LUNCH FOOD

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lunch container for storing, transporting and heating food and beverages, in particular food and beverages prepared for consumption by infants and babies.

[0002] It is a lunch container that allows you to take prepared food and drinks with you, for example for on the go or while traveling, and to heat them up on site within a few minutes, thus enabling a hot meal or a hot drink, especially milk, anytime and anywhere.

[0003] Heated lunch boxes with a hinged lid or side panel are well known, with the lid or side panel being closed using a zipper or Velcro.

[0004] A container for foodstuffs, in particular bread and toppings, according to WO 2011 / 112284 A1, has a flexible divider to create an upper and a lower compartment. It serves exclusively to maintain the temperature of the foodstuffs by means of an inserted heating or cooling gel.

[0005] From DE 202013010997 U1, a hinged container is known which is designed such that no objects can fall out when the upper shell is opened. The hinged container consists of an upper shell and a lower shell which are hinged together along one longitudinal side. A snap closure is provided on the opposite longitudinal side. The upper shell is provided with an upper inner lid and the lower shell with a lower inner lid, so that the two internal volumes can be completely and independently closed. On the side opposite the hinge of the inner lids, a lid closure in the form of a snap-lock is provided in both the upper and lower shells.

[0006] WO 2015 / 177726 A1 discloses a lunchbox suitable for storing, transporting, and heating food, particularly ready-to-eat food. It comprises an upper and a lower shell, hinged together along one longitudinal side, with a closure on the opposite longitudinal side. An inner shell with a circumferential, angled rim can be arranged in the lower shell. This inner shell incorporates thermal insulation and a heating element, and a groove for receiving a seal is formed in the circumferential rim of the inner shell.

[0007] US patent 2015 / 0245723 A1 discloses drinking vessels that can be actively heated or cooled. These vessels have a cylindrical outer shell with a closed bottom. The top surface can be closed with a lid. A heatable inner cylinder is integrated within the outer shell. Power is supplied by integrated batteries in a double bottom, resulting in a relatively heavy vessel.

[0008] The aforementioned state of the art is not suitable for use by small children, nor is it suitable for holding, heating, or keeping beverages warm. However, standard baby bottles are known to be usable in a multi-sided heating container, similar to a water bath with heating elements.

[0009] There are also regular travel mugs that heat from the bottom, but these are only designed for hot drinks and for adults.

[0010] The object of the invention is to develop a lunch container for toddlers and babies that is suitable for storing, transporting and heating food and drinks and that can be handled easily and safely by small children.

[0011] This problem is solved by a lunch container with the features of claim 1, which is designed in its external appearance similar to a drinking bottle. It comprises a substantially cylindrical and heat-insulating outer shell with a closed bottom, the upper surface of which can be closed with a lid. A wirelessly heatable inner cylinder, for example inductively, is arranged within the outer shell. Particularly suitable for heating are semi-liquid foods and beverages such as milk or tea.

[0012] To warm food or drinks, both the base and the walls of the inner cylinder can be heated. Thanks to the insulation of the outer shell, it barely gets warmer than lukewarm. Therefore, when using the lunch container, it is impossible for the user, whether an adult, a baby, or a toddler, to suffer injuries, especially burns. It also allows for even heating without hot spots.

[0013] The inner cylinder is powered wirelessly, for example inductively, so the outer casing may not need any connections or switches. A power bank or similar device can also be used for charging on the go. A charger can operate on the standard 230V AC mains supply, or on 5 / 20V or 12 / 24V DC, allowing connection to a computer via USB or to a car's cigarette lighter socket.

[0014] However, in the familiar containers or coffee cups, pureed foods for children cannot be heated and cannot be consumed directly by small children.

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0016] To provide a visible indication of the fill level of the inner cylinder, it can be provided with a gap, preferably transparent, with a corresponding shape in the outer casing. Alternatively, an optical / electronic indication is also possible.

[0017] For example, the lid can be provided with an internal thread for screwing onto an external thread of the outer casing. To facilitate handling by children, the lid is preferably provided with at least one molded-on handle, which could also be designed to be attached to the lid. Two handles are particularly preferred. The handle is shaped so that small children of different ages can grip it securely.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the lid is provided with an opening for receiving a teat. The teat can be adapted for dispensing liquids or pureed foods. The opening and teat can be protected from external influences by a snap-on protective cap.

[0019] The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and drawings, and its function is explained. The drawings show the... Fig. 1: A lunch container according to the invention with a teat; Fig. 2: A lunch container according to Fig. 1 with protective cap; Fig. 3: a charger for the lunch container; Fig. 4: the lunch container according to the invention in another embodiment; Fig. 5: the lunch container according to the invention in a further embodiment.

[0020] A lunch container 1 according to the invention is dimensioned similarly to a short and wide drinking bottle or cup.

[0021] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a lunch container 1 according to the invention. It has a substantially cylindrical and heat-insulating outer shell 2 with a closed bottom, the upper surface of which is closed with a lid 3.

[0022] In the outer shell 2, an inner cylinder 7, which can be heated wirelessly, for example inductively, is arranged with a base 8.

[0023] The end face of the inner cylinder 7 facing the lid 3 is open.

[0024] Thanks to the insulation of the outer shell, it barely gets warmer than lukewarm. Therefore, when using the lunch container, it is impossible for the user, whether an adult, a baby, or a toddler, to suffer injuries, especially burns.

[0025] For a visible indication 10 of the fill level of the inner cylinder 7, this is provided with a gap 9 made of a transparent or see-through plastic (or a shatterproof glass), with a corresponding shape in the outer shell 2. The fill level can thus be seen from the outside.

[0026] Alternatively, an optical / electronic display of the fill level is also possible.

[0027] The outer casing 2 also features a temperature indicator 11, for example in the shape of a ring, which uses colored LEDs to indicate specific temperatures of the beverage or food inside the container. For example, a green LED indicates a suitable drinking / consumption temperature, while a red or blue LED indicates a temperature that is too high or too low. Alternatively, the temperature indicator 11 with the LEDs can also be integrated into the charging station 12.

[0028] The outer shell 2 can be designed as a single piece or in two parts, as shown. In the two-part version, the outer shell 2 comprises a lower part and an upper part, with a ring-shaped temperature indicator located between them ( Fig. 4 ).

[0029] The lid 3 is provided with an internal thread for screwing onto an external thread of the outer shell 2.

[0030] To make handling easier for children, the lid 3 in this embodiment is provided with two molded handles 4 which are shaped so that they can be securely grasped by small children of different ages.

[0031] Furthermore, the lid 3 is provided with an opening 13 for receiving a base 6 of a teat 5 (known from drinking bottles). Snap or locking connections are preferred for elastic plastics, or pressing the base 6 into the opening 13 for deformable, rubber-like materials of the teat 5.

[0032] Opening 13 and suction cup 5 are protected by a protective cap 14 that can be attached to the lid 3 ( Fig. 2 ) protectable from external influences.

[0033] Depending on the consistency of the pureed foods or drinks, teats 5 may be available made from different, especially elastic, materials and with different teat openings.

[0034] Particularly suitable for heating are soft foods and drinks, such as milk, water, tea or drinkable soups.

[0035] The charging station 12 has an "offline" button to start the heating process of the container, the bottle.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the inner cylinder 7 and the base 8 are supplied with energy wirelessly and inductively, so that the outer shell 2 does not need to have any connections or switches. For this purpose, the lunch container 1 according to the invention is placed with the base of the outer shell 2 onto the charging platform of a corresponding charger 12. The charger 12 ( Fig. 3 ) can be based on the usual 110-230V AC power grid, or on 5 / 20V or 12 / 24V DC, so that it can be connected to a computer via USB interface or to a car's cigarette lighter.

[0037] The Fig. 5Figure 1 shows the lunch container 1 in a further embodiment with a raised lid 3. The lid 3 can therefore also be designed without a handle or have only a handle 4.

[0038] The heating of the food or beverage, or rather the control electronics, can be operated conventionally or via an app on a mobile phone 15, allowing the user to precisely set and monitor a desired temperature. Various heating programs are also possible. Additionally, the charging station 12 can include further functions, such as weight detection to determine the weight (also via app) before and after a feeding, or how much the baby has drunk.

[0039] A possible control electronics system includes the electronic controller, a safety circuit, a load switch, and a power supply. The electronic controller should at least include a temperature sensor, a heating circuit, a start / stop circuit, and an output for the LEDs. The electronic controller can also allow for different heating modes.

[0040] The inner cylinder 7 and the base 8 are themselves designed as heating elements. List of reference symbols

[0041] 1 Lunch container 2 Outer casing 3 Lid 4 Handle 5 Suction cup 6 Suction cup base 7 Inner cylinder 8 Bottom 9 Gap 10 Fill level indicator 11 Temperature indicator 12 Charging station 13 Opening 14 Protective cap 15 Mobile phone

Claims

1. Lunch container for storing, transporting and heating food and drinks, in particular food and drinks prepared for consumption by infants and babies, comprising a substantially cylindrical outer shell (2) with a closed base, the upper face of which can be sealed with a lid, wherein an inner cylinder (7) with a base (8) is arranged within the outer shell (2), and the base (8) and the inner cylinder (7) are designed as a heating element, characterised in that the inner cylinder (7) is designed to hold food and drinks, that the inner cylinder (7) with the base (8) can be heated wirelessly and that the power supply for the inner cylinder (7) and the base (8) is wireless.

2. Lunch container according to claim 1, characterised in that the inner cylinder (7) is provided with a gap (9) for a level indicator (10).

3. Lunch container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lid is provided with an internal thread for screwing onto an external thread of the outer shell (2).

4. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the lid (3) is provided with at least one moulded-on handle (4).

5. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the lid is provided with an opening (13) for receiving a suction cup (5).

6. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the base (8) is capable of being heated inductively.

7. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the inner cylinder (7) is inductively heatable.

8. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it is controllable via an app on a mobile phone (15).

9. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it can be coupled to a charging station (12) and that the charging station (12) is provided with a temperature indicator (11) and / or a weight sensor.

10. Lunch container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it can be controlled and operated offline or online by means of implemented control electronics.