Holder, board assembly for forming holder, and food box

Abstract

A holder, a board assembly for forming the holder, and a food box. The holder (10) comprises: a holder body (101) comprising a plurality of pieces distributed around the central axis of the holder; and at least one first hollowed-out portion (102) configured for having a container placed therein, wherein the at least one first hollowed-out portion is arranged in the axial direction of the holder body and transversely extends through the plurality of pieces in the axial direction. The holder and the food box can facilitate the takeaway and transportation of food, and features a stable, simple and ingenious structure and low costs.

Description

Support frame, plate assembly for forming the support frame, and food container Cross-references

[0001] This disclosure is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety by Chinese Patent Application No. 202423215893X, filed on December 24, 2024, entitled “Support, Plate Assembly for Forming Support and Food Box”. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of packaging container technology, and more specifically, to a support, a plate assembly for forming the support, and a food container. Background Technology

[0003] In the catering industry, food presentation and serving is a crucial task for catering businesses and / or catering professionals. Convenient, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective food presentation and serving packaging containers are essential for the catering industry.

[0004] However, on the one hand, existing food trays / containers are only suitable for restaurant use. They are generally unsuitable for takeout and delivery of food (such as fries and chicken nuggets), lacking flexibility and adaptability. On the other hand, some existing food containers use metal supports, which are not only non-foldable, hindering storage and transportation, but also more expensive. Furthermore, existing containers often employ a single-layer structure, allowing only one layer of contents to be placed at a time, leading to repetitive work and offering poor aesthetics and flexibility. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a support is provided, comprising: a support body including a plurality of pieces distributed around a central axis of the support; and at least one first hollow portion for placing a container, wherein the at least one first hollow portion is disposed along the axial direction of the support body, and the at least one first hollow portion extends transversely through the plurality of pieces in the axial direction.

[0006] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a plate assembly for forming a support as described above is provided. The plate assembly includes a plurality of plates, each plate including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being foldably connected relative to a central axis of the plate, at least one of the first portion and the second portion forming one of a plurality of portions of the support.

[0007] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a food box is provided, comprising: at least one container for holding food; and a support as described above, wherein the at least one container is respectively mounted on at least one first open portion of the support.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the design of multiple segments allows the bracket to stably support at least one container. With the help of the food box including the bracket, users can more conveniently take / deliver food and avoid spillage. According to the plate assembly and corresponding bracket of this disclosure, the design of multiple segments distributed around the central axis facilitates the folding, disassembly, and assembly of the bracket. This foldable design facilitates the transportation and storage of the bracket, helping to reduce manufacturing and storage / transportation costs. Furthermore, multiple first hollow sections are provided along the axial direction of the bracket body, enabling multi-layer placement and / or display of food by placing multiple containers within them. This improves the convenience of food delivery, take-out, or transfer, avoiding repetitive work. In addition, the multi-layer design of the bracket and food box provided by this disclosure effectively utilizes space, with a simple and ingenious structure. It is not only easy to clean but also gives the bracket a simple and beautiful appearance, adapting to the needs of various occasions, such as catering delivery / take-out occasions or display scenarios where multiple foods need to be moved or displayed simultaneously.

[0009] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The accompanying drawings exemplify embodiments and form part of the specification, serving to explain exemplary implementations of the embodiments together with the textual description. The illustrated embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the claims. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to similar but not necessarily identical elements. In the drawings:

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the bracket in Figure 1 from another angle;

[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing another angle of the bracket in Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 4 is an enlarged partial schematic diagram showing part A of the support in Figure 3;

[0015] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a board assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 6 is an enlarged partial schematic diagram showing part B of the plate assembly in Figure 5.

[0017] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0018] 10 brackets;

[0019] The support body is 101, the first part is 1011, the second part is 1012, and the third part is 1013;

[0020] First hollow section 102, slot 1021;

[0021] First limiting structure 103, first limiting member 1031, second limiting member 1032, first buckle hole 1033;

[0022] Head 104, first section 1041, second section 1042, third section 1043, chamfer 1044;

[0023] Second hollow section 104.

[0024] Board assembly 20, board 200;

[0025] Part 1 201, Part 2 202, Bottom edge 203;

[0026] Third hollow section 204, fourth hollow section 205;

[0027] Limiting component 206, buckle hole 207. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, including various details of the embodiments to aid understanding, and should be considered merely exemplary. Therefore, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Similarly, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following description.

[0029] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, the use of terms such as "first," "second," etc., to describe various elements is not intended to limit the positional, temporal, or importance relationships of these elements; such terms are merely used to distinguish one element from another. In some examples, the first element and the second element may refer to the same instance of the element, while in other cases, based on the context, they may refer to different instances. In some examples, "connection" may include both "direct connection" and "indirect connection."

[0030] In this disclosure, "vertical direction" is generally parallel to the direction of gravity, and "horizontal direction" is perpendicular to "vertical direction". The terminology used in the description of the various examples described in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise, an element may be one or more unless the number of elements is specifically limited. Furthermore, the term "and / or" as used in this disclosure covers any one of the listed items and all possible combinations thereof.

[0031] On the one hand, existing food trays / containers are only suitable for restaurant use; such containers are generally unsuitable for takeout or delivery of food (e.g., fries, chicken nuggets), lacking flexibility and adaptability. On the other hand, some existing food containers use metal supports, which are not only non-foldable, hindering storage and transportation, but also more expensive. Furthermore, existing containers often employ a single-layer structure, allowing only one layer of contents to be placed at a time, leading to repetitive work and poor aesthetics and flexibility. To address these issues, this disclosure provides a support, comprising: a support body including multiple segments distributed around its central axis; and at least one first hollow portion for holding a container, wherein the at least one first hollow portion is arranged along the axial direction of the support body and extends transversely through the multiple segments. The design of the multiple segments allows the support to stably support at least one container. With the help of a food container containing the aforementioned support, users can more conveniently takeout / deliver food, preventing spillage.

[0032] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the bracket in Figure 1 from another angle; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the bracket in Figure 1 from yet another angle; Figure 4 is an enlarged partial schematic diagram showing part A of the bracket in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a plate assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is an enlarged partial schematic diagram showing part B of the plate assembly in Figure 5.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the support 10 provided in this disclosure includes: a support body 101, the support body 101 including a plurality of pieces distributed around the central axis of the support 10; and at least one first hollow portion 102, the at least one first hollow portion 102 being used to place a container, wherein the at least one first hollow portion 102 is arranged along the axial direction of the support body 101, and the at least one first hollow portion 102 extends transversely through the plurality of pieces in the axial direction.

[0035] Within the scope of this disclosure, "container" can refer to a box, bucket, plate, bowl, or other container of suitable size used to hold food or dishes. In some embodiments, the number of multiple pieces is 3 to 5. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, exemplarily, the support body 101 includes 3 pieces and has 2 first cutouts 102 that extend laterally through the pieces.

[0036] Furthermore, it is understood that the size of at least one first cutout portion 102 in this disclosure can be adapted to the size of the container it is placed in. In some examples, the sizes of the plurality of first cutout portions 102 can vary depending on the size of the container they are placed in. For example, the support 10 may include a slightly larger first cutout portion for holding food such as fries or chicken nuggets, and a slightly smaller first cutout portion for holding side dishes, sauces, or other auxiliary food items to accompany the corresponding meal. In some examples, the plurality of first cutout portions 102 are the same size, and the containers they are placed in are also the same size.

[0037] In some examples, multiple pieces can be distributed at equal angles around the central axis of the support 10, such as dividing it into three, four, or five equal parts, corresponding to three, four, or five pieces respectively. It is understood that within the scope of this disclosure, the number of pieces can be appropriate to stably place a container for holding food or other items, and the specific number of pieces is not particularly limited in this disclosure. When the support 10 of this disclosure is standing, multiple pieces (e.g., the first piece 1011, the second piece 1012, and the third piece 1013) can serve as supports for the support body 101 of the support 10 to maintain the stable standing of the support 10.

[0038] The bracket provided in this disclosure features a multi-piece design that allows it to stably support at least one container, facilitating food transport, particularly beneficial for takeout and delivery. Using a food container incorporating this bracket, users can more easily take out / deliver food, preventing spills. Furthermore, the bracket enhances overall stability when standing, and the first open section along the axial direction of the bracket body allows for multi-layer placement and / or display of food, improving convenience during takeout, delivery, or transfer and avoiding repetitive tasks. The multi-layer design of the bracket and food container provided in this disclosure effectively utilizes space, with a simple and ingenious structure. It is not only easy to clean but also gives the bracket a minimalist and aesthetically pleasing appearance, adapting to various needs, such as being particularly suitable for food delivery / takeout scenarios or display situations requiring the simultaneous transport or display of multiple foods.

[0039] Referring to FIG4, in some embodiments, the bracket 10 includes a first limiting structure 103, and the first limiting structure 103 includes: a first limiting member 1031, a second limiting member 1032, and a first buckle hole 1033.

[0040] The first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 are respectively disposed on the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012 of the plurality of pieces, and the first fastening hole 1033 is disposed on the third piece 1013 of the plurality of pieces. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012 are adjacent to the third piece 1013. The heads of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 respectively pass through the first fastening hole 1033 and cooperate with each other, so that the third piece 1013 is fixed relative to the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012. The aforementioned "mutual cooperation" can refer to the head of the first limiting member 1031, the head of the second limiting member 1032, and the first buckle hole 1033 abutting against each other to maintain fixation, or the head of the first limiting member 1031 and the head of the second limiting member 1032 respectively cooperating with the first buckle hole 1033 in pairs to maintain fixation. For example, two slots are provided in the buckle hole, and the head of the first limiting member 1031 and the head of the second limiting member 1032 respectively cooperate with the two slots of the first buckle hole 1033 to maintain fixation.

[0041] In some examples, the third part 1013 may be located between the first part 1011 and the second part 1012.

[0042] The first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 can be foldably connected and respectively disposed in the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012. For example, the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 may include a material with a certain elasticity (such as paper) and can be foldably connected to the appropriate position of the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012 so that the operator or other user can conveniently pass the heads of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 through the first buckle hole 1033 by folding or other operations.

[0043] In some examples, the heads (e.g., head 104) of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 may protrude slightly relative to the bodies of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 to facilitate insertion and passage through the opening of the first snap hole 1033.

[0044] By engaging the first limiting member and the second limiting member on the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012 with the first fastening hole 1033 on the third piece, the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 effectively lock the relative position of the third piece with respect to the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012 through the first fastening hole 1033. This effectively maintains the fixed relative position between the third piece 1013 and the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012, preventing unnecessary angular swinging or loosening between the three pieces.

[0045] The first limiting structure of the bracket provided in this disclosure can effectively prevent loosening between the various parts of the bracket, ensuring that the multiple parts of the bracket remain stable during use, thereby improving the support stability and load-bearing capacity. For example, especially when containers are placed in multiple first hollow sections, this limiting structure prevents the bracket from deforming or shaking, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity and safety of use.

[0046] In some embodiments, the heads of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 respectively include: a first segment 1041 and a second segment 1042.

[0047] Referring to Figure 6, as will be described below, the limiting member 206 may be used to form the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 of the bracket 10. For clarity and simplicity of view, the features of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 are described here by way of example only with reference to Figure 6.

[0048] As shown in Figure 6, the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042 are set at an inclined angle relative to the central axis of the bracket 10. When the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 pass through the first buckle hole 1033, the corresponding first segment 1041 of the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 abuts against the third piece 1013, so that the third piece 1013 remains fixed relative to the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012. The corresponding second segment 1042 of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 pass through the first buckle hole 1033, so that the first limiting member 1031 presses against the second limiting member 1032, or the second limiting member 1032 presses against the first limiting member 1031.

[0049] Because the first section 1041 and the second section 1042 have an inclined angle design, the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 can pass through the first buckle hole 1033 more easily during installation, avoiding problems such as size deviation and structural interference that may occur in traditional designs. This design makes the assembly of the bracket simpler and more reliable, and improves the consistency and quality stability of the product.

[0050] In an embodiment where, for example, the support 10 has three segments, the first segment 1041 and / or the second segment 1042 are tilted at an angle of 30° to 40° relative to the central axis of the support 10. In an embodiment where, for example, the support 10 has four segments (not shown in the figures), the first segment 1041 and / or the second segment 1042 are tilted at an angle of 0° to 10° relative to the central axis of the support 10.

[0051] It should be understood that, in this disclosure, the first segment 1041 and / or the second segment 1042 can have any suitable tilt angle relative to the central axis of the bracket 10 to facilitate the insertion of the corresponding limiting member into the opening of the first buckle hole 1033. The lengths of the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042 of the limiting member are designed to match the interval angle between two adjacent pieces and the position and size of the buckle of the first buckle hole 1033 into which the limiting member is to be inserted, so that the limiting member can be inserted into the opening of the first buckle hole 1033. Under this premise, the lengths of the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042 can be close, for example, the length of the first segment 1041 is slightly greater than the length of the second segment 1042, or the length of the second segment 1042 is slightly greater than the length of the first segment 1041. In addition, the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042 can be parallel or substantially parallel to each other.

[0052] The first segment 1041 of each of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 abuts against the third piece 1013, tightly clamping the third piece 1013 between them, thus enhancing the fixing effect of the third piece 1013 relative to the first piece 1011 and the second piece 1012. Furthermore, the second segment 1042 of each of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 passes through the first buckle hole 1033, so that the first limiting member 1031 presses against the second limiting member 1032 (or the second limiting member 1032 presses against the first limiting member 1031). This physical action ensures a tight fit between the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032, making the first limiting structure 103 more robust during use and preventing loosening between the pieces of the bracket 10. The close fit between the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 also helps to prevent structural loosening due to external forces (such as the weight of the food and / or dishes contained in the container) or prolonged use, as well as undesirable swaying of the multiple pieces relative to the central axis of the support 10, thus enhancing the overall stability of the support.

[0053] In some embodiments, the head further includes a third segment. For example, in the examples shown in Figures 4 and 6, the head 104 further includes a third segment 1043. When the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 pass through the first fastening hole 1033, the corresponding third segment of the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 abuts against the inner edge of the first fastening hole 1033 to prevent the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 from disengaging from the first fastening hole 1033.

[0054] In some examples, the length of the third segment 1043 may be less than that of the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042. And in some examples, the third segment 1043 may be positioned between the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042 to connect them. It is understood that the third segment may have a larger tilt angle relative to the central axis of the support 10 than the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042; for example, the third segment may be a straight segment perpendicular to the central axis of the support 10.

[0055] During the process of the corresponding second section 1042 of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 passing through the first buckle hole, the corresponding third section can provide the space required for the two limiting members to cross through the first buckle hole 1033 and press against each other (for example, the first limiting member 1031 can press against the second limiting member 1032), so as to avoid undesirable structural interference when the head of the limiting member passes through the first buckle hole 1033. Furthermore, by abutting against the inner edge of the first buckle hole 1033, the design of the third section 1043 allows the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 to be firmly abutted against the first buckle hole 1033, preventing the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 from slipping off, reducing the loosening space between the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 and the first buckle hole, further improving the reliability of the bracket and its stability in long-term use, especially suitable for occasions where it is necessary to bear the heavy load of items (such as food or dishes contained in containers) for a long time.

[0056] Referring to Figure 4, the relative position between the pieces can be further fixed by abutting the upper edge of the first buckle hole 1033 in the third section, preventing the bracket structure from loosening or deforming due to long-term use.

[0057] In some embodiments, the heads of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 each include a chamfer 1044. The chamfer 1044 may be, for example, a notch at the tip of the respective head of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032. In some examples, the chamfer 1044 is, for example, a notch formed by a material removal manufacturing process. The chamfer 1044 facilitates the insertion of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 into the first snap hole 1033.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first buckle hole 1033 is fan-shaped, and the central axis of the fan shape is inclined to the axial direction of the bracket body 101.

[0059] The fan-shaped first buckle hole 1033 makes it easier for the head 104 of the limiting member to be aligned and enter the buckle hole, thereby facilitating the passage of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 through the first buckle hole to fix the third piece 1013.

[0060] This design reduces the difficulty of alignment during installation and significantly improves assembly efficiency.

[0061] For example, as shown in Figure 4, the larger arc edge of the first snap hole 1033 with a fan shape (i.e., the position of the larger opening of the first snap hole 1033) can facilitate the insertion of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032. Furthermore, by the third section of the limiting member abutting against the smaller arc edge of the fan shape (i.e., the position of the smaller opening of the first snap hole 1033), the limiting member can be firmly abutted against the first snap hole 1033 to prevent slippage, as described above.

[0062] Furthermore, the fan-shaped design, inclined to the central axis of the support body 101, allows the heads 104 of the first and second limiting members, which have a certain degree of elasticity, to naturally spring back along the arc edge of the fan shape to cooperate with each other, eliminating the need for excessive manual adjustment and simplifying the assembly process. For example, in an embodiment where the heads of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 have a third section 1043, the third section 1043 can abut against the shorter arc edge of the first buckle hole 1033 to reduce the possibility of the first limiting member 1031 and / or the second limiting member 1032 detaching from the first buckle hole 1033 on their own, thereby increasing the stability of the support structure.

[0063] Unlike the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, in some embodiments, a second limiting structure is provided between two adjacent pieces of the plurality of pieces. The second limiting structure includes: a third limiting member disposed on the first piece of the two adjacent pieces, and a second fastening hole disposed on the second piece of the two adjacent pieces. The head of the third limiting member passes through the second fastening hole from one side of the second piece and abuts against the other side of the second piece, so that the second piece remains fixed relative to the first piece.

[0064] In the above embodiments, the third limiting member may have the same or similar features as the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032, and the second buckle hole may have the same or similar features as the first buckle hole 1033, which will not be described in detail here. It is understood that the third limiting member and the second buckle hole can also achieve the third limiting member passing through the second opening in other suitable ways. For example, the third limiting member and the second buckle hole can be implemented as other common locking methods such as buckles and buckles, which are not limited in this disclosure.

[0065] The design of having the head of the third limiting member pass through the second locking hole and abut against the other side of the second piece creates a direct mechanical lock between adjacent pieces, preventing relative movement between them. Thus, the bracket 10 can secure multiple pieces of the entire bracket 10 using multiple third limiting members corresponding to the number of pieces, effectively reducing loosening or displacement of the pieces of the bracket 10 during use due to vibration or load changes, and improving the overall structural stability during use.

[0066] In some examples, such as when the support body 101 has three, four, five or more pieces, the multiple pieces can be engaged in a manner as described in the embodiments above by means of a third limiting member and a second snap hole between each two adjacent pieces to keep the multiple pieces as a whole fixed.

[0067] In some embodiments, the bracket 10 includes a positioning member disposed above the bracket body 101, the positioning member including a plurality of grooves corresponding to a plurality of pieces. It is understood that the engagement relationship between the positioning member and the plurality of pieces can be such that the plurality of pieces can be respectively engaged into the corresponding plurality of grooves of the positioning member. By providing the positioning member above the bracket body, the relative positions of the plurality of piece brackets of the bracket body 101 can be kept fixed, which helps to improve the overall structural stability of the bracket 10. In some examples, the positioning member can be an integrally formed accessory separately disposed relative to the bracket body 101. In some cases, the positioning member may include materials such as plastic to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0068] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the support 10 further includes a second cutout portion 104. The second cutout portion 104 is disposed above at least one first cutout portion 102. Within the scope of this disclosure, "above" can refer to the upward direction along the central axis of the support 10 when the support is standing.

[0069] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the second hollow portion 104 extends transversely through multiple pieces in the axial direction of the support body 101. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 are configured to be foldably connected to the bottom of the second hollow portion 104. With the heads of the first limiting member 1031 and the second limiting member 1032 respectively passing through the first buckle hole 1033 and engaging with each other, the second hollow portion 104 and its periphery respectively form the handle opening and handle of the support 10.

[0070] The second hollow portion 104 can form a handle opening that runs horizontally through the main body of the bracket, making it easy for users to grip and providing a comfortable user experience. In some examples, the size of the second hollow portion 104 can be different from the size of the first hollow portion 102; for example, the size of the second hollow portion 104 can be smaller than the size of the first hollow portion 102.

[0071] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the outer edge of the container bottom includes a protrusion, and at least one first cutout 102 includes a slot 1021 for receiving the protrusion. As shown in Figure 2, the first cutout 102 may have a slot 1021 at each piece of the support body 101. The slot 1021 may engage with the protrusion on the outer edge of the container bottom. The slot 1021 can accommodate the protrusion at the bottom of the container, so that the weight of the container and the contents contained in the container is evenly distributed among the multiple pieces of the support body 100 to maintain the stability of the container when placed on the support 10.

[0072] The slot 1021 allows the container to be securely placed on the support, effectively preventing the container from falling off the support 10 due to external forces (such as accidental collisions or movement), thus improving the bottom stability of the container when placed on the support 10 and the practicality and adaptability of the support 10.

[0073] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a plate assembly 20 for forming a support, the plate assembly 20 including a plurality of plates 200. As shown in FIG5, the plate assembly 20 includes two plates 200.

[0074] Referring to Figure 5, the plate 200 includes a first portion 201 and a second portion 202, and the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 are foldably connected relative to the central axis of the plate 200. At least one of the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 forms one of a plurality of portions of the support 10.

[0075] The plate assembly design allows multiple sections of the bracket to be formed through a simple folding operation, avoiding the complex assembly process of multiple independent components required in traditional bracket structures. Unified production and processing of the plates reduces mold development and complex assembly steps, lowering manufacturing costs and improving production efficiency.

[0076] Within the scope of this disclosure, the plate 200 includes two states: a "folded state" and an "unfolded state." When the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 are folded relative to the central axis of the plate 200, thereby bringing the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 into contact, the plate 200 is in a "folded state." When the plate 200 is not in a "folded state," it is in an "unfolded state." It is understood that the specific unfolding angle of the plate 200 in its unfolded state is not limited. Depending on the number of pieces of the support 10 formed by the plate assembly 20, the unfolding angles of the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 of the plate 200 after the support 10 is formed can vary. For example, when the support 10 has three pieces (e.g., the first piece 1011, the second piece 1012, and the third piece 1013 as shown in FIG1), the included angle between the first part 201 and the second part 202 of the plate 200 can be 120°. For example, when the support 10 has four pieces, the included angle between the first part 201 and the second part 202 of the plate 200 can be 90°.

[0077] In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of portions of the support 10 is formed by bonding first portions 201 of at least two of the plurality of plates 200. For example, the first portions 201 of the two plates may be bonded together by adhesive or other suitable means, thereby forming at least one portion of the support 10.

[0078] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the support 10 is a one-piece molded structure formed by bonding multiple plates 200 together. One or more embodiments provided in this disclosure can form the one-piece molded support 10 by directly bonding multiple plates 200 together, which helps reduce design and manufacturing costs. Each plate can be individually molded and assembled into a piece of the support 10, facilitating modular production. Moreover, the size, shape, and number of plates can be flexibly adjusted according to different needs, thereby adapting to different support designs (e.g., different supports with 3, 4, 5, or more pieces), expanding the scope of application.

[0079] In some embodiments, the material of the board 200 is paper. Within the scope of this disclosure, paper can be used as a common raw material for manufacturing food packaging / containers.

[0080] In some embodiments, the bottom edges 203 of the first portions 201 of every two plates in the plurality of plates 200 are connected to each other, and one plate is folded along its bottom edge 203 to fit against the other plate. In this embodiment, it is understood that, in the unfolded state, two adjacent plates 200 are arranged vertically along the central axis of the plates 200.

[0081] In the example of the plate assembly 20 shown in Figure 5, two plates 200 are used to form a support 10 with three sections. In this case, the two plates 200 can also have a die-cut line at the bottom edge 203 that is adapted to the size of the first section 201 or the second section 202 (the two plates 200 are separated along the die-cut line). For example, one of the plates 200 can be folded along the bottom edge 203 to fit against the other plate 200, and then the movable first section 201 (if the die-cut line is along the first section 201) or the second section 202 (if the die-cut line is along the second section 202) of each of the two plates 200 can be folded to a suitable unfolded state, for example, so that the first section 201 or the second section 202 of each of the two plates 200 form an included angle of 120° to form the support 10 with three sections.

[0082] In some other embodiments, the first portion 201 of one of every two plates in the plurality of plates is foldably connected to the second portion of the other plate. In this embodiment, it is understood that two adjacent plates 200 are arranged horizontally parallel to the central axis of the plates 200. In this case, the support body 101 of the bracket 10 can be formed by a similar folding operation. Specifically, one of the plates 200 can be folded along the side edge between the two plates 200 to fit against the other plate 200. The side edge refers to the edge of the plate 200 that connects to the bottom edge 203. For example, a foldable connection between the second portion of the first plate 200 and the first portion of the second plate 200 can be achieved at the side edge. After the two plates 200 are fitted together, the first portion and / or the second portion of the plate 100 can be folded to an unfolded state with a corresponding angle by a similar folding operation to form a plurality of pieces of the support body 101 of the bracket 10, which will not be described in detail here.

[0083] By employing the foldable design of the multiple plates 200 of the panel assembly 20 at their bottom or side edges, and the foldable design between the first part 201 and the second part 202 of each plate 200, operators can quickly assemble the bracket 10 by simply folding multiple plates 200, significantly reducing installation time and operational difficulty. This design allows the panel assembly 20 to be quickly unfolded or folded to form the bracket 10 when needed, facilitating flexible adjustments by users according to their needs. It is particularly suitable for catering businesses with food preparation or takeout requirements, helping to improve work efficiency. The design of the panel assembly 20 provided in this disclosure allows multiple sections of the bracket to be formed through a simple folding operation, avoiding the complex assembly process of multiple independent parts required by traditional brackets. Furthermore, the unified production and processing of the panels reduces mold development and assembly steps, lowers manufacturing costs, and improves production efficiency.

[0084] In some embodiments, the plate 200 includes at least one third cutout portion 204, which is arranged along the axial direction of the plate 200 to form at least one first cutout portion 102 of the support 10. Furthermore, the plate 200 includes a fourth cutout portion 205 for forming the second cutout portion 104 of the support 10. Referring to FIG5, the fourth cutout portion 205 in the plate 200 above the plate assembly 20 in FIG5 is disposed above the at least one third cutout portion 204.

[0085] During the process of forming the support 10 from the plate assembly 20, at least one third cutout 204 and a fourth cutout 205 of the plurality of plates 200 can form corresponding first cutout 102 and second cutout 104 in the plate assembly 20 to achieve their respective functions. This design not only reduces the production time of the support 10, but also reduces potential errors or losses caused by the assembly of additional components, further controlling manufacturing costs.

[0086] Referring to Figure 6, in some embodiments, the plate 200 includes a limiting member 206, which is foldably connected to the bottom of the fourth cutout portion.

[0087] Referring again to the plate assembly 20 shown in FIG6, in some embodiments, the plate 200 includes a snap-fit ​​hole 207. After the plate assembly forms a support, a limiting member 206 can be used to pass through the snap-fit ​​hole 207 to hold the support. For example, the limiting member 206 can pass through the snap-fit ​​hole 207 to form the first limiting structure or the second limiting structure described above, so as to maintain the structural stability of the multiple pieces of the support 10 when it is standing.

[0088] It is understood that when the multiple plates 200 of the plate assembly 20 form a support as described in the first aspect of this disclosure, the limiting member 206 may be formed as one or more of the first limiting member 1031, the second limiting member 1032, and the third limiting member, and the snap hole 207 may be formed as the first snap hole 1033 or the second snap hole, for example. This disclosure does not impose any limitations.

[0089] Furthermore, in a connection configuration where the two plates 200 are arranged vertically as shown in Figure 5, the snap-hole 207 can be located in either the upper or lower plate 200, and this disclosure does not impose any limitations thereon. The bracket and plate assembly according to this disclosure, through the design of multiple sections distributed around a central axis, facilitate the folding, disassembly, and assembly of the bracket. This foldable design facilitates the transportation and storage of the bracket, helps reduce manufacturing and storage costs, and improves the cost-effectiveness of enterprises.

[0090] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a food box. The food box includes: at least one container for holding food; and a support 10 according to a first aspect of this disclosure, wherein the at least one container is respectively mounted on at least one first openwork portion 102 of the support 10.

[0091] The food box described in the third aspect of this disclosure has all the features and advantages of the support 10 described in the first aspect of this disclosure, which will not be repeated here.

[0092] While embodiments or examples of this disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the methods, systems, and devices described above are merely exemplary embodiments or examples, and the scope of the invention is not limited by these embodiments or examples, but only by the granted claims and their equivalents. Various elements in the embodiments or examples may be omitted or replaced by their equivalents. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in a different order than that described in this disclosure. Further, various elements in the embodiments or examples may be combined in various ways. Importantly, as the technology evolves, many elements described herein can be replaced by equivalents that appear after this disclosure.

Claims

1. A support, characterized in that, The support includes: A support body, the support body comprising a plurality of segments distributed around the central axis of the support; and At least one first hollow portion, said at least one first hollow portion being used to place a container. Wherein, the at least one first hollow portion is arranged along the axial direction of the support body, and the at least one first hollow portion passes through the plurality of pieces transversely to the axial direction.

2. The bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bracket includes a first limiting structure, the first limiting structure comprising: A first limiting member and a second limiting member are respectively disposed on a first piece and a second piece among the plurality of pieces. The first buckle hole is located on the third piece among the plurality of pieces. The first piece and the second piece are respectively adjacent to the third piece. The heads of the first limiting member and the second limiting member respectively pass through the first buckle hole and cooperate with each other to keep the third piece fixed relative to the first piece and the second piece.

3. The bracket according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heads of the first limiting member and the second limiting member include: The first section is arranged at an inclined angle relative to the central axis of the support. Wherein, when the first limiting member and the second limiting member pass through the first buckle hole, the corresponding first sections of the first limiting member and the second limiting member abut against the third piece, so that the third piece remains fixed relative to the first piece and the second piece.

4. The stent according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heads of the first limiting member and the second limiting member further include: The second section is arranged at an inclined angle relative to the central axis of the support. The corresponding second sections of the first limiting member and the second limiting member pass through the first buckle hole, so that the first limiting member presses against the second limiting member, or the second limiting member presses against the first limiting member.

5. The bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first section and / or the second section are tilted at an angle of 30° to 40° relative to the central axis of the support.

6. The bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first section and / or the second section are tilted at an angle of 0° to 10° relative to the central axis of the support.

7. The bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that, The head also includes a third section, wherein, when the first limiting member and the second limiting member pass through the first buckle hole, the corresponding third section of the first limiting member and / or the second limiting member abuts against the inner edge of the first buckle hole.

8. The bracket according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heads of the first limiting member and the second limiting member each include a chamfer.

9. The stent according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first buckle hole is fan-shaped, and the central axis of the fan shape is inclined to the axial direction of the bracket body.

10. The stent according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second limiting structure is provided between two adjacent pieces of the plurality of pieces, the second limiting structure comprising: The third limiting member is disposed on the first piece of the two adjacent pieces, and The second fastening hole is provided on the second of the two adjacent pieces. The head of the third limiting member passes through the second buckle hole from one side of the second piece and abuts against the other side of the second piece, so that the second piece remains fixed relative to the first piece.

11. The bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bracket includes a positioning element disposed above the bracket body, and the positioning element includes a plurality of grooves corresponding to the plurality of pieces.

12. The stent according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A second cutout portion is disposed above at least one first cutout portion, and the second cutout portion extends transversely through the plurality of pieces in the axial direction of the support body. The first limiting member and the second limiting member are configured to be foldably connected to the bottom of the second hollow portion, and when the heads of the first limiting member and the second limiting member respectively pass through the first buckle hole and cooperate with each other, the second hollow portion forms the handle opening of the bracket, and the bracket is provided with a handle.

13. The stent according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The outer edge of the bottom of the container includes a protrusion, and the at least one first hollow portion includes a slot for receiving the protrusion.

14. The stent according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The number of the plurality of segments is 3 to 5.

15. A plate assembly for forming a support according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, The board assembly includes multiple boards, the boards including: A first part and a second part are foldably connected relative to the central axis of the plate, and at least one of the first part and the second part forms one of the plurality of pieces of the support.

16. The plate assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that, At least one of the multiple sections of the bracket is formed by bonding the first portions of at least two of the multiple plates together.

17. The plate assembly according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The bottom edges of the first portions of every two of the plurality of plates are connected to each other, and one of the plates is folded along the bottom edge to fit against the other plate.

18. The plate assembly according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The first portion of every two plates and the second portion of the other two plates can be folded together.

19. The plate assembly according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The plate includes: At least one third cutout portion, the at least one third cutout portion being arranged along the axial direction of the plate, for forming at least one first cutout portion of the bracket; and A fourth hollow portion is disposed above the at least one third hollow portion and is used to form a second hollow portion of the bracket.

20. The plate assembly according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of plates is integrally formed.

21. The plate assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that, The plate includes a limiting member that is foldably connected to the bottom of the fourth hollow portion.

22. The plate assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that, The plate includes a snap-fit ​​hole, through which the limiting member passes after the plate assembly forms the bracket to hold the bracket.

23. The plate assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that, The bracket is a one-piece molded structure made by bonding together multiple of the aforementioned plates.

24. The plate assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that, The board is made of paper.

25. A food box, characterized in that, The food container includes: At least one container, said at least one container being used to hold food; According to any one of claims 1 to 14, the at least one container is respectively mounted on at least one first hollow portion of the bracket.

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