APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FOOD DISHES

Abstract

A box for handling a heated dish comprising a plurality of surfaces defining a volume sized to enclose the dish, with one of the surfaces being an operative surface. The box further comprises a score line on the operative surface that defines a removable portion sealing an opening in the operative surface, which is dimensioned to suspend the dish within the volume. A method of manufacturing the box includes identifying cutting lines and crease lines on a box template. The crease lines define a plurality of surfaces of the box, one of which is an operative surface. The method further includes identifying a score line that is on the operative surface and defines a removable portion dimensioned to accommodate the dish. The method further includes cutting a stock material with a cutting die to produce a cut material, and folding the cut material along the crease lines, forming the box.

Claims

1. A box comprising: a plurality of surfaces defining a volume sized to enclose a dish, wherein a first surface of the plurality of surfaces is an operative surface; and a score line disposed on the operative surface, wherein the score line defines a removable portion sealing an opening of a remaining portion of the operative surface, and wherein the opening is dimensioned to suspend the dish within the volume.

2. The box of claim 1, wherein: a second surface of the plurality of surfaces is a lateral wall having a first portion and a second portion; and the first portion is removably coupled to a surface of the second portion.

3. The box of claim 2, wherein: the first portion comprises a tab; and the second portion comprises an aperture dimensioned to accommodate the tab.

4. The box of claim 3, wherein after the first portion is removed from the surface of the second portion, the tab of the first portion is inserted into the aperture, thereby coupling the first portion to the second portion and reforming the lateral wall

5. The box of claim 2, wherein a third surface of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the bottom surface is opposing the operative surface; and the dish does not contact the bottom surface while suspended within the volume.

6. The box of claim 2, wherein a third surface of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the bottom surface is opposing the operative surface; and the dish contacts the bottom surface while suspended within the volume.

7. The box of claim 1, wherein the removable portion includes a tab for removing the removable portion from the operative surface.

8. The box of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of surfaces includes one or more lateral walls defining a perimeter of the box; another score line is disposed on at least one lateral wall; and the score line disposed on the at least one lateral wall defines a vent.

9. The box of claim 1, wherein: another one of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the bottom surface is opposing the operative surface; another score line is disposed on the operative surface and/or the bottom surface; and the score line disposed on the operative surface and/or the bottom surface defines a vent.

10. A box comprising: a plurality of surfaces defining a volume, wherein one of the plurality of surfaces is an operative surface; a dish disposed within the volume; and a score line disposed on the operative surface, wherein the score line defines a removable portion sealing an opening of a remaining portion of the operative surface, and wherein the opening is dimensioned to suspend the dish within the volume.

11. The box of claim 10, wherein: the dish comprises a lip; and the opening is dimensioned to permit the remaining portion to engage the lip and suspend the dish within the volume.

12. The box of claim 10, wherein: another one of the plurality of surfaces is a lateral wall having a first portion and a second portion; and the first portion is removably coupled to a surface of the second portion.

13. The box of claim 12, wherein: the first portion comprises a tab; and the second portion comprises an aperture to accommodate the tab.

14. The box of claim 13, wherein; the dish is withdrawn after the first portion is removed from the second portion; and after the dish is withdrawn, the tab of the first portion is inserted into the aperture, thereby reforming the lateral wall.

15. The box of claim 10, wherein another one of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the bottom surface is opposing the operative surface; and the dish does not contact the bottom surface while suspended within the volume.

16. The box of claim 10, wherein the removable portion includes a tab for removing the removable portion from the operative surface.

17. The box of claim 10, wherein: the dish comprises a tapered body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a smaller area than the top portion; and the opening has an area larger than the bottom portion and smaller than the top portion.

18. The box of claim 10, wherein: the plurality of surfaces includes one or more lateral walls defining a perimeter of the box; another score line is disposed on at least one lateral wall; and the score line disposed on the at least one lateral wall defines a vent.

19. A method of manufacturing a box for holding a dish, the method comprising: identifying one or more cutting lines on a box template; identifying one or more crease lines on the box template, wherein the one or more crease lines define a plurality of surfaces of the box, and wherein one of the plurality of surfaces is an operative surface; identifying a score line on the box template, wherein the perforation line is disposed on the operative surface and defines a removable portion dimensioned to accommodate the dish; cutting a stock material with a cutting die based on the one or more cutting lines and the one or more score lines, thereby producing a cut material; and folding the cut material along the one or more crease lines, thereby forming a structure of the box.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: identifying one or more glue areas on the cut material; and applying an adhesive to the one or more glue areas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box for handling a dish.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the box of FIG. 1 and the dish.

[0011] FIG. 3A is another top view of the box of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3B is a side view of the box of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for manufacturing a box according to an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box 102 for handling a dish. In a non-limiting embodiment, the box 102 comprises a plurality of surfaces 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and 109 defining a volume sized to enclose the dish. A first surface of the plurality of surfaces is an operative surface 108 of the box 102. The box 102 further comprises a score line 112 disposed on the operative surface 108. The score line 112 defines a removable portion 108A sealing an opening 110 of a remaining portion 108B of the operative surface 108. The opening 110, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2 that follows, is dimensioned to suspend the dish within the volume. The score line 112 is a weakened portion of the operative surface 108 that provides a predictable pattern of failure that facilities separation of the removable portion 108A from the remaining portion 108B. In some embodiments, the score line 112 may be a perforation (i.e., a series of small holes) that enables a user to tear off the removable portion 108A. The removable portion 108A may include a tab 114 that enables a user to pull the tab 114 and facilitate removal of the removable portion 108A. In some configurations, the tab 114 may protrude from the removable portion 108A and enable the user to pull the removable portion 108A off the box 102. In other configurations, the tab 114 may be defined by another scored line within the removable portion 108A. In such configurations, the user may press through the tab 114, grasp the removable portion 108A by both surfaces, and pull the removable portion 108A off the box 102.

[0015] In some configurations, the plurality of surfaces comprises an operative surface 108, an opposing surface 109, a first end wall 104, a second wall 105 opposing the front wall, and two opposing lateral walls 106 and 107, as can be seen in more detail in FIG. 2. The first end wall 104 may include resealable interface to allow removal of the dish without destroying the box 102 or compromising the integrity of the box 102, but which allows the box 102 to be resealed to retain structural integrity of the box 102. For example, the first end wall 104 can have a first portion 116 and a second portion 118, with the first portion 116 removably coupled to the second portion 118. The first portion 116 may comprise a tab 119, and the second portion 118 may comprise a receiving feature, such as a receiving slot or aperture (not shown) that is dimensioned to accommodate the tab 119. When the first portion 116 is removed from the surface of the second portion 118, the tab 119 may be inserted into the aperture to reform the first end wall 104. It may be advantageous to recouple the first portion 116 and second portion 118 to reform the first end wall 104 to increase the structural rigidity of the box 102 for supporting the dish. For example, by reforming the first end wall 104, the box 102 will resist deformation when the dish is suspended within the volume of the box 102. Although the resealable interface is shown on the first end wall 104 in FIG. 1, in another embodiment the resealable interface can be included on any of the plurality of side walls 104, 105, 106, and/or 107.

[0016] Optionally, at least one of the plurality of surfaces 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and 109 includes another score line that defines a vent 117. A lateral wall 106, the first end wall 104, and/or the second end wall 105 comprises a vent 117 in one configuration. In another configuration, the operative surface 108 and/or the opposing surface 109 comprises a vent 117. The user may expose the vent 117 according to the similar techniques described herein concerning the exposure of the opening 110 by removing removable portion 108A. It may be advantageous to include a vent 117 in at least one of the plurality of surfaces to prevent the user from being burned. For example, if the box 102 comprises vents, heat from the dish will primarily transfer through the vents into the environment instead of through the box and increasing the temperature of the box in the process.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of the box 202 and the dish 220 is illustrated. The dish 220 has a body 226 divided by a partition 227 into two receptables 228A and 228B for storing food. A projecting lip 224 circumscribes the body 226. The dish 220 has been removed from the box 202 via the first end wall 204 after separating the first portion 216 of the first end wall 204 from the second portion (not shown) of the first end wall 204. The removable portion 208A has been detached from the box 202, exposing the volume 215 of the box 202 to the environment.

[0018] In some embodiments, the dimensions of the opening 210 of the box 202 is based on the dimensions of the dish 220 to allow the dish 220 to be suspended within the volume 215 of the box 202, which would reduce and/or eliminate conductive heat transfer through the plurality of surfaces of the box 202 to prevent a user from being burned or to prevent the dish from damaging surfaces, such as wooden tabletops. For example, the body 226 of the dish 220 can be sized smaller than the opening 215, but with a lip 224 that has a shape and size that is similar but larger than the opening 210, which would allow dish 220 to be suspended in the volume 215 from the operative surface 205 via the lip 224. In another embodiment, the shape of the opening 210 can allow the outer surface of the body 226 of the dish 220 to rest on the remaining portion 208B so that the body 226 of the dish 220 is only suspended partially within the volume 215. Another advantage of suspending the dish 220 within the volume 215 of the box 202 is to provide structural support for the dish 220 in a heated state. For example, the dish 220 may be composed of a material that becomes flimsy after heating, which degrades the structural integrity of the dish 220. When the dish 220 loses structural integrity, the contents of the dish 220 are more likely to spill outside of the dish 220. Thus, by suspending the dish 220 within the volume 215 of the box 202, the box 202 enables the dish 220 to retain its original shape and prevent spillage.

[0019] In yet another embodiment, the opening 210 of the box 202 is dimensioned to allow the dish 220 to rest on the bottom surface (not shown) while maintained within the volume 215. In these embodiments, it may be advantageous to use a material with poor heat transfer properties (e.g., paper-based) to construct the box 202.

[0020] In some configurations, the dish 220 does not contact the opposing surface while it is suspended within the volume 215 of the box 220. An advantage to dimensioning the box 202 such that the dish 220 does not contact the opposing surface is that there will not be direct (conductive) heat transfer from the dish through the bottom surface, which decreases the likelihood that a user will be burned. Alternatively, the box 202 may be dimensioned such that the dish 220 contacts the opposing surface while suspended within the volume 215. In configurations with the dish 220 contacting the opposing surface, it may be advantageous to use a material with poor heat transfer properties (e.g., paper-based) to construct the box 202.

[0021] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the dish 320 suspended within the box 302. After detaching the removable portion 308A from the box 302, the user may place the dish 320 into the volume of the box 302. In some configurations, the dish 320 includes a lip 324 defining a perimeter of the dish 320. As the dish 320 is suspended within the volume of the box 320, the lip 324 engages with the operating surface 308. In another configuration, the dish 320 comprises a tapered body having a top portion and a bottom portion, with the bottom portion having a smaller area than the top portion. The opening in the operating surface 308 has an area larger than the bottom portion and smaller than the top portion, enabling the perimeter of the opening to engage the body and ensuring that the dish 320 is secure within the volume. By securing the dish 320 within the volume of the box 302, the dish 320 is able to maintain its original shape and prevent the spillage of contents.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 of a process for manufacturing a box according to an illustrative embodiment. The method of flowchart 400 begins at step 410 by identifying one or more cutting lines on a box template. In step 420, one or more crease lines are identified on the box template, and in step 430 one or more glue areas identified on the cut material. The one or more crease lines define a plurality of surfaces of the box, with one of the plurality of surfaces being an operative surface. In step 440 a score line is identified on the box template. The score line is disposed on the operative surface and defines a removable portion dimensioned to accommodate the dish.

[0023] The method further includes cutting 450 cutting a stock material with a cutting die based on the one or more cutting lines and the one or more score lines to produce a cut material. In step 460 an adhesive is applied to the one or more glue areas and in step 470 the cut material is folded along the one or more crease lines to form the box.

[0024] Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically, and by way of example, although the headings refer to a Technical Field, the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field. Further, a description of a technology as background information is not to be construed as an admission that certain technology is prior art to any embodiment(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the Summary to be considered as a characterization of the embodiment(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to invention in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple embodiments may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the embodiment(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.

[0025] Moreover, the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. ? 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.