Improvements in or relating to food carriers

Abstract

A food carrier comprising two or more vertically stacked shelves and an enclosure wherein the enclosure comprises an outer wall, an inner wall, and a closure wall such that each shelf has a triangular shape; wherein outer wall, the inner wall, and closure wall each form a cover flap and a handle for the food carrier; wherein the cover flaps are interlocking cover flaps which include an upper cover flap having a slot and two or more lower cover flaps; wherein at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle; and wherein the upper cover flap forms a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles; and a template for forming a food carrier according to the invention wherein the template comprises a template sheet and two or more shelves wherein the template sheet forms an outer wall, an inner wall, and a closure wall such that each shelf has a triangular shape wherein the outer wall, inner wall, and closure wall each form a cover flap and a handle for the food carrier; wherein the cover flaps are interlocking cover flaps which include an upper cover flap having a slot and two or more lower cover flaps; wherein at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle; and wherein the upper cover flap forms a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a food carrier and to a template for forming the food carrier.

[0002] Carriers are typically used for the protection of food when it is being carried in transit. Typically, food carriers are formed from cardboard. When the food item has a wide diameter such as about 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 inches) or more, the food carrier typically has a wider width of about 32 to 40 cm which can make it hard to manoeuvre the food carrier through crowds, up a stairwell, through doorways, along corridors and typically requires the use of both hands without which the food would be carried at an angle with the risk that it is spilt or its presentation deteriorates. An issue with carrying a food carrier with both hands is that the person carrying it cannot then access or hold personal items such as a key, phone, wallet, travel pass etc and cannot use a spare hand to hold on to a guardrail, banister, or grab pole.

[0003] A way of ameliorating these problems has been sought.

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a food carrier comprising two or more vertically stacked shelves in an enclosure formed by an outer wall, an inner wall, and a closure wall such that each shelf has a triangular shape; wherein the outer wall, inner wall, and closure wall each form a cover flap and a handle for the food carrier; and wherein the cover flaps are interlocking cover flaps which include an upper cover flap having a slot and two or more lower cover flaps; wherein at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle; and wherein the upper cover flap forms a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles.

[0005] According to the invention there is also provided a template for forming a food carrier according to the invention wherein the template comprises a template sheet and two or more shelves for arranging vertically when the food carrier is in use wherein the template sheet forms an outer wall, an inner wall, and a closure wall such that each shelf has a triangular shape wherein the outer wall, inner wall, and closure wall each form a cover flap and a handle for the food carrier; and wherein the cover flaps are interlocking cover flaps which include an upper cover flap having a slot and two or more lower cover flaps; wherein at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle; and wherein the upper cover flap forms a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles.

[0006] Advantages of the invention include that it provides a compact food carrier which is suitable for easy transport of food items without spillage or deterioration of their presentation. This is because the vertically stacked shelf supports allow the food to be carried in pieces in a vertical arrangement such that the food carrier is sufficiently narrow to be carried horizontally through a doorway, along a corridor, or up / down a stairwell, and does not require the use of both hands to carry it without spilling or deterioration of its contents. As the food carrier can be carried by one hand, it allows the person who is carrying the food carrier to access personal items such as a key, phone, wallet, travel pass etc or to hold on to a guardrail, banister, or grab pole without losing control of the food carrier. The interlocking cover flaps help to increase the structural integrity of the container once it has been assembled and filled with food.

[0007] On assembly of the food carrier, the cover flaps interlock by the cover handle(s) of one or more of the cover flaps being threaded through the slot(s) of the other one or more cover flaps. In some embodiments, where there are more than two lower cover flaps, at least one (e.g. at least two) of the lower cover flaps may form a cover handle and at least one of the lower cover flaps may form a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles.

[0008] In some embodiments, where the food carrier has one inner wall, the food carrier has two lower cover flaps wherein one lower cover flap may form a handle and the other lower cover flap may form a slot; or wherein the two cover flaps each form a handle. In some embodiments, where the food carrier has one inner wall, the two lower cover flaps each form a handle.

[0009] The walls of the carrier form an upper aperture which is covered by the upper and lower cover flaps. In some embodiments, the cover flaps may comprise an upper cover flap has a triangular shape where the number of sides of the polygonal shape is equal to the total number of walls of the carrier (in other words, the sum of the number of inner walls plus the outer wall plus the closure wall). In some embodiments, the upper cover flap is shaped to provide a cover to the upper aperture. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the upper cover flap and lower cover flaps overlap to provide a cover to the upper aperture.

[0010] In some embodiments, each shelf of the food carrier has a shape which corresponds with the shape of the upper aperture. In some embodiments, each shelf of the food carrier has a polygonal shape where the number of sides of the polygonal shape is equal to the total number of walls of the carrier (in other words, the sum of the number of inner walls plus the outer wall plus the closure wall). In some embodiments, where each shelf of the food carrier has a triangular shape, the inner angle of the shelf between the inner and outer walls may be about 90° such that the shelf is quadrant shaped. Advantages of a quadrant shaped shelf include that each shelf may accommodate about a quarter of a circular-shaped food article (e.g. a pizza or a cake) such that a food carrier having four shelves could accommodate the whole of such a food article or a food carrier with eight shelves could accommodate two such food articles.

[0011] In some embodiments, each shelf may be attached directly to the shelf-support walls (which are the inner wall and the outer wall). In some embodiments, each shelf may be mounted on a shelf support on at least two of the shelf-support walls. Advantages of mounting each shelf on a shelf support include that the shelf may be removable such that it may be used as a disposable support for consuming food. In some embodiments, where there are four or more shelf-support walls, each shelf may be attached to two opposed shelf-support walls or mounted on shelf supports on two opposed shelf-support walls.

[0012] In some embodiments, the inner and outer walls of the food carrier may each provide a shelf support for each shelf. In some embodiments, each shelf-support wall of the food carrier may provide a shelf support for each shelf. In some embodiments, the food carrier and / or the template may include from two to eight shelf supports for each inner and outer wall and two to eight shelves. For example, the food carrier and / or the template may include three, four, five, or six shelf supports for each shelf-support wall and three, four, five, or six shelves, respectively.

[0013] In some embodiments, the shelves may be removable. In some embodiments, each shelf may have a tab for engaging with each shelf support and each shelf support may form a slot for receiving the tab. In some embodiments, each shelf support may be in the form of a strip of material which is adhered to the wall at each end such that a slot is formed. Advantages of a removable shelf include that a removable shelf could be used as a food support (e.g. a plate or a bowl) while the food is being consumed. For example, when the food carrier is used in the purchase of fast food at an outdoor event, a removable shelf would allow a person to take the food support out when opening the carrier. This would minimise a problem that their hands would become burned or greasy from touching the food directly.

[0014] In some embodiments, the food carrier and / or the template may be formed from a disposable material. In some embodiments, the food carrier and / or the template may be formed from a biodegradable material such as cardboard. Advantages of the food carrier and / or the template being formed from a disposable and / or biodegradable material (for example cardboard) include that it is more environmentally friendly overall.

[0015] In some embodiments, the two or more shelf supports are arranged vertically on the inner wall and on the outer wall when the food carrier is in use.

[0016] In some embodiments, the closure wall is hinged to one outermost edge of the inner wall and the outer wall is hinged to the other opposed outermost edge of the inner wall. In some embodiments, the outer wall and closure wall form interlocking side tabs for forming the enclosure. In some embodiments, the interlocking side tabs may comprise a side tab which forms a side tab slot on one of the outer wall and the closure wall and an interlocking side tab on the other of the outer wall and the closure wall. In some embodiments, one or more interlocking side tabs may have side tab ears such that its length is longer than the side tab slot.

[0017] The walls of the carrier form a lower aperture. In some embodiments, one of the walls of the carrier and / or the template may provide a base flap which is shaped to cover the lower aperture formed by the inner wall, outer wall, and closure wall. In some embodiments, one of the inner wall, outer wall, and closure wall may form the base flap. In some embodiments, where one of the inner wall, outer wall, and closure wall may form a base flap which forms a plurality of base flap slots, the other inner wall, outer wall, and closure wall each form an interlocking base tab for engaging a base flap slot. In some embodiments, one or more interlocking base tabs may have side tab ears such that its length is longer than the base flap slot. In some embodiments, the base flap forms a storage space. Advantages the storage space provided by the base flap include that it may provide a space for receiving one or more accessories such as one or more condiments, cutlery, and / or napkins.

[0018] In some embodiments, the closure wall may comprise a transparent panel to allow the contents of the carrier to be viewed. In some embodiments, the closure wall may include a U-shaped tearable strip around the periphery of three sides of the closure wall to allow easy access to the contents of the food carrier.

[0019] The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a template according to the invention for forming a food carrier according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a template according to the invention with removable shelves;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a shelf template for use with the template according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of an open food carrier according to the invention; and

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a closed food carrier according to the invention.

[0025] A template according to the invention for use in forming a food carrier 16,18 according to the invention is indicated generally at 10 on FIG. 1. Template 10 comprises a template sheet which is indicated generally at 20, eight shelf supports 40, and four shelves indicated generally at 14 on FIG. 3. Template sheet 20 comprises a plurality of portions and apertures such that it may be assembled to form a food carrier 16,18 with the shelves 14.

[0026] Template sheet 20 forms foldable portions which include an inner wall 22, an outer wall 24, a closure wall 26, a base indicated generally at 28, and a cover indicated generally at 30 such that the template 10 forms a food carrier having a triangular cross-section. The walls 22,24,26 have the same height and the same width.

[0027] The inner wall 22 comprises a lower cover flap 32 and a base flap 41. Base flap 41 is shaped to provide a closure for the lower aperture 55 formed by the inner wall 22, outer wall 24, and closure wall 26. Lower cover flap 32 forms a slot 62 and has a cover handle 36 which forms a slot 66. Base flap 41 forms two base tabs 54 which each form a base tab slot 56 for receiving interlocking base tabs 48,52. Four shelf supports 40 are attached (e.g. by gluing) to the inner wall 22. Each shelf support 40 provides a slot 42 for receiving a shelf tab 70. The shelf supports 40 are arranged in series such that in use they are stacked vertically.

[0028] Outer wall 24 comprises a lower cover flap 34, a side tab 44, and an interlocking base tab 48. Lower cover flap 34 forms a slot 64 and has a cover handle 38 which forms a slot 68. Side tab 44 forms a slot 46 which is shaped to receive interlocking side tab 50. Interlocking base tab 48 is shaped for insertion into base tab slot 56. Interlocking base tab 48 has a base tab ear 47A,47B at each end such that the interlocking base tab 48 is longer than base tab slot 56 such that an interlock is formed between the interlocking base tab 48 and the base tab slot 56 when the interlocking base tab 48 is inserted into the base tab slot 56. Four shelf supports 40 are attached (e.g. by gluing) to the outer wall 24. Each shelf support 40 provides a slot 42 for receiving a shelf tab 70. The shelf supports 40 are arranged in series such that in use they are stacked vertically.

[0029] Closure wall 26 comprises an upper cover flap 49, an interlocking side tab 50, and an interlocking base tab 52. Upper cover flap 49 is shaped to provide a closure for the upper aperture 57 formed by the inner wall 22, outer wall 24, and closure wall 26. Upper cover flap 49 forms a slot 60 for receiving the cover handles 36,38 and has two tabs 58 for insertion into slots 66,68. Interlocking side tab 50 has a side tab ear 51A,51B at each end such that the interlocking side tab 50 is longer than side tab slot 46 such that an interlock is formed between the interlocking side tab 50 and the side tab slot 46 when the interlocking side tab 50 is inserted into the side tab slot 46. Interlocking base tab 52 is shaped for insertion into base tab slot 56. Interlocking base tab 52 has a base tab ear 53A,53B at each end such that the interlocking base tab 52 is longer than base tab slot 56 such that an interlock is formed between the interlocking base tab 52 and the base tab slot 56 when the interlocking base tab 52 is inserted into the base tab slot 56.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the closure wall 26 may have a transparent panel such that food items on the shelves 14 may be viewed such that the assembled closed food carrier 18 may be used as a food display. In an alternative embodiment, the closure wall 26 may include a U-shaped tearable strip around the periphery of three sides of the closure wall 26 to create a flap to allow easy access to the contents of the food carrier.

[0031] The outer wall 24 and closure wall 26 may be secured to each other by interlocking side tabs 44,50 which interlock by means of slot 46.

[0032] The cover 30 is formed from the closure wall upper cover flap 49, inner wall lower cover flap 32, and outer wall lower cover flap 34. The cover flaps 49,32,34 interlock by means of the insertion of cover handles 36,38 into cover slot 60 and the insertion of cover flap tabs 58 into cover flap slots 62,64.

[0033] The base 28 is formed from base flap 41 which is secured to closure wall 26 and outer wall 24 by means of the insertion of interlocking base tabs 52,48 into slots 56 on the base flap tabs 54.

[0034] A removable shelf for use in the invention is indicated generally at 14 on FIG. 3. Removable shelf 14 has a food support 15 having a triangular shape and has a tab 70 on two of its sides. Food support 15 may act as a plate when removed from the food carrier 16. In an alternative embodiment, food support 15 may be in the form of a different receptacle such as a bowl.

[0035] The first step of assembling the food carrier comprises the insertion of one tab 70 of each of the four shelves 14 into the shelf support slots 42 of the shelf supports 40 of either of the inner wall 22 or outer wall 24. FIG. 2 illustrates the step of the insertion of one tab 70 of each of the four shelves 14 into the shelf support slot 42 of each of the shelf supports 40 of the outer wall 24 to form a template with shelves indicated generally at 12.

[0036] The second step of assembling the food carrier comprises the insertion of the other tab 70 of each of the four shelves 14 into the shelf support slots 42 of the shelf supports 40 of the other of the inner wall 22 or outer wall 24. FIG. 3 illustrates the step of the insertion of the other tab 70 of each of the four shelves 14 into the shelf support slots 42 of shelf supports 40 of the inner wall 22. The second step further comprises the assembly of the base 28 by the insertion of interlocking base tab 48 into one of the slots 56 on a base flap tab 54 to form a partially assembled or open carrier indicated generally at 16 on FIG. 4, having an inner wall 22, an outer wall 24, a closure wall 26, a base 28, a cover 30, and shelves 14.

[0037] The open carrier 16 includes a plurality of shelves 14 having an inner angle of about 90°which is where the inner wall 22 and outer wall 24 meet such that each shelf 14 has a quadrant shape. A quadrant shaped shelf 14 is suitable for receiving about a quarter of a circular food article such as a cake or a pizza. As the assembled food carrier 18 has four shelves, it can carry a whole circular food article cut into slices. In an alternative embodiment, the food carrier 16,18 may have eight shelves such that two circular food articles may be carried in that way. In an alternative embodiment, the internal angle of the shelf may be greater or less than 90° and the number of shelves may be different from four or eight such as the food carrier 16,18 may be used to carry food articles of different shapes.

[0038] The third step of assembling the food carrier comprises placing items of food on shelves 14, closing closure wall by the insertion of interlocking side tab 50 into slot 46 to form an upper aperture 57. Base 28 is assembled by the insertion of interlocking base tab 52 into the other slot 56 on a base flap tab 54. The upper aperture 57 is protected by cover 30 which is assembled by the insertion of cover handles 36,38 into cover slot 60 and by the insertion of cover flap tabs 58 into cover flap slots 62,64 to form the assembled food carrier indicated generally at 18 on FIG. 5.

Claims

1. A food carrier comprising two or more vertically stacked shelves and an enclosure wherein the enclosure comprises an outer wall, an inner wall, and a closure wall such that each shelf has a triangular shape; wherein the outer wall, inner wall, and closure wall each form a cover flap and a handle for the food carrier; wherein the cover flaps are interlocking cover flaps which include an upper cover flap having a slot and two or more lower cover flaps; wherein at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle; and wherein the upper cover flap forms a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles.

2. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein where there are more than two lower cover flaps, at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle and at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a slot for receiving the cover handle(s).

3. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover flaps comprise an upper cover flap which has a triangular shape where the number of sides of the polygonal shape is equal to the total number of walls of the carrier.

4. The food carrier as defined claim 1 wherein the upper cover flap is shaped to provide a cover to an upper aperture or wherein the upper cover flap and lower cover flaps overlap to provide a cover to the upper aperture wherein the upper aperture is formed by the inner wall, the outer wall, and the closure wall.

5. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the outer and inner walls of the food carrier provides a shelf support for each shelf.

6. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the food carrier includes from two to eight shelf supports for each inner and outer wall and two to eight shelves.

7. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the two or more shelf supports are arranged vertically on the inner wall and on the outer wall when the food carrier is in use.

8. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner wall, outer wall, or closure wall forms a base flap which is shaped to provide a closure for a lower aperture of the carrier to protect the lowest shelf of the carrier.

9. The food carrier as defined in claim 8 wherein the base flap forms a plurality of base flap slots and the other inner wall, outer wall, and closure wall each form an interlocking base tab for engaging a base flap slot.

10. The food carrier as defined in claim 9 wherein one or more interlocking base tabs have side tab ears such that its length is longer than the base flap slot.

11. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer wall and closure wall form interlocking side tabs for forming the enclosure.

12. The food carrier as defined in claim 11 wherein the interlocking side tabs comprise a side tab which forms a side tab slot on one of the outer wall and the closure wall and an interlocking side tab on the other of the outer wall and the closure wall.

13. The food carrier as defined in claim 12 wherein the interlocking side tab has side tab ears such that its length is longer than the side tab slot.

14. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure wall comprises a transparent panel to allow the contents of the carrier to be viewed.

15. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure wall comprises a U-shaped tearable strip around the periphery of three sides of the closure wall to allow easy access to the contents of the food carrier.

16. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the two or more shelves are removable.

17. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner wall and outer wall each have a shelf support and each shelf has a tab for engaging with each shelf support wherein each shelf support forms a slot for receiving the tab.

18. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 which is formed from a disposable and / or biodegradable material.

19. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the food carrier is formed from cardboard.

20. The food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the angle between the inner and outer walls is about 90° such that the shelf has a quadrant shape.

21. A template for forming the food carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the template comprises a template sheet and two or more shelves wherein the template sheet forms an outer wall, an inner wall, and a closure wall such that each shelf has a triangular shape wherein the outer wall, inner wall, and closure wall each form a cover flap and a handle for the food carrier; wherein the cover flaps are interlocking cover flaps which include an upper cover flap having a slot and two or more lower cover flaps; wherein at least one of the lower cover flaps forms a cover handle; and wherein the upper cover flap forms a slot for receiving the one or more cover handles.

22. The template as defined in claim 21 which comprises two or more shelf supports for each inner wall and outer wall of the template sheet.

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