Cupcake carrying case

Abstract

A food article holder particularly suited for storing and transporting a plurality of food articles, such as cupcakes, includes pivotally connected front and back container portions. A plurality of compartments are formed partly in the back portion and partly in the front portion of the container for supporting the individual food articles. Each support surface in the back portion of the container includes an open end which is closed by a filler carried on the front portion of the container when the front portion is closed to the back portion to substantially support the entire lower portion of a food article in each compartment.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates, in general, to article holders and carrying cases and, more specifically, to containers and carrying cases suited for storing and transporting articles of food, such as cupcakes.

Containers for transporting food articles from place to place take a number of different forms, usually related to the shape and type of food article that is being transported. However, the transportation of fragile or easily damaged food articles, such as cupcakes, has proven difficult to adequately address.

Primarily, a cupcake carrying case must function to protect the cupcakes from damage as the cupcakes are moved from place to place. That is, the cupcakes must be retained within the container without damage to the icing topping through contact between the icing and the container or with other cupcakes. At the same time, the cupcakes must be able to be easily loaded and unloaded from the container.

These requirements are magnified when it becomes necessary to transport a large number of cupcakes at one time, for example, from the place where the cupcakes are made or purchased to the consumption site. Such transportation is typically performed by children who frequently take cupcakes to a school function or to a party.

Holders for multiple cupcakes have employed stackable trays, similar to the baking trays used to bake the cupcakes in an oven. The trays fit within a large, outer container. However, loading and unloading of the individual cupcakes requires multiple movements as the trays must be removed or added to the stack in the container during loading and unloading of cupcakes to and from the container.

Thus, it is would desirable to provide a carrying case for storing and transporting multiple cupcakes which simultaneously protects the cupcakes from contact with each other and with the case which prevents movement of the cupcakes within the container, and which permits easy loading and unloading of individual cupcakes to and from the container.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a container or carrying case adapted for carrying a plurality of food articles, such as cupcakes.

In one aspect, the container includes a back portion and a front portion. Means are provided for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container for movement of the front and back portions relative to each other. A plurality of individual compartments are formed in the back and front portions of the container. Each compartment individually supports a single food article. Each compartment is defined by at least a side wall in the back portion of the container configured for engagingly supporting a lower portion of the side of a food article. The side wall has a discontinuity facing the front portion of the container. A plurality of fillers are carried on an inside surface of the front portion of the container and are disposed within and substantially fill the discontinuity in the side wall in the support in each compartment in the back portion of the container supporting an individual food article in each compartment.

In another aspect, the container includes a back portion and a front portion, each including opposed side edges, a top normal use edge and a bottom edge. Means are provided for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container for movement of the front and back portions relative to each other. A plurality of individual compartments are formed in the container, each defined by a side wall support in the back portion of the container for supporting a lower side portion of a single food article. The plurality of compartments are arranged in stacked vertical columns between the top edge and the bottom edge of the container and side by side and horizontal rows between the opposed side edges of the container for at least vertical stacking of single food articles and vertically arranged compartments when the container is in a normal, vertically extending use position with the top edge of the container disposed uppermost.

The food article carrying container addresses the deficiencies described above for prior art food article or cupcake holders and carrying cases. The container has substantially one piece, lightweight design which facilitates easy transportation, easy cleaning, typically in a dishwasher, while at the same time meeting the primary function of protecting individual food articles or cupcakes and, in particular, the icing topping on each cupcake, from contact with the surrounding container or other cupcakes. Simultaneously, the container allows easy loading and unloading of individual food articles or cupcakes to and from the compartments. In this manner, the cupcake carrying case provides an easy and efficient means for transporting a large number of food articles or cupcakes. The container is ideally suited for use by children to carry a large number of food articles or cupcakes to school or to a party.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective right end view of a cupcake carrying case shown in the partially open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective left end view of the cupcake carrying case depicted in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of a portion of the front and back of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, generally taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top, cross-sectional view showing an individual compartment in the container depicted in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view showing another aspect of the compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there is depicted a container or carrying case 10 for safely transporting a plurality of food articles, particularly, cupcakes.

The container 10 may be formed of any lightweight, corrosion or water resistant material, such as a suitable plastic and, more particularly, a dishwasher proof washable plastic.

The container 10 may be constructed by various assembly processes, such as in a one piece molded construction, multiple pieces joined together by hinges, sonic or heat welding, etc. In the following example, the container 10 is formed of a one piece molded or otherwise formed back portion 12 and a one piece, molded or otherwise formed front portion 14 viewed in the use orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The back and front portions 12 and 14 are pivotally joined together along one edge to enable the back and front portions 12 and 14 to be moved relative to at least one or both each other from an open position shown in FIG. 1 to a closed position shown in FIG. 2.

In the vertically extending, use position shown in Fig., the back and front portions 12 and 14 define a top surface 16, a bottom surface 18, and opposed side surfaces 20 and 22.

By way of example only, a hinge means 24 pivotally connects the back portion 12 and the front portion 14. Although the hinge means 24 may be formed or mounted along any of the top surface 16, the bottom surface 18, and the side surfaces 20 and 22, by way of example only, the hinge means 24 is formed or mounted along the side surface 20 to pivotally connect the back portion 12 and the front portion 14 for pivotal movement of one or both of the back portion 12 and front portion 14 relative to the other about a pivot axis extending through the hinge means 24 along the side surface 20.

The hinge means 24 may be formed of any suitable hinge, including leaf members connected to each of the back portion 12 and front portion 14 and interconnected by a pivot pin. As shown by way of example only in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge means 24 may also be a living hinge formed at the time of molding of the back portion 12 and the front portion 14. In this aspect, the hinge means 24 pivotally joins the front portion 14 to the back portion 12 while at the same time allowing pivotal movement of the front portion 14 relative to the back portion 12.

In the following description, it will be assumed that the back portion 12 remains in a stationary position and the front portion 14 pivots about an axis extending through the hinge means 24 between the closed position shown in FIG. 2 and the open position shown in FIG. 1.

The container 10, including each of the back portion 12 and front portion 14 may have any shape, including polygonal, i.e. square, rectangular, etc., circular, oval, etc. Further, the overall size of the container 10 may be selected to enable any desired number of food articles, such as cupcakes, to be disposed within the container 10. For example, the container 10 may be constructed of a size to hold 12, 24, 30, 36, etc., normal size cupcakes, muffins, etc.

Latch means 30 is formed or mounted on the container 10 for releasably latching the back portion 12 and the front portion 14 in the closed position shown in FIG. 2. The latch means 30 may include one or more individual latches, with a pair of spaced latches 30 being shown by way of example only.

Any suitable latch may be used to form the latch means 30. Thus, by example only, each latch means 30 includes a latch member 32 which is flexibly or movably joined to the top surface 16 of the back portion 12 of the container 10 by a pivot or hinge means. In the present aspect, the hinge 34 is illustrated as being a living hinge formed unitarily with the top surface latch 16 of the back portion 12 of the container 10. Each latch member 32 includes an aperture 36 which is sized to releasably engage a projection of hook 38 formed on the top edge of the front portion 14 of the container 10.

With the latch members 36 disposed in an outward projecting position by the hinge means 34, away from the top surface 16 of the back portion 12, the front portion 14 may be easily pivoted between the open and closed positions. When the front portion 14 is moved into engagement with the back portion 12 in the closed position, the latch members 32 may be forced over the projections 38 to form a releasable latch due to a hook formed on each projection 38 or a slight biasing of the hook 38 through the aperture 36 in each latch member 32. In this manner, the latch means 30 holds the front portion 14 in the closed position relative to the back portion 12.

It will be understood that the latch means 30 may comprise one or multiple latches. Further, the latch members 32 and the mounting positions of the latch members 32 and the projections 38 may be reversed with the projections 38 disposed on the side surface 32 of the back portion 12 and the latch members 32 hingedly mounted on the front portion 14.

Handle means 40 may optionally be provided on the container 10. By way of example only, the handle means 40 is depicted as being a discrete, generally inverted, U-shaped handle having an upper end 42 and opposed side legs 44 and 46. The side legs 44 and 46 are pivotally connected by means of pivot pins 48 to individual receivers 50 formed or otherwise mounted on the top surface 16 of the back portion 12 of the container 10. The pivotal connection provided by the pins 48 enables the handle 40 to pivot between a raised position suitable for easy carrying of the container 10 to a folded down, non-use position, not shown.

It will be understood that the handle 40 may also take other shapes, such as a handle having the overall shape shown in FIG. 1, but formed of two complementarily shaped portions, each integrally carried on or attached to the complementary mating edges of the back portion 12 and the front portion 14.

The handle means 40 may also be a simple recess and overlapping lip formed in the top surface 16 of the back portion 12 of the container 10.

Optional stabilizer means 60 may also be employed to securely position the container 10 in its upright, nominal, use position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 during periods of non-use, as well as during loading and unloading of food articles, such as cupcakes, into and out of the container 10.

By way of example only, the stabilizer means 60 includes at least one or a pair of legs 62 and 64 which may extend continuously or discontinuously in discrete, spaced members, from the bottom surface 18 of the container 10 between the opposed side edges 20 and 22. The legs 62 and 64 are joined to the bottom surface 18 by adhesive, heat, or sonic welding, etc., or integrally molded with the container 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, and in greater detail in FIGS. 3-6, the top surface 16, the bottom surface 18, and the opposed side edges or surfaces 20 and 22 form a peripheral lip defining the exterior of the back portion 12 of the container 10. A similar peripheral lip can be formed on the front portion 14.

A plurality of individual compartments 70, with only compartments 70A, 70B, and 70C being described hereafter, are formed within the container 10. The number of compartments 70 may vary as needed to receive and carry any number of food articles, such as cupcakes. Thus, by way of example only, the compartments 70 may number 12, 24, 30, 36 as well as any other number in the container.

It will be understood that the term “compartment” as used herein, defines an interior space within the container 10 when the back portion 12 and the front portion 14 are in the closed position shown in FIG. 2, which is capable of receiving and retaining a single food article, such as a single cupcake, muffin, etc. The overall size of each compartment 70 may be selected to suit the size of the particular food article to be disposed therein, with containers having different compartment sizes being possible for different shaped and sized food articles, such as small or large cupcakes, muffins, etc.

Although the compartments 70 are described and illustrated as having the same identical construction, this is by way of example only.

Further, the interior space formed by each compartment 70 is formed of two portions, including a portion carried in the back portion 12 of the container 10 and a portion carried within the front portion 14 of the container 10. The compartment portions on the back portion 12 and the front portion 14 are generally complementary toward each other to define a support and overall compartment for receiving and protecting an individual food article.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the compartments 70 are arranged in at least one or more vertical columns and at least one or more horizontal rows. The vertical column or stacking allows the container 10 to be easily carried by a user, and, in particular, a child, preferably without striking or dragging on the ground when the container 10 is carried at the normal downward extension of a child's arm in much the same manner as a briefcase would be carried. This general vertical use orientation of the container 10 during transportation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 holds the individual food articles or cupcakes in an upright position to minimize movement and thereby damage to the cupcakes and, in particular, the icing topping on each cupcake.

The back portion of each compartment 70, such as compartments 70A, 70B, and 70C, are defined, at least in the back portion 12 of the container 10, by optional vertically extending side walls 72 and 74, with each side wall 72 and 74 forming a wall between two horizontally spaced compartments 70A, 70B, etc.

Each portion of each compartment 70 in the back portion 12 of the container 10 includes a support 76 which can be integrally molded or formed by fixed attachment to the interior of the back portion 12 of the container 10. By way of example only, the support 76 and the vertical walls 72 and 74 may be integrally molded during the formation of the back portion 12 of the container 10.

The support or base 76 is formed as one continuous piece extending between the side edges 20 and 22 or number of separate pieces joined together to form a unitary member. The base 76, in each of the compartments, such as compartment 70A, has a generally planar shape extending between the side walls 72 and 74, an outer back wall 78 of the back portion 12, and a opposite edge profile 80. In the aspect of the invention shown in FIGS. 3-5, the edge profile 80 may take any shape which complementary to the corresponding edge profile on the front portion 14 of the container. Thus, in this aspect of the invention, by way of example only, the edge profile 80 includes opposed planar ends 82 and 84 which transition into angled or arcuate transition portions 86 and 88 which extend in a direction toward the back wall 78 to inner, generally planar edges 90 and 92, which may be disposed substantially parallel to the outer edges 82 and 84, respectively. A support surface 94 defining an aperture in at least a portion of the base 76 is formed between the inner ends of the inner edges 90 and 92. The support surface 94 may also take a variety of shapes. However, by way of example, the support surface 94 has a tapered shape, generally part of the taper found on the paper liner used in making cupcakes. Thus, the support surface 94 extends from a radially larger upper edge 96 to a radially smaller lower edge 98. The lower edge 98 may be consistent with an optional bottom wall 100 which is disposed within and closes off the bottom edge of an opening formed interiorly within the support surface 94. Alternately, the lower edge 98 may define an opening.

The bottom wall 100 can extend only under the bottom or lower portion of each support surface 94 or it can project outwardly between the each of the pairs of edges 90 and 92 to underlie the opening in the bottom of the complementary support surface in the front portion 14 of the container when the back and front portions 12 and 14 are closed together.

The depth of the support surface 94 from the inner edges 90 and 92 to the radially innermost extent of the support surface 94 can be at least half or slightly more than fifty percent of the diameter of a cupcake so as to optimize support of the cupcake within the support surface 94; while, at the same time, allowing easy access to the compartment 70 for loading and unloading of a cupcake into an out of the support surface 94 without contacting the icing topping on the cupcake with any cupcakes in adjacent compartments 70 or any part of the container 10.

The thickness of the supporter base 76 in each compartment 70 is also selected to be a predetermined percentage of the height of the cupcake liner. This height can be from one quarter to three quarters, by way of example only, of the height of the cupcake liner so as to provide adequate support while enabling easy access to the cupcake in each compartment 70 for loading and unloading purposes.

The front portion 14 of the container 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 includes a filler 110 for each compartment 70. The fillers 110 are integrally formed or molded with the formation of the front portion 14 of the container 10 or may be formed as discrete elements fixedly joined to the inner surface of the front portion 14 by heat or sonic welding, adhesive, etc.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 5, each filler 110 has a shape complementary to the shape of the support 76 in each compartment. By way of example only, the filler 110 for the compartment 70 shown in FIG. 5 includes outer edges 112 and 114 which transition to intermediate edges 116 and 118. Inner edges 120 and 122 extend from one end of the intermediate edges 116 and 118 and are disposed generally parallel to the outer edges 112 and 114. This forms the filler 110 with a shape complementary to the shape of the edge profile 80 of the corresponding support 76 in the back portion 12 of the container 10 and enables the filler 110 to slide within the recessed or open portion of the edge profile 80. The filler 110 also includes a support surface 124 which completes the open end of the support surface 94 and the corresponding compartment 70 to surround and provide support over substantially 360 degrees of the cupcake when the front portion 14 is closed on the back portion 12. The filler support surface 124 may also have a tapered shape extending from a larger diameter top edge 126 to a smaller diameter inner or lower edge 128. The inner edge 128 may be left open or it may be closed with a bottom wall.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the front portion 14 is closed on the back portion 12, the support surfaces 94 and 124 combine to form a generally continuous support surface which receives the lower portion of a cupcake in a protected manner.

Another aspect of the support surfaces in the back of portion 12 and the front portion 14 is shown in FIG. 6. In this aspect, a support surface 140 in the back portion 12 also has a tapered shape extending from a larger diameter upper edge to a smaller diameter inner or lower edge. However, the opposed outer ends 142 and 144 of the support surface 140 are generally planer. This forms the support surface 140 with a generally U-shape.

The filler 150 on the front portion 14 of the container 10 has opposed side edges 152 and 154 which project generally perpendicularly from a front wall 156. A generally arcuate, concave edge profile 158 extends between the side edges 152 and 154. The side edges 152 and 154 fit within the end portions 142 and 144 of the support surface 140 to form a substantially continuous support surface about a food article, such as a cupcake.

In summary, there has been disclosed a unique food article carrying container, for cupcakes, etc., which individually protects a plurality of food articles from damage during transport between locations. At the same time, the container, when in an open position, allows easy access to each food article.

Claims

1. A container for holding a plurality of food articles comprising:

the container including a back portion and a front portion;

means for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container;

a plurality of individual compartments formed in the back and front portions of the container, each compartment individually supporting a single food article, each compartment including a back in the back portion of the container defined by at least a sidewall configured for engagingly supporting a lower portion of a side of a food article, the sidewall having a discontinuity facing the front portion of the container; and

a plurality of fillers carried on an inside surface of the front portion of the container and substantially filling the discontinuity in the sidewall of the support in each compartment in the back portion of the container to support a food article in each compartment.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein:

an inner surface of the sidewall in the back portion of the container tapers radially inward from a top to a bottom.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein:

each filler has at least one side edge disposed in engagement with the sidewall of a complementary compartment in the back portion of the container when the front and back portions of the container are closed together.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein:

an inner surface of the sidewall in each compartment in the back portion of the container defines a U-shape including opposed ends, the discontinuity formed between outer portions of the opposed ends, and an interconnecting, arcuate, inner end.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein:

each filler has an arcuate inner surface with opposed side edges, the inner surface cooperating with an inner surface of the sidewall in each compartment in the back portion of the container define a substantially circular support about a lower portion of the side of a container.

6. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one stabilizer foot carried on the bottom of the container.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein:

the at least one stabilizer foot comprises two spaced feet.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein:

the compartments are arranged in a grid of vertical columns and horizontal rows.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein:

the container has a normal use top edge, an opposed bottom edge, and opposed side edges interconnecting the top edge and the bottom edge. The compartments extending side by side horizontally between the opposed side edges and stacked vertically between the bottom edge and the top edge.

10. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

each compartment having a floor disposed across a bottom of the sidewall.

11. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle carried on an edge of the container.

12. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

releasable latch means for releasably securing the front to the back of the container.

13. The container of claim 9 wherein:

the pivotally connecting means is mounted on one of the side edges of the container to define a normal vertically extending axis of pivotal movement of the front of the container with respect to the back of the container between open and closed positions.

14. A container for holding a plurality of food articles comprising:

the container including a back portion and a front portion, each of the back portion and the front portion including opposed side edges, a top normal use edge, and a bottom edge;

means for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container; and

a plurality of individual compartments each defined by a sidewall support formed in the back portion of the container for supporting a lower side portion of a single food article, the plurality of compartments arranged in stacked vertical columns between the top edge and the bottom edge of the container and side by side in horizontal rows between the opposed side edges of the container for at least vertical stacking of single food articles in vertically arranged compartments when the container is in a normal, vertically extending use position with the top edge of the container disposed uppermost.

15. A container of claim 14 wherein:

a portion of each individual compartment is formed in the back portion of the container.

16. The container of claim 14 further comprising:

a filler carried on the front portion of the container and disposable within the back portion of the container for surrounding substantially all of the circumference of the portion of a food article disposed therein.

17. The container of claim 15 further comprising:

a handle carried on an edge of the container.

18. The container of claim 14 further comprising:

releasable latch means for releasably securing the front to the back of the container.

19. The container of claim 14 further comprising:

at least one stabilizer foot carried on the bottom of the container.

20. The container of claim 19 wherein:

the at least one stabilizer foot comprises two spaced feet.

21. The container of claim 14 wherein the means for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container comprises:

hinge means extending between the front and back portions of the container.

22. A holder for holding a plurality of individual food articles comprising:

a container including a back portion and a front portion;

means for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container; and

a plurality of compartments formed in the container, each compartment defined partly in the back portion of the container and partly in the front portion of the container.

23. The holder of claim 22 wherein each compartment comprises:

means for supporting a food article in the back portion and the front portion of each compartment.

24. The holder of claim 23 wherein:

the support in the back portion includes a base, an aperture formed in the base defining an inward facing support surface, the support surface having an open end.

25. The holder of claim 24 wherein:

the front portion support includes a filler having an edge surface substantially closing the open end of the support surface in the base of the back portion support when the front portion is closed relative to the back portion of the container.

26. The holder of claim 24 wherein:

the inward facing support surface in each compartment in the back portion of the container and a filler edge surface both having a tapered shape defined by a larger diameter upper edge and a smaller diameter lower edge.

27. The holder of claim 25 further comprising:

a bottom wall extending across a lower edge of the aperture.

28. The holder of claim 27 wherein:

the bottom wall extending from the back portion to underlie at least a portion of the filler in the front portion.