U.S. patent application number 13/560262 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-26 for container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Atlantic Enterprises (2009) Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Richard Edward Hemsley. Invention is credited to Richard Edward Hemsley.
Application Number | 20130344211 13/560262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46641206 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130344211 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hemsley; Richard Edward |
December 26, 2013 |
CONTAINER
Abstract
A collapsible container made from sheet material, comprising a
cover portion and a base portion; the cover portion and base
portion each being pivotally connected at respective spaced fold
lines to a rear wall each, wherein each of the cover portion and
base portion comprises a main panel having, at its edge remote from
the rear wall portion, a front wall and, at its opposite side
edges, side walls wherein the side and front walls portions of the
cover portion interfit with one another to retain them in position
extending generally perpendicular to the panel of the cover portion
and the side and front walls of the base portion are able, to lie
within inwardly facing surfaces of the side and front walls of the
cover portion.
Inventors: |
Hemsley; Richard Edward;
(Hook, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hemsley; Richard Edward |
Hook |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
Atlantic Enterprises (2009)
Limited
Hook
GB
|
Family ID: |
46641206 |
Appl. No.: |
13/560262 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/392 ;
229/141; 229/150; 53/435 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2585/366 20130101;
B65D 5/6667 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/392 ;
229/141; 229/150; 53/435 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/66 20060101
B65D005/66; B65D 5/42 20060101 B65D005/42; B65B 63/00 20060101
B65B063/00; B65B 25/00 20060101 B65B025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2012 |
GB |
1210917.9 |
Claims
1. A collapsible container made from sheet material, comprising: a
cover portion; a base portion; a rear wall portion connected to
each of the cover portion and base portion at respective spaced
fold lines; each of the cover portion and base portion comprising a
main panel, a front wall portion at an edge of the main panel
remote from the rear wall portion, and side walls at opposite side
edges of the main panel; wherein the side walls and front wall of
the cover portion interfit with one another to retain them in
position extending generally perpendicular to the main panel of the
cover portion; and the side walls and front wall of the base
portion of the container are able to lie within inwardly facing
surfaces of the side and front wall thereof.
2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the side walls of the
cover portion are provided, at their free end adjacent the front
wall of the cover portion, with respective tabs which engage the
front wall.
3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the tabs are folded to
extend generally at right angles to the side walls, and are
constrained between surfaces of respective parts of the front wall
which have been folded to overlie one another.
4. A container according to claim 3 wherein the respective parts of
the front wall are retained in their folded, overlying, position by
formations on a free edge of the front wall prior to its folding,
the formations engaging in receiving formations where the front
wall is connected to the main panel of the cover portion.
5. A container according to claim 3 wherein, prior to folding
thereof so that its one portion overlies the other, the dimension
of the front wall is substantially that of the height of the side
walls of the cover portion.
6. A container according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the
cover and base portions has at least its main panel provided with
at least one surface relief extending between opposite regions of
the panel, for facilitating folding of the panel along the
relief.
7. A container according to claim 6 wherein the at least one main
panel having the relief has first and second reliefs extending
along respective axes between opposed regions of the panel and
through a central region of the panel, the axes extending generally
perpendicular to one another.
8. A container according to claim 6 wherein the at least one relief
extends from the panel into adjacent wall portions of the container
at the edges thereof.
9. A container according to claim 6 wherein respective parts of the
container, separated from one another when the container has been
folded along the reliefs, have formations engageable with one
another to hold the container in the folded condition.
10. A container according to claim 1 wherein the sheet material is
corrugated cardboard, having surface layers separated by a
corrugated flute.
11. A container according to claim 1 which is a pizza box.
12. A blank of sheet material for erection into a container
according to claim 1 the blank comprising main panels for the cover
portion and base portion of the container, a rear wall panel
connecting said main panels at spaced parallel fold lines, and
flaps at free edges of the main panels to form side and front walls
of the cover portion and base portion of the container.
13. A method of packaging a pizza in a container according to claim
11, comprising erecting the cover portion of the container by
folding the side walls and front wall thereof from the main panel
thereof and interfitting the walls with one another to retain them
in position; placing a pizza on the main panel of the base portion
of the blank; optionally cutting the pizza into portions while it
is on the base portion of the blank; folding the side and front
walls of the base portion upwardly from the main panel of the
blank, and closing the cover portion of the container relative to
the base portion to hold the side and front walls of the base
portion within the side and front walls of the cover portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(a)-(d) to
United Kingdom Patent Application No. 1210917.9 filed Jun. 20,
2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a container, made out of a sheet
material such as corrugated cardboard.
[0003] The invention has been devised for use a food container,
particularly a so-called pizza box, commonly used by fast-food
establishments for containing ready to eat pizza for consumption
off the premises. Although it will be understood that the invention
may be applicable to containers intended for purposes other than
receiving pizzas, the term "pizza box" will be used herein for
convenience in describing the invention. Conventional pizza boxes,
whose configuration has changed little for many years, are made out
of a suitable paper-based board material in order to be
bio-degradable, and are supplied to pizza vendors in the form of
flat pieces of such material, cut to the required shape and
pre-formed with lines along which the material is readily foldable.
When the container is required to be used, it is readily erected by
folding along the pre-formed lines to create a box which is usually
square or rectangular in plan view of dimensions suitable to
accommodate a respective diameter of pizza, and of a height
sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the pizza. The box, as
erected, has a base portion the form of a tray, with front, rear
and side walls upstanding from a base panel, and a lid or cover
which opens pivotally to give access to the interior of the box. A
pizza can be placed downwardly into the erected base portion; if
one were to be placed on the base panel with the base portion of
the box not erected it would impede the erection process of the
base portion.
[0004] Pizza boxes are intended for a single use only, after which
they are discarded as refuse or for recycling. Clearly, it is
advantageous if the amount of cardboard used in each box is
minimised: even a small saving in cardboard usage becomes
significant when multiplied by the number of boxes used throughout
the world. Other desirable characteristics of pizza boxes are that
they should be easy to erect from the flat condition and to
collapse for disposal after use, while being robust and resistant
to accidental collapse when erected so that a pizza contained in
the box is adequately protected.
[0005] It is broadly the object of the present invention to address
these desirable aspects of pizza box construction and disadvantages
of conventional pizza boxes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, we provide a
collapsible container made from sheet material, comprising a cover
portion and a base portion; the cover portion and base portion each
being pivotally connected at respective spaced fold lines to a rear
wall portion, wherein each of the cover portion and base portion
comprises a main panel having, at its edge remote from the rear
wall portion, a front wall and, at its opposite side edges, side
walls; wherein the side and front walls portions of the cover
portion interfit with one another to retain them in position
extending generally perpendicular to the panel of the cover
portion; and the side and front walls of the base portion are able
to lie within inwardly facing surfaces of the side and front walls
of the cover portion.
[0007] In a container, particularly a pizza box, in accordance with
the invention, the above-described construction, with the cover
portion having its side and front walls interfitting so that they
are retained in the orientation generally perpendicular to the
panel of the cover portion, means that the base portion of the
container can, after the cover portion of the box has been erected,
remain flat so that a pizza can be placed thereon and, if required,
cut into portions. A pizza can be slid sideways, if desired, onto
the base portion of the box rather than having to be placed
downwardly into the base portion of a conventional box. If desired,
the cover portion of the box could be erected after a pizza has
been placed on the base portion, since such erection is not impeded
by the presence of the pizza. Thereafter the side and front walls
of the base portion can be folded upwardly from the panel of the
base portion to extend generally perpendicular to the panel of the
base portion, and be retained in that position by closing of the
cover portion so that they are constrained by lying within the side
and front walls of the cover portion.
[0008] In view of the above, it will be noted that pizza boxes
awaiting use can be stored flat, i.e. need not be pre-erected
before they are used. This is convenient in saving time and space
in a pizza vendor's premises.
[0009] The side walls of the cover portion may be provided, at
their free end adjacent the front wall of the cover portion, with
tabs which engage the front wall, preferably by being folded to
extend generally at right angles to the side walls and which are
constrained between surfaces of respective parts of the front wall
which have been folded to overlie one another.
[0010] The respective parts of the front wall may be retained in
their overlying position by formations on one part of the front
wall, engaging in receiving formations where the other part of the
front wall meets the panel of the cover portion.
[0011] Prior to the folding of the front wall so that its one
portion overlies the other, the dimension of the front wall may be
substantially that of the height of the side walls of the cover
portion (and hence that of the side and front walls of the base
portion).
[0012] At least one of the cover and base portions may have at
least its panel provided with a surface relief extending between
opposite portions of the panel to facilitate folding of the panel
along such relief, to reduce the size of the container for disposal
after use.
[0013] There may be first and second surface reliefs extending
along respective axes running between opposed portions of the panel
and through a central region of the panel, the axes extending
generally perpendicular to one another.
[0014] Such relief or reliefs may extend from the panel into the
connected wall portions of the container at the edges thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features of the invention will now be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for erection into a pizza
box in accordance with the invention.
[0017] FIGS. 2 to 8 are perspective views showing successive stages
of erection of the blank of FIG. 1 into a pizza box, and the
subsequent collapse and folding of the pizza box for disposal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring firstly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the blank
comprises a piece of corrugated cardboard which overall is
generally of rectangular shape. It is provided with a number of cut
lines (where the corrugated cardboard is completely severed) and
fold lines (where the corrugated cardboard is alternately creased
and cut through, e.g. 10 mm crease followed by 10 mm cut,
successively, along the length of the line). There are also some
fold lines where the board is creased slightly to guide and
facilitate folding, but somewhat less easily than where the
crease/cut fold lines are provided. The corrugated cardboard is of
the type having first and second parallel surface layers separated
by a corrugated layer or flute, and in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the
preferred longitudinal direction of the corrugations of the flute
is as indicated alongside the drawing. The flute may be of the "E"
flute type, providing the corrugated cardboard with an overall
thickness of approximately 2 mm.
[0019] The blank, illustrated generally at 10 comprises two main
portions 12, 14 which respectively form a cover portion of the box
and a base portion of the box. They are connected to one another,
along fold lines 16, 18 which are parallel to one another, by a
portion 20 which forms an upstanding rear wall of the erected box,
the two fold lines 16, 18 providing for generally pivotal movement
of the cover portion of the box relative to the base portion about
two parallel axes afforded by the fold lines 16, 18. This enables
the main panels (described hereafter) of the cover portion and base
portion of the erected box to lie in spaced parallel relation to
one another.
[0020] The cover portion 12 of the blank comprises a main
substantially rectangular panel 24 along whose opposite sides are
provided, in mirror image of one another, flaps 22 delineated by
respective fold lines 26. These form side walls of the cover
portion of the erected box. At the ends of the flaps 22 remote from
the fold line 16, there are respective tabs 28 of which each
comprises a transition portion 28a leading into an engagement
portion 28b which is of slightly less than half the lateral
dimension of the main part of the flap 22.
[0021] Between the tabs 28, the end of the panel 24 remote from the
fold line 16 is provided with a flap indicated generally at 30
connected to the panel 24 along a fold line 32 which is interrupted
by two completely cut portions 34 which are slightly off-set
towards the fold line 16. The flap itself, which forms the front
wall of the erected box, comprises two parts 36, 38 of which the
former has its ends tapered, leading into the part 38 which hence
has its ends spaced from the tabs 28 in the flat blank. The parts
36, 38 are connected to one another by two closely spaced parallel
fold lines 40. The free edge of the part 38 has two projecting
elongate tabs 42 spaced along it, in alignment with the off-set cut
line portions 34.
[0022] The base portion 14 of the blank has a main panel 44 of the
same dimensions as the main panel 24 of the cover portion 12. Along
opposite sides of the panel 44 there are respective flaps 46
delineated by fold lines 48. Connected at the ends of the flaps 46
which lie nearest the flaps 22 there are respective tabs 50 which
are connected to the flaps 46 along respective crease lines 52 and
are separated from the flaps 22 and wall portion 20 by cut lines.
The outer edges of the tabs 50, facing oppositely away from one
another in the flat blank, each have two converging inwardly
extending cut lines 54.
[0023] The edge of panel 44 remote from the fold line 18 is
provided with a flap 56 delineated by fold line 58. At the opposite
ends of the flap 56, there are respective tabs 60 connected to the
flap by crease lines 62 and completely separated by cut lines from
the flaps 46.
[0024] The above described features of the blank enable it to be
erected for use as a pizza box, in the manner described hereafter.
The box is also provided with features, as follows, which
facilitate its folding to a significantly smaller size to
facilitate its disposal after use. It will be appreciated that a
large pizza, e.g. of 300 mm diameter, necessitates a box whose
dimensions when erected are greater than can readily be
accommodated in a typical waste bin likely to be provided in the
home.
[0025] Each of the panels 24, 44 has a crease line 66, 68
respectively extending transversely across it, these crease lines
extending into the respective side flaps 22, 46. Two parallel fold
lines 70 extend from the crease line 66 towards the wall portion
20, followed by two parallel, more closely-spaced, fold lines 72
extending across the wall portion 20 towards the crease line 68.
Beyond the crease line 68 and generally in line with the fold lines
70, 72 a crease line 74 extends into the flap 56.
[0026] Further features of the blank for the pizza box are that the
fold line 16 has a central portion 76 which is cut right through
and off-set from the fold line 16. The purpose of this is to
provide, when the box is erected as described hereafter, a vent for
the interior of the box since it will be appreciated that when the
panel 24 extends at right angles to the wall portion 20 the shallow
tab formed by the cut portion 76 will extend in alignment with the
panel 54 and open space between it and the wall portion 20. The
panel 44 is provided with a number of radial markings 78 to give a
guide for cutting of a pizza into sector-shaped portions. Finally,
the panel 24 is provided with cut and fold line formations 80 which
provide for the holding of portions of sauces, etc.
[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings, these show
successive stages of erection of the blank into a pizza box. FIG. 2
shows the blank ready for erection, with its peripheral tabs and
flaps slightly displaced from the general plane of the remainder of
the blank. The first stage of erection is that the cover is
constructed, by folding the flaps 22 upwardly from the opposite
edges of the panel 24 until they lie approximately at right angles
to the plane of the panel 24, and the tabs 28 at the ends of the
flaps 22 are folded towards one another so that they are in
alignment with the fold line 32. The portion 30 is then folded
upwardly about the fold line 32 so that the parts 28b of the tabs
28 are in face to face relationship with the part 36 of the portion
30. Then, the part 38 is folded over, about the fold lines 40, so
that it lies in face to face engagement with the part 36, with the
parts 28b of the tabs trapped between the opposed surfaces of the
parts 36, 38 at the ends of the portion 30. In this condition, the
tabs 42 engage in slots formed by the offset cut parts 34
interrupting the fold line 32, when the part 36 is folded upwardly
relative to the panel 24. Hence, the part 30 forms a
double-thickness end wall of the cover portion of the box, while
the flaps 22 form side walls of the cover portion of the box, the
end wall of the cover portion being of half the height of the side
walls.
[0028] After erection of the cover portion of the box, a pizza to
be put in the box may then be placed on the upper surface of the
base portion panel 44 of the box. The pizza may be cut in situ on
the box, such cutting being guided, if desired, by the markings 78
on the base portion of the box. This may be done before the flaps
which form the side and end walls of the base of the box are folded
upwardly relative to the panel 44, so that upwardly extending side
and end walls of the base do not impede the cutting operation of
the pizza, significantly easing this operation compared with
previously-known pizza boxes.
[0029] Subsequently, (FIG. 4) the flaps 46 and 56 may be folded
upwardly from the panel 24, the tabs 60 at the ends of flap 56
lying within and face to face with the adjacent end portions of the
flaps 46 forming the side walls of the base. The box may be closed
by pivoting the cover portion of the box about the fold lines 16,
18 so that its cover panel 24 lies above the base panel 44, spaced
therefrom by the height of the side walls of the base determined by
the flaps 46 and 56. The flaps 22 forming the side walls of the
cover, and the end wall of the cover formed by portion 30, lie to
the exterior of the respective side and end walls of the base. The
closed box is shown in FIG. 5.
[0030] After use of the pizza box, the box may be reduced to a
smaller and more convenient size for disposal, firstly by opening
out all the parts of the box so that the form of a generally flat
piece of cardboard is again assumed (although it will be
appreciated that the folding of the original blank to the form of
the box will mean that the cardboard will not naturally assume a
completely flat configuration. FIG. 6 shows that the cover panel 24
has been folded about the crease line 66, and FIG. 7 shows that
subsequently the base panel 44 has been folded about the crease
line 68. The cover portion and base portion of the box can now be
folded towards one another as shown by the arrows on FIG. 7, about
the fold line 18, so that the original blank is reduced to
approximately one quarter of its original length, comprising four
thicknesses of the cardboard material of the blank. The fold lines
70, 72, and 74 overlie one another in this folded configuration, to
enable the dismantled box to be folded again about the fold lines
70, 72, 74 to reduce it to slightly more than one quarter of the
size of the closed pizza box. FIG. 8 shows this finally-folded
condition being approached, and in the final condition the tabs 50
lie adjacent an approximately face-to-face with one another. In
this state, the small dove-tail shaped piece of cardboard defined
between the cut lines 54 in one of the tabs 50 may be folded out of
the tab and engaged in the dove-tail shaped opening provided by
displacing the corresponding piece of cardboard in the other tab
from the plane of this tab. Hence, the folded pizza box is retained
in nearly-flat folded configuration, for easy disposal.
[0031] Having now fully described the present invention in some
detail by way of illustration and examples for purposes of clarity
of understanding, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in
the art that the same can be performed by modifying or changing the
invention within a wide and equivalent range of conditions and
other parameters without resort to undue experimentation without
affecting the scope of the invention or any specific embodiment
thereof, and that such modifications or changes are intended to be
encompassed within the scope of the appended claims. All art-known
functional equivalents, of any such materials and methods are
intended to be included in this invention. The terms and
expressions which have been employed are used as terms of
description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that
in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any
equivalents of the features shown and described or portions
thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should
be understood that although the present invention has been
specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional
features, modification and variation of the concepts herein
disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that
such modifications and variations are considered to be within the
scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0032] When used in this specification and claims, the terms
"comprises" and "comprising" are synonymous with "including,"
"containing," or "characterized by," and is inclusive or
open-ended. These terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the
presence of other features, steps or components. As used herein,
"consisting of" excludes any element, step, or ingredient not
specified in the claim element. As used herein, "consisting
essentially of" does not exclude materials or steps that do not
materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim.
In each instance herein any of the terms "comprising", "consisting
essentially of" and "consisting of" may be replaced with either of
the other two terms. In the disclosure and the claims, "and/or"
means additionally or alternatively. Moreover, any use of a term in
the singular also encompasses plural forms.
[0033] All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety to the extent that there is no
inconsistency with the disclosure of this specification. All
headings used herein are for convenience only. The features
disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or
the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in
terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method
or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may,
separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for
realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
* * * * *