FOLDABLE PIZZA BOX
An apparatus and a method is provided for reducing the size of a pizza box after a portion of a pizza pie has been eaten or otherwise disposed of. A pizza box is provided comprised of a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion may be attached to the bottom portion by a first attachment device, so that the bottom portion can be easily detached from the top portion. The bottom portion may be comprised of a first section, a second section, and a third section. The third section can be folded over the first section, so that the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for storing and carrying food such as pizza.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are various devices known in the prior art for storing and carrying food such as pizza. Summary of the Invention
The present invention in one or more embodiments, provides an apparatus and a method for reducing the size of a pizza box after a portion of a pizza pie has been eaten or otherwise disposed of. After reduction, the smaller pizza box can be easily inserted into a refrigerator. In contrast a typical pizza box is large and typically either cannot be inserted into a refrigerator or can only be inserted with great difficulty.
The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a pizza box comprised of a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion may be attached to the bottom portion by a first attachment device, so that the bottom portion can be easily detached from the top portion. The bottom portion may be comprised of a first section, a second section, and a third section. The third section can be folded over the first section, so that the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
The first, second, and third sections each may be comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall. The floor of the first section may be attached to the floor of the second section through a second attachment device. The floor of the second section may be attached to the floor of the third section through a third attachment device. The first wall of the first section may be attached to the first wall of the second section through a fourth attachment device. The first wall of the second section may be attached to the first wall of the third section through a fifth attachment device.
The fourth attachment device allows the first wall of the first section to be detached from the first wall of the second section, and the fifth attachment device allows the first wall of the second section to be detached from the first wall of the third section, so that the first wall of the second section can be folded into a substantially different orientation from the first walls of the first and third sections;
The second wall of the first section may be attached to the second wall of the second section through a sixth attachment device. The second wall of the second section may be attached to the second wall of the third section through a seventh attachment device. The sixth attachment device allows the second wall of the first section to be detached from the second wall of the second section, and the seventh attachment device allows the second wall of the second section to be detached from the second wall of the third section, so that the second wall of the second section can be folded into a substantially different orientation from the second walls of the first and third sections.
When the first wall of the second section is detached from the first walls of the first and third sections and the second wall of the second section is detached from the second walls of the first and third sections, the first section can be easily folded over the third section, and the bottom portion of the pizza box can be placed into a state such that the second section is substantially perpendicular to the first and third sections, and the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method including attaching a top portion of a pizza box to a bottom portion of a pizza box by a first attachment device, so that the bottom portion can be detached from the top portion. The bottom portion of the pizza box may be configured as previously stated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The bottom portion 10 of the modified pizza box 1 includes sections 12, 30 and 40. Section 12 includes walls 14, 18, and 20. Section 12 also includes overlap portions 16 and 22. The wall 14 includes front surface 14c, shown in
The section 12 is connected to the section 30 by attachment device 36b, which may be a fold, crease or line having a thinner material than floors 11 or 31, so that the section 12 can be easily folded from the fully opened state of
The section 30 is connected to the section 40 by attachment device 36a, which may be a fold, crease or line having a thinner material than the floors 31, or 41, so that the section 30 can be easily folded from the fully opened state of
The section 40 also includes insert walls 43 and 53 which are connected to walls 42 and 50 , respectively. The insert walls 43 and 53 are substantially perpendicular to the floor 41 and lie between the walls 44 and 48. In this matter the walls 44 and 48 retain the walls 42 and 52 in an orientation which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the floor 41. Assuming the wall 32 is still connected to the walls 42 and 20 and the walls 50 and 18 are still connected to the wall 34, then the walls 42, 32, 20, 22, 16, 18, and 50 are also held in a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the floors 41, 31, and 11. However, when the wall 32 is separated from the walls 42 and 20 and the wall 34 is separated from the walls 50 and 18, by tearing or otherwise separating along perforations 32a, 32b, 34a, and 34b, the section 12 can be folded over the section 40, as shown by
The wall 14 may not be held to the overlapping walls 22 and 16 and may fold outward away from the floor 11a. Section 40 also includes a floor 41 having a top surface 41a, shown in
In operation, a full pizza pie may be inserted into the chamber, recess, or opening 91 of the bottom portion 10, covering a portion of floor surfaces 41a, 31a, and 11a. After some of the pizza has been eaten the bottom portion 10 can be transformed into a smaller container as follows. The wall 32 is separated from the walls 42 and 20 by tearing or otherwise separating along line of perforations 32a and 32b, respectively. The wall 34 is separated from the walls 50 and 18 by tearing or otherwise separating along line of perforations 34a and 34b, respectively. The walls 32 and 34, after separation, can then be folded outward or inward, so that the walls 32 and 34 may be substantially parallel to the floor surface 31a, while the walls 42, 20, 50, and 18 remain substantially perpendicular to the floor surface 31a.
After the walls 32 and 34 have been separated, and the walls 32 and 34 folded inwards or outwards, the section 12 can be folded from the state of
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising
- a pizza box comprised of a top portion and a bottom portion; and
- wherein the top portion is attached to the bottom portion by a first attachment device, so that the bottom portion can be detached from the top portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
- the bottom portion is comprised of first, second, and third sections;
- and wherein the bottom portion is configured so that the first section can be easily folded over the third section, so that the first and third sections are parallel and the second section is substantially perpendicular to the first and third sections, and the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
- the bottom portion is comprised of a first section, a second section, and a third section;
- wherein the first section is comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall;
- wherein the second section is comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall;
- wherein the third section is comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall;
- wherein the floor of the first section is attached to the floor of the second section through a second attachment device;
- wherein the floor of the second section is attached to the floor of the third section through a third attachment device;
- wherein the first wall of the first section is attached to the first wall of the second section through a fourth attachment device;
- wherein the first wall of the second section is attached to the first wall of the third section through a fifth attachment device;
- wherein the fourth attachment device allows the first wall of the first section to be detached from the first wall of the second section, and the fifth attachment device allows the first wall of the second section to be detached from the first wall of the third section, so that the first wall of the second section can be folded into a substantially different orientation from the first walls of the first and third sections;
- wherein the second wall of the first section is attached to the second wall of the second section through a sixth attachment device;
- wherein the second wall of the second section is attached to the second wall of the third section through a seventh attachment device;
- wherein the sixth attachment device allows the second wall of the first section to be detached from the second wall of the second section, and the seventh attachment device allows the second wall of the second section to be detached from the second wall of the third section, so that the second wall of the second section can be folded into a substantially different orientation from the second walls of the first and third sections;
- and wherein when the first wall of the second section is detached from the first walls of the first and third sections and the second wall of the second section is detached from the second walls of the first and third sections, the first section can be easily folded over the third section, and the bottom portion of the pizza box can be placed into a state such that the second section is substantially perpendicular to the first and third sections, and the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
4. A method comprising the steps of
- attaching a top portion of a pizza box to a bottom portion of a pizza box by a first attachment device, so that the bottom portion can be detached from the top portion.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein
- the bottom portion is comprised of first, second, and third sections;
- and wherein the bottom portion is configured so that the first section can be easily folded over the third section, so that the first and third sections are parallel and the second section is substantially perpendicular to the first and third sections, and the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein
- the bottom portion is comprised of a first section, a second section, and a third section;
- wherein the first section is comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall;
- wherein the second section is comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall;
- wherein the third section is comprised of a floor, a first wall, and a second wall;
- wherein the floor of the first section is attached to the floor of the second section through a second attachment device;
- wherein the floor of the second section is attached to the floor of the third section through a third attachment device;
- wherein the first wall of the first section is attached to the first wall of the second section through a fourth attachment device;
- wherein the first wall of the second section is attached to the first wall of the third section through a fifth attachment device;
- wherein the fourth attachment device allows the first wall of the first section to be detached from the first wall of the second section, and the fifth attachment device allows the first wall of the second section to be detached from the first wall of the third section, so that the first wall of the second section can be folded into a substantially different orientation from the first walls of the first and third sections;
- wherein the second wall of the first section is attached to the second wall of the second section through a sixth attachment device;
- wherein the second wall of the second section is attached to the second wall of the third section through a seventh attachment device;
- wherein the sixth attachment device allows the second wall of the first section to be detached from the second wall of the second section, and the seventh attachment device allows the second wall of the second section to be detached from the second wall of the third section, so that the second wall of the second section can be folded into a substantially different orientation from the second walls of the first and third sections;
- and wherein when the first wall of the second section is detached from the first walls of the first and third sections and the second wall of the second section is detached from the second walls of the first and third sections, the first section can be easily folded over the third section, and the bottom portion of the pizza box can be placed into a state such that the second section is substantially perpendicular to the first and third sections, and the first, second, and third sections form a substantially closed container.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 22, 2007
Inventor: Robert Falana (Brick, NJ)
Application Number: 11/308,874
International Classification: B65D 17/00 (20060101); B65D 5/54 (20060101);