PIZZA BOX Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pizza box particularly for take-away pizzas. Background Art

Currently, pizza boxes are constituted substantially by a box-like body which has a base connected to a lateral containment element with which it is possible to associate a closure lid.

In most cases, the closure lid in turn is connected, at a connecting portion, to a portion of the upper edge of the lateral containment element.

As an alternative, pizza boxes have been proposed which are provided in two separate parts. In this case, a first part is constituted by the base, which is connected, at its perimeter, to the lateral containment element, while a second part provides the closure lid, which can be associated detachably with the first part in order to provide the box.

As regards the second type of box described, it is appropriate to note that if it is necessary to use more than one box it is possible to use as a lid the base of a new box, which in this case is arranged above the first base.

The lid, provided by the second part, is associated only with the base arranged at the upper end of the stack.

However, all currently commercially available pizza boxes, despite being widely used, do not fully meet the requirements of customers.

When the person who has purchased a take-away pizza returns home to eat the pizza, he in fact often has to reheat the pizza in an oven and then find plates large enough to serve the purchased pizza or the portion thereof. Many customers would in fact find it convenient to be able to eat the purchased pizza directly inside the take-away box: this would of course allow to avoid dirtying a plate, but the size of the box is such that this operation is very awkward. Moreover, sometimes it appears to be problematic to fold the lid

under the base, especially due to the fact that the internal part of the lid is generally greasy and therefore this operation would make said internal part rest on the tablecloth.

Finally, the pizza boxes currently used, and in particular the bases and lids, are often particularly large and difficult to fold: this entails a certain inconvenience when they have to be discarded in the trash or stacked to be collected for sorted waste collection operations. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a pizza box which allows to eliminate or at least reduce drastically the drawbacks cited above.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a pizza box which has a very simple structure and a competitive production cost, so that its use is advantageous also from an economical standpoint.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a pizza box which comprises a base associated with a lateral containment element and an upper closure lid, characterized in that it comprises, at said base or at said closure lid, at least one weakened portion which defines a sheet-like element which can be detached to provide a tray for the pizza. Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a pizza box according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pizza box according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the step for detaching the sheet-like element from the pizza box according to the invention shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pizza associated with the sheet-like element detached from a pizza box according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a variation of a pizza box according to the invention;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a constructive variation of a pizza box according to the invention; Figure 6 is a view of a further variation of a pizza box according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a view of the step for folding the sheet-like element;

Figures 8 to 15 are perspective views of other constructive variations of the pizza box. Ways of carrying out the Invention

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, a pizza box, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a base 2 which is associated with a lateral containment element 3 and an upper closure lid 4. The closure lid 4, as shown in the embodiments illustrated in Figures

1, 2 and 4, can be connected by means of a connecting portion 3a to a portion of the upper edge of the lateral containment element 3, but can also be provided, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 5, as a part which is separate from the base 2 and accordingly from the lateral containment element 3.

According to the present invention, the pizza box 1 has, at the base 2 (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5) or (as shown in the variation of Figures 3, 6, 8 and 9) at the closure lid 4, a weakened portion 5 which defines a sheet- like element 6 which can be detached from the rest of the pizza box 1 so as to provide a tray 7 for a pizza 8.

In particular, as clearly shown in the figures, the weakened portion 5 can have a closed shape and can be provided advantageously by die-cutting during the process for cutting the cardboard sheets to provide the initial bases of the pizza boxes 1. However, as clearly shown in the constructive variation illustrated in

Figure 6, there is nothing to prevent the provision of a plurality of weakened portions 5 defined at the corner portions of the upper closure lid 4 or equivalently of the base 2.

In this regard, it is possible to provide two angular weakened portions 5 a which are arranged at the distal corners with respect to the connecting portion 3 a and two angular weakened portions 5b which are arranged at the corners in a position which is proximate to the connecting portion 3a.

If the weakened portions 5 are provided at the closure lid 4, the weakened corner portions 5 a can be connected one another (as shown in Figure 6), but an edge portion 4a might also be interposed between them (as shown in Figures 8 and 9). In this regard, it is advantageous for the edge portion 4a to be constituted by the closure tab 4b of the box 1, so that the closure tab 4b, by remaining part of the tray 7, can be used conveniently to handle the tray 7 even when the pizza 8 rests thereon. As regards the weakened corner portions 5b arranged proximate to the connecting portion 3a, they can be connected by a portion 3b of said connecting portion 3a (as shown in Figure 6) or by a curvilinear connecting portion 5c which lies on the lateral containment element 3 (Figure 8) or also by a portion 5d which is defined along the connecting edge 3 c between the base 2 and the lateral containment element 3 (Figure 9).

Conveniently, the weakened portion 5 has at least one grip tab 9 which is adapted to facilitate the separation of the sheet-like element 6 from the box 1.

The grip tab 9 or tabs can be provided so as to remain connected, following the separation of the tray 7, both to the pizza box 1 (and

particularly to the base 2 or to the closure lid 4) and to the tray 7 in order to facilitate its handling.

Moreover, the sheet-like element 6 can be provided with at least one stiffening ridge. It has been found that it is particularly advantageous to provide, on the sheet-like element 6, one or more folding lines 10 which lie for example along diametrical directions and are adapted to facilitate, as shown in the perspective view of Figure 7, the folding of the sheet-like element 6.

It is evident that such folding lines 10 can also be provided at the portions of the pizza box 1 which are not designed to form part of the sheet- like element 6. For example, if the sheet-like element 6 is provided, as shown in Figure 6, at the upper closure lid 4, there is nothing to prevent the provision of one or more folding lines 10 also at the base 2.

As shown, the tray can be substantially round but can also be polygonal: in any case, its edge can be at least partially curvilinear.

The use of a pizza box according to the invention is evident from what has been described above and in particular from what is shown in Figure 7.

Once the user has arrived home with a pizza purchased in the respective box, he can reheat it if necessary and use the tray 7.

At this point, he separates the sheet-like element, which will constitute the tray on which the pizza will be rested, from the box 1.

This separation is facilitated by the presence of the weakened portion and, if necessary, of the grip tab. Once use of the sheet-like element 6 has ended, by acting on the folding lines 10 defined on the base 2 and/or on the lid 4 and/or on the sheet-like element 6 it is possible to fold the different components of the pizza box 1, thus reducing significantly its space occupation.

In relation to the folding of the sheet-like element 6, it is appropriate to point out that any traces of dirt or residues of pizza, after folding, are

contained within the folded body, as shown in the perspective view of Figure 7.

Moreover, it has been observed that the use of a pizza box according to the invention allows to optimize the use of said box, avoiding the use of plates and the corresponding washing.

All the characteristics of the invention indicated above as advantageous, convenient and the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects in all of its embodiments.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. VR2006A000171, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.