Technical field

The invention disclosed herein relates to a food box for ready-made food and beverages, ideal for use in small and narrow spaces such as onboard planes.

Background art

There are several known food boxes. Some whereof are disposable and intended for transportation only. Others are intended for eating onboard planes, trains, ships, couches and other transports. The small tables intended for eating on such transports feature a very small surface, if any, making it difficult and uncomfortable to eat or drink. Moreover, most of the times the transports are moving while the passenger is eating. As a consequence there could be sudden jolts causing food or glassware to topple with unpleasant results.

Among the many known patents, it is worth mentioning US 38991 19 A, US 5205474 A, US 2833458 A, US 3434649 and WO 98/22354 Al. All of the aforementioned patents describe food boxes realised starting from a die-cut cardboard sheet with fold-lines and cut-lines. Some of said food boxes feature a lid to protect the food before consumption.

The food is placed on a lower supporting panel working also as a tray, being enclosed by backing edges reducing the chances of food falling off the tray. To prevent big tableware - such as glassware, bottles and tins, mostly affected by transportation jolts - to fall off the trays, said food trays feature special holders to secure the tableware. These holders are obtained folding dedicated die-cut cardboard pieces. Said dedicated openings may cover either the whole surface of the tray or a part of it, generally on one side of the tray or at the back of it.

Patent US 2 924 372 A in particular discloses a "lap food-tray including a bottom panel, a platform having openings adapted to receive and hold containers, a second platform positioned at a level beneath and adjacent the first platform, and openings in the second platform in which articles may be placed to rest on the bottom panel". The glassware openings, though, reduce the surface available.

Disclosure of invention The first purpose of the invention disclosed herein is to solve the aforementioned problem realising a food box featuring a surface expandable during meals.

The second purpose is to realise a food box wherein beverage or seasoning openings are used only if need be.

The food box disclosed herein achieves these and other purposes, being realised starting from a die-cut sheet made of cardboard or any other foldable material. The food box comprises a lower panel, a back strip and a lid consisting of a middle panel and an upper panel. All panels are quadrangular.

The lower panel features a perimetral backing edge including a front panel, lateral strips and the back strip. The middle panel features two lateral strips and the upper panel is enclosed by backing edges on three sides, the backing edges including two lateral strips and a back panel. The lateral strips of the middle panel are provided with flaps to be tucked into the slits on the lower panel. The lateral strips of the upper panel are provided with flaps to be tucked into the back panel. The back strip is provided with flaps to be tucked into slits cut between the upper and the back panels, and also with at least one flap tucking into at least one slit placed on the front edge of the lower panel.

As aforesaid, the lid of the box consists of the middle panel and the upper panel. The upper panel rotates 180° backwards, pivoting on the middle panel, resulting in a second elevated tray. Therefore said food box, upon usage, features two trays or supporting panels: the one of the lower panel and the ancillary elevated one of the upper panel. The surface of the tray resulting from the upper panel is approximately half the surface of the lower panel or tray. Therefore, the surface available increases by 50%.

When folded, the food box disclosed herein contains the same tableware, in terms of volume, of a known food box not featuring fixed tableware holders. When unfolded, the lower tray under the second elevated tray contains the bowls with the other courses, or the empty bowls. This allows the user to arrange the food bowls and plates on the surface available as preferred, avoiding the messy and annoying stacks typical of the known food boxes, and making the user fully enjoy the meal. Indeed, the food box disclosed herein contains more food bowls and plates than a known food box with fixed tableware, glassware or seasonings holders realised folding dedicated die-cut cardboard pieces.

The back panel features at least one end panel serving as cup and bottle anti-spill holder. Said end panel comprises bases obtained in the back panel, a middle strip and an upper strip, linked together by folding lines. The upper edge of the upper strip features a flap. Said flap tucks into a dedicated slit in the middle panel. The middle strip features at least two openings to secure the bottom of glasses, bottles and tins. Each opening features a small strip to better secure the glass, bottle or tin.

The end panel is used if required only. Should it stay folded, said panel can be used to place one or more bowls or plates on it.

The end panel can be placed in the middle of the back panel or laterally to it, therefore making it easier to use the tray for both the right- and left-handed.

The back panel may also feature two end panels.

The catering staff receive the food box completely unfolded. They assemble it and place the food bowls and beverages in it. The folded and assembled food box is then closed to prevent food from external contamination, toppling or spilling.

The food boxes herein, once assembled and arranged in meal packs, can be stacked on top of each other, thus saving space.

The disposable model, realised using biodegradable materials, allows to cut the costs of tray handling and maintenance, as well as the energy costs for washing, sterilising and drying.

It is therefore extremely useful in case of very little space available or when the packaging area is quite far.

Brief description of drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of the preferred form of implementation of the food box, among the several available, as per in the attached drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the die-cut cardboard sheet used to build the food box disclosed herein; - Figure 2 shows a plan view of part of the aforementioned die-cut cardboard sheet;

- Figure 3 shows the elevation of the folded and closed food box;

- Figure 4 shows a first elevation of the food box with the back panel open;

- Figure 5 shows a second elevation of said food box with the back panel open; - Figure 6 shows partial view of the end panel when not raised.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, the food box described herein is realised using a die-cut cardboard sheet.

The food box comprises a lower panel 1 enclosed by a horizontal front edge 2 and a horizontal back edge 3, a first vertical lateral edge 4 and, opposite to it, a second vertical lateral edge 5, both placed between the front 2 and back 3 edges. The slits 6 are placed in the lower panel 1 along the front edge 2, with major axis parallel to the axis of the front edge 2.

The lower panel 1 continues frontally with a front panel 7 to which it is linked by a first horizontal fold-line 8, corresponding to the front edge 2 of the lower panel 1. The front panel 7 divides into a first front strip 9 and a second front strip 10. The first front strip 9, proximal to lower panel 1, starts from the first horizontal fold-line 8 and ends with a second horizontal fold-line 1 1. The second front strip 10 starts from the second horizontal fold-line 1 1 and ends with a second front edge 12 of the second front strip 10. The fold-lines 8 and 1 1 are horizontal and parallel to the front edge 2 of the lower panel 1. Also the front edge 12 of the second front strip 10 is essentially horizontal and parallel to the front edge 2 of the lower panel 1, though featuring also some flaps 13.

The lower panel 1 features a strip 14 on a first side, to which it is linked by a first vertical fold-line 15 corresponding to its first lateral edge 4. The lower panel 1 features a slit 16 along its first lateral edge 4, with major axis parallel to the axis of the first lateral edge 4. The lower part of strip 14 is tapered. Strip 14 features an upper end 17 and a lower end 18. The two ends 17, 18 of strip 14 are linked to said strip by a third horizontal fold-line 19 and a fourth horizontal fold-line 20 respectively. The ends 17, 18 of the strip 14 are detached from the lower panel 1. Similarly, the lower panel 1 features, on a second side, a strip 21 to which it is linked by a second vertical fold-line 22 corresponding to its second lateral edge 5. The lower panel 1 features also a slit 23 along its second lateral edge 5, with major axis parallel to the axis of the latter. The lower part of strip 21 is tapered. Strip 21 features an upper end 24 and a lower end 25. Both ends 24, 25 of strip 21 are linked to said strip by a fifth horizontal fold-line 26 and a sixth horizontal fold-line 27. Both ends 24, 25 of strip 21 are detached from the lower panel 1.

The lower panel 1 continues with a back strip 28 to which it is linked by a seventh horizontal fold-line 29 corresponding to its back edge 3.

The front panel 7, the two lateral strips 14, 21 and the back strip 28 form the perimetral backing edges of the lower panel 1.

The back strip 28 continues on the upper part with a middle panel 30 to which it is linked by an eighth horizontal fold-line 31, corresponding to the upper edge of said strip 28. The middle panel 30 features a strip 32 on a first side, to which it is linked by a third vertical fold-line 33, corresponding to the lateral edge of the middle panel 30. Strip 32 features a lateral flap 34. Similarly, the middle panel 30 features a strip 35 on a second side, to which is linked by a fourth vertical fold-line 36 corresponding to the second lateral edge of the middle panel 30. Strip 36 features a lateral flap 37.

The middle panel 30 continues on the upper part with an upper panel 38 to which it is linked by a ninth horizontal fold-line 39, corresponding to the upper edge of the middle panel 30.

A slot 40 is created in the middle panel 30, near the horizontal fold-line 39, placed between the middle panel 30 and the upper panel 38. Inside the aforementioned slot 40 there is a flap 41 with a dedicated opening 42.

The upper panel 38 features a strip 43 on a first side, to which it is linked by a fifth vertical fold-line 44, corresponding to a first lateral edge of the upper panel 38. The strip 43 is tapered, rounded and features an upper flap 45. Said flap is linked to strip 43 by a tenth horizontal fold-line 46. Similarly, the upper panel 38 features on a second side a strip 47 to which it is linked by a sixth vertical fold-line 48, corresponding to the second lateral edge of the upper panel 38. The strip 47 is tapered and rounded in its lower part. It also features an upper flap 49. Said flap is linked to strip 47 by an eleventh horizontal fold-line 50.

The upper panel 38 continues on the upper part with a back panel 51 to which it is linked by a twelfth horizontal fold-line 52, corresponding to the upper edge of the upper panel 38.

The back panel 51 and the two lateral strips 43, 47 form the perimetral backing edges of the upper panel 38.

Between the upper panel 38 and the back panel 51 two slits 53 are cut open, with the major axis parallel to the upper edge of the upper panel 38.

The back panel 51 is divided into a first upper strip 54 and a second upper strip 55. The first upper strip 54, proximal to the upper panel 38, starts from the twelfth horizontal fold-line 52 and ends with a thirteenth horizontal fold-line 56. The second upper strip 55 starts from the thirteenth horizontal fold-line 56 and ends with an upper edge 57. The horizontal fold lines 52, 56 and the upper edge 57 of the second upper strip 55 are parallel to the upper edge of the upper panel 38.

The upper flap 45 of the strip 43 of the upper panel 38 is detached from the first upper strip 54. Similarly, the upper flap 49 of strip 47 of the upper panel 38 is detached from the first upper strip 54.

The second upper strip 55 is purposely shaped. In particular, said second upper strip features four vertical cuts 58, 59, 60, 61. The first lateral edge of the second upper strip 55 and a first vertical cut-line 58 delimit a first lateral piece 62. The second lateral edge of the upper strip 55 and a fourth vertical cut-line 61 delimit a second lateral piece 63. The two lateral pieces 62, 63 feature two flaps 64, 65 on the upper part.

The second vertical cut-line 59 and the third vertical cut-line 60 delimit a central piece 66 which features a flap 67 on the upper part.

The lateral pieces 62, 63 and the central piece 66 of the second upper strip 55 are not contiguous. Between each lateral piece 62, 63 and the central piece 66 there are the bases 68 of an end panel 69. Referring to Figure 2, said end panel 69 comprises the aforementioned bases 68, a middle strip 70 and an upper strip 71.

The bases 68 of the end panel 69 are delimited by the thirteenth horizontal fold-line 56 in their lower part and by a fourteenth horizontal fold-line 72 in their upper part. The middle strip 70 is delimited by the fourteenth horizontal fold-line 72 in its lower part, and by a fifteenth horizontal fold-line 73 in its upper part. The upper strip 71 is delimited by the fifteenth horizontal fold-line 73 in its lower part, and in its upper part by an edge 74 featuring a flap 75.

The middle strip 70 features two essentially round openings 76. Said openings 76 are the result of a partial removal of the surfaces: indeed, each opening features a strip 77 folding towards the inside thereof. The strip 77 of the upper opening 76 rotates, pivoting on the fifteenth horizontal fold-line 73. The strip 77 of the lower opening 76 rotates, pivoting on the sixteenth horizontal fold-line 78.

The lower panel 1, the middle panel 30 and the upper panel 38 are rectangular. The middle panel 30 is wider than the lower panel 1 ; the upper panel 38 is less wide than the middle panel 30, but it is wider than the lower the panel 1.

Upon assembly, the two lateral strips 17, 21 of the lower panel 1 are raised perpendicularly to the lower panel 1 along the first and the second vertical fold-lines 15, 22. Both the lower ends 18, 25 of the two lateral strips 14, 21 are folded along the fourth and sixth horizontal fold-lines 20, 27.

The second front strip 10 of the front panel 7 is folded over the first front strip 9, along the second horizontal fold line 11. Both strips are then folded perpendicularly to the lower panel 1 along the first horizontal fold-line 8, so that the two lower ends 18, 25 of the two lateral strips 14, 21 are folded inwards, between the two front strips 9, 10.

The flaps 13 on the front edge 12 of the second front strip 10 are to be tucked into the two lateral slits 6 on the front edge 2 of the lower panel 1, thus blocking also the two lateral strips 14, 21 and the front strips 9, 10.

The two upper ends 17, 24 of the two lateral strips 14, 21 are folded along the third and the fifth horizontal fold-lines, towards the inside of the lower panel 1. The back strip 28 rotates 90° towards the lower panel 1 pivoting on the seventh horizontal fold line 29. The two lower ends 18, 25 and the upper ends 17, 24 of the two lateral strips 14, 21, perpendicularly folded towards the inside of the lower panel 1, back and bolster the corners. According to the aforementioned procedure, the first lower tray featuring perimetral backing edges is folded into shape.

Then, the middle panel 30 rotates 90° towards the lower panel 1 pivoting on the eighth horizontal fold-line 31. The two lateral strips 32, 35 are folded along the third and the fourth vertical fold-lines 33, 36 and the lateral flaps 34, 37 are tucked into the slits 16, 23 along the lateral edges 4, 5 of the lower panel 1.

The lateral strips 43, 47 of the upper panel 38 are perpendicularly folded towards the upper panel 38 along the fifth and the sixth vertical fold-lines 44, 48. Both the upper flaps 45, 49 of the lateral strips 43, 47 are perpendicularly folded along the tenth and eleventh horizontal fold-lines 46, 50. The two lateral pieces 62, 63 of the second upper strip 55 of the back panel 51 are folded towards the first upper strip 54 along the thirteenth horizontal fold-line 56 so that the upper flaps 45, 49 of the lateral strips 43, 47 are blocked by the two lateral pieces 62, 63. The second and the first upper strips 55, 54 rotate 90° towards the upper panel 38 pivoting on the twelfth horizontal fold-line 52. The flaps 64, 65 of the two lateral pieces 62, 63 are tucked into the slits 53 between the upper panel 38 and the back panel 51, thus blocking together the two lateral strips 43, 47 and the upper strips 55, 54. The two upper flaps 45, 49 back and bolster the corners.

Finally, the upper panel 38 rotates 90° pivoting on the ninth horizontal fold-line 39 until it faces the lower panel 1. The flap 67 of the central piece 66 of the second upper strip 55 tucks into the central slit 6 on the lower panel 1, thus closing the folded-up box. It therefore stands clear that the middle panel 30 and the upper panel 38 constitute the lid of the box.

The box thus assembled is ready to use. It can be used with either all or just some of the food bowls and tableware inside. Upon usage, pull the flap 67 of the central piece 66 of the second upper strip 55 out of the central slit 6 to open the box.

The upper panel 38 rotates 180° pivoting on the ninth horizontal fold-line 39 until it overlaps to and lays on the middle panel 30. Therefore a second tray, resulting from the upper panel 38 lying on the middle panel 30, is made available to the user.

The end panel 69 can remain flat on the upper panel 38, thus allowing the user to place the tableware and the food on it. Should the user want to temporary secure the glassware or cans, seasonings, sauces or else, it is possible to lift it up in an arched shape.

More in detail, the end panel 69 rotates pivoting on the fourteenth horizontal fold- line 72 and its upper strip 71 rotates pivoting on the fifteenth horizontal fold-line 73 until it stands perpendicular to the upper panel 38. Then its flap 75 is tucked into the dedicated opening 42 of the flap 41. This way the end panel 69 bends into a sort of bridge above the upper panel 38 and blocks the middle/lower part of glasses, cans, seasoning boxes and so on.

The food box as per above can be further modified without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, all the components can be replaced with technically-equivalent ones.

Among the possible variations, it is worth mentioning the variant wherein the end panel 69 is not placed centrally with respect to the upper panel 38, as shown in the drawings, but laterally. In this case the bases 68 of the end panel 69 border the first lateral piece 62 or the second lateral piece 63 of the second upper strip 55, thus making it easier for the right- or the left-handed to use the food box.

Among the said variants, it is to be mentioned the variant according to which the bases 68 of a first end panel 69 border the first lateral piece 62, and the bases 68 of a second end panel 69 border the second lateral piece 63 of the upper strip 55. It is therefore possible to place on the tray several glasses, cups or bottles at the same time.