Pizza slice container

A pizza slice container includes an upper member having an upper surface; a lower member having a bottom surface and at least one sidewall, the lower member attached to the upper member by at least one hinge, wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface are opposed. The upper member includes at least one retention spike extending from the upper surface of the upper member toward the bottom surface of the lower member. The lower member includes at least one retaining tab extending substantially perpendicular from a sidewall of the lower member; and at least one rib extending from the bottom surface of the lower member toward the upper surface of the upper member. The upper and lower members are movable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position. Other embodiments of the pizza slice container, and methods for its use, are described herein.

BACKGROUND

Take-out and delivery foods, such as pizzas, have long been desired by consumers as a quick meal option. Meals that are ready to eat—either delivered or taken to go—are well known and widely desired. Various types of packaging have been produced for these types of meals including, for example, various types of paper and plastic single-use containers as well as plastic and glass reusable containers. A well-known type of container is the widely used cardboard pizza box. The different types of boxes and containers may accommodate a family sized meal or a single serving.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a food container comprises an upper member having an upper surface; a lower member having a bottom surface and at least one sidewall, the lower member attached to the upper member by at least one hinge, wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface are opposed; at least one retention spike extending from the upper surface of the upper member toward the bottom surface of the lower member; at least one retaining tab extending substantially perpendicular from a sidewall of the lower member; and at least one rib extending from the bottom surface of the lower member toward the upper surface of the upper member; wherein the upper and lower members are movable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position.

According to another embodiment, a pizza slice container comprises an upper member having an upper surface; a lower member having a bottom surface and a rear wall, the lower member attached to the upper member by at least one hinge, wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface are opposed; and the upper and lower members are in approximately the shape of a circle sector; a plurality of retention spikes extending from the upper surface of the upper member toward the bottom surface of the lower member; at least one retaining tab extending from the rear wall of the lower member; a plurality of ribs formed on the bottom surface of the lower member and extending toward the upper surface of the upper member and radially between a radial center of the bottom surface towards the rear wall; wherein the upper and lower members are movable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position.

According to another embodiment, a pizza slice container comprises a member formed to approximate the shape of a slice of pizza, the member comprising an upper member formed to approximate the shape of toppings of a slice of pizza, and a lower member formed to approximate the shape of crust of a slice of pizza; the upper member having an upper surface and the lower member having a bottom surface, wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface are opposed; wherein the upper and lower members are movable between an open position and a closed position.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of transporting a slice of pizza comprises placing a slice of pizza inside a pizza slice container formed to approximate the shape of the slice of pizza, the member comprising an upper member formed to approximate the shape of toppings of the slice of pizza, and a lower member formed to approximate the shape of crust of the slice of pizza; retaining the slice of pizza inside the pizza slice container with at least one retaining tab; maintaining an air gap between a bottom surface of the lower member and the slice of pizza with at least one rib; and retaining the toppings of the slice of pizza in a predetermined position with at least one retention spike.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. For example, a pizza slice is used for illustrative purposes in the title and description of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and may be configured for other types of foods and for foods of different shapes. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other equivalent parts can be employed and other methods developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

An embodiment of a pizza slice container1is shown onFIG. 1. The pizza slice container1generally comprises an upper member3and a lower member5for receiving a sector of a circularly shaped food object (e.g., roughly triangular) such as, for example, a slice of pizza or a slice of pie. According to an embodiment, the upper member3is formed to approximate the appearance of toppings of a pizza and the lower member5is formed to approximate the appearance of crust of a pizza. According to different embodiments, the upper and lower members may be formed to approximate different elements. For example, inFIG. 1the upper member3is formed to approximate a cheese topping and the lower member5is formed to approximate a pizza crust. As a further example, inFIG. 9the upper member3is formed to approximate a pepperoni and cheese topping and the lower member5is formed to approximate a pizza crust. It is also foreseen that other embodiments may include, for example, the upper member3is formed to approximate a pie crust and the lower member5is formed to approximate a pie filling. Further variations in appearance will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this disclosure.

The upper and lower members3and5may be formed from a variety of materials including plastics, such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, or polypropylene, for example. The upper and lower members may also be formed from glass, metal, or paper-based products. The upper and lower members3and5may be of substantially rigid material or a pliable material, such as silicon. The upper and lower members3and5may be formed by injection molding of plastics and other manufacturing techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. According to an embodiment, the upper and lower members3and5may be formed monolithically. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower members3and5including the various features shown in, for example,FIGS. 6 and 7, may be formed monolithically. Alternatively, upper and lower members3and5may be formed separately and subsequently attached. An insulating material may be used to store hot or cold foods. As shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the upper and lower members3and5may be formed to approximate the shape of the toppings and crust, respectively. According to an embodiment, the toppings and crust may be colored to depict the actual color of the toppings and crust. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower members3and5may comprise flat surfaces with the toppings and crust drawn or colored on the outer surface of the members. Alternatively, the pizza slice container1may be a single color.

The upper and lower members3and5may be attached with hinges11and a latch mechanism13to form a pizza slice container1having a closed position, as shown inFIG. 1, and an open position, as shown inFIG. 7. The upper and lower members3and5may be attached together with at least one hinge11located on inner sides of the upper and lower members3and5, respectively. Although two hinges are shown inFIG. 7, it is foreseen that only one hinge may be used or a plurality of hinges may be used. As shown inFIG. 7, the hinges11may be a flexible material of and integral with the upper and lower members3and5. For example, the upper and lower members may be made of high-density polyethylene and the hinges may be a thin piece of high-density polyethylene integral with the upper and lower members. According to other embodiments, the hinge11may be any type of hinge as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, it is foreseen that a piano hinge, butt hinge, butterfly hinge, flush hinge, or continuous hinge may be used.

When the upper and lower members3and5are in the closed position, the upper and lower members3,5may be latched together with a latch mechanism13. As shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 1, a dual snap-fit latch mechanism may be used to latch together the upper and lower members3and5. The snap-fit latch can comprise a cantilevered protrusion21and a support receiver23on each of the upper and lower members3and5, as shown inFIG. 6, however other embodiments are possible. According to an embodiment, the cantilevered protrusion21may include a bead or hook on its free end (not shown). As the upper and lower members3and5are pushed together to the closed position, the cantilevered protrusion21may deflect due to interference between the cantilevered protrusion21and the support receiver23. Once inside the support receiver23, the interaction between the cantilevered protrusion21and the support receiver23holds the upper and lower members3and5together. It is foreseen that the latch mechanism of other embodiments may be a single snap-fit latch mechanism or any type of latch mechanism as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now toFIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the pizza slice container1is shown in the open position. The inside of the lower member5comprises a bottom surface31, an inner rear wall33, and inner sidewalls35. At least one retaining tab41can extend radially inwardly from the inner sidewalls35or the inner rear wall33. According to other embodiments, only one retaining tab or a plurality of retaining tabs may be used. The retaining tabs41are shown at the corners or distal positions on the inner rear wall33. In other embodiments, the retaining tabs may be located at a center position between the corners on the inner rear wall33or spaced along the inner rear wall33between the corners. As shown onFIG. 7, retaining tabs41comprise a rear tab portion43and a projecting tab portion45. The rear tab portion43can be affixed to the inner rear wall43and can provide support for the projecting tab portion45. The projecting tab portion45extends radially inwardly from the rear tab portion43, e.g., substantially perpendicular thereto, and is spaced away from the bottom surface31. As shown inFIG. 8, for example, a pizza slice100is shown received in the lower member5and secured in place by the retaining tabs41. The retaining tabs41may be formed monolithically with the lower member5or may be formed separate from the lower member5and attached thereto.

The lower member5may include air gap ribs51and52formed on the bottom surface31. As shown inFIG. 6, the air gap ribs can extend radially from an approximate radial center53to substantially adjacent the inner rear wall33. A pair of outer air gap ribs may52extend parallel to the inner side walls35of the lower member5. Another pair of inner air gap ribs51may extend between the outer air gap ribs52. As shown inFIG. 8, for example, a pizza slice100is shown received in the lower member5and on air gap ribs51and52. The air gap ribs51and52can elevate the pizza slice100or other item placed thereon above the bottom surface31. According to an embodiment, the air gap ribs51and52can form an air gap between the bottom surface31and the pizza slice100or food item in order to preserve freshness. The radial placement of the air gap ribs51and52on the bottom surface31may be advantageous to keep the pizza slice or food item off the bottom surface31with a minimum number of air gap ribs required to form the air gap under substantially all of the pizza slice100or food item. According to other embodiments, the air gap ribs may be formed vertically, horizontally, or at other angles in order to form the air gap between the bottom surface31and the pizza slice100or food item. The air gap ribs51and52may be formed monolithically with the lower member5or may be formed separate from the lower member5and attached thereto.

Still referring toFIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the upper member3may include retention spikes61and62formed on the upper surface65. As shown inFIG. 6, the retention spikes61and62may extend outwardly from the upper surface65of the upper member3. It is foreseen that the retention spikes61and62may be formed integrally with the upper surface65or affixed to the upper surface65. According to an embodiment, a set of retention spikes61is formed near and/or at the radial center67of the upper member3and another set of retention spikes62is formed near and/or at the geometric center69of the upper member3. The placement of retention spikes61and62may be advantageous for retention of toppings on a slice of pizza. For example, when the pizza slice container1ofFIG. 8is in the closed position, the retention spikes61and62may pass through the toppings (e.g., cheese, pepperoni, peppers, anchovies, etc.) of the pizza slice and into the crust. Alternatively, the retention spikes61and62may be sized to apply pressure on the toppings of the pizza against the crust. When the closed pizza slice container1containing a slice of pizza is jostled or tilted, the pizza toppings may be less likely to slide or become misplaced because they are held in place by the retention spikes61and62. According to other embodiments, retention spikes may be formed at other locations on the upper surface65such as along the periphery of the upper member3. The retention spikes may be formed monolithically with the upper member3or may be formed separately and subsequently attached thereto.

Referring now toFIGS. 7 and 8, the pizza slice container1may further include a groove71and a ridge73for containing the pizza slice or food item ingredients within the container1. The groove71may be formed along the periphery of the upper member3and a mating ridge73may be formed along the periphery of the lower member5. The groove71and mating ridge73facilitate alignment of the upper and lower members3,5upon moving the pizza slice container1to the closed position. According to an embodiment, the mating groove71and ridge73may form a seal along the periphery of the mating surfaces of the upper and lower members3and5. Alternatively, when air flow is desired, the mating groove71and ridge73may form a tortuous flow path in order to allow air flow outside the container but substantially maintain food contents insider the container.

Referring now toFIGS. 10-13, an embodiment of a pizza slice container200is illustrated. The pizza slice container200may generally comprise a container portion201having an upper member203and a lower member205for receiving a sector of a circularly shaped object. As illustrated atFIGS. 10 and 11, a topping member207may be removably attached to a top surface209of the upper member203.

The removable topping member207may be formed to emulate any shape, such as, for example, any type of pizza topping, different colors, or different words, numbers, or pictures depicted thereon. As illustrated atFIG. 10, for example, the topping member207is a cheese topping. However, the removable topping member207may be a pepperoni topping, as illustrated atFIG. 9, or any other type of pizza topping. It is foreseen that the removable topping member207may be formed with various colors, textures, and shapes, as desired.

The upper member203of the container portion201may comprise the substantially flat top surface209and an end section211. For example, the end section211may be a crust portion of a pizza. According to an embodiment, the end section211may be a fixed decorative element formed on the upper member203and the removable topping member207may be a variable decorative element of the pizza slice container200. The mating edges of the end section211and topping member207may be non-linear or irregular so as to appear more realistic of a real pizza slice. It is foreseen, for example, that a single container portion201may have any plurality of interchangeable and removable topping members207that depict different types of objects or foods that may be contained within the container portion201. It is also foreseen that the end section211may be formed integral with the removable topping member207, and removable from the upper member203, so that both sections211and207may be variable. According to an embodiment, it is foreseen that the topping member207may be permanently attached to the container portion201.

As illustrated atFIGS. 10 and 11, the topping member207may be removably attached to the upper member203of the pizza slice container200. The topping member207may have any plurality of posts221extending downwardly from an inner surface of the topping member207. As explained further below, the posts221may serve to both attach the topping member207to the upper member203, as well as to function as topping retention spikes, such as retention spikes61and62, explained above. According to an embodiment, the posts221may serve only to attach the topping member207to the upper member203. According to another embodiment, only one or only two posts221may extend from the topping member203.

In order to attach the topping member207to the upper member203, the upper member203may have post receiving holes223extending through the top surface209of the upper member203. The number of post receiving holes223may correspond in location and number to the posts221extending from the topping member207. For example, the locations of the posts221and corresponding receiving holes223may be placed similar to the retention spikes61and62, as explained above.

As illustrated atFIGS. 12 and 13, when the topping member207is placed on the upper member203, the posts221of the topping member207are received into or through the post receiving holes223. The posts221may be received through the post receiving holes223by, for example, a friction fit, so as to fixedly but removably attach the topping member207to the upper member203. Other means of fixedly attaching the posts221in or through the post receiving holes223may be used such as, for example, adhesives, a nut, a threaded nut, or other devices.

As illustrated atFIG. 12, when the topping member207is attached to the upper member203, the posts221extend downwardly into the container portion201. It is foreseen that the length of the posts221may be adjusted to any length depending on whether it is desired to pass through the toppings or merely apply pressure to a food item or toppings of a food item placed in the container portion201. Retention spikes225may extend downwardly from the end section211. According to an embodiment, retention spikes225may extend from a removable section corresponding to the pizza crust so that the removable section is removably attached to the upper member203in a fashion similar to that of the topping member207.

Referring now toFIGS. 12 and 13, the inside bottom surface of the lower member205of the container portion201may have at least one or a plurality of air gap ribs231. For example, the air gap ribs231may be in a cris-cross or overlapping pattern. However, as explained above with respect to air gap ribs51and52, the air gap ribs231may be in other patterns such as, for example, radially extending ribs, circular ribs, or at various angles.

Other aspects of the pizza slice container200may be similar to those of the previously described embodiments. It is foreseen that the aspects and features of the various embodiments described herein may be used in combination with each other.

The pizza slice containers1and200of the described embodiments may be used to store and transport a pizza slice or other food items. Advantageously, the container may be formed and colored to approximate the appearance of contents of the container, as described above. According to another embodiment, a pizza shop may use the pizza slice containers to identify the contents of the container for customers either by sight, texture, or both. A freshly baked slice of pizza may be inserted into the pizza slice container where freshness of the crust, placement of the toppings, and/or the desired temperature may be preserved for a period of time. For example, a pizza shop customer may simply look at a variety of pizza slice containers, such as the pizza slice containers ofFIGS. 1 and 9, and select the pizza slice desired. Additionally, the pizza shop customer may feel the texture of the of the pizza slice container to select the desired slice of pizza. When the desired slice of pizza is selected, the customer may purchase the pizza slice container containing the ready to eat slice of pizza.