FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to food packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cardboard food container for carrying a pizza or other food items, the container being configured to prevent or at least minimize tampering of food contained therein.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Pizza and other take away foods are commonly packaged and sold in cardboard containers or cartons, referred to as pizza boxes, having a base and an openable lid or cover. Pizza boxes are typically formed by folding a single sheet of cardboard which is scored and slit at appropriate locations such that it can be folded up to form a square base panel, four wall panels standing upright therefrom and a lid hinged to an upper edge of one of the wall panels. Usually the lid includes flaps extending from the three edges of a cover panel, other than the rear edge with the hinge connection, such that the lid may be pivoted about its hinged connection to the rear wall panel to close a rectangular space within the container and pivoted open to gain access to the contents of the pizza box. The flaps of the lid are usually arranged to fit inside the three wall panels when the pizza box is in its closed disposition. The wall panel at the front of the pizza box is usually folded over to provide twice the thickness compared to the other wall panels.

[0003] Home delivery of take away foods such a pizza is a growing market. As with all food delivery services, there is a need for the customer to be confident that there food has not been damaged or tampered with in the delivery process. Traditionally, pizza boxes have provided no visual indication to the end customer as to whether their pizza box has been opened and the contents disturbed prior to delivery. If a pizza box were for example accidently dropped with the contents falling onto the ground, a delivery driver could in theory place the pizza back in the box and continue with the delivery. The receiving end customer may not be able to tell from the box that it had been dropped and the contents contaminated. The rise of highly contagious viruses such as COVID-19 has also heightened customer anxiety about the risk of contamination and potential tampering of food.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide a pizza box which prevents unauthorized opening of the box by someone other than the consumer, and when tampered with enables the consumer to visually recognize the same.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tamper evident food container made from a foldable sheet material, including a base portion and a lid portion attached to the base portion. The container further includes a locking tab associated with one of the base and lid portions and a slot associated with the other of the base and lid portions. The locking tab is insertable into the slot to retain the container in a closed position. The container further includes a release assembly for enabling release of the locking tab. The release assembly includes a frangible line of weakness for facilitating tearing of the release assembly. The frangible line of weakness divides the release assembly into sections which separate upon tearing of the line of weakness to expose the locking tab for release and opening of the container. [0007] The frangible line of weakness preferably extends across a mid-region of the release assembly to divide the release assembly into two generally equally sized sections.

[0008] Preferably, one end of the frangible line of weakness terminates at the slot, and an opposite end of the frangible line of weakness terminates at a cut line defining a peripheral edge of a flap door. The flap door enabling a person to insert at least a portion of a finger into the container and engage an underside of the release assembly and thereby facilitate tearing of said line of weakness.

[0009] The locking tab is preferably formed in a wall panel of the base portion and the slot is formed in the lid portion.

[0010] The lid portion preferably includes a cover panel and one or more flaps connected to the cover panel foldable downwardly about a fold line. The slot may be formed generally where the cover panel and a front flap of the lid portion intersect.

[0011] The release assembly can be formed in the cover panel and each section of the release assembly preferably remains connected with the cover panel upon tearing of the line of weakness.

[0012] Each section of the release assembly may include a crease line about which said sections of the release assembly remain connected with the cover panel. The crease line permits the sections of the release assembly to be hinged with respect to the cover panel upon tearing of the line of weakness. In this regard, crease lines are preferably positioned such that the sections open outwardly from the middle like a double-leaf door upon tearing of the line of weakness. [0013] One end of each crease line may terminate at or near the slot, and an opposite end of each crease line may terminate at a perforated line defining an edge portion of each section, said edge portion separating from the cover panel upon tearing of the perforated line. Tearing of the perforated line may be facilitated by engagement of the underside of the release assembly by a finger of said person with tearing occurring simultaneously with tearing of said frangible line of weakness.

[0014] The slot may include a bottom edge which is part of a foldable lip member formed in the front flap of the lid portion. The foldable lip member is preferably configured to fold inwardly into the container by entry of the locking tab into the slot. The foldable lip member may have a width defined by a pair of spaced apart cut lines in the front flap with the width of the lip member being preferably less than the slot.

[0015] The locking tab preferably includes a first tab portion having a side wing at each side of a centrally located main body section. The side wings are preferably configured to fold backwards during entry of the locking tab into the slot. Each side wing may be defined by a partial cut line which is orientated substantially perpendicular an upper edge of the front wall panel, and a horizontally orientated cut aligned parallel to the upper edge of the front wall panel. Further, the main body section of the first tab portion preferably has a width substantially the same as the width of the lip member. The locking tab may further include a second tab portion having a pair of rear edges configured to engage behind the front flap.

[0016] In a preferred form, the tamper evident food container is a pizza box.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tamper evident food container made from a foldable sheet material, including a base portion and a lid portion hingedly attached to the base portion, the lid portion and base portion overlapping one another in a closed configuration, the lid portion being swingably moveable away from the base portion to define an open configuration, the container further including a locking tab associated with one of the base and lid portions and a slot associated with the other of the base and lid portions, the locking tab being insertable into the slot to retain the lid portion in the closed configuration, and a release assembly for enabling release of the locking tab, the release assembly including a frangible line of weakness for facilitating tearing of the release assembly, the frangible line of weakness dividing the release assembly into sections which separate from one another upon tearing of the line of weakness to expose the locking tab for release.

[0018] Benefits and advantages of a container according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following figures in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a tamper evident food container according to an embodiment of the invention in a partially-open position;

[0021] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the tamper evident food container of Figure 1 in a closed position;

[0022] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the tamper evident food container of Figure 1 in a closed, locked position;

[0023] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the tamper evident food container of Figure 1 in a closed, released position; [0024] Figure 5 is a plan view of a flat blank from which the tamper evident food container shown in Figure 1 is constructed,

[0025] Figure 6 is partial view of the front of the tamper evident food container shown in Figure 1 with the lid in a partially-open position, and

[0026] Figure 7 is a partial view of the locking tab of the food container shown in Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Whilst the tamper evident food container of the present invention is suitable for a wide variety of foods, the container is particularly well-suited for pizza. The following preferred embodiments of the invention relate specifically to a container for pizza and as such, a container used for this purpose is referred to as a "pizza box".

[0028] With reference to Figure 1 , there is shown a tamper evident food container which is preferably in the form of a pizza box (1) constructed from corrugated cardboard, more specifically, a flat cardboard blank (3) as illustrated in Figure 5. The blank (3) is foldable into the shape of the pizza box (1) illustrated in Figure 1. The pizza box (1) includes a base portion (5) and a lid portion (7) which is hingedly attached to the base portion (5). The lid portion (7) and base portion (5) preferably overlap one another in a closed configuration as shown in Figure 2. The pizza box (1) further includes a locking tab (9) associated with one of the base and lid portions (5, 7) and a slot (11) associated with the other of the base and lid portions (5, 7). In the preferred form of the pizza box (1), the locking tab (9) is associated with the base portion (5) and the slot (11) is associated with the lid portion (7). The locking tab (9) is insertable into the slot (11) to retain the pizza box (1) in a closed position as shown in Figure 3. The pizza box (1) further includes a release assembly (13) for enabling release of the locking tab (9) such that the pizza box (1) can be opened to access the contents. The release assembly (13) includes a frangible line of weakness (15) for facilitating tearing of the release assembly (13). The frangible line of weakness (15) divides the release assembly (13) into multiple sections which separate upon tearing of the line of weakness (15) to expose the locking tab (9) for release and subsequent opening of the pizza box (1).

[0029] The frangible line of weakness (15) preferably includes a series of perforations which extend across a mid-region of the release assembly (13) in a straight line to divide the release assembly (13) into two generally equally sized first and second sections (17, 19). However, in other embodiments, multiple frangible lines of weakness may be provided across the release assembly (13) to divide the release assembly (13) into three or more sections of equal or nonequal size.

[0030] The pizza box (1) is formed by folding the cardboard flat blank (3) illustrated in Figure 5, which is scored and slit at the appropriate locations such that it can be folded to create the pizza box (1). The base portion (5) includes a generally square base panel (21) and four wall panels (23) standing upright therefrom with the lid portion (7) being hinged to the upper edge of one of the wall panels (23). The lid portion (7) includes a generally square cover panel (25) and flaps (27) extending from three edges of the cover panel (25). A rear edge of the cover panel (25) has a hinge connection to a rear wall panel (23) such that the lid portion (7) may be pivoted about its hinge connection to open and gain access to the contents of the pizza box (1). The flaps (27) of the lid portion (7) are typically arranged to fit inside the three wall panels (23) when the pizza box (1) is in its closed configuration. The wall panel (23) at the front of the pizza box (1) is typically folded over to provide double thickness compared to the other wall panels (23).

[0031] As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking tab (9) is formed in the front wall panel (23) of the base portion (5). The locking tab (9) includes a first tab portion (29) hinged to the front wall panel (23) about a locking tab crease line (31). The locking tab (9) further includes a second/end tab portion (33) which is hinged at a proximal end to a distal end of the first tab portion (29) about a dividing crease line (35) which divides the locking tab (9) into said two tab portions (29, 33). The second tab portion (33) is insertable into the slot (11) to retain the lid portion (7) in a closed position relative to the base portion (5). The first tab portion (29) includes side wings (37) at either side of a centrally located main body section. The side wings (37) are defined by partial cuts lines (39) orientated substantially perpendicular to the locking tab crease line (31), and horizontally orientated cuts (41) arranged parallel to an upper edge (38) of the front wall panel (23). The side wings (37) provide the locking tab (9) with additional flexibility and manoeuvrability such that the second tab portion (33) can be more easily folded about dividing crease line (35) and positioned to be forcefully pushed through the slot (11) when securing the lid portion (7). The side wings (37) are also configured to fold back towards one another when the locking tab (9) is inserted into the slot (11).

[0032] As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the frangible line of weakness (15) terminates at the slot (11) with an opposite end of the frangible line of weakness (15) terminating at a cut line (43) defining a peripheral edge of a flap door (45). The flap door (45) is formed in the cover panel (25) and configured to be pushed downwardly to enable a finger to be inserted into the pizza box (1) and engage an underside of the first and second sections (17, 19) of the release assembly (13). By pushing upwardly on the underside a user is able to break the line of weakness (15) such that the first and second sections (17, 19) can separate and open outwardly.

[0033] Each section (17, 19) of the release assembly (13) remains connected with the cover panel (25) upon tearing of the line of weakness (15). In this regard, both the first and second sections (17, 19) of the release assembly (13) include a crease line (47) about which each section (17, 19) is able to hinge and remain connected to the cover panel (25). The crease lines (47) are positioned such that the first and second sections (17, 19) open outwardly from the middle like a double-leaf door upon tearing of the centrally located line of weakness (15). The crease lines (47) about which the first and second sections (17, 19) are hinged are angled at approximately 45 degrees relative to a front edge (49) of the cover panel (25). The crease lines (47) terminate at opposite ends of the slot (11) which is generally formed in the front edge (49) of the lid portion (7). An opposite end of each crease line (47) terminates at an arcuate perforated line (51) which defines an edge portion of each section (17, 19). The arcuate perforated lines (51) terminate at opposing ends of the flap door (45). The edge portion of each first and second sections (17, 19) defined by the perforated lines (51) separate from the cover panel (25) upon tearing of the perforated lines (51). In this regard, tearing of the perforated lines (51) is facilitated by engagement of the underside of the release assembly (13) with one or more fingers of a user. Tearing preferably occurs generally simultaneously with tearing of said centrally located frangible line of weakness (15) between the two sections (17, 19). A user can open both sections (17, 19) simultaneously by positioning one finger directly underneath the centrally located line of weakness (15). Alternatively, each section (17, 19) can be opened individually by engaging a finger underneath the free edge of the desired section (17, 19) provided by the cut line (43) bordering the flap door (45).

[0034] With reference to Figure 6, the slot (11) is formed generally where the cover panel (25) and front flap (27) of the lid portion intersect. A bottom edge of the slot (11) is preferably curved slightly and is at least in part defined by a free end of a foldable lip member (28) formed in the front flap (27) of the lid portion. The lip member is defined by a pair of spaced apart cut lines in the front flap which provide each side of the lip member (28) with a curved edge (30) which enables the lip member (28) to fold inwardly into the container when the locking tab (9) is inserted into the slot (11). The distance between the curved edges (30) defines the width of the lip member (28) which is less than the width of the slot (11). As best illustrated in Figure 7, each side wing (37) has an upper free edge which is generally aligned with the upper edge (38) of the front wall panel (23). The first tab portion (29) of the locking tab (9) at the dividing crease line (35) between the two side wings (37) has a width (excluding the side wings) which is generally the same as the width of the lip member (28) in the front flap (27). Further, the side wings (37) are able to fold back towards one another upon entry of the locking tab (9) into the slot (11). The locking tab (9) is thereby able to be inserted more deeply into the slot (11) with the locking tab (9) folding down the lip member (28) and rear edges (40) of the second tab portion (33) hooking in behind the front flap (27) at either side of the lip member (28).

[0035] In use, pizza or other food is placed on the base panel (21) within the pizza box (1). The lid portion (7) of the pizza box (1) is then closed such that the lid portion (7) and base portion (5) overlap one another as illustrated in Figure 2. The second tab portion (33) of the locking tab (9) is then forced through the slot (11) with the locking tab (9) being inserted as far as possible until the first tab portion (29) abuts with or closely aligns with the front flap (27) of the lid portion (7). The pizza box (1) is then locked in a closed configuration as illustrated in Figure 3 with the pizza contained within the box (1) secured. In this position, the second/end tab portion (33) lies generally horizontally in close alignment with the underside of the release assembly (13). Accordingly, the second/end tab portion (33) advantageously does not interfere in use with the pizza contained in the box (1) as it is above and out of the way of the pizza toppings. Depending upon the extent to which the locking tab (11) is pushed when locking the pizza box (1), the two side wings (37) of the locking tab (9) may fold backwards slightly upon abutment with the front flap (27). In addition, the locking tab (9) may fold down the lip member (28) as the width of the centrally located main body section of the first tab portion (29) is about the same of that of the lip member (28). Accordingly, the main body section can squeeze into the gap created in the front flap (27) when the lip member (28) is folded in by the locking tab (9). Further, if the locking tab (9) is forced sufficiently into the slot (11), the rear edges (40) of the second tab portion (33) will preferably hook in behind the front flap (27) at either side of the lip member (28). [0036] With the pizza box (1) in a secured closed position as illustrated in Figure 3, the lid portion (7) is prevented from opening as the locking tab (9) is not able to be pulled out of the slot (11) without physically damaging the pizza box (1). The pizza box (1) can be opened by depressing the flap door (45) and inserting one or more fingers underneath the release assembly (13) and lifting upwardly and generally forwardly to tear the line of weakness (15) and perforations (51), thereby separating the first and second sections (17, 19) such that they can each be folded upwardly and back about crease lines (47) to provide access to the locking tab (9), as illustrated in Figure 4. With the first and second sections (17, 19) folded back, the lid portion (7) is free to be lifted upwardly with the locking tab (9) moving out of the path of the lid portion (7). As the first and second sections (17, 19) are designed to remain attached to the pizza box (1), there is no additional waste created when the box (1) is discarded following use.

[0037] As the pizza box (1) needs to be physically damaged in order to open, a consumer is easily able to identify if their pizza box (1) has been tampered with or opened prior to taking delivery.