Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
. ; ,
_1-
, ''~:
~ y'~;
d
"
"s
, ;,';,.
~ t
. . ;
~,~'r
r';
MULTI COIYIPART1VIENT Ct7111TA'~NEIt d"''~>~'
.,' '
,A'.;
;
~
i
~~
,
;,
;
i'
;
,,
S~S
~~Y~
v
~''
'TECHNICAL FIELD ;
,
y ~
.
The present invention relates to containers. .,t'"
' ' .
~ ~~'
/'''
'~,
'~
'
'
sk
~. ;S'
/
' ~
S;a\~
' BACKtxItOU~ID ART '
;
'; , ;
,
.;r
' ~ s,',;
The present invention relates to a multi-compartment container".f,,
wherein' ~ ' ~,
~ . .
~ ~:
s:.,
H
7
.
both the t'nain C~Omparttllel~t~5) and kidded COIt7pa'CtTnent(s~
Cari ~e COIriprlSed Of ..4.
'
. i m,~
singular or multiple compartxnents. It is an object of the
present invention to ''
'
Y;
~z
provide a multi-compartment container.rrrhich at least provides
the public 'with a
useful choice. ~ ' a';;
>;~;
~rY
,
1; ~~
L'
'
The present invention more particularly, but snot necessary,'
relates generally -
~
,
;'
, ;,;
to food andlar beverage holders and more particularly to
a lunch holder for holding
lunch and snack items, It is an alternative to knowza, live ':
or other hinge lidded lunch
~t~Sn
. , ,
' 15 bores reliant on partitioning solely of its base (e.g. as
disclosed iz~ G1B Patezrt :
,
237545bA . ,. '
and 2379~3bA an v,
l LTS Fatent Sp27972) and
Specification 2215186A
a r st~
,
,
an altez~,ative to such arrangements as disclosed in Us Patents
5277329 and ,
5323926. . '~'' '
:~~~";
.r
~
'
'
~~~
1
r f y
'
'~
i
~'
r :
'
'~
;
~
. ,
DISCLUSUItE OF INVENTION s
~
,i
;
, ,
,' Iri
. , .t
H
,
'
r
~.
~
rz~ one aspect the present invention cansists in a mufti-compartments
' "
, ,
~
>
'
container having '''; "
a base defining at least one compartment whether unpartitioned, ,.;;~
or at least :4'
' ;
'
~
, ~
tl " ,
i a~a
i >
~
par ;';y
y part v .
t :
oned) and
5 '
. e
~~:~.'Y~i
'
toy:
a lid assembly hinging relative to the base so as to affect "
closztre of said at ~ ~ .
~ ~"'~
'' ~'
y
. . ~~A~
;\
. least one Cornpartmer~t of the base 6y at least a partial ~'
set down thereinto M~y
, ,
wherein the lid assembly itself has . '
at ,least when considered in its closed ~ ~'~x.
, ,
'
=
~ ~
condition a lower member defining at least one compartment i
of the lid assembly, v ~ ~~
;''r
E
which compartment or compartments of the lid assembly is
or are closable by a lid
r ~';.
or lids carried by the lower zxrember of the lid assembly. ' , ~xs;
' . ~~,.
~;,r
' Vii.;~~M
'
'
'~
.k~l
'
'
l~
~
;
~
, y
. 7h
, r~
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
a _ 2 _ . ',:
<.;;,;;;~a~
~:
Y
j
.
' ~
...
f
~
preferabl there is a se to lid for each coin artment defined b the lower~' ~
Y P~ P Y ~
~'~r'~'~
~~
''
r : ;~,~,.
.
.iI
i. HI
meraber of the lid assembly. Y
~
', ~
~;_''
~ v
~~~~
'.; ;.
a~
Preferably the lid ar lids carried by the lower na.ember of the lid
assembly ,;.w
'
has or have at least one projection to act as a living hinge, such
projeCtion(s), , ~;Y"s
being
' ' v ~
~~ I
' S (A
' S receivable by said lower member,
'
'
'
~~ ;I;.
,.
,
..~
' Preferably each said projection is click ft retainable in a passage~uvay' ,
of the
lower member.
' Preferably each said projection has been moulded as a hop otherwise
than
in the direction to which fl
ange regions of the lid have been u~oulded. ' '
~'.':
. a
.
.
.:.i;
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. ' ' '
'
'
. Sly.
'
bl , '
' P ' .i
f
''~y..n~~
h " ~ "~'
f ~ '
bl 1v
i '
d
f
era ~
re ''
y t l
assem ~
y o
rom the
e li
d container hinges
sa
base on a
.,v
r
~
' single hinge axis. w
i
7 .Y,7.h:
' . ~
; .
~
~n
Preferably the hinging or other articulation of the lid assembly relative
to ., ,
~
. v r
v-~ ;'
,
,
the base is a single hinge axis hinging of the lid assembly from '
tb~e base as a insult .
,
of interactions of moulded trs~nnions of the base or lower member with ; ' .
the lower
. " .:
member or base respectively. >,,"
. .
,
, ."
' . r.~x
Preferably the lower member has a peripheral skirt that at least substantially
continuously surrounds the rim of the base when the lidding assembly ,
Closes th e ~ i~~
k
,
. S~
,~J:~
base.
. "
"
Preferably the lid assembly of said container ir~Cludes at least one ,
hinge axis
of its lid or lids which is orthogonal to that hinge axis of the lid
assembly from the '
~ ' '
''~'~I'~S
v e''~:;
base
.
' Preferably the lid assembly of said container has three lidded '
yr'..'
.;,
~;;,
. 25 COZnpartments.
f
~
' Preferably each lid of said each lidded cornpartr~aent can latch
closed~~'r;~5
(e ..~
g ~ ~ I
to v''~
v ~y'>:
. ,
. ' . '
the lower member). _ ~Y~x
'
~
Preferably the lid assembly's lower member of said container can latch .
' ' ~'
...
closed with respect to the basE .
'
.
' ~~ , '
Preferably said container is assembled at least predominantly from moulded,
. ' .
,N.w
'
. .
t plastic components .Py~
.'
~~,
~
. t-
~~
, ,
v
' ' ,,v
~ ~
i
,.
:
" ~.
r;
..... _ _. ~...... __. ~~. .~" ~w. ..~ ~... ..~,.,.-~:~ ~.~~~~. -:,.~-
..w..___._.
~_... ... __._~. _
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
.h W
' '~~
i'
~'.h~N44
.
r
,
.
' 3
l, t..
~ ~r
'S u'~
y~
~ s
~..'~
s
.
1 ?~
"
~
e''''~'t
('
Preferably said eontai,ner carries an inducement to use it as a lunchbo~.,.
.
.
t
'
,
V5
Preferably said lid assembly of said container has at least two
compartments'::,~'.~'~
, ~
' ~
.~:"
~';
of a different size. , .
' 4'
~
. ,
y
r~;
~i
a Preferably the or each Lid assembl .
comptutxnent can be o
ened without the
y ,
p .. '
lid assembly as a whole being moved to open the compartment or ;~'~i
compartments of a,
the base
.
, 'e
:,
;,
In anotla,er embodiment of the present invention said lid assembly ' '
structure v'
' may comprise multiple lids each lid defining a closuz~e structure
for at least one
. ";;;,
,
compartment or in some cases, multiple partitioned compartments. '
~
'
.
.. .
. ,
rn another aspect the present invention consists of a m,~tlti-compartment,
.
,
;.,f;9
.
container having a moulding defining a main compartment, and at least, '
one ~ ~
~"
. ,';;;~
' moulding defining a lidding assembly, hingedly related to the main' -
compartment "~.r;.~
'~!"~
'
moulding, '"
~: ,
~'
a~r:;.
v
., n
. .
y~~yy
. '
wherein said main compartment forms an enclosed space when std lid
~,K~f,~~l~',.
. '
'
'
:'
' '45
r
7117
y
' 15 assembly is iw the closed position relative thereto
,
; "
.',h
and wherein said hingug assembly has at Least one lid to ~~,
ive access to a
g .
. "y t"..
lidding assembly compartment. ; .:
;
,, f
;~
v l,
' In another aspect the present invention COnSiStS in a mufti-
compartmentIl~~~~Y
' container havin a v ,
g base defining at least one compartment and a lid assembly ~ '';~
d'
,
;
;~
,' ~."r
' :
,
,
, '
Y ,
f,'i
i
20 hinging relative to the base so as to affect closure of said at r
least cane compartment
,
' said lid assembly itself defining mufti cozzapartments.
:,,,
;
Preferably each compartment of said lid asse ~w
bl
h
it
lid
h
m
y n '
'y'I
as ~ 1~ '
s own ' ~~
w '''
ich is f~.
, ;
hingedly
connected i~a that assembly
. ,
., In one (much less preferred) embodiment of the present invention ' '
said main ';:~'f':
25 coin artm nt rna be . ,
p a y partitioned into at least two compartments ...
closuxe of the Lid
'
, ; ,.
.;"
assembly resulting in encasement of both, cvrnpartments simultaneously., .
rci.
Accordingly to a further aspect of the invention that is to provide ~ ',
a mufti w i''"
compartment corntainer su'hstantially as herein described and with ~ '
referezvce to the 1 '
;"~
accompanying drawings.
i ., i.;~s~
t74t
< 30 In a further aspect the present invention consists in the use Y
of a containe '~
in ~
r .
, ,
, ,
;~~~,
accordance with the present invention as a lunch boy ' .'
' v
"a
. ,
.
;
' i
ti f
' ,
't
,
.. r'Hr);
. ,
~ N;
~vr
'.
1
f .. ,
... ...._. _....,.., A , .,~, ~, ,u ~n vn ""...m ma. .,-. , ,. ",.~",iJ~pi
, y ,y~~~"~.~~~.~~ ~~~",n"G: "~ sew-,~.~. ,. -" ....... ~. _ _ _~
~,.~,~.",~""~,_~"",-
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
'
.r.'~
,, ,
-4- '
c~~>r
;
~~
.
~ .:,;~.a,.
' ~~CJy~,'
.' ,'L<i":
Preferably said container can be in combination with a drink bottle", '''
ar
' "
i ~w',
~. tr
.
~; '
' ~
~~
conta ;;~
ner. ~
'
As used herein the term "compartment" means where appropriate (i) ' '
the ' .
';r;~
.
';,
;
' space bounded by walls andlor partitions and the base andlor (ii). .
the space enclosed
' 5 by the lid or lzd assembly that is otherwise some or all of
a type (i) space, .
r
., '
As used herein "andlor" means (as appropriate) "and" oz' "or"~ ox :
both. ., '
~ y.~
' ,
" ,
;r,,,~
' As used herein "(s)" following a noun means (as appropriate) the ,
singular '
1 ,
~
~
andlor plural forms) of the noun, (
n ,
~
,'A
' .,'
' ';,.
; ~~,:,
' "
'
f,r
' ,
Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following, '
; 'S:;
' '
'
' "
" 10 description which is given by way of example only and with ~ ,
reference to the v,~:,y
' accompanying drawing. ' ~'~;.j;
,;-'~'~!;'
< '
..~s,;ir;'Y
,
' '
r a""r.!"
BRIEF DESCRIPT~O~T ~F DRA''VflCN~S WB.i
, ::'
, ,
.'
i~~~,9
. The invention will now be described by way of example only and '
with '',::~'
;i;>;
v 15 reference to the drawir~.gs is which; ,
,
, ,
,
' Frg'u~re x is a perspective view of an exemplary mufti-comparanent,' '
,
container aceordin~g to a preferred embodiment of the invention, . '
in which the lid
: 'S'~"
assembly is sho'uvn in a closed position,
'''
'''':;a
. Flgll~'~ ~ 15 a perBpeCtiVe Vlew of the Intllti-Compartment COntalner' ,
9f ~ '~~F''','
''
~
' 20 Figure 1, in which the lid assembly is illustrated in an open "'IY
position thereby
. ,
,
revealing the main compartment therein,
J
~
, ,
' . r
,.
J
,' a
t
T .'
igure 3 is a perspective rriew of the mulm compartment container
of Figtue
, ,
, .,
1, in which the lid assembly is illustrated in a closed position , ',
and where a lid ' y
, . . ~3,"
assembly lid is shown in an open position revealing a Iid assembly
compartment
25 therel
Tl
.
, ,..
'~4w
'
!
" u
. Figure ,'.A~
4 is a perspective view of the mufti compartment container of Figurer
'
,
. '
, .
E~Y,;;
:' x
,
1, in which tt~.e lid assembly is illustrated in a closed position '
and where a lid
' ,;
~'-t~::
assembly lid is shown in an open position re~'ealing a lid assembly
campartznent ' ~.:
therein, ' '
.~~C
Y
,
' tins.
30 1H'igwre ~ is a perspective view ofthE mufti compartment container' '
of Figure ~
~x~,
.
;
~
' '~
~~
S
1, in which the lid assembly is shown in a closed position and whereiny
the lid ' .
;,,,r
,'
~',
,. '
;.
I~;
:
.
' ,
'
I
''
'
,
; '
','
'"~';
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
~5i
_ '.
.
7~
~~~
~;
,;:
~;.,.,~;,.<
1
v "W~.v
w
It
.
assembly has two lids in the open position revealing two smaller,.,
compartments ~
r.
y
*"
, ~''.
.~'~
:f~';rt
~
within tlhe lid assembly, ,
, :.~:l,~r
' ~
,a
n~~n~;
,
,
~.1
'.
7n4
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mufti compartment container.
of Figure '.
~
.;~.
f ,
,
" .r
,
~r
1, iota which the lid assembly is shown in a closed position .:
and wherein the lid ; .
''
"
.
'
v~,i
2
. .
..;~ye
5 assembly has three lids iz~ the open position revealing multiple
compartments within
the lid assembly, one larger and two smaller and all smaller , ~
than that of the main .:::
~
"'
' compartment,
. Eigure 7 is an under view of lid assembly showing passageways
of the :,
.,..~
.
3
. .
lower member each of which is to receive at least one projection~ ,
of a lid of the ,~
'
'
;;~w
lidding assembly, ,
FSigure $ is a top view of one lid of the lid assembly showing. .'
two '
.
projections each to provide a live hinge with a couunon axis
when each is
r
received by a passageway from $bove of the lower zneznber, ' f
ri'.':
. ;
~~r~
' .
''
Flgare 9 is a reverse view of the lid of Fi 8 .
. ~d '
. 15 Fi a 10 shows the lid member of Fi ~
. 8m' gores 8 and 9 positioned ready for ~"'''
, ~
vrf
~ 4.
insertion of its projections into the top of the passageways ' ,
of the lower member '
~
r.
;'
~~,1
,
;
;.~
;.r,:
thereby to provide a hinge axis which will allow that lid ~ r
to close its compartrn.ent as '
~
~'~',wr
r.
has already the athez~ two lids preferably similarly receivedir.:
by the lower member. ~ ~
.
'v'i;~~
. '
,''~
' v~~
. ~
2~ DETAILED Dlg~iCRIp'1'101Y :
;
v
r
, '
.
'~
~t~~
. .
I
is
.di4r
i.
~ ~~
'
In the preferred form of the present invention all components. '
are moulded "
'
~ w''
.,
from a suitable plastics material ~'
~'
.
rr
. . .
.;
JP .1
f 1
r W~
~
~
'
,'
,~
~
. re ,
erably such plastics material is in injection mouldable material.~
having ;'
.'
,
~',
r
the requisite characteristics. By ,way of example only appropriate.
materials include ~ :'"
.;
-'_~',
;~~i
25 polypropylene and nylon. .
, ,~',;~,
,,y'
r~
. .
~'' ;,;.i
For those features such ss the lids that are to have projectionsi "i
that provide
~
live hinges preferably a flexible polypropylene is utilised. . i~ q
n tr.
yS
. ~ '
"
, . ;
;:
. . ,
In the preferred fozxn of the present invention a lunch box .
will be described
which bas four cornpariments. . .
,
3fl S r~. r
w
a f
ho : i s~
n as container 1 is a mu1' eompa~ment container suitarble
as a lunch
, ,
' box. This particular embodiment defines four compartments
of which a t'irst T
i
;o~
r VI
V ..
v ~ .
n 4. r
. Yli
y
r
1 F
t 't
iSy
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
'
- .t '.
"'
S'yA
,,'f~~',,r"k
~
~
'. ~:7'~
,X=
b
'
4~a
ca artment 4 is revealed when the lid assembl 2 is ed1 a .
lifted firm the .
Y Y P
base 3.
"'~
,;~~r,f'
,
.
: "r,
,
~.
"
~
'
'
As can be Seen the base 3 is preexably not partitioned and ~~
is a single ~
;
,, r
.',
,;
compartment down into which a lower member 5 of the lidding'
assembly 2 sets to
1
,
,
~ A
,'o;
,;
~'
~~
provide positive indexing whilst a peripheral flange 6 of .
the lower member '.
~
;
wl:
,
. substantially shirts the rim '~ of the base 3 and preferably,
sets down on the ledge 8 ;
f:
,.u,n
:. ,y.,v
of the base 3. Preferably for sealing purposes the lower ~,i~~
member 5 wedges or seats ~ .~I;.~"~~v
.
,
,
Y
~.~,
' an fhe inside of the base 3 4
,.
. .
The hinging of the lid assembly 2 preferably relies upon
truanions of the ,
,
base which are each received in an opening of a projection ...J.
10 of the lower member ~h~ia
, "
~''~~H
';',;.,f
5 of die lid assembly 2.
1
'
The lid assembl 2 carri ~ '
y es three lids; narneIy, 11, 12 and 13, each preferably ,
'
'"~A;la
;. s4.
provided with its own hinge axis provided by one or more r
projections 14 r~rhich ~ ''f'~'
~'r
1
,
9
. received in passageways 15 of the base into which they are ~ .
clrcl~ ~t engaged '
,,,4
1~ (Irreferably reliant a on a shoulder of the '
P passageway 15 or in the larger opening ;
,
s,
shown 7 and
.,
in Figure the lip 1 ~6 of each projection 14~. Each projection
'14 which
.
def-lnes a hinge axis at I7. '
' ~
"~~-
'Y~'
_
As can also be
seen, preferably on the hinging periphery, preferably each ,
lid
,
.
~
~
has a scallop, bevel or the like 1$ to ensure that ~
there is . ~'
clearance when the lids are .
~
~
~
~
.
.
~ .,r:
opened as sha~uvn in the drawings. , I
~ .
. S .
A .s....;
' 5
s can be seen fI
Olti the f'~illy Opened arratlge!'1'lent Of flgUre ~ three ; ~
. ;'
b
4' '"
;
artments each aratel 1 ' '
comp sep y c usable by its hd is defined in the lid assembly.' ''
.' These compartments provide compartments 19, 20 and 2I
condin.~~~..''.'~sa
to lids 11 ~ f.
a' "
g ,
, ,
12 and 13 respectively,
a$ P
f
b
re
era t;:
l ;r ,
y each of the compartments is click fit enclosed by a latching~
''~~~~
''
'
.
,
,
~
; :;
.t
~;
mechanism as shown. Far the lids appropriate pliable members' ~
22 are concerned '~
~~
: i~
are provided which each has a projection adapted to engage
i~lto a recess such as 23.
,,
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 '
- 3D arrangement is closed as shown in for example .
Figure I ~
:'~
, ,
. ; .
,
.
'y ;S.~;t
,~~,
,
r
'''
;
. t'L. J
.
l~~ x
1 ~
' v5.
,
,
i
CA 02466559 2004-05-07
7 . .,
;
..,~
,r:,.;
.;~1
, ~'!;;
~;
~
"
~
. <
; k
,
As can be seen also, preferably the prajectiox~s 14 of each lid is ~ '
moulded "'
~''
::::
with the projection8 I4 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 xz~ use vuhich
,
will assist in the opening of the lid such as lid I3 when the catch ~ '
22 is released froui "'
'''"
,
. ,;
wyt
recess 23. ~ .
'
,''r,
'
'
,a.~
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how such a mu.Iti compartment,
''
container can be used as a Iunch box with fruit ~ ~
food ',
snacks
and the like being
, ,
,
,
' ..L'
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 S
assembly. ,"/~
' '
_ ~ '
The p~sent invention therefore also includes withirx its ambit '';~.~
in
! '
Mr
' ~
~~'~'v'
, ~
, I
,
~.
'
combination a mufti compartment lunch box container in accordance ~ '
with the ~
~
~;;~'2t
x.~,
I
;,:
' present invemion together with a suitable drink container ~ ~
w.
. , y
v
.
~
A
'
' . ,O:
:b,Rn
,
~
:
~
,
,1
t i:~
, Y
"
~'S~y,S~"~,R
.
;i
, ~
'.
r.
r
~,~~
~,
,.
.
,
.11
ai.
'i
~;
, ,
.
,
S
s
. "_
y
y
lo
4'
rV~
~
'
'll~,
Y
I'
! .
,
M.
,Y
'
. .
~
'I
I
r
riSt
i7l
' '
i:A'N
'
. , ","
ss,nn
''
'
'.;~
.
w.f7aYa
.
.
,
1 ,
'
'
, .
s ~~ .:,
. . '
;
~
.
1
~
~
1
~
:' ~~
,
';,,>
'
'
:.
' , ''_'~t.
. J
,,
, ..
,
f
' " w
f I .
' .
''.
'~'~~
'
1 142
' ' ~
,
4i
~:
, .
,
a
'Z C
.
'
t
.
'
