Abstract:
A food container has an airplane configuration provided by a cardboard-like sheet having a plurality of spaced fold lines defining a number of panels that are folded along the lines and assembled to provide an airplane-like body having food compartments therein. The panels that extend to the tail of the fuselage are especially configured to provide a unitary tail fin and associated stabilizer that present the tail configuration.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to cartons or containers which are formed from a sheet of cardboard or similar material to present an airplane configuration, and which are used to hold food, beverage, or other items to be consumed or enjoyed by the user. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Disposable cardboard cartons assembled to provide a food container have been used by restaurants, theaters and other establishments as a convenience for their customers and, in particular, to organize and hold food for children and stimulate a child&#39;s interest in the contents of the container. This is particularly the case when dispensing fast food items such as hamburgers and french fries which may be consumed on the premises, and which require a container that securely holds these food items and permits the food-containing tray to be carried to where the food will be consumed and enjoyed. Trays may be formed from a cardboard-like material and assembled from a die-cut sheet by folding the various panels of the sheet, formed by die-cut score lines, into an assembled shape. Simulating the appearance of an airplane creates interest in the presentation of the meal, particularly young children, and holds and organizes the food items in a readily disposable carton. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In an embodiment of the present invention a food container having an airplane configuration is provided by a cardboard-like sheet having a plurality of spaced fold lines defining a number of panels that are folded along the lines and assembled to provide an airplane-like body having a food compartment therein. One of the panels extends fore and aft (Docket 3939) 
         [0000]    and has a rear end configured to provide a stabilizer. A second panel and a third panel present the left and right sides of the body and each has a rear end portion defining a tail fin section which is connected with the stabilizer to present an aircraft tail. In one aspect of the invention, the tail fin sections have aligned slots therein, and the stabilizer has a slot therein receiving the aligned slots in the tail fin sections to present the tail configuration. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the second and third panels has a fold line therein about which the associated tail fin section is folded to an upright position. In another aspect, the folded tail fin sections are engaged in side-by-side relationship to present a unitary tail configuration. 
         [0004]    A further aspect is the provision of a second storage compartment in the body of the airplane presented by a bay open at the top of the airplane for receiving other food items. 
         [0005]    Other advantages of the airplane carton will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a frontal perspective view of the airplane carton, the upper nose section and lower closure flap being shown in their open positions to reveal a food compartment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view showing the carton fully assembled. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows the outside of a cardboard sheet presenting seven shaped panels and associated fold lines, and showing the folding sequence. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows the inside of the cardboard sheet presenting the seven shaped panels and associated fold lines, and showing the folding sequence. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the carton during assembly prior to forming the tail portion of the airplane. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary, top plan view showing the tail section partially assembled. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view illustrating the assembly of the tail section. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the tail section fully assembled. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the assembled airplane carton showing the wings extended. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the carton of  FIG. 9 , parts being broken away and the nose shown open to reveal details. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of the assembled carton, the wings being partially shown. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a detail view of the end of the one of the tapered tail sections showing the tail fin in broken lines in its assembled condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a food container  20  having an airplane configuration is shown fully assembled in front and rear perspective views. Container  20  is presented by an assembled cardboard carton which, prior to assembly, comprises a sheet of material such as paperboard or a similar semi-rigid material capable of retaining fold lines and die cut to the desired shape as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to be discussed hereinbelow. A suitable material is 18-point white C1S SBS stock or a thin plastic material capable of retaining fold lines and being folded to a desired configuration. 
         [0019]    As assembled in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the container or carton  20  comprises a rounded nose  22 , a left wing  24 , a right wing  26  and a rearwardly extending fuselage terminating in a two-piece tail fin  28   a ,  28   b , and a horizontal stabilizer  30 . A flat top  32  on the fuselage has a pair of spaced holes  34  therein for receiving the fingers of a user so that the carton  20  may be conveniently carried. 
         [0020]    A nose section  36  presents a rounded nose when closed as may be seen in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 1  the nose section  36  is shown in an open position together with a lower closure flap  38  also shown open. Being composed of flexible paperboard material, or a similar semi-rigid material, the closure flap  38  is swung upwardly to close a main food compartment  40 , and the nose section  36  is swung downwardly over the rounded nose  22  to present the closed configuration seen in  FIG. 2  and also  FIG. 9 . The compartment  40  is particularly adapted to hold main course food items inside the airplane that are inserted through the open nose, which is closed after insertion. In addition, a food item such as french fries or a side order or beverage can be held on top of the airplane in a bay  42  behind top  32 . 
         [0021]    Assembly of the airplane carton from an initially flat sheet  44  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The left illustration in  FIG. 3  is the sheet  44  in a flat condition viewed from the outside before folding and gluing.  FIG. 4  illustrates the same sheet  44  as viewed from the bottom side of the sheet which will become the inside of the airplane. Sheet  44  comprises seven panels P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , P 5 , P 6  and P 7 , each of which has the configuration shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Following the sequential illustrations in  FIGS. 3 and 4  from left to right, the left illustration shows the die cut sheet flat before folding, i.e., panels P 1 -P 7  in a common plane. Once folded along the score lines and assembled as set forth below, panel P 1  will present the right side of the airplane, panel P 2  will present the top  32 , panel P 3  will present the left side of the airplane, panel P 4  will present the bottom of the airplane, panel P 5  will be adhered to the inside of panel P 1 , panel P 6  will present the upper body of the airplane, and panel P 7  will be adhered to the inside of panel P 3 . 
         [0022]    The sequential folding of the panels proceeds from left to right in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the second illustration, panel P 7  has been folded onto panel P 6 . Glue is then applied to the outside of panel P 7  at areas  46  and  48 . The next fold is at fold line  50  and panel P 7  is adhered to the inside of panel P 3 . Glue is then applied to the inside of panel P 1  at spaced areas  52 . Lastly, panel P 1  with glue applied is folded and adhered to the outside of panel P 5 . Panel P 5  is hidden from view by P 1  in the final illustration of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the stage of assembly after folding and gluing as described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Panels P 1  and P 3  define the sides of the aft portion of the fuselage, and panel P 4  will define the bottom of the fuselage (and the bottom of bay  42 ) when assembly is complete. As is apparent, panels P 1 , P 2  and P 4  are tapered from mid-fuselage to the tail. 
         [0024]    Completion of the fuselage and tail assembly is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8  and  12 . Referring first to  FIG. 12 , the side of the tapered tail section of the airplane formed by panel P 3  is shown in detail. In  FIG. 12  panel P 3  is shown in full lines prior to folding the tail fin section  28   a  to an upright, final position. This is accomplished by folding fin  28   a  at the fold line  53  as illustrated to present an upright tail fin  28   a  shown in broken lines in  FIG. 12 . Panel P 1  has the same configuration as P 3 . The tail fin  28   b  at the rear end of panel P 1  is likewise folded at a corresponding fold line (not shown) to an upright position in the same manner. Then, to complete assembly, the matching tail fin sections  28   a  and  28   b  are brought together, aligned and held while the stabilizer  30  is inserted into a slot  54  in each of the panels P 1  and P 3  presented by the upwardly folded fins  28   a  and  28   b . The action of folding the tail fin sections  28   a ,  28   b  to the final, upright position and insertion of the stabilizer  30  into the slots  54  is illustrated in  FIG. 6  where stabilizer  30  is shown in a vertical plane just prior to being rotated to a horizontal orientation and inserted as shown in  FIG. 7 . It should be noted, as shown in  FIG. 5 , that the stabilizer  30  has a central slot  56  therein extending fore and aft which mates with the slots  54  to provide a final tail configuration as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . Stabilizer  30  is held by a pair of shoulders  59  formed by a notch at the upper rear edge of each of the panels P 1  and P 2 . 
         [0025]    To provide the wings of the aircraft, each of the panels P 1  and P 3  is provided with a fold line  58  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8  and is die cut downwardly from the ends of the fold lines so that wings  24  and  28  may be rotated to a horizontal position and then held in place, for example, by an elongated rod  60  which, for convenience, may be a drinking straw. Aligned apertures (not shown in detail) are provided in panels P 1  and P 3  for the purpose of receiving the straw  60  so it may be placed in a final position as shown in FIGS.  9  and  10 . Therefore, when fully assembled, the airplane carton presents a container for food and beverage or other items in the main compartment  40  and the bay  42 , may be readily grasped and carried using the finger holes  34 , provides an interesting and fanciful vehicle for presentation of the meal, and is readily disposable after use. 
         [0026]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.