CONTAINER ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates to containers and particularly containers suitable for use as a lunchbox or as a food/beverage carrying container. Lunchboxes typified by those marketed under the SISTEMA™ KLIP IT™ brand have widespread application for the carriage of food and/or beverages. The present invention recognises an advantage to be derived from optional inclusions or combinations of a freezer block with such containers and/or the subsequent usage thereof for the carriage of food and/or beverages. The present invention in an alternative also recognises an advantage from a show through instruction label for the use of any such container with such optional freezer block inclusion or combination, whether including the freezing block in a frozen form within the closed container or as a stand for the container during consumption of product therefrom or both. It is such containers that the present invention wishes to provide as an alternative to those currently available or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. The present invention consists in a lunchbox or a food/beverage container (thereafter "lunchbox"), the lunchbox comprising or including a base defining at least one compartment capable of receiving an item or items of appropriate dimensions(s) from above, the compartment having peripheral walls and/or the equivalent (e.g. partitioning of a larger compartment), a lidding arrangement ("lidding feature") hingedly carried from and/or engageable to the base capable of effecting closure or substantial closure of at least the compartment, and a freezer block supportable in at least one disposition above and/or within the compartment, the freezer block in such disposition(s) being capable of being enclosed by the lidding feature and the base. Preferably the lidding feature is hingedly carried by the base. Preferably the freezer block is separable readily from the lunchbox when it is open. Preferably the freezer block in one disposition allows a storage compartment to be defined thereabove under the lidding feature. Preferably the freezer block is of a phase change liquid, (e.g. glycol, water, salt water, or the like) contained in a liquid impervious surround. Preferably said surround is of moulded plastic components e.g. of polypropylene. - -

Preferably the freezer block includes shoulders, projections or the like capable of being supported on ledges, flanges, shoulder or the like of one or more of the walls or the equivalent (e.g. lesser height or full height partitioning(s) of a large compartment) of the base. In some forms of the present invention the freezer block is adapted to be invertible so as in such different dispositions, to assume a different positional relationship and/or intrusions with respect to both the lidding feature and the base e.g. one disposition to partition two storage chambers. In some preferred forms of the present invention the base includes an indexing feature adapted to index into a complementary indexing feature of at least one side of the freezer block thereby to allow the base to stably sit on the freezer block. In some forms of the present invention the compartment is the sole compartment of the base whilst in other embodiments of the present invention the compartment can be of one of two or more of a base which (optionally) may include a single lidding feature for all such compartments, some of such compartments or a single one of such compartments and optionally a different lidding feature(s) for other compartments thereof. In some forms of the present invention the "equivalent" to a wall of the base can be a partition of a much larger compartment. In preferred forms of the present invention preferably a locking feature is provided supported pivotally from the distal wall of the base and capable of coacting with the distal part of the lidding feature, or vice versa. A suitable clipping feature is that of the SISTEMA™ KLIP IT™ range. Preferably the arrangement is substantially as hereinafter described. Preferably the base and/or the lidding feature is/are of a single moulded thickness of a plastics material preferably unblown. Preferably the freezer block and/or said compartment at or adjacent to its top is substantially square or rectangular. Preferably the freezer block has four corners, each with a land adapted to sit on a complementary shoulder of the base. Preferably each land has a substantially similar land facing in the opposite direction. Preferably each land is asymmetrically positioned with respect to the thickness of the freezer block. Preferably the freezer block is one having oppositely facing lands at each of four corners of its generally rectangular or square plan periphery, such lands being positioned so that in one disposition the bulk of the freezer block will be substantially above any supporting shoulders of the base on which that set of lands rests and in the other disposition has the bulk below the other set of lands sitting on such shoulders. Preferably the lands are of an outstanding or the like form that is substantially arcuate (e.g. partially circular) as an outstand from the otherwise generally rectangular or square plan form. In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a freezer block of any of the kinds hereindescribed and/or envisaged and/or as disclosed in any one or more of the accompanying drawings. In another aspect the present invention consists in a lunchbox or a food/beverage container (thereafter "lunchbox"), the lunchbox comprising or including a base defining at least one compartment capable of receiving an item or items of appropriate dimensions(s) from above, the compartment having peripheral walls and/or the equivalent, a lidding arrangement ("lidding feature") hingedly carried from and/or engageable to the base capable of effecting closure or substantial closure of at least the compartment, (optionally) a freezer block supportable in at least one disposition above and/or within the compartment, the freezer block (in such disposition(s) being capable of being enclosed by the lidding feature and the base, and a label on the lidding feature readable through the plastics material thereof, the readable material being instructions and/or depictions of how the lunchbox when with the optional freezer block can be used. Preferably the lunchbox is as earlier defined. In another aspect the present consists in a food and/or beverage container comprising or including a base defining at least one compartment a latchable lid latchable to close the base over the at least one compartment, and a freezer block locatable to at least substantially close said at least one compartment prior to closure of the base by the lid. Optionally the freezer block is locatable in two ways to at least substantially close said at least one compartment, one way being more intrusive into the at least one compartment than the other. Preferably the freezer block is locatable in two ways to at least substantially close said at least one compartment, one way being more intrusive into the confines of the lid than the other. _ -

Preferably the two ways requires a different orientation or inversion of the freezer block. In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a container, in combination with a freezer block or a freezer block for such a combination or the container for such a combination where, if the container is a lunchbox, it would be a lunchbox in accordance with any aspect of the present invention. As used herein the term "freezer block" covers any configuration of an enclosed volume of a freezable liquid. As used herein "base" need not always be the part to be lowermost. As used herein the term "land" includes any surface capable of resting on a shoulder of the base. As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or" or can mean both in some circumstances. As used herein the term "s" following a noun means the singular or plural forms of that noun or both. As used herein the term "lunchbox" is not specific as to the timing of intended consumption for any food and/or beverage inclusion therein. Nor is it specific in respect of shape. As used herein the term "beverage" includes any drink. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a use of a freezer block and/or lunchbox and/or container or combination in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of the chilling or continued chilling of the edible and/or drinkable contents of the container. The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top view of an exemplary container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the lidding feature is shown in the open position, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in the open position, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in the open position, Figure 4 is a plan view of the freezer block showing the indexing feature, Figure 5 is a plan view of the freezer block showing the shoulder projections, Figure 6 is a side view of the freezer block, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the freezer block showing the shoulder projections, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the freezer block showing the shoulder projections, Figure 9 is a front view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in an open position and wherein the freezer block is shown as being supported in such a disposition so that it is held within the compartment of the container, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in an open position and wherein the freezer block is shown as being supported in such a disposition so that it is held above the compartment of the container, Figure 11 is a top perspective view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in an open position and wherein the container sits indexed on top of the freezer block, Figure 12 is a front view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in the closed position and wherein the freezer block is shown as being supported in such a disposition so that it is held within the compartment of the container, Figure 13 is a front view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in the closed position and wherein the freezer block is shown as being supported in such a disposition so that it is held above the compartment of the container, Figure 14 is a front view of the container of Figure 1, in which the lidding feature is shown in the closed position and wherein the container sits indexed on top of the freezer block, In the preferred form of the present invention all components are moulded from a suitable plastics material. Preferably such plastics material is an injection mouldable material having the requisite food grade characteristics. By way of example only appropriate materials include polypropylene and nylon. For those features such as the lid that are to have or may projections that provide live hinges preferably a flexible polypropylene is utilised. However non live hinged forms are still within the scope of the invention.

In the preferred form of the present invention a lunchbox 1 will be described which can be combined with a freezer block 2.

The freezer block (preferably as a welded two part assembly of mouldings) containers a phase change liquid (eg. glycol, salt water, water, or mixtures thereof, or the like).

Shown in Figure 1 is a container suitable as a lunchbox. This particular embodiment shows a single compartment container wherein the lidding feature 3 is hingedly uplifted from the upper perimeter of the container compartment 4. In other forms a non-hinged Hd nonetheless latchable to the base can be used.

Whilst a rectangular form has been shown, any shape (e.g. including from round to square or rectangular in plan) can be used.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 such a lunchbox 1 has a latching mechanism 5 which preferably provides a click fit with the lidding feature 3 to enable sealing of the container compartment as shown in Figures 7 to 9.

As shown in Figures 4 to 8 the freezing block 2 has an indexing feature 6 which is designed to complement the base of the container. Shoulder projections 7 on the freezing block 2 are designed to interact with the upper periphery of the container compartment 4.

As shown in Figure 9 and Figure 12 the freezing block 2 can be oriented such that it is held within the container compartment 4 thereby allowing storage above the freezer block yet under the Hd but at some cost to the height of storage allowed under the freezing block. In this instance the shoulder projections of the freezing block (being continuous with the surface of the freezing block) forms the upper surface of the freezing block 2 so that the remainder of the freezing block projects into the compartment 4 of the container.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10 and Figure 13 the freezer block can be placed so that the shoulder components of the freezing block (being preferably continuous with the surface of the freezing block) forms the lower surface of the freezing block 2 so that the remainder of the freezing block 2 projects into the cavity formed by the lidding feature 3 when in the closed position.

As shown in Figure 11 the indexing feature 7 of the freezing block 2 allows the container to be indexed so that it sits on top of the freezing block 2 in a stable condition.

The ability of the freezing block 2 to be able to be oriented in two different dispositions so that it projects more intrusively either into the container compartment 4 or into the cavity formed by the lidding feature 3 is shown by Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 shows the freezing block 2 oriented inside a closed lunchbox 1 so that it projects into the container compartment 4, therefore allowing a cavity to be present that is provided for by the lidding feature 3. Alternatively, Figure 13 shows the freezing block 2 held in such a disposition so that it is supported above the periphery of the container compartment 4 and is held within the cavity which is formed by the lidding feature 3. - - The freezer block inclusion can alternatively be for one compartment only of a multi¬ compartment but complementary container. An example of a multi-compartment container is that of our EP Design Application 000176714.