Pizza Box Plate Pocket with Hinged Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pizza delivery systems often do not provide serving plates with the pizza or package them awkwardly, and existing solutions, such as U.S. Patent Application No. 2011/0186621, require excess cardboard and complex adhesive mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A pizza box design featuring a built-in plate pocket with a hinged lid that allows for easy access and storage of serving plates, utensils, and napkins without additional cardboard, using a living hinge mechanism and foldable flaps to maintain structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate cardboard inserts with peel-off adhesive rings are used to create storage compartments, then plates can be stored in the pizza box, but excess cardboard is wasted and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pizza box lid is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the closure for the pizza box and as a structural component that forms the plate storage pocket. The bottom surface of the lid becomes the back wall of the pocket, eliminating the need for separate cardboard inserts and reducing material waste while maintaining storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pizza box lid structure with the plate pocket structure into a single integrated component. The pocket is formed by extending downward from the lid's bottom surface, combining two previously separate elements (lid and pocket) into one unified structure that reduces overall complexity and material usage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate cardboard inserts are used to form storage compartments, then plates can be stored, but the access mechanism becomes complicated requiring adhesive binding and peel-off rings
Solution Approach 1:
The lid serves dual purposes as both the pizza box closure and the plate pocket structure. By making the lid itself form the pocket walls rather than requiring separate inserts, the invention simplifies the access mechanism while maintaining storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary adhesive binding and peel-off ring components from the design. By forming the pocket directly from the lid structure with simple downward extensions, the complex access mechanism involving multiple separate components is removed, leaving only the essential storage and access functions.
3Quantity of substance
If the plate pocket extends the full depth of the box, then maximum plate storage is achieved, but the pizza has insufficient space
Solution Approach 1:
The plate pocket is positioned in a specific local area of the pizza box - extending downward from the bottom surface of the lid but not occupying the entire box depth. This local placement allows the pocket to store plates while leaving the lower portion of the box available for pizza, creating optimal spatial distribution for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate pocket utilizes the vertical dimension by extending downward from the lid, effectively using the space above the pizza rather than competing for horizontal space. This dimensional approach allows both plates and pizza to coexist in the same box by organizing them in different vertical zones.
4Ease of operation
If a hinged plate pocket lid is added, then easy access to plates is achieved, but additional cardboard and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The plate pocket lid is formed from the existing lid material itself, making the lid serve its own function as a pocket cover. The hinge is formed by leaving an uncut portion of the lid material, allowing the lid to automatically function as both the pocket structure and its own hinge mechanism without requiring additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pocket lid with the main lid structure, creating a unified component that performs multiple functions. The hinge is integrated into the lid material itself through the uncut portion, combining what would traditionally be separate parts (lid, pocket cover, and hinge) into a single integrated structure that reduces overall complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances user convenience by integrating serving plates directly into the pizza box, reducing environmental impact by eliminating excess cardboard and providing a more efficient packaging solution.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the plate pocket lid is not cut or perforated to act as a living hinge that allows for the plate pocket lid to swing between an open position exposing the inside of the plate pocket to a closed position resting flush with the box lid top surface
Data Source
AI summary
A unique pizza box apparatus and methods of forming and using said pizza box are disclosed. The pizza box is formed with an additional plate pocket for receiving plates therein. The pocket is connected to an inside surface of the pizza box lid and expands a distance less than that of the depth of the pizza box. On the pizza box lid is a cut or perforated plate pocket lid with a living hinge on one end and a lid tab on a substantially opposite end for grabbing and rotatably opening the plate pocket lid with respect to the pizza box lid. A pizza bumper may further be included within the box to ensure separation between a base of the plate pocket and a pizza once the pizza is placed within the box. Napkins and/or further utensils may also be placed within the plate pocket if so desired.