Food box

Abstract

A food box comprises a base and a cover, the cover and the base each is formed on their edge thereof with an annular engaging portion, respectively, the engaging portion of the cover is employed to be engaged with the engaging portion of the base. Each of the engaging portions of the base and the cover are a protruding structure located around the periphery of the base and is formed in its bottom with a groove, and each of the engaging portions is in such a shape in cross section that its upper part is smaller than its lower part. When two bases or covers are stacked up, the distance between the two neighboring bases or the two covers is less than the height of the engaging portion of a single base or a single cover, thus substantially reducing the required storage space of the product while improving the transportation volume.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a packaging container, and more particularly to a new style food box.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional food box comprises a base 1 and a cover 2. The base 1 and the cover 2 each is formed in their edge thereof with an engaging portion 11 and 21, so that the cover 2 can mate with the base 1 through the engagement of the engaging portions 11 and 21. However, when a plurality of such bases 1 and covers 2 are stacked up, respectively, the distance L between two neighboring bases 1 or between two covers 2 is not less than the height of the engaging portion of a single base or cover. And in transportation or storage, the bases and the covers are usually stacked up, plus the food box is light, normally, a 5 ton truck can only carry 2 tons of food box. Therefore, the base and the cover of this type of food box do not facilitate transportation and storage since they occupy a lot of space when being stacked up.

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a simply structured food box which can provide the effect of reducing the required storage space while improving the transportation volume.

[0007] To obtain the abovementioned objective, the food box in accordance with the present invention comprises a base and a cover, the cover and the base each is formed on their edge thereof with an annular engaging portion, respectively, the engaging portion of the cover is employed to be engaged with the engaging portion of the base. Each of the engaging portions of the base and the cover is a protruding structure located around the periphery of the base or the cover and is formed in its bottom with a groove, and each of the engaging portions is in such a shape in cross section that its upper part is smaller than its lower part.

[0008] Each of the engaging portions is trapezoid-shaped or arc-shaped in cross section, with its upper part smaller than its lower part.

[0009] A bevel edge is formed on an outer periphery of the engaging portion of the cover, and the bevel edge makes it easier for the user to open the cover and can prevent the engaging portions form contamination.

[0010] When two bases or covers are stacked up, the distance between the two neighboring bases or the two covers is less than the height of the engaging portion of a single base or a single cover, thus substantially reducing the required storage space of the product while improving the transportation volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of showing the existing food box;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of showing a cover and a base of a food box in accordance with the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section view of showing the cover and the base of the food box in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section view of showing the cover and the base of the food box in accordance with the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional assembly view of showing the cover and the base of the food box in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a transverse cross section view of showing that two covers and two bases of the food box in accordance with the present invention are being stacked up;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross section view of showing that two covers and two bases of the food box in accordance with the present invention are being stacked up;

[0018] FIG. 8 is an illustrative view in accordance with the present invention of showing the bottom surface of the cover of the base; and

[0019] FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of showing a food box structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention will be more clear from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a food box in accordance with the present invention, and the food box comprises a cover 2 and a base 1.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 2 and the base 1 each is formed on their edge thereof with a slant hem 12 and horizontal hem 22. An engaging portion 11 and 21 is formed at the outer periphery of the slant hems 12 and horizontal hem 22, respectively, and the engaging portion 11 and 21 is trapezoid-shaped in cross section, with its upper part smaller than its lower part. The engaging portion 11 of the base 1 is an annular protruding structure located around the periphery of the base 1 and is formed in its bottom with a groove, and likewise, the engaging portion 21 of the cover 2 is a protruding structure located around the periphery of the cover 2 and is formed in its bottom with a groove. In addition, a bevel edge 211 is formed on the outer periphery of the engaging portion 21.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, when the cover 2 is rested on the base 1, the engaging portion 21 of the cover 2 is engaged with the engaging portion 11 of the base 1, namely, the engaging portion 11 of the base 1 is received in the groove in the bottom of the engaging portion 21 of the cover 2, and thus the cover 2 is placed in position to seal the base 1.

[0024] During transportation or storage, a plurality of bases and covers should be stacked up for saving space, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Two bases 1 and 1' are stacked up, the base 1 is received in the base 1' in such a manner that the engaging portion of the base 1' is received in the groove in the bottom of the engaging portion 11 of the base 1, and the covers 2 and 2' are stacked up likewise. When the bases 1 and 1' or the covers 2, 2' are stacked up, since the engaging portion is a four-sided pyramid in cross section, the distance H between two neighboring bases 1 or between two covers 2 is less than the height of the engaging portion of a single base or a single cover. In the manner as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of bases or covers are stacked up, and storage space is substantially reduced as compared with the conventional food box.

[0025] Referring then to FIG. 8, to improving the tightness between the base 1 and the cover 2, a plurality of elastic clamping pieces 23 is provided on the periphery of the bottom of the cover 2, when the cover 2 is closed, the elastic clamping pieces 23 will clamp against the outer periphery of the base 1, preventing the disengagement of the cover 2 from the base 1.

Embodiment 2

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portions 11 and 21 of the base 1 and the cover 2 are an arc-shaped groove in cross section, with its upper part smaller than its lower part.

[0027] While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A food box comprising a base and a cover, the cover and the base each being formed on their edge thereof with an annular engaging portion, respectively, the engaging portion of the cover employed to be engaged with the engaging portion of the base, characterized in that: each of the engaging portions of the base and the cover are a protruding structure located around the periphery of the base and is formed in its bottom with a groove, and each of the engaging portions is in such a shape in cross section that its upper part is smaller than its lower part.

2. The food box as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the engaging portions is trapezoid-shaped or arc-shaped in cross section, with its upper part smaller than its lower part.

3. The food box as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bevel edge is formed on an outer periphery of the engaging portion of the cover.

4. The food box as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bevel edge is formed on an outer periphery of the engaging portion of the cover.

5. The food box as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of elastic clamping pieces is provided on a periphery of the bottom of the cover.