Lunch box transforming into a placemat

Abstract

A lunch box transforming into a placemat has at least two zippers with one of the two zippers running along at least three but preferably four sides while the second zipper runs along the remaining sides so as to allow, when all unzipped, to open the lunch box so that it lays flat and becomes a placemat.

1 . A collapsible lunch box adapted to be formed into a placemat, said lunchbox comprising a front panel member; two side panel members connected to said front panel member along two opposite side edges of said front panel member; a bottom panel member connected to a bottom edge of said front panel member; a back panel member connected to a bottom edge of said bottom panel member opposite from said bottom edge of said front panel member; and a top panel member connected to a bottom edge of said back panel member opposite from said bottom edge of said bottom panel member; wherein side edges of said two side panel edges are adapted to be removably connected to side edges of said bottom, back, and top panel members to form said collapsible lunch box, and disconnected to form said placemat. 
   
   
       2 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 1 , wherein said placemat is adapted to lay flat on the surface of a table member and defines two surfaces; one of said two surfaces is an inside surface formed from a cotton material having an inner face laminated with a metalized finish; the second of said two surfaces is an outside surface formed from a layer of material having a rough texture that is adapted to limit slipping relative to said surface of a table member and is adapted to be on the outside of said lunch box when said side panel members are connected to said bottom, back, and top panel members, and is adapted to contact said table member surface when said side panel members are disconnected from said bottom, back, and top panel members forming said placemat; and a layer of insulating material located in between said inside and outside surfaces. 
   
   
       3 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 1 , wherein said connections between said side panel members and said front panel member are flexible. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 1 , wherein said removable connections between said side panel members and said bottom, back, and top panel member include zipper members. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 2 , wherein said insulating material of said inside surface is formed from POLAR. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 2 , wherein said rough textured material of said outside surface is formed from nylon. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 4 , wherein said zipper members are formed from nylon. 
   
   
       8 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 7 , wherein said zipper members are formed as first and second zipper members, wherein said first zipper member runs along at least three sides of one of said side panel members, and said second zipper member runs along all four sides of the other of said side panel members and the side of the front panel member opposite said bottom panel member. 
   
   
       9 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 8 , wherein said second zipper member also runs along a side of the side panel member that said first zipper member is not located. 
   
   
       10 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 2 , wherein said top panel member includes a handle member attached to said outside surface; one of said two side panel members includes a handle member attached to said outside surface; and said bottom panel member includes a plurality of holding straps attached to said outside surface that are adapted to receive catering articles; and one of said panel member includes a pouch member attached to said inside surface. 
   
   
       11 . A combination of an insulating means for insulating an interior space, and a placemat forming means for providing a stable placemat, said insulating and placemat forming means comprising a front panel member; two side panel members connected to said front panel member along two opposite side edges of said front panel member; a bottom panel member connected to a bottom edge of said front panel member; a back panel member connected to a bottom edge of said bottom panel member opposite from said bottom edge of said front panel member; and a top panel member connected to a bottom edge of said back panel member opposite from said bottom edge of said bottom panel member; wherein side edges of said two side panel edges are adapted to be removably connected to side edges of said bottom, back, and top panel members to form said collapsible lunch box, and disconnected to form said placemat. 
   
   
       12 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 11 , wherein said placemat is adapted to lay flat on the surface of a table member and defines two surfaces; one of said two surfaces is an inside surface formed from a cotton material having an inner face laminated with a metalized finish; the second of said two surfaces is an outside surface formed from a layer of material having a rough texture that is adapted to limit slipping relative to said surface of a table member and is adapted to be on the outside of said lunch box when said side panel members are connected to said bottom, back, and top panel members, and is adapted to contact said table member surface when said side panel members are disconnected from said bottom, back, and top panel members forming said placemat; and a layer of insulating material located in between said inside and outside surfaces. 
   
   
       13 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 11 , wherein said connections between said side panel members and said front panel member are flexible. 
   
   
       14 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 11 , wherein said removable connections between said side panel members and said bottom, back, and top panel member include zipper members. 
   
   
       15 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 12 , wherein said insulating material of said inside surface is formed from POLAR. 
   
   
       16 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 12 , wherein said rough textured material of said outside surface is formed from nylon. 
   
   
       17 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 14 , wherein said zipper members are formed from nylon. 
   
   
       18 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 17 , wherein said zipper members are formed as first and second zipper members, wherein said first zipper member runs along at least three sides of one of said side panel members, and said second zipper member runs along all four sides of the other of said side panel members and the side of the front panel member opposite said bottom panel member. 
   
   
       19 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 18 , wherein said second zipper member also runs along a side of the side panel member that said first zipper member is not located. 
   
   
       20 . The collapsible lunch box of  claim 12 , wherein said top panel member includes a handle member attached to said outside surface; one of said two side panel members includes a handle member attached to said outside surface; and said bottom panel member includes a plurality of holding straps attached to said outside surface that are adapted to receive catering articles; and one of said panel member includes a pouch member attached to said inside surface.