Kit for take away pizza

Abstract

A kit for take-out pizza includes a container and a cover, wherein the pizza container includes a basin-shaped tray having slanted lateral sides that enable stacking a second tray on the first tray by having the slanted walls support a bottom of the second tray received into the slanted walls, and stop projections provided on lower inner portions of the lateral walls of the tray, which support the second tray to form a stack of trays and to define, within the lower tray, a chamber for housing a pizza to be transported.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A kit for take-out pizza comprising: a pizza container; and a cover, wherein the pizza container comprises: a basin-shaped tray having slanted lateral sides that enable stacking a second tray thereon by supporting a bottom of the second tray received therein; and stop projections provided on lower inner portions of the lateral walls of the tray, the stop projections supporting the second tray to form a stack of trays to define, within the lower tray, a chamber for housing a pizza to be transported.

13. The kit according to claim 12, wherein the stop projections are provided in varying number and positions between different parallel pairs of the lateral walls.

14. The kit according to claim 12, wherein the stop projections are at least partially open to form chimneys that upwardly release vapor or condensate from the chamber to an outside even when the trays are stacked.

15. The kit according to claim 12, wherein the cover is configured to be coupled to an inside of upper inner portions of the lateral walls.

16. The kit according to claim 15, wherein the cover has geometric shape corresponding to an inner perimeter of the tray at an upper end of the stop projections.

17. The kit according to claim 12, further comprising a plate adapted to be introduced in the container to support the pizza, the plate being made of a synthetic material suitable for handling food products and having spacers providing air circulation between a bottom of the pizza and an upper surface of the plate, the plate further having a gripping fin for a comfortable and correct removal of the plate with the pizza thereon without dirtying the container.

18. The kit according to claim 17, wherein there are four gripping fins configured to be folded upwards and arranged at corners of the plate, wherein the plate has a planar structure with edges for perimeter containment on three sides that extend upwards and a plurality of protrusions spaced from each other and projecting from the plate upwards, the plate further having radial grooves dividing the plate into substantially triangular sectors to facilitate a correct cutting of the pizza into substantially triangular segments.

19. The kit according to claim 12, further comprising: a box protecting from dirt during housing and transport of the pizza; and a plate disposed within the box and having an appendage that facilitates removal of the pizza from the container, wherein the cover operates as an advertisement medium and has a printable surface for information and advertisement.

20. The kit according to one claim 19, wherein the box has an attached lid, the cover being configured to be coupled to the lid.

21. The kit according to claim 20, wherein the cover carries an advertisement and is made as a single sheet cover having at least one lateral fin or is made in an accordion shape having a plurality of folded sheets having at least one fin on each lateral side, the at least one fin projecting and being foldable below the lid of the box, wherein, after applying the cover, the lid closed on the box causes a firm positioning of the cover on the box.

22. The kit according to claim 21, wherein the covers has a single fin for coupling to the lid, such that a side of the cover opposite to the fin is adapted to be coupled to the lid with a fixing element, the fixing element being a clip or adhesive tape.

23. The kit according to claim 20, further comprising a plate adapted to be introduced in the box to support the pizza, the plate being made of a synthetic material suitable for handling food products and having spacers providing air circulation between a bottom of the pizza and an upper surface of the plate, the plate further having a gripping fin for a comfortable and correct removal of the plate with the pizza thereon without dirtying the container.

24. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the plate has a planar structure with edges for perimeter containment on three sides that extend upwards and a plurality of protrusions spaced from each other and projecting from the plate upwards, the plate further having radial grooves dividing the plate into substantially triangular sectors to facilitate a correct cutting of the pizza into substantially triangular segments, wherein, the gripping fin is provided on a side of the plate facing an opening side of the lid for removably sliding the pizza from the box, and wherein, at least on an edge of the plate opposite the gripping fin, there are provided two or more protrusions for holding the supported pizza.

25. The kit according to claim 12, further comprising stiffening members on the tray and spacers allowing air circulation below the pizza housed in the chamber.

26. The kit according to claim 25, wherein the stiffening members are structured as grooves projecting outwardly of the tray and arranged radially, and wherein the spacers providing the air circulation are a plurality of projections shaped as linear segments.

27. The kit according to claim 12, further comprising chimney projections defined on the lateral walls that project outwardly of the lateral walls and are open at an upward end to release vapor or condensate from the chamber even when the trays are stacked, lower ends of the chimney projections being defined below upper ends of the stop projections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further characteristics, advantages and details of the kit for take away pizza according to the invention shall be more apparent from the following description of embodiments schematically illustrated in the attached drawings, showing in different scales for greater clarity:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a take away pizza container according to the prior art, with the lid open;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a top view on a side of a simple cover according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a top view on the other side of the simple cover of FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pizza container of the known type with simple cover arranged on the lid, before fixing the cover;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a top view on the box of FIG. 4, with lid closed and simple cover fixed thereto;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a top view on a side of a double cover, which can be folded, according to the invention;

[0040] FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively a view on a side and on the other side a simple cover of different embodiment, corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0041] FIG. 9 is a top view on a box as in FIG. 5 with a simple cover in the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8;

[0042] FIG. 10 is a detail in enlarged section according to the line of section X-X in FIG. 9 before folding the fixing fin of the cover around the lid of the box;

[0043] FIG. 11 shows the detail as in FIG. 10 after folding the fixing fin around the lid and the closure of the lid on the box;

[0044] FIG. 12 is a top view on an open printed cut element of a double cover,

[0045] FIG. 13 is a top view on a box as in FIG. 9 with a double cover in the embodiment according to FIG. 12 folded;

[0046] FIGS. 14 and 15 are respectively an enlarged detail according to the section line XV-XV in FIG. 13 similarly to FIGS. 10 and 11;

[0047] FIG. 16 is a box with lid open seen from within the box with a simple cover of the type indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and additionally with a pizza plate with a pizza indicated with dashed line in a removal position;

[0048] FIG. 17 is a top view on the pizza plate of FIG. 16;

[0049] FIG. 18 is a front view of the pizza plate according to arrow F;

[0050] FIG. 19 shows, in enlarged scale, the detail in section according to line XIX-XIX in FIG. 17;

[0051] FIG. 20 is a top oblique perspective view on a pizza tray according to the invention which can be stacked and superimposed for the housing one or more pizzas simultaneously and independently with respect to each other;

[0052] FIG. 21 shows, in enlarged scale, the detail in section according to the section line XXI-XXI in FIG. 20;

[0053] FIG. 22 shows an oblique top perspective view on two pizza trays superimposed and spaced in stacking position, before the stacking thereof;

[0054] FIG. 23 is a front view on the two trays of FIG. 22 in the stacked position thereof;

[0055] FIG. 24 is a top oblique perspective view on two pizza trays superimposed and spaced in the superimposition position thereof, before being sunk into each other; and

[0056] FIG. 25 is a front view on the two trays of FIG. 24 in the superimposed and embedded position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] A conventional box 1 for take away pizza is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 and it has two opposite lateral walls 3 and a front wall 4, which haveat the upper partan edge 5 folded horizontally for supporting an oscillable lid 7 connected, through a folding line 8, with the further front wall 9, wherein coupling means, not illustrated, guarantee maintaining the box shape of the lower part 2 of the box, wherein said boxes are obtained by folding a carton or corrugated carton cut element, on which the folding lines are pre-cut. On the upper side of the lid 7 there are generally borne writings and illustrations regarding the pizza world, for example the name of the pizzeria, and this in case of medium-high production.

[0058] The drawbacks of such pizza boxes of the prior art are addressed in the introduction.

[0059] According to the present invention below is a proposal to pizzerias and municipalities for a kit for take away pizza to be used for the solution of the indicated task and obtaining the aforementioned advantages, selecting the components of the kit deemed most convenient from time to time as a function, for example, of the type of stuffing of the required pizzas, of the number of the ordered pizzas, of the pizza delivery time and so on and so forth, thus always obtaining the maximum information communication efficiency, keeping the containers hygienically clean, with the recycling possibility thereof, as well as maintaining the flavour and crunchy characteristics of the pizzas even after being kept in the container over the transport or delivery period.

[0060] According to a first teaching of the present invention a considerable increase of the surface intended for the advertisement communication can be obtained by utilising a sheet-like cover or lid cover 11 as indicated in FIG. 3 and having a surface substantially equivalent to the surface of the lid of the pizza container 1, without projecting parts. With the aim of simple and quick fixing of the cover 11 to the lid 7, on two opposite edges of the cover 11 there is provided for respectively at least one foldable fin 12 which, after placing the cover 11 on the lid 12 they are folded around the underlying sides of the lid hence, closing the lid, said fins remain trapped between the lower side of the lid and the perimeter edge 5 of the lateral walls 3.

[0061] Such solution could considerably increase the space intended for the messages and commercial illustrations providing for a multiple cover 11, in the example in FIG. 6 a double cover, with fins 12, 12a provided for in the initial cut element comprising a folding line 13 for a correct superimposition of the two covers 11. While a fin 12 is obtained as illustrated above, the fin 12a is cut on the side of the cover 11a hence, after folding the two cover faces along the line 13 the two fins 12 e 12a project from the folded cover analogously as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This not only allows increasing the surface to be dedicated to advertisement, but also a part of said covers could constitute a promotion coupon, or the like, which can be detached in a pre-cut fashion from the covers, this obviously not being possible with the carton of the box 1 itself.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows that, after applying the cover as indicated above, it is firmly anchored to the lid 7 on the two sides thereof without projecting parts.

[0063] The fixing of the simple or folded cover 12 to the lid of the box may also obviously occur through any other suitable means or method, for example, on one side of the box lid, with two spaced metal pins which can be applied using a known manual sewing machine, clips or small pieces of adhesive tape, as indicated with dotted lines in FIG. 9.

[0064] The simple covers 11 and the multiple ones with more sheets can always be printed on the front and rear surfaces thereof and they can be easily removed from the respective carton or tray containers.

[0065] In the kit according to the invention there is also included, as container, a conventional pizza box as illustrated in FIG. 1, which, in order to avoid dirtying the same with oil or fat of the pizza is provided with an associated pizza plate 20, FIGS. 8-13. The pizza plate 20 is provided for the insertion in the pizza container placed on the bottom thereof, hence it will have dimensions that allow easy introduction thereof in the box and a perimeter substantially corresponding to the inner perimeter of the box.

[0066] Alternatively to the insertion into a pizza container, the pizza plate 20 according to the invention may also be arranged on the bottom of a pizza container 30, as illustrated more in detail hereinafter.

[0067] As observable from the figures, the pizza plate 20 has a substantially sheet-like conformation with perimeter edges 21 on the three sides and a plurality of projections or protrusions 22 distributed to groups in substantially triangular sectors 23 separated by grooves 24 facilitating the cutting of the pizza into sectors equally substantially triangular 23. Upon placing a pizza on the protrusions 22, between said protrusions 22 and the groups of said protrusions there are hollow areas and channels between which there occurs a free circulation of air between the lower side 26 of the pizza P and the underlying pizza plate.

[0068] With the aim of easily removing the pizza plate using the hands both from the pizza boxes or trays, on the free edge of the pizza plate 20 there is provided a strip or fin 28 for grasping using fingers for the removal of the pizza plate with pizza form the box with an easy removal/sliding movement.

[0069] With 29 there is for example indicated two protrusions for stopping the pizza, which have a greater height with respect to that of the protrusions 22 and prevent the pizza-lateral wall contact of the box. Other protrusions 29 may be provided in as many as one wishes and arranged at will to avoid a contact between the pizza and the perimeter walls of the box, or tray, and avoid the sliding of the pizza during the removal of the grasping strip 28 from the box.

[0070] At the corners of the pizza plate 20 there is also respectively provided a grasping fin 31, substantially semi-circular shaped in the example. These fins 31 can be grasped with fingers to remove the pizza plate, with the pizza thereon, from a tray-like container. FIGS. 17-19 show the position of the pizza P on the projections of a pizza plate.

[0071] Now, reference shall be made to FIGS. 20 to 25 illustrating improved pizza dish-like or basin-like trays 30 made of synthetic material for handling food products according to the invention and forming pizza containers alternatively to the carton boxes. The basin-like trays 30 are polygonal-shaped, for example quadrangular-shaped, as illustrated in FIGS. 20, 22 and 24. The tray respectively has two first opposite walls 31 and 32 and two second opposite walls 33, 34, which are executed in a known manner slightly countersunk downwards, i.e. towards the bottom side 35, with the aim of allowing both the stacking of several trays (FIGS. 23 and 24), and a superimposition of the trays 30 (FIGS. 24 and 25) leaving between the bottoms 35 of two superimposed trays a chamber 36 for housing a pizza P.

[0072] The stacking of the trays occurs in that, as mentioned above, the trays 30 have the same perimeter configuration as the slightly bevelled walls. The spaced superimposition between the bottoms 35 of respectively two trays 30 is obtained by internally providing on the walls 31-34 stop abutments 37 projecting towards the internal of the tray 30 and obtained, in the illustrated example, similar to a substantially semi-cylindrical cavity extending from the horizontal support surface thereof 37a, which may be completely closed or partly open, up to the bottom 35 of the tray for a height H (FIG. 20) corresponding to the height of the chamber 36 for housing the pizza P. According to the teaching of the invention, such projections or stop abutments 37 are distributed in an opposite fashion and different from each other on the lateral walls 31, 32 and 33, 34.

[0073] Thus, maintaining the same arrangement of the stop projections 37 it is possible to either stack the trays 30 with the minimum overall dimension of the space (FIG. 23) or rotate, in the illustrated example, by 90 degrees, a tray 30 respectively lower with respect to a tray 30 respectively upper the containers are not stacked but the bottom 35 of an upper tray, after entry into the lower tray 30, shall rest on the stop projections 37a, serving as primary chimneys distributed on the four walls of the tanks 30, leaving between the two superimposed tanks the aforementioned chamber 36 for housing the pizza P. This obviously occurs for every tray progressively applied at the upper part in the desired/required stack of trays for the group of pizzas of a single customer. Placing the upper trays on said stop abutments 37a distributed on the four lateral walls 31-34 confers high stability to a stack of trays with relative pizzas therein, facilitating the handling of said stack of trays during the transport thereof and delivery to the customer.

[0074] In addition, in order to confer the trays the required rigidity, on the bottom 35 there are provided stiffening grooves 39, for example arranged radially, to facilitate further the cutting of the pizza into substantially triangular pieces, as often desired by customers, wherein said grooves 39 contribute to confer the required rigidity to the tray. As observable from the FIGS. 20, 21, 22 and 24, the bottom 35 of the trays 30 is also preferably provided with projections 22 arranged, for example, as illustrated in the pizza plate 20 and having the same function.

[0075] In order to facilitate the release of humidity and vapour released by the pizza on the walls 31-34 of the trays besides the primary chimneys 37 there are provided secondary chimneys 40, still in form of cavities, for example semi-cylindrical, projecting towards the external and terminating towards the external on the perimeter edge 41 of the trays 30, wherein the vapour rises upwards and also exits from all trays beneath the upper tray of a stack.

[0076] Besides the components illustrated and described above, the kit according to the invention is completed by covers 50 for closing the trays 30 singularly or the upper tray 30 in a stack of trays 30, wherein for the sake of simplicity and clarity said covers 50 can be simple or multiple similarly to the simple or multiple covers 11 and 11a and they are differentiated from the latter due to the fact that they do not have foldable fins 12, 12a. The covers 50 are quadrangular-shaped with surface slightly smaller than the opening of the trays and allowing the resting thereof on the stop abutments 37a, wherein the perimeter edge inside the lateral walls 31-34 shall determine the secure housing of the cover 50 in the tray 30, as observable from the detail indicated with a dashed line in FIG. 20, simultaneously representing the bottom 35 of a superimposed tray 30, while the perimeter edge 41 allows an easy handling of the trays.

[0077] The structural and functional description of the various components of the kit for take away pizzas according to the invention shows that the proposed task is efficiently solved and it is eco-friendly obtaining the aforementioned advantages.

[0078] Those skilled in the art may introduce modifications and variants to the components of the described kit according to their geometric shape, as well as according to the dimensions and arrangements of the protrusions, stiffening grooves, arrangement, number and geometric shape of the stop abutments, of the protrusions and so on and so forth, as well as regarding the choice of the materials, without departing from the scope of the present invention as described and claimed hereinafter.