WO 2020/036486 PCT/NL2019/050525

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Pizza box with rotary disc

The present invention relates to a pizza box in the form of a blank for forming a pizza box with a rotary disc. The invention further relates to a pizza box with a rotary disc.

Pizzas or other types of food are increasingly eaten at home by consumers, or at locations other than the restaurant where the food is prepared. In order to provide a culinary experience which is similar to eating the food at the restaurant the food has to be packaged adequately and delivered to the consumer quickly. Whether these goals are achieved is largely dependent on the packaging material. It has to be possible to assemble such packaging material quickly and reliably, and it must keep the food warm. In light of environmental considerations, the way in which this packaging, which is generally single -use, can be processed after use is increasingly being taken into consideration.

Pizza boxes are usually supplied by the manufacturer in the form of a blank. This means that a flat piece of cardboard provided with several fold, perforation and cut lines is folded into a pizza box at the restaurant. Within the context of the present invention such a flat piece of cardboard will be referred to as pizza box in the form of a blank, also to distinguish it from the folded pizza box. The present invention is otherwise not limited to pizzas, since other food products to be kept warm can also be transported and kept warm with a box according to the present invention.

A pizza box which has for its object to keep a pizza warm for longer is known from NL 1040428. The pizza box described in this patent comprises a bottom surface and a cover surface. Further provided is a first pivoting surface which pivotally connects a first side of the bottom surface to the cover surface. The pizza box also comprises an opening part which is defined by at least a perforation edge, wherein the opening part is situated partially in the first pivoting surface and partially in the cover surface.

The pizza box described in the above stated patent makes use of a rotatable disc which is held in place in the box by rotation slots which are formed in side walls of the pizza box. A pizza can be placed on this rotatable disc at the restaurant, after which the pizza box is closed and the pizza is delivered.

A user can gain access to the pizza by means of opening the opening part. The opening part is of a size such that the consumer is able to take a pre-cut slice of pizza from the box. By rotating the disc, the consumer can then place a subsequent pizza slice under the opening part and, if desired, remove it from the box.

The advantage of using a rotary disc in combination with a relatively small opening part is that the pizza can be kept warmer than in the situation where the consumer must open the whole box every time a pizza slice is to be taken out. 09/08/2019

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Folding the known pizza box in the form of a blank into a pizza box however entails many and complex operations. The rotary disc must thus be slid into the slots in the side walls of the pizza box. It is therefore relatively time-consuming to fold the pizza box. This time results in additional costs for the restaurant owner.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pizza box in the form of a blank which can be folded into a pizza box more quickly. A further or other object is to provide a pizza box in the form of a blank which requires less complex operations for folding the pizza box in the form of a blank into a pizza box.

At least one of these objectives is achieved at least partially by a pizza box in the form of a blank as defined by claim 1. According to the invention, the pizza box in the form of a blank is characterized in that it comprises a disc surface comprising a releasable disc defined at least partially by a perforation edge. The pizza box in the form of a blank further comprises a second pivoting surface which pivotally connects a second side of the bottom surface to the disc surface. The disc, when it has been released from a remaining part of the disc surface, can here rotate within the bottom surface. The pizza box in the form of a blank is further characterized in that the opening part is likewise situated partially in the bottom surface.

Because the disc surface is connected via the second pivoting surface to the rest of the pizza box in the form of a blank and the disc surface comprises a releasable disc, a user need only provide a single element for the purpose of folding a pizza box, instead of both a pizza box in the form of a blank and a separate disc having to be provided, as is the case in the stated known pizza box. Because the opening part is situated partially in the bottom surface, the consumer has the option, despite the fact that the disc rotates as a whole inside the pizza box, to rotate the disc in order to thus gain access to a slice of pizza. A further advantage of a single element is that it is easier to guarantee the hygiene of the disc because it is attached to the rest of the pizza box until just before use.

The second pivoting surface can comprise a first part and a second part which are pivotally coupled, wherein the first part is connected pivotally to the bottom surface and wherein the second part is connected pivotally to the disc surface, wherein the second pivoting surface enables a user to move the disc surface onto the bottom surface by folding the first part and second part, wherein the first part forms at least partially an outer wall of the formed pizza box and the second part at least partially an inner wall. Said inner wall will here preferably extend parallel to said outer wall.

It is further preferred for the disc surface, after being moved onto the bottom surface, to fall wholly within the bottom surface. It is otherwise possible for the second pivoting surface to comprise a plurality of parts which are placed between the first part and second part.

Said first and second part make it possible to release the disc only after the pizza box in the form of a blank has been partially folded. Because the releasable disc remains attached to the 09/08/2019

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3 remaining part of the pizza box in the form of a blank during at least part of the folding of the pizza box in the form of a blank, it will fall or become damaged less easily. The first and second part and the mutual friction between the bottom surface and a released disc will thus reduce the risk of the disc becoming separated from the pizza box in the form of a blank.

Because placing the disc in the pizza box is now an integral part of folding the pizza box in the form of a blank into a pizza box, the folding process is a simpler process than the above stated known process, wherein a separate disc is used.

Because the releasable disc is defined at least partially by a perforation edge, a user can provide the necessary disc rotatably on the bottom surface, without the intervention of tools and with little additional effort, by releasing it from the disc surface. Releasing of the disc thus does not take a lot of additional time.

The first side of the bottom surface is preferably situated opposite the second side of the bottom surface. The pizza box in the form of a blank hereby takes an elongate, easily processed form which can be manufactured, transported, stored and used in simple manner. It is further preferred for the bottom surface and the cover surface to have a rectangular form, more preferably a square form.

In order to be able to properly close the pizza box from the top and to support the cover surface so that the cover does not slump and/or come into contact with the pizza, the pizza box in the form of a blank can further comprise cover walls adjacent to the cover surface. Together, the cover surface and the cover walls adjacent thereto can form the cover. More specifically, the cover surface can preferably comprise a cover wall on each side of the cover surface, with the exception of the side which is coupled to the first pivoting surface. It is preferred for the cover walls to support on the bottom surface in the case of a fully folded and closed pizza box.

In similar manner the pizza box in the form of a blank can further be equipped with bottom walls adjacent to the bottom surface. Preferably even a bottom wall on each side of the bottom surface, with the exception of the side which is coupled to the first or second pivoting surface. The bottom walls can each comprise a first tongue extending from a side of the bottom wall to the disc surface, wherein each bottom wall is configured to be folded relative to the bottom surface until the bottom wall extends at an angle relative to the bottom surface, preferably substantially

perpendicularly, and wherein the first tongue can be clamped between the first and second part for the purpose of fixing the disc surface relative to the bottom surface. The bottom walls can further each comprise a second tongue extending from a side of the bottom wall away from the disc surface. The bottom walls and the first and second tongues connected thereto demarcate together with the bottom surface the bottom of the pizza box, which defines the inner side of the pizza box.

The rapid folding of the pizza box is made possible inter alia because it is equipped with fold lines. These lines indicate where folding must take place and comprise a local weakening of 09/08/2019

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4 the material of the pizza box in the form of a blank, so that the folding will be able to take place more easily. Such a weakening can for instance be arranged by creasing.

In a possible embodiment at least a boundary between the cover surface and the first pivoting surface, and/or a boundary between the first pivoting surface and the bottom surface, and/or a boundary between the bottom surface and the second pivoting surface, and/or a boundary between the second pivoting surface and the disc surface, and/or a boundary between the first and second part, and/or a boundary between the cover surface and the cover walls, and/or a boundary between the bottom surface and the bottom walls, and/or a boundary between the bottom walls and the first and/or second tongues will be defined by fold lines.

In order to enable simpler opening of the opening part, the opening part can further be defined by at least one of a fold line or a cut line, and the opening part can preferably comprise at the position of the cover surface one or more fold lines which extend within the opening part, preferably parallel to the bottom surface, at least after the pizza box has been formed. If the opening part need not be released as a whole, it is possible to not define a part of the edge of the opening part by a perforation or cut line. In order to still provide access, the opening part must be folded away, which can then in turn be simplified by one or more fold lines extending within the opening part. These fold lines can for instance extend parallel to the bottom surface after the pizza box has been formed.

As is usual in the prior art, the pizza box in the form of a blank can be manufactured from corrugated board. This material is relatively light and is thermally insulating to some extent.

When the pizza slices comprise different variants, a so-called combined pizza, or when the consumer desires clarity in respect of the distribution of slices of a pizza, it is preferred for the rotatable disc to be provided with area indicators, for instance by a characteristic colour or shape or lines extending radially from a centre of the disc and preferably distributed evenly over the disc.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a pizza box formed by folding of the above described pizza box in the form of a blank.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a pizza box comprising a rotatable disc which is arranged in the box and on which a pizza can be placed, and an opening part which is defined in the box by a perforation edge and using which access can be gained to the disc. The pizza box is here characterized in that the opening part extends from a bottom to a cover of the box and that the disc fits within the bottom of the box.

The invention will be further discussed hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of a pizza box in the form of a blank according to the present invention; 09/08/2019

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Figure 2 shows the top view of figure 1 in which the various fold lines, perforation lines and cut lines are designated; and

Figures 3-6 each show a perspective view of different stages of the folding of the pizza box in the form of a blank of figure 1 into a pizza box.

In the following,‘user’ shall indicate a person who folds the pizza box, and‘consumer’ shall indicate a person wishing to eat a pizza placed in the pizza box. The invention does not preclude that consumer and user are the same person. This distinction is further made only by way of illustration, and the invention is not limited to said distinction.

The top view in figure 1 shows an embodiment of a pizza box in the form of a blank 1 according to the present invention. Pizza box in the form of a blank 1 comprises a bottom surface 2, which serves as bottom after folding of the pizza box, and a cover surface 3 which serves as cover after folding of the pizza box. Pizza box in the form of a blank 1 also comprises an opening part 4 extending from cover surface 3 to bottom surface 2, and pizza box in the form of a blank 1 comprises a disc surface 5 in which a releasable disc 6 is situated.

Bottom surface 2 is coupled pivotally to cover surface 3 on a side by means of a first pivoting surface 7. Bottom surface 2 is further coupled pivotally to disc surface 5 on the opposite side by means of a second pivoting surface 8. Second pivoting surface 8 comprises a first part 8’ and a second part 8”, which are coupled for mutual pivoting.

On every side not coupled to cover surface 3 or to disc surface 5, bottom surface 2 is coupled pivotally to bottom walls 9. First tongues 10’ and second tongues 10” can further be coupled to these bottom walls 9.

On the sides not coupled to bottom surface 2, cover surface 3 is coupled pivotally to cover walls 11.

Bottom surface 2 and cover surface 3 preferably have a rectangular shape or, more particularly, a square shape. Bottom walls 9 and cover walls 11 preferably have roughly the same shape so that they fit together properly. Flowever, shapes other than the shapes shown in figure 1 are of course also possible for all these surfaces.

Situated in bottom surface 2, in the immediate vicinity of the border between bottom surface 2 and second pivoting surface 8, is at least one clamping slot 12. The border between disc surface 5 and second pivoting surface 8, and more particularly second part 8”, is further formed by a combination of a fold line and a cut line, see figure 2. The cut line part of this combination is placed at the position of each clamping slot 12, such that after folding of disc surface 5 relative to the second part 8”, as will be elucidated below, a clamping tongue 13 results for each clamping slot 12, with which tongue second part 8” and disc surface 5 connected thereto can be fixed relative to bottom surface 2. The formation of clamping tongues 13 is possible in that the cut line part of the above stated combination is placed offset relative to the fold line part. 09/08/2019

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As shown in figure 1 , disc surface 5 can consist of two unconnected connecting elements 14, which are separated by an opening 15, and a releasable disc 6. Disc 6 is here only partially enclosed by connecting elements 14. Also possible are embodiments wherein a single connecting element is used and/or where the one or more connecting elements substantially wholly enclose disc 6.

Opening part 4 extends over first pivoting surface 7. Opening part 4 can further take a tapering form, wherein the narrow outer end is situated on cover surface 3. An additional tongue 16 can be situated at the wide outer end of opening part 4, for instance on bottom surface 2, in order to assist in opening of opening part 4. In an embodiment opening part 4 will roughly take the form of a slice of pizza. This enables a user to remove a pizza slice from the box without the other pizza slices immediately cooling down greatly.

In a preferred embodiment pizza box in the form of a blank 1 is manufactured from corrugated board. For producing a pizza box in the form of a blank 1 from cardboard use is in the prior art made of a holder equipped with elements which, when the cardboard is formed, provide for the arranging of fold lines, perforation lines and/or cut lines at positions where they are desired.

The fold lines are configured to clarify an intended folding direction and also to simplify the actual folding in that a weakening is arranged locally in the cardboard. Forming of a fold line can be realized by a creasing process.

The perforation lines are configured to at least partially release different parts of the pizza box in the form of a blank from each other in simple manner. Such lines are formed by a perforating process, wherein small holes are arranged in the cardboard.

The cut lines indicate the positions where the cardboard has been punched completely through in order to separate the pizza box in the form of a blank from the sheet of cardboard from which the pizza box in the form of a blank is formed.

The above stated lines are shown in figure 2, wherein it is noted that the pizza box in the form of a blank takes a symmetrical form relative to the vertical direction in figure 2. A cut line is designated with the letter‘s’, a perforation line with the letter‘p’, and a fold line with the letter V. Areas of pizza box in the form of a blank 1 not immediately adjacent to another piece of cardboard are formed with a cut line and, for the sake of clarity, are not designated as such in figure 2.

Referring now to figures 1 and 2, the boundaries between bottom surface 2 and first pivoting surface 7 and between first pivoting surface 7 and cover surface 3 are both defined by a fold line. The boundary between bottom surface 2 and second pivoting surface 8 and the boundary between first part 8’ and second part 8” of second pivoting surface 8 are further also defined by a fold line. The boundary between second pivoting surface 8 and disc surface 5 is defined at least partially by a fold line. The boundary between second pivoting surface 8 and disc surface 5 at the position of at least clamping slot 12 is defined by a cut line. The boundary of clamping slot 12 on 09/08/2019

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7 bottom surface 2 is at least partially defined by a cut line, so that a space is created in which clamping tongue 13 can be clamped. The boundaries between bottom surface 2 and bottom walls 9 and the boundaries between cover surface 3 and bottom walls 11 are defined by fold lines.

Disc 6 is defined by for instance a perforation edge or by a cut line in combination with so- called nicks, which are short connecting pieces, which are known in the art. These attaching methods significantly simplify the release of disc 6 from disc surface 5. In a preferred embodiment disc 6 is attached at four points to disc surface 5. In further embodiments boundaries between second pivoting surface 8 and disc surface 5 can also be defined, instead of by a fold line, by a perforation line or by a cut line in combination with short connecting pieces.

The boundary of opening part 6 is at least partially defined by a perforation line, which enables opening of this area without auxiliary means. Opening part 6 is possibly also partially defined by a cut line. In a preferred embodiment the narrow outer end of the tapering form of opening part 4 is provided with one or more additional fold lines 20, which enable the piece of cardboard to be folded at the position of opening part 4 so that it remains in opened position. This is to prevent this piece of cardboard having to be folded upward every time a pizza slice is taken out.

When the wide outer end of opening part 4 is equipped with an additional tongue 16 for simplifying opening of opening part 4, the boundary of opening part 4 which coincides with this tongue 16 can be defined by a cut line. Opening part 4 hereby obtains a part which can be gripped well without preparatory operations, which simplifies opening of opening part 4.

In the following the forming of a pizza box using the pizza box in the form of a blank of figures 1 and 2 will be discussed further with reference to figures 3-6. It will be apparent to the skilled person that it is possible to fold the pizza box in different ways and that the order of steps stated below must not be deemed limitative.

As a first step, the user folds bottom walls 9 relative to bottom surface 2, wherein they come to lie perpendicularly relative to each other. First and second tongues 10’, 10’’ are also folded relative to bottom walls 9, wherein tongues 10’ , 10” are folded toward bottom surface 2.

After or prior to this the user folds along the fold line between bottom surface 2 and first part 8’ of second pivoting surface 8, such that an angle of about 90 degrees results between first part 8’ and bottom surface 2. At this moment, second pivoting surface 8 and disc surface 5 will be positioned upright relative to bottom surface 2. First tongues 10’ will further come to lie with an outward directed side against first part 8’.

The user then folds along the fold line between disc surface 5 and second part 8” of second pivoting surface 8 in the direction away from the rest of the pizza box in the form of a blank, this such that an angle of about 90 degrees results between disc surface 5 and second part 8”. As a result of this folding step, camping tongues 13 come to lie come to lie partially clear, see 09/08/2019

WO 2020/036486 PCT/NL2019/050525 figure 3. The user then also folds along the fold line between first part 8’ and second part 8” in the direction of bottom surface 2, this such that angle of 180 degrees results between the first part 8’ and second part 8”. The two parts 8’, 8” of second pivoting surface 8 can hereby clamp first lips 10’, see figure 4. The user can here place clamping lips 13 in clamping slots 12, which ensures that the fold along the fold line between first part 8’ and second part 8” of second pivoting surface 8 cannot be undone by resilience of the material of the pizza box. At this moment, the user has placed disc surface 5 as a whole on bottom surface 2 and within the bottom of the pizza box as shown in figure 4.

The user can also fold cover walls 11 along the fold lines intended for this purpose, whereby an angle of about 90 degrees results between cover walls 11 and cover surface 3.

Releasable disc 6 can at this moment for instance be released from disc surface 5 by means of the perforation edge which defines the boundary of opening part 4. Connecting elements 14 can here remain fixedly connected to second part 8”, although the invention does not preclude it being released from second part 8”, for instance by embodying the connection between second part 8” and connecting elements 14 at least partially as perforation line and/or cut line. In this way the remainders of disc surface 5 do not come to lie at disc 6 and the pizza in the box. This can be particularly useful when connecting elements 14 enclose disc 6 more than shown in figure 1, or even wholly.

At this moment a pizza can be placed on disc 6 and the pizza box can be closed. In order to close the pizza box, the user folds along the fold line between first pivoting surface 7 and bottom surface 2, this such that an angle of 90 degrees results between bottom surface 2 and pivoting surface 7. Second lips 10” hereby come to lie against first pivoting surface 7. At this moment first pivoting surface 7 and cover surface 3 will come to lie upright relative to bottom surface 2. The user then folds along the fold line between first pivoting surface 7 and cover surface 3, whereby cover surface 3 is folded toward bottom surface 2, this such that an angle of 90 degrees results between cover surface 3 and first pivoting surface 7, see figure 5. Because cover walls 11 have not been folded upright with attachment in this embodiment, it is possible that they have not remained in this position due to resilience of the material. During folding of the fold line between first pivoting surface 7 and cover surface 3 the user will now possibly also have to fold cover walls 11 such that they fall within bottom walls 9, see figure 5. The invention does not preclude cover walls 11 falling outside bottom walls 9 in an embodiment.

The fully folded pizza box (without pizza) is shown in figure 6. It can be seen here that cover walls 11 fall within bottom walls 9, although the invention is not limited hereto. Figure 6 also shows that opening part 4 is opened, whereby a consumer gains access to disc 6. Figure 6 shows that opening part 4 is partially folded along the fold line between first pivoting surface 7 and bottom surface 2 and between first pivoting surface 7 and cover surface 3. By folding opening part 09/08/2019

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4, optionally additionally along one or more fold lines such as fold line 20 in figure 2, is can be achieved that opening part 4 remains in a determined position so that the consumer need not fold the area upward every time a pizza slice is to be taken out.

The embodiment shown in figure 6 allows a consumer to rotate disc 6 in simple manner. This can for instance be done by the consumer gripping disc 6 between his or her fingers and then turning.

Releasable disc 6 is smaller than rotatable discs as known from the stated prior art. Disc 6 hereby fits as a whole within bottom surface 2. The releasing of disc 6 is an integral part of the folding of the pizza box. This in contrast to pizza boxes as known from the above stated prior art, which is based on a separate disc and a separate pizza box. As a result, assembling the pizza box according to the invention is quicker.

The fact that disc 6 does not, as it does in the prior art, extend partially outside the pizza box further has the advantage that there is little or no possibility of disc 6 becoming damaged during transport, and there is thus more certainty that it will be able to rotate freely when received by the consumer. Protruding parts of the known disc can also become soiled, whereby a soiled outer end may introduce undesired dirt into the box when the known disc rotates.

In a preferred embodiment disc 6 takes a round form. Embodiments are however also possible wherein disc 6 takes other forms, which can also be disposed rotatably in the box, for instance a regular hexagon, octagon or dodecagon.

The folding assembly of the pizza box according to the present invention is only a part of the process which has to be accelerated in the fast food industry. There are more steps, such as placing a pizza in the box. In order to simplify this, the disc 6 arranged rotatably in the box can further be provided with indicators for possible configurations of this disc 6. Such indicators can for instance be colours or shapes printed on the disc, or partitions indicated are placed on the disc. This latter option also contributes to keeping the different pizza slices separated from each other, which may be a requirement if they are of different types or intended for different consumers.

Placing food such a pizza on disc 6 ensures that the rest of the pizza box does not come into contact with the food, or hardly so. Hereby, the rest of the pizza box does not become soiled and/or greasy and, if the material allows, can be recycled.

Opening and closing of the cover as a whole is relatively time-consuming because the cover has to be opened to about 45 degrees before the consumer is properly able to see which part of the food is located where. Opening of the cover also exposes more of the food to be covered, such as a pizza, to the surrounding area, and cools down the food more quickly. The use of opening part 4 requires only a small opening to be opened in the box. The opening and closing are less time-consuming, and less of the food to be covered will be exposed to the surrounding area, whereby the food to be covered, such as a pizza, cools off less quickly. In a preferred embodiment 09/08/2019

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10 opening part 4 has in any case a width which matches the pizza slices to which the consumer gains access through this opening.

After assembly of the pizza box by the user, opening part 4 has not yet been opened. This operation is generally performed by the consumer. Opening part 4 extends over bottom surface 2, first pivoting surface 7 and cover surface 3. Because opening part 4 also comprises a part of bottom surface 2, the opening provided by opening part 4 will also enable the consumer to reach the underside of the disc and rotate it.

In this embodiment opening part 4 is partially defined by a fold line and partially defined by a perforation line. It is hereby possible to release a part of opening part 4 from the rest of the pizza box along the perforation line. Folding away of opening part 4 provides access to disc 6 in the pizza box.

Taking apart this perforation line can be simplified by also defining opening part 4 by a cut line, whereby the user can get a better grip on opening part 4 when it has not yet been opened.

Such a cut line can also be used to define additional tongue 16 of figure 1.

The folding away of opening part 4 can be simplified by further providing opening part 4 with various fold lines, such as fold line 20 in figure 2, so that it can be folded away in parts.

In another possible embodiment opening part 4 is defined only by a perforation line. It is hereby possible to fully release opening part 4 from the rest of the pizza box along the perforation line.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown here but that various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.