Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a food box. For example, a food box with a locking mechanism.

Background

[0002] A food box may be used to pack food for takeaways, e.g. from a food outlet or for distribution. Typically, the food box for takeaways is made from paper or plastic. Nowadays, due to environmental issues, paper is more commonly used. The food box may include a bottom receptacle to contain the food, a top cover to cover the receptacle and a locking mechanism disposed on food box to lock the cover to the receptacle. It is frequent that the locking mechanism made from paper may not function properly and therefore may not keep the cover onto the receptacle. For example, the locking mechanism may be flimsy and does not engage the cover properly or after opening and closing the cover for a few times, the locking mechanism may deteriorate and fail to lock the cover to the receptacle.

[0003] When the food boxes containing food are being stacked onto each other, the food boxes at the bottom may collapse and flatten under the weight of the food. The food within may spill out of the food box and become unconsumable.

[0004] It is thus an object of the present invention to improve or resolve the aforementioned problems, i.e. to design a food box with a durable and effective locking mechanism to secure the cover of the food box.

Summary

[0005] According to various embodiments, a food box is provided. Food box includes a tray comprising a base floor, a perimeter wall surrounding and extending from the base floor, such that the perimeter wall includes a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, a pair of side walls extending from the front wall to the back wall. Food box includes a cover adapted to cover the tray. Cover includes a top panel and a front panel extending therefrom. Tray has a pair of protrusions, each of the pair of protrusions extending respectively from each of the pair of side walls. Front panel has a pair of engaging portions adapted to engage the pair of protrusions.

[0006] According to various embodiments, each of the pair of protrusions may be planar and may be in the same plane as the side wall which it extends from.

[0007] According to various embodiments, the cover may include a pair of side panels extending from the top panel. Pair of side panels may be connected to opposite ends of the front panel.

[0008] According to various embodiments, the pair of engaging portions may be at opposite ends of the front panel.

[0009] According to various embodiments, the pair of engaging portions may be a pair of openings.

[0010] According to various embodiments, each of the pair of side walls may include an upper portion and a lower portion connected to the base floor. Front panel may include a top portion connected to the top panel, such that the pair of protrusions may be disposed at the upper portion of the pair of side walls and the pair of engaging portions may be disposed at the top portion of the front panel.

[0011] According to various embodiments, the front panel may form an obtuse angle with the top panel.

[0012] According to various embodiments, when the cover covers the tray, the top panel of the cover may be in contact with the tray. [0013] According to various embodiments, the front wall may include a top edge, such that the front wall may include a pair of cut-outs along the top edge, such that each of the pair of cut outs is adjacent to each of the pair of protrusions respectively.

[0014] According to various embodiments, the front wall, the back wall and the pair of side walls may be of the same height.

[0015] According to various embodiments, the cover may be pivotally connected to the back wall of the tray.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a food box.

[0017] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the food box in Fig. 1 in an opened position.

[0018] Fig. 3 shows a front elevation view of the food box in Fig. 1 in a covered position.

[0019] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the food box in Fig. 1 in the covered position.

[0020] Fig. 5 shows an example of a nested plurality of food boxes.

[0021] Fig. 6 shows an example of the food box.

[0022] Fig. 7 shows a side view of the food box in Fig. 6 in an opened position.

[0023] Fig. 8 shows a rear view of an example of the cover in Fig. 6.

[0024] Fig. 9 shows a rear view of the tray in Fig. 6. Detailed Description

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a food box 100. Food box 100 includes a tray 110 having a base floor 112, a perimeter wall 120 surrounding and extending from the base floor 112, such that the perimeter wall 120 includes a front wall 122, a back wall 124 opposite the front wall 122, a pair of side walls 126A,126B extending from the front wall 122 to the back wall 124. Food box 100 includes a cover 140 adapted to cover the tray 110. Cover 140 includes a top panel 142 and a front panel 152 extending therefrom. Tray 110 has a pair of protrusions 128A,128B, each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B extending respectively from each of the pair of side walls 126A,126B. Pair of protrusions 128A,128B may protrude outwardly from the front wall 122. Pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be perpendicular to an outer face of the front wall 122. Front panel 152 has a pair of engaging portions 158A,158B adapted to engage the pair of protrusions 128A,128B. Pair of protrusions 128A,128B and pair of engaging portions 158A,158B form the locking mechanism of the food box 100. When the pair of protrusions 128A,128B are engaged by the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B, the cover 140 of the food box 100 is locked to the tray 110 in the covered position.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, the food box 100 may include the tray 110 and the cover 140 for covering the tray 110. Tray 110 may include the base floor 112 with a perimeter and the perimeter wall 120 may extend along the perimeter of the base floor 112. Base floor 112 may be flat and may be of a quadrilateral shape, e.g. square, rectangle. Base floor 112 may have more than four sides, e.g. hexagonal, octagonal, etc. Perimeter wall 120 may include at least one of the front wall 122, the back wall 124 and the pair of side walls 126A,126B. Each of the walls may be flat and/or form an obtuse angle with the base floor 112. Front wall 122 may include a top edge 122T. Back wall 124 may include a top edge 124T. Pair of side walls 126A,126B may include a pair of top edges 126AT,126BT. Front wall 122, the back wall 124 and the pair of side walls 126A,126B may be of the same height such that the top edges 122T,124T,126AT,126BT may be equally spaced from the base floor 112. Top edges 122T,124T,126AT,126BT may lie in one plane. Front wall 122, the back wall 124 and the pair of side walls 126A,126B are connected to each other to form the perimeter wall 120. As shown in Fig. 1, the pair of side walls 126A,126B may be connected to opposite ends of the front wall 122 and to the opposite ends of the back wall 124. [0027] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the food box 100 in Fig. 1 in an opened position. Cover 140 may include the top panel 142 with a front panel 152 extending from the top panel 142. Cover 140 may be pivotally connected to the tray 120. Top panel 142 may be pivotally connected to the back wall 124 of the tray 110. As shown in Fig. 1, the front panel 152 may form an obtuse angle with the top panel 142 such that the angle formed between the front panel 152 and top panel 142 may be an obtuse angle. By having the front panel 152 extending outwardly from the top panel 142, the forward edge 152E extends beyond the tray 110 and the pair of protrusions 128A,128B when the cover 140 is covering the tray 110. In this way, the tray 110 and the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may enter the cover 140 more easily. Front panel 152 may be perpendicular to the top panel 142 or forms an acute angle with the top panel 142. Referring to Fig. 1, the cover 140 may include a pair of side panels 156A,156B extending from the top panel 142. One of the pair of side panels 156A is not shown in Fig. 1. Front panel 152 may include two opposite ends 152A,152B. Pair of side panels 156A,156B may be connected to the opposite ends 152A,152B of the front panel 152. Pair of side panels 156A,156B improves the rigidity of the front panel 152 and prevents the front panel 152 from bending and rotating. Top panel 142 may include a front edge 142F, a rear edge 142R and a pair of side edges 142A,142B connecting the front edge 142F and the rear edge 142R. Front panel 152 may be connected to the top panel 142 via the front edge 142F. Pair of side panels 156A,156B may be connected to the top panel 142 via the pair of side edges 142A,142B. Pair of side panels 156A,156B may extend along the length of the pair of side edges 142A,142B. Top panel 142 may have a shape which corresponds to the shape of the tray 110. At least one of the front panel 152 and the pair of side panels 156A,156B are flat.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be planar and may be in the same plane as the side wall which it extends from. Each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be flat and extends along a portion of the edge of the side wall which it extends from. Referring to Fig. 2, each of the pair of side walls 126A,126B may include an upper portion 126AU and a lower portion 126AL connected to the base floor 112. Pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be disposed at the upper portion 126AU of the pair of side walls 126A,126B. Each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may have a top edge 128AT,128BT that is flushed with the relevant top edges 126AT,126BT of the pair of side walls 126A,126B. Each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may include a rounded corner 128 AC to enable the front panel [0029] Cover 140 may include the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B. Pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be at opposite ends of the front panel 152. Pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be a pair of openings. Alternatively, the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be recesses at the inward surface of the front panel 152 for receiving the pair of protrusions 128A,128B. Front panel 152 may include a top portion 152T connected to the top panel 142 and a bottom portion having the front edge 142F and below the top portion 152T. Pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be disposed at the top portion 152T of the front panel 152. The position of the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may correspond to the position of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B when the food box 100 is in the covered position. Referring to the example in Fig. 3, where the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be a pair of openings, the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be connected to the pair of side panels 156A,156B such that the pair of side panels 156A,156B may form part of the edges of the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B. Pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be connected to the top panel 142 such that the top panel 142 may form part of the edges of the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be disposed at a corner of the front panel 152 adjacent the top panel 142 and one of the pair of side panels 156A,156B. Hence, the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be secured within the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B. For example, the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be slotted through the pair of openings. Each of the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B may be an elongated slot and may extend to the length or about the length of each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a front elevation view of the food box 100 in Fig. 1 in a covered position. As shown in Fig. 1, the pair of side panels 156A,156B may form an obtuse angle with the top panel 142. As mentioned earlier, the obtuse-angled pair of side panels 156A,156B provides easier closing of the cover 140 onto the tray 110. As shown in Fig. 3, the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be disposed substantially parallel to the top panel 142 of the cover 140 or at an angle that does not cause the pair of protrusions 128A,128B to bend when the cover 140 is closed onto the tray 110. In other words, the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be substantially parallel to the direction of rotation of the cover 140. It can be appreciated that the pair of protrusions 128A,128B when extending from the pair of side walls 126A,126B provides a sturdier and durable locking mechanism. Compared to a conventional food box which may include a locking mechanism where the base receptacle includes a tap and the lid includes a slot to receive the tap, the locking mechanism of the present food box 100 is more durable and sturdier . The tap of the conventional box which is parallel to its cover is subjected to bending forces from its lid when the lid is covered onto its base receptacle and may fail after multiple use. Referring to Fig. 1, each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may have an engaging edge 128AE,128BE to engage the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B. As shown in Fig. 3, the engaging edges 128AE,128BE may be adapted to engage the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B and lock the cover 140 in position. Engaging edges 128AE,128BE may be curved or concaved to better secure the cover 140 to the tray 110. For example, the pair of protrusions 128A,128B may be hooked-shaped to prevent accidentally opening of the food box 100.

[0031] When the cover 140 covers the tray 110, the top panel 142 of the cover 140 may be in contact with the tray 110. When the cover 140 covers the tray 110, the top edge 122T of the front wall 122 and the top edges 126AT,126BT of the pair of side walls 126A,126B may contact the top panel 142. Front edge 142F of the top panel 142 may coincide with the top edge 122T of the front wall 122 and the pair of side edges 142A,142B may coincide with the top edges 126AT,126BT of the pair of side walls 126A,126B. As the rear edge 142R of the top panel 142 may be connected to the back wall 124 of the tray 110, all the walls 122,124,126A,126B may support the top panel 142 of the cover 140. As it can be appreciated, the food box 100 may withstand a higher load, e.g. another food box 100, on top of it due to the support of the perimeter wall 120 on the top panel 142. Comparatively, a conventional clam-shell food box with walls surrounding the lid, and where the walls of the base receptacle supports the walls of its lid, the conventional clam-shell food box would not be able to support heavy load, e.g. another few food boxes, thereon and would flatten if the heavy load is placed onto the conventional clam-shell food box.

[0032] Further, referring to Fig. 3, when in the covered position, the perimeter wall 120 extends outwardly, i.e. forming an obtuse angle with the base floor 112, and is abutted against the corners or edges l42F,l42R,l42A,l42B at the junction of the top panel 142 and the respective panels, 152,156A,156B. Perimeter wall 120, being abutted against the comers would be rigidly restrained and would not bend outwardly away from the base floor 112 or inwardly towards the base floor 112. In this way, the perimeter wall 120 is able to provide sturdier support to the top panel 142 and hence allows the food box 100 to take higher load, e.g. a few food boxes 100 thereon.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the food box 100 in Fig. 1 in the covered position. From the opened position as shown in Fig. 2, the cover 140 may be rotated towards the tray 110 to cover it. As the front panel 152 contacts the pair of protrusions 128A,128B, as the pair of protrusions 128A,128B are rigid and sturdy, the front panel 152 may be pushed away from the tray 110 by the pair of protrusions 128A,128B. Pair of rounded comers l28AC,l28BC (not shown) may facilitate and guide the front panel 152 to displace over the pair of protrusions 128A,128B to allow the cover 140 to cover onto the tray 110.

[0034] Fig. 5 shows an example of a nested plurality of food boxes 100. Covers of the food boxes 100 have been removed to better illustrate the example. As shown in Fig. 5, the front wall 122 may include a pair of cut-outs 123 along the top edge 122T, such that each of the pair of cut-outs 123 is adjacent to each of the pair of protrusions 128A,128B respectively. When a food box 100, i.e. an upper food box 100, is nested within the tray 110 of another food box 100, i.e. a lower food box 100, the pair of protrusions 128A,128B of the upper food box 100 may be inserted into the pair of cut-outs 123 of the lower food box 100. As the pair of side panels 156A,156B are extended outwardly, the pair of cut-outs 123 which are adjacent the pair of side panels 156A,156B may be in line with the pair of protrusions 128A,128B when the food box 100 is inserted into another food box 100. In this way, the food boxes 100 may be stacked onto each other to save space when they are stacked and stored, e.g. when stored in a warehouse, during transportation, stored at a food outlet.

[0035] Fig. 6 shows an example of the food box 200. Food box 200 may include the cover 240 and the tray 220. As shown in Fig. 6, the cover 240 may be separated from the tray 220. Tray 220 may include the base floor 212, the perimeter wall 220 surrounding and extending from the base floor 212, such that the perimeter wall 220 may include the front wall 222, the back wall 224 opposite the front wall 222, the pair of side walls 226A,226B extending from the front wall 222 to the back wall 224. [0036] Cover 240 may include the top panel 242 having the front panel 252 and a back panel (not shown in Fig. 6) extending therefrom, such that the back panel may be opposite the front panel 252.

[0037] Tray 210 may include a first pair of protrusions 228A,228B, each of the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B extending respectively from each of the pair of side walls 226A,226B from one end and a second pair of protrusions 228C,228D, each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D extending respectively from each of the pair of side walls 226A,226B from another end. Each of the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B may extend outwardly from the front wall 222. Each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may extend outwardly from the back wall. Another end of the pair of side walls 226A,226B may be opposite the one end. First pair of protrusions 228A,228B may be perpendicular an outer face of the front wall 222 and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may be perpendicular to an outer face of the back wall.

[0038] Front panel 252 may have a pair of engaging portions 258A,258B adapted to engage the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B. Back panel may have a pair of engaging portions (not shown in Fig. 6) adapted to engage the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D. First pair of protrusions 228A,228B and the pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the front panel 252, and the second pair protrusions 228C,228D and the pair of engaging portions of the back wall form the locking mechanism of the food box 200. When the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B are engaged by the pair of engaging portions 258 A, 258B of the front panel and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D are engaged by the pair of engaging portions of the back wall, the cover 240 of the food box 200 is locked to the tray 210 in the covered position.

[0039] Cover 240 may include the pair of side panels 256A,256B extending from the top panel 242. One of the pair of side panels 256A is not shown in Fig. 6. Front panel 252 may include two opposite ends 252A,252B. Back panel may correspondingly include two opposite ends (not shown in Fig. 6). Pair of side panels 256A,256B may be connected to the opposite ends 252A,252B of the front panel 252 and the corresponding two opposite ends of the back panel. Pair of side panels 256A,256B improves the rigidity of the front panel 252 and back panel and prevents the front panel 252 and the back panel from bending and rotating. Top panel 242 may include the front edge 242F, the rear edge 242R and the pair of side edges 242A,242B connecting the front edge 242F and the rear edge 242R. Front panel 252 may be connected to the top panel 242 via the front edge 242F and the back panel may be connected to the top panel 242 via the rear edge 242R. Pair of side panels 256A,256B may be connected to the top panel 242 via the pair of side edges 242A,242B. Pair of side panels 256A,256B may extend along the length of the pair of side edges 242A,242B.

[0040] Fig. 7 shows a side view of the food box 200 in Fig. 6 in an opened position. Being a side view, one side of the food box 200 is not shown. However, the side that is not shown is identical to the side that is shown. Cover 240 may include the top panel 242 with the front panel 252 and the back panel 254 extending from the top panel 242. As shown in Fig. 7, the front panel 252 and the back panel 254 may each form an obtuse angle with the top panel 242 such that the angle formed between the front panel 252 and top panel 242 and the angle formed between the back panel 254 and the top panel 252 may be obtuse angles. By having the front panel 252 extending outwardly from the top panel 242, the forward edge 252E extends beyond the tray 210 and the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B when the cover 240 is covering the tray 210. Back panel 254 may have a rearward edge 254E. By having the back panel 254 extending outwardly from the top panel 242, the rearward edge 254E extends beyond the tray 210 and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D when the cover 240 is covering the tray 210. In this way, the tray 210 and the pairs of protrusions 228A,228B,228C,228D may enter the cover 240 more easily. Front panel 252 and the back panel 254 may be perpendicular to the top panel 242 or forms an acute angle with the top panel 242.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 6, the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B may be identical to the pair of protrusions 128A,128B as shown in the example in Fig. 1. Each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may be planar and may be in the same plane as the side wall which it extends from. Each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may be flat and extends along a portion of the edge of the side wall which it extends from. Second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may be disposed at the upper portion 226AU,226BU of the pair of side walls 226A,226B. Referring to Fig. 7, each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may have a top edge 228CT,228DT that is flushed with the relevant top edges 226AT,226BT of the pair of side walls 226A,226B. Each of the pair of protrusions 228C,228D may include a rounded corner 228DC to enable the back panel 254 of the cover 240 to glide pass the pair of protrusions 228C,228D more easily. Referring to Fig. 7, each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may have an engaging edge 228CE,228DE to engage the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254. As shown in Fig. 7, the engaging edges 228CE,228DE may be adapted to engage the pair of engaging portions of the back panel 254 (not shown in Fig. 7) and lock the cover 240 in position. Engaging edges 228CE,228DE may be curved or concaved to better secure the cover 240 to the tray 210. For example, the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may be hooked-shaped to prevent accidentally opening of the food box 200.

[0042] Fig. 8 shows a rear view of an example of the cover 240 in Fig. 6. Cover 240 may include the pair of engaging portions of the front panel (not shown in Fig. 8) and the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254. Pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the front panel 252 may be at opposite ends of the front panel 252. Pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may be at opposite ends of the back panel 254. Pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the front panel 252 and the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may each be a pair of openings. Alternatively, the pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the front panel 252 and the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may be recesses at the inward surface of the respective front panel 252 and the back panel 254 for receiving the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D. Back panel 254 may include a top portion 254T connected to the top panel 242 and a bottom portion 254B having the rearward edge 254E and below the top portion 254T. Pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may be disposed at the top portion 254T of the back panel 254. The position of the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may correspond to the position of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D when the food box 200 is in the covered position. Referring to the example in Fig. 8, where the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may be a pair of openings, the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may be connected to the pair of side panels 256A,256B such that the pair of side panels 256A,256B may form part of the edges of the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B. Pair of engaging portions 254A,254B may be connected to the top panel 242 such that the top panel 242 may form part of the edges of the pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the back panel 254. As shown in Fig. 8, each of the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B may be disposed at a corner of the back panel 254 adjacent the top panel 242 and one of the pair of side panels 256A,256B. Hence, the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D may be secured within the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254. Each of the pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254 may be an elongated slot and may extend to the length or about the length of each of the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D. Pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the front panel 252 are identical to the pair of engaging portions 158A,158B as described in the example in Fig. 1. When the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D are engaged by the pair of engaging portions 258A,258B of the front panel 252 and the second pair of engaging portions 254A,254B of the back panel 254, the cover 240 is locked to the tray 210 such that the food box 200 is closed.

[0043] Similar to the earlier example in Fig. 1, when the cover 240 covers the tray 210, the top panel 242 of the cover 240 may be in contact with the tray 210. When the cover 240 covers the tray 210, the top edge 222T (as shown in Fig. 6) of the front wall 222, the top edges 226AT,226BT of the pair of side walls 226A,226B and the top edge 224T of the back wall 224 may contact the top panel 242. Front edge 242F of the top panel 242 may coincide with the top edge 222T of the front wall 222, the pair of side edges 242A,242B may coincide with the top edges 226AT,226BT of the pair of side walls 226A,226B and the rear edge 242R of the top panel 242 may coincide with the top edge 224T of the back wall 224 of the tray 210. All the walls 222,224,226A,226B may support the top panel 242 of the cover 240.

[0044] Further, referring to Fig. 8, when in the covered position, the perimeter wall 220 extends outwardly, i.e. forming an obtuse angle with the base floor 212, and is abutted against the corners or edges 242F,242R,242A,242B at the junction of the top panel 242 and the respective panels, 252,254,256A,256B. Perimeter wall 220, being abutted against the corners would be rigidly restrained and would not bend outwardly away from the base floor 212 or inwardly towards the base floor 212.

[0045] Fig. 9 shows a rear view of the tray 210 in Fig. 6. Front wall 222 may include the first pair of cut-outs 223 along the top edge 222T of the front wall 222 and the back wall 224 may include a second pair of cut-outs 223B along the top edge 224T, such that each of the first pair of cut-outs 223 and the second pair of cut-outs 223B is adjacent to each of the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D respectively. When the tray 210, i.e. an upper tray 210, is nested within the tray 210 of another food box 200, i.e. a lower tray 210, the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D of the upper tray 210 may be inserted into the first pair of cut-outs 223 and the second pair of cut-outs 223B of the lower tray 210 respectively. As the pair of side panels 256A,256B are extended outwardly, the first pair of cut-outs 223 and the second pair of cut outs 223B which are adjacent the pair of side panels 256A,256B may be in line with the first pair of protrusions 228A,228B and the second pair of protrusions 228C,228D respectively when the tray 210 is inserted into another tray 210. In this way, the trays 210 may be stacked onto each other to save space when they are stacked and stored, e.g. when stored in a warehouse, during transportation, stored at a food outlet.

[0046] A skilled person would appreciate that the features described in one example may not be restricted to that example and may be combined with any one of the other examples.

[0047] In the following examples, reference will be made to the figures, in which identical features are designated with like numerals.

[0048] The present invention relates to a food box generally as herein described, with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.