Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates generally to storage containers and more particularly to a food storage container which is provided with a combination lock. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Preventing the contents of a container from tampering or unauthorized use has been addressed in the prior art. This includes the safety of storage receptacles for medicines, hazardous chemicals and the like. The following U.S. patents disclose various types of security closures for containers: 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 446,657 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,073,468 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,007 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,325 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,262 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,914 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,976 
         [0010]    The closure mechanisms disclosed in most of the prior art are complex and ultimately difficult to operate. In addition, the mechanisms are difficult to assemble and have high manufacturing costs. 
         [0011]    The issue of protecting stored food from tampering has largely been unaddressed in the prior art. Retail markets have utilized various types of containers with closing lids to store perishable food items. However, most of these containers do not secure the container and do not prevent tampering. 
         [0012]    For example, the portable safety dish, U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,281, provides for a secure food container with a locking mechanism on the side of the dish and a corresponding tab on the opposite end of the lock. This concept does not secure the container in that the bottom dish can be manipulated in an inward fashion in order to open the container. This locking solution ultimately does not prevent unauthorized opening or tampering of the contents of the container. 
         [0013]    The present invention overcomes drawbacks of the prior art by providing for engaging lock bolts on the right and left sides of the container. The container of this invention is thoroughly secured by the locking lid thereby preventing a person without permission from tampering with the container and removing the contents. The combination lock system comprising multiple lock bolts would make it difficult for anyone to steal the contents of the container. 
         [0014]    This food storage container can hold various types of food items like meat, grains, pastries, salads and soup. The container can easily be locked by turning a rotatable dial and unlocked by inputting a code to retract the lock bolts from the sides of the container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In view of the problems associated with securing food items in a container, it is an object of the present invention to provide a food storage container comprising a bottom container, a microwave warming lid and a combination lock embedded in a locking lid. 
         [0016]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a food storage container with a combination lock being used to secure the contents of the container. 
         [0017]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a food storage container with at least two lock cases to lock the container and further protect the contents of the container from tampering. 
         [0018]    The bottom container of the present invention is capable of receiving and storing liquid and non-liquid food items. It features a top cavity with an inset ledge for holding a ventilation cover, a locking lid and a lock case on the left and right sides. The locking lid secures the perimeter of the bottom container with an embedded combination lock. The left side lock case and the right side lock case are sufficiently sized to engage the lock bolts of the combination lock. 
         [0019]    A ventilation cover for the bottom container is used to cover food items being heated or cooked in a microwave and to retain food moisture. It is sized to suspend and rest within the top cavity of the bottom container. The recessed knob on the top of the ventilation cover facilitiates an easy handling of the cover. A plurality of round steam vents assists in maintaining food moisture during the microwaving process. 
         [0020]    The locking lid is simple to mount, lock and unlock. It features a combination lock mechanism with a rotatable dial and a plurality of digits. The manufacturer can set the locking combination code. The combination lock secures the left side and the right side of the container. A plurality of mounting brackets hold the lock bolts in place on the bottom portion of the locking lid. The correct combination code is entered in the rotatable dial and with a clockwise turn, the lock bolts retract from the lock cases. Once the locking lid is removed, the container is ready for use. When the lock bolt is in the retracted position, the locking lid can be moved up and down within the inset ledge of the bottom container. 
         [0021]    As used herein, the term container refers to a container, plate or dish that can hold pastries, grains, vegetables and other types of food items. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0022]    The foregoing features and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the invention showing the locking lid and the bottom container. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the locking lid being removed from the bottom container. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the locking lid and the ventilation cover being removed from the bottom container. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the locking lid, the ventilation cover being removed from the bottom container and the left side locking bolt being in the lock position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the food storage container. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a left side perspective view of the food storage container showing the bottom container, the ventilation cover, the left side lock case and the rotatable dial. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a right side perspective view of the food storage container showing the bottom container, the ventilation cover, the right side lock case and the rotatable dial. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the locking lid and the underlying cover being attached to the bottom portion of the locking lid. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the locking lid and the underlying cover being detached from the bottom portion of the locking lid. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the combination lock, the bottom of the locking lid and the locking bolt being in the retracted position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the combination lock being attached to the back plate and the left side lock bolt and right side lock bolt being in the locked position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the combination lock with the left lever fence aligning with the left drive cam gate and the right lever fence aligning with the right drive cam gate. 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the combination lock showing the left lever nose aligning with the left drive cam and the right lever nose aligning with the right drive cam gate in order to unlock the food storage container. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the combination lock showing the left lever nose aligning with the left side drive cam and the right lever nose aligning with the right side drive cam gate in order to unlock the food storage container. 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the combination lock showing the left side drive cam being engaged by the left lever nose and the right side drive came being engaged by the right lever nose in order to retract the left side lock bolt and right side lock bolt and unlock the food storage container. 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the bottom of the locking lid showing the back plate being connected to the bottom of said rotatable dial, the small mounting brackets and large mounting brackets being connected to the bottom portion of said locking lid and the various components of the combination lock. 
           [0039]      FIG. 17  is an exploded side view of the locking lid and the various components of the combination lock comprising the back plate, rotatable dial, wheel pack, drive cam, lever and lock bolts. 
           [0040]      FIG. 18  is an expanded bottom view of the various parts of the locking lid including the small mounting brackets and large mounting brackets that can be used to support the left side locking bolts and right side locking bolts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    A food storage container  10  with an embedded combination lock  20  can be used to prevent tampering of food and other items stored within. The safety of stored food items can be a concern when such items are left unattended at work, school or other public places. 
         [0042]    This invention relates to storage containers and more particularly to a food storage container  10  which is provided with a combination lock  20 . 
         [0043]    The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A bottom container  12  having a top opening for receiving food items is shown being connected to the locking lid  18  which is secured to the bottom container  12  by a combination lock  20 . The bottom container  12  has a top cavity  14  with an inset ledge  16  being adapted to house a ventilation cover  36 . The locking lid  18  is capable of resting on the ventilation cover  36  and the left side lock bolt  26  and right side lock bolt  28  of the combination lock  20  engaging a left side lock case  22  and a right side lock case  24 . 
         [0044]    A ventilation cover  36  for the bottom container  12  is shown in the top cavity  14  of the bottom container  12 . The ventilation cover  36  can be used to cover food items being heated or cooked in a microwave and to retain food moisture. The ventilation cover  36  further comprises at least one recessed knob  38  and a plurality of steam vents  42  on the top portion of the ventilation cover  36 . The recessed knob  38  is connected to the ventilation cover  36 . 
         [0045]    The locking lid  18  houses the combination lock  20  in a lower lid portion  48 . The lower lower lid portion  48  can have small mounting brackets  122  and large mounting brackets  124  fixed to the top surface of the lower lid portion  48  and the side surface  47 . The small mounting brackets  122  and large mounting brackets  124  can be used for retaining the left side lock bolt  26  and right side lock bolt  28  against the bottom surface of the locking lid  18 . The upper lid portion  46  houses a rotatable dial  52  which is connected to the lip  54  of the upper lid  46  portion. The combination lock  20  is also secured on the back plate  56  of the lower lid portion  48 . An underlying cover  58  is connected to the bottom portion of the locking lid  18  by connectors  126 . 
         [0046]    The combination lock  20  being used to secure the perimeter of the bottom container  12  in the inset ledge  16  of the top cavity  14  overcomes the prior art. An engaging left side lock bolt  26  and a right side lock bolt  28  is securely housed in the inset ledge  16 . The left side lock bolt  26  and the right side lock bolt  28  being operatively directed by a left lever  102  and a right lever  103 . The left lever  102  and right lever  103  further directing a left lever fence  104  and right lever fence  105  to engage the left side gate  88 , the right side gate  86 , the left drive cam gate  92  and the right drive cam gate  94 . The food storage container  10  of this invention is therefore thoroughly secured by the locking lid  18  and thereby prevent unauthorized access. The combination lock  20  comprising a left side lock bolt  26  and a right side lock bolt  28  would make it difficult for anyone to steal the contents of the food storage container  10 . 
         [0047]    The bottom portion of the rotatable dial  52  is connected to the back plate  56 . The rotatable dial  52  unlocks the combination lock  20  by rotating the rotatable dial  52  to digits  62  on the top of the rotatable dial  52 . The notches  64  on the the wheel set  30  are aligned with the digits  62  on the rotatable dial  52 . The middle wheel  82  and the bottom wheel  84  having a notch  64  on the top portion, the top wheel  78  and the middle wheel  82  having a notch  64  on the bottom portion. The bottom wheel  84  having a notch  64  on the bottom which engages the notch  64  on the top surface of the drive cam  68 . The rotatable dial  52  is connected to the wheel set  30  and the drive cam  68  by a dial spindle  72  located at the central axis of the rotatable dial  52 . The wheel set  30  and drive cam  68  are stacked beneath the back plate  56 . The wheel set  30  comprising a top wheel  78 , a middle wheel  82  and a bottom wheel  84 . The top wheel  78 , the middle wheel  82  and the bottom wheel  84  each having a left side gate  88  and a right side gate  86  for catching a left lever fence  104  and right lever fence  105 . The drive cam  68  has a left drive cam gate  92  and a right drive cam gate  94 . 
         [0048]    The food storage container  10  is locked when a left side lock bolt  26  and a right side lock bolt  28  are engaged with said left side lock case  22  and said right side lock case  24  to lock said food storage container  10  when the correct digits  62  are dialed. Each lock bolt is connected to a lever with an upward extending lever fence. The left lever fence  104  and the right lever fence  105  fits into the left drive cam gate  92  and right drive cam gate  94 . This causes the left side lock bolt  26  and right side lock  28  to retract and open the food storage container  10 . A lever spring  108  applies directional force and shifts the lever in the direction of the drive cam  68 . A lever screw  112  which attaches the lever to the lock bolt acts as a pivot for the the left side lock bolt  26 , right side lock bolt  28 , left lever  102  and right lever  103 . 
         [0049]    In use, the rotatable dial  52  is first turned in a clockwise direction in order to reset the combination lock  20 . The rotatable dial  52  is the turned in a clockwise direction to the first pre-determined digit that is set by the manufacturer, the notch  64  on the bottom surface of the top wheel  78  engages the notch  64  on the middle wheel  82 . The rotatable dial  52  is turned in a counter clockwise direction to the second pre-determined digit and the notch  64  on the top of the middle wheel  82  engages the notch  64  on the top of the bottom wheel  84 , this allows the wheel set  30  to spin in unison. The rotatable dial  52  is turned in a clockwise direction to the third pre-determined digit and the drive cam  68  engages the cylindrical notch on the third wheel. The rotatable dial  52  is turned once more in the counterclockwise direction and the left side lock bolt  26  and right side lock bolt  28  retracts as the left side gates  88  align with the left lever  102  and the right side gates  86  gates align with the right lever  103 . The locking lid  18  is released as the left lever nose  106  and right lever nose  107  of the left lever  102  and the right lever  103  align with the left drive cam gate  92  and right drive cam gate  94 . The left side lock bolt  26  an the right side lock bolt  28  retract and cause the locking lid  18  of the food storage container to be released. The left side lock case  22  and said right side lock case  24  release the lock bolts and the food storage container  10  can be opened and closed to store food items. 
         [0050]    The food storage container  10  can have indicators  118  on the top rim of the bottom container  12  and the upper lid  46  of the locking lid  18 . The indicators  118  would allow the small mounting brackets  122  and large mounting brackets  124  to properly align with the left side lock case  22 , right side lock case  24  and rim lock cases  25 .

Technology Category: 1