Tamper-resistant container for freshly baked food products

• US 5,971,262 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis E. Moore, Moore, William E.
• Original Assignee: Dennis E. Moore, Moore, William E.
• Inventors: Moore, William E., Moore, Dennis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Tri M.
• Application Number:
  US09/019,889
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 229/906, 229/178, 229/152, 229/151, 229/154, 229/102, 229/120, 426/118
• US Class Current: 229/102
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/366 Pizza
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4295 Ventilating arrangements, e.g. openings, space elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6626 formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/06 Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips containers specially constructed to be opened by tear-strips, strings or the like B65D17/00; caps or cap-like closures with tear-strips B65D41/32; Use of seals , e.g. destructible locking pins B65D55/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/906 Baked goods

Abstract

A container embodiment helping to protect freshly baked pizza pie and the like against extremely disgruntled delivery drivers while in a totally unsupervised environment. The container embodiment having tamper-resistant ventilation to enhance the overall effectiveness of a supplemental tamper-resistant securing means which is added just before the delivery process begins. The tamper-resistant ventilation prevents contaminates from being easily injected through the ventilation by a contaminate delivery means without leaving evidence of the contaminates on an inner surface area of the container embodiment.

Claims

1. A shallow container having an obscured manner of venting to help protect freshly baked food contents during such time when said container has a tamper-resistant securing means, said obscured manner of venting preventing contaminates from being easily injected through said venting without leaving evidence of said contaminates on an inner surface area of said container, said container being formed from a prescored containerboard container blank, comprising:

a) a bottom panel comprising a front peripheral wall being folded upwardly, a back peripheral wall being folded upwardly and two opposed side peripheral walls being folded upwardly;

b) front edge portion of each of said side peripheral walls comprising a front flap being folded inwardly, each of said front flaps comprising a bottom portion with each said bottom portion being folded outwardly toward said front peripheral wall, said bottom portions being braced against said bottom panel and said front peripheral wall with said bottom portion positioning each of said front flaps away from said front peripheral wall, said positioning creating a gap between said front peripheral wall and each of said front flaps with each said gap serving as a venting passageway;

c) said front peripheral wall comprising an outer portion being folded downwardly over each of said front flaps;

d) a top panel being folded downwardly from a top edge portion of said back peripheral wall with said top panel covering a contents area of said container, said top panel comprising two opposed side peripheral walls being folded downwardly and a front peripheral wall being folded downwardly; and

e) a first concealed opening formed in said front peripheral wall of said top panel, said first concealed opening being aligned with a second concealed opening formed in said outer portion of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said concealed openings allowing heated air of said contents area to escape into each said venting passageway.

2. The container as defined in claim 1, further comprising a tamper-resistant securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

3. The container as defined in claim 1, further wherein:

a) each of said side peripheral walls of said top panel being inner peripheral walls, each of said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel being outer peripheral walls; and

b) a back edge portion of each of said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel comprising a back flap being folded inwardly, each of said back flaps being braced between said top panel and said bottom panel, each of said back flaps also being braced between back edge portion of adjacent said side peripheral wall of said top panel and adjacent side end portion of said back peripheral wall, close proximity of each said back flap reinforcing adjacent said side end portion of said back peripheral wall, each said back flap also reinforcing adjacent said side peripheral walls by preventing separation of adjacent said back edge portions; and

c) said back peripheral wall being slightly angled away from each said back flap forming a narrow gap between each said side end portion of said back peripheral wall and adjacent said back flap with each said narrow gap serving as a venting passageway.

4. The container as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a) means of securing each of said front flaps, said outer portion, said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel and each of said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel into a standing position; and

b) a tamper-resistant securing means comprising a strong adhesive being secured to outer surface of said top panel and outer surface of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said securing means further concealing said first concealed opening and said second concealed opening, said securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

5. The container as defined in claim 4, wherein an upwardly extending and easily removable tab being notched to top edge portion of said second concealed opening, said removable tab being positioned below inner surface of said securing means allowing said securing means to be easily broken by pulling outwardly on exposed ends of said removable tab.

6. A shallow container having an obscured manner of venting to help protect freshly baked food contents during such time when said container has a tamper-resistant securing means, said obscured manner of venting preventing contaminates from being easily injected through said venting without leaving evidence of said contaminates on an inner surface area of said container, said container being formed from a prescored containerboard container blank, comprising:

a) a bottom panel comprising a front peripheral wall being folded upwardly, a back peripheral wall being folded upwardly and two opposed side peripheral walls being folded upwardly;

b) said front peripheral wall comprising an outer portion, a horizontal score located between said outer portion and a bottom edge portion of said front peripheral wall to form a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the height of said lower and upper portions of said front peripheral wall before folding being greater than the height of said outer portion;

c) front edge portion of each of said side peripheral walls comprising a front flap being folded inwardly, said outer portion of said front peripheral wall being folded downwardly over each of said front flaps, said lower and upper portions of said front peripheral wall being angled at said horizontal score outwardly away from each of said front flaps, thereby reducing said height of said lower and outer portions of said front peripheral wall to said height of said outer portion and also creating a gap between said front peripheral wall and each of said front flaps with each said gap serving as a venting passageway;

d) a top panel being folded downwardly from a top edge portion of said back peripheral wall with said top panel covering a contents area of said container, said top panel comprising two opposed side peripheral walls being folded downwardly and a front peripheral wall being folded downwardly; and

e) a first concealed opening formed in said front peripheral wall of said top panel, said first concealed opening being aligned with a second concealed opening formed in said outer portion of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said concealed openings allowing heated air of said contents area to escape into each said venting passageway.

7. The container as defined in claim 6, further comprising a tamper-resistant securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

8. The container as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a) said side peripheral walls of said top panel being inner peripheral walls, said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel being outer peripheral walls;

b) back edge portion of each said side peripheral wall of said bottom panel comprising a back flap being folded inwardly, each said back flap being braced between said top panel and said bottom panel, each said back flap also being braced between back edge portion of adjacent said side peripheral wall of said top panel and adjacent side end portion of said back peripheral wall, close proximity of each said back flap reinforcing adjacent said side end portion of said back peripheral wall, each said back flap also reinforcing adjacent said side peripheral walls by preventing separation of adjacent said back edge portions; and

c) said back peripheral wall being slightly angled away from each said back flap forming a narrow gap between each said side end portion of said back peripheral wall and adjacent said back flap with each said narrow gap serving as a venting passageway.

9. The container as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a) means of securing said front flaps, said outer portion, said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel and each of said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel into a standing position; and

b) a tamper-resistant securing means comprising a strong adhesive being secured to outer surface of said top panel and outer surface of said upwardly folded front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said securing means further concealing said first concealed opening and said second concealed opening, said securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

10. The container as defined in claim 9, wherein an upwardly extending and easily removable tab being notched to top edge portion of said second concealed opening, said removable tab being positioned below inner surface of said securing means allowing said securing means to be easily broken by pulling outwardly on exposed ends of said removable tab.

11. A shallow container having an obscured manner of venting to help protect freshly baked food contents, said obscured manner of venting preventing contaminates from being easily injected through said venting without leaving evidence of said contaminates on an inner surface area of said container, said container being formed from a prescored containerboard container blank, comprising:

a) a bottom panel comprising a front peripheral wall being folded upwardly, a back peripheral wall being folded upwardly and two opposed side peripheral walls being folded upwardly;

b) front edge portion of each of said side peripheral walls comprising a front flap being folded inwardly, each of said front flaps comprising a bottom portion with each said bottom portion being folded outwardly toward said front peripheral wall, said bottom portions being braced against said bottom panel and said front peripheral wall with said bottom portion positioning each of said front flaps away from said front peripheral wall, said positioning creating a gap between said front peripheral wall and each of said front flaps with each said gap serving as a venting passageway;

c) said front peripheral wall comprising an outer portion being folded downwardly over each of said front flaps;

d) means of securing said front flaps, said outer portion, said front peripheral wall and each of said side peripheral walls into a standing position;

e) a top panel being folded downwardly from a top edge portion of said back peripheral wall with said top panel covering contents area of said container, said top panel comprising two opposed side peripheral walls being folded downwardly and a front peripheral wall being folded downwardly;

f) said front peripheral wall and each of said side peripheral walls of said top panel being inner peripheral walls, said front peripheral wall and each of said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel being outer peripheral walls; and

g) a first concealed opening formed in said front peripheral wall of said top panel, said first concealed opening being aligned with a second concealed opening formed in said outer portion of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said concealed openings allowing heated air of said contents area to escape into each said venting passageway.

12. The container as defined in claim 11, further comprising a tamper-resistant securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

13. The container as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

a) back edge portion of each said side peripheral wall of said bottom panel comprising a back flap being folded inwardly, each said back flap being braced between said top panel and said bottom panel, each said back flap also being braced between back edge portion of adjacent said side peripheral wall of said top panel and adjacent side end portion of said back peripheral wall, close proximity of each said back flap reinforcing adjacent said side end portion of said back peripheral wall, each said back flap also reinforcing adjacent said side peripheral walls by preventing separation of adjacent said back edge portions; and

b) said back peripheral wall being slightly angled away from each said back flap forming a narrow gap between each said side end portion of said back peripheral wall and adjacent said back flap with each said narrow gap serving as a venting passageway.

14. The container as defined in claim 11, further comprising a tamper-resistant securing means comprising a strong adhesive being secured to outer surface of said top panel and outer surface of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said securing means further concealing said first concealed opening and said second concealed opening, said securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

15. The container as defined in claim 14, wherein an upwardly extending and easily removable tab being notched to top edge portion of said second concealed opening, said removable tab being positioned below inner surface of said securing means allowing said securing means to be easily broken by pulling outwardly on exposed ends of said removable tab.

16. A shallow container having an obscured manner of venting to help protect freshly baked food contents, said obscured manner of venting preventing contaminates from being easily injected through said venting without leaving evidence of said contaminates on an inner surface area of said container, said container being formed from a prescored containerboard container blank, comprising:

a) a bottom panel comprising a front peripheral wall being folded upwardly, a back peripheral wall being folded upwardly and two opposed side peripheral walls being folded upwardly;

b) said front peripheral wall having an outer portion attached thereto, a horizontal score located between said outer portion and a bottom edge portion of said front peripheral wall to form a lower portion and an upper portion, height of said lower and upper portions of said front peripheral wall before folding being greater than height of said outer portion;

c) front edge portion of each of said side peripheral walls comprising a front flap being folded inwardly, said outer portion of said front peripheral wall being folded downwardly over each of said front flaps, said front peripheral wall angled at said horizontal score outwardly away from each of said front flaps, thereby reducing said height of said lower and upper portions of said front peripheral wall to said height of said outer portion, and also creating a gap between said front peripheral wall and each of said front flaps with each said gap serving as a venting passageway;

d) means of securing said front flaps, said outer portion, said front peripheral wall and each of said side peripheral walls into a standing position;

e) a top panel being folded downwardly from a top edge portion of said back peripheral wall with said top panel covering contents area of said container, said top panel comprising two opposed side peripheral walls being folded downwardly and a front peripheral wall being folded downwardly;

f) said front peripheral wall and each of said side peripheral walls of said top panel being inner peripheral walls, said front peripheral wall and each of said side peripheral walls of said bottom panel being outer peripheral walls; and

g) a first concealed opening formed in said front peripheral wall of said top panel, said first concealed opening being aligned with a second concealed opening formed in said outer portion of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said concealed openings allowing heated air of said contents area to escape into each said venting passageway.

17. The container as defined in claim 16, further comprising a tamper-resistant securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

18. The container as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

a) back edge portion of each said side peripheral wall of said bottom panel comprising a back flap being folded inwardly, each said back flap being braced between said top panel and said bottom panel, each said back flap also being braced between back edge portion of adjacent said side peripheral wall of said top panel and adjacent side end portion of said back peripheral wall, close proximity of each said back flap reinforcing adjacent said side end portion of said back peripheral wall, each said back flap also reinforcing adjacent said side peripheral walls by preventing separation of adjacent said back edge portions; and

b) said back peripheral wall being slightly angled away from each said back flap forming a narrow gap between each said side end portion of said back peripheral wall and adjacent said back flap with each said narrow gap serving a venting passageway.

19. The container as defined in claim 16, wherein a securing means comprising a strong adhesive being secured to outer surface of said top panel and outer surface of said front peripheral wall of said bottom panel, said securing means further concealing said first concealed opening and said second concealed opening, said securing means preventing easy reopening of said container without said reopening being evident.

20. The container as defined in claim 19, wherein an upwardly extending and easily removable tab being notched to top edge portion of said second concealed opening, said removable tab being positioned below inner surface of said securing means allowing said securing means to be easily broken by pulling outwardly on exposed ends of said removable tab.