Patent Publication Number: US-7913849-B2

Title: Lunch box with configurable handle, accessories, containers, and display inserts

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This present disclosure relates to a lunch box system. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     The lunch box, also referred to as a lunch pail or lunch kit, is a container for storing a meal. The lunch box is often used by schoolchildren to take packed lunches from home to school. The lunch box is typically a small case with a clasp and handle, often printed with a colorful image that can either be generic or based on children&#39;s television shows or films. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a lunch box system includes a hollow body, two lids, a handle, and interchangeable display inserts. The hollow body has an external rib around all sides of the hollow body. The external rib defines holes along its length. The handle detachably secures to any two of the holes. The lids cover the open ends of the hollow body and each has tabs on their exterior for detachably securing the display inserts. Other accessories may also be detachably secured to the holes of the external rib. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates assembled perspective view of a lunch box system; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the lunch box system; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the lunch box system with an example display insert; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective back view of an example accessory to the lunch box system; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective front view of the example accessory to the lunch box system; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates food containers and a temperature control pack for the lunch box system, all arranged in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a configurable lunch box system that can be personalized by the user.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a lunch box system  100  in some embodiment of the present disclosure. Lunch box system  100  includes a first lid  102 , a hollow body  104 , a second lid  106 , and a handle  108 . Lids  102  and  106  are of similar or identical construction. Lid  102 , hollow body  104 , and lid  106  may be made from materials commonly used in Tupperware. Lid  102 , hollow body  104 , and lid  106  may be thermally insulated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , hollow body  104  includes sidewalls  204 ,  206 ,  208 , and  210  that define two open ends of the hollow body. Each lid has a protrusion  202  (only visible for lid  102 ) that friction fits into one open end of hollow body  104  to form a closed container. An external rib  212  extends from the exterior surface of sidewalls  204  to  210 . External rib  212  defines holes  214  (only one is labeled for clarity) that are located all the way around hollow body  104 . 
     Handle  108  has snap hooks  216  that clip onto any two holes  214  of external rib  212 . This allows the user to personalize lunch box system  100  by changing the attachment points of handle  108  and the orientation of the lunch box system. Each snap hook  216  is a loop with a spring loaded gate that can be clipped onto a hole  214  in external rib  212 . 
     Lids  102  and  106  each includes a depression  218  (only visible for lid  102 ) for seating a display insert. Referring to  FIG. 3 , an interchangeable display insert  302  is seated in depression  218  ( FIG. 2 ). Each lid further includes tabs  306  and  308  along the bottom edge of a rim  304  around depression  218 , and tabs  310  and  312  along the top edge of the rim. Display insert  302  is slid into and then secured by tabs  306  and  308 , and then slid into and then secured by tabs  310  and  312 , or vice versa. Display insert  302  may be a laminated card bearing indicia such as photos, cartoon characters, superheroes, movie or television stars, logos, symbols, and other designs. The user can replace display insert  302  with another to personalize lunch box system  100 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an example accessory, such as a drink holder  500 , that may be detachably secured to any two of the holes  214  of external rib  212  in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Drink holder  500  includes a substantially cylindrical body  502  for receiving a drink, and hook-and-loop fasteners  504  on the cylindrical body. The loose ends of the hook-and-loop fasteners  504  may be looped through any of the holes  214  of external rib  212  and then fastened to the stationary ends of the fastener to detachably secure drink holder  500  to external rib  212 . This allows the user to not only add or remove a drink holder  500  from lunch box system  100  but also personalize the attachment point of the drink holder. Referring to  FIG. 5 , cylindrical body  502  has a vertical opening that may be opened or closed via a hook-and-loop fastener  602  in order to receive or remove a drink from the body. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates that lunch box system  100  houses food containers  220  and  222  and a temperature control pack  224  (e.g., an ice pack) in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Food containers  220  and  222  fit side by side in hollow body  104 , and temperature control pack  224  fits in the hollow body and sits above or below the food containers. 
     Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, instead of being open on both ends, hollow body  104  may have a closed bottom with an open top. Instead of being friction fit, lid  102  and  106  may be locked by latches along multiple edges, or the lid may be hinged to hollow body  104  and locked by one or more latches. Instead of being a rectangular with rounded corners, hollow body  104  may be square, round, or another shape. Instead of using snap hooks  216 , handle  108  may use other types of fasteners, such as a snap fastener with a head that snap fits into any of the holes  214  of external rib  212 . Instead of locating tabs  306  to  312  along the edges of rim  304 , the tabs may be located at the corners of the rim. Instead of or in addition to a drink holder  500 , other accessories such as a nametag holder, a drink container (e.g., a water bottle), a plush toy, a figurine, a trinket, and a piece of jewelry may be detachably secured to any of the holes  214  of external rib  212 . Instead of the hook-and-loop fasteners  504 , the accessories may use snap hooks and other types of fasteners. Numerous embodiments are encompassed by the following claims.