CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation in part of patent application Ser. No. 12/726,177, filed Mar. 17, 2010, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/161,003, filed Mar. 17, 2009, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND Unlike other meals, lunches are often eaten away from home. They are typically stored in a lunch box, which is a container for storing a meal for consumption, often at work or at school. The lunch box has historically been associated with schoolchildren. Use of lithographed metal to manufacture lunch boxes since the 1950s gave way in the 1990s to the use of plastics.
SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. One aspect includes a product form of the present subject matter which recites a biomorphic container that comprises multiple chambers that are juxtaposed in a unified body. The biomorphic container further comprises a lid that individually seals the multiple chambers to secure contents contained therein. The biometric container additionally comprises a beak handle to grasp the unified body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 5 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 6 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 7 is a front view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 8 is a back view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 12 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 13 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 14 is a front view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 15 is a back view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 16 is an assembled, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 17 is an exploded, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 20 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 21 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 22 is a front view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 23 is a back view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 24 is an isometric view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 25 is a top plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 26 is a bottom plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 27 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 28 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 29 is a front view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 30 is a back view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 31 is an assembled, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 32 is an exploded, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 33 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 34 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 35 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 36 is a side view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 37 is a top plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 38 is a bottom plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 39 is an isometric view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 40 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 41 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 42 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 43 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 44 is a bottom plan of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 45 is a top plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 46 is an isometric view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 47 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 48 is a side view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 49 is a top plan of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 50 is a bottom plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 51 is an isometric view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 52 is a partial isometric view of an archetypical beak handle of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 53 is a front plan view of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 54 is a partial side view of an archetypical beak handle of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 55 is a partial top plan view of an archetypical beak handle of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 56 is a cross-sectional of the partial top plan view of an archetypical beak handle of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 57 is a partial side plan view of an archetypical beak handle of an opened container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 58 is an assembled, isometric view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter;
FIG. 59 is a top plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter; and
FIG. 60 is a bottom plan view of a lidded container in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Various embodiments of the present subject matter focus on food/beverage containers. Suitably, the shape of these containers is biomorphic, suggesting forms of living organisms. Many embodiments of the present subject matter comprise a biomorphic container that includes multiple chambers that are housed in a unified body with a separate lid that individually seals the multiple chambers to secure contents contained therein. A beverage container suitably fits within one chamber among multiple chambers. When the present subject matter is provided as a kit, in addition to the multiple chambers that are housed in a unified body with a separate lid that individually seals the multiple chambers, stickers of various designs are provided to allow users of the biomorphic containers to personalize their biomorphic containers.
FIGS. 1-15 illustrate one embodiment of a food container 100, and FIGS. 58-60 illustrate another embodiment of another food container 100. The food container 100 includes a lid 102 and a unified body 104 with multiple chambers 104a, 104b, and 104c, all of which are juxtaposed. These multiple chambers 104a-104c are sealed to secure food by multiple depressions 102a, 102b, and 102c. These depressions 102a-102c mate with the chambers 104a-104c and thereby seal the food contained therein. The lid 102 includes extremities, such as one or more ears 102d, fins 102e and 102f, and tail 102g. These extremities allow children's fingers or weakened elders' fingers to obtain an accessibility purchase for prying loose the lid 102 from the unified body 104. Suitably, these extremities extend from the lid 102 at an angle, such as a downward angle.
FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of the food container 100 in two parts, the lid 102 and the unified body 104 with multiple chambers 104a-104c. One of the chambers houses a beverage container 310, such as the chamber 104b. The depressions 102a-102c of the lid 102 include sealing surfaces 102h, 102i, and 102j. The sealing surfaces 102h-102j touchingly align with rims 104h, 104i, and 104j of the multiple chambers 104a-104c to secure the food contained therein. Bridges 102k and 102l of the lid 102 snuggle with bridges 104k and 104l of the multiple chambers 104a-104c to prevent food in one chamber from coming into contact with food in another chamber. The rims 104h-104j are suitably angled downward toward the multiple chambers 104a-104c. Similarly, the sealing surfaces 102h-102j are suitably angled downward. The unified body 104 includes cuts 104e, 104f, and 104g to define voids that further allow children's fingers or weakened elders' fingers to obtain an accessibility purchase on the lid 102 for prying it loose from the unified body 104. A handle 104d eases the transport of the food container 100.
In an alternate embodiment, to secure the food contained in the multiple chambers, the rims 104h, 104i, and 104j define female mechanical depressions that mate with male mechanical projections of the sealing surfaces 102h, 102i, and 102j so as to engage to fasten but usually not to lock. In other embodiments, an upper surface of the unified body 104, which includes the bridges 104k and 104l, the voids 104e, 104f, and 104g, are angled, suitably downward. Extended beyond the upper surface at a downward angle is the handle 104d formed from a bail. The bail, whose distal end is shaped like a partially opened beak from a side view, defines an opening through which a hand may be placed to grasp the unified body 104. The proximal end of the bail integrates with the upper surface at two termini. The bail is in two portions. One portion has a first surface that is co-planar with the plane of the handle which is extended from the upper surface of the unified body 104. The other portion has a second surface that diverges in a plane at an angle away from the plane of the first surface.
FIGS. 16-30 and 51-57 illustrate another embodiment of a food container 160. The food container 160 includes a lid 162 and a unified body 164 with multiple chambers 164a, 164b, 164c, 164o, and 164q, all of which are juxtaposed. These multiple chambers 164a-164q are sealed to secure food by multiple depressions 162a, 162b, 162c, 162o, and 162q. These depressions 162a-162q mate with the chambers 164a-164q and thereby seal the food contained therein. The lid 162 includes extremities, such as ear 162d and tail 162g. These extremities allow children's fingers or weakened elders' fingers to obtain an accessibility purchase for prying loose the lid 162 from the unified body 164. Another lid 162m leads to a hidden chamber that is part of the lid 162. Suitably, these extremities extend from the lid 162 at an angle, such as a downward angle.
FIG. 17 illustrates the embodiment of the food container 160 in two parts, the lid 162 and the unified body 164 with multiple chambers 164a-164q. One of the chambers houses a beverage container 310, such as the chamber 164b. The depressions 162a-162q of the lid 162 include sealing surfaces 162h, 162i, 162j, 162p, and 162r. The sealing surfaces 162h-162r touchingly align with rims 164h, 164i, 164j, 164p, and 164r of the multiple chambers 164a-164q to secure the food contained therein. Bridges 162k, 162l, 162s, and 162t of the lid 162 snuggle with bridges 164k, 164l, 164s, and 164t of the multiple chambers 164a-164q to prevent food from one chamber from coming into contact with food in another chamber. The rims 164h-164p are suitably angled downward toward the multiple chambers 164a-164q. Similarly, the sealing surfaces 162h-162r are suitably angled downward. The unified body 164 includes cut 164g to define a void that further allows children's fingers or weakened elders' fingers to obtain an accessibility purchase on the lid 162 for prying it loose from the unified body 164. A handle 164d eases the transport of the food container 160.
In a different embodiment, to secure the food contained in the multiple chambers, the rims 164h, 164i, 164j, 164p, and 164r define female mechanical depressions that mate with male mechanical projections of the sealing surfaces 162h, 162i, 162j, 162p, and 162r so as to engage to fasten but usually not to lock. In other embodiments, an upper surface 164u of the unified body 104, which includes the bridges 164k, 164l, 164s, and 164t, as well as the void 164g, are angled, suitably downward. Extended beyond the upper surface 164u at a downward angle is the handle 164d formed from a bail 164v. The bail 164v, whose distal end is shaped like a partially opened beak from a side view, defines an opening through which a hand may be placed to grasp the unified body 164. The proximal end of the bail integrates with the upper surface at two termini 164w1 and 164w2. The bail is in two portions. One portion 164y has a first surface that is co-planar with the plane of the handle which is extended from the upper surface of the unified body 164. The other portion 164z has a second surface that diverges in a plane at an angle away from the plane of the first surface.
FIGS. 31-50 illustrate a beverage container 310 in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter. The beverage container 310 includes a lid 312 and a body 310a. The lid 312 includes a neck 312a that is substantially quadrilateral in shape. A flexible connector 312c secures a lid 312b to the neck 312a. The lid 312b includes extremities, such as fins 312d, 312e, and 312f. These extremities allow children's fingers or weakened elders' fingers to obtain an accessibility purchase for prying loose the lid 312b from the neck 312a. The lid 312b resistively snaps to an orifice 312h of the neck 312a via a pair of concentric annular projections 312g, 312i. The body 310a includes depressions 310b, 310c, to ease the gripping facility of young children and elderly adults. The body 310a also includes an orifice 310d that is covered by the lid 312. The body 310a includes a quartet of feet 310e that stabilizes the beverage container 310 when it rests on a surface.
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
