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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

F'ield of the invention

The present invention relates to containers for food, in particular containers for hot foodstuffs, such as pizza or the like.

General technical problem

Hot take-away foodstuffs have acquired in time an increasing popularity among customers since they make it possible to enjoy a meal at any hour of the day without the need to cook it oneself.

However, in particular in the case of a very popular foodstuff such as pizza, numerous are the problems linked to transport of the foodstuff from the commercial premises where it is purchased to the place where it is consumed. The main problems regard heat, since the foodstuff tends of course to cool down during transport, a fact that is not appreciated since it modifies in a substantial way the taste of the foodstuff .

A further non-marginal problem is the formation of moisture inside the containers used for transport of the foodstuff. In particular, normal boxes made of paper material used for transport of pizzas usually have a conformation such that it is impossible to vent the water vapour through the top, which inevitably causes formation of condensate, which subsequently drops on the pizza, with evident loss of quality and taste.

It should be noted that the need to keep an acceptable temperature of the foodstuff is frequently in contrast with the need to prevent condensed water vapour from dropping on the foodstuff itself since, whereas in the former case a box with a smaller internal volume and possibly solutions for thermal insulation with respect to the environment would be sufficient, in the latter case said solution would be completely counterproductive since this causes an increase in the amount of condensed water vapour that drops on the pizza.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the technical problems descri ed previously. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a container for food, in particular pizza, that is capable simultaneously to maintain a sufficient temperature of the foodstuff contained therein and prevent condensed water vapour from dropping on the foodstuff itself.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a container for food, in particular for pizza, having the features forming the subject of the ensuing claims, which form an integral part of the technical disclosure herein provided in relation to the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container for food according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view according to line II-II of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first step of a sequence of assemblage of the containers of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a second step of the sequence of assemblage of the container of Figure 1; - E'igure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a third step of the sequence of assemblage of the container of E'igure 1;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth step of the sequence of assemblage of the container of Figure 1

- Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth step of the sequence of assemblage of the container of Figure 1; and

- Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a comparison of the performances of a container for food of a known type and containers for food according to the invention .

Detailed description of the invention

Designated by the reference number 1 in Figure 1 is a container for food, in particular for pizza, according to the present invention. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the container 1 comprises a first boxlike body 2, a second box-like body 4, which is continuous with the body 2 and is articulated thereto, and a first inner chamber 6 and a second inner chamber 8 obtained, respectively, in the box-like bodies 2, 4. The second box-like body 4 has a height H4 smaller than a height H2 of the first box-like body 2.

With reference to Figure 3, the container 1 is obtained starting from a dinked sheet 10, preferably made of paper material (for e ample, corrugated cardboard for alimentary use), which is configured as a geometrical development of the container 1.

In the present description, even though in practice it is the same object, differentiated reference numbers are used to designate the assembled container 1 and the dinked sheet 10.

With reference to Figure 3, the dinked sheet 10 comprises a base element 12, a septum 14, and a top element 16. The base element 12 preferably has a substantially quadrangular shape and is integral with two first side wings 18. Each side wing 18 comprises a first inner flap 20, having a height H2, and a first outer flap 22, both of which have a quadrangular shape (in what follows, for brevity, the "inner flap 20" will be also referred to as "flap 20" and the "outer flap 22" will be also referred to as "flap 22") .

In the present description, the adjectives "inner" and "outer" referred to the portions 20, 22 are used to indicate their relative position with respect to the base element 12. In particular, the adjective "inner" is meant to indicate a position immediately adjacent to the base element 12, whilst the adjective "outer" is meant to indicate a position not immediately adjacent to the element 12 itself, i.e., with at least one element set between.

Each inner flap 20 preferably comprises a pair of through holes 24 (in general one or more through holes 24 may be provided) , whilst each outer flap 22 comprises a respective slit 26 having a markedly elongated rectangular shape. The outer flaps 22 can be folded with respect to the corresponding inner flaps 20 along folding lines Fl, set on which is one of the sides of each slit 26. The inner flaps 20 can be folded with respect to the base element 12 along folding lines F2 parallel to the folding lines Fl .

The base element 12 is integral with the septum 14 by means of a first joining flap 28, which can be folded with respect to the base element 12 along a third folding line F3 and can be moreover folded with respect to the septum 14 along a fourth folding line F4 parallel to the folding line F3.

The septum 14 preferably has a substantially quadrangular shape in which one of the sides preferably has a curvilinear development, in particular a side 30 opposite to the folding line F4. The septum 14 further comprises one or more through holes 32, the arrangement of which can vary according to the embodiments. In a preferred embodiment illustrated herein the holes 32 are five in number and arranged to form a cross.

Two tabs 34, preferably having a trapezoidal shape with rounded sides, are integral with the septum 14, are arranged on sides orthogonal to the folding line F4 and can be folded with respect to the septum 14 along corresponding fifth folding lines F5.

A transverse slit 36, preferably having a markedly elongated rectangular shape, is moreover provided on the septum 14 and comprises a side set corresponding to the folding line F .

In a position opposite with respect to the septum 14, a second joining flap 38 renders the base element 12 integral with the top element 16. The second joining flap 38 can be folded with respect to the base element 12 along a sixth folding line F6 and can be folded with respect to the top element 16 along a seventh folding line F7 parallel to the folding line F6.

The top element 16 preferably has a substantially quadrangular shape and preferably comprises four tabs 40 that are formed coplanar with the top element 16 and are delimited by respective tracks 42 and edges 44 having a substantially "U" shape. Two second side wings 46 are arranged along sides of the top element 16 orthogonal to the folding line F7, and are integral therewith. Each side wing 46 comprises a second inner flap 48, having a height H4, and a second outer flap 50 (in what follows, for brevity, the "inner flap 48" will be also referred to as "flap 48" and the "outer flap 50" will be also referred to as "flap 50") . The meaning of the adjectives "inner" and "outer" applied to the flaps 48, 50 is similar to the one described for the flaps 22, 20.

Each flap 50 comprises a slit 52 having a preferably rectangular shape and having one side set on an eighth folding line F8 along which the outer flap 50 can be folded with respect to the inner flap 48. The latter can be folded with respect to the top element 16 along a ninth folding line F9.

A front wing 54 is set in a position corresponding to a side of the top element 16 parallel and opposite with respect to the folding line F7. The front wing 54 comprises a third inner flap 56 and a third outer flap 58 (in what follows, for brevity, the "inner flap 56" will be also referred to as "flap 56" and the "outer flap 58" will be also referred to as "flap 58") . The outer flap 58 can be folded with respect to the inner flap 56 along a tenth folding line F10, said profile being such as to define a tab 60 on the inner flap 56, which in turn can be folded with respect to the top element 16 along an eleventh folding line Fll.

A pair of tabs 62 project laterally with respect to the outer flap 58 and are to be folded along twelfth folding lines F12.

With reference to Figures 3 to 7, a sequence of folding of the dinked sheet 10 with which it is possible to make the container 1 will now be described.

Starting from the condition illustrated in Figure 3, in which all the components of the dinked sheet 10 are substantially coplanar, the method of folding of the sheet 10 comprises a plurality of steps in which the side wings 18, 46, the front wing 54, and the tabs 34, 62 are substantially folded with respect to the elements adjacent thereto.

Listed in what follows are the various folds that the components referred to above undergo in the passage from the condition of Figure 3 to the condition of Figure 4.

Each side wing 18 undergoes a double fold, comprising a first fold, along the folding line Fl, of the outer flap 22 with respect to the inner flap 20 and a second fold, along the folding line F2 , of the inner flap 20 with respect to the base element 12. It should be noted that for each side wing 18 the folds of the portions 20, 22 are made in the same direction and have directions opposite with respect to the corresponding folds made on the other side wing 18.

In an identical way, the side wings 46 undergo a double fold comprising a third fold, along the folding line F8 , of the outer flap 50 with respect to the inner flap 48 and a fourth fold, along the folding line F9, of the inner flap 48 with respect to the top element 16. In a way identical to what has been described for the side wings 18, within a single wing 46 the folds are made all in the same direction, and have a direction opposite to that of the folds made on the other side wing 46.

The front wing 54 also undergoes a double fold comprising a fifth fold, along the folding line FlO, of the outer flap 58 with respect to the inner flap 56 and a sixth fold, along the folding line Fll, of the inner flap 56 with respect to the top element 16. Upon folding of the outer flap 58 with respect to the inner flap 56 the tab 60 detaches from the plane of the outer flap 58 and remains substantially coplanar with respect to the inner flap 56. It should be noted that, whereas for the folds described previously the order of execution may vary, it is instead essential for the front wing 54 to be folded after the side wings 46.

The tabs 34, 62 undergo respective seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth folds along the corresponding folding lines F5, F12 in a direction identical to that of the folds on the side wings that are located on the same side with respect to the elements 12, 16 and to the septum 14.

With reference to Figure 5, the folds described previously are considered completed when an angle of approximately 90° between adjacent elements involved in the fold is reached. In this way, the inner flaps 20, 48 are folded along the corresponding folding lines F2, F9 with respect to the base element 12 and to the top element 16 respectively, so as to be substantially orthogonal thereto. Likewise, the outer flaps 22, 50 are folded along the corresponding folding lines Fl , F8 with respect to the corresponding inner flaps 20, 48 and are substantially orthogonal, respectively, to the base element 12 and to the top element 16, whereas the outer flaps 22, 50 are orthogonal with respect to the corresponding inner flaps 20, 48 and are substantially parallel with respect to the base element 12 and to the top element 16, respectively.

In an identical way, the inner flap 56 of the front wing 54 is folded along the folding line Fll with respect to the top element 16 and is substantially orthogonal thereto, whilst the outer flap 58 is folded along the folding line F10, being substantially orthogonal to the flap 56 and substantially parallel with respect to the top element 16 itself.

Consequently, the tabs 34, 62, are folded along the corresponding folding lines F5, F12 in a way orthogonal with respect to the septum 14 and to the outer flap 58.

As mentioned previously, folding of the inner flap 56 must be made following upon folding of the flaps 48, 50 in such a way that the tabs 62 can be inserted within the slits 52, as illustrated in Figure 5. With reference to Figure 6, with a pair of double folds along the folding lines F3, F4 and F6, F7 it is possible to terminate assemblage of the container 1. The double folds just mentioned must be made with a predetermined sequence, described in what follows.

In the first place, an eleventh fold of the joining septum 28 is performed with respect to the base element 12, followed by a twelfth fold of the septum 14 along the folding line F4 with respect to the joining flap 28.

As described previously, folding is completed when all the adjacent elements are orthogonal to one another. This implies that the joining septum 28 is folded along the folding line F3 in a way orthogonal with respect to the base element 12 and that the septum 14 is folded along the line F4 in a way orthogonal to the joining flap 28 and with orientation substantially parallel with respect to the base element 12.

The fold that brings the septum 14 to be substantially orthogonal with respect to the joining flap 28 moreover causes insertion of the tabs 34 within the corresponding slits 26 provided on the outer flaps 22.

In the second place, a thirteenth fold of the joining flap 38 is performed with respect to the base element 12 along the folding line F6, followed by a fourteenth fold of the top element 16 with respect to the joining flap 38 along the folding line F7 , having the side wings 46 and the front wing 54 in the positions described previously.

Once the folds just described have been completed, the configuration illustrated in Figure 7, which corresponds to an open condition of the container 1, is obtained. It should be noted that it is possible to close the container 1 by rotating the top element 16 towards the septum 14 in the direction designated by the letter C in Figure 7 and thus causing insertion of the tab 60 within the slit 36.

Following up the folds described, the first chamber 6 hence comprises, as walls thereof, the base element 12, the side wings 18, the joining flap 28, and the septum 14, which divides it from the chamber 8. This in turn comprises, as walls thereof, the top element 16, the side wings 46, the septum 14, and the front wing 54. Hence, basically, the septum 14 can be folded to separate the chambers 6, 8. It should be noted that, as described previously, the inner flaps 20 and 48 have heights H2 and H4 because the corresponding first side wings 18 and second side wings 46 can be folded to produce, respectively, the first box-like body 2 and the second box-like body 4 (in combination with the other elements according to the modalities described) , and the fold of the side wings is such that the inner flaps are located in a position such as to define the height of the box-like bodies 2 and 4. The inner flaps 20, 48 also define, for the chambers 6, 8, respective heights H6, H8, approximately equal to the heights H2, H4 except for the thickness of the material that constitutes the dinked sheet 10. Consequently, the second chamber 8 has a height smaller than that of the first chamber 6.

By way of example, in the case where the container 1 is designed for transport of a pizza, the height H8 can have a value of around two thirds the height H6 (the same applies, given what. has been described previously, for the heights H4 and H2) .

Of course, the range of dimensional ratios between the heights H8, H6 and H4, H2 of interest for the purposes of the invention can vary considerably according to the requirements, it remaining understood that the heights H4, H8 must be smaller, respecti ely, than the heights H2, H6.

Once again purely by way of example, in some embodiments of the container 1 designed for transport of food other than pizza and without a preferential direction of development (it may be noted in fact that the pizza, so to speak, develops in a plane) the ratio between the heights H8 and H6 (and likewise between the heights H4 , H2) is significantly smaller. The height H8 can, in this case, have values in the range 15-25 mm (possibly even around the outer limits), whilst the height H6 can be indicatively four to six times the height H8 (the same applies to the heights, respectively, H2 and H4) .

The box-like bodies 2 and 4 have a layout that is defined by the geometry of the base element 12 and of the top element 16, respectively; consequently, also the box-like bodies 2, 4 preferably have a substantially quadrangular shape.

It should moreover be noted that functionally the box-like body 4 is a lid with an inner chamber, in particular the chamber 8, for the box-like body 2.

Operation of the container 1 is described in what follows .

A hot foodstuff, preferably a pizza, is rested on the base element 12 when the sequence of folding of the dinked sheet 10 is in the step illustrated in Figure 6, i.e., prior to blocking of the septum 14 on the side wings 18, in particular on the flaps 22, by insertion of the tabs 34 in the slits 26.

After the pizza is laid on the base element 12, the next step is the aforesaid blocking of the septum 14, as illustrated in Figure 7, and this is followed by closing of the container 1 by resting the box-like body 4 on the septum 14, impressing thereon a rotation in the direction C indicated in Figure 7 and substantially arriving at the configuration illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the box-like body 4 is blocked with respect to the box-like body 2 thanks to fitting of the tab 60 within the slit 36.

At the same time, by acting, for example, from outside, it is possible to bring about a rotation of the tabs 40 about the tracks 42, thus opening four through holes on the top element 16 in order to set the second chamber 8 in communication with the external environment .

During transport from a restaurant or business premises to the place where the foodstuff will be consumed, the structure of the container 1 at the same time enables the temperature of the pizza to be maintained at a level such as to preserve the quality thereof and prevents the condensed water vapour from dropping on the pizza itself.

In fact, the pizza acts as a source of heat and moisture within the first chamber 6. The first chamber 6 is separated from the second chamber 8 by means of the septum 14, but communicates fluid-dynamically via the through holes 32. The heat flow that impinges upon the walls of the first chamber 6 passes by convection through the through holes 32 into the second chamber 8.

Also the water vapour issuing from the pizza within the chamber 6 traverses the through holes 32 and enters the chamber 8. The latter is hence a substantially confined environment, into which a fluid at high temperature and markedly moistened flows. Furthermore, unlike the chamber 6, the chamber 8 is substantially a free chamber, i.e., not designed to receive a pizza or any foodstuff therein.

The inner chamber 8 is able to collect the hot air that flows into it and store a certain amount of heat, which contributes to maintaining the temperature of the pizza at a sufficient level since it compensates for the losses of thermal energy due to the heat exchange with the surrounding environment through the walls of the chamber 6 containing the pizza. Moreover, thanks to the chamber 8, the box-like body 4 is less permeable to heat flows coming out of the container 1 as compared to a normal lid made of a single sheet of dinked paper material (for example, cardboard for alimentary use) .

Any water vapour that may be present within the chamber 8 can condense without any risk for the quality of the pizza or in general of the foodstuff contained in the chamber 6 since it would simply drop back onto the septum 14, except for a minor fraction that may drop onto the pizza through the through holes 32. It should be noted that the diameter of the through holes 32 is chosen so as to be sufficient to allow conveniently the flow of the vapour towards the chamber 8 but at the same time not too large to cause the condensed water vapour to drop completely on the pizza contained in the chamber 6.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the surface of the dinked sheet 10 that, following upon the sequence of folding illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 faces the inside of the chambers 6, 8 is coated by a film of aluminized polymeric material. In this way, the capacity of the chamber 8 to store heat is further enhanced, and moreover the heat exchange of the pizza with the walls of the chamber 6 is further reduced.

By way of example, reference may be made to Figure

8, which illustrates a temperature-time diagram referring to the foodstuff contained in the container 1, in particular a pizza. The diagram is substantially a curve of cooling obtained experimentally starting from known and given initial conditions deriving basically from cooking of a pizza in an electric oven at 200°C for approximately 15 minutes.

The measurement was performed by inserting the container 1 containing the pizza into a refrigerator at the temperature of + 5 ° C . The diagram illustrated in Figure 8 comprises three curves, namely:

- a first curve CI referring to a container for food of a known type;

- a second curve C2 referring to a container for food according to the invention without aluminized- polymer coating inside the chambers 6, 8; and

- a third curve C3 referring to a container for food according to the present invention provided with aluminized-polymer coating inside the chambers 6, 8.

The curves C2 and C3 have, at the same instant in time, values of temperature of the pizza considerably higher than those of the curve C I , except for the first instants of the measurement where the effect of the initial conditions in the three thermodynamic systems is still marked.

It should, however, be noted that, anyway, the performance of the container for food according to the invention provided with a coating of aluminized polymeric material is clearly superior to that of a container of a known type and of a container according to the invention without aluminized coating.

In fact, already in the first instants of the measurement there is an appreciable difference between the temperatures of the pizza associated to the various curves. Alongside the evident difference in performance of the containers over the entire time interval considered for the measurement, it should be noted how in the time interval typically involved in delivering a pizza to a person's home, typically ten or fifteen minutes, the curve C3 significantly detaches from the curve C2 and even more from the curve CI. As compared to the latter, at an instant tl (comprised between t = 10 and t - 20 minutes, where t is a time co-ordinate) there is a difference of temperature ΔΤ between C3 and CI in the region of 20°C.

The diagram illustrated in Figure 8 hence affords an experimental confirmation of what has been described previously as regards the characteristics of the invention, this constituting a further proof of the fact that the advantages afforded as compared to containers of a known type are tangible and of absolute importance .

By means of the container according to the invention, in any of its embodiments, the pizza or any foodstuff reaches its destination at a sufficiently high temperature and without the condensed water vapour dropping thereon, thus preserving intact the taste and fragrance proper to a pizza that has just been taken out of the oven.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.