Container With Sealed Coolant Compartment

Abstract

A container includes a primary compartment and a secondary compartment generally evenly opposed to and oppositely facing from the primary compartment. A lid is provided for each of the primary compartment and the secondary compartment. In use, the primary compartment is suited for storing food items and the like, and the secondary compartment is suited for storing a coolant such as an ice pack or the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/541,702, filed Oct. 3, 2006, pending, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/722,434, filed Oct. 3, 2005, the entire content of each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(NOT APPLICABLE)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many plastic containers for storing and transporting food and related items. The containers typically include a lid or other closure to effect an air tight environment. There also exist such containers with multiple compartments to keep items separated or to house a coolant or the like.

Existing plastic containers, however, are not typically formed of disposable materials, particularly those with multiple compartments due to the complexity of forming a multi-compartment mold. As such, if a plastic container is used to carry food items to work or school, it is necessary to bring home the container at the end of the day, which becomes burdensome, particularly for school age children.

Additionally, most such containers do not include space for a coolant such as an ice pack or the like, and when an ice pack or coolant is placed in the same container, there is a chance that the food items may get damp due to humidity, leakage, or the like. In the containers with multiple compartments, the separate compartments can keep the coolant separate from the food items, but the coolant is typically placed toward the side or rear of the container and does not provide even cooling of the food items.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would thus be desirable for a container to include a primary compartment for storing food items and the like and a secondary compartment for storing a coolant such as an ice pack or the like. Preferably, the material of the container is of a type that would be considered disposable, and users would not have to remember to bring the container home at the end of the day. Additionally, the secondary compartment may be generally evenly opposed to and oppositely facing from the primary compartment, and the effect of the coolant in the secondary compartment will be equally distributed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment container including a primary compartment and a secondary compartment; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a second embodiment container including a closing flap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. A container 10 includes a primary compartment 12 preferably integrated with a secondary compartment 14. Each compartment is sealable via a lid 16. The lid 16 preferably includes a groove about its perimeter that fits over a corresponding flange 18 on the compartments 12, 14 to define a substantially air tight closure. Of course, other closure assemblies may be utilized, and the invention is not necessarily meant to be limited to the illustrated example.

As shown, the primary compartment 12 is preferably larger than the secondary compartment 14, although the compartment sizes may be varied. The secondary compartment 14 is preferably sized to house a coolant such as an ice pack 20 or the like. The secondary compartment 14 may alternatively be sized to receive ice cubes or some other coolant material. In one arrangement, an ice pack 20 is supplied with the container 10, and a height of the secondary compartment 14 is slightly larger than a thickness of the ice pack 20 in its thickest state. In this manner, the primary compartment 12 is cooled via convection cooling rather than conduction cooling to limit the effect of humidity causing condensation in the primary compartment 12.

With the primary compartment 12 facing upward, the secondary compartment 14 faces downward such that the compartments are generally opposite facing, sharing a compartment bottom panel. Also, a circumference of the secondary compartment 14 preferably substantially corresponds to that of the primary compartment 12 such that the compartments are generally evenly opposed to each other. In this manner, the effect of the coolant 20 in the secondary compartment 14 will be equally distributed in the primary compartment 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the primary compartment 12 and the secondary compartment 14 are manufactured as separate pieces attachable via suitable connecting members on respective facing bottom portions. The connecting members may be molded with the separate pieces to facilitate manufacture.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the secondary compartment 14′ has an opening along a side thereof, which is sealable via a pivotable flap or door 22.

It is preferable that the container is formed of a moldable plastic. In a preferred construction, the integrated primary and secondary compartments 12, 14 can be molded in a single step, and the lids 16 can be molded separately. Since it is preferred that the perimeters of the primary compartment 12 and the secondary compartment 14 are identical, the molded lids 16 can be used for either compartment. Alternative materials may also be used as would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the container may be formed of a biodegradable material, a recycled material, a blended material of the like.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a primary compartment;

a secondary compartment generally evenly opposed to and oppositely facing from the primary compartment; and

a lid for each of the primary compartment and the secondary compartment.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the secondary compartment is integral with the primary compartment.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the primary compartment and the secondary compartment share a compartment bottom panel.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a disposable material.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the secondary compartment comprises an opening along a side thereof, and wherein the lid for the secondary compartment comprises a pivotable flap.

6. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of molded plastic.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a biodegradable material.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a recycled material.