FR3119611A1 - Food transport box to hold an accessory such as a condiment pod - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a food box (1), for example a pizza box, comprising panels constituting at least a bottom (10), side panels (20) and a lid (30), at least one of the panels having at least locally a double-walled structure (60) obtained from a folding of two elementary walls (61) one against the other around a folding axis (A) extending along a slice (62) of the double-walled structure (60), the edge (62) comprising a holding slot (70) extending along an axis (A') parallel to the folding axis (A) and configured to receive an accessory (2 ) such as a condiment pod so that the food box (1) is able to hold the accessory (2) through the holding slot (70) in a holding position. (Fig.4)

Description

Food transport box to hold an accessory such as a condiment pod

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of food boxes such as boxes configured to ensure the transport of culinary preparations.

The invention finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of prepared meals such as that of take-out or delivery pizzas, but, more generally, it can be applicable to other culinary preparations such as fresh products. fragile, usually thin, such as pies or pastry products.

State of the prior art

Food boxes such as flat boxes for pizzas are already known. They are made up of a rectangular bottom, side panels and a hinged lid making it possible to form a homogeneous closed box.

It is also to propose to its user, to accompany the prepared dish with at least one accessory such as a pod of condiment. Such a condiment may for example be a spicy oil to accompany a pizza.

Generally, during the delivery of a pizza, it is not uncommon to place several pods, in the crack of the food box, by sliding the pod(s) into the gap between the lid and the one of the side panels. Such a gap easily measures more than 5 mm so that it is not sufficient to firmly hold a single pod. A common practice to overcome this problem is to place several pods in the gap so that if one of them falls, the consumer can always hope to have a pod available.

Furthermore, to prevent the pods from escaping from the food box, a known practice is to take several pods, to arrange them side by side to be pinched together in the gap of the food box, the pods being inserted between the cover and side panel. The thickness of the several pods taken together in the gap allows greater pinching pressure and therefore a better hold of the pods together.

Such practices generate significant waste because they involve always offering several pods of condiment per pizza, while in the majority of cases, either some pods are lost during transport, or they are simply thrown away because they are not used. Such waste can represent several hundred euros of losses per month for a restaurateur delivering pizzas, which is not acceptable. In addition, these pods cannot be placed in the food box so as not to risk being in direct contact with the pizza. There is therefore a real need to overcome these drawbacks.

The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing in particular a solution aimed at providing a food box that meets the requirements of practice better than those previously known, in particular in that it allows to offer a simple solution, making it possible to combine an accessory such as a condiment pod per food box without risking waste and causing little or no additional cost to manufacture. In addition, the solution must be easy to use to place the accessory.

To do this is proposed, according to one aspect of the invention, a food box, for example pizza box, comprising panels constituting at least a bottom, side panels and a lid, at least one of the panels having at least locally a double-walled structure obtained from a folding of two elementary walls one against the other around a folding axis extending along a slice of the double-walled structure, the slice comprising a holding slot s extending along an axis parallel to the folding axis and configured to receive an accessory such as a condiment pod so that the food box is able to hold the accessory through the holding slot in a holding position.

Thanks to such a combination of characteristics, such a holding slot ensures better holding of the accessory than a gap between the lid and a side panel of said food box and thus makes it possible to avoid the waste of accessories. Such a slot made directly in a slice of the box allows easy access for a consumer, as well as for a user who would like to place the accessory there. Such a double wall allows easy pinching of the accessory without depending on the open or closed position of the lid of the food box.

According to one embodiment, the holding slot passes through between an interior space delimited between the two elementary walls of the double-walled structure and the outside of the food box.

According to one embodiment, the food box comprises a means for blocking the elementary walls folded against each other. Such a blocking means is for example formed by at least one protruding tab formed by an extension of one of the elementary walls to be placed in an orifice provided for this purpose and thus block the two elementary walls folded against one another. 'other.

According to one embodiment, the holding slot is delimited by two side edges configured to pinch together the accessory in the holding slot, in a position for holding the accessory received in the holding slot. The holding slot thus contributes to the correct holding of the accessory caught in said slot.

According to one embodiment, the width of the retaining slot, taken between its two lateral edges is less than or equal to 3.5 mm, preferably less than or equal to 3 mm. In a particular alternative or complementary configuration, the holding slot can be elastically deformable between an equilibrium position having a minimum width and a position of maximum opening having a maximum width. In this case, the maximum width is less than or equal to 3.5 mm, preferably less than or equal to 3 mm. Such a configuration can be obtained by a slot created by a simple rectilinear main cutout, bounded at each of its ends by an oblique lateral cutout, preferably orthogonal to the main cutout, and whose length of said oblique lateral cutout corresponds to the width maximum of the desired slot opening.

According to one embodiment, the double-walled structure is configured so that the two elementary walls grip together at least part of the accessory, in a position for holding the accessory received in the holding slot. In such a configuration, the two elementary walls participate in maintaining the accessory caught in said slot.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the panels having a holding slot is one of the side panels of the food box, called the holding side panel, preferably a front side panel, located opposite a rear side panel connected to the cover by a hinge.

According to one embodiment, the edge delimits at least a portion of an upper edge of the side holding panel, opposite a lower edge of the side holding panel secured to the bottom of the food box.

According to one embodiment, the food box is formed from cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard. Such a design is particularly advantageous especially with regard to hot foods to be transported such as pizzas.

According to one embodiment, the food box is formed from a single piece. In the case where the lid is linked to one of the side panels by an articulation, this articulation can be made by folding the food box forming a hinge.

brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:
: a top view of a food box jig intended to form a pizza box according to one embodiment;
: a perspective view of a food packaging according to an embodiment of the invention, in an open position of the lid of the food box and of which the food box is formed from the template of the ;
: a top view of the food packaging of the , in a closed position of the lid of the food box;
: a top perspective view of the food packaging of the , in a closed position of the lid of the food box;
: a top view of an elastically deformable holding slot;
: a sectional view AA of the .

For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all the figures.

In the description and the claims, to clarify the description and the claims, the terminology longitudinal, transverse and vertical will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron X , Y , Z indicated in the figures. To facilitate the reading of the figures, it will be noted that the proportions are not all respected.

DETAILED description of an embodiment

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 , there is illustrated a food box 1 such as a pizza box, intended for transporting a pizza. In such a configuration, the food box 1 is particularly suitable for transporting a hot culinary preparation. In order to make the figures more readable, the culinary preparation such as the pizza is not illustrated in the figures.

The food box1has a generally parallelepipedic shape provided with a bottom10 horizontal, side panels20bordering the food box laterally1on its periphery and a cover30movable between a closed position of the food box1allowing the transport of the culinary preparation and an open position in which a user has access to its contents and can deposit in the box, or take, the culinary preparation. The dimensions of a food box1in the closed position can be varied, and can for example be chosen from the following dimensions (length/width/height): 26x26x4 cm, 29x29x4 cm, 31x31x4 cm, 33x33x4 cm, 34.5x34.5x4 cm, 40x40x4 cm, and 50x50x4 cm.

The lid 30 of the box is flat, and extends parallel to the bottom 10 of the food box 1 in the closed position. The height of the food box 1 , taken between the bottom 10 and the lid 30 of the food box 1 , is here relatively low compared to its length and its width, this for the transport of culinary preparations generally of thin thickness such as pizza, but possibly also applicable to pies or other pastry products.

The food box 1 is here formed of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard. The food box 1 is formed from a single piece. A template is first cut from a cardboard plate, then undergoes folding operations before forming a food box 1 . An example of a template is shown in the . Other operations may also be possible, such as creasing and/or pressing operations, in particular to facilitate subsequent folding.

The food box1 is laterally surrounded by four sides bounded by side panels2 1,22,23including a front side panel21, located opposite a rear side panel22. Front side panels21and back22are connected together by two other side panels23for together delimiting an interior space of the food box1, with bottom and lid30. Lid30is connected to the rear side panel22by a joint32formed by folding the food box1locally forming a hinge: this folding is completed by pre-cuts to facilitate folding along the pivot axisAT ₃₂ of the lid30.

To allow a user to be able to personalize the food box 1 , the flat cover is provided with a plurality of notches 40 each intended to receive one of the corners 51 of a sheet 50 such as a personalized poster, so as to maintain the sheet 50 against an outer surface 31 of the lid 30 of the food box 1 . In this way, the personalization sheet 50 is pressed against the outer surface 31 of the cover 30 while being held by the notches 40 through which the corners 51 of the sheet 50 engage. The notches 40 are formed by cutouts passing through the thickness of the cover 30 and through which one of the associated corners 51 of the sheet 50 is inserted into each of them.

These notches40are all straight here. Unlike non-rectilinear shapes, for example curved or angled, such rectilinear notches provide rigidity guaranteeing good retention of the corner51leaf associate50. This is particularly important in the context of packaging hot culinary preparations since the hot vapors released could tend to escape all the holes in the box, and in particular through these notches.40and cause the corners to slip51sheet50 until its withdrawal. Leaf50would then no longer be maintained correctly, which is not desirable. In the case of a notch40straight, each notch40provides a more rigid hold of the associated corner of the sheet50 .

Notches40are four in number and arranged so as to hold a sheet50centered on outer surface31of the lid30relative to its sides, each edge of the sheet50being parallel with a corresponding adjacent edge of the food box1 in a held position.

The food box 1 and the sheet 50 form an assembly referred to here as food packaging 100 , the corners 51 of the sheet thus being housed in the notches 40 of the flat cover 30 of the food box 1 , so that the sheet 50 is held against the outer surface 31 of the lid 30 of the food box 1 .

To ensure uniform support of each corner 51 of the sheet, the food packaging 100 is configured so that in a position for maintaining the sheet 50 against the outer surface 31 of the lid 30 of the food box 1 , each of the notches 30 receives a corner 51 associated among the corners 51 of the sheet 50 being oriented along an axis at 90° with respect to a bisector of an angle delimited by the corner 51 associated with the sheet 50 .

Furthermore, and to further limit the path of hot vapors through the notches40, said notches40are arranged on the cover to correspond to a predetermined size of the sheet50 so that each corner51of the sheet is received by coming into contact and abutting against the two ends40'of the notch40associated. Each notch40rectilinear forms a segment between two end points40', which receive in abutment each of the two edges of the sheet50 delimiting the corner51sheet50 associated. In this way, the openings are limited by the notches40in sheet holding position50, and therefore the flow of hot vapors through these orifices, this without harming the maintenance of the sheet50against the outer surface31of the lid30food box1.

Each corner 51 of the sheet penetrates through the notch 40 associated to come into an interior space of the food box 1 . Each corner 51 of the sheet 50 must be sufficiently engaged in the associated notch 40 to ensure good support but not too engaged to guarantee a useful space on the sheet 50 for the personalization which is maximum. Indeed, a large useful surface will allow more information to be displayed on said sheet 50 . Preference will be given to a food packaging 100 configured so that each corner 51 of the sheet 50 has a holding surface 510 , corresponding to a surface of the corner having passed through the associated notch 40 , which is substantially equivalent. In this way, the holding of the sheet is homogeneous and the holding forces are equitably distributed over the different corners 51 of the sheet 50 .

The notches 40 each have a length greater than or equal to 15 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 25 mm and/or less than or equal to 45 mm, preferably less than or equal to 35 mm, for example here equal to 30 mm. . Such a dimension of notch 40 makes it possible to guarantee receiving a surface 510 for holding the various corners 51 of the sheet 50 sufficient to hold it securely, even for a sheet 50 that is relatively flexible or thin.

The holding of the sheet 50 against the cover 30 and the ease with which the sheet 50 is put into place in the notches 40 may also depend on the flexibility of the sheet and on the thickness of the cover 30 of the food box 1 . For a conventional pizza box corrugated board thickness of approximately 1.60 mm, a sheet 50 having for example a basis weight of 300 g/m ² will be chosen. In this embodiment, the sheet 50 has a thickness of 0.15 mm. Preferably, a thickness of the sheet 50 greater than or equal to 2%, preferably greater than or equal to 5% and/or less than or equal to 30%, preferably less than or equal to 15% of a thickness of the lid will be chosen. 30 from food box 1 .

Despite the desire to limit the flow of hot vapors through the notches40so as not to interfere with the maintenance of the sheet50against the lid30, and even the integrity of the sheet50itself if the moisture-laden vapor wets the corners of the sheet50, other through holes for ventilation can be provided on the box1pizza. Indeed, it is necessary to minimize the openings of the food box1to maintain maximum heat inside said food box1, and therefore keep the food preparation warm, while guaranteeing a minimum ventilation to preserve a good quality of the pizza crust, in particular a crust that is not soggy.

These vents are configured so that their size is chosen to allow just enough steam to escape to prevent the pizza from becoming soggy, but not so much that food box 1 loses heat. Conveniently the vent area can be controlled by selecting the correct number of holes so that a one size punch will serve all box sizes.

As can be seen in particular on the , one of the food box panels1, in particular the front side panel21has a double-walled structure60obtained from a folding of two elementary walls61 , 61A, 61B moon61Bagainst each other61Aaround a bending axisATextending along a slice62of the double-walled structure60. The slice62from the front side panel21includes a holding slot70extending along an axisAT'parallel to the bending axisAT, these axes being combined in this example. The holding slot70is configured to, in particular here designed to receive an accessory2such as a condiment pod so that the food box1is able to hold the accessory2through the holding slot70in a position for holding said accessory2.

Such a holding slot70ensures better hold of the accessory2only a gap between the lid30and a side panel21of said food box1and thus avoid waste. Such a holding slot70performed directly in the slice62food box1allows easy access for a consumer, as well as for a user who would like to place the accessory there2 or recover it. Such a double wall60allows easy pinching of the accessory2 without depending on the open or closed position of the lid30food box2.

The side panel 21 which carries the holding slot 70 is at least one of the side panels 20 of the food box 1 , called the holding side panel. The edge 62 delimits at least a portion of an upper edge 201 of the side panel 20 for holding, opposite a lower edge 202 of this side panel 20 for holding secured to the bottom 10 of the food box 1 .

When the food box 1 is assembled, the two elementary walls 61 , 61A, 61B of the double-walled structure 60 are substantially joined together, even spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to a maximum width of the holding slot 70 , these two elementary walls 61 , 61A, 61B together delimiting, with the edge 62, an interior space 63 . The holding slot 70 crosses the upper edge 201 of the side panel 20 for holding leaving accessible from the outside the access to the interior space 63 of the double-walled structure 60 of the food box 1 to fix the accessory 2 there. .

To ensure that the two elementary walls61of the double-walled structure60remain well maintained61Bagainst each other61Aaround the bending axisATsaid food box1comprises a means for blocking the elementary walls61,61B,61Afolded against each other. From the bottom10food box1, the side panels20,21,22,23extend in the respective extensions of the four sides of its rectangular shape. On the side of the front side panel21in particular, the extension provided on the template successively corresponds to a proximal elementary wall61A intended to be oriented on the outside of the food box1once folded and assembled, the slice62, a distal elementary wall61 Bintended to be oriented on the inside of the food box1once folded by being folded inwards.

The blocking means of the elementary walls61,61B,61Afolded against each other is for example formed by at least one protruding tongue64, two in the figures (see ), formed by an extension of one of the elementary walls61B, in particular the distal elementary wall61 B, to be placed in an orifice provided for this purpose, in the bottom10food box1, adjacent to a base of the proximal elemental wall61A, and to thus block the two elementary walls61B,61Afolded against each other.

In this embodiment, the two protruding tabs64are each positioned in a hole formed by a pre-cut in the bottom1 0around the base of the proximal elementary wall61A. Preferably, this pre-cut is not rectilinear and has, for example, a slot or "U" shape, the ends of which are located on a fold line of the proximal elementary wall.61Awith the bottom10 .The slot or "U" shape thus makes it possible to delimit three of the sides of said associated hole and the fold line of the proximal elementary wall61Awith the bottom10 delimiting a fourth of the sides of said associated hole, said holes being substantially rectangular. When folding the food box1, the distal elementary wall61 Bfolds substantially against the inside of the proximal elementary wall61A while being separated from each other by the edge62. In this movement the outer edge of the distal elementary wall61 Bprovided with its protruding tabs64comes to the neighborhood above the bottom10food box1and protruding tabs64are housed in the adapted holes which have formed during the bending of the proximal elementary wall61A : the constituent material of the bottom10inside the pre-cut in "U" is indeed integral with the proximal elementary wall61A and pivots at the same time as it when folding to raise it generally vertically and below in relation to the bottom10.

The holding slot70is delimited by two side edges71configured to pinch the accessory together2in the holding slot70, in a position for holding the accessory2received in the holding slot70. In a complementary or alternative way, the double-walled structure60is configured so that the two elementary walls61enclose together at least a part of the accessory2, in a position for holding the accessory2received in the holding slot70. In this embodiment, the holding slot70has a length of 100 mm and a width, measured between its two side edges71, 3mm. Also, the accessory2 can have different sizes. For example, in the case of a pod, the dimensions can be 8 cm x 4 cm x 1 mm or even 9 cm x 2.8 cm x 3 mm (height/width/thickness).

It is preferably ensured that the width of the slice62forming the upper edge201from the side panel20 is substantially equal to the width of the holding slot70. The width of the holding slot70 is preferably chosen to be less than or equal to 3.5 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 3 mm. In this way, once the food box is assembled, the two elementary walls61,61B,61Afolded one against the other are generally vertical joined one against the other, even possibly with a slight space63 preferably less than a thickness of an accessory2, so as to be able to exert pressure on it and hold it in the holding slot70. Considering the width of the slice62forming the upper edge201from the side panel20, and the fact here that the blocking means of the elementary walls61,61B,61Afolded against each other formed by the two protruding tongues64and their associated orifices block the elementary walls61,61B,61A in contiguous ways at the level of the lower edge202of this side panel20holding it together with the bottom10, it follows that the interior space63 delimited between the two elementary walls61,61B,61Ahas a section of decreasing area with the distance from the upper edge201, down10. This decrease is advantageous in that the two elementary walls61,61B,61Aallow the accessory to be clamped together2 gradually as said accessory2is inserted into the interior space63 through the holding slot70.

Preferably, the holding slot70 is centered between the two elementary walls61B,61Aon the edge62forming the upper edge201from the side panel20, so that it is vertically aligned with this space63, between the two elementary walls61B,61A. In this way the accessory2is kept vertical which allows better support during transport.

The figures5AAnd5Billustrate an alternative holding slot70elastically deformable between a position of equilibrium having a minimal width, almost negligible (see in full lines on the ), and a maximum open position presenting a maximum width (see dashed lines on the ). In this case, the maximum width is less than or equal to 3.5 mm, preferably less than or equal to 3 mm. It generally corresponds to the width of the opening to allow the accessory to enter.2. Such a configuration can be obtained by a holding slot70created by a simple main cut72rectilinear, bounded at each of its ends by a lateral cutout74oblique, preferably orthogonal to the main cutout72. The length of said oblique lateral cut corresponds for example to the maximum width of the desired opening of the holding slot70. In this way, the holding slot70has two parts73A,73Beach delimited on one side by the main cutout72 extending along the axisAT'parallel to the bending axisATto form the two side edges71 and laterally by a part of each side cutout74. Shutters73A,73Bare articulated around folding axes75A,75Bthat extend between two ends75'Or75''two side cutouts74distinct and located on the same side of the main cutout72. Both side edges71 each carried by a of the shutters73A,73Bensure pinching of the accessory2to adapt to different sizes of accessories2. Preferably in this case, the slice62is dimensioned so that the bending axes75A,75B coincide with the folding axis of the proximal elementary wall61A with the slice62 and the bending axis of the distal elementary wall61 Bwith the slice62, respectively. The width of the slice62may also depend on the thickness of the corrugated cardboard so as to guarantee an opening less than or equal to 3.5 mm, preferably even less than or equal to 3 mm despite the hinge formed by the cardboard at the folding axes75A,75B.

A good accessory support 2 is thus obtained, such as a pungent oil pod, as can be seen in the figures. Thus, the pod is in a double wall 60 without any contact with the pizza, which is essential to meet the health standards imposed. In addition, the delivery person is no longer obliged to distribute a handful of 2 pods per pizza as is often the case, which will prevent waste and will make a very substantial saving for the restaurateur because a pizza can then include an accessory or a pod 2 .

Moreover, in such a configuration, the superposition of several food boxes1according to the invention is always allowed since the pod2is placed almost at the periphery of the food box1, up to an elementary wall thickness, which is negligible compared to the stacking heights of food boxes1 generally observed.

Such a food box1 according to the invention is simple and economical to manufacture. A method of making a food box1 as described above comprises at least one step of cutting out the notches40and/or the retaining slot70, produced by suitable cutting tools, preferably in masked time with respect to the manufacturing process of the food box1, that is to say at the same time as other existing cutting operations so that the implementation of this step does not cause an extension of the manufacturing time.

Naturally, the invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the person skilled in the art is able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the accessory retaining panel can be a different panel than the front panel. Furthermore, the double wall can be provided locally on the side panel so that only part of this side panel has a structure of the double wall type.

It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relation to other characteristics determined, both individually and in arbitrary combinations, can be combined with other characteristics or groups of characteristics disclosed here, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or invalid. sense.

Claims (10)

Food box (1), for example a pizza box, comprising panels constituting at least a bottom (10), side panels (20) and a lid (30), at least one of the panels having at least locally a double structure wall (60) obtained from a folding of two elementary walls (61) one against the other around a folding axis (A) extending along a slice (62) of the double-walled structure (60), the edge (62) comprising a holding slot (70) extending along an axis (A') parallel to the bending axis (A) and configured to receive an accessory (2) such as a condiment pod so that the food box (1) is able to hold the accessory (2) through the holding slot (70) in a holding position. Food box (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the retaining slot (70) passes through between an interior space (63) delimited between the two elementary walls (61) of the double-walled structure (60) and the exterior of the food box (1). Food box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a means of blocking the elementary walls (61) folded against each other. Food box (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding slot (70) is delimited by two lateral edges (71) configured to pinch the accessory (2) together in the holding (70), in a position for holding the accessory (2) received in the holding slot (70). Food box (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the width of the retaining slot (70), taken between its two lateral edges (71) is less than or equal to 3.5 mm, preferably less than or equal to 3 mm, the holding slot (70) preferably being elastically deformable between an equilibrium position having a minimum width and a position of maximum opening having a maximum width. Food box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the double-walled structure (60) is configured so that the two elementary walls (61) enclose together at least part of the accessory (2 ), in a position for holding the accessory (2) received in the holding slot (70). Food box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the panels having a retaining slot (70) is one of the side panels (20) of the food box (1), said panel retaining side, preferably a front side panel (21), located opposite a rear side panel (22) connected to the lid by a hinge (32). Food box (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the edge (62) delimits at least a portion of an upper edge (201) of the side retaining panel (20), opposite a lower edge (202) of the side panel (20) secured to the base (10) of the food box (1). Food box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed from cardboard, preferably from corrugated cardboard. Food box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed from a single piece.