Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6520610
-
Patent Number
6,520,610
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 10, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 18, 200322 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Mai; Lanna
- Anderson; Jerry A.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 291
- 312 2933
- 312 310
- 312 308
- 312 324
- 312 325
- 312 328
- 108 138
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A device includes a main container unit and top container units that can be stored inside the main container unit. A lid doubles as a lid and as a table to support food thereon. Legs support the lid on the top container units.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of storage containers, and to the particular field of storage containers which serve multiple purposes.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Camping, canoeing, tailgating, hiking and the like are becoming ever more popular. Many people engaging in these activities enjoy bringing food along and picnicking. This requires a convenient container for, not only food, but for food preparation and serving utensils as well.
Accordingly, the container art has many examples of containers that can be used to store food in a manner that is convenient for being brought along on some of the above-mentioned activities.
However, most of the known containers are intended primarily for the single purpose of storing and transporting food. However, a problem with such food containers is their lack of storage areas suitable for storing utensils used to prepare and serve food. Such utensils are often merely thrown into the container in a haphazard manner. This often leads to omitting one or more utensils and/or having the utensils lost or unorganized, or even duplicating some utensils while omitting others.
Therefore, there is a need for a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food.
Still further, it is not always easy to find a convenient and comfortable place to serve and/or consume food during some of the above-mentioned activities. Often, people carry blankets or the like to sit on. This not only requires carrying extra gear, it may not be comfortable.
Therefore, there is a need for a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food and which is also suitable for serving food.
While the art does contain examples of portable storage and table devices, these devices are often inconvenient and cumbersome to set up and to knock down and generally have many interconnected parts. The many interconnected parts may not always smoothly co-operate with each other in the most efficient manner, and may even jam during set up or knock down, thereby complicating a procedure that should be as easy as possible. Still further, the many parts of some known containers may make the overall unit heavy and cumbersome.
Still further, many interconnected parts may make cleaning the overall unit difficult. Still further, many parts of the unit may take up space that otherwise could be used to store food and/or utensils.
Still further, many of the known storage units do not conveniently store utensils in the unit. This creates the possibility of omitting a needed utensil during the packing procedure.
Therefore, there is a need for a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food and which efficiently stores utensils between uses.
Still further, many known container units do not provide ready access to utensils stored in the unit when the unit is being used to support food. The unit must be completely emptied and repacked thereby creating the possibility that something will be unavailable when needed, or left behind.
Therefore, there is a need for a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food and which provides easy access to the storage area when the unit is being used to support food.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food and which is also suitable for serving food.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food and which also efficiently stores utensils between uses.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container that is suitable for food storage and can also be conveniently used to store and organize utensils used to prepare and serve food and/or consume food and which provides easy access to the storage area when the unit is being used to support food.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by a portable storage device and table that includes a main container unit and which has top containers that collapse into the main container unit for storage and which has a lid that doubles as a table in a use configuration. The parts of the device are arranged so that storage space is efficiently used and presented in the set up configuration for easy access.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side elevational view of a portable storage device and table of the present invention in a set up or use configuration.
FIG. 2
is an end elevational view of the portable storage device and table of the present invention in the set up or use configuration.
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the portable storage device and table of the present invention in the set up or use configuration.
FIG. 4
is an exploded perspective view of the portable storage device and table of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the portable storage device and table of the present invention in the set up or use configuration.
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a lid/table of the portable storage device and table of the present invention.
FIG. 7A
is a plan view of a mounting bracket used in the portable storage device and table of the present invention.
FIG. 7B
is a side elevational view of the mounting bracket.
FIG. 7C
is a view of an end of the mounting bracket.
FIG. 8
is a view which shows an enlarged section indicated by line
8
—
8
in
FIG. 2
of a mounting element used to securely attach a mounting bracket to a top container of the portable storage device and table of the present invention.
FIG. 9
is a view which shows an enlarged section indicated by line
9
—
9
in
FIG. 2
of a slidable attachment between a mounting bracket and a main container unit of the portable storage device and table of the present invention.
FIG. 10
is a view which shows an enlarged section indicated by line
10
—
10
in
FIG. 2
of a latch for releasably attaching a lid to a main container unit of the portable storage device and table of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
As shown in the figures, the present invention is embodied in a portable storage device and table
10
comprising a main container unit
12
which includes sides
14
and
16
, ends
18
and
20
, a bottom
22
, an open top
24
, handles, such as handle
26
, an outer surface
28
, and an inside surface
30
. Food, utensils, and the like are conveniently stored in the main container unit
12
, and are easily accessed through the open top
24
for packing or use. As will be understood from this disclosure, the space inside the main container unit
12
is efficiently used so a great deal of material can be placed inside the main container unit
12
along with cooling material or the like.
Main container unit
12
further includes a plurality of sleeves, such as sleeve
40
, on inside surface
30
of main container unit
12
. Each sleeve
40
has an open top, such as open top
42
, located near open top
24
of main container unit
12
and serves a purpose that will be understood from the following discussion. The main container unit
12
further includes a plurality of fastener accommodating holes, such as fastener accommodating hole
43
, located near the open top
42
of each sleeve
40
.
The main container unit
12
further includes a plurality of stop elements, such as stop element
44
, mounted on the inside surface
30
of the main container unit
12
. Each stop element
44
is mounted on the inside surface
30
of main container
12
unit near an open top
42
of a sleeve
40
.
Device
10
further includes two top containers
50
and
52
, which are used to store and dispense items, including food, utensils and the like. Each top container
50
,
52
includes sides
54
and
56
, ends
58
and
60
, a bottom
62
, an open top
64
, an inside surface
66
and an outside surface
68
. As will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure, the top containers
50
,
52
are oriented to present the open top
64
thereof in a direction that makes access to the interior of the respective top container
50
,
52
easy even when the overall device
10
is in a use or set-up configuration.
Each top container
50
,
52
further includes a plurality of leg accommodating blocks, such as leg accommodating block
70
, fixed to inside surface
66
of the respective top container
50
,
52
near open top
64
of the top container. Each top container
50
,
52
further includes a plurality of fastener mounts, such as fastener mount
72
, in each end
58
,
60
of each of each top container
50
,
52
. In the preferred embodiment, there are four fastener mounts
72
in each container, two in each end
58
,
60
of each top container
50
,
52
. As shown in
FIG. 8
, each fastener mount
72
includes a washer
74
and a fastener
76
.
Device
10
further includes a plurality of mounting brackets, such as mounting bracket
80
, connecting each of the top containers
50
,
52
to main container unit
12
. A mounting bracket
80
is shown in
FIGS. 7A-7C
and includes an elongate body
82
having side edges
84
and
86
, first and second ends
88
and
90
, and a longitudinal dimension
92
extending between ends
88
and
90
of elongate body
82
. An elongate slot
94
extends along longitudinal dimension
92
of each elongate body
82
from adjacent to first end
80
of elongate body
82
toward second end
90
of the elongate body
82
and is spaced from the second end
90
to define a landing
96
between second end
90
and end
98
of slot
94
. Landing
96
is planar as shown in FIG.
7
C and is connected to the remainder of body
82
by a connection portion
100
so landing
96
is contained in a plane that is offset from a plane containing the remainder of body
82
. A mounting hole
102
is defined through elongate body
82
in landing
96
near second end
90
of the elongate body.
Each mounting bracket further includes a stop element
104
on one side edge of the elongate body
82
. Each stop element
104
includes a linear edge
106
extending from the side edge of the elongate body
82
, an outer edge
108
spaced from the side edge of the elongate body
82
and a second edge
109
connecting outer edge
108
to the side edge of the elongate body
82
at a location spaced from linear edge
106
.
Device
10
further includes a plurality of first fastener units, such as first fastener unit
110
, securely attaching the second end
90
of each mounting bracket
80
to a respective top container
50
,
52
via an associated one of the fastener mounts
72
in each top container
50
,
52
. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the first fastener units
110
include the above-discussed elements
72
,
74
and
76
.
Device
10
further includes a plurality of second fastener units, such as second fastener unit
112
, slidably attaching an associated one of said mounting brackets
80
to the main container unit
12
and fitting through an associated one of the fastener accommodating holes
43
in the main container unit
12
and through elongate slot
94
in the associated mounting bracket
80
so the associated mounting bracket
80
will slide with respect to the second fastener
112
and with respect to said main container unit
12
so the device
10
can be set up and collapsed with top containers
50
,
52
moving between a deployed position shown in
FIG. 5 and a
stored position inside main container unit
12
. Each second fastener unit
112
is positioned with respect to an associated one of sleeves
40
on main container unit
12
so first end
88
of the associated mounting bracket
80
is positioned adjacent to open top
42
of the associated sleeve
40
whereby the associated mounting bracket
80
will slide into the associated sleeve
40
to be in a stored configuration and slide out of the associated sleeve
40
to be in a deployed configuration. In this manner, the brackets
80
are stored inside the sleeves
40
so that moisture or the like does not damage the brackets
80
. A stop element
104
on the associated mounting bracket
80
abuts a corresponding stop element
44
on main container unit
12
when the associated mounting bracket
80
is in the deployed configuration to keep the associated mounting bracket
80
in the deployed configuration. The sleeves
40
are large enough to accommodate the brackets
80
as well as the stop elements
104
. As can be understood from the foregoing, the linear edge
106
of each stop element
104
engages a corresponding element
44
to support the top containers
50
,
52
in the deployed configuration. Thus, the brackets
80
can move to permit the stop elements to clear and engage the elments
44
as required to move the device
10
into the deployed configuration and into the stored configuration.
As shown in
FIG. 9
, the second fastener units
112
include a fastener element
113
extending through slot
94
in bracket
80
and is attached to a mount element
114
on sides
14
and
16
of the main container unit
12
. Washers, such as washer
116
are also included in the fastener unit
112
.
Device
10
further includes a lid
120
which includes a planar body
122
with side edges
124
and
126
, end edges
128
and
130
, a top surface
132
, a bottom surface
134
, and corners, such as corner
136
, at the intersections of the side edges
124
,
126
and the end edges
128
,
130
. A rim
140
includes sections
140
′ on end edges
128
and
130
and sections
140
″ on side edges
124
and
126
of planar body
122
of lid
120
. Lid
120
further includes latches, such as latch
142
, on the end edges
128
,
130
and latch
144
on side edges
126
of planar body
122
of lid
120
. Latches
142
and
144
lock against the outside surface
28
of the main container unit
12
to lock the lid
120
to the main container unit
12
when the device
10
is closed and are also shown in FIG.
10
. As indicated in
FIG. 6
, a plurality of sponge strips, such as strip
145
, are defined in top surface
132
of lid
120
. The sponge strips
145
assist a cleaning process of the lid
120
after the lid
120
has been used to support food thereon.
Each top container
50
and
52
has a plurality of leg mounts, such as leg mount
150
, one of which is located at each corner of planar body
122
.
Device
10
further includes a plurality of legs, such as leg
160
, for supporting the lid
120
on the top containers
50
,
52
in a manner shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. Each leg
160
includes one end
169
releasably received in a leg mount
150
in an in-use configuration, and a second end
162
in a leg accommodating block
70
in a respective top container
50
,
52
in the in-use configuration. As can be seen in
FIG. 4
, legs
160
can include a plurality of sections, including sections
164
and
166
, which are releasably connected together. In this manner, the legs can assume any of a plurality of lengths to support lid
120
at any of a plurality of heights above top containers
50
,
52
as desired.
As can be understood from
FIGS. 3 and 5
, the open tops
64
of top containers
50
and
52
and open top
24
of main container unit
12
are oriented to open in the same direction and lid
120
extends over the open tops
64
of top containers
50
,
52
and open top
24
of main container unit
12
in the in-use configuration. This orientation of elements permits easy access to the interiors of the top containers
50
,
52
and the main container unit
12
even when the lid
120
is in the in-use configuration. Still further, referring to
FIGS. 1-3
, it can be seen that a portion of the open tops
64
of top containers
50
,
52
and open top
24
of main container unit
12
extend beyond lid
120
in the in-use configuration so access to the interior of the top containers and the main container unit is further eased, even when the device is in the in-use configuration. Still further, as can be understood from
FIG. 3
, when the device
10
is in the in-use configuration, the lid
120
and the top containers
50
,
52
protect the inside of the main container unit
12
while still permitting access thereto when desired. The device
10
can be manufactured from suitable aluminum or plastics-type materials if desired.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
Claims
- 1. A portable storage device and table comprising:a) a main container unit which includes (1) sides, ends, a bottom, an open top, handles, an outer surface, and an inside surface, (2) a plurality of sleeves on said inside surface of said main container unit, each sleeve having an open top located near said open top of said main container unit, (3) a plurality of stop elements, each stop element being mounted on said inside surface of said main container unit near an open top of a sleeve, (4) a plurality of fastener-accommodating holes defined through said sides of said main container, each of said fastener-accommodating holes being positioned near an open top of a sleeve, and (5) a plurality of handles located on said outside surface of said main container; b) two top containers, each top container including (1) sides, ends, a bottom, an open top, an inside surface and an outside surface, (2) a plurality of leg accommodating blocks fixed to said inside surface of each said top container near said open top of said top container, and (3) a plurality of fastener mounts in each said end of each said top container; c) a plurality of mounting brackets connecting each of said top containers to said main container unit, each of said mounting brackets including (1) an elongate body having side edges, first and second ends, and a longitudinal dimension extending between said ends of said elongate body, (2) an elongate slot extending along said longitudinal dimension of each said elongate body from adjacent to said first end of said elongate body toward said second end of said elongate body, (3) said elongate slot having an end spaced from said second end of said elongate body and defining a landing between said end of said elongate slot and said second end of said elongate body, said landing being planar and offset from a plane containing a remainder of said elongate body and being connected to the remainder of said elongate body by a connecting portion, (4) a mounting hole through said elongate body near said second end of said elongate body, and (5) a stop element on one side edge of said elongate body; d) a first fastener securely attaching said second end of each said mounting bracket to a respective top container via an associated one of said fastener mounts in each said top container; e) a second fastener slidably attaching an associated one of said mounting brackets to said main container unit and fitting through an associated one of said fastener accommodating holes in said main container unit and through the elongate slot in said associated mounting bracket so said associated mounting bracket will slide with respect to said second fastener and with respect to said main container unit, said second fastener being positioned with respect to an associated one of said sleeves on said main container unit so said first end of said associated mounting bracket is positioned adjacent to said open end of said associated sleeve whereby said associated mounting bracket will slide into said associated sleeve to be in a stored configuration and slide out of said associated sleeve to be in a deployed configuration, said stop element on said associated mounting bracket abutting a corresponding stop element on said main container unit when said associated mounting bracket is in said deployed configuration to keep said associated mounting bracket in the deployed configuration; f) a lid which covers said open tops of said top containers and said main container in said stored configuration and is removed from said tops in said in-use configuration, wherein the lid includes (1) a planar body with side edges, end edges, a top surface, a bottom surface, corners at intersections of said side edges and said end edges, (2) a rim on said end edges and on said side edges of said planar body of said lid, (3) latches on said end edges and said side edges of said planar body of said lid, and (4) a leg mount located at each corner of said planar body; and g) a plurality of legs, each leg including (1) one end releasably received in a leg mount in an in-use configuration, and (2) a second end in a leg accommodating block in a respective top container in the in-use configuration.
- 2. The portable storage device and table as described in claim 1 wherein each said leg includes a plurality of segments releasably connected together in the in-use configuration.
- 3. The portable storage device and table as described in claim 2 further including a plurality of sponge strips defined in said top surface of said lid.
- 4. The portable storage device and table as described in claim 3 wherein each of said elements on said mounting brackets includes a linear edge connected to a respective side edge of the body of said mounting bracket, an outer edge spaced from said side edge of said body of said mounting bracket and a second edge connecting said outer edge of said stop element to said side edge of said body of said mounting bracket at a location spaced from said linear edge of said stop element.
- 5. The portable storage device and table as described in claim 3 wherein said open tops of said top containers and said open top of said main container unit are oriented to open in the same direction and said lid extends over said open tops of said top containers and said open top of said main container unit in the in-use configuration.
- 6. The portable storage device and table as described in claim 5 wherein a portion of said open tops of said top containers and said open top of said main container unit extend beyond said lid in the in-use configuration.
US Referenced Citations (9)
