Container

This invention relates to a container. More particularly, this invention relates to a container for heated food products. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a container for pizza pies or slices thereof.

Heretofore, it has been known to provide various types of containers or boxes for transferring heated food products such as pizza pies or slices from one place to another. For example, it has been known to place hot pizza from an oven into a cardboard box for delivery to an ultimate consumer at a remote location. The box is generally intended to not only protect the pizza from contamination but also to maintain the pizza in a heated condition until arrival at the ultimate consumer. However, it has been found that pizzas which are packaged in cardboard boxes tend to become soggy after a relatively short period of time. As a result, the taste and texture of the pizzas are less desirable to the ultimate consumer.

In order to prevent a pizza from becoming soggy during transportation, it has been known to construct a container, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,846, with a recessed tray-like base shaped to receive a complete pizza pie and a cover which forms a lid over the base in press fitted relation and is provided with one or more vent openings so that steam and other vapors can escape. Even though the vent openings should prevent the vapors generated within the container from recondensing within the container and causing the pizza to become soggy, experience has shown that the venting of a container for hot pizza does not accomplish this purpose.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a container for a pizza which prevents a packaged pizza from becoming soggy.

It is another object of the invention to transport pizza in a sealed manner while maintaining freshness.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container for transportating heated pizza in a relatively simple manner while maintaining the oven-baked texture of the pizza.

Briefly, the invention provides a container which is comprised of a tray of predetermined geometric shape and a cover. The tray is made with a base, a peripheral wall which defines a chamber and a plurality of raised elongated ribs on the base for receiving a pizza thereon while defining air flow passages therebetween. The cover is removably mounted on the wall of the tray to enclose the chamber.

The tray is of thin-walled construction and is shaped to transport one or more slices of pizza or an entire pizza. To this end, the shape may be triangular, rectangular, square or circular. The ribs are disposed in various manners depending upon the shape of the tray. For example, for a tray of triangular shape, the ribs are disposed in parallel relation to each other while for a tray of circular shape, the ribs are disposed in a radiating pattern. Each rib is of suitable size to maintain the pizza at a raised elevation over the base of the tray while permitting air to flow under the pizza.

In one embodiment, the peripheral wall of the tray has a ledge spaced above the base and means, such as protuberances which are spaced above the ledge, for releaseably securing the cover on the ledge.

In another embodiment, the peripheral wall of the tray has a plurality of outwardly directed flanges at an upper end while the cover has a plurality of slits such that each flange extends through a respective slit to secure the cover to the tray.

The wall of the tray may also have a sloped wall section which extends from the base to permit sliding of a pizza slice from the tray upon opening of a closed container.

The tray may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of solid plastic and foamed plastic while the cover is made of any suitable material such as cardboard.

In accordance with the invention, the cover is imperforate so that the heat which is generated by the heated pizza is maintained within the closed container during transportation. The retention of this heat serves to maintain the heat within the pizza as much as possible.

It has been found that the air flow within the enclosed container is such that the heated air flowing under the pizza within the passageways between the ribs does not permit the pizza to become soggy. Thus, the ultimate consumer can be presented with a pizza slice or pizza which retains as much as possible the oven-baked texture and flavor of the pizza.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragmentary top view of a container having a pizza slice therein in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a view of a modified container in accordance with the invention for a whole pizza;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a partially broken plan view of a modified container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded cross-sectional side view of the container of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the container of FIG. 10 .

Referring to FIG. 1, the container 10 is comprised of a tray 11 and a cover 12 which is removably mounted on the tray 11.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the tray 11 is of a predetermined geometric shape corresponding to the shape of the pizza 13 to be packaged. For example, as shown, the tray 11 is of triangular shape so as to receive a pizza wedge of triangular shape. In addition, the tray 11 is of thin-walled construction, for example of a thickness of 0.010 inches, and is made, for example, by molding, in one piece of a material selected from the group consisting of solid plastic and foamed plastic.

The tray 11 includes a base 14, a peripheral wall 15 which defines a chamber and a plurality of raised elongated ribs 16 on the base 14 for receiving the pizza slice 13 thereon.

The ribs 16 are disposed in parallel relationship to each other and extend substantially across the entire width of the base 14 where the ribs 16 are located i.e. parallel to the base of the triangle formed by the tray 11. The ribs 16 are spaced from each other to define air flow passages 17 therebetween and are sized to maintain the pizza slice 13 at a sufficient height above the base 14 so that air may flow through the passages 17. For example, the ribs are sized to have a height of approximately one-eighth inch and a width of approximately one-eighth inch while being spaced apart at approximately three-sixteenths inch. However, the spacing, height and width of the ribs may be of any suitable dimensions which are sufficient to permit a flow of air between the ribs 16 under a pizza slice 13 in order to prevent the pizza slice 13 from becoming soggy. As shown, each rib 16 has end portions which are spaced from a respective portion of the wall 15 so that the air flow passages are open at the end portions to the wall 15. The ribs 16 also serve to stiffen the thinwall base 14 against sagging.

The peripheral wall 15 has a ledge 18 spaced above the base 14 for receiving the cover 12 thereon and means in the form of protuberances 19 spaced above the ledge 18 in order to releaseably secure the cover 12 on the ledge 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the protuberances 19 are spaced above the three sides of the peripheral wall 15 and are integral with the wall 15.

The wall 15 is sufficiently flexible so as to permit the cover 12 to be snapped into place under the protuberances 19. In addition, the cover 12 is provided with a tab 20 at the apex. This tab is normally flat and disposed against the ledge 18 during transport of the container 10. When the container 10 is to be opened, the tab 20 is lifted, for example to the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the cover 12 can then be pulled off the tray 11 manually.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, when the pizza slice 13 is packaged within the container 10, the heated vapor within the container tends to follow a flow path as indicated by the flow lines 21 by circulating from the space above the pizza slice 13 downwardly along the wall 15 and thence under the pizza slice 13 along the passages 17 formed between the ribs 16 before rising up along the wall 15 for recirculation over the pizza slice 13. This circulation of the heated air flow tends to maintain the heat generated by the pizza slice within the closed container 10 while at the same time preventing the bottom or crust 22 of the pizza slice 13 from becoming soggy.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the ledge 18' may have a plurality of spaced apart recesses 123 formed therein which communicate with the chamber defined by the tray 11'. These recesses 23 serve to reinforce the ledge 18' against buckling when the cover 12 is pressed into place. In addition, the peripheral wall 15 is provided with vertical ribs 24 so as to enhance channeling of the air flow along the wall 15 an well as to stiffen the wall 15. These vertical ribs 24 extend from the base 14 of the tray 11' to the height of the ledge 18' on the wall 15.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the container 10" has a tray of 11" of circular shape and a cover 12" of like circular shape. In addition, the ribs 16" within the tray 11" are disposed in a radiating pattern. The center of the tray 11" may also be formed with a raised projection 24 complementary to the ribs 16".

As indicated in FIGS. 8 and 9, a whole pizza 25 of circular shape is disposed within the container 10". As above, the ribs 16" form air flow passages 17 of sufficient size to permit air to flow through the passages 17 under the pizza 25 and, thereafter, over the pizza 25.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the container 30 is comprised of a tray 31 and a cover 32 which is mounted on the top of the tray 31. As shown, the tray 31 has a base 33 of triangular shape and a peripheral wall 34 which has two upstanding substantially vertical sections 35 and a sloped rear section 36 of slightly rounded shape. In addition, the wall 34 has a flat peripheral ledge 37 at the upper end and a plurality of spaced apart outwardly directed thin flat flanges 38. The ledge 37 extends outwardly of the tray wall 34, for example, about one-quarter inch while the flanges 38 extend further, for example, about two-tenths of an inch. The flanges 38 are located with one intermediately of the sloped rear section 36 and the others at the apex defined by the upstanding wall sections 35. These latter two flanges 38 merge together and each has an inwardly directed notch 39 at the opposite end for purposes as described below. The flange 38 on the rear wall section 36 is rounded at the ends as viewed in FIG. 10.

The tray 31 includes ribs 40 on the wall sections 35, 36 which extend upwardly from the base 33 for similar purposes as the ribs 24 as shown in FIG. 6.

The sloped rear wall section 36 is disposed at an angle of about 45.degree. relative to the base 33 and allows a pizza slice 13 to be slid out of the tray 31 upon opening of the container 30. As indicated in FIG. 10, the upper end of the tray 31 is of generally triangular shape with a pair of straight sections 41 each of which is located between an angled side section and a rounded rear section.

The cover 32 is flat and imperforate and is shaped to the contour of the tray 31. As indicated, the cover 32 overhangs the ledge 37 of the tray 31; for example, a distance of about one-quarter inch. The cover 32 is provided with a score line 42 and three slits 42. Each slit 43 is located, sized and shaped to receive a flange 38 of the tray 31 in slide-fit relation so that the cover 32 can be secured to the tray 31. As shown in FIG. 10, the ends of the flanges 38 at the apex of the tray 31 extend through the slits 43 in hook-like fashion due to the notches 39 to retain the cover 31 in place.

In use, after a heated pizza slice 13 is placed in the tray 31, the cover 32 is brought down onto the ledge 37 and the three flanges 38 slide through the slits 43 to secure the cover 32 in place. Thereafter, in order to remove the pizza slice 13, the rear section of the cover 32 is lifted from the tray 31 to slide the rounded flange 38 out of rounded slit 39. The cover 32 is then folded on the score line 42 to expose the pizza slice 13. The pizza slice 13 can then be slid out of the tray 31 over the sloped rear section 36. During this time, the cover 32 remains fixed to the tray 31 via the notched flanges 38 at the apex end of the tray 31. The pizza slice 13 is thus removable from the container 30 in a manner which minimizes spilling of the sauce and the like on the pizza, for example, out of the container 30 or onto the consumer.

The container may be of any suitable size depending upon the size of the pizza slices or pizza to be packaged. For example, the tray may have an overall height of about three-quarters of an inch to one and one-quarter inch for a pizza slice. Also, the tray and/or cover may be made of a clear plastic material so that the contents can be viewed.

The invention thus provides a container for pizza which is capable of maintaining a pizza in a heated condition during transportation without having the pizza become soggy.

The container is of relatively simple construction and can be formed in any suitable manner of relatively inexpensive materials.