Stackable Pizza Slice Container for Space-Saving Separate Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Irregularly shaped foods like pizza slices are difficult to store efficiently due to their shape, often requiring more horizontal space and materials like foil or plastic wrap, which leads to waste and inefficient use of shelf space in refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
A stackable, pie-shaped food container with vertically extending side walls and a circumferential wall that allows individual slices to be stored without contact, expanding or contracting as needed, using pegs for secure stacking and easy access, and featuring a metal layer for reheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pizza slices are stored flat in the original pizza box or in a spread out form, then the slices can be easily accessed, but the refrigerator shelf space is wasted and the footprint is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the storage arrangement from a horizontal two-dimensional layout (slices spread out on a flat surface) to a vertical three-dimensional stackable configuration. Each slice is placed in its own compartment within a vertical stackable container, allowing multiple slices to be stored in the vertical space of the refrigerator rather than occupying horizontal shelf area. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of access through individual compartment design while dramatically reducing the footprint occupied in the refrigerator.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple pizza slices are stacked one on top of another, then the refrigerator space is saved, but the cheese and toppings of one slice may adhere to the bottom of the slice above it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage space into separate, individual compartments for each pizza slice. Each compartment is a discrete unit with walls that physically separate adjacent slices, preventing direct contact between the toppings of one slice and the crust of the slice below it. This segmentation eliminates the adhesion problem while still allowing vertical stacking to save space, as each slice is isolated in its own compartment rather than directly stacked without separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The compartment walls and dividers act as intermediary structures between adjacent pizza slices. These physical barriers prevent the cheese and toppings of one slice from coming into contact with the bottom of the slice above it, thereby eliminating the harmful adhesion effect while still allowing the slices to be stored in close proximity in a vertical arrangement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the original pizza pie carton is used for storing residual slices, then no additional container is needed, but the entire carton must be used even if only a few slices remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple individual, stackable containers that can be used separately or combined. Each container is sized to hold a single pizza slice or a small number of slices, allowing the user to use only the number of containers needed for the remaining slices. This segmentation of the storage system into modular units eliminates the waste of using a large original pizza box when only one or two slices remain, as users can simply use one or two small stackable containers instead.
Solution Approach 2:
The stackable container system is dynamic and adaptable in size. Users can stack one container for a single slice, two containers for two slices, or multiple containers for more slices, depending on the quantity of pizza remaining. This dynamic configuration allows the storage solution to adapt to varying slice quantities, eliminating the static waste of using the entire large original pizza box when only a few slices need to be stored.
4Stability of the object's composition
If flat containers are used for pizza slice storage, then the slices can be stored without stacking, but the vertical space in the refrigerator is not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal two-dimensional flat container storage to vertical three-dimensional stackable container storage. The stackable containers are designed to be stacked vertically, utilizing the vertical dimension of the refrigerator space that would otherwise be unused. Each container maintains internal stability for the pizza slice through its compartment design, while the external vertical stacking arrangement maximizes the use of available refrigerator volume by extending storage upward rather than only outward horizontally.
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 solution allows for space-efficient storage of multiple pizza slices, preventing topping adhesion and saving shelf space by maintaining slices in separate compartments, while being easy to use and clean, and capable of reheating.
Implementation Method 1
capable of reheating
Data Source
AI summary
A food container for storing irregularly shaped preferably pie shaped foods having a central, inner cavity or compartment defined by a pie-shaped bottom surface, vertically extending side walls and a circumferential wall, along with a hinged top surface. The container may be built for further individual compartments or cavities and these may be stacked one on the other to separately store individual pieces of pie or pizza without one piece contacting another piece and, yet, storage space and footprint of the container is minimized, to advantage. A set of pie shaped cavities are provided for sliding receipt within a cabinet for food storage.