[0001] The present invention is related to containers for transporting heated food, particularly
pizzas, hamburgers and more generally fast-food products.
[0002] These food products, purchased in a warm condition at the production site and then
transferred to the place where they shall then be taken, are subjected not only to
progressive cooling but also to contamination by the steam generated by themselves
and then condensed following cooling.
[0003] The transporting containers presently used, traditionally consisting of simple cardboard
boxes, are all affected by the above-referenced drawback, whereby the organoleptic
characteristics of the food products housed therein are more or less lowered, often
without any chance to be restored not even by subjecting the foodstuffs to further
heating.
[0004] Moreover these known containers formed by cardboard boxes are affected by encumbrance
problems, whereby they are normally provided in a flattened transport and storage
condition: at the time of use these containers are then brought to an erected condition
for receiving the food products thereinto. This operation may be uncomfortable and
involve loss of time.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above inconveniences, and
more particularly to provide a container for transporting heated food having a simple
and economical construction, adapted to efficiently ensure preserving not only the
temperature but even the fragrance of the warm food product contained therein, and
moreover having a reduced encumbrance even in a transporting and stocking c ready-to-use
ondition.
[0006] According to the invention this object is achieved primarily by due to the features
set forth in claim 1.
[0007] Additional secondary features of the invention are defined in subclaims 2-15.
[0008] The invention will now be disclosed in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, purely provided by way of non limiting example, in which:
- Figure 1 is a top plan view diagrammatically showing a preferred embodiment of the
container according to the invention in a closed condition of use,
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of figure 1 shown in a partially open
condition,
- Figure 3 shows in a larger scale the detail indicated by arrow III in figure 1,
- Figure 4 is a sectioned view along line IV-IV of figure 3,
- Figure 5 is a lateral elevational view showing the container of figure 1 in a stacked
condition with identical containers,
- Figure 6 is an elevational view showing an alternative embodiment of the container
according to the invention,
- Figure 7 is a view same as figure 6 but sectioned, with the container in a partially
open condition,
- Figure 8 is a perspective view of a detail of figure 7,
- Figure 9 is a partial vertically sectioned and enlarged view of the container of figure
6,
- Figure 10 is a sectioned and enlarged view along line X-X of figure 1.
[0009] Figures 1 through 5 show a first embodiment of the invention, which is to be considered
as the preferred embodiment, with specific reference to a container for transporting
a pizza. In the shown example the container shape and size are thus suitable to house
the pizza therein: obviously, design and size can be tailored to different foodstuffs,
such as hamburgers, fast-food products and warm take-away food in general.
[0010] According to the preferred embodiment of figures 1 through 5, the container of the
invention is formed by one single piece P of thin sheet-like moulded plastic material,
defining a lower half-shell 1 and an upper half-shell 2 both having a substantially
circular shape with a respective bottom wall 3, 4 and a respective lateral wall 5,
6.
[0011] The bottom wall 3 of the lower half-shell 1 is formed, in correspondence of the inner
face thereof, with a radial array of straight ribs 7 projecting upwardly and starting
from a central annular rib 8 having a circular design. Moreover further pairs of shorter
ribs 9, between which radial recesses 10 formed as channels are provided, are provided
between each pair of adjacent ribs 7.
[0012] The radial recesses 10, whose function shall be clarified herebelow, are extending
also over the inner surface of the lateral wall 5 of the lower half-shell 1.
[0013] Respective recesses are corresponding, on the outer face of the bottom wall 3, to
the ribs 7, 8 and 9, while on the same outer face respective ribs are corresponding
to the recesses 10.
[0014] Likewise the bottom wall 4 of the upper half-shell 2 is formed, in correspondence
of its inner face, with a radial array of straight ribs 11 starting from an annular
central rib 12 also having a circular design. A shorter central radial rib 13 is provided
between each pair of ribs 11. Moreover, vent openings 14 are arranged in selected
areas comprised between the ribs 11 e 13. These vent openings 14 are arranged according
to a crown concentric to the half-shell 2 and, as shown in detail in figures 3 and
4, are each formed by a partial die-cut having a generally elliptical shape, actually
defined by two juxtaposed substantially semi-circular cuts 15 mutually joined by a
central longitudinal cut 16.
[0015] The lateral walls 5, 6 of the two half-shells 1, 2 are designed to perform a mutual
substantially sealed closure connection. Thus, the lateral wall 5 of the lower half-shell
1 is formed superiorly with a series of elongated recesses 17 below which an annular
flange 18 is provided, forming a forwardly projecting tang 19. Likewise, the lateral
wall 6 of the upper half-shell 2 is formed inferiorly with a series of elongated projection
20 having a shape complementary to that of the recesses 17, and superiorly with an
annular flange 21 forming a forwardly projecting tang similar to the tang 19 of the
lower half-shell 1.
[0016] In the rear side, the two lateral walls 5, 6 of the half-shells 1, 2 are prolonged
so as to form a straight connection book-like pivot hinge between the two half-shells
1 and 2. Thus the half-shells 1, 2 can be pivoted relative to each other between the
closed position shown in figure 1, in which they define a cavity adapted to house
a pizza, and a completely open position in which they are positioned one along the
other, through the partially open position depicted in figure 2. In the closed position
the annular flange 21 of upper half-shell 1 rests upon the annular flange 18 of the
lower half-shell 1, with the projections 20 of the former fitted under pressure within
the recesses 17 of the latter. Further recesses 24 and complementary projections 25
may be additionally provided to hold the closure position, for instance formed in
respective wings 26, 27 of the lateral walls 5, 6 near to the pivot hinge 23 and mutually
engageable under pressure.
[0017] In use, the ribs 7, 8, 9 of the bottom wall 3 of the lower half-shell 1 act as spacer
element bearing the pizza housed in the cavity defined by the half-shells 1, 2 closed
onto each other. Interspaces communicating with the recesses are thus defined between
the pizza and the bottom wall 3, acting both as chambers collecting any steam generated
by the pizza itself and condensed, and as chimneys - along the respective portions
formed on the lateral wall 5 - for discharging smoke and steam upwardly. Likewise
the ribs 11, 13 of the upper half-shell define, between the bottom wall thereof and
the pizza within the container, a plurality of interspaces communicating to the outside
through the vent openings 14.
[0018] By this arrangement, the hot pizza housed within the cavity of the container is efficiently
kept, at least over the time necessary for transporting it from the production site
to the place where it shall be eaten, at a substantially constant temperature and
humidity on one hand by virtue of the thermal insulation performed by the half-shells
1, 2 closed onto each other in a substantially hermetical fashion, and on the other
hand by virtue of the steam outlet through the previously disclosed interspaces to
the outside of the container through the vent openings 14, in practice without appreciably
affecting the fragrance of the pizza housed within the container.
[0019] The previously disclosed arrangement of the ribs and recesses on the bottom walls
3, 4 of the half-shells 1 and 2 unables conveniently stacking a plurality of containers
according to the invention in the closed condition onto one another, such as shown
in figure 5. The projections defined by the recesses 10 on the lower face of the bottom
wall 3 of the lower half-shell 1 of a container placed above fit into the recesses
defined, on the upper face of the bottom wall 4 of the upper half-shell 2 of the container
placed below, by the ribs 13. This ensures a steady positioning in the stacked condition,
preventing undesired sliding between the superimposed containers.
[0020] To open the container 1 it is sufficient disengaging the projections 20 from the
recesses 17, pulling manually the front wings 19, 22 apart so as to mutually pivot
the half-shells 1, 2 around the hinge 23.
[0021] For transportation and storage the containers according to the invention may be more
conveniently mutually superimposed and stacked, instead than in the closed condition
of figure 5, arranging the respective half-shells 1, 2 in the completely open position,
i. e. one on the prolongation of the other.
[0022] The variant of the invention shown in figures 6 through 9 is generally similar to
the embodiment disclosed in the above, and only the differences shall be disclosed
in detail, employing the same reference numerals for identical or similar parts.
[0023] In this variant, the half-shells 1, 2 have a greater height than in the case of the
previously disclosed embodiment, and such to enable fitting two superimposed pizzas,
instead of only one, within the cavity of the container. An intermediate releasable
septum 28 is provided for separating the two pizzas from each other, which is shown
in detail in figure 8 and whose general configuration can be conveniently same as
the bottom wall 3 of the lower half-shell 1. Thus the intermediate septum 28 has,
as shown in figure 8, a circular shape with a perimetral flange 29 bearing onto the
upper edge of the lateral wall 5 of the lower half-shell 1, and is formed on its upper
face with a radial array of ribs 30, 31 similar to the ribs 7, 8, and with channel-like
radial recesses 32 similar to the recesses 10 and providing the same function with
reference to the pizza placed in use within the upper portion of the container. Moreover
the intermediate septum 28 is formed with a crown of peripheral vent openings 33 whose
function is corresponding, with reference to the pizza placed in use within the lower
part of the container, to that of the openings 14. Naturally the arrangement of these
vent openings 33, to which valve means may also be associated, can be different from
that shown by way of example in figure 8.
[0024] It is to be pointed out that the container according to the invention is not necessarily
disposable, and that it can be re-used even several times.
[0025] The material employed for the manufacturing of the half-shells 1, 2 can be any plastic
material conventionally used for the production of food containers, and anyway a heat-formable
plastic material. Instead of a thin wall construction, each half-shell 1, 2 may also
be provided with a cellular structure, capable to ensure higher thermal insulating
performances.
[0026] Naturally, the details of construction and the embodiments may be widely varied with
respect to what has been disclosed and illustrated, without thereby departing from
the scope of the present invention such as defined in the appended claims. Thus, for
example, the arrangement of the ribs and recesses of the half-shells 1, 2 as well
as that of the vent openings 14 of the half-shell 2 may be different than the one
disclosed with reference to the example. In particular the number of the vent openings
14 could be increased or reduced, and in the latter case valve means designed to selectively
open communication between the cavity of the container and the outside environment
may be associated to the vent openings. These valve means could be manually or even
automatically operable.
1. Container for transporting heated food, particularly pizza and the like, characterized
in that it is formed by a first and a second half-shells (1, 2) made of moulded plastic
material each having a bottom wall (3, 4) and a lateral wall (5, 6), said half-shells
(1, 2) being provided with substantially sealed mutual coupling means (17, 18) in
correspondence of said lateral walls (5, 6) and defining, in the mutually coupled
condition, a cavity for containing said food in a spaced-apart condition relative
to the bottom walls (3, 4) of said half-shells (1, 2).
2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom walls (3, 4) of said
half-shells (1, 2) are formed with respective spacer projections (7, 8, 9, 11, 12,
13).
3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom wall (3) of the lower
half-shell (1) is further formed with recesses (10) acting in use as chimneys for
discharging smoke and steam and also as collecting chambers of any condensed steam.
4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that said recesses (10) are formed
as channels and define, on the outer face of said bottom wall (3) of the lower half-shell
(1), projections designed to engage corresponding recesses defined, on the outer face
of the bottom wall (4) of the upper half-shell (2), by the respective inner projections
(11) while the container is placed in a superimposed condition onto another same container.
5. Container according to claims 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said projections (7,
8, 9, 11, 12, 13) and said recesses (10) are arranged in a radial array fashion.
6. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom
wall (4) of the upper half-shell (2) is provided with vent openings (14).
7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that said vent openings (14) include
a crown of cuts (15, 16).
8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that said cuts are formed by partial
die-cuts (15, 16).
9. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coupling
means (17, 20) are mutually press-engageable.
10. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said half-shells
(1, 2) are made in one singe piece (P) and are pivotally connected to each other along
a corresponding hinge edge thereof (23).
11. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further
includes an intermediate septum (28) releasably interposed between said two half-shells
(1, 2) so as to define, in the closed condition thereof, a double cavity.
12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that said intermediate septum (28)
is formed with spacer projections (30, 31), with recesses (32) acting in use as chimneys
for discharging smoke and steam and also as collecting chambers of any condensed steam,
an with vent openings (33)
13. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said half-shells
(1, 2) are constituted by thin flexible heat-formed sheets.
14. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said half-shells
(1, 2) have a cellular structure.
15. Container according to claim 6 or claim 12, characterized in that it is provided with
valve means associated to at least part of said vent openings (14; 33).