AU741897B2 - A container - Google Patents

Description

A CONTAINER This invention relates to a container.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to a container used to store two pizzas therein one on top of the other, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as the storage of other food items including pastries as well as the storage of other articles.

Many persons who purchase pizzas purchase two pizzas at .0 the one time. Typically the pizzas are delivered in separate containers. However, the use of two containers represents both a waste of material and labour necessary to assemble same and wherein it would be preferred that the two pizzas are delivered in the one container.

.5 The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide a container which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this 0 invention in one aspect resides broadly in a container adapted to contain a plurality of articles including: a base adapted to provide support for a first article placed thereon; one or more side walls extending upwardly from said base so as to form an open topped container; a 2 a lid adapted to close said open topped container, and a removable separation member that is separate from said container and which is locatable within said container, said separation member being adapted to provide support for a second article above the first article, and support means for supporting said separation member above said base, said support means including a plurality of inwardly extending tabs that are each cut from said side wall or respective ones of said side walls and which are folded about a fold line that lies substantially parallel to said base.

The container and the separation member may be constructed from a variety of materials including paper card.

*eooo The separation member may be a substantially plate like member.

The support means may also include one or more flanges and/or legs depending from the separation member, preferably adjacent a side edge thereof. For example there may be provided opposing flanges that depend from side edges of the separation oee* member and wherein the free edges of the flanges may rest upon the base wall of the container.

;0 Preferably, the container includes ventilation means for enabling vapour to escape from the confines of the container.

Accordingly, there may be provided one or more apertures formed in the base wall, side wall or walls, lid and/or separation member.

The side wall or side walls may be configured so as to inhibit movement of an article, such as a pizza supported on the base wall and/or the separation member. For example the side wall or walls may be arranged such that one or more 40.00: o. portions of at least some of the walls abut against the article or are spaced a small distance from the peripheral edge of the article thereby inhibiting or limiting movement of same. For example, the container may comprise a single continuous side wall which is substantially circular or oeoo elliptical in shape when viewed in plan. Alternatively the container may be multi-sided. For example the container may o oinclude six side walls arranged end to end in a manner such that the container when viewed from above appears to be substantially square in shape whilst having chamfered front corners.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container which 4 includes an insert, the container and the insert being constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container illustrated in figure 1 in blank form; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the insert illustrated in figure 1 in blank form, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative container also constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a container 10 comprising a 10 box like container assembly 11 and a separation member or insert 12 which is locatable within said container assembly 11. The container assembly 11 and the separation member 12 are each manufactured from a respective blank 13 and 14 cut from a sheet of paper card or board such as board grade 15 TK120-112B-112.

The container assembly 11 includes a base wall 16 connected to a left side wall 17 along a fold line 18. The left side wall 17 is connected to a front flap 19 along fold line 20 and to a rear flap 21 along fold line 22. The left side wall 17 also includes a substantially rectangular shaped flap 23 partially cut therefrom along lines 24 and hingedly connected thereto along fold line The container assembly 11 also includes a right side wall 26 connected to the base wall 16 along a fold line 27.

The right side wall 26 is connected to a front flap 28 along fold line 29 and to a rear flap 30 along fold line 31. The 4 4.

a right side wall 26 also includes a substantially rectangular shaped flap 32 partially cut therefrom along lines 33 and hingedly connected thereto along fold line 34.

The container assembly 11 also includes a front wall assembly 35 comprising an outer front wall panel 36 which is connected to an inner front wall panel 37 along two fold lines 38.

The outer front wall panel 36 is connected to the base oooo *wall 16 along a fold line 39 and the base wall 16 includes 10 two elongate apertures 40 formed therein adjacent said fold line.

The inner front wall panel 37 includes two tabs 41 which extend outwardly beyond the free edge 42 of said panel.

The front wall assembly 35 also includes a substantially 15 circular aperture 43 located centrally along fold lines 38.

The container assembly 11 also includes a rear wall 44 **.connected to the base wall 16 along fold line 45. The rear wall 44 includes a substantially circular aperture 46 formed therein and located adjacent a fold line 47 connecting the rear wall 44 to a lid assembly 48.

The lid assembly 48 includes a top wall 49 and a forwardly located tab 50 connected to said top wall 49 along fold line 51. The top wall 49 includes a small centrally located tab 52 extending outwardly therefrom in the plane of the wall and which has been cut from the tab 50 along line 53.

0 6 The lid assembly 48 also includes a left side flap 54 connected to the top wall 49 along fold line 55 and a right side flap 56 connected to the top wall 49 along fold line 57.

The left side flap 54 is separated from flap 21 by cut line 58. Similarly the right side flap 56 is separated from flap 30 by cut line 59.

The separation member 12 comprises a base wall 60 which is substantially rectangular in shape and which includes a pair of opposing side edges 61. The base wall 60 also 10 includes a pair of opposing flanges 62 each lying in a plane containing the base wall 60 and extending outwardly from a respective side edge 61.

The base wall 60 also includes two circular apertures 63 formed therein, each located in an opposing corner of the base wall The separation member 12 also includes a pair of opposing flaps or legs 64 each connected to the base wall along a respective fold line In order to construct the container 10 it is necessary to fold both the container assembly 11 and the separation member 12 so as to form a box like container and a tray as illustrated in Figure i.

The container assembly 11 is constructed by folding upwardly the two side walls 17 and 26 such that they oppose one another and by folding the flaps 19 and 21 such that they are substantially perpendicular to the side wall 17, and by a.

a a.

7 folding the flaps 28 and 30 such that they are substantially perpendicular to the side wall 26.

The outer front wall panel 36 is then folded upwardly such that it lies substantially perpendicular to the base wall 16. The outer front wall panel 36 is then secured to the side walls 17 and 26 by next folding the inner front wall panel 37 over flaps 19 and 28, which is retained in place by the engagement of tabs 41 in respect of apertures The rear wall of the container is formed by folding the S: 0 rear wall 44 upwardly such that it is substantially perpendicular to the base wall 16 and wherein the flaps 21 and 30 abut against said rear wall 44.

The lid assembly 48 is formed by folding the flaps 54 and 56 upwardly such that they are substantially 15 perpendicular to the top wall 49.

go When the lid assembly 48 is used to close the container flaps 50, 54 and 56 shall abut against the internal surfaces of panel 37 and walls 17 and 26 respectively.

Persons wishing to open the box may grip the tab 52.

The separation member 12 is formed by folding the tabs 64 downwardly such that they lie substantially perpendicular to the base wall The separation member 12 fits snugly within the confines of the container assembly 11 and wherein the base wall 60 is spaced above the base wall 16 by the supporting tabs 64 and by the inwardly folded tabs 23 located beneath and upon which 8 said base wall rests. It also will be appreciated that the flanges 62 will each rest on a respective edge defined by fold lines 25 and 34.

The separation member 12 is further retained in position by the close proximity of tabs 54 and 56 when the lid is in its closed position.

In use the container 10 is used to store two pizzas. The first pizza rests on the base wall 16 while the second pizza rests on the base wall In order to gain access to the first pizza a person may

OO

use their fingers, each inserted in a respective aperture 63, :s 5 to lift the separation member from the container It also will be appreciated that the apertures 63 also allow vapour generated by the first pizza to pass therethrough. Vapours may also escape the confines of the J 5 container 10 by passing through apertures 43 and 46.

Preferably the size of the pizza stored in the box is such that the edges of the pizza either abut against or lie close to the side walls of the container.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative container having six side walls 71 arranged end to end in a manner such that the container when viewed from above appears to be substantially square in shape whilst having chamfered front corners 72. The container is adapted to hold a pizza 73 as shown in dotted outline.

It will also be appreciated that the separation member 9 may be removed from the container assembly and used as a tray upon which to both support and serve a pizza, the flaps 64 providing means for supporting said separation member.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this *o invention as is herein before described in the appended 0 10 claims.

o 0* 0 0*

Claims (6)

1. A container adapted to contain a plurality of articles including: a base adapted to provide support for a first article placed thereon; one or more side walls extending upwardly from said base so as to form an open topped container; a lid adapted to close said open topped container; a removable separation member that is separate from said container and which is locatable within said container, said separation member being adapted to provide support for a second article above the first article, and support means for supporting said separation member above said base, said support means including a plurality of inwardly extending tabs that are each cut from said side wall or respective ones of said side walls and which are folded about a fold line that lies substantially parallel to said base.

2. A container as claimed in Claim i, wherein said separation member includes a pair of opposing flanges which rest upon respective edge portions of said side wall or said side walls.

3. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said separation member is a substantially plate like member and wherein said separation member is provided with a pair of depending flanges which also support said separation member above said base. 11

4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said separation member when removed from said container may be used as a separate serving tray.

A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said separation member includes a ventilation aperture formed therein.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 0 DATED THIS 23rd DAY OF OCTOBER 2001 EAGLE BOYS DIAL-A-PIZZA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD C C 15 C o o o• r By their Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX /cEAGO2106. upd