FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food carrying containers and, more particularly, to a carry container that converts into a placemat for forming a barrier between the surface upon which the container is resting and the user while eating.

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that the most prevalent area for germs in a school setting is the cafeteria table. Some bacteria are capable of causing infections and tend to collect on frequently touched surfaces, particularly in areas where there is a lot of hand-to-mouth contact like the cafeteria table. When children touch the contaminated surface, the germs are transmitted to their hands, and if they subsequently touch their eyes, nose or lips, it is likely that they have infected themselves. The best way to avoid the spreading of germs is to never touch infected surfaces.

Lunch boxes have long been known and widely used by children all over the world. The majority of lunch boxes used today are not washable and, therefore, cannot be properly sanitized. The combination of the unclean lunch boxes and germ-infested cafeteria tables provides an ideal scenario for spreading germs.

Therefore, there is a particular need to overcome the problems discussed above by reducing the amount of germs a child comes into contact with while having a meal away from home, such as, but not limited to, having lunch at a school cafeteria table. The disclosed embodiments are directed to the above-noted problems. However, the disclosed embodiment is neither limited to use by children, nor is limited to use as a placemat in a school cafeteria

SUMMARY

The disclosed embodiment directed to a carry container that is interchangeable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the container (closed position) opens into a protective mat or surface (open position), such as, but not limited to, a placemat, and becomes a barrier against germs. In one embodiment, the container includes an outer shell including a bottom panel and four side panels extending from the bottom panel and being configured to releasably attach to each of the two neighboring side panels using a fastener. The container can be easily convened between the closed position (lunch box, container, etc.) and open position (placemat, protective surface, etc.).

Thus, the disclosed embodiment provides a container that converts into a protective mat for limiting exposure of the user to germs. The container/protective mat can be preferably machine washable. In one preferred use of the disclosed embodiment, the washable container converts into a protective mat is easily converted between a closed position for carrying or storing food items and an open position for eating the food items, as well as other food items that may be in the user's possession.

