US5323926A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lunch holder
Assignee: HOME PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL - NORTH AMERICA Inc
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Filing: 1993-12-15
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Granted: 1994-06-28
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Expires: 2013-12-15
Abstract
Abstract Lunch holder having first and second sections which are hingedly connected together along one side thereof in clamshell fashion, a divider which separates one of the sections into a plurality of compartments for holding different food products, and a lid which is hingedly connected to the one section along a second side thereof for movement between covering and uncovering positions relative to the compartments. In one presently preferred embodiment, the two container sections, the divider and the lid are fabricated as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Pomroy
- 👤 Eva M. Traxler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/162; B65D1/00; B65D1/22; B65D1/24; B65D2251/00; B65D2251/10; B65D2251/1016; B65D2251/1025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In a lunch holder for holding and carrying a plurality of food products: first and second container sections connected together in clamshell fashion along one side of each of said sections for movement between an open position in which the two sections are positioned side-by-side and a closed position in which the two sections are superposed one above the other, a divider separating the first section into a plurality of compartments for holding different food products, an upstanding side wall forming part of the first section, a horizontal ledge extending from the upper margin of the wall, an upstanding flange extending along an outer edge of the ledge, and a lid hingedly connected to the first section along a second side of said first section for movement between covering and uncovering positions relative to the compartments when the two sections are in the open position, the lid resting on the ledge when in the covering position and being held in the covering position by frictional engagement between the lid and the flange, said divider and said lid being formed as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a lunch holder for holding and carrying a plurality of food products: first and second container sections connected together in clamshell fashion along one side of each of said sections for movement between an open position in which the two sections are positioned side-by-side and a closed position in which the two sections are superposed one above the other, a divider separating the first section into a plurality of compartments for holding different food products, an upstanding side wall forming part of the first section, a horizontal ledge extending from the upper margin of the wall, an upstanding flange extending along an outer edge of the ledge, and a lid hingedly connected to the first section along a second side of said first section for movement between covering and uncovering positions relative to the compartments when the two sections are in the open position, the lid resting on the ledge when in the covering position and being held in the covering position by frictional engagement between the lid and the flange, said divider and said lid being formed as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The lunch holder of claim 1 including means forming a seal between the lid and the divider when the lid is in the covering position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The lunch holder of claim 2 wherein the means forming a seal between the lid and the divider comprises a pair of spaced apart flanges on one side of the lid forming a channel in which an edge portion of the divider is received when the lid is in the covering position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The lunch holder of claim 1 wherein the first section of the container has bottom and side walls, and the divider comprises a T-shaped partition having a first panel extending between opposing side walls of the first section and a second panel extending between the first panel and an intermediate side wall of the first section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lunch holder of claim 1 wherein the first and second sections, the divider and the lid are fabricated of a semi-rigid plastic and formed as a unitary structure by a molding process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a lunch holder for holding and carrying a plurality of food products: generally rectangular base and cover sections hingedly connected together in clamshell fashion along one side of each of said sections, the base section having a side wall with a horizontal ledge extending from the upper margin of the wall and an upstanding peripheral flange extending along an outer edge of the ledge, a partition dividing the base section into a plurality of compartments for holding different food products, and a lid hingedly connected to the base section along a second side of the base section for movement between open and closed positions relative to the compartments, the lid resting on the ledge when in the covering position and being held in the covering position by frictional engagement between the lid and the flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a lunch holder for holding and carrying a plurality of food products: generally rectangular base and cover sections hingedly connected together in clamshell fashion along one side of each of said sections, the base section having a side wall with a horizontal ledge extending from the upper margin of the wall and an upstanding peripheral flange extending along an outer edge of the ledge, a partition dividing the base section into a plurality of compartments for holding different food products, and a lid hingedly connected to the base section along a second side of the base section for movement between open and closed positions relative to the compartments, the lid resting on the ledge when in the covering position and being held in the covering position by frictional engagement between the lid and the flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lunch holder of claim 6 including a seal on the under side of the lid for engagement with the upper portion of the partition when the lid is in the closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The lunch holder of claim 7 wherein the seal comprises a pair of spaced apart depending flanges defining a channel in which the upper portion of the partition is received.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The lunch holder of claim 6 wherein the base and cover sections, the T-shaped partition and the lid are fabricated of a semi-rigid plastic as a unitary structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The lunch holder of claim 6 wherein the peripheral flange has a gap, and the lid has a tab which projects laterally through the gap to facilitate lifting of the lid when the lid is in the covering position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a lunch holder for holding and carrying a plurality of food products: first container section having a peripheral side wall with a horizontal ledge extending from the upper margin thereof and an upstanding peripheral flange extending along an outer edge of the ledge, a second container section connected in clamshell fashion to the firs section along one side of each of the sections for movement between an open position in which the two sections are positioned side-by-side and a closed position in which the two sections are superposed one above the other, and a lid hingedly connected to the first section along a second side of the first section for movement between covering and uncovering positions relative to the compartments when the two sections are in the open position, the lid resting on the ledge when in the covering position and being held in the covering position by frictional engagement between the lid and the flange.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a lunch holder for holding and carrying a plurality of food products: first container section having a peripheral side wall with a horizontal ledge extending from the upper margin thereof and an upstanding peripheral flange extending along an outer edge of the ledge, a second container section connected in clamshell fashion to the firs section along one side of each of the sections for movement between an open position in which the two sections are positioned side-by-side and a closed position in which the two sections are superposed one above the other, and a lid hingedly connected to the first section along a second side of the first section for movement between covering and uncovering positions relative to the compartments when the two sections are in the open position, the lid resting on the ledge when in the covering position and being held in the covering position by frictional engagement between the lid and the flange.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-27 | 1997-12-27 | 1998-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-27 | 2001-12-27 | 2002-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-27 | 2005-12-27 | 2006-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |