Dual-use lunch box

Abstract

A dual-use lunch box comprises of an outer rectangular housing unit with one opening supported by five side walls in bond with each other. Herein container railing affixed to two parallel sidewalls serves to support removable food and beverage storage containers. An outer fabric cover with a zippered front flap encloses the rectangular box and is encased with insulation to maintain constant temperature. The outside of said fabric cover includes side pockets or pouches. Two sets of connectors are flanked 90 degrees apart on the outer sidewalls of said fabric cover to fasten a carrying strap in two different positions. The dual-use lunch box is distinctive in that it has a dual function. It allows food and beverage items to be stored in an organized manner in removable storage containers. The other function allows the storage containers to be removed to accommodate larger food items.References CitedU.S. Patent Documents5,181,612January 1993Liu5,277,329January 1994Pomroy et al.5,485,921January 1996Tolendano5,595,302January 1997Maydwell et al.5,842,571December 1998Rausch5,950,834September 1999Woodnorth et al.7,334,684February 2008Fontanilla et al.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to a dual-use lunch box for the purpose of storing food and beverage items. This invention is novel in that the removable storage units allows for meals to be stored at different temperatures in an organized manner, while affording larger items to be stored with removal of the storage units.[0003]2. Prior Art[0004]Multiple lunch boxes (or food carriers) have been designed for the function of storing and carrying meals. These lunch boxes have a wide application of use that ranges from carrying lunches for children to meals for adults. These lunch boxes come in various shapes and sizes.[0005]These prior art food carriers have several limitations, including their inability to adequately organize food and beverage items into individual storage containers. Furthermore, these food carriers are limited to a single configuration for storing and carrying meals. It is only this novel invention that encompas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a novel dual-use lunch box that overcomes the limitations of prior art. It provides a means to store and transport meals in an organized manner and can accommodate larger food and beverage items. The lunch box has a removable food storage unit and a beverage storage unit that can be stored at different temperatures. It also has a dual configuration that allows larger items to be stored and a fabric cover with a zipper and storage pocket for additional items. The lunch box can be strapped to a strap or configuration for different needs. Overall, the invention allows for organized storage and transport of food and beverage in a convenient and versatile way."

Problems solved by technology

These prior art food carriers have several limitations, including their inability to adequately organize food and beverage items into individual storage containers.

Furthermore, these food carriers are limited to a single configuration for storing and carrying meals.

However the lunch box of Maydwell does not provide railings attached to the sidewalls to allow removable food and beverage containers to be stored in an organized manner.

It also does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

However, the lunch holder of Woodnorth does not have sliding food and beverage containers that are removable to allow storage of large food items in addition to storing food and beverage items in an organized manner in storage containers.

It also does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

However, the lunch holder of Pomroy does not provide side railings to support food containers with a beverage storage unit positioned adjacent to the food containers and does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

However, the lunch box of Liu does not have sliding food and beverage containers that are removable to allow storage of large food items in addition to storing food and beverage items in an organized manner in storage containers.

It also does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

However the compartmentalized soft sided container of Rausch does not provide a rectangular housing unit with one opening supported by four side walls in bond with the bottom surface with affixed railing to support removable food storage containers and does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

However, the lunch box of Tolendino does not have sliding food and beverage containers that are removable to allow storage of large food items in addition to storing food and beverage items in an organized manner in storage containers.

It also does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

However the lunch box of Fontanilla does not have sliding food and beverage containers that are removable to allow storage of large food items in addition to storing food and beverage items in an organized manner in storage containers.

It also does not provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

While the above described prior art fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a dual-use lunch box that allows food and beverage items to be stored in an organized manner in storage containers or allows storage of larger items with the removal of these storage containers.

Furthermore, the above prior art patents make no provision for a dual carrying option with two sets of connectors on the outer fabric-cover that are flanked 90 degrees apart to fasten a carrying strap in two different positions.

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