• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A container (10, 30, 40) for keeping cool lunch time fruit is disclosed. The container is fabricated from a flexible pliant material such as Neoprene and is sized to receive a single piece of mature fruit (8). A freezer pouch (3) is retained within the container by means of a friction fit. The Neoprene prevents the fruit being bruised and its inner surface absorbs moisture and, in particular, condensation created by the freezer pouch. Preferably the container is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a closure of cruciform configuration (18) 00* VPPI-
    公开号:AU2013200941A1
    申请号:U2013200941
    申请日:2013-02-18
    公开日:2013-10-10
    发明作者:Joellen Henderson
    申请人:Joellen Henderson；
    IPC主号:B65D85-34
    专利说明:
    AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 5 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 10 ORIGINAL Name of Applicant(s): JoEllen HENDERSON 15 Actual Inventor(s): JoEllen HENDERSON Address for Service: FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys PO Box 560 20 MILSONS POINT NSW 1565 Invention Title: A Container for Fruit Details of Associated 25 Provisional Applications: 2012 901 154 Dated 23 March 2012 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best 30 method of performing it known to me: 1 A CONTAINER FOR FRUIT Field of the Invention The present invention relates to containers in which food for lunch is stored. 5 Background Art Such containers, sometimes referred to as a lunch pail, are generally fabricated from a plastics material such as PVC, and have a generally rectangular configuration with either a hinged or a snap on lid. The entire lunch is normally located within the one container and so there are generally sandwiches, sometimes a piece of fruit, and 10 sometimes a drink. If the drink is in a can, then the drink may be frozen to provide a means of maintaining the lunch cool during hot weather. In the absence of this stratagem, a "freezer brick" (or generally rectangular plastic housing filled with water or similar liquid) may be used to similar effect. 15 The thin plastic walls of the container do not provide very good thermal insulation and therefore the cooling effect, if any, may be rapidly lost in the hours between leaving home after breakfast, and having lunch. In addition, the contents of the container are free to move about and this may result in the fruit coming into repeated contact with the walls of the container, or a drink or freezer brick coming into 20 repeated contact with fruit, either of which results in bruising of the fruit. The problem of external forces bruising the fruit can be ameliorated to some extent by using a container of pliant material such as the lunch purse disclosed in US Design Patent No. D533,752 (Lown). However, the fruit can still be bruised by the other 25 contents of the purse. Furthermore, if the fruit is cold, having been taken from the fridge and being placed directly in the container, and/or a freezer brick is used, then condensation may form from the water vapour present in the air within the container. This is a particular 30 problem in tropical latitudes. The result is that a paper napkin within the container, for example, may become sodden or even sandwiches, biscuits and the like may become soggy, or less than crisp. US Patent No. 6,851,274 is representative of this prior art. 2 Genesis of the Invention The genesis of the present invention is a desire to ameliorate to at least some extent the abovementioned difficulties by the provision of a container which is designed specifically for the carriage of fruit. 5 Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a container for lunch time fruit, said container comprising an outer pouch fabricated from a flexible, pliant material and sized to receive a single mature piece of fruit selected 10 from the class consisting of apples, pears, oranges, peaches and nectarines, a removable liquid tight, inner pouch the interior of which is filled with a high thermal capacity liquid able to be frozen or heated, a restraining means to hinder movement of said inner pouch within said outer pouch, and said material being both at least partially compressible to absorb external forces applied to said outer pouch to thereby 15 prevent said fruit from bruising, and at least partially absorbent to absorb any liquid water which condenses within said outer pouch to thereby maintain the interior of said container substantially dry. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a 20 closure for a container having a flexible wall defining an opening of the container, said closure comprising an even multiplicity of substantially equal length releasable press fastener strips arranged around the interior of said opening in end to end configuration whereby adjacent pairs of said fastener strips can be releasably fastened to each other to form a corresponding spoke of a multiple spoke closure for said 25 opening. Brief Description of the Drawings Several embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 30 Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container of a first embodiment illustrating the base of the container; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 showing the open mouth of the container; 3 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container of Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the mouth in its closed configuration; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV - IV of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the thermal pouch taken along the line 5 V-Vof Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a container of a second embodiment; and Fig. 7 is a similar perspective view of a container of a third embodiment. Detailed Description 10 As seen in Figs. I to 5, a container 10 of a first embodiment is illustrated which has a circular base 11 and a cylindrical side wall 12 which are preferably fabricated from neoprene material and stitched together by means of stitches 13. As best seen in Fig. 2, the container 10 has a mouth 15 around the interior of which eight strips 16 of hook and eye fastener material such as those sold under the Registered Trade Mark 15 VELCRO are sewn or otherwise adhered to the interior of the wall 12. The strips 16 are arranged in end to end configuration and the odd numbered strips have hook material whilst the even numbered strips have eye material, such that each adjacent pair of strips have opposite material and can therefore adhere to each other. 20 This is the situation illustrated in Fig. 3 where the mouth 15 is formed into a cruciform configuration 18 having four spokes 19. The abutting fastened pairs of strips 16 thereby close the container mouth 15. As seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the container 10 is preferably manufactured from sheet 25 neoprene material which is fabricated as a sandwich 21 having an interior 22 formed from foam neoprene and outer layers 23, 24 formed from fabric such as cotton. As seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the container 10 of generally cylindrical configuration is provided with a thermal pouch 3 which is shaped as a disc and fabricated from two 30 layers of thin flexible PVC material which are heat sealed around the periphery 4 of the pouch 3. The sealed periphery 4 provides a liquid tight seal which maintains a water like liquid 5 within the pouch 3. For example, the liquid 5 can be a mixture of trimethylene glycol and water. An airspace 6 is also preferably included within the thermal pouch 3 to allow for expansion of the water as a result of either freezing or 4 heating. The diameter of the pouch 3 is arranged to be just less than the internal diameter of the wall 12 so that there is a loose interference fit between the pouch 3 and the wall 12. 5 In use, the thermal pouch 3 is first frozen and then pushed into the container 10 so as to abut the thermal pouch 3 against the base 11. The loose interference fit between the pouch 3 and the container 10 means that the container 10 can be tilted, tipped over or even inverted without dislodging the pouch 3 but if mildly shaken or otherwise disturbed the pouch 3 can be manually pulled from the container 10. 10 With the frozen pouch 3 abutting the base 11, a piece of fruit 8 such as an apple, orange, peach or nectarine or like piece of fruit having a size approximately equivalent to a tennis ball, can be placed within the interior of the container 10 and the mouth 15 closed by being placed into its cruciform configuration illustrated in Fig. 3. 15 In the closed configuration, the neoprene sandwich material from which the container is made provides a number of benefits. Firstly, the material is shock absorbing and thus the fruit 8 is prevented from bruising as a result of exterior shocks applied to the container 10. Secondly, the fruit 8 because of the size of the container 10 is held 20 stationary relative to the container 10 and thus the fruit 8 is not subjected to bruising by rolling about and coming into contact with the side walls or other contents of the container 10, as is the case with the prior art plastic lunch pails. Similarly, the thermal pouch 3 does not move relative to the container 10 and fruit 8 and thus the thermal pouch 3 is restrained and does not itself cause any bruising of the fruit 8. 25 In addition, the thermal pouch 3 being initially frozen, maintains the piece of fruit cool until lunchtime. Furthermore, any condensation which may be created by the cold thermal pouch 3 is absorbed by the fabric 23 forming the interior surface of the wall 12. As a consequence, if a paper napkin, not illustrated but conventional, should 30 happen to be packed into the container 10 along with the fruit 8, then the napkin would not become soggy because of condensation produced by the cold thermal pouch. 5 Turning now to Fig. 6, a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated which takes the form of a container 30 in which a portion of the side wall 12 is extended upwardly so as to form a flexible cover 31. Two VELCRO strips 36 are provided one on the exterior of the side wall 12 and one on the interior of the cover 5 31. When the strips 36 are engaged, then the cover 31 closes the mouth 15 of the container 30. In all other respects, the container 30 is substantially similar to the container 10. Turning now to Fig. 7, a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in 10 which a container 40 has two extensions 41, 42 of its wall 12, the extensions 41, 42 being opposite each other and each being provided with an elongate slot 44 so that the extensions 41, 42 form handles 51, 52 which can be easily grasped. On the interior surface of each of the extensions 41 and 42 is a corresponding 15 VELCRO strip 46 which enables the mouth 15 of the container 40 to be opened and closed. In the closed configuration the slots 44 are adjacent and thus may be easily grasped by the fingers of one hand and the strips 46 are engaged to close the mouth 15. In order to open the mouth 15 the extensions 41, 42 are grasped and pulled in opposite directions. In all other respects the operation of the container 40 is the same 20 of the container 10. The foregoing describes only three embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. 25 For example, the thermal pouch 3 can be heated by being microwaved or being placed in hot water. Such a heated thermal pouch 3 can be placed within the container 10, 30, 40 and thereby used to warm, or keep warm, the contents of the container. For example, a baby's bottle of relatively small volume can be located within the 30 container 10, 30, 40 and maintained at an elevated temperature for a long period of time in this manner. The containers 10, 30, 40 are easily able to be washed and allowed to dry so that in this way the containers can be kept clean, even if soiled through use. The preferred 6 thickness of the neoprene from which the containers 10, 30, 40 are made is either 3mm or 5mm. Furthermore, although the closure used to close the mouth 15 of the container 10 uses 5 eight strips 16, thereby giving rise to four spokes 19, other arrangements can be used. For example, six strips 16 results in three spokes 19 and a Y-like configuration of spokes, and ten strips 16 results in five spokes 19. The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the 10 inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'. 7
    权利要求:
    Claims (14)
    [1] 1. A container for lunch time fruit, said container comprising an outer pouch fabricated from a flexible, pliant material and sized to receive a single mature piece of fruit selected from the class consisting of apples, pears, oranges, peaches and nectarines, a removable liquid tight, inner pouch the interior of which is filled with a high thermal capacity liquid able to be frozen or heated, a restraining means to hinder movement of said inner pouch within said outer pouch, and said material being both at least partially compressible to absorb external forces applied to said outer pouch to thereby prevent said fruit from bruising, and at least partially absorbent to absorb any liquid water which condenses within said outer pouch to thereby maintain the interior of said container substantially dry.
    [2] 2. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner pouch has substantially fixed dimensions and said restraining means comprises a loose interference fit between said pouches.
    [3] 3. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said outer pouch has a substantially cylindrical configuration with a hollow cylindrical side wall, a substantially circular base, and a substantially circular mouth, and said inner pouch comprises a disc, the diameter of the exterior of said disc being substantially equal to the interior diameter of said cylindrical said wall.
    [4] 4. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said flexible pliant material comprises an inner layer of neoprene foam sandwiched between two outer layers of fabric.
    [5] 5. The container as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fabric is moisture absorbing.
    [6] 6. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said inner pouch is fabricated from sheet plastics material.
    [7] 7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said high thermal capacity liquid substantially comprises water. 8
    [8] 8. A closure for a container having a flexible wall defining an opening of the container, said closure comprising an even multiplicity of substantially equal length releasable press fastener strips arranged around the interior of said opening in end to end configuration whereby adjacent pairs of said fastener strips can be releasably fastened to each other to form a corresponding spoke of a multiple spoke closure for said opening.
    [9] 9. The closure as claimed in claim 8 wherein said even multiplicity is eight and the number of said spokes is four whereby said multiple spoke closure is substantially cruciform in appearance.
    [10] 10. The closure as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein said fastener strips incorporate hook and eye fasteners.
    [11] 11. The closure as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said container is substantially cylindrical in shape, said opening being substantially circular and said container having a closed substantially circular base.
    [12] 12. A closure for a container, said closure being substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1-4 of the drawings.
    [13] 13. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 and incorporating a closure as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12.
    [14] 14. A container for lunch time fruit, said container being substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, or Fig. 6, or Fig. 7 of the drawings. Dated this 12th day of February 2013 JoEllen HENDERSON By FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys for the Applicants 9
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    US9943150B2|2018-04-17|Lunch tote for storing food which is convertible into a serving tray
    US7968132B2|2011-06-28|Dual compartment sandwich containers having a hinged divider and removable hot/cold pack
    AU2011276954B2|2016-10-13|Thermally modified containers
    US7874177B2|2011-01-25|Pouch for carrying temperature-sensitive products
    US20050183446A1|2005-08-25|Portable cooler with built-in refrigerant cubes
    US20140345314A1|2014-11-27|Device providing hot and cold storage and transport for food and the like
    US20100021090A1|2010-01-28|Reusable bag for food storage
    US20100005828A1|2010-01-14|Beverage Cooling Device and Method of Use Thereof
    JP2004512239A|2004-04-22|Isothermal pocket bags for bottles and food
    TW201141413A|2011-12-01|Dual compartment sandwich container and method of making same
    US20150253056A1|2015-09-10|Food Container
    US6938793B2|2005-09-06|Thermal preservation insert for food storage container
    TWM459790U|2013-08-21|Improved cold/hot/iced cup
    US20080050054A1|2008-02-28|Washable fabric made food container
    AU2013200941B2|2014-01-16|A Container for Fruit
    AU2014202049B2|2015-09-17|A Closure for a Container
    US7228712B1|2007-06-12|Synthetic ice and associated methods
    US8065888B2|2011-11-29|Low temperature maintaining apparatus for food item
    US3213641A|1965-10-26|Insulated lunch box
    JP2010018340A|2010-01-28|Cooling wrap and portable cooling device both of which enclose polymer
    CN108430253B|2020-06-12|Heat insulation handbag
    US9688457B1|2017-06-27|Cooling apparatus
    US20150191278A1|2015-07-09|Multiple pocketed freezer storage bag
    JP3232536U|2021-06-17|Cold side dish cup
    CH688089A5|1997-05-15|isothermal packaging.
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    AU2013200941B2|2014-01-16|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US5535543A|1994-02-23|1996-07-16|Alexander; Tracey S.|Means and a method for thermally protecting fruits and vegetables while maturing|
    法律状态:
    2014-05-15| FGA| Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent)|
    2017-09-14| MK14| Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    AU2012901154||2012-03-23||
    AU2012901154A|AU2012901154A0||2012-03-23|A Container for Fruit|
    AU2013200941A|AU2013200941B2|2012-03-23|2013-02-18|A Container for Fruit|AU2013200941A| AU2013200941B2|2012-03-23|2013-02-18|A Container for Fruit|
    AU2014202049A| AU2014202049B2|2012-03-23|2014-04-11|A Closure for a Container|
    [返回顶部]