Patent Application
20110139862
This invention relates in general to the field of disposable containers and more particularly to an easily assembled take out box for foodstuffs or other contents.
Take out boxes for foodstuffs or other contents with carry handles are commonly used for carry out or take out orders for foods. These containers provide their users with inexpensive and efficient containers to transport and store prepared hot food or other foodstuffs for short periods until ready to be consumed. These boxes, when constructed of paper products, are often coated with materials to make them resistant to liquids and heat that would ordinarily saturate the pores of the paper within a few minutes and cause leaking. Often these containers incorporate metal handles by which the container can be easily handled.
Storage of assembled boxes often presents difficulties, since the storage of large quantities of assembled boxes is often hindered by the inability to stack and efficiently access larger quantities of these containers when in their assembled form. Also, the assembled containers are often very similar in appearance, complicating the identification of particular boxes when stacked. Also existing boxes are somewhat generic in appearance and generally do not lend themselves to the incorporation of structures and shapes that allow one to easily distinguish one container for another, as well as the incorporation of structures and shapes that may be customized for a particular theme or vendor.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container formed of a single sheet of material that is configurable for a theme.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container design that has a distinctive shape and readily identifiable as coming from a particular vendor.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container design that has an extended panel that is configurable and shaped for a particular theme.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container that is configurable to deliver an advertising or marketing message.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container that is microwave safe.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container that has a reinforced structure to prevent spilling.
It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container design that is stackable for storage purposes.
One embodiment of the present invention is a container formed from a single sheet of flexible material cut, scored and folded to provide a front, back, bottom, first and second side walls including corner folds, and a top closure, the container features a back wall having an integral panel extending substantially above the assembled container top formed by the folded material forming the back wall of the container. In this particular embodiment the container features corner folds folded parallel to the contiguous sidewall, each pair of the corner folds contiguous to a common sidewall having a portion that overlaps when folded in parallel to the contiguous sidewall, the overlapping portion of each corner fold having a opening therein disposed to align with the opening in the overlapping corner fold forming a opening therethrough.
The container features a handle having two ends, the handle extending in a loop over the top closure with the first handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the first side wall and anchored therein, the second handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the second side wall and anchored therein.
In at least one embodiment the invention discloses a carry out box formed of a single sheet of flexible material cut, scored and folded having front, bottom, first and second side walls; a sealable top closure, and a back wall having an integral panel extending substantially above the assembled container top formed by the folded material forming the back wall of the container. The carry out box has a plurality of corner folds disposed at each end of the first and second sidewalls in the vertical plane, each the corner fold folded toward the corner fold sharing a common sidewall therewith in the same plane and parallel to the common sidewall.
Each corner fold has an overlapping portion with an opening therethrough, and the opening in each corner fold portion disposed to align with the opening in the overlapping corner fold forming a reinforced opening therethrough. The carry out box also has a handle, the handle extending in a loop over the top closure with the first handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the first side wall and anchored therein, the second handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the second side wall and anchored therein.
In at least one embodiment the invention discloses a container formed from a single sheet of flexible material cut, scored and folded to provide a front, back, bottom, first and second side walls including corner folds, and a top closure, the container having a back wall having an integral panel extending substantially above the assembled container top formed by the folded material forming the back wall of the container. The contain features corner folds folded parallel to the contiguous sidewall, each pair of the corner folds contiguous to a common sidewall having a portion that overlaps when folded in parallel to the contiguous sidewall, the overlapping portion of each corner fold adapted to provide a reinforced means for attaching a handle to the container.
As used herein “substantially”, “generally”, and other words of degree, are used as a relative modifier intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to like parts wherever they occur:
Referring now to the figures wherein like reference numbers denote like elements,
In the example embodiments shown in
With continued reference to
A handle 255 having two ends, extends in a loop over the top closure 240 of the assembled container 200 with the first handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the first side wall 215 and anchored therein, the second handle end passing through the opening 222 formed by the overlapping portion 230 of the corner fold adjacent to the second side wall 216 and anchored therein. The overlapping portion 230 of the corner folds providing a reinforcing structure for the openings 222 through which the handle is anchored.
In a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention in addition to the reinforcing effect that the overlapping portion corner folds have the openings formed by the corner folds have at least one additional reinforcing structure disposed therein, and the handle ends are secured to the corner folds through the reinforcing structure.
The reinforcing structure may take the form of a thicker material incorporated in to the area around with the opening is disposed or through additional components added to that portion of the corner fold to strengthen and reinforce the structure.
In an exemplary embodiment the reinforcing structure is a structural ring attached to at least one corner fold contiguous to each sidewall.
With continued reference to
In yet another exemplary embodiment the at least one reinforcing structure and the handle are nonmetallic allowing the contents of the container to be heated using a microwave or similar type oven.
The back wall 210 of the assembled container features an integral panel 211 extending substantially above the assembled container top 240 formed by the extended portions 111 of the sheet 100, forming the back wall of the container 210.
With continued reference to
In addition to being configurable for various indicia, the extended back wall 211 provides ease of storage for the assembled containers 200. The extended back wall 211 allows easy stacking of the assembled containers providing additional stability for stacking and storing large quantities of assembled containers and allows the configuration and identity of the stored containers to be easily identified.
An additional attribute is that irrespective of the color of the container the origins of or the content of the assembled container can be readily identified by the consumer. Take out from a vendor using this invention is now instantly recognizable and may be easily distinguished from a market competitor by simply glancing at the container.
The example embodiment shown in
The back wall extending substantially beyond the container top may be adapted to display a marketing message or an advertising theme. In addition the extended back wall of the assembled container may be configured to form an ornamental shape projecting up from the back wall.
In another exemplary embodiment the back wall is configured to display a banner design with indicia relating to a banner integrated into the shape of the back wall 211.
In yet another exemplary embodiment the back wall is configured to display a holiday theme with indicia relating to a Christmas tree integrated into the shape of the back wall.
In another exemplary embodiment the back wall is configured to display a banner design with indicia relating to a marketing theme is incorporated onto the back wall.
In another exemplary embodiment the back wall of an assembled container is configured to display a banner design with indicia relating to a marketing theme is incorporated onto the back wall.
In another exemplary embodiment the back wall of an assembled container is configured to display a banner design with indicia relating to a marketing theme is incorporated onto the back wall.
In yet another embodiment the carry out container the exterior of the assembled container is configured accept indicia from at least one of the group consisting of printed material, graphic designs, graphic pictures, art, literary matter, educational matter, marketing matter and indications of select discrete events.
In another embodiment the container is formed from a single sheet of flexible material cut, scored and folded to provide a front, back, bottom, first and second side walls including corner folds, and a top closure. The container features a back wall having an integral panel extending substantially above the assembled container top formed by the folded material forming the back wall of the container and corner folds folded parallel to the contiguous sidewall, each pair of the corner folds contiguous to a common sidewall having a portion that overlaps when folded in parallel to the contiguous sidewall, the overlapping portion of each corner fold adapted to provide a reinforced means for attaching a handle to the container.
Yet another embodiment of the disclosed invention is a carry out box formed of a single sheet of flexible material cut, scored and folded having front, bottom, first and second side walls and a sealable top closure as well as a back wall having an integral panel extending substantially above the assembled container top formed by the folded material forming the back wall of the container. The container also has a plurality of corner folds disposed at each end of the first and second sidewalls in the vertical plane, each the corner fold folded toward the corner fold sharing a common sidewall therewith in the same plane and parallel to the common sidewall, each corner fold having an overlapping portion with an opening therethrough.
The opening in each corner fold portion is disposed to align with the opening in the overlapping corner fold forming a reinforced opening therethrough. The container also has a handle having two ends, the handle extending in a loop over the top closure with the first handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the first side wall and anchored therein, the second handle end passing through the opening formed by the overlapping portion of the corner fold adjacent to the second side wall and anchored therein.
Given the foregoing, it should be apparent that the specific described embodiments are illustrative and not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, variations and modifications to the invention should now be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art. These variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.
