Patent Application
20130032131
The present invention relates to outdoor cooking equipment, and more particularly to a storage box to be used with an outdoor cooking device, like a stove.
Outdoor cooking equipment of various kinds and embodiments is known in the state of the art. Commonly, camping stoves are used to prepare food in the wilderness or at remote locations. Most of the stoves known are built like a suitcase, i.e. having a heating unit and a hinged cover mounted to the heating unit. Thus, the stove can easily be secured and stored during the journey.
However, to prepare food, other equipment besides the stove and the ingredients is needed. For instance, a pot, spices and cutlery like knives or cooking spoons are also mandatory. Especially the latter ones may become soiled during entrainment or even can get lost, e.g. when forgotten at the camping site. Hence, when being on a long camping trip, this can lead to awkward situations when happening quite early.
To solve this problem, all accessories can be stored in a bag or the like. Notwithstanding, this may only be regarded as a temporary solution as a bag is cumbersome and can get damaged, e.g. when a knife or another sharp object is stored inside. Moreover, the accessories have to be stored separately from the stove.
In consequence, the handling cannot be facilitated. Lastly, a bag has the disadvantage that it can only inadequately be cleaned.
Thus, the objective of the present invention is to provide a storage box which allows for a convenient handling and for a safe storing of the accessories needed to prepare food.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above by providing a storage box to be used with an outdoor cooking device comprising a base part having an inside area, an outside area and a base rim portion, and a lid part having an inside area, an outside area and lid rim portion. The lid rim portion is attachable to the base rim portion such that a closed interior space is formed between the base part and the lid part. Within this interior space, the accessories needed for the food preparation can safely be stored. Moreover, the base part further comprises at least one fastening means such that the storage box can be attached to the outdoor cooking device.
Accordingly, all accessories needed are storable inside the storage box in a simple manner. In addition, the storage box can removable be attached to the outdoor cooking device. Hence, soiling, damaging or loosing the accessories is greatly avoided. Even if the storage box gets soiled, it can easily be cleaned e.g. under rinsing water.
According to another aspect of the invention, the at least one fastening means is a magnet. Thus, the storage box can firmly be attached to any magneto-metallic area of the cooking device. Moreover, magnets have the advantage that their functioning is not prone to soiling or humidity. Magnets can durably be used without exchanging.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base part comprises four magnets, the magnets being rectangularly arranged in a plane. Hence, a particularly strong and safe attachment of the storage box is achieved.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base rim portion has at least one protrusion and the lid rim portion has at least one detent. The detent and the protrusion are configured to lock the lid part to the base part. Thus, the lid part can be attached and detached from the base part.
According to another aspect of the invention, the lid rim portion has at least two diametric detents and the base rim portion has at least to diametric protrusion. Diametric detents and protrusions have the advantage that the lid part is not jiggling when attached to the base part. Hence, contaminants like dirt and water are prevented from entering into the interior space, and, thus soiling of the accessories is impeded.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base part further comprises at least one base flap extending away from the base rim portion and the lid part further comprises at least on lid flap extending away from the lid rim portion. The base flap and the lid flap are partially in contact when the lid part is attached to the base part. Thus, on the one hand the base flap and the lid flap can function as an arrester hindering the lid part to be pushed to far onto the base part. On the other hand, as the lid flap and the base flap are only partially in contact, i.e. they overlap, the lip part can easily be detached from the base part by holding the base part and the lid part at the respective flaps and moving both in opposite directions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base rim portion has two diametric base flaps and the lid rim portion has two diametric lid flaps. This further facilitates the handling of the storage box.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base part is provided with at least one ventilation hole. Thus, moisture entrapped can escape from the interior space.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base part is made of metal. Preferably, a rust-proof metal is used, e.g. aluminum.
According to another aspect of the invention, the lid part is made of plastic. The elastic properties of plastic material ease the attachment of the lid part to the base part.
The inventive outdoor cooking device comprises a heating unit and a cover. The cover is articulated to the heating unit and comprises recessed mount on its inside facing the heating unit. The shape of the recessed mount corresponds to the shape so of the base part of an inventive storage box as set forth above.
Consequently, the storage box can be attached to the inside of the cover prior to closing the cover. Thus, when the outdoor cooking device is in the folded state, the storage box is safely stored together with outdoor cooking device. This enables a convenient handling during the journey in the wilderness.
The foregoing is given more for the purpose of illustration and not limitation with respect to different features of the storage box.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when taken so together with the accompanying drawings.
Skilled persons in the art will appreciate that the Figures have not necessarily be drawn to scale.
A storage box 1 is illustrated in
Additionally, the base part 3 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 16. Hence, entrapped moisture can vaporize and exit the storage box 1. Thus, molding of e.g. spices or the like stored in the storage box 1 is greatly prevented.
As best seen in
The base part 3 further comprise of two diametrical base flaps 14 vertically extending away from the base rim portion 6. Similarly, the lid part 7 further comprise of two diametrical lid flaps 15 vertically extending away from the lid rim portion 10. The base flaps 14 and the lid flaps 15 are arranged so that they partially contact when the lid part 7 is attached to the base part 3. In other words, when the storage box 1 is closed, one base flap 14 and one lid flap 15 overlap at opposed sides of the storage box 1, as can be seen in
As to form the closed interior space between the base part 3 and the lid part 7, the lid part 7 is placed on the base part 3 such that the lid rim portion 10 contacts the base rim portion 6. By applying a little force, the base rim portion 6 and the lid rim portion 10 are shifted against each other, such that the protrusion 12 of the base rim portion 6 engages with the detents 13 of the lid rim portion 10. Moreover, the base flaps 14 and the lid flaps 15 then partially contact each other, as can best be seen from
For opening the storage box 1, one can grasp a base flap 14 with one hand and the corresponding lid flap 15 with the other hand. By moving the base flap 14 and the lid flap 15 in opposing directions, the lid part 7 gets detached from the base part 3. Alternatively, one can place ones thumb at e.g. a base flap 14 and the forefinger of the same hand at the corresponding lid flap 15. With a snapping-like movement of the finger, the lid part 7 is then detached from the base part 3.
A cooking device 2 is illustrated in
As shown in
As a matter of course, the storage box 1 can also be attached to the cooking device 2 with other fastening means, e.g. with some kind of snap-in structure.
When the cooking device 2 is in the folded state, i.e. when the cover 18 is closed, the storage box 1 attached to the recessed mount 19 is securely stored within the suitcase-like cooking device 2. As mentioned, this allows for a very convenient handling during extensive trips in the wilderness.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention is herein set forth and described, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein including but not limited to construction and arrangement of elements as well as their composition without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims and reasonable equivalents thereof.
It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements and the term “a” and “an” preceding an element does not exclude plurality. Further it should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
