Fast food container with separable bottom trough

Abstract

A fast food container enables construction of a stacked food item in a substantially horizontal configuration, then containment thereof. When assembled to contain the fast food item, the fast food container includes a lower receptacle portion and an upper tray portion. To consume the fast food item, the upper tray portion is opened, while the lower receptacle portion of the fast food container remains closed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefits of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/574,535, filed May 26, 2004, and Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/641,417, filed Jan. 5, 2005.

FIELD

The disclosed invention relates generally to a food container and its method of use; more particularly, the disclosed invention is a disposable food container created for use in a fast-food or “take-out” environment. The disclosed fast food container provides quick and easy access to a fast food item within the container while preventing spillage of solid bits of food or drips from the fast food item. Additionally, the disclosed fast food container enables quick and easy assembly of a multi-layered fast food item by fast food restaurants.

BACKGROUND

Modern society, while conferring many advantages on its members, has also introduced many complexities into the lives of individuals. These complexities have eroded the amount of free time available. As a result, many individuals have adapted by implementing time-saving measures and procedures. One of the most ubiquitous time-saving adaptations of modern society is that known as “fast food.” Individuals partaking of fast food items can quickly purchase and eat fast food items without the delays associated with preparing food items or waiting for food items to be prepared in a restaurant.

The fast food industry has given rise to numerous types of inexpensive, prior-art disposable food containers suitable for containing various types of fast food items. Such prior-art disposable food containers include boxes, bags, cartons, trays of various structures and configurations which are shaped and sized according to the food items being served. Many prior-art disposable food containers are typically made from paper, card board, polystyrene, or some other inexpensive material. To reduce the amount of time between receipt of an order for a fast food item and delivery of the fast food item to the purchaser, fast food restaurants actually construct the fast food item on the material which is subsequently wrapped around the fast food item.

A particularly important aspect of the fast-food industry is the “drive-through” window. Drive-through windows allow drivers and passengers to purchase fast food items packaged in disposable containers through their car window. The drivers and passengers may then eat the fast food item while traveling in the automobile. Typically, the fast food item is placed on a person's lap or on the car seat. When the fast food item is picked up, it is not uncommon for solid bits of food or drips to fall onto clothing or onto the car seat. Such solid bits of food or drips often leave unsightly stains.

Currently available containers for fast food items have proven to be deficient in some important respects, particularly for those who choose to eat while riding in a moving automobile. Specifically, currently available containers for fast food items typically do not provide protection for the user's clothes or the upholstery on the car seats against crumbs, drips, or the spillage of a major portion of the fast food item. Persons eating fast food items while in a moving automobile, or who are otherwise simultaneously engaged in other activities while eating, such as talking on a cellular phone, are particularly prone to getting food onto their clothes or onto the car seats. Currently available containers for fast food items do not provide adequate protection from grease spots and stains on a user's clothing or on car seats which result from debris or drips falling from fast food items. There remains a need in the art for a container usable by fast food restaurants which both facilitates construction of the fast food item and also provides protection from debris or drips falling from the fast food item.

SUMMARY

The fast food container of the present invention both facilitates construction of a fast food item and also provides protection from debris or drips falling from the fast food item.

The disclosed invention describes a fast food container which provides for quick, easy, and inexpensive manufacture, prevents drippage or spillage of food onto the user or onto the car seats, and which is easily opened to provide for consumption of the fast food item contained therein. The disclosed fast food container also provides for manipulation of the fast food item while still within the fast food container without requiring unwrapping of the fast food item or removal of the fast food item from the container. Accordingly, a consumer may consume the fast food item without removing the fast food item from the food container. Fast food items best usable with the disclosed food container include those fast food items that have multiple layers when in a substantially horizontal orientation, such as a meat patty and other associated items, such as lettuce and tomato slices, which are placed between sections of a bread product, such as a bun or a biscuit.

In the preferred embodiment, the disclosed fast food container includes an upper container portion. The upper container portion is deployable into one or more trays which are configured to catch spillage. The disclosed fast food container also includes a lower container portion which is sized to contact the outer surfaces of the fast food item contained therein. The lower container portion is constructed to include a fold lengthwise down its substantially vertical middle. This fold allows the entire fast food container to divide into two similar halves which are hinged together like a clamshell, while a horizontally stacked fast food item, such as hamburger with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a bun, is assembled by a fast food restaurant. Once the fast food item is assembled, the disclosed fast food container encloses the fast food item and retains the fast food item in a stable position. The consumer is now able to reorient the fast food item into a substantially vertical orientation for eating without the fast food item falling apart.

By way of example, and not necessarily by way of limitation, the deployable tray preferably includes first and second halves of the upper container portion. These first and second halves of the upper container portion are fastened together when in a closed, or “delivery,” configuration, and then for first and second tray elements when the fast food container is in an open, or “eating,” configuration. The first and second tray elements extend outwardly from first and second sides of the disclosed fast food container and provide spill protection for the user on two sides of the fast food container. In other embodiments, the tray elements can be configured in such a manner to provide only one spill protection tray or as many spill protection trays as are required to fully surround the edge of the disclosed fast food container.

The fast food container of the disclosed invention is quickly, easily, and inexpensively manufactured and assembled from a single-piece flat template. The single-piece flat template can be stamped from a cardboard sheet or from a foam sheet and then folded into the disclosed fast food container. The fast food container is held together by tabs and slots, adhesives, or the like. The fast food container may alternatively be molded from foam as a single piece without requiring use of the tabs, the adhesives, or the folding associated with a flat template.

When the disclosed fast food container is formed from a single-piece flat template, the template includes first and second bottom panels which are coupled to each other, first and second lower side panels which are coupled to the first and second bottom panels, a pair of first and second opposing lower end panels on each lower side, first and second upper sides which are coupled to the first and second lower sides, first and second top panels which are coupled to the upper sides, and a pair of first and second opposing upper end panels on each top panel.

To form the single-piece flat template into a food container, the first bottom panel, along with the first lower side panel and its pair of opposing lower end panels are folded and secured by glue and/or tabs in slots to form half of the lower portion of the food container. The second bottom panel, along with the second lower side panel and its pair of opposing lower end panels are also folded and secured by glue and/or tabs in slots to similarly form the other “half” of the lower portion of the fast food container. These two lower portions of the fast food container are hingedly coupled to each other near the middle of the bottom of the fast food container. Next, the first upper side panel, along with the first top panel and its pair of opposing upper end panels are folded and secured by glue to form one of the upper trays. Then, the second upper side panel, along with the second top panel and its pair of opposing upper end panels are folded and secured by glue to form the second of the upper trays. The second upper tray is similar to the first upper tray. These first and second upper trays are hingedly coupled to the first and second halves of the lower portion of the fast food container. Once assembled and secured, these four sections allow the fast food container to be hingedly opened like a clamshell for assembly of the fast food item, then closed together to fully enclose the fast food item for delivery. When the consumer is ready to eat the fast food item, the orientation of the fast food container is changed from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical. The lower portion of the fast food container keeps the layers of the fast food item together. To gain access to the fast food item, only the upper trays of the disclosed food container are opened. The result is a clean and neat dining experience for the consumer.

Preferably, empty fast food containers are stacked one upon another when the fast food container is in its open clamshell-like configuration. While in this open clamshell-like configuration, the restaurant employee can quickly and easily assemble the fast food item on the open container, close the fast food container, lock the two lower “portions” by a tab/slot connection to each other, and then lock the upper trays to each other by a tab/slot connection. The fast food container is now fully closed around the fast food item and in a configuration for delivery of the fast food item to a customer. The customer, after receiving the filled fast food container, may then open the top portion of the fast food container for consumption of the fast food item contained therein by merely unlocking the tab/slot connection of the top panels and folding back the two opposing upper trays. The purchased fast food item is then exposed and ready for consumption. When the fast food item is in a substantially vertical orientation, the opposing upper trays serve to catch bits of solid food or drips from the fast food item and protect the user's clothes and the car upholstery from stains which might otherwise result. Once the fast food item has been consumed, the fast food container may be thrown away or recycled.

In an alternate embodiment, the upper tray portion may be designed so that the top panel and the two opposing upper end panels, which define a rim, may be folded flat against the inner surface of their upper side panel. This alternate embodiment, in conjunction with the upper side panels' ability to fold so as to touch its adjacent lower side panel, provides the user an opportunity to fold the tray portion away from his/her face, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

A better understanding of the disclosed fast food container may be had by reference to the drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a general embodiment of a fast food container according to the present invention in an assembly configuration;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1A, with the fast food container in a delivery configuration;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1A, with the fast food container in an eating configuration;

FIG. 1D is an end view of the fast food container shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C with a fast food item contained therein;

FIG. 2A is a detailed view of the fast food container shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a detailed view of the fast food container shown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2C is a detailed view of the fast food container shown in FIG. 1C;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sheet configured to be folded and assembled into the fast food container of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the fast food container in its eating configuration, where the user has collapsed one tray portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments, modifications, and improvements of the disclosed invention will readily suggest themselves to such persons of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. In the following description, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are perspective views of the disclosed fast food container 10, according to the present invention, in an assembly, delivery, and eating configurations, respectively. The fast food container 10 includes a lower receptacle portion 20 for retaining a fast food item. The lower receptacle portion 20 is formed from the closing and locking of lower receptacle halves 21 and 22. Referring to the detailed layout of the single-piece flat template in FIG. 3, the lower receptacle half 21 is formed by the folding and securing of panels 121, 46, 221, and 281. Lower receptacle half 22 is formed by the folding and securing of panels 122, 34, 222, and 282. Once the receptacle halves 21 and 22 are formed and locked closed, an opening 9 allows for the insertion of a stacked fast food item such as a hamburger or a sandwich F, as shown in FIG. 1D. Though the lower receptacle portion 20 is shown in a generally rectangular configuration, it is to be understood that the fast food container 10 may be formed in any shape suitable for retaining a particular fast food item while maintaining the stackability of empty open fast food containers 10.

FIG. 1A shows an empty open fast food container 10 in a configuration on which the fast food item may be assembled. This configuration is designed for and used by those assembling and packaging the fast food items by a fast food restaurant. The clamshell-like shape allows for a completely open surface on which the employee can quickly lay, stack, and thus assemble the fast food item being prepared in a substantially horizontal orientation. Hinge line 1a connects the two lower receptacle halves 21 and 22 at their bottom panels 121 and 122.

In FIG. 1B, the fast food container 10 is depicted in a closed or delivery configuration. The fast food item remains in a substantially horizontal orientation, but because the fast food item is substantially enclosed and held together by the container, the orientation of the fast food item may be changed from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical with minimal movement of the fast food item within the container. Accordingly, an item such as a hamburger sandwich will not fall apart when the orientation of the container is changed from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical.

The fast food container 10 further includes an upper tray forming portion 30 having a pair of opposing trays 40 and 50. In FIG. 1C, the fast food container 10 is depicted in an eating configuration, each tray 40 and 50 is foldably coupled to the lower receptacle halves 21 and 22 at fold lines 4a and 5a, respectively.

In the closed or delivery configuration, shown in FIG. 1B, the opposing trays 40 and 50 preferably close around the fast food item within the fast food container 10 and may be secured together with a latch 80. As previously indicated, the opposing tray portions 40 and 50, when secured together, hold a stacked fast food item such as a hamburger sandwich together.

It is contemplated that fast food containers 10 of the present invention may be made from paper, card board, polystyrene, or other inexpensive material. If desired, the material from which the fast food containers 10 are formed may also be biodegradable.

In FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, the fast food container 10 is shown with opposing trays 40 and 50 deployed into an open position, for the eating configuration. The fast food item is now oriented by the container into a substantially vertical position. In this open position, a tray is cooperatively formed on either side of the opening 9 by the opposing trays 40 and 50, with the tray having an upward-facing rim 60 in the preferred embodiment of the fast food container 10. The rim 60 substantially surrounds any contents retained in the lower receptacle portion 20. The lower receptacle portion 20 remains in contact with the fast food item so that, even when the fast food item is substantially vertical, it will be held together in the space formed by the lower receptacle halves 22 and 21 when latched together.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the fast food container 10 may optionally include a set of opposing side or end flaps 70, which, in cooperation with trays 40 and 50, may more completely surround the contents of the fast food container 10 and provide a larger area of protection of the user's clothing or the vehicle's seats. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the tapered walls of the fast food container 10, shown in FIG. 1A in its open clamshell-like configuration, enable easy stackability.

FIG. 1D is an end view of the fast food container 10 in an open or eating configuration, having a stacked fast food item F contained therein but in a substantially vertical orientation. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, a consumer will grasp the lower receptacle portion 20. By bringing the fast food item to his/her mouth, a bite may be taken from the side of the fast food item F, which is facilitated by the fast food item being in a substantially vertical orientation. Wherein, the tray 40 or 50 and its rim 60 will catch and retain any drips or debris that may fall from the fast food item F, thus preventing the drips or debris from falling onto the clothes of the user or onto a vehicle seat. As is further apparent from FIG. 1D, when the fast food container 10 is in an open, or eating, configuration, the stacked fast food item F is presented to the user in a manner such that the fast food item may be consumed while still being retained in, and held together by, the lower receptacle portion 20.

If the stacked fast food item F is generally planar in nature, such as the sandwich shown in FIG. 1D, it will be appreciated that the opposing trays 40 and 50 deploy cooperatively such that a tray is formed that is substantially perpendicular to the stacked fast food item F, and the rim 60 is deployed in a upward-facing manner, towards the user, substantially surrounding the fast food item F. If the set of end flaps 70 are present, the user's clothing in the area around the stacked fast food item F will be more completely protected. If desired, and as shown in FIG. 4, an additional embodiment describing a collapsible upper tray 150 which can be folded flat against lower receptacle portion 21 so that it does not block the user's view or face. Further, and only if desired, the user may fold both tray portions flat against the outer surface of the lower receptacle portion 20.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C present more detailed disclosures of the fast food container 10.

Referring generally to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and the single-piece template shown in FIG. 3, the fast food container 10 includes a lower container portion 20 including two opposing halves 21 and 22 hingedly attached to one another and, when closed and latched, combine to form an open top receptacle, or lower container portion 20. The first lower receptacle half 21 is formed by folding at the first bottom panel 121 having opposing fold lines 141 and 161; and opposing fold lines, hinge line 1a and fold line 25 substantially orthogonal to the opposing fold lines 141 and 161, and also folding opposing fold lines 2a and 3a. The second lower receptacle half 22 is formed by folding at the second bottom panel 122 having opposing fold lines 142 and 162; and opposing fold lines, hinge line 1a and fold line 18, substantially orthogonal to the opposing fold lines 142 and 162, and also folding opposing fold lines 2b and 3b.

The first lower container half 21 may include a first lower side panel 46 coupled to the first bottom panel 121 at a location proximate to the fold line 25. Likewise, the second lower container half 22 may also include a second lower side panel 34 coupled to the bottom panel 122 proximate to the fold line 18.

The first lower container half 21 may also include a first tabbed end panel 221 coupled to the first lower side panel 46 proximate to the fold line 2a, with the first tabbed end panel 221 having a first end flap 261 substantially orthogonal from the fold line 2a. The first lower container half 21 may also include a second tabbed end panel 281 coupled to the first lower side panel 46 proximate to the fold line 3a, with the second tabbed end panel 281 having a second end flap 321 substantially orthogonal from the fold line 3a. First and second tabbed side panels 221 and 281 are distal to each other.

Likewise, the second lower container half 22 may also include a first slotted end panel 222 coupled to the second lower side panel 34 proximate to the fold line 2b, with the first slotted end panel 222 having a third end flap 262 substantially orthogonal from the fold line 2b. The second lower container half 22 may also include a second slotted end panel 282 coupled to the second lower side panel 34 proximate to the fold line 3b, with the second slotted end panel 282 having a fourth end flap 322 substantially orthogonal from the fold line 3b.

Furthermore, the fast food container 10 may also include an upper tray forming portion 30 comprising a first upper tray 40 flexibly coupled to the first lower side panel 46 at fold line 5a. The first upper tray 40 may include a first upper side panel 48 and a first top panel 52 coupled to the first upper side panel 48 at a location distal from the first lower side panel 46, along with opposing side flaps 55 coupled to the sides of the first top panel 52. The first top panel 52 may also include a closing tab 56.

As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the side flaps 55 coupled to their first top panel 52 define a rim 104 of the upper tray 40 along the peripheral edge of, and substantially perpendicular to, first upper side panel 48. Also, this rim 104 may be designed to easily fold flat, if so desired by the user.

The upper tray forming portion 30 may further include a second upper tray 50 flexibly coupled to the second lower side panel 34 at fold line 4a. The second upper tray 50 may also include a second upper side panel 36 and a second top panel 45 coupled to the second upper side panel 36 distal from the second lower side panel 34, along with opposing side flaps 38 coupled to the sides of the second top panel 45. The second top panel 45 may further include a slot 42.

As will be appreciated, the side flaps 38 being coupled to the second top panel 45 define a rim 94 of the upper tray 50 along the peripheral edge of, and substantially perpendicular to, second upper side panel 36. Additionally, the first upper side panel 48 and the rim 104 define the first upper tray 40, and the second upper side panel 36 and the rim 94 define the second upper tray 50.

It is well understood and has already been stated that these upper tray rims 94 and 104 are substantially perpendicular but nonetheless formed so as to provide for stackability when the container 10 is in the assembly configuration.

Thus, in an eating configuration, the first upper tray 40 and the second upper tray 50, along with the end flaps 261, 262, 321, and 322, are configured to form a peripheral food item catch tray. Conversely, in its delivery configuration, the first upper tray 40 and the second upper tray 50 are configured to engagably close and sealably contain the stacked fast food item F within the food container 10.

FIG. 3 depicts a single-piece flat template 150 configured to be folded and assembled into the fast food container 10 as described in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B, and 2C. In a preferred embodiment, the single-piece flat template 150 may include first and second substantially trapezoidal bottom panels 121 and 122. First bottom panel 121 includes fold lines 141, 161, 25 and a substantially middle hinge line 1a. Second bottom panel 122 includes fold lines 142, 162, 18, and a substantially middle hinge line 1a.

The single-piece flat template 150 may further include a first lower side panel 46 coupled at a proximate end thereof to the fold line 20 of the first bottom panel 121, and a first upper side panel 48 coupled to a distal end of the first lower side panel 46.

The single-piece flat template 150 may also include a first tabbed end panel 221 coupled to the fold line 2a of the first lower side panel 46. The first tabbed end panel 221 may include an end flap 261 coupled to a substantially orthogonal end thereto by a fold line.

The single-piece flat template 150 may also include a second tabbed end panel 281 coupled to the fold line 3a of the first lower side panel 46. The second tabbed end panel 281 may include an end flap 321 coupled to a substantially orthogonal end thereto by a fold line.

The single-piece flat template 150 may also include a first top panel 52 coupled to the first upper side panel 48 at a fold line. The first top panel 52 may further include a tab 56, and an opposed pair of side flaps 55 coupled thereto by fold lines substantially orthogonal to the first upper side panel 48.

The single-piece flat template 150 may further include a second lower side panel 34 coupled at a proximate end thereof to the fold line 18 of the second bottom panel 122, and a second upper side panel 36 coupled to a distal end of the second lower side panel 34.

The single-piece flat template 150 may also include a first slotted end panel 222 coupled to the fold line 2b of the second lower side panel 34. The first slotted end panel 222 may include an end flap 262 coupled to a substantially orthogonal end thereto by a fold line.

The single-piece flat template 150 may also include a second slotted end panel 282 coupled to the fold line 3b of the second lower side panel 34. The second slotted end panel 282 may include an end flap 322 coupled to a substantially orthogonal end thereto by a fold line.

The single-piece flat template 150 may also include a second top panel 45 coupled to the second upper side panel 36 at a fold line. The second top panel 45 may further include a slot 42, and an opposed pair of side flaps 38 coupled thereto by fold lines substantially orthogonal to the second upper side panel 36.

Panels 121, 46, 221, and 281 make up first lower receptacle half 21. Similarly, panels 122, 34, 222, and 282 make up second lower receptacle half 22. Lower receptacle halves 21 and 22 join at hinge line 1a, and hinge together to form lower receptacle 20.

Regarding the upper container portion 30, panels 48, 52, and side flaps 55, make up first tray 40. Similarly, panels 36, 45, and side flaps 38 make up second tray 50.

It is understood that the tab 56 and slot 42 are designed so that they may easily combine to lock and then, when pulled, disengage to allow opening of the disclosed fast food container 10.

When the panels of the disclosed fast food container 10 are trapezoidally shaped, the fast food container 10 may be assembled and stacked within one another when the container is in the assembly configuration.

While multiple embodiments and applications of this disclosure have been shown and described, it is now apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications and improvements than described above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The disclosure, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container for a stackable fast food item comprising:

a lower receptacle portion constructed and arranged to fit around a lower portion of the food item and minimize the movement of the food item therein;

an upper tray portion constructed and arranged to enclose the upper portion of the food item;

said lower receptacle portion being openable to allow for assembly of the food item on the open lower receptacle portion in a substantially horizontal orientation and then closable for surrounding the lower portion of the food item;

said upper tray portion being closable around the upper portion of the food item when said lower receptacle portion surrounds the lower portion of the food item and then openable while said lower portion remains around the lower portion of the food item to expose the upper portion of the food item.

2. The container as defined in claim 1 formed from a single-piece flat template.

3. The container as defined in claim 2 wherein the container is held together by slots and tabs formed in said flat piece template.

4. The container as defined in claim 2 wherein the container is held together by glue.

5. The container as defined in claim 1 formed from a moldable material.

6. A system for enabling the assembly of a food item in a substantially horizontal orientation and the providing for the consumption of the food item in a substantially vertical orientation, said system comprising:

a lower receptacle portion configurable to enable the substantially horizontal assembly of a food item thereon;

said lower receptacle portion being further configurable to surround a portion of the food item and to keep the assembled food item together when the food item is moved to a substantially vertical orientation;

an upper tray portion configurable to contain the food item when said lower receptacle portion surrounds the food item;

said upper tray portion being further configurable to open when said lower receptacle portion surrounds the food item to permit access to the food item in a substantially vertical orientation.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said lower receptacle portion and said upper tray portion are formed from a single-piece flat template.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said lower receptacle portion and said upper tray portion are held together by tabs and slots formed in said single-piece flat template.

9. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said lower receptacle portion and said upper tray portion are held together by glue.

10. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said lower receptacle portion and said upper tray portion are formed from a moldable material.

11. A method for preparation, containment, and gaining access to a multi-layer food item, said method comprising the steps of:

placing a food container in a substantially horizontal orientation so that the multi-layered food item may be prepared thereon;

containing said assembled multi-layered food item within a lower receptacle portion of said food container and an upper tray portion of said food container;

gaining access to the multi-layered food item when in a substantially vertical orientation by opening said upper tray portion of said food container while said food item remains contained within said lower portion of said food container.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said food container is formed from a single-piece flat template.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said single-piece flat template is formed into said food container by the interconnection of tabs and slots formed in said single-piece flat template.

14. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said single-piece flat template is formed into said food container by gluing together portions of said single-piece flat template.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said food container is formed from a moldable material.