US20240398083A1

US20240398083A1 - Heated Lunch Bag and Cooler Device

Info

Publication number: US20240398083A1
Application number: US18/583,142
Authority: US
Inventors: Clive Wright
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-05-31
Filing date: 2024-02-21
Publication date: 2024-12-05

Abstract

A lunch bag device is disclosed that is a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool. The lunch bag device comprises a body component that is configured in a rectangular shape that comprises a heated section and a cooled section. The sections are separated by a divider. Further, the body component comprises a rechargeable battery to keep the sections hot or cold, as needed. Furthermore, the body component comprises a flip cover and strap for easy transportation. Additionally, the lunch bag device is made of a very strong, durable, and washable material. Thus, users can enjoy warm or cold food and beverages as desired while traveling.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/505,178, which was filed on May 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of lunch bag devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved lunch bag designed to keep food and beverages warm or cool depending on which section they are placed in. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in lunch bag devices. Generally, people who travel frequently may opt to make lunches and eat them on the go. However, eating cold food can be disappointing, especially if cold food is consumed daily. Further, people may lack access to a microwave and be unable to heat and enjoy their meals.
Accordingly, users need a container that stores two items of dissimilar temperature over an extended period of time. Users typically have both hot and cold foods in their lunches and a container which keeps hot foods hot and cold foods cold is needed, making it possible to transport two different foods that must be kept at different temperatures.
Furthermore, there is a demand for an improved lunch bag device that keeps food and beverages warm or cool depending on which section of the device they are placed in. More particularly, there is a demand for a lunch bag device that can heat or cool food/beverage items via a rechargeable battery.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that provides users with an improved lunch bag designed to keep food and beverages warm or cool depending on which section they are placed in. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that includes two separate sections and a divider that can heat or cool items via a rechargeable battery. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that enables users to travel and still enjoy food and beverages at optimal temperatures. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that eliminates the need to purchase lunch while traveling, saving time and money. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that has a flip cover to keep the contents from spilling out. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that comprises a strap for easy transportation.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a lunch bag device. The device is a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool. The lunch bag device comprises a body component that is configured in a rectangular shape that comprises a heated section and a cooled section. The sections are separated by a divider. Further, the body component comprises a rechargeable battery to keep the sections hot or cold, as needed. Furthermore, the body component comprises a flip cover and strap for easy transportation. Additionally, the lunch bag device is made of a very strong, durable, and washable material. Thus, users can enjoy warm or cold food and beverages as desired while traveling.
In this manner, the lunch bag device of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides users with a device that keeps food and beverages warm or cool. The device is a lunch bag that's divided into a heated section and a cooled section. The device can be manufactured of a durable and washable material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a lunch bag device. The device is a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool. The lunch bag device comprises a body component that is configured in a rectangular shape that comprises a heated section and a cooled section. The sections are separated by a divider. Further, the body component comprises a rechargeable battery to keep the sections hot or cold, as needed. Furthermore, the body component comprises a flip cover and strap for easy transportation. Thus, users can enjoy warm or cold food and beverages as desired while traveling.
In one embodiment, the lunch bag device relates generally to a heating and cooling lunch box for keeping hot food hot and cold food cold. Accordingly, the lunch bag device provides a highly satisfactory bag for carrying lunch or the like food items by school children, students, teachers, secretaries, and other working people who wish to consume their home-prepared food in school or other places of work. Another important feature of this invention is that food may be stored in the lunch bag for several hours without being deteriorated or turning cold, particularly in hot weather due to the refrigerating effect imparted by the frozen ice pack and due to the heating effect imparted by the heating elements inserted therein.
In one embodiment, the lunch bag device comprises a body component that is configured in a rectangular shape but can be any suitable shape as is known in the art. The body component comprises an interior cavity, defining a heated section or chamber, and a cooled section or chamber, which are separated by a divider. Specifically, the body component comprises an upstanding peripheral wall defining the rectangular configuration and the divider which forms the two internal chambers or sections for carrying hot and cold food. The two chambers open upwardly and are closed by a flip cover. The chambers each have a floor from which projects opposing side walls, and front and back walls. Specifically, the lunch bag device is of the open-top type construction and comprises a front wall, a back wall, a floor, and a pair of side walls, forming an interior rectangular cavity which is bisected by the divider.
In one embodiment, the interior cavity is divided into two food containing sections or chambers. Thus, the interior cavity of the body component is comprised of two halves. Each of these halves or sections is an internal compartment. Also, the flip cover acts as an insulating cover and has a flat surface, which is used to seal each of these sections when closed. The divider is a permanent interior wall in the middle of the interior cavity, which helps separate the two sections, such that section one does not affect the temperature in section two and vice versa. In another embodiment, the body component can be divided into a plurality of sections adapted to contain foods via the use of more than one divider. Any suitable number of sections can be created by using the dividers, as is known in the art based on the wants and/or needs of a user.
In one embodiment, the two chambers or sections have a removable divider. Specifically, the front and back walls have internal grooves for slidably receiving the divider. Multiple sets of internal grooves can be utilized to allow more than one divider to be placed within the interior cavity. The multiple dividers allow the interior cavity to be broken up into multiple food sections.
In one embodiment, the body component is double-walled, creating an open chamber or pocket disposed beneath the chambers, behind the chambers, and/or in front of the chambers. The open chamber or pocket is configured to retain a freezer pack or heating element, to allow for hot or cold foods within the food sections to remain hot or cold, as required.
In one embodiment, the hot and cold sections are kept hot and cold by electrical means, such as rechargeable batteries, or by plugging the lunch box device into an electrical outlet or USB port, etc., or any other suitable electrical means as is known in the art. Generally, the electrical means would provide power to an electric heating element or multiple electric heating elements, to keep the hot section or chamber hot, for hot foods stored within. Additionally, the electrical means would provide power to an electric cooling element, such as a fan or mini air conditioning unit, to keep the cold section or chamber cold, for cold foods stored within. Further, the body component would also comprise a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the hot and cold sections via a knob or other suitable temperature control means.
In one embodiment, instead of the electrical cooling element, at least one freezer pack is used to keep the cold section cold. The freezer pack would be a typical freezer pack, kept in a freezer to freeze, then placed in the open chamber or pocket for cooling the cold food section. Any suitable number of freezer packs can be utilized as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user and the size of the body component.
In use, food is placed in the heated chamber and heated by electrical heating elements disposed within the back wall and/or beneath the chambers. Heat typically radiates laterally into the heated chamber. Heating elements are supplied with power from a rechargeable battery, which is connected to heating elements by suitable conductors or circuitry (not shown). The circuitry includes a switch for controlling power flowing to the heating elements and two externally accessible power receptacles. The switch includes an externally accessible temperature control element, such as a knob. The receptacles receive power from a suitable DC source, such as from an electrical power cord to a wall receptacle, a USB port, or a cable connected to a motor vehicle's electrical system (not shown). The receptacles are arranged to receive AC power, such as 120 volt, single-phase AC power. The circuitry includes a power converter suitable for converting AC power to DC power, and necessary conductors operably connecting the receptacles, the power switch, and the power converter.
Further, to accommodate heating in the hot chamber and also maintenance of low temperatures in the adjacent cold chamber, the walls and floors are formed from insulating material. Although the insulating material would typically be a synthetic resin, it will be understood that any natural or synthetic material having the requisite strength and ability to retard the transfer of heat or cold into and out of the hot/cold chambers, such as ceramics, will be suitable as a constituent material.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the heating element is in the form of radiant heating elements which emit both visible light and heat energy in invisible form. In another embodiment, heating elements are of the conventional electrical resistive type, which emits heat without glowing and are disposed in the back wall and/or floor of the body component. In one embodiment, the heating or cooling elements are located in the flip cover and heat or cool the contents of the chamber from above.
In one embodiment, the body component is a foldable, flexible, insulated double-walled lunch bag device comprising an inner liner. In this embodiment, an insulating material is disposed between the outer walls of the body component and the inner liner and is disposed substantially evenly between the outer walls and the inner liner filling the space therebetween, to protect the food contents placed in the food sections from losing their temperature. Typically, the insulating material suitable for use in making the body component of this invention may be formed of a lightweight polymeric material, such as polystyrene or polyurethane foam. Further, in this embodiment, each of the body component's walls comprise an outer wall and an inner wall, with all of the walls being made of a suitable flexible fabric or plastic material and being preferably waterproof or water repellent.
In one embodiment, the inner liner may be a separate structure from the outer wall, or it may also be secured either adhesively or by stitching or by any other suitable method directly to the inner surface of the outer walls, thereby forming a unitary composite inner wall of the body component. In this embodiment, the outer walls of the body component are formed of a suitable cloth or plastic material, while the inner liner is made of a waterproof material, such as a flexible plastic film or a rubber-treated fabric, and comprise a space for a frozen ice pack or heating element to keep the food contents in the sections cold or hot.
In one embodiment, the flip cover is secured to and hinges from the back wall of the body component. When in place to cover the interior cavity, the flip cover acts as an insulating cover and has a flat surface, which is used to seal each of the food sections when closed. Typically, the flip cover has a manually removable attachment element in the form of a latch. The latch is disposed to engage and be manually released from engagement with the front wall of the body component. The body component further includes a carrying handle or multiple handles and a carrying strap, both fixed to opposing side walls of the body component. The handle is small in length relative to the carrying strap and also is rigid. The carrying strap is much greater in length and is flexible compared to the handle. Having both assures maximal convenience when carrying and transporting the lunch bag device. Further, the handle and carrying strap may be formed, if desired, of the same material as the outer wall of the body component. The handle and strap are affixed by stitching or sewing one end thereof to the upper portion of the side wall of the body component, the other free end of the handle and strap being either stitched or sewed or detachably fastened to the upper portion of the opposing side wall by conventional cooperating snaps or similar fasteners.
In one embodiment, the body component comprises a conventional zipper instead of a flip cover for closing the device. Specifically, in this embodiment, the means for opening and closing the body component is a conventional zipper disposed across the top of the body component for the removable placing of food items and of the ice pack or heat element therein. When the lunch bag device is closed by means of a zipper, a substantially air-tight seal is formed, whereby a refrigerating and/or heating temperature may be maintained inside the food chambers of the body component in the presence of the inserted ice pack or heat element.
In one embodiment, the lunch bag device is made of a very strong, durable, and washable material as is known in the art, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, etc. Generally, the lunch bag device is also manufactured from a material that is water resistant or waterproof, or the body component comprises a coating that is water resistant or waterproof. Further, the device is made of antibacterial or antimicrobial material or the body component comprises a coating that is antibacterial or antimicrobial. Additionally, the device can be designed in various colors and patterns based upon a user's preference. Further, the lunch bag device is available in different shapes and sizes, as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user.
In use, the user places a heating element in the interior of the hot chamber and a cooling element in the interior of the cold chamber. The user then adjusts the temperature of the elements if necessary and if able to. The user then places their food in the requisite hot and cold chambers at any desired temperature, then closes and latches the flip cover thereto. The insulated walls of the chambers tend to keep the food at the temperature at which it was placed in the body component. Hot food will remain hot and cold food will remain cold, until the user opens the lunch bag device at mealtime. Thus, a temperature-regulated lunch bag device has been provided, which will keep food at a predetermined temperature from the time that it is packed in the lunch bag device until it is removed therefrom.
In yet another embodiment, the lunch bag device comprises a plurality of indicia.
In yet another embodiment, a method of heating or cooling lunch foods in a lunch bag is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a lunch bag device comprising a body component with a heated section and a cooled section separated by a divider. The method also comprises inserting a rechargeable battery into the body component to cool or heat the food. Further, the method comprises inserting food that needs to be cooled into the cool section and inserting food that needs to be heated into the hot section. The method also comprises securing the flip cover to secure the food within the lunch bag device. Finally, the method comprises transporting the lunch bag device via the strap.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the lunch bag device of the present invention showing the interior of the device in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the lunch bag device of the present invention showing the two sections and the rechargeable battery in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the lunch bag device of the present invention showing the flip cover and strap in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the lunch bag device of the present invention in use in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart showing the method of heating or cooling lunch foods in a lunch bag in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that provides users with an improved lunch bag designed to keep food and beverages warm or cool depending on which section they are placed in. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that includes two separate sections and a divider that can heat or cool items via a rechargeable battery. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that enables users to travel and still enjoy food and beverages at optimal temperatures. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that eliminates the need to purchase lunch while traveling, saving time and money. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that has a flip cover to keep the contents from spilling out. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a lunch bag device that comprises a strap for easy transportation.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel lunch bag device. The device is a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool. The lunch bag device comprises a body component that is configured in a rectangular shape that comprises a heated section and a cooled section. The sections are separated by a divider. Further, the body component comprises a rechargeable battery to keep the sections hot or cold, as needed. Furthermore, the body component comprises a flip cover and strap for easy transportation. Additionally, the lunch bag device is made of a very strong, durable, and washable material. Thus, users can enjoy warm or cold food and beverages as desired while traveling. The present invention also includes a novel method of heating or cooling lunch foods in a lunch bag. The method includes the steps of providing a lunch bag device comprising a body component with a heated section and a cooled section separated by a divider. The method also comprises inserting a rechargeable battery into the body component to cool or heat the food. Further, the method comprises inserting food that needs to be cooled into the cool section and inserting food that needs to be heated into the hot section. The method also comprises securing the flip cover to secure the food within the lunch bag device. Finally, the method comprises transporting the lunch bag device via the strap.
Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the lunch bag device 100 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the lunch bag device 100 is an improved lunch bag device 100 that provides a user with a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool. Specifically, the lunch bag device 100 comprises a body component 102 with a hot section 104 and a cold section 106, separated by a divider 108. Further, the body component 102 comprises a rechargeable battery 110 to keep the sections 104, 106 hot or cold, as needed. Furthermore, the body component 102 comprises a flip cover 112 and strap 114 for easy transportation. Thus, users can enjoy warm or cold food and beverages as desired while traveling.
Generally, the lunch bag device 100 relates to a heating and cooling lunch box for keeping hot food hot and cold food cold. Accordingly, the lunch bag device 100 provides a highly satisfactory bag for carrying lunch or the like food items by school children, students, teachers, secretaries, and other working people who wish to consume their home-prepared food in school or other places of work. Another important feature of this invention is that food may be stored in the lunch bag device 100 for several hours without being deteriorated or turning cold, particularly in hot weather due to the refrigerating effect imparted by the frozen ice pack and due to the heating effect imparted by the heating elements inserted therein.
Furthermore, the lunch bag device 100 comprises a body component 102 that is configured in a rectangular shape but can be any suitable shape as is known in the art. The body component 102 comprises an interior cavity 116, defining a hot section or chamber 104, and a cold section or chamber 106, which are separated by a divider 108. Specifically, the body component 102 comprises an upstanding peripheral wall defining the rectangular configuration, and the divider 108 which forms the two internal chambers or sections 104, 106 for carrying hot and cold food. The two chambers 104, 106 open upwardly and are closed by a flip cover 112. The chambers 104, 106 each have a floor 118 from which projects opposing side walls 120, and front 122 and back 124 walls. Specifically, the lunch bag device 100 is of the open-top type construction and comprises a front wall 122, a back wall 124, a floor 118, and a pair of side walls 120, forming an interior rectangular cavity 116 which is bisected by the divider 108.
Additionally, the interior cavity 116 is divided into two food containing sections or chambers 104, 106. Thus, the interior cavity 116 of the body component 102 is comprised of two halves 104, 106. Each of these halves or sections 104, 106 is an internal compartment. Also, the flip cover 112 acts as an insulating cover and has a flat surface, which is used to seal each of these sections 104, 106 when closed. The divider 108 is a permanent interior wall in the middle of the interior cavity 116, which helps separate the two sections 104, 106, such that section one 104 does not affect the temperature in section two 106, and vice versa. In another embodiment, the body component 102 can be divided into a plurality of sections adapted to contain foods via the use of more than one divider 108. Any suitable number of sections can be created by using the dividers 108, as is known in the art based on the wants and/or needs of a user.
In one embodiment, the two chambers or sections 104, 106 have a removable divider 108. Specifically, the front 122 and back 124 walls have internal grooves 126 for slidably receiving the divider 108. Multiple sets of internal grooves 126 can be utilized to allow more than one divider 108 to be placed within the interior cavity 116. The multiple dividers 108 allow the interior cavity 116 to be broken up into multiple food sections 104, 106.
Furthermore, the body component 102 is a foldable, flexible, insulated double-walled lunch bag device 100 comprising an inner liner 128. In this embodiment, an insulating material 130 is disposed between the outer walls 118, 120, 122, 124, of the body component 102 and the inner liner 128 and is disposed substantially evenly between the outer walls 118, 120, 122, 124 and the inner liner 128 filling the space therebetween, to protect the food contents placed in the food sections 104, 106 from losing their temperature. Typically, the insulating material 130 suitable for use in making the body component 102 of this invention may be formed of a lightweight polymeric material, such as polystyrene or polyurethane foam. Further, in this embodiment, each of the body component's walls comprise an outer wall and an inner wall, with all of the walls being made of a suitable flexible fabric or plastic material and being preferably waterproof or water repellent.
Additionally, in one embodiment, the inner liner 128 may be a separate structure from the outer walls 118, 120, 122, 124, or it may also be secured either adhesively or by stitching or by any other suitable method directly to the inner surface of the outer walls 118, 120, 122, 124, thereby forming a unitary composite inner wall of the body component 102. In this embodiment, the outer walls 118, 120, 122, 124 of the body component 102 are formed of a suitable cloth or plastic material, while the inner liner 128 is made of a waterproof material, such as a flexible plastic film or a rubber-treated fabric and comprise an open chamber or pocket 132 for a frozen ice pack 134 or heating element 136 to keep the food contents in the sections 104, 106 cold or hot.
As shown in FIG. 2 , the body component 102 is double-walled, creating an open chamber or pocket 132 disposed beneath the chambers, behind the chambers, and/or in front of the chambers 104, 106. The open chamber or pocket 132 is configured to retain a freezer pack 134 or heating element 136, to allow for hot or cold foods within the food sections 104, 106 to remain hot or cold, as required.
Furthermore, the hot and cold sections 104, 106 are kept hot and cold by electrical means, such as rechargeable batteries 110, or by plugging the lunch box device 100 into an electrical outlet 200 or USB port 202, etc., or any other suitable electrical means as is known in the art. Generally, the electrical means would provide power to an electric heating element 136 or multiple electric heating elements 136, to keep the hot section or chamber 104 hot, for hot foods stored within. Additionally, the electrical means would provide power to an electric cooling element 204, such as a fan or mini air conditioning unit, to keep the cold section or chamber 106 cold, for cold foods stored within. Further, the body component 102 would also comprise a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the hot and cold sections 104, 106 via a knob 206 or other suitable temperature control means.
In one embodiment, instead of the electrical cooling element 204, at least one freezer pack 134 is used to keep the cold section 106 cold. The freezer pack 134 would be a typical freezer pack 134, kept in a freezer to freeze, then placed in the open chamber or pocket 132 for cooling the cold food section 106. Any suitable number of freezer packs 134 can be utilized as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user and the size of the body component 102.
In use, food is placed in the heated chamber 104 and heated by electrical heating elements 136 disposed within the back wall 124 and/or beneath the chambers 118. Heat typically radiates laterally into the heated chamber 104. Heating elements 136 are supplied with power from a rechargeable battery 110, which is connected to heating elements 136 by suitable conductors or circuitry (not shown). The circuitry includes a switch 208 for controlling power flowing to the heating elements 136 and two externally accessible power receptacles (not shown). Switch 208 includes an externally accessible temperature control element, such as a knob 206. The receptacles receive power from a suitable DC source, such as from an electrical power cord to a wall receptacle, a USB port, or a cable connected to a motor vehicle's electrical system (not shown). The receptacles are arranged to receive AC power, such as 120 volt, single-phase AC power. The circuitry includes a power converter suitable for converting AC power to DC power, and necessary conductors operably connecting the receptacles, the power switch 208, and the power converter.
Further, to accommodate heating in the hot chamber 104 and also maintenance of low temperatures in the adjacent cold chamber 106, the walls 120, 122, 124, and floors 118 are formed from insulating material. Although the insulating material would typically be a synthetic resin, it will be understood that any natural or synthetic material having the requisite strength and ability to retard the transfer of heat or cold into and out of the hot/ cold chambers 104, 106, such as ceramics, will be suitable as a constituent material.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the heating element 136 is in the form of radiant heating elements which emit both visible light and heat energy in invisible form. In another embodiment, heating elements 136 are of the conventional electrical resistive type, which emit heat without glowing and are disposed in the back wall 124 and/or floor 118 of the body component 102. In one embodiment, the heating 136 or cooling 204 elements are located in the flip cover 112 and heat or cool the contents of the chamber 104, 106 from above.
If a battery 110 is used to power the heating 136 and/or cooling 204 elements, the battery 110 may be a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery, etc., such as any 3V-12volts DC battery or other conventional battery, such as A, AA, AAA, etc., that supplies power to the heating 136 and/or cooling 204 elements. Throughout this specification, the term “battery” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing the battery 110 may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. In addition, a rechargeable embodiment of the battery 110 may be recharged using a USB port (not shown), wherein the USB port is a USB-A, USB-B, Micro-B, Micro-USB, Mini-USB, or USB-C port, etc.
As shown in FIG. 3 , the flip cover 112 is secured to and hinges from the back wall 124 of the body component 102. When in place to cover the interior cavity 116, the flip cover 112 acts as an insulating cover and has a flat surface, which is used to seal each of the food sections 104, 106 when closed. Typically, the flip cover 112 has a manually removable attachment element in the form of a latch 300. The latch 300 is disposed to engage and be manually released from engagement with the front wall 122 of the body component 102. The body component 102 further includes a carrying handle 302 or multiple handles 302 and a carrying strap 114, both fixed to opposing side walls 120 of the body component 102. The handle 302 is small in length relative to the carrying strap 114 and also is rigid. The carrying strap 114 is much greater in length and is flexible compared to the handle 302. Having both assures maximal convenience when carrying and transporting the lunch bag device 100. Further, the handle 302 and carrying strap 114 may be formed, if desired, of the same material as the outer wall 120, 122, 124 of the body component 102. The handle 302 and strap 114 are affixed by stitching or sewing one end 304 thereof to the upper portion of the side wall 120 of the body component 102, the other free end 306 of the handle 302 and strap 114 being either stitched or sewed or detachably fastened to the upper portion of the opposing side wall 120 by conventional cooperating snaps or similar fasteners.
In one embodiment, the body component 102 comprises a conventional zipper 308 instead of a flip cover 112 for closing the device 100. Specifically, in this embodiment, the means for opening and closing the body component 102 is a conventional zipper 308 disposed across the top of the body component 102 for the removable placing of food items and of the ice pack 134 or heat element 136 therein. When the lunch bag device 100 is closed by means of a zipper 308, a substantially air-tight seal is formed, whereby a refrigerating and/or heating temperature may be maintained inside the food chambers 104, 106 of the body component 102 in the presence of the inserted ice pack 134 or heat element 136.
As shown in FIG. 4 , the lunch bag device 100 is made of a very strong, durable, and washable material as is known in the art, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, etc. Generally, the lunch bag device 100 is also manufactured from a material that is water resistant or waterproof, or the body component 102 comprises a coating that is water resistant or waterproof. Further, the device 100 is made of antibacterial or antimicrobial material or the body component 102 comprises a coating that is antibacterial or antimicrobial. Additionally, the device 100 can be designed in various colors and patterns based upon a user's preference. Further, the lunch bag device 100 is available in different shapes and sizes, as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user.
In use, the user places a heating element 136 in the interior of the hot chamber 104 and a cooling element 204 in the interior of the cold chamber 106. The user then adjusts the temperature of the elements 104, 204 if necessary and if able to. The user then places their food in the requisite hot 104 and cold 106 chambers at any desired temperature, then closes and latches 300 the flip cover 112 thereto. The insulated walls 120, 122, 124 of the chambers 104, 106 tend to keep the food at the temperature at which it was placed in the body component 102. Hot food will remain hot and cold food will remain cold, until the user opens the lunch bag device 100 at mealtime. Thus, a temperature-regulated lunch bag device 100 has been provided, which will keep food at a predetermined temperature from the time that it is packed in the lunch bag device 100 until it is removed therefrom.
In yet another embodiment, the lunch bag device 100 comprises a plurality of indicia 400. The body component 102 of the device 100 may include advertising, a trademark, or other letters, designs, or characters, printed, painted, stamped, or integrated into the body component 102, or any other indicia 400 as is known in the art. Specifically, any suitable indicia 400 as is known in the art can be included, such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., that may or may not be lunch bag, food, or brand related.
FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of the method of heating or cooling lunch foods in a lunch bag. The method includes the steps of at 500, providing a lunch bag device comprising a body component with a heated section and a cooled section separated by a divider. The method also comprises at 502, inserting a rechargeable battery into the body component to cool or heat the food. Further, the method comprises at 504, inserting food that needs to be cooled into the cool section and inserting food that needs to be heated into the hot section. The method also comprises at 506, securing the flip cover to secure the food within the lunch bag device. Finally, the method comprises at 508, transporting the lunch bag device via the strap.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “lunch bag device”, “lunch device”, “bag device”, and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the lunch bag device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the lunch bag device 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lunch bag device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-5 is for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the lunch bag device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the lunch bag device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the lunch bag device 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A lunch bag device that provides a user with a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool, the lunch bag device comprising:

a body component;

a flip cover; and

a rechargeable battery;

wherein the body component comprises a hot section and a cold section;

wherein the hot section and the cold section are separated by a divider;

wherein the divider is a permanent interior wall in a middle of the body component, which helps separate the hot and cold sections;

wherein the flip cover seals the body component and prevents spills; and

further wherein the rechargeable battery powers heating and cooling elements to keep the hot section hot and the cold section cold, retaining temperature of food placed within the hot section and the cold section.

2. The lunch bag device of claim 1, wherein the body component is configured in a rectangular shape.

3. The lunch bag device of claim 2, wherein the body component comprises an interior cavity, defining the hot section and the cold section.

4. The lunch bag device of claim 3, wherein the hot section and the cold section open upwardly and are closed by the flip cover.

5. The lunch bag device of claim 4, wherein the hot section and the cold section each have a floor from which projects opposing side walls, and front and back walls.

6. The lunch bag device of claim 5, wherein the divider is removable.

7. The lunch bag device of claim 6, wherein the body component is double-walled and comprises an inner liner with an insulating material disposed between the double-walls.

8. The lunch bag device of claim 7, wherein double-walls create an open chamber disposed beneath the hot and cold sections or behind the hot and cold sections to retain a heating element or a cooling element.

9. The lunch bag device of claim 8, wherein the body component comprises a temperature control knob for controlling temperature of the hot and cold sections.

10. The lunch bag device of claim 9, wherein instead of the electrical cooling element, at least one freezer pack is used to keep the cold section cold.

11. The lunch bag device of claim 10, wherein the flip cover is secured to the back wall of the body component and comprises a latch to secure the flip cover in place over the interior rectangular cavity.

12. The lunch bag device of claim 11, wherein the body component comprises a carrying strap.

13. A lunch bag device that provides a user with a specialized lunch bag that keeps food and drinks warm or cool, the lunch bag device comprising:

a body component that is of an open-top type construction and comprises a front wall, a back wall, a floor and a pair of side walls, forming an interior rectangular cavity which is bisected by a removable divider;

a flip cover; and

a rechargeable battery;

wherein the body component is double-walled and comprises an inner liner with an insulating material disposed between the double-walls;

wherein the interior rectangular cavity is configured into a hot section and a cold section separated by a removable divider;

wherein double-walls create an open chamber disposed beneath the hot and cold sections or behind the hot and cold sections to retain a heating element or a cooling element;

wherein the flip cover seals the body component and prevents spills;

wherein the rechargeable battery powers the heating and cooling element to keep the hot section hot and the cold section cold, retaining temperature of food placed within the hot section and the cold section; and

further wherein the body component comprises a temperature control knob for controlling temperature of the hot and cold sections.

14. The lunch bag device of claim 13, wherein instead of the electrical cooling element, at least one freezer pack is used to keep the cold section cold.

15. The lunch bag device of claim 13, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the floor and the pair of side walls are formed from insulating material.

16. The lunch bag device of claim 13, wherein the flip cover is secured to the back wall of the body component and comprises a latch to secure the flip cover in place over the interior rectangular cavity.

17. The lunch bag device of claim 13, wherein the body component comprises a carrying handle and a carrying strap.

18. The lunch bag device of claim 13, wherein instead of a flip cover, a zipper is used to close the body component.

19. The lunch bag device of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of indicia.

20. A method of heating or cooling lunch foods in a lunch bag, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a lunch bag device comprising a body component with a heated section and a cooled section separated by a divider;

inserting a rechargeable battery into the body component to cool or heat the food;

inserting food that needs to be cooled into the cool section and inserting food that needs to be heated into the hot section;

securing the flip cover to secure the food within the lunch bag device; and

transporting the lunch bag device via the strap.