Abstract:
A multi compartment container where a lid assembly has a lower part thereof setting down within the compartment defining base yet itself providing multiple compartments each closable by a lid.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to containers.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a multi-compartment container wherein both the main compartment(s) and lidded compartment(s) can be comprised of singular or multiple compartments. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-compartment container which at least provides the public with a useful choice.  
         [0003]     The present invention more particularly, but not necessary, relates generally to food and/or beverage holders and more particularly to a lunch holder for holding lunch and snack items. It is an alternative to known live or other hinge lidded lunch boxes reliant on partitioning solely of its base (e.g. as disclosed in GB Patent Specification 2215186A, 2376456A, and 2379436A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,972) and an alternative to such arrangements as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,277,329 and 5,323,926.  
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     In one aspect the present invention consists in a multi-compartment container having 
        a base defining at least one compartment (whether unpartitioned or at least partly partitioned) and     a lid assembly hinging relative to the base so as to affect closure of said at least one compartment of the base by at least a partial set down thereinto,     wherein the lid assembly itself has, at least when considered in its closed condition, a lower member defining at least one compartment of the lid assembly, which compartment or compartments of the lid assembly is or are closable by a lid or lids carried by the lower member of the lid assembly.        
 
         [0008]     Preferably there is a separate lid for each compartment defined by the lower  4  member of the lid assembly.  
         [0009]     Preferably the lid or lids carried by the lower member of the lid assembly has or have at least one projection to act as a living hinge, such projection(s) being receivable by said lower member.  
         [0010]     Preferably each said projection is click fit retainable in a passageway of the lower member.  
         [0011]     Preferably each said projection has been moulded as a flap otherwise than in the direction to which flange regions of the lid have been moulded.  
         [0012]     Preferably the form of the hinging periphery of the or each lid is scalloped, bevelled or the like from above to allow clearance on its opening.  
         [0013]     Preferably the lid assembly of said container hinges from the base on a single hinge axis.  
         [0014]     Preferably the hinging or other articulation of the lid assembly relative to the base is a single hinge axis hinging of the lid assembly from the base as a result of interactions of moulded trunnions of the base or lower member with the lower member or base respectively.  
         [0015]     Preferably the lower member has a peripheral skirt that at least substantially continuously surrounds the rim of the base when the lidding assembly closes the base.  
         [0016]     Preferably the lid assembly of said container includes at least one hinge axis of its lid or lids which is orthogonal to that hinge axis of the lid assembly from the base.  
         [0017]     Preferably the lid assembly of said container has three lidded compartments.  
         [0018]     Preferably each lid of said each lidded compartment can latch closed (e.g. to the lower member).  
         [0019]     Preferably the lid assembly&#39;s lower member of said container can latch closed with respect to the base.  
         [0020]     Preferably said container is assembled at least predominantly from moulded plastic components.  
         [0021]     Preferably said container cares an inducement to use it as a lunchbox.  
         [0022]     Preferably said lid assembly of said container has at least two compartments of a different size.  
         [0023]     Preferably the or each lid assembly compartment can be opened without the lid assembly as a whole being moved to open the compartment or compartments of the base.  
         [0024]     In another embodiment of the present invention said lid assembly structure may comprise multiple lids each lid defining a closure structure for at least one compartment or in some cases, multiple partitioned compartments.  
         [0025]     In another aspect the present invention consists of a multi-compartment container having a moulding defining a main compartment, and at least one moulding defining a lidding assembly, hingedly related to the main compartment moulding, 
        wherein said main compartment forms an enclosed space when said lid assembly is in the closed position relative thereto,     and wherein said hinging assembly has at least one lid to give access to a lidding assembly compartment.        
 
         [0028]     In another aspect the present invention consists in a multi-compartment container having a base defining at least one compartment and a lid assembly hinging relative to the base so as to affect closure of said at least one compartment, said lid assembly itself defining multi compartments.  
         [0029]     Preferably each compartment of said lid assembly has its own lid which is hingedly connected in that assembly.  
         [0030]     In one (much less preferred) embodiment of the present invention said main compartment may be partitioned into at least two compartments, closure of the lid assembly resulting in encasement of both compartments simultaneously.  
         [0031]     Accordingly to a further aspect of the invention that is to provide a multi compartment container substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]     In a further aspect the present invention consists in the use of a container in accordance with the present invention as a lunch box.  
         [0033]     Preferably said container can be in combination with a drink bottle or container.  
         [0034]     As used herein the term “compartment” means where appropriate (i) the space bounded by walls and/or partitions and the base and/or (ii) the space enclosed by the lid or lid assembly that is otherwise some or all of a type (i) space.  
         [0035]     As used herein “and/or” means (as appropriate) “and” or “or”, or both.  
         [0036]     As used herein “(s)” following a noun means (as appropriate) the singular and/or plural form(s) of the noun.  
         [0037]     Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0038]     The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary multi-compartment container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed position,  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the multi-compartment container of  FIG. 1 , in which the lid assembly is illustrated in an open position thereby revealing the main compartment therein,  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the multi compartment container of  FIG. 1 , in which the lid assembly is illustrated in a closed position and where a lid assembly lid is shown in an open position revealing a lid assembly compartment therein,  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the multi compartment container of  FIG. 1 , in which the lid assembly is illustrated in a closed position and where a lid assembly lid is shown in an open position revealing a lid assembly compartment therein,  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the multi compartment container of  FIG. 1 , in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed position and wherein the lid assembly has two lids in the open position revealing two smaller compartments within the lid assembly,  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the multi compartment container of  FIG. 1 , in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed position and wherein the lid assembly has three lids in the open position revealing multiple compartments within the lid assembly, one larger and two smaller and all smaller than that of the main compartment,  
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is an under view of lid assembly showing passageways of the lower member each of which is to receive at least one projection of a lid of the lidding assembly,  
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a top view of one lid of the lid assembly showing two projections each to provide a live hinge with a common hinging axis when each is received by a passageway from above of the lower member,  
         [0047]      FIG. 9  is a reverse view of the lid of  FIG. 8 , and  
         [0048]      FIG. 10  shows the lid member of  FIGS. 8 and 9  positioned ready for insertion of its projections into the top of the passageways of the lower member thereby to provide a hinge axis which will allow that lid to close its compartment as has already the other two lids preferably similarly received by the lower member. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0049]     In the preferred form of the present invention all components are moulded from a suitable plastics material.  
         [0050]     Preferably such plastics material is in injection mouldable material having the requisite characteristics. By way of example only appropriate materials include polypropylene and nylon.  
         [0051]     For those features such as the lids that are to have projections that provide live hinges preferably a flexible polypropylene is utilised.  
         [0052]     In the preferred form of the present invention a lunch box will be described which has four compartments.  
         [0053]     Shown as container  1  is a multi compartment container suitable as a lunch box. This particular embodiment defines four compartments of which a first compartment  4  is revealed when the lid assembly  2  is hingedly uplifted from the base  3 .  
         [0054]     As can be seen the base  3  is preferably not partitioned and is a single compartment down into which a lower member  5  of the lidding assembly  2  sets to provide positive indexing whilst a peripheral flange  6  of the lower member substantially skirts the rim  7  of the base  3  and preferably sets down on the ledge  8  of the base  3 . Preferably for sealing purposes the lower member  5  wedges or seats on the inside of the base  3 .  
         [0055]     The hinging of the lid assembly  2  preferably relies upon trunnions of the base which are each received in an opening of a projection  10  of the lower member  5  of the lid assembly  2 .  
         [0056]     The lid assembly  2  carries three lids, namely,  11 ,  12  and  13 , each preferably provided with its own hinge axis provided by one or more projections  14  which are received in passageways  15  of the base into which they are click fit engaged (preferably reliant upon a shoulder of the passageway  15  or in the larger opening shown in  FIG. 7  and the lip  16  of each projection  14 ). Each projection  14  which defines a hinge axis at  17 .  
         [0057]     As can also be seen, preferably on the hinging periphery, preferably each lid, has a scallop, bevel or the like  18  to ensure that there is clearance when the lids are opened as shown in the drawings.  
         [0058]     As can be seen from the fully opened arrangement of  FIG. 6  three compartments each separately closable by its lid is defined in the lid assembly. These compartments provide compartments  19 ,  20  and  21  corresponding to lids  11 ,  12  and  13  respectively.  
         [0059]     Preferably each of the compartments is click fit enclosed by a latching mechanism as shown. For the lids appropriate pliable members  22  are concerned are provided which each has a projection adapted to engage into a recess such as  23 .  
         [0060]     A pliable clasp type member  24  similarly engages the top of the base (e.g. under shoulder  25 ) so as to hold the lower member  5  to the base when the arrangement is closed as shown in for example,  FIG. 1 .  
         [0061]     As can be seen also, preferably the projections  14  of each lid is moulded with the projections  14  other than in their “closed” relativity with the lid moulding so as to provide a springing effect at its live hinge on its hinge axis  17  in use which will assist in the opening of the lid such as lid  13  when the catch  22  is released from recess  23 .  
         [0062]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how such a multi compartment container can be used as a lunch box with fruit, food, snacks, and the like being distributed around the compartments and, if desired, a drink bottle or container located in one of the compartments such as one of those of the lid assembly.  
         [0063]     The present invention therefore also includes within its ambit in combination a multi compartment lunch box container in accordance with the present invention together with a suitable drink container.