Patent Publication Number: US-7708143-B2

Title: Food and beverage container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to containers and more particularly to container means designed for use in conjunction with the carrying of foods and/or beverages. 
   BACKGROUND 
   There are a number of know food and beverage containers in the art. For example, food containers such as “lunch boxes” are available are commonly available in a box or bag shape. Some are formed of insulating materials for helping to keep the contents hot or cold, but such materials are expensive and not useful for single-use applications. Styrofoam and cardboard containers are commonly used for food storage, but do not provide good storage for both a bottled drink and a food item. Also, such prior food containers do not provide for a quick and easy way to check the contents without opening the container. In situations where large numbers of food containers are being packed, it can be very time consumer to open each container for inspection to determine whether the container includes all of the required contents. 
   SUMMARY 
   Disclosed herein is a container suitable for storage of food and drink items, or the like. The disclosed container allows for a quick visual check of whether the container has been properly and completely packed. This provides a benefit for business or individuals that need to prepare large numbers of meals packaged in disposable food containers and would like a way to quickly verify the contents of numerous food containers. Prior disposable containers must be opened in order to check for proper contents. The disclosed container, on the other hand, allows for a portion of a stored item, for example the top of a drink bottle, to partially extend from the container so that its presence can be quickly and easily verified. This also allows a consumer the ability to easily see the type of drink packed in the container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numbers indicate similar parts, and in which: 
       FIGS. 1-3  show perspective views of a container suitable for storage of food and drink items; 
       FIG. 4  shows a blank that can be used to make the container shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  shows a partially broken away view of the container shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-3  show perspective views of a container  100  suitable for storage of food and drink items, or the like.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show top perspective views of the container  100 , where the container  100  is shown closed in  FIG. 1  and open in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows a bottom perspective view of the closed container  100 . The container  100  provides a compact, inexpensive article for storing food and drink items. For example, in some embodiments, most of the container  100  (e.g., excluding such things as the handle  102  and the fastener  104 ) can be formed from a blank that is cut from a sheet of corrugated fiberboard, plastic, or other material. 
   An embodiment of the container  100  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . The container  100  includes a base  106 , preferably formed of a rigid or substantially rigid material. During normal use of the container  100 , e.g., when the container  100  is carried by the handle  102 , the base  106  will be the bottom of the container  100  and serve as the primary support for items stored in the container  100 . For this reason, in some embodiments the base  106  can include reinforcement for added strength. For example, in embodiments where the container  100  is formed from a sheet of corrugated fiberboard having a substantially uniform thickness, the base  106  can include a single layer of the corrugated fiberboard, or for added strength the base  106  can include multiple layers of the corrugated fiberboard. 
   Next, with reference to the container being positioned as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  so that the base  106  is on the bottom, a peripheral wall  108  extends upward from around a periphery of the base  106 . The peripheral wall  108  is preferably formed of a rigid or substantially rigid material. The peripheral wall  108  comprises a plurality of wall sections  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c , and  108   d . The peripheral wall  108 , in combination with the base  106 , defines the sides and bottom of a chamber  110  in which items can be stored. In some embodiments, the peripheral wall  108  is formed of corrugated fiberboard that is folded along the intersections between adjacent wall sections  108   a - 108   d , and also along the intersection between the peripheral wall  108  and the base  106 . In some embodiments, the peripheral wall  108  can be provided with decorative or promotional indicia, including advertisements, providing for a source of revenue for business that may be providing containers  100  to consumers. 
   Also, in some embodiments, the peripheral wall  108  can include one or more flanges  108   e . In the illustrated embodiment, the wall sections  108   a - 108   d  are formed from a continuous sheet of material that is folded between wall sections  108   a  and  108   b , between wall sections  108   b  and  108   c , and between wall sections  108   c  and  108   d . At the intersection between wall sections  108   a  and  108   d , the flange  108   e  is used to join the two wall sections  108   a  and  108   d . The flange  108   e  is a continuation of the material used to form the wall section  108   a , where a fold has been made along the intersection between the wall section  108   a  and the flange  108   e . The flange  108   e  is fixed to the wall section  108   d , for example using adhesive and/or mechanical fasteners, such as a staples or the like. In alternative embodiments, the wall sections  108   a  and  108   d  can be formed of any number of separate sheets of material, and joined together using any attachment method. 
   The container also includes a lid  112  that can be moved by a consumer between the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the open position illustrated in  FIG. 2  in the general directions indicated by the arrow A shown in  FIG. 2 . The lid  112  is preferably formed of a rigid or substantially rigid material. The lid  112  comprises a lid panel  114 , a plurality of lid edges  116   a - 116   d , and a plurality of lid flaps  118   a - 118   c . The lid flap  118   a  is not shown in order to allow for a clear view of other elements of the lid  112 ; however, the outline of the lid flap  118   a  is shown with broken lines. The lid flap  118   a  is hingedly connected to the lid panel  114  along the lid edge  116   a , the lid flap  118   b  is hingedly connected to the lid panel  114  along the lid edge  116   b , and the lid flap  118   c  is hingedly connected, opposite the flap  118   a , to the lid panel  114  along the lid edge  116   c . The lid panel  114  is hingedly connected, opposite the lid flap  118   b , to the wall section  108   d  along the lid edge  116   d . In some embodiments, the lid  112 , including lid flaps  118   a - 118   c , is formed of corrugated fiberboard, which is folded along lid edge  116   a  to form the lid flap  118   a , along lid edge  116   b  to form the lid flap  118   b , and along lid edge  116   c  to form the lid flap  118   c . In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the lid  112  and at least the wall section  108   d  are formed from a continuous sheet of material, which is folded to form the lid edge  116   d  along the intersection between the lid panel  114  and the wall section  108   d.    
   The lid flaps  118   a  and  118   c  can provide added strength to help the lid panel  114  resist buckling when the container  100  is carried by the handle  102 . In order for the lid flaps  118   a  and  118   c  to be most effective, the lid flaps  118   a  and  118   c  should be folded approximately 90 degrees from the plane of the lid panel  114  as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the lid is closed ( FIG. 1 ), the lid flap  118   a  is positioned on the inner side of the wall section  108   a , and the lid flap  118   c  is positioned on the inner side of the wall section  108   c . Thus, the width of the lid panel  114  (distance between lid edge  116   a  and lid edge  116   c ) is preferably less than the width of the chamber  110  as measured between the inner sides of the wall sections  108   a  and  108   c.    
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lid flap  118   b  extends over the outside of the wall section  108   b  when the container  100  is closed. A fastener  104  is operable by the consumer to selectively fasten the lid flap  118   b  to the wall section  108   b . There are a number of different types of conventional fastening devices that can be used as the fastener  104 , for example, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, buttons, or snaps. In a preferred embodiment, adhesive-backed hook and loop fasteners are used, where one of the hook and loop parts is fixed to the lid flap  118   b , and the other mating hook and loop part is fixed to the outside of the wall section  108   b . The fastener  104  is preferably chosen so as to not only provide a way of selectively fastening the lid flap  118   b  to the wall section  108   b , but to also prevent the lid flap  118   b  from sliding along the wall section  108   b  while the fastener  104  is fastened. Otherwise, the lid  112  would open when the container  100  is supported by the handle  102 . 
   The lid panel  114  includes first lid-panel region  120   a , second lid-panel region  120   b , and third lid-panel region  120   c . The first lid-panel region  120   a  is bound by lid edges  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c , and phantom line B. The second lid-panel region  120   b  is bound by lid edge  166   a , phantom line B, lid edge  116   c , and phantom line C. The third lid-panel region  120   c  is bound by lid edge  116   a , phantom line C, lid edge  116   c , and lid edge  116   d . The first lid-panel region includes a first lid aperture  122  that extends through the lid panel  114 . The second lid-panel region  120   b  includes a second lid aperture  124  that extends through the lid panel  114  and a third lid aperture  126  that extends through the lid panel  114 . 
   The handle  102  as shown has an optional grip region  128  that comprises a series of ridges. First and second handle-end regions  130   a  and  130   b  are provided on opposing ends of the handle  102  (i.e., opposite sides of the grip region  128 ). The first handle-end region  130   a  extends through the second lid aperture  124 , and the second handle-end region  130   b  extends through the third lid aperture  130   b . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the first and second handle-end regions  130  includes a narrow neck and a wider head such that the respective neck extends through the respective aperture, and the respective head is disposed on a side of the respective aperture opposite that of the grip region (i.e., on the inner side of the lid panel  114 . 
   Note that in some embodiments, the base  106 , peripheral wall  108 , and lid  112  are formed from a single continuous sheet of fiberboard. For example, a blank BL 1  suitable for making the container  100  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , the solid lines represent cutting lines and the broken lines represent folding lines. Blank BL 1  is preferably die cut from a respective unitary sheet of material. Examples of rigid or substantially rigid materials that can be used for the various elements of the container  100  include fiberboard, including corrugated fiberboard, plastic, Styrofoam, wood, or metal. In some embodiments, for example where wood or metal is used, various joints can include a hinge or the like in place of a fold, for example along lid edge  116   b  or along lid edge  116   d.    
   Turning next to  FIG. 5 , which shows a partially broken away view of the container  100 . The broken away portions of the container  100  provide a view of a drink bottle  200  and a food item  202 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the a first lid aperture  122  provides an opening through which the neck of a typical drink bottle  200  can extend. This is advantageous because it allows for quick inspection of the contents of the container  100  so it can easily be determined whether a drink bottle  200  has been properly packed in the container  200 . Also, for a consumer presented with a large number of containers  100  that may have a variety of different types of drinks, this provides a quick and easy way to see the type of drink in each container  100  without having to open several containers. 
   While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosed herein have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and are not limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.