Container with thermal storage member

Abstract

A container assembly has a substantially rigid moulded plastic shell, tub, a lid, and an auxiliary container that may contain a thermal storage medium such as a phase change liquid. The lid has a peripheral seal that mates in an interference fit with the lip of the tub. The lid also has external fittings that define a seat for the auxiliary container. The lid and the auxiliary container have mutually engaging guides and guide followers that permit a single degree of translational freedom sliding motion of the auxiliary container relative to the lid. The fittings of the seat and the interference fit seal fittings of the lid and the tub do not interfere with or obstruct each other. The tub, the lid and the auxiliary container may have roughly the same footprint, such that when assembled they form a compact assembly, one atop, or beside, the other. That assembly may fit inside an accommodation of an associated soft-sided insulated wall structure such as may define a lunch container or carrier, or other soft-sided insulated package.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention relates to the field of portable containers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Insulated containers have become popular for carrying either articles that may best be served cool, such as beverages or salads, or warm, such as appetizers, and so on. Often such containers are used for carrying children's lunches as when at school. These containers may include substantially rigid tubs or bowls which may included sealable lids. Often the tub is made of a relatively rigid plastic, while the lid is made of a more pliable plastic. Typically, the tub or base container portion has a lip and the lid has a mating groove, the one fitting the other, often in an elastic interference fit such that when the two are mated together a seal may be formed. The seal may be (within reason) substantially watertight. Most classically products of this nature were introduced by, or made prominent in the market under the brand name Tupperware™.[0003]Soft-sided insulate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]In an aspect of the invention there is a container assembly. It includes a base portion, a lid portion, and an auxiliary container. The base portion has a generally rectangular first wall and a peripheral sidewall standing away therefrom. The peripheral sidewall has four co-operating generally four sided portions, the base wall and the sidewalls co-operating to define an open topped box-like tub. The peripheral sidewall has a peripheral lip defining an opening of the box-like tub. The lid portion includes a substantially planar spanning member. The substantially planar member has a first face for orientation, in use, toward the tub, a second face for orientation away from the tub, and a neutral plane. The lid portion has a peripheral land facing in the same orientation as the first face of the spanning member. The peripheral land is matingly engageable with the lip of the base portion. The lid is movable between an open position in which the land and the lip are disengaged, and a closed position in which the land and the lip are engaged. In the closed position the lid and the base portion defining an enclosed chamber. The auxiliary container has a hollow body, and a port by which liquids may be introduced therewithin

Problems solved by technology

However, cooling packs (as they most normally may be) tend t

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