Combination lid support and closure device

• US 5,516,036 A
• Filed: 06/16/1995
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Waddington North America Incorporated (NVLX Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bruce Maultasch, Jonathan Maultasch
• Inventors: Maultasch, Jonathan, Maultasch, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/491,488
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 229/125.37, 229/125.39, 229/125.41, 229/199, 229/902, 229/906, 426/110, 426/115, 206/521, 206/525, 206/541
• US Class Current: 229/125.39
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/366 Pizza
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/445 Reinforcements formed separately from the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6673 the lid being held in closed position by application of separate elements, e.g. clips, hooks, cords B65D5/6647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/14 in sheets or blanks folded-up around all sides of the contents from a portion on which the contents are placed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/906 Baked goods

Abstract

A device for use with a receptacle for transporting pizza. The device supports a lid of the receptacle a predetermined distance above the contained pizza and retains closed the lid of the receptacle until open by the consumer.

Claims

1. A combination lid support and closure device for use with a receptacle for containing and transporting a food product, the receptacle having at least one top panel moveable between an open position and a closed position and a bottom panel for supporting the food product, the device comprising:

support means positionable within the receptacle and having a top surface engageable with an underside of the at least one top panel for preventing the at least one top panel from contacting the food product located in the receptacle; and

retention means connected to said support means for retaining the at least one top panel in the closed position;

wherein said retention means includes a locking flange spaced from said top surface of said support means for capturing therebetween a portion of the at least one top panel for retaining the at least one top panel in the closed positions; and

wherein said support means includes a stanchion portion having an upper end providing said top surface and a lower end adapted to engage the food product on the bottom panel, so that said locking flange captures the at least one top panel when pressed downwardly into the closed position.

2. A combination lid support and closure device for use with a box adapted to contain and transport a food product, the box having a plurality of lid segments affording opening and closing of the box, at least one of the lid segments having an aperture, the device comprising:

support means positionable within the box for supporting the lid segments in a closed position a spaced distance from the food product when placed in the box, the support means having a top surface operatively engageable with an underside of at least one of the lid segments; and

retention means extending from said support means for retaining the lid segments in said closed position, the retention means including a locking flange capable of capturing the at least one lid segment in the closed position;

wherein said retention means includes a resilient means for disposing said locking flange in a locking position to prevent said locking flange from fitting through the aperture, and capable of movably disposing said locking flange into an insertion position to allow said locking flange to fit through the aperture of the at least one lid segment, whereby the at least one lid segment is capable of being captured automatically between said top surface of said support means and said locking flange when said at least one panel is disposed in the closed position.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said locking flange is spaced from said top surface a distance at least as great as the thickness of one of said lid segments.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said locking flange comprises a plurality of flange sections sized to pass through the aperture when in said insertion position.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said resilient means comprises a plurality of stems projecting upwardly from said support means in a direction transverse to said top surface, each stem having one of said flange sections extending laterally therefrom.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of flange sections are spaced apart by a gap such that said insertion position is achieved when said plurality of flange sections are urged toward one another to close said gap.

7. A combination lid support and closure device for use with a pizza box for transporting a pizza, the pizza box having a plurality of independently moveable lid segments for cooperatively closing the pizza box, at least one of the lid segments having an aperture extending therethrough, the device comprising:

a bottom stanchion portion engageable with a pizza contained within the pizza box and extending upwardly therefrom to a remote end;

an upper platen portion connected to said remote end and capable of engaging an underside of at least one of the lid segments when the pizza box lid segments are closed; and

locking means connected to said upper platen portion for releasably retaining at least one lid segment between said locking means and said upper platen portion adjacent said aperture;

wherein said locking means includes a locking flange extending in spaced parallel relation with said upper platen portion; and

wherein said locking means includes a resiliently flexible stem portion projecting upwardly from said upper platen portion and mounting said locking flange, said resiliently flexible stem portion capable of providing lateral deflection to said locking flange from an insertion position for permitting said locking flange to extend through the aperture, to a locking position for preventing said locking flange from extending through the aperture.

8. A combination lid support and closure device for use with a pizza box for transporting a pizza, the pizza box having a plurality of independently moveable lid segments for cooperatively closing the pizza box, at least one of the lid segments having an aperture extending therethrough, the device comprising:

a bottom stanchion portion engageable with a pizza contained within the pizza box and extending Upwardly therefrom to a remote end;

an upper platen portion connected to said remote end and capable of engaging an underside of at least one of the lid segments when the pizza box lid segments are closed; and

locking means connected to said upper platen portion for releasably retaining at least one lid segment between said locking means and said upper platen portion adjacent said aperture;

wherein said locking means includes a locking flange extending in spaced parallel relation with said upper platen portion; and

wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of independent locking flange sections, said flange sections integrally connected to said upper platen portion by a plurality of stems, each said stem extending between one of said flange sections and said upper platen portion.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said flange sections are normally spaced laterally from one another and are urged toward one another for insertion through said lid aperture.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said stems resiliently bias said flange sections into said laterally spaced relation.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said locking means has two of said flange sections and two of said stems projecting upwardly from said platen.

12. For use with a pizza box having a bottom panel, side panels, and a plurality of top lid panels moveable from an open position to a closure position, the top lid panels having overlapping edge margins centrally of the bottom panel, means for automatically locking the top lid panels in the closure position and for preventing the top lid panels from bowing downwardly toward the bottom panel into contact with pizza thereon after the top lid panels are disposed in the closure position, said means having a stanchion portion for projecting upwardly from the bottom panel, surface means on said stanchion portion for engaging and supporting said top lid panels when overlapped in said closure position, and locking means on said stanchion portion cooperable with at least one of the top lid panels for automatically locking the top lid panels in the closure position when the top lid panels are urged downwardly against said surface means on said stanchion portion, wherein said locking means includes a locking flange on said stanchion portion above said surface means, wherein an edge margin on the at least one of the top lid panels is engageable between said locking flange and said surface means when the top lid panels are in the closure position, and wherein the at least one of the top lid panels is planar and has a resiliently deflectable edge margin engageable between said locking flange and said surface means on said stanchion portion.

13. For use with a pizza box having a bottom panel, side panels, and a plurality of top lid panels moveable from an open position to a closure position, the top lid panels having overlapping edge margins centrally of the bottom panel, means for automatically locking the top lid panels in the closure position and for preventing the top lid panels from bowing downwardly toward the bottom panel into contact with pizza thereon after the top lid panels are disposed in the closure position, said means having a stanchion portion for projecting upwardly from the bottom panel, surface means on said stanchion portion for engaging and supporting said top lid panels when overlapped in said closure position, and locking means on said stanchion portion cooperable with at least one of the top lid panels for automatically locking the top lid panels in the closure position when the top lid panels are urged downwardly against said surface means on said stanchion portion, wherein said locking means includes a locking flange on said stanchion portion above said surface means, wherein an edge margin on the at least one of the top lid panels is engageable between said locking flange and said surface means when the top lid panels are in the closure position, wherein the at least one of the top lid panels is planar and has an aperture, wherein said locking means has stem means resiliently connecting said locking flange to said stanchion portion for enabling said locking flange to be resiliently biased between insertion and locking positions, and wherein in said insertion position said locking flange passes through the aperture and in said locking position said locking flange engages the at least one of the top lid panels adjacent the aperture.