ITNA20130011A1 - STORAGE BOX FOR PIZZAS OR OTHER BOTTLED PRODUCTS AND METHOD TO OBTAIN A REDUCED CONTAINER FORMAT. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

â € œTAKE-AWAY CONTAINER FOR PIZZAS OR OTHER DELICACY PRODUCTS AND METHOD OF OBTAINING A SMALL CONTAINER SIZE â €

The present invention relates to a take-away container for pizzas or other rotisserie products, in particular stackable on other identical containers. The invention also refers to a method for obtaining a reduced size of the container.

There are many patents in this technical sector. By way of example, the United States patent US 5,071,062 can be cited, which describes a box having a configuration in normal format and another in a reduced format. The normal size box can contain, for example, a whole pizza. When the entire volume is not required, the box can be reduced by eliminating certain portions of it by tearing along perforated incision lines. Therefore no tools are required to form a smaller size box from the blank of the full size box. The box according to the aforementioned patent is not capable of stacking on other identical boxes without the risk of moving from full support on the box below and falling.

There are many patents disclosing stackable containers for pizza and the like. Among these we can mention EP2284086A1, US4984734A and US2005199687A1. However, the above patents describe stackable containers, in which one container acts as a lid to the container below and only the container on top of the others has a lid. Italian patent application T02008 A 000346 describes a container for transporting pizzas and similar elements, comprising a cardboard box having a base and a lid hinged at the base and provided with vent openings. The box has on two opposite side walls two respective elevations protruding beyond the lid and foldable against the outer surface of the latter, in order to retain it. The aforesaid side walls also define with the front wall lateral and angular stop sides which are located at the ends of the risers and serve to hold a similar superimposed container in a stacked condition on said lid. However, such stop edges cannot be provided on the side of the container including the lid, otherwise the latter would be prevented from rotating downwards when closing the container. The condition described above prevents an overlying container from being reliably held on all its sides.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a take-away container for pizzas or other rotisserie products that can be reliably stacked on an identical underlying container and held by it from all its sides.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method which allows to reduce the dimensions of the same container.

The above purposes are achieved by a take-away container for pizzas or other rotisserie products defined in the attached claims.

Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the detailed description that follows, relating to an embodiment of the take-away container for pizzas or other rotisserie products, described with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for the take-away container according to the present invention;

figures 2 to 4 are perspective views from above showing successive steps in the erection of the container;

figure S is a perspective view showing two stacked upright containers;

figure 6 is a plan view of the blank of figure 1 without the lid part for a takeaway container in reduced format; And

-, figures 7 to 10 are perspective views from above showing successive steps in the erection of the container in reduced size.

Referring initially to Figure 1, which is a plan view of a blank for the take-away container according to the present invention, it shows:

- with continuous lines, peripheral cuts through which the blank is obtained from the sheet of material used to make the container, as well as internal cuts to the blank;

- with dotted lines, pre-cut lines that facilitate the fracturing of the blank; and - with dotted and dotted lines, creases along which the folding of the blank is facilitated. In particular, the blank comprises various parts which in Figure 1 are seen from the internal side of the future upright container and are identified below with reference to their function in the container. These parts comprise a hole 1 which is delimited by a continuous crease shaped as an external rectangle and indicated as a whole with 2, Along the crease 2 the bottom 1 borders with opposite side walls 3, 4, front 5 and rear 6.

In the bottom 1, inside the continuous crease 2 shaped like an external rectangle, two parallel creases 7, 8 are formed in a central position during the punching, which delimit a central area 9 of the bottom 1.

The opposite side walls 3, 4 are specularly the same, and therefore for simplicity only one is described in detail, for example the side wall 4. In it the parallel creases 7, 8 continue in parallel incised lines 10, 11, which are perpendicular to a discontinuous creasing 12 externally parallel to an adjacent side of the continuous creasing 2. The discontinuous creasing 12 is interrupted by half-moon cuts indicated generically with 13, with the convexity facing the outside of the blank. At its front and rear ends, the side wall 4, as well as the side wall 3, is joined to a portion 14 carrying a fin 15.

The front wall 5 comprises a rectangular part 16 bordering on one side with the bottom 1 and on the other side with a trapezoid-shaped portion 17. The rectangular part 16 and the trapezoid-shaped part 17 are delimited one on the other by means of a crease 18 interrupted by a slot 19 which resembles a flying half-disc. The rectangular part 16 of the front wall 5 has two opposite end cuts 20, anchor-shaped 20, and a trident-shaped central cut 21. The trapezoid-shaped part 17 of the front wall 5 has two end notches 22, 22.

The rear wall 6 bordering the bottom 1 along the continuous creasing 2 is joined with a lid 23, substantially identical to the bottom 1, along an engraved pre-cut line 24 interrupted by a pair of crescent cuts 13 between which it is interposed a pinnacle cut 25 with the tip facing the lid 23.

In the rear wall 6 two opposite ends 20, 20 in the shape of an anchor are made, and an cut 20 in the shape of an anchor facing the pinnacle cut 25.

In the lid 23 partially circular cuts are made centrally, with a vent function, generically indicated with 26. An elongated projection 27 on the opposite side to the pinnacle cut 25 is delimited from the rest of the lid 23 with a crease 28 interrupted by a sickle cut 29.

Refer now to figures 2 to 4, which are top perspective views of the container obtained from the blank of figure 1 in successive steps of its erection. For representative clarity all the lines are shown, differently from Figure 1, with a solid line.

In figure 2 both the lid 23 and the side walls 3, 4, front 5 and rear 6 are shown in a vertical position, being rotated 90 ° towards the inside of the container around the continuous creasing 2.

In figure 3 the vertical arrangement of the lid 23, and of the side walls 3, 4, front 5 and rear 6 is guaranteed by inserting the tabs 15 of the end portions 14 of the side walls 3 and 4 in the cuts 20 anchor-shaped in the rectangular part 16 of the front wall 5 and in the rear wall 6. Furthermore, the side walls 3 and 4 are rotated 90 ° towards the inside of the container around the discontinuous creasing 12, as well as the trapezoid-shaped part 17 of the front wall 5 around the creasing 18. The crescent-shaped cuts 13 in the side walls give rise to crescent-shaped elements 30 which remain vertical even after the rotation of the side walls 3 and 4 around the discontinuous creasing 12.

In figure 4 the lid 23 is rotated 90 ° forward until it rests on the side walls 3 and 4 and on the front 5, more precisely on their portions rotated 90 ° towards the inside of the container around the discontinuous creasing 12 and, respectively, around the creasing 18. The protrusion 27 of the cover 23, in complete rotation, fits into the slot 19 of the trapezoid-shaped part 17 of the front wall 5. The crescent-shaped elements 30, on the side walls 3, 4 and 5, and the vertical projections 31 of the front wall 5 obtained with the cuts 22, 22 on the trapezium-shaped part 17 form lateral, front and rear retaining elements adapted to prevent the translation of an overlying container as shown in figure 5, which represents in perspective view two containers according to the invention stacked one on top of the other.

To ensure the maintenance of this structure, a pinnacle element 32 (figure 4) obtained in a container thanks to the pinnacle cut 25 in the border area between the rear wall 6 and the lid 23, is introduced into the central cut 20 facing the pinnacle cut 25 of the container above. The anchor-shaped cuts 20 and the trident-shaped cut 21 have the possibility, once they have received the fin 15 and, respectively, the pinnacle element 32, to be closed towards the outside. This guarantees a greater seal between the parts and allows to close any entry and exit routes for both the content and foreign substances during transport, such as dust and insects. The closure also allows the maintenance of the internal temperature.

In summary, the stacking of several containers is thus guaranteed thanks to the half-moon elements 30 of the side walls 3, 4 and rear 6 and the vertical projections of the front wall 5, and to the locking with the pinnacle element 32 of an underlying container inserted in the central cut 20 of the overlying container.

Up to now the container according to the present invention has been described in its normal format. The present invention also provides a method for obtaining a container in reduced format from the blank of Figure 1.

This small size is convenient when, for example, only a slice of pizza is being transported, instead of a whole pizza, or a limited number of rotisserie products. This is obtained by separating the lid 23 in the blank of figure 1 along the pre-cut line 24. In this way the blank shown in plan in figure 6 remains, where the same reference numbers of the previous figures are used to indicate the same parts. Figures 7 to 10 are perspective views from above showing successive steps in the erection of the reduced-size container.

In particular, figure 7 is similar to figure 2, differing from this only by the absence of the lid. Therefore, it requires no further explanation.

In figure 8 it is shown that the side walls 3 and 4 are curved by 90 ° around the creasing line 12 towards the inside of the container forming horizontal support elements 34 except in areas 33, 33 delimited by incised pre-cut lines 10, 11.

Subsequently, as shown in Figure 9, these areas 33, 33 of the side walls 3, 4 are rotated by 90 ° on the central area 9 of the bottom 1. Therefore, the areas of the bottom 1 adjacent to the central area 9 are rotated one by one. towards the other so that the horizontal support elements 34 come into contact with each other, and the crescent-shaped elements 30 of the side walls 3 and 4 are placed side by side. It is understood that the horizontal support elements 34 which come into contact are those of the same side wall 3 or 4. The contact between the lateral half walls is followed by the retaining insertion of the pinnacle element 32 in the cut 21 in the shape of a trident made in the rectangular part 16 of the front wall 5. Furthermore, to improve the closure of the container in reduced format, the retaining elements 31 obtained with the end cuts 22 in the trapezoid-shaped part 17 of the front wall 5, which were previously folded upwards, they are inserted into the anchor-shaped cuts 20 of the rear wall 6.

In summary, to obtain a reduced size of the container starting from the blank shown in Figure 1, one proceeds as follows.

The lid 23 is detached along the pre-cut line 24. The side walls 3, 4 are folded inwards along the discontinuous creasing 12 to form the horizontal support elements 34, 34 and the front wall 5 is folded inwards along the creasing 18 by arranging its trapezoid-shaped part 17 horizontally. The intermediate areas 33 between the horizontal support elements 34, 34 are detached from the side walls 3, 4 along the engraved pre-cut lines 10, 11 and rotated on the bottom 1. The bottom 1 itself is rotated around the two parallel creases 7, 8 so as to allow the rotation of two parts of the latter around the parallel creases 7, 8. The retaining elements 31 are raised from the trapezoid-shaped part 17 of the front wall 5, before the contact of the rear wall 6 with the front wall 5. To obtain the closure of the container in reduced size, the pinnacle element 32 of the rear wall 6 is inserted into a trident-shaped cut 21 made in the front wall 5 and the retaining elements 31 of the front wall 5 are inserted into the anchor-shaped cuts 20 of the rear wall 6. Conveniently, the material with which it is made the container can be corrugated cardboard on the inside of which a metallized polyester film is laminated, particularly suitable for preventing oil or other liquids from escaping. Alternatively, the polyester film can be transparent for inserting the container into a microwave oven. The polyester avoids the formation of harmful fumes that are released due to the heat of the food from the cardboard in a closed environment. In addition, polyester keeps food warm for longer, regardless of whether the corrugated cardboard used has the wave covered by a sheet of cardboard or that the cardboard wave is uncovered and protected only and directly by the polyester protective film. which forms the surface in contact with food.

Removing the lid serves both to reduce the size of the container and to use the base as a plate to consume the pizza, and also to use the small size resealable container to store leftover pizza or other rotisserie items.

The removed cover, if clean, can be disposed of together with the paper as it is recyclable. This can happen if the container is manufactured with materials treated with water glues that allow recycling in equipment that automatically separates the cardboard and the polyester.

Once the container has been used as a plate or in any case once it is no longer needed to store any leftovers, it can still be folded to make it easier to dispose of it in the normal trash can among unsorted waste.

The end tabs 15 of the side walls fit snugly into the anchor-shaped cuts 20 and are particularly effective for keeping the side walls 3, 4 and front 5 in a vertical position. The central anchor cut 20 in the rear wall serves for insertion of the pinnacle element 32 for the connection between two stacked containers, while the trident cut 21 in the front wall 5 is useful for the insertion of the pinnacle element 32 for closing the container in reduced size.

The half-moon cuts 13 in the side 3, 4 and rear 6 walls make it possible to form vertical half-moon elements 30 which together with the end elements 31 on the front wall 5 form stop elements for retaining an overlying container. The same half-moon elements 30 are used in the container in reduced size side by side to hold its parts.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Takeaway container for pizzas or other rotisserie products, comprising a bottom (1), side walls (3, 4), a front wall (5) and a rear wall (6) joined along an engraved pre-cut line (24 ) to a lid (23), characterized by the fact that the side walls (3, 4) have a discontinuous creasing (12) interrupted by cuts (13), the rear wall (6) also has cuts (13) which interrupt the incised pre-cut line (24), said cuts (13) constituting lateral and rear retaining elements (30), and the front wall (5), formed by a rectangular part (16) and a trapezoid-shaped part (17) bounded by a crease (18), has end cuts (22) forming front retaining elements (31), so that when the side walls (3, 4) are folded inwards along the discontinuous crease (12) to form horizontal support elements (34, 34) and the front wall (5) is bent inwards along the creasing (18), the lid (23) is rotated until it rests on the horizontal support elements (34, 34) on the trapezoid-shaped part (17) of the front wall (5), the retaining elements (30) obtained by means of the cuts (13) on the side (3, 4) and rear (6) walls and the retaining elements (31) formed by the end cuts (22) in the front wall (5), all arranged vertically, constitute elements of stop to avoid translation of a stacked container on top of another. Container according to claim 1, wherein the cuts (13) on the side (3, 4) and rear (6) walls are crescent-shaped. Container according to claim 1, wherein a pinnacle-shaped cut (25) made in the rear wall (6) in a border area with the lid (23) forms a pinnacle element (32) adapted to be inserted into a anchor-shaped cut (20), made centrally in the rear wall (6) of an overlying container in a stacked condition. 4. Container according to claim 1, in which the side walls (3, 4) have end portions (14) individually bearing a fin (15) suitable for being inserted into a respective anchor-shaped cut (20) made in the anterior and posterior walls (5, 6). 5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of a corrugated cardboard on the inner side of which a polyester film is laminated. The container according to claim 5, wherein the polyester film is metallized. A container according to claim 5, wherein the polyester film is transparent. 8. Container according to claim S, characterized in that the corrugated cardboard has a wave covered by a sheet of cardboard interposed between the wave and the polyester protection film. Container according to claim 1, in which two parallel creases (7, 8) are centrally formed in the bottom (1) of the container which continue on the side walls (3, 4) with pre-cut lines (10, 11). Method for obtaining a reduced size of the container according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: remove the cover (23) along the pre-cut line (24); - fold the side walls (3, 4) inwards along the discontinuous crease (12) to form the horizontal support elements (34, 34) and fold the front wall (5) inwards along the crease (18 ) placing its trapezoid-shaped part horizontally (17); - detach intermediate areas (33) between the horizontal support elements (34, 34) from the side walls (3, 4) along the pre-cut lines (10, 11) and rotate them on the bottom (1); - rotate the bottom (1) around the two parallel creases (7, 8) so as to allow the rotation of two parts of the latter around the parallel creases (7, 8) and lift the retaining elements (31) from the trapezoid-shaped part (17) of the front wall (5), before the contact of the rear wall (6) with the front wall (5); - insert the pinnacle element (32) of the rear wall (6) into a trident-shaped cut (21) made in the front wall (5); And - insert the retaining elements (31) of the front wall (5) into the anchor-shaped cuts (20) of the rear wall (6) to close the container in reduced size.