Patent Publication Number: US-2021188510-A1

Title: Stackable containers with support band

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/673,643, filed May 18, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to food carrying systems, and more particularly, to a food carry system that can be used to transport food away from a location where it is prepared to a remote location for consumption such as a home or hotel room. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Plastic containers for holding food and consumer goods are in common use. Oftentimes, such containers are used to convey prepared food to a user by a restaurant or other food service establishment, whereby the food is either consumed by the user at the restaurant, with further assistance by restaurant staff, or carried out by the user in the container(s) for subsequent consumption at home, work, or another location. Typically, containers used for this purpose are referred to as “take-out,” “takeaway,” or “to-go” containers. 
     Frequently, a takeout order includes batched meal requests for one or more persons requiring multiple containers and food items to be prepared and transported together. Additionally, dinnerware items such as plates, cutlery, napkins and condiments may also be included for customer convenience. Once an order is complete, the multiple containers and dinnerware items are typically packaged into a paper or plastic carrying bag to assist the user in transporting the various items to the destination where it will be consumed. 
     It is well recognized by people of ordinary skill in the art that placing multiple containers into a carrying bag while still keeping food containers level to avoid tipping and spillage of food contents can be difficult. In addition, it can be difficult for the customer to remove the containers and dinnerware from the carrying bag without tipping the containers, inadvertently detaching the container lids, and/or spilling the food. Furthermore, paper and plastic carrying bags, when filled with multiple containers and dinnerware items, may be susceptible to breakage and ripping. An additional concern regarding plastic bags is that many communities have banned or are considering banning such items due to ecological concerns, thereby narrowing the options available for food providers. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a food transporting solution that allows food service providers to better organize multiple containers and ancillary items for takeout and carrying purposes, and enables users to safely and conveniently transport the containers and their contents to a remote location for consumption, without spillage or undue disturbance of the food. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to a food carrying system that allows food service providers to better organize multiple containers and ancillary items for takeout and carrying purposes, and enables users to safely and conveniently transport the containers and their contents to a remote location for consumption, without spillage or undue disturbance of the food. 
     The disclosed food carrying system includes a plurality of food containers and/or dinnerware that can be linked together by a ribbon, strip, band, or strap. Each of the food containers can contain the same or different types of food. 
     According to the present disclosure, at least one of the containers and/or dinnerware items includes a pair of opposing flange handles, each of which includes a strap opening. When the food containers and/or dinnerware items are stacked, a support band can be threaded through the strap openings so that it surrounds the stack. The ends of the band can then be joined together to stabilize the stack. In embodiments, slack in the band provides a hand hold that is useful for carrying the stack. In some embodiments, a hole is provided in the band ends above the joining location, thereby configuring the band ends as a carrying handle for the stack. In other embodiments, a separate handle configured with a strap opening is threaded onto the band. The band openings can be closed or open. 
     A first general aspect of the present invention is a food carrying system that includes a plurality of stackable food service items, said items including at least one stackable container having a base and a lid, at least one of the food service items including a pair of opposed strap openings, and a support band configured for threading through the strap openings and encircling the food service items when stacked, ends of said band being configured for mutual engagement with each other, thereby enabling said encircled food service items to be maintained in a stack during lifting and transport. 
     In embodiments, the lid of the stackable container includes a pair of the opposed strap openings. 
     In any of the above embodiments, the base of the stackable container can include a pair of the opposed strap openings. 
     In any of the above embodiments, for at least one of the food service items the strap openings can be formed in a surrounding edge thereof. 
     In any of the above embodiments, for at least one of the food service items the strap openings can be formed in a surrounding flange thereof. 
     In any of the above embodiments, for at least one of the food service items the strap openings can be formed in opposing flange handles thereof. 
     In any of the above embodiments, the food service items can further include a dinnerware item. In some of these embodiments, the dinnerware item is a plate. In any of these embodiments, the dinnerware item can be a tray. 
     In any of the above embodiments, the ends of the support band can include openings configured for mutual alignment when the ends of the band are fixed together, said openings thereby forming a handle useful for carrying the stacked food service items. 
     Any of the above embodiments can further include a handle, said handle comprising a strap opening through which the support band can be threaded so as to facilitate carrying the stacked food service items. 
     In any of the above embodiments, at least one of the strap openings can be closed, thereby forming an oval shape. 
     In any of the above embodiments, at least one of the strap openings can be open on an outer side thereof, thereby forming a C shape. 
     In any of the above embodiments, at least one of the food service items can not include strap openings. 
     A second general aspect of the present invention is a method of maintaining and transporting a stack of food service items. The method includes providing a plurality of stackable food service items, said items including at least one stackable container having a base and a lid, at least one of the food service items including a pair of opposed strap openings, arranging the stackable food service items in a stack, encircling the stack of food service items with a support band that passes through the strap openings, fixing ends of the support band together, thereby maintaining the stack of food service items for lifting, and transporting the stack of food service items. 
     Embodiments further include providing a handle that includes a strap opening, passing the support band through the strap opening of the handle, so that the support band encircles the stacked food service items and passes through the handle, grasping the handle, and lifting the handle, thereby lifting the stack of food service items in preparation for transport thereof. 
     In any of the above embodiments, encircling the stack of food service items cam include threading the support band through at least some of the strap openings. 
     In any of the above embodiments, at least one of the strap openings can be open on an outer side thereof, thereby forming a C shape, and wherein encircling the stack of food service items includes inserting the support band into the open outer side of the strap opening thereof. 
     The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a food carrying system to of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of a food container of the food carrying system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a support band of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an alternative food carrying system to of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an exploded view of the food carrying system to of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a lid for a food container of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  depicts an alternative lid for a food container of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  depicts an alternative food carrying system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  depicts an alternative food carrying system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  depicts an alternative food carrying system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  depicts an alternative food carrying system of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  depicts an alternative food carrying system of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a food carrying system  10 , including a plurality of food containers  12  in a stacked configuration and connected/linked together by a support band  14 . Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the food containers  12  can include a base  16  and a lid  18  that are affixable together to contain a food product. Any or all of the bases  16  and  18  can include a pair of strap openings  20  at opposing locations on an outer edge or flange thereof, or in discrete flange handles provided on opposing sides thereof. The band  14  can be threaded through the strap openings  20  and about the plurality of food containers  12 , and the ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  can be affixed together, thereby encircling the band  14  about the plurality of food containers  12  and stabilizing the stacked configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . The ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  can include an adhesive  26  to join or affix the ends  22 ,  24  together. The adhesive  26  can be on the same side of the band  14  or on opposite sides of the band.  14 . In other embodiments, the ends of the band can be joined by hook-and-loop attachment, by snaps, hooks, buttons, tying of the ends in a knot, or by any other attachment means known in the art. 
     The encircling of the band  14  about the plurality of food containers  12  can perform the function of sealing or bundling together a selected grouping of food containers  12 , and slack in the band can providing a hand hold  28  that is useful for carrying the selected grouping of food containers  12 . When the carrying system  10  is lifted the weight of the containers  12  will pull the sides of the band  14  tight against the sides of the stacked containers  12 , and slack provided in the band  14  will not substantially reduce the stability of the stack  12  while it is carried. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment the ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  can each include a through hole  30 , wherein the through holes  30  are substantially aligned with each other when the ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  are attached together, thus forming a handle  32  for carrying the selected grouping of food containers  12 . In similar embodiments, a separate handle configured with a strap opening  20  is threaded onto the band  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the plurality of containers  12  can include a beverage holder  34  configured for holding one or more drink containers  35 , such as cups, cans and the like. The beverage holder  34  can include a base portion  36  and a support portion  38 , which are connectable. Each of the base portion  36  and support portion  38  can include strap openings  40  positioned on their outer edges, through which the band  14  can be threaded. The support portion  38  can include a plurality of cutouts  42 , though which a drink container  35  can be positioned. The base portion  36  can include a plurality of indented sections  44 , which are aligned with the cutouts  42  in the support portion  36 , and are configured to receive an end of the drink container  35 . In this manner, the combination of the cutouts  42  and indented portions  44  function to secure the drink container  35  in the beverage holder  34 . In use, the beverage holder  34  can be positioned on the top of a stack of food containers  12 , whereby the band  14  is threaded through and about the stacked food containers  12  and beverage holder  34 . The ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  are affixed together, locking the band  14  about the stacked food containers  12  and the beverage holder  34 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , in an alternate embodiment food container  50  is provided, where the container  50  includes a base (not shown) and a lid  52  that can be affixed together to contain a food product. The lid  52  of food container  50  can include a pair of strap openings  54 , on opposite sides of the lid  52 . A plurality of the food containers  50  can be linked into a stack  10  by threading a band  14  through the strap openings  54  and about the plurality of food containers  50 , and affixing the ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  together so that the band  14  encircles the plurality of food containers  50 . In this embodiment, the bases of the containers  50  do not include strap openings. However, in similar embodiments the bases can include strap openings that are co-aligned with openings  54 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , in yet another embodiment food container  60  is substantially similar to food container  50 , except that the strap openings  64  are open at their outer edges, substantially forming a “C-shape” rather than a closed oval. As in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the embodiment of  FIG. 7  includes a base (not shown) and a lid  62  that are affixable together to contain a food product. The strap openings  64  that are provided on opposite sides of the lid  62  can be utilized to link a plurality of food containers  60  together by threading a band  14  through the strap openings  64  and about the plurality of food containers  60  and affixing the ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  together, thereby encircling the band  14  about the plurality of food containers  60 . 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 7  further allows the strap to be installed, and for containers to be subsequently added, removed, and or exchanged in the stack, without a need to unthread and re-thread the band  14  sequentially through the strap openings  64 . Instead, the strap  14  can be simply installed and withdrawn from the strap openings  64  through the outer open edges of the strap openings  64 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the base of the container does not include corresponding openings. However, in similar embodiments the base can include strap openings that are co-aligned with strap openings  64 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in an alternative embodiment, the food carrying system  70  includes combinations of one or more food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74 . Each of the food containers  72  can include a lid  78  and base  80  affixable together to contain a food product. Each of the dinnerware items  74  can include a base portion  82  and a pair of strap openings  84  positioned on opposite sides of the dinnerware items  74 . The food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74  can be positioned/stacked in an alternating arrangement, such that band  14  can be threaded through the strap openings  84  in the dinnerware items  74  and positioned about the stacked food containers  72 , where the ends  22 ,  24  of the band  14  can be affixed together, thereby encircling the stacked food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74  and locking the band  14  about the stacked food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74 . The locking of the band  14  about the stacked food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74  can perform the function of sealing together the stacked food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74 , as well as providing a hand hold  28  for carrying the stacked food containers  72  and dinnerware items  74  (similar to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 ). Strap openings  84  may be configured with openings at their outer edges, substantially forming a “C-shape”. Dinnerware items  74  may consist of one or more types such as plates, trays, or bowls. 
       FIGS. 9-12  illustrate alternative stacking configurations, including food containers  72 , dinnerware items  74 , and beverage holders  86 . It is noted that these are not the only configurations included within the scope of the present disclosure, and that all alternative configurations are included in the disclosure that allow for a band  14  to be threaded through strap openings  84  to secure together a stacking of food containers  72 , dinnerware items  74 , and/or beverage holder  86 , as well as providing a hand hold for carrying such. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 8-12 , it is noted that the food containers  72  do not include strap openings for receiving the band  14 . Instead, only the dinnerware items (trays)  74  and beverage holders  86  include strap openings  84 , and these secure the band  14 . In similar embodiments, the food containers  72  also include strap openings as discussed above. 
     In the above noted embodiments, the food containers  72 , dinnerware items  74 , and beverage holders  34  may be of a variety of shapes, sizes, configurations, and may be constructed from materials such as paper, plastic, foam, bagasse, laminated materials, compostable materials, biodegradable materials, bioplastics, recycled materials, and/or plastic blends and compounds. The lids and bases may also be constructed of different materials, such as a clear plastic lid and a bagasse base. 
     In any of the above embodiments the band  14  may be constructed of paper, plastic, bagasse, laminated materials, compostable materials, biodegradable materials, non-wovens, recycled materials, and or composites thereof. The band may be made in a variety of configurations with varying length, width, and thickness according to the design of the container handles. The ends of band  14  may be affixed together by a variety of techniques known in the art including knot tying, snaps, buttons, adhesives, hook and loop material, stapling, and/or other fastening methods. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each and every page of this submission, and all contents thereon, however characterized, identified, or numbered, is considered a substantive part of this application for all purposes, irrespective of form or placement within the application. This specification is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. 
     Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, the scope of the invention is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The disclosure presented herein does not explicitly disclose all possible combinations of features that fall within the scope of the invention. The features disclosed herein for the various embodiments can generally be interchanged and combined into any combinations that are not self-contradictory without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the limitations presented in dependent claims below can be combined with their corresponding independent claims in any number and in any order without departing from the scope of this disclosure, unless the dependent claims are logically incompatible with each other.