Food carrier

Abstract

A food carrier for carrying a plurality of meal containers includes an insulated housing having a closed bottom, a closed top, and least one side wall having a first opening proximate the top of the housing and a second opening proximate the bottom of the housing, wherein the first opening receives a meal container therethrough, and wherein the second opening allows removal of the meal containers and precludes simultaneous removal of all of the meal containers. The food carrier includes a first door movable between an open position, wherein the meal containers may be loaded within the housing via the first opening, and a closed position, wherein the first door covers the first opening, and a second door movable between an open position, wherein the meal containers may be removed from within the housing via the second opening, and a closed position, wherein the second door covers the second opening.

1 . A food carrier for carrying a plurality of meal containers, comprising: 
 an insulated housing having a closed bottom, a closed top, and at least one side wall defining an interior compartment and at least one opening proximate the top and bottom of the housing, a first portion of the at least one opening proximate the top of the housing being sized to receive a meal container therethrough, a second portion of the at least one opening proximate the bottom of the housing being sized to allow removal of the meal container from within the housing; and    at least one door operably connected with the housing and having a first portion movable between an open position, wherein the meal containers may be loaded into the housing via the first portion of the at least one opening, and a closed position, wherein the first portion of the at least one door covers at least a portion of the at least one opening, thereby limiting heat transfer from within the housing, and a second portion movable between an open position, wherein the meal containers may be removed from within the housing via the second portion of the at least one opening, and a closed position, wherein the second portion of at least one door covers at least a portion of the at least one opening, thereby limiting heat transfer from within the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the at least one door may be selectively opened to allow a meal container to be removed from within the housing and to preclude simultaneous removal of all of the meal containers from within the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The food carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the at least one door may be selectively opened to allow multiple meal containers to be simultaneously placed within the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The food carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is constructed of a flexible fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The food carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one door is constructed of a flexible fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The food carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one door are connected to the housing by at least one living hinge.  
   
   
       7 . The food carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one door are held in the closed position by hook-and-loop type fabric fasteners.  
   
   
       8 . The food carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one door each include an interior pocket, and wherein the interior pocket of each portion of the at least one door removably receives an insulation pad therein.  
   
   
       9 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the housing and the first and second portions of the at least one door are each constructed of a flexible fabric.  
   
   
       10 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the at least one door may be selectively opened to allow multiple meal containers to be simultaneously placed within the housing.  
   
   
       11 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one door are connected to the housing by at least one living hinge.  
   
   
       12 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one door are held in the closed position by hook-and-loop type fabric fasteners.  
   
   
       13 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one door each include an interior pocket, and wherein the interior pocket of each portion of the at least one door removably receives an insulation pad therein.  
   
   
       14 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a pair of handles fixedly attached to the housing and juxtaposed across the housing, and wherein the handles are constructed of a flexible fabric.    
   
   
       15 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , further including: 
 at least one structural supporting strap that is fixedly attached to and extends across the bottom of the housing.    
   
   
       16 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a pair of handles constructed of a flexible fabric and juxtaposed across the housing; and    at least one structural supporting strap that extends across the bottom of the housing, wherein the handles and the supporting strap are constructed as a single piece.    
   
   
       17 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , further including 
 an interior wall dividing the interior compartment into a first section and a second section.    
   
   
       18 . The food carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one door includes a first door that includes the first portion, and a second door that includes the second portion.  
   
   
       19 . The food carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one door includes a first door and a second door, and wherein the first and second doors are operably connected to the housing via piano-type hinges.  
   
   
       20 . The food carrier of  claim 19 , wherein the housing further includes a beam member aligned with the interior wall, and wherein the first and second doors are operably connected with the beam member.