Patent Publication Number: US-6334696-B1

Title: Multiple-purpose container combined with lantern

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,085 issued to the same inventor of this application disclosed a portable food container including a side cover hingedly secured to a side wall of a box stored with foods therein. However, the box is not provided with any illuminating means in the box. So, it is not suitable to be used to collect candy, gifts or foods in Halloween since there in no light provided for illumination at night time. 
     The present inventor has invented a container combined with a lantern especially suitably used for collecting materials at night time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a container including an illuminator held in the container for illumination at night time, and a cover hingedly secured to the container and openable for collecting candies, foods, miniature commodities and documents in the container through an opening between the cover and the container, thereby providing a multiple-purpose container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of the present invention when exploded. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration for engaging the hook on the handle with the slit formed in the side lug. 
     FIG. 3 shows an opening of the cover from the container of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows the container of the present invention provided for collecting miniature commodities therein when opening and locking the cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIGS.  1 ˜ 3 , the present invention comprises: a container  1  printed, painted or formed with decorative features  3  thereon, a pair of side lugs  11  respectively formed on opposite side walls of the container  1  with each side lug  11  formed with an engaging slit  12  therein, a front opening  13  formed in an upper front portion of the container  1  to be filled with candies, foods, miniature commodities, or even documents (receipts, bills, and invoices) into the container through the front opening  13 , a rear folding line  14  formed on a rear portion of the container opposite to the front opening  13 ; a cover  10  hingedly secured to the container  1  for covering an upper portion of the container and including: a rear cover portion  15  hingedly secured to the container  1  by the rear folding line  14 , a handle  16  integrally connected to the rear cover portion  15 , and a front cover portion  19  integrally connected with the handle  16  and normally covering the front opening  13  and operatively openable for filling materials into the container  1  through the front opening  13 ; and a lantern device  2  connected with the container  1  for pendently securing the container  1  to the lantern device  2 . 
     The handle  16  is formed by folding and superimposing a pair of handle members which are continuously secured to the rear cover portion  15  when unfolded as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  along a central folding line  160  for carrying the container  1 , and is formed with a finger (or hand) slot  17  adapted for inserting the user&#39;s fingers or hand for carrying the container  1  if not carried by the lantern device  2 . 
     The handle  16  includes two hooks  161  disposed on opposite ends of the handle  16 , each hook  161  formed by folding and superimposing a pair of hook members (from FIG. 1 to FIG.  2 ), with each hook  161  engaged with an engaging slit  12  formed in each side lug  11  of the container  1  so as to firmly fix the handle  16  in between the two side lugs  11 . 
     The front cover portion  19  is hingedly secured with the handle  16  along a hinge line  191  and further includes a front edge portion  192  for covering the front opening  13  and also serving as a “handle” for opening the front cover portion  19  as shown in FIG. 3 for filling or dropping materials C into the container  1  through the front opening  13 , and a pair of locking tabs  193  formed on opposite ends of the front edge portion  192  and engageable with the two engaging slits  12  formed on the two side lugs  11  when retracting the cover  10  rearwardly as shown in FIG. 4 to reveal a big opening adjacent the front opening  13  for depositing coins, miniature commodities, documents including receipts, bills and invoices into the container  1 . 
     The lantern device  2  includes: an illuminator  21  which may be a bulb or a light emitting diode, a pair of electric wires  22  connected between the illuminator  21  and a power source of batteries  25  stored in a grip  23  having a switch  24  formed thereon for switching on or off the power to turn on or off the illuminator  21 . 
     The illuminator  21  is inserted through a central hole  18  formed in a central portion of the handle  16  and is downwardly pulled to allow the illuminator  21  to be fastened between the two handle members of the handle  16 , the front cover portion  19  and the rear cover portion  15  so that the illuminator  21  will also serve as a “knot” of a “rope” (the electric wires  22 ) to be locked in the cover  10  and in the container  1 , whereby upon holding of the grip  23  of the lantern device  2 , the electric wires  22  between the illuminator  21  and the grip  23  will serve as a “rope” for pendently fastening the container  1  under the grip  23  as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The container  1  may be printed or formed with decorative features  3  of the Halloween having a plurality of apertures  31  formed in the side walls of the container  1 , whereby upon turning on of the illuminator  21 , the light L will emit outwardly through the apertures  31  for illumination at night time. Naturally, the light may also partially transmit through the container which may be transparent or translucent if made of paper or plastic sheet materials. 
     The container  1  may be folded from a one-piece paper board or plastic sheet. The decorative features formed on the container will be brightly shown after being illuminated by the illuminator  21  of the lantern device  2 . 
     In Halloween eve, the kids may carry the present invention to request candies, foods or gifts C which may be filled into the container  1  by the donators. At night time, the child carries the container  1  which is illuminating by turning on the illuminator  21  for a safe walking (for personal and traffic safety). 
     When the lantern device  2  is not for use, it may be detached from the container  1 . The cover  10  is retracted to lock the tabs  193  of the front edge portion  192  of the front cover portion  19  on the side lugs  11  to form an opening for depositing coins or other materials C into the container  1  for storage or display purpose (FIG.  4 ). 
     The present invention provides a portable container  1  for filling foods, miniature commodities and documents therein; a lantern device  2  for carrying the container  1  and also for illumination; or simply a container for storage of miniature items. 
     So, the present invention provides a container for multiple purpose. 
     The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.