Abstract:
A carrying case for heated food containers, particularly slow cookers, has a flexible bottom wall, side wall and lid so that it can be adjusted to accommodate food containers of various different dimensions. A clamp assembly is provided for securely holding a lid on the food container within the carrying case to thereby minimize the likelihood of accidentally spilling its contents. Means are provided for carrying other items on the lid of the carrying case. The case has a belt which can be tightened to adjust the case to different sizes of containers and straps forming a handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/570,619, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 15, 2000, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a carrying case for a container primarily intended for use in carrying food-containers, particularly slow cookers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various carrying cases for slow cookers, casserole dishes and other heated food containers have been suggested and used. However, the known cases typically are designed for carrying only slow cookers or other food containers within a comparatively small range of sizes. In addition, the known cases are capable of carrying a container and have no other utility. Slow cookers and other heated food containers are often used to cook foods which have substantial quantities of liquids. Extreme caution must be used when carrying such food containers to avoid the losses and messes caused by spilling the contents of the containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a carrying case for heated food containers, particularly slow cookers, which can be used for carrying food containers of various different sizes within a relatively large range of sizes. 
     A related object of this invention is to provide a carrying case for heated food containers, particularly slow cookers, which is adjustable to accommodate food containers of various different dimensions. 
     A more particular object of this invention is to provide an adjustable carrying case for heated food containers which has an attractive appearance regardless of the dimensions of the food container within a range of sizes intended to be carried by the carrying case. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case for heated food containers which can conveniently be used for additionally carrying other items, particularly supplies for use in preparing or presenting the heated food for eating. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case for a heated food container provided with a clamp for securely holding a lid on the food container to thereby minimize the likelihood of accidentally spilling the contents of the food container. 
     In accordance with this invention, a carrying case for a heated food container is provided which comprises a housing or box having a flexible bottom wall, side wall and lid, each formed from a pair of flexible sheet materials. Insulating layers, which can be in the form of liners or sheets, are located in the bottom and side walls and in the lid for keeping the food container warm and for insulating the outside of the carrying case from the heated food container. The insulating layers, which are not as flexible as the flexible sheet materials, are confined by stitching within restricted chambers in the bottom wall, the side wall and the lid. The remaining areas have only flexible sheets. A cinch belt surrounds the box and can be tightened to better confine a food container therein. The areas of the box having only flexible sheets readily flex and collapse when the belt is tightened so that the insulating layers do not have to be folded or collapsed. 
     In other aspects of this invention, the box is provided with carrying straps. The carrying straps and a pair of bottom straps are provided to help retain the shape of the box. A clamp assembly made from flexible clamp members is located inside the box for clamping a heated food container within the box. The lid is provided with elastic bands for carrying utensils useful with a heated food container. A pouch may be formed on top of the box lid. All parts of the box are assembled by stitching so that specialized equipment need not be required for manufacturing the carrying case. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a carrying case for a heated food container in accordance with this invention, with the container shown closed, as viewed generally from the front and above the carrying case. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of the carrying case of  FIG. 1  shown open to reveal interior features of the carrying case, as viewed generally from the same position as  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the carrying case of  FIG. 1  shown partly open and showing parts of a slow cooker housed within the carrying case and also showing utensils held to the underside of the lid of the carrying case. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the carrying case of  FIG. 1  as viewed generally from the below and the rear. 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view similar to  FIG. 3  but illustrating other interior features. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the carrying case of  FIG. 1  as viewed generally from above and the rear. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the side wall of the carrying case taken on line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 7  and also in succeeding  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the thicknesses of inner and outer sheets illustrated are greatly exaggerated. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of adjoining portions of the side wall and the bottom wall of the carrying case taken on line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a marginal portion of the lid of the carrying case as viewed along line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 10  is perspective view of a second embodiment of a carrying case in accordance with this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , this invention is shown embodied in a carrying case  20  for a slow cooker  22  ( FIG. 3 ) having a base  24  and a lid  26 . The slow cooker preferably, but not necessarily, is of a type having a lid clamp (not shown) to avoid spillage. 
     The carrying case  20  comprises a generally cylindrical housing or box  28  having a flexible bottom wall  30 , a flexible side wall  32  and a flexible lid  34 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom wall  30  and the lid  34  are circular and in use are generally parallel to one another and coextensive in horizontal planes. Side wall  32  has a first end portion  36  and a second end portion  38  that overlaps the first end portion  36  at the front center of the box  28 . A lower margin  40  of the side wall  32  is connected to the outer periphery of the bottom wall  30  and an upper margin  42  is connected to the lid  34  along the rear of the housing  28  by a hinging section  43  which comprises inner and outer strips of flexible sheet material  43 A and  43 B, respectively, which are connected to both the side wall  32  and the lid  34 . In addition, the side wall  32  and the lid  34  are releasably joined together by first slide fastener or zipper  46  and a second slide fastener or zipper  48 , the ends of which are covered by the hinge strips  43 A and  43 B. The first slide fastener  46  extends from the left side of the hinging section  43  (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to the first side wall end portion  36 , and the second slide fastener  48  extends from the right side of the hinging section  43  to the second side wall end portion  38 . 
     Cooperating hook and weave strips  50  and  52 , such as those sold under the trademark VELCRO, extend vertically along the inside surface of the second side wall end portion  38  and the outside surface of the first side wall end portion  36 . Utilizing the slide fasteners  44  and  46  and the cooperating hook and weave strips  50  and  52 , the box  28  can be completely closed to encase a heated food container, such as the slow cooker  22 . 
     A pair of carrying straps  54  and  56  made from woven nylon or other suitable material extend from the front to the rear of the box  28 . The ends of the carrying straps  54  and  56  are connected in mutually parallel relationship along the entire height of both the front and the back of the sidewall  32 . A flexible handle cinch or wrap  58  provided with hook and weave fastening members  60  ( FIG. 6 ) is attached to the center of the carrying strap  56  and can be wrapped around the carrying strap  54 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to releasably secure the two carrying straps  54  and  56  together on top of the box  28 . 
     A cinch or adjustment belt  62  encircles the side wall  32  and extends around the portions of the carrying straps  54  and  56  connected to the side wall  32 . The belt  62  includes a strap  64  made from a woven nylon fabric or the like which passes through loops  66  sewn to the outside of the side wall  32 , mutually-cooperating clasp members  65  and  67 , and an adjusting member  68 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a mutually parallel pair of bottom straps  70  made from woven nylon or other suitable material extend from front to rear along the outside of the bottom wall  30 . The ends of the bottom straps  70  are preferably aligned with and abut the lower ends of the carrying straps  54  and  56  to provide strength and a measure of rigidity to the box  28 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , inside the box  28  is provided a flexible clamp assembly  72  comprising a relatively wide ribbon-like clamp member  74  which is preferably made from a netting material, such as a nylon net, and a pair of flexible clamp straps  76  which can be made from woven nylon or the like material. Cooperating hook and weave fastener members  78  and  80 , respectively affixed to the clamp straps  76  and the clamp member  74 , can be used to releasably connect the clamp straps  76  to the clamp member  74 . The weave fastener members  80  extend along at least a substantial portion of the length of the clamp member  74  so that clamp assembly  72  can be tightened down on heated food containers having various different heights housed within the box  28 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 7 , the side wall  32  comprises a flexible inner sheet  84 , a flexible outer sheet  86  and two intermediate insulating layers  88  in the form of liners or sheets  88  and  90  trapped between the inner sheet  84  and the outer sheet  86 . Various materials could be used to form the inner and outer sheets  84  and  86 . For example, the inner sheet  84  could be made from a woven nylon material and the outer sheet from PVC. Insulating layers  88  and  90  may be made from a closed cell polyethylene sheet or other suitable insulating material and are flexible, but not as flexible as the inner and outer sheets  84  and  86 . The insulating sheets  88  and  90  are confined within chambers  92  and  94 , respectively, formed between the inner and outer sheets  84  and  88 . The chambers  92  and  94  are separated by a vertical, non-insulated, collapsible strip  96  that extends the entire height of the side wall  32  at the rear of the box  28 . The collapsible strip  96 , which comprises only sections of the inner and outer sheets  84  and  86 , is separated from the chambers  92  and  94  by spaced stitchings  98  and  100  ( FIGS. 4–7 ). Another such collapsible strip  102  is provided between the weave strip  52  at the first end portion  36  and a vertical stitching  104 . The provision of the collapsible strips  96  and  102  enables the belt  62  to be tightened to cinch down the outer diameter of the side wall  32  to better confine a heated container in the box  28  without significantly altering or distorting the insulated portions of the side wall  32 , and thereby enhancing the appearance of the box  28  when cinched. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  5  and  8 , bottom wall  30  is made from a flexible upper sheet  110 , a lower sheet  112 , and a circular insulating layer  114  in the form of a liner or sheet trapped between the upper and lower sheets  110  and  112  in a chamber  116  that is separated from the outer margin of the bottom wall  30  by a circular line of stitching  118 , best shown in  FIG. 4 , whereupon the bottom wall  30  has a marginal, peripherally extending, flexible, collapsible strip or rim  120  which is formed solely by parts of the upper and lower sheets  110  and  112  extending around the chamber  116 . The sheets  110  and  112  and the insulating layer  114  are preferably made from the same materials as the corresponding parts of the side wall  32 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , the side wall  32  is connected, i.e. sewn, to the bottom wall  30  by stitching  122  which connects the inner and outer sheets  84  and  86  of the side wall  32  to the upper and lower sheets  110  and  112  of the bottom wall  30 . The stitched ends of the sheets  84 ,  86 ,  110  and  112  are protected by a binding strip  124 , which may be made from a nylon trim material, sewn thereover to complete a seam  125  between the bottom wall  30  and the side wall  32 . The bottom straps  70  are stitched to the bottom wall  30  and into the seam  125 . Similarly, the lower ends of the carrying straps  54  and  56  are stitched to the side wall  32  and into the seam  125 . The clamp netting  74  and the clamp straps  76  are also sewn into the seam  125 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the box lid  34  is made in a fashion similar to, and from the same materials as, the bottom wall  30 . Thus, the box lid  34  comprises a flexible upper sheet  130 , a flexible lower sheet  132 , and a circular insulating layer  134  in the form of a liner or sheet trapped between the upper and lower sheets  130  and  132  in a chamber  136  that is separated from the outer margin of the lid  30  by a circular line of stitching  138 , whereupon the lid  30  has a marginal, flexible, collapsible strip or rim  140  extending peripherally around the chamber  136  which strip or rim  140  is formed solely by the lid&#39;s upper and lower sheets  130  and  132 . 
     The upper and lower sheets  130  and  132  of the box lid  34  are joined at a seam  141  by stitching  142 . In addition, a fabric strip portion  144  of the upper part of each of the zippers  46  and  48  is connected to the box lid  34  seam  141  by the stitching  142 . The stitched ends of the upper and lower lid sheets  130  and  132  and zipper fabric  144  are protected by a nylon or the like binding strip  144  sewn thereover. The side wall&#39;s inner and outer sheets  84  and  86  and the lower zipper fabric  146  can be sewn together at the top edge of the side wall  30  in the same manner and covered by a binding strip  148 . 
     As is apparent, the peripherally extending marginal collapsible strip  120  of the bottom wall  30  and the corresponding collapsible strip  140  of the lid  34 , serve to enable a cinching of the box  28  onto heated containers of different sizes therein without significant distortion of the circular insulating layers  114  and  134 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the utility of the carrying case  20  of this invention may be enhanced by the provisions of a pair of elastic bands  150  to the underside of the lid  34 . The bands  150  have separator stitchings  152  to enable the bands  150  to be used for storing serving utensils, such as ladles, knives and forks, underneath the lid  34 . 
     Another useful enhancement is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , which comprises a pouch  154  formed by a piece of sheet material  156  sewn along marginal portions thereof into the lid seam and having a free edge  158  overlying the top of the box lid  34 . Edge  158  is gathered by an elastomeric band (not shown) and releasably connected to the top of the box lid  34  by a hook and weave connector assembly. Pouch  154  is useful for carrying other items, such as tablecloths, dishes or utensils useful with a slow cooker. 
     Although box  28  is in the general shape of a circular right cylinder, other shapes, particularly oval shapes, are useful for carrying slow cookers or other heated food containers.  FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of a carrying case, generally designated  160 , which is oval in plan and would be useful for slow cookers having an ovate construction. Otherwise, the carrying case  160  is constructed the same as the carrying case  20  of  FIGS. 1 through 9 . 
     It will be observed that all parts of the slow cooker box  28  of this invention are sewn together so that the carrying case  20  may be readily manufactured without the use of specialized manufacturing equipment. 
     Although the presently preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of the invention various changes may be made within the scope of the following claims.