Abstract:
A cupcake carrier for organizing and protecting cupcakes during storage and transit includes a container formed of a singled sheet of planar material and having flaps folded in assembly to form an upwardly opening cavity carrying an insert tray formed of a single sheet of planar material and having circular openings for lightly compressively holding the cupcakes in a grid array. The insert is sized smaller than the base of the container to provide slots about the periphery. The container includes a hinged lid having flaps that enter the slots in the closed position to reinforce the outer walls and prevent inner movement of the flaps during transit and storage.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/597,669 filed on Dec. 16, 2005. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to food storage containers and, in particular, to a container for carrying edible goods such as cupcakes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Cupcakes are extremely popular foods and oftentimes elaborately decorated for festive occasions such as parties, birthdays, sporting events and the like. For convenience and disposability, consumers are generally relegated to using available household items like boxes, bags, and the like for transport. Therein, the goods are commingled in the available base space and are subject to moving, crushing, turning and spilling, all of which can destroy the decorations before arrival at the consuming site. 
   Various containers are available for holding edibles, such as cupcakes, muffins and like discrete preformed food items, in single or multiple array such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,140. At the retail level, preformed plastic containers for holding single or multiple articles are common. At the consumer level, specialized carriers have been proposed such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,003,671; 5,967,323; D436,502; D365,502; and D348,378. These containers tend to be manufactured of rigid molded and relatively expensive materials, designed for repetitive uses. When taken to outside events, the components may become separated and lost. Before reuse, the components require cleaning and maintenance for further uses. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a carrier for such articles that is inexpensive, protective of the goods, and disposable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a disposable cupcake carrier formed of two panels of sheet material which are compactly folded for shipping and storage, and readily assembled as needed to provide a container for organizing decorated cupcakes and preventing shifting and resultant damage during transit and storage. The carrier includes an outer container member formed of a single sheet of planar disposable material, such as cardboard, that is folded and assembled to provide a cavity sealed by a hinged lid. An insert tray, also formed of a single sheet of planar disposable material includes a grid array of circular openings for lightly compressing and retaining the cup cakes against movement. The tray is supported above the container base by folded side flaps. The tray is smaller than the container base providing slots at the periphery. The cover includes folded side and front flaps that are retained in the slots in the closed position, thereby reinforcing the container side walls and preventing inward movement of the flaps that could damage the cupcakes in storage or transit. After use, the container may be disposed or disassembled and compactly stored for reuse. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a carrier for preformed edibles that may be compactly stored and readily assembled to organize and protect the edibles during storage and transit. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable carrier for cupcakes assembled from sheets of disposable planar materials. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier for cupcakes or other edible preformed articles assembled from sheets of cardboard material that are assembled to provide a container that organizes and protects the cupcakes and may be safely discarded or reused. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a cupcake carrier in the open position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the outer carton blank for the cupcake carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the insert blank for the cupcake tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the tray; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the tray of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially sectioned end view of the outer carton taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the cupcake carrier of  FIG. 1  in the partially open position; and 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the cupcake carrier in the assembled closed position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cupcake carrier  10 , in the open position, having an outer container or carton  12  having a base  14  and folding lid  16  carrying in a upwardly opening cavity a nesting insert tray  18  supporting an array of cupcakes  19  or other preformed edibles, such as muffins or the like. Referring to  FIG. 10 , in the illustrated closed position, the cupcake carrier  10  may be used for the transport and storage of the cupcakes, in an organized and safe mode as described herein. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the outer carton  12  is formed from a planar carton blank  20  of suitable disposable material such as cardboard. The blank  20  comprises a rectangular base panel  22  hingedly connected at an upper end by a lateral score line  24  to a rectangular rear panel or flap  26  and hingedly connected at a lower end by lateral score line  28  to a rectangular front panel or flap  30 . Further, the base panel  22  is hingedly connected at the lateral sides to side panels  32  by transverse score lines  34 . The side panels  32  include an inner panel section  36  and an outer panel section  38 . The sections  36  and  38  are hingedly connected at transverse double score lines  39 . 
   The rear panel  26  is hingedly connected to rear side flaps  40  at transverse score lines  42 . The rear panel  26  is hingedly connected to a cover panel  44  at lateral score line  46 . 
   The top panel  44  is hingedly connected at an upper end to a cover flap  50  at lateral score line  52  and to cover side flaps  54  at transverse score lines  56 . 
   The front panel  30  is hingedly connected to front side flaps  58  at transverse score lines  60 . 
   The base panel  22  includes transversely spaced slots  62  at score lines  34  for receiving in locking relationship outwardly projecting transversely spaced tabs  64  formed at the outer ends of the sections  38 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 through 10 , the outer carton  10  is assembled by upwardly folding the panels  26 ,  32 , and  30  about the base panel  22  along their respective score lines thereby forming a rectangular perimeter wall. The flaps  58  of the front panel  30  and the flaps  40  of the rear panel  26  are folded inwardly about their respective score lines and inwardly adjacent the inner surface of the side panels  32 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the outer section  38  of the side panels  32  is folded downwardly about score lines  39  and the tabs  64  inserted in the slots  62  thereby locking the flaps  40  and  58  without supplemental fastening with tape or adhesive and providing a reinforced perimeter wall resisting inward movement that could damage the carried goods. In the open position, the side flaps  54  and cover flap  50  of the cover panel  44  are folded inwardly, and the cover panel  44  folded about score line  46  at the rear panel  26  thereby allowing the lid  14  to move between the fully and partially open positions of  FIGS. 1 and 9 , and the closed position of  FIG. 10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the insert tray  18  is formed of a single sheet of disposable material such as cardboard. The insert tray  18  comprises an insert blank  70  including a base panel  72  having transverse flaps or legs  74  hingedly connected thereto at transverse score lines  76  and lateral flaps or legs  78  hingedly connected thereto at lateral score lines  80 . The base panel  72  includes a plurality of main circular apertures  86  located in a 4 by 3 grid array, for carrying a conventional dozen cupcakes. Intermediate the apertures  86  are smaller diameter apertures  88  providing finger holes for inserting and removing the insert tray  18  from the base of the carton  12 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in assembly the legs  74 ,  78  are partially folded downwardly about their respective score lines and assume a resilient a downwardly and slightly outwardly inclined orientation. The base panel  72  of the insert  18  is slightly smaller than the upper surface of the base panel thereby forming transverse slots  90  and lateral slots  92  for receiving and capturing the side flaps  54  of the cover panel  44  ( FIG. 8 ) in the transverse slots  90 , with the front lateral slot  92  receiving and capturing the front cover flap  50  of the cover panel  44  ( FIG. 8 ). 
   More particularly, referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , as the lid  16  is pivoted and lowered, the side flaps  54  progressively enter the side slots  90 , inwardly biasing the legs  74  of the insert tray, thereby providing frictional and mechanical retention. To avoid sharp edges and promote easy of entry, the side and cover flaps have curvilinear edge surfaces. As the lid is further lowered the cover flap  50  is aligned to slide along the inner surface of the front panel, and progressively enters the front slot  92  and seats as shown in  FIG. 8 . The flaps thus are securely positioned and resist inward movement upon compression, or other handling disruptions, and additionally reinforce the peripheral walls to provide added protection. 
   The cupcakes  19  as similar articles are characterized by a generally frustoconical base that may be retained in a pleated liner or wrapper  94 . The secure retention of the cupcakes  19  may be further increased by providing a slight compressive fit between the cupcake base and rim of the openings  86 . The resulting weight on the insert base also assists in centering the insert to provide uniform gaps for the lid flaps. Inasmuch as typical baking pans provide for a dozen articles, the openings are preferably in the illustrated 4 by 3 grid array. The carrier is accordingly sized. For conventional sized cupcakes, a base of about 13 and 15 inches spaces a dozen cupcakes in the illustrated grid without interference. The base of the insert is sized to provide slots of about ¾ inch, which is satisfactory with acceptable blank thicknesses of about 1/16 to ⅛ inch. Insert flap legs of about ¾ inch provide a low contact location not interfering with the top décor and allow for ease of removal for serving. 
   While the carrier has been illustrated and described with reference to cupcakes, it will be appreciated that the insert may be configured for other preformed edibles such as muffins, pies and other foods where organizing and protection during storage is desired. After use, the container may be safely disposed or stored in assembled or disassembled condition for reuse. 
   Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.