead, frequently snack or eat small meals throughout the day. However, young children may not always have the coordination and motor skills to neatly eat and carry a snack. In order to overcome this problem, many snackers (snack containers) with flexible lids have been introduced. The lids can retain food within a container while also allowing a child to access the food when he or she desires a snack. This solution keeps the majority of a snack contained, as well as protected, while still allowing the child to hold the entire snack. 
     Further, many snackers have included handles to allow a child to easily carry or tote a snacker along wherever he or she goes. However, many of these handles serve as obstacles when a child is attempting to access snacks stored in the snacker. These handles may also prevent a snacker from sitting flat on a support surface when a child wants to put the snacker down on a support surface. Thus, a snacker, or any receptacle for food or drink, with a repositionable handle is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a food or drink container includes a container including an interior cavity, a lid, and a handle movably coupled to the container. The lid is removably securable to the container and includes at least one opening such that the interior cavity may be accessed via the at least one opening when the lid is secured to the container. The handle is rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration, at least a portion of the handle being disposed beneath the container and secured thereto in the first configuration and the handle being rotatably coupled to the container in the second configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a food container in accordance with the present invention in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the handle in a first configuration and the lid removed from the container. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom perspective view of another embodiment of a food container in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a front perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the handle removed). 
         FIGS. 6A-B  show front and bottom perspective views of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a first configuration. 
         FIGS. 6C-D  show front and side perspective views of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  in between a first configuration and a second configuration 
         FIG. 6E  shows a front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6E , taken along line  2 - 2  shown in  FIG. 2 , in the second configuration. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , at least one exemplary embodiment of a food/drink container in accordance with the present invention is shown. Generally, food/drink container  10  includes a receptacle  100 , a lid  200 , and a handle  300 . As will be described in detail below, the handle  300  is repositionable in at least two configurations, a first configuration  20  and a second configuration  30  (shown in  FIG. 6E ), such that at least a portion the handle  300  is disposed below the receptacle  100  in the first configuration  20  and at least a portion of the handle  300  is disposed above the receptacle  100  in the second configuration  30 . In some embodiments, at least a portion of the handle  300  is also rotatable with respect to receptacle  100  when disposed in the second configuration  30 . Regardless of the configuration that the container  10  is disposed in, handle  300  may provide a handle or handles for the container  10  to be carried by. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , container  10  includes a lid  200  that is selectively coupleable to a receptacle  100 . The lid  200  includes a top  202  and a skirt or wall  204  extending downwards around the periphery of the top  202 . The top  202  may be any desirable shape, but is shown as a substantially circular top  202 . Lid  200  may also include a feature or mechanism which allows lid  200  to be securely coupled to receptacle  100 . For example, in some embodiments, lid  200  may include threads on the internal surface of wall  204  which may be configured to thread onto a matching surface included on receptacle  100 . Furthermore, lid  200  includes an opening  210  which may partition, split, bisect, or otherwise separate the top  202  of lid  200  into multiple segments such that a child may access an interior compartment  118  (see  FIG. 2 ) of receptacle  100  through opening  210 . In some embodiments, the top  202  (including opening  210 ) and skirt  204  may be formed individually and coupled together, but in other embodiments, the lid  200  may be formed integrally. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , receptacle  100  may include a wall  110  that may be coupled to or formed with a bottom  140 , such that, together, wall  110  and bottom  140  may form interior region or compartment  118 . The wall  110  may be substantially circular and may have an exterior surface  116  and an interior surface  114  which meet at a top edge  112  such that wall  110  has some thickness. Thus, in some embodiments, at least a portion of handles  300  may be received within wall  110 . However, as seen in  FIG. 1 , receptacle  100  also includes bosses  120 , which may alternatively be referred to as receivers or handle engagement portions, coupled to or formed with exterior wall  110 , in order to facilitate the reception of handle  300  and the movement of handle  300  between the first configuration  20  and the second configuration  30 . Thus, in some embodiments, the handle  300  may be coupled to receptacle  100  via bosses  120 , such that the interior surface  114  of wall  110  does not include any openings or protrusions. Such a configuration eliminates any safety hazards from the interior compartment  118  and may also make the container  10  easier to clean. Additionally, and as mentioned above, receptacle  100  may include a feature or mechanism which facilitates coupling of the lid  200  to receptacle  100 . For example, edge  112  or a portion of wall  110  proximate to edge  112  may be threaded or configured to receive threads such that receptacle  100  and lid  200  may be threadably engaged. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the container  10  is shown from a top view. As mentioned above, lid  200  includes an opening  210 . In some exemplary embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , opening  210  includes a central opening or hub  212  connected to any desirable number of slits  214 , which may also be referred to as spokes, exterior openings, or some combination thereof. However, it is to be understood that the term “central” is only used to denote that slits  214  extend outwardly from central opening  212  and the central opening  212  may be disposed in any desirable location on lid  200 . In  FIG. 3 , five slits  214  extend outwardly from central opening  212  such that opening  210  resembles a star or asterisk, however, in other embodiments, any desirable number of slits  214  may be included which allow lid  200  to function in accordance with the scope of this invention (where a child can use her hand to deform the slits  214  of the soft lid  200  to reach the food stored in the receptacle  100 ). Similarly, each slit  214  may extend outwardly for any desirable length which allows lid  200  to function in accordance with the scope of this invention. Furthermore, in  FIG. 3 , central opening  212  is shaped substantially as a pentagon, but it is to be understood that central opening  212  may be any desirable shape or size which allows lid  200  to function in accordance with the scope of this invention. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the lid  200  may simply include slits  214  which extend across the lid  200 , such that the lid does not include a central opening. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , container  10  is shown from a bottom perspective view in between the first and second configurations. As shown in  FIG. 4 , bottom  140  includes a channel or elongated cavity  142  that extends across bottom  140 . Channel  142  is sized to receive handle  300  therein when the container  10  is in the first configuration  20 . Channel  142  may also include fingers or resilient members  144  to removably secure handle  300  within channel  142 . However, in other embodiments, the channel  142  may include any desirable feature configured to removably secure the handle  300  within channel  142 . 
     Also as shown in  FIG. 4 , handle  300  may include a grippable portion  320  and inserts  310  formed on both ends of the grippable portion  320 . As will be addressed in detail below, each insert  310  may be received within a boss  120  which allows the insert  310  limited range of movement such that handle  300  may move between the first configuration  20  and the second configuration  30 . Additionally, the grippable portion  320  may include multiple grips  322  that may be made from a soft polymer and overmolded onto or coupled to the grippable portion  320  which, in contrast, may be formed from a more rigid material, such as TPE or other plastics. However, in other embodiments, grips  322  may be formed integrally with grippable portion  320  and/or may simply be colored or patterned portions of grippable portion  320 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the receptacle  100  of container  10  is shown from a perspective view without the handle  300  and lid  200 , such that boss  120  may be clearly shown. As shown, each boss  120  includes an opening  122  that extends from a first end  124  to a second end  126  and a raised flange  128  that substantially surrounds the opening  122 . In some embodiments, the flange  128  may extend directly from wall  110 , but in this embodiment, the boss  120  also includes an interior portion  121  that is coupled to the wall  110  and the flange  128  extends from portion  121 . Regardless of where the flange extends from, the opening  122  may extend, at least to a certain extent, underneath a portion of the flange  128 , such that a piece or part of insert  310  may be secured between the wall  110  (either directly or via interior portion  121 ) and a portion of the flange  128 . The lid  200  closes off the top end of opening  122  to capture the handle  300  therein. When the lid  200  is removed, the handle  300  may be removed from opening  122  for cleaning. 
     Generally, the aforementioned features and structure allow the container  10  to be selectively positioned in either a first configuration  20  or a second configuration  30 . Accordingly, in  FIGS. 6A-E , the container is shown being moved from the first configuration  20  to the second configuration  30 . In particular, in  FIGS. 6A-B , the container  10  is shown in the first configuration  20 , in  FIGS. 6C-D , the container  10  is shown between the first configuration  20  and the second configuration  30 , and in  FIG. 6E , the container  10  is shown in the second configuration  30 . 
     Notably, as shown in  FIGS. 6A-E  and as will be described in more detail below, when the container is in either the first configuration  20  or the second configuration  30 , the inserts  310  of handle  300  may both be disposed adjacent to the first end  124  of the opening  122 . In contrast, when the handle  300  is moving between configurations  20  and  30 , the inserts  310  may move adjacent to the second end  126  of opening  122 , at least for a portion of this movement. As will be explained in more detail below, such movement provides the necessary range of motion to allow the handle to move between the desired first and second configurations  20  and  30 . If container  10  did not include features which allowed this movement, handle  300  would need to either be decoupled from receptacle  100  or be bent around bottom  140  in order to allow for movement between configurations  20  and  30 . Accordingly, the features of container  10  allow a stiff, robust, handle, which is easy for a child to carry and manipulate, to be repositioned between configurations  20  and  30 . 
     Now referring specifically to  FIGS. 6A-6B , when handle  300  is positioned in the first configuration  20 , a portion of handle  300  is disposed substantially within bottom  140  (via channel  142 ), such that bottom  140  may sit flat on a supporting surface even with handle  300  disposed therein. In the particular embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , the handle  300  is removably secured within channel  142  by a set of resilient fingers  144 . Furthermore, as seen in  FIG. 6A , when handle  300  is disposed in the first configuration  20 , handle  300  may be appear to be two separate side-mounted handles. However, in actuality, the grippable portion  320  may simply be presented on two sides of receptacle  100  while a central section of grippable portion  320  is secured within channel  142 . Consequently, the handles  300  may be fixed with respect to the receptacle  100  in the first configuration  20 . In this embodiment the handles are fixed laterally exterior of the receptacle  100 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 6C-D , in order to move the handle  300  to the second configuration  30 , the handle  300  must be removed from the channel  142 . In order to effectuate this removal, the inserts  310  can slide from the first end  124  of the openings  122  towards the second end  126 , such as to the position shown in  FIG. 6C . Then, when disposed proximate to or adjacent to the second end  126 , the handle  300  may be rotated, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, as desired, in order to clear the edges of bottom  140 . In other words, the handle  300  may rotate around the edges of bottom  140  without contacting the bottom  140  when the inserts  310  are disposed adjacent second end  126 . After the handle clears bottom  140 , it may be rotated to a position above container  10 , at which point the inserts  310  may move back to a position adjacent to the first end  124 , perhaps due to the upwards force exerted on the handle  300  while rotating it, or due to gravitational forces exerted on the receptacle  100 , allowing the container to move to its second configuration  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6E , the receptacle  100  of the food container  10  is shown in the second configuration  30 . When in the second configuration  30 , the entire grippable portion  320  is available to hold, as opposed to only the two side portions that are available when the container  10  is in the first configuration  20 . As mentioned above, when oriented in the second configuration, at least a portion of handle  300  may be rotatable with respect to receptacle  100 . More specifically, in some embodiments, when container  10  is in the second configuration  30 , no parts or portions of grippable portion  320  are locked or secured in place and, thus, the handle  300  may be free to move within bosses  120  and/or rotate about an axis substantially parallel with inserts  310  as desired. However, in other embodiments, each boss  120  may include a detent or a similar feature or mechanism to secure the handle  300  in a desirable rotational position when in its second configuration. In still other embodiments, the boss  120  may include a detent or a similar feature or mechanism to secure the up and down linear movement of the inserts  310  with respect to the receptacle  100  while still allowing rotational movement. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 6A-E , in order to move the container  10  back from the second configuration  30  to the first configuration  20 , the same steps are taken in reverse. More specifically, first, each insert  310  is moved far enough towards end  126  so that handle  300  can rotate around wall  110  and bottom  140  without contacting these parts. Once handle  300  is disposed beneath bottom  140 , the handle may be moved into channel  142  as each insert  310  moves back towards the first end  124  of opening  122 . 
     Now turning to  FIG. 7 , a cross-sectional view of the container  10  is shown along line  2 - 2  from  FIG. 2 . This view highlights the interplay between inserts  310  and bosses  120 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , insert  310  includes an enlarged portion  312  (similar to the head of a screw) that sits within boss  120  and extends laterally across opening  122  such that opposite sides of the enlarged portion  312  are each trapped between portions of flange  128  and the interior portion  121  of boss  120 . In this exemplary embodiment, insert  310  also includes a neck portion  314  extending both outwardly from the enlarged portion with respect to container  10  and between a collar  316 . Together, the enlarged portion  312 , neck  314 , and collar  316 , allow insert  310  to slide longitudinally in opening  122  between the first end  124  and the second end  126 , but prevent or greatly deter insert  310  from exiting or being removed from boss  120  when the lid  200  closes the top of the opening  122 . 
     As briefly mentioned above, in some embodiments, boss  120  may include a feature or mechanism to selectively secure handle  300 , by way of securing insert  310 , in a specific position. For example, in some embodiments, boss  120  may include resilient fingers or a detent so that insert  310  may be secured adjacent to first end  124 . However, the fingers may simply restrict one degree of movement, such as movement in the vertical axis (with movement in the horizontal axis already being restricted by boss  120 ) so that handle  300  may still rotate freely. In other words, the fingers, or other securing mechanism or feature, may simply fix the axis of rotation that handle  300  may rotate about without restricting rotational movement of handle  300 . 
     It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention. 
     Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.