BOX FOR TRANSPORTING, DISPLAYING AND SERVING FOOD

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a box for transporting, displaying, and serving food. The box has four side walls, a bottom panel, and a top lid connected to the rear side wall and foldable away therefrom. The top lid has a foldable hinge located across the center of the top lid that, when opened, allows for a logo or graphic to be displayed. A plurality of food trays are also provided within the box for serving food. The food box may be easily stored when not in use and provides security for transporting various food items.

Claims

1. A box for transporting, displaying and serving food, comprising: four side walls each defining a front, left, right, and rear direction; a bottom panel; a top lid having an edge connected to the rear side wall and foldable away therefrom and having a front lip configured to seat in front of said front wall to close a top of said box and comprises a foldable hinge located across the center of the top lid; and a plurality of removable food trays disposed within the box.

2. The box of claim 1, wherein of the plurality of food trays have a total food tray perimeter and the total food tray perimeter is marginally less than an interior perimeter of the box.

3. The box of claim 1, wherein the hinge is divided into two hinge components that terminate into a cut-out.

4. The box of claim 1, wherein the box can be assembled from one flat sheet of semi-rigid material.

5. The box of claim 1, wherein the box further comprises a first handle disposed on the left side wall and a second handle disposed on the right-side wall.

6. The box of claim 5, wherein the first handle and second handle are formed as cut-outs within the box itself.

7. The box of claim 4, wherein the box is cardboard.

8. The box of claim 3, wherein the cut-out is a dome shape.

9. The box of claim 1, wherein the food trays are an eccentric shape.

10. The box of claim 2, wherein the plurality of food trays are seated tightly against a neighboring food tray.

11. The box of claim 10, wherein the plurality of food trays are the same height, length, and width and the plurality of food trays fill the total food tray interior.

12. The box of claim 10, wherein the plurality of food trays are the same height and vary in length and width and the plurality of food trays fill in the total food tray interior.

13. The box of claim 1, wherein the food tray is approximately 5.25 to 5.75 inches in length, is approximately 2 to 2.5 inches in width and is approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

14. The box of claim 13, wherein the box is approximately 17.5 to 19.5 inches in length, is approximately 17 to 17.5 inches in width and is approximately 2.25-3.25 inches in height when in a closed position.

15. The box of claim 13, wherein the box is approximately 17-18 inches in length, is approximately 9.875-10.125 in width and is approximately 2.25 to 3.25 inches in height when in a closed position.

16. The box of claim 13, wherein the box is approximately 9.5 to 10.5 inches in length, is approximately 11.875 to 12.125 inches in width and is approximately 2.25-3.25 inches in height when in a closed position.

17. The box of claim 14, having 21 food trays.

18. The box of claim 15, having 12 food trays.

19. The box of claim 16, having 8 food trays.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

[0015] FIG. 1 is a top front, right side, perspective view of an embodiment of the box for transporting, displaying and serving food,

[0016] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof,

[0017] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof,

[0018] FIG. 4 is a right-side elevational view thereof,

[0019] FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view thereof,

[0020] FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof,

[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a closed box,

[0022] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the box in a flat sheet configuration,

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating closing the lid of the box,

[0024] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an individual food tray,

[0025] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an individual food tray,

[0026] FIG. 12 is a top front, right side, perspective view of another embodiment of the box showing a box having smaller dimensions and having 8 individual food trays

[0027] FIG. 13 is a top front, right side, perspective view of another embodiment of the box showing a box having smaller dimensions and having 12 individual food trays, and

[0028] FIG. 14 is a top front, right side, perspective view of another embodiment of the box having food trays of varying sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

[0030] Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from about or approximately one particular value and/or to about or approximately another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent about, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left, right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure.

[0031] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, in a preferred embodiment the food box includes an outer box 100 containing four side walls 110a-d, a bottom panel 120, and a top lid 130. The box is preferably composed of cardboard, although other rigid or semi-rigid materials, such as biodegradable plastics, are contemplated. As seen in FIG. 8, the outer box 100 is preferably constructed such that a single flat sheet of cardboard or cardboard-like material can be folded to create the box without the need for any other external fasteners or adhesives, which allows for ease of shipping and storage when not in use. While construction of the outer box 100 can vary depending on the shape of the single flat sheet, assembly of the present embodiment can be achieved by first folding side walls 110c and 110d to an upright position, folding side 110a and 110b to an upright position, folding the flaps located on both sides of side walls 110c and 110d toward the inside of the outer box 100 and abutting the interior facing portion of side walls 110a and 110b, folding the outwardly facing flaps of side walls 110a and 110b over the flaps of sides wall 110c and 110d and inserting said outwardly facing flaps of side walls 110a and 110b such that the protrusions 141a and 141b engage within respective apertures 142 located along the edges of bottom panel 120. Further, the outer box 100 may contain holes 111 for use as handles located on two parallel side walls 110a, 110b of the box 100.

[0034] The top lid 130 is attached to the rear side wall 110c, and hinges on the rear side wall 110c, e.g. along a bendable crease, as best seen in FIG. 9, when transitioning between an open and closed configuration. The top lid 130 further has a securing flap 131, which is insertable within the interior of the outer box 100, specifically behind the front side wall 110d, to secure the contents within the outer box 100 in the closed configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the top lid 130 has two foldable hinges 132 disposed across opposite ends of the midpoint of the top lid 130. The two hinges 132 extend parallel with the front and back side wall 110a, 110b and terminate at a hemispherical cut-out 133. While the present embodiment depicts a hemispherical cut-out, other shapes are contemplated. When in open configuration, the two hinges 132 allow the top lid 130 to be folded such that the outer facing portion of the top lid 130 is divided into two segments 130a, 130b in which one segment 130a faces the front of the outer box 100 and one segment 130b faces the rear of the outer box 100, allowing for an image to be displayed on the top lid 130 when in either open or closed configuration. In open configuration, the hemispherical cut-out forms 133 an arc, but other cut-out shapes are contemplated. Removing a center cut out and having a hinge disposed across the entire length of the top lid 130 is also contemplated. As best seen in FIG. 9, opening of the outer box can be achieved by lifting the top lid 130, folding the top lid 130 along the hinges 132, and positioning securing flap 131 against the interior facing portion of side wall 110c such that the top lid 130a is in a vertical position. It is contemplated that a vent hole 132 may be centrally disposed along the edge between top lid 130 and securing flap 131 to reduce moisture when in the closed configuration.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the outer box 100 is preferably 17.25 to 19.5 inches by 17 to 17.5 inches with a height of 2.25 to 3.25 inches when in the closed configuration. While the dimensions described are preferred, other dimensions may be used to accommodate different numbers or sizes of foods tray 200. For example, other embodiments are depicted in FIGS. 12-13 where the outer box 100 has a smaller perimeter to hold fewer food trays 200 than the preferred embodiment. The outer box of FIG. 12 preferably is 9.5 to 10.5 inches by 11.875 to 12.125 inches with a height of 2.25-3.25 inches when in the closed configuration and the outer box of FIG. 13 preferably is 17-18 inches by 9.875 to 10.125 inches with a height of 2.25 to 3.25 inches. It is contemplated that varying amounts of food trays 200 may be used, and the outer box 100 may be dimensioned accordingly. Other sizes of outer boxes 100 are contemplated. The dimensions recited are merely for exemplary purposes and to illustrate the varying dimensions of the outer box 100.

[0036] Within the outer box 100 are a plurality of removable food trays 200. Ideally, the food trays 200 are seated tightly together and organized in such a way that the total perimeter of the plurality of food trays 200 (i.e. the total food tray perimeter) are marginally less than the inner perimeter of the outer box 100 in order for the contents to remain secure during transportation of the food items. In a preferred embodiment, the rectangular food trays 200 are organized uniformly facing the same direction, as seen in FIGS. 1-6, although other configurations, orientations, number, and sizes of the food trays 200, as seen in FIG. 14, discussed infra., are contemplated. The shape of the food trays 200 are also not limited to a rectangular shape but may be any shape that can be packed together or a variation of the rectangular shape such as a box with a combination of curved and straight edges to form an S shape and which can seat tightly with a neighboring box. In a preferred embodiment, the food trays are preferably 5.25 to 5.75 inches by 2 to 2.5 inches with a height of 1.5 to 2.5 inches, having a height no more than the height of a side wall (e.g., 110a) to permit the top lid 130 to close properly.

[0037] In another embodiment, as seen in FIG. 14, the food trays 200 may vary in size depending on the food item to be served, in which a combination of different sized food trays 200 may be inserted into the outer box 100. For example, the present figure depict a rectangular food tray, but the food trays can be varied to hold different size food items and can be appropriately placed in one of food trays 200 A, B, C or D. It remains preferred that when the food trays are combined in any of the configuration of varying sizes that the food trays 200 remain seated tightly against a neighboring food tray and form an outer food tray 200 perimeter to fit within the outer box 100. Thus, the dimensions of the outer box 100 are determined based on the food item(s) and corresponding number of food trays to be placed inside the outer box 100.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the food tray 200, as best seen in FIGS. 10-11, consists of a self-locking box constructed of cardboard, paper, or other flexible material to complementary seat next to a neighboring food tray 200, but other food-safe materials are also contemplated. During transportation and storage, the food trays 200 can remain flat and can be transported together or separate from the outer box 100 when not in use. When inserting a food item, the bottom of the food tray 200 can lock together and form a box which can be used to serve an individual food item when separated from the outer box 100.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment, the food trays 200 are dimensioned to transport tacos, and the outer box 100 is dimensioned to carry 21 food trays holding 21 tacos. As discussed supra., other embodiments to carry 8 or 12 tacos can be achieved by dimensioning the outer box 100 to carry the corresponding number of food trays 200. While the preferred embodiment is designed and dimensioned to carry tacos, FIG. 14 depicts food trays of varying sizes to transport various other food items of varying sizes, for example sandwiches, burgers, hot-dogs, French fries, nachos, quesadillas, taquitos, or the like, or some may hold food related items including napkins, utensils, sauce-holding containers or packets.

[0040] While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Modification or combinations of the above-described assemblies, other embodiments, configurations, and methods for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims.