CN112040814B

CN112040814B - Convertible food tray

Info

Publication number: CN112040814B
Application number: CN201880092225.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈明聪; 吴陪康
Original assignee: Tria Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Tria Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-04
Filing date: 2018-04-04
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-04
Also published as: CN112040814A; WO2019194743A1; SG11202009792WA

Abstract

According to various embodiments, a convertible food tray adapted to be converted into a food box is provided. A food tray comprising a floor, a wall extending from and surrounding the floor such that the wall surrounding the floor forms an opening of the food tray; a lid pivotally connected to the wall such that the lid includes a fold line thereon such that the lid is foldable along the fold line to a folded position such that in the folded position, the lid forms the wall of the food tray such that the lid is unfoldable to cover an opening of the food tray to form the food box.

Description

Convertible food tray

Technical Field

The invention relates to a convertible food tray. For example, a disposable convertible food tray adapted to be converted into a food box is provided.

Background

Food trays are commonly used in restaurants to serve food therein. The food tray may be a plate, a dish, etc. To reduce the labor of cleaning food trays, restaurants typically use disposable food trays. When a customer needs to order take-out, a disposable food box is used to package food. To meet high demand and avoid running out of food trays and/or food boxes, restaurants need to maintain a large inventory of food trays and food boxes. Therefore, a large storage area is required to store the food trays and the food boxes. Smaller-space restaurants, such as where rent is high, may be expensive to maintain a larger storage area. Generally, if the maintained inventory is insufficient, one of the food tray and the food box may run out and disturb the sale of the food.

The present invention aims to solve or reduce the above problems.

Disclosure of Invention

According to various embodiments, a convertible food tray adapted to be converted into a food box is provided. A food tray comprising a floor, a wall extending from and surrounding the floor such that the wall surrounding the floor forms an opening of the food tray; a lid pivotally connected to the wall such that the lid includes a fold line thereon such that the lid is foldable along the fold line to a folded position such that in the folded position, the lid forms the wall of the food tray such that the lid is unfoldable to cover the opening of the food tray to form the food box.

According to various embodiments, the lid may be connected to the wall along a hinge axis such that the fold line may be parallel to the hinge axis.

According to various embodiments, the lid may be divided into a front portion and a rear portion by the fold line such that the rear portion may be connected to the wall, and the front portion may be foldable into the tray to form the wall.

According to various embodiments, the front portion may comprise a holder adapted to hold a vessel.

According to various embodiments, the food tray may further comprise a locking mechanism adapted to lock the front portion in the folded position.

According to various embodiments, the wall may comprise a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, a pair of side walls extending from the front wall and the rear wall such that the lid may be connected to the rear wall and foldable onto the rear wall to form the rear wall of the food tray, such that the food tray may further comprise a pair of side flaps, each side flap being pivotally attached to one of the side walls, the pair of side flaps being adapted to be folded into the food tray into a folded position to form the pair of side walls, such that the pair of side flaps in the folded position may be adapted to engage the lid to retain the pair of side flaps and lid in the folded position.

According to various embodiments, the cover may comprise: a connecting edge connected to the wall, a free edge opposite the connecting edge, a pair of side edges extending from the free edge to the connecting edge, a pair of holes respectively disposed adjacent the pair of side edges, the side flaps each including a tab projecting therefrom forming a pair of tabs such that the pair of tabs can be respectively adapted to engage the pair of holes.

According to various embodiments, at least one of the side flaps may comprise a recess adapted to receive a container.

According to various embodiments, the cover may comprise a slit, such that in the folded position, the slit may be adapted to receive an accessory therein.

According to various embodiments, the slit may be disposed along the fold line.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a convertible food tray.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an example of a food cartridge.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the food tray along line a-a in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a section of the food cartridge along line B-B in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 and 6 show the food tray being converted into a food cartridge.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an example of a food tray, with a close-up view of the locking mechanism.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of an example of a food tray.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of an example of a food tray.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the food tray of fig. 9.

Detailed Description

In the following examples, reference will be made to the drawings wherein like features are designated with like numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a convertible food tray 100. The food tray 100 is adapted to be converted into a food box. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an example of a food cartridge. The food tray 100 has a bottom panel 110, a wall 120 extending from the bottom panel 110 and surrounding the bottom panel 110 such that the wall 120 surrounding the bottom panel 110 forms the opening 102 of the food tray 100. The food tray 100 also has a lid 130 pivotally connected to the wall 120. Lid 130 has a fold line 130L thereon such that lid 130 is foldable along fold line 130L to a folded position such that in the folded position, lid 130 forms wall 120 of food tray 100. The lid 130 is expandable to cover the opening 102 of the food tray 100 to form a food box. Fig. 1 shows the food tray 100 with the lid 130 in a folded position. Fig. 2 shows the food tray 100 with the lid 130 in the deployed position.

The lid 130 may include a lid flap 132. Referring to fig. 2, lid flap 132 may be adapted to overlap wall 120 when lid 130 covers opening 102 to form a food box. Alternatively, the cover flap 132 may be inserted into the opening 102. Referring to fig. 1, when used as food tray 100, cover flap 132 may form a portion of wall 120 of food tray 100. The food tray 100 may have a retaining mechanism 134, the retaining mechanism 134 adapted to retain the lid 130 over the opening 102 to keep the food cartridge covered. The retaining mechanism 134 may include an engagement portion 134E disposed on the cover 130 and a receiving portion 134R disposed on the wall 120, such that the engagement portion 134E may be adapted to engage with the receiving portion 134R to retain the cover 130 over the opening 102. The engagement portion 134E may be provided on the cover flap 132. The engagement portion 134E may be a hook and the receiving portion 134R may be a slot adapted to receive the hook.

By having a food tray 100 convertible into a food box, it is possible to use the food tray 100 as a tray or box. Thus, separate inventories need not be maintained for food trays 100 and food boxes. Thus, the restaurant no longer needs to maintain a large storage area to keep inventory. Thus, the restaurant may better utilize vacated space or save costs.

Referring to fig. 2, the cover 130 may be connected to the wall 120 along the hinge axis 122. Lid 130 may be divided into a front portion 130F and a rear portion 130B by a fold line 130L. The rear portion 130B may be connected to the wall 120. When converted into a food cartridge as shown in fig. 2, the front and

rear portions

130F and 130B may be aligned to form a plane and adapted to cover the opening 102. The cover flap 132 may overlap the wall 120 such that the engagement portion 134E of the retention mechanism 134 may engage the receiving portion 134R. The fold line 130L may be spaced apart from the hinge axis 122. The fold line 130L may be parallel to the hinge axis 122. Referring to fig. 1, by spacing the fold line 130L from the hinge axis 122, the lid 130 is taller than the surrounding wall 120 when in the folded position as shown in fig. 1. As explained later, the upper front portion 130F may be used to hold items, such as utensils, napkins, and the like. Alternatively, fold line 130L may be along hinge axis 122 such that lid 130 is a single planar panel, where lid 130 may not have front 130F or back 130B. In this configuration, the cover 130 may be rotated at the hinge axis 122 and into the opening 102 and adjacent the wall 120 to form the wall 120. Referring to fig. 1, the food tray 100 may have a locking mechanism 136 adapted to lock the front portion 130F of the cover 130 in the folded position. By locking the cover in the folded position, the front portion 130F may not be easily unfolded.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the food tray 100 along line a-a in fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a section of the food cartridge along line B-B in fig. 2. As shown in fig. 3, lid 130 may extend from wall 120 and may be folded into food tray 100 along fold line 130L such that lid 130 forms a portion of wall 120 of food tray 100. Specifically, the back 130B of the cover 130 can be in line with the wall 120, and the front 130F can be folded into the tray to form the wall 120 of the food tray 100. In the folded position, the front portion 130F may be parallel and adjacent to the back portion 130B and/or the wall 120. Lid flap 132 may be aligned with front portion 130F of lid 130 to form a portion of wall 120 of food tray 100 such that lid flap 132 may be substantially parallel to wall 120 and may be adjacent to wall 120. As shown in fig. 3, the front portion 130F of the cover 130 may face the inside of the food tray 100, and the rear portion 130B of the cover 130 may face the outside or rearward. As shown in fig. 3, the wall 120 may extend outwardly from the base plate 110 such that the opening 102 is larger than the base plate 110. In this manner, food trays 100 may be stacked on top of each other by placing one food tray 100 in another food tray 100. When food tray 100 is stackable, less storage space is required to store food tray 100 than if food tray 100 were not stackable.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the food box along line B-B in fig. 2. Lid 130 may be rotated about hinge axis 122 from food tray 100 in fig. 3 to convert from food tray 100 shown in fig. 3 to the food box shown in fig. 4. As shown in fig. 4, the cover 130 may be extended to a deployed position in which the front portion 130F and the rear portion 130B are aligned to cover the opening 102 (not shown in fig. 4).

Fig. 5 and 6 show the food tray 100 converted into a food box. Referring to fig. 5, walls 120 may include a front wall 120F, a rear wall 120R (not shown in fig. 5) opposite front wall 120F, a pair of

side walls

120A, 120B extending from front wall 120F and rear wall 120R (where one of

side walls

120A, 120B is not shown in fig. 5) such that cover 130 may be connected to rear wall 120R and may be folded onto rear wall 120R to form rear wall 120R of food tray 100. Referring to fig. 5, the opening 102 may be formed by a front wall 120F,

side walls

120A, 120B, and a cover 130 (e.g., a front 130F of the cover 130). Food may be placed into the food tray 100 through the opening 102. As shown in fig. 5, the food tray 100 may have a pair of side flaps 140A, 140B, each pivotally attached to one of the

side walls

120A, 120B. Referring to fig. 5, a pair of side flaps 140A, 140B may be adapted to fold into the food tray 100 into a folded position to form a portion of the wall 120. The pair of side flaps 140A, 140B in the folded position may be adapted to engage the lid 130 to retain the pair of side flaps 140A, 140B and the lid 130 in the folded position.

Referring to fig. 5, to convert food tray 100 into a food box, lid 130 can be rotated about hinge axis 122 (not shown in fig. 5) away from rear wall 120R (not shown in fig. 5) and front portion 130F can be rotated about fold line 130L away from rear portion 130B until front portion 130F is substantially aligned with rear portion 130B, as shown in fig. 6. The side flaps 140A, 140B are first rotated away from the

side walls

120A, 120B and through the opening 102. The front portion 130F of the cover 130 may then be rotated out of the opening 102 about fold line 130L for placing food into the food tray 100. When food is in the food tray 100, the side flaps 140A, 140B can be rotated onto the opening 102, and the lid 130 can be rotated over the side flaps 140A, 140B to close the opening 102. The engaging portion 134E of the retaining mechanism 134 can engage the receiving portion 134R to retain the cover 130 on the food tray 100. In this configuration, the food tray 100 is converted into a food box, as shown in fig. 2. Although the example of food tray 100 in fig. 5 shows food tray 100 having

side flaps

140A, 140B, it is also possible that food tray 100 does not have side flaps, wherein lid 130 can be separately unfolded to cover food tray 100.

As shown in fig. 6, the food tray 100 may have a locking mechanism 136 adapted to lock the front portion 130F of the cover 130 in the folded position. The locking mechanism 136 can include a protrusion 136P extending from a side flap (e.g., side flap 140A), and an aperture 136A disposed on the lid 130 such that the aperture 136A can be adapted to receive the protrusion 136P therein to lock the side flap 140A on the lid 130. In this manner, each

side flap

140A, 140B may include a tab 136P protruding therefrom, thereby forming a pair of tabs 136P such that the pair of tabs 136P may be adapted to engage the pair of apertures 136A, respectively. Thus, the cover 130 may be locked in the folded position. Side flap 140A may have an interface edge 140AE where side flap 140A engages lid 130. The projection 136P may extend from the interface edge 140 AE. The same configuration can be found on side flap 140B.

The cover 130 may include a connecting edge 130C connected to the wall 120, a free edge 130D opposite the connecting edge 130C, and a pair of side edges 130SA, 130SB extending from the connecting edge 130C to the free edge 130D. The connecting edge 130C may be along the hinge axis 122. The free edge 130D may be at the lid flap 132.

The cover 130 has two opposing

corners

138A, 138B at the intersection between the free edge 130D and the side edges 130SA, 130 SB. The side edges 130SA, 130SB can engage the

side walls

120A, 120B of the food tray 100 when the cover 130 is in the folded position. When the side edges 130SA, 130SB engage the

side walls

120A, 120B, the front portion 130F of the cover 130 can be held in the folded position by friction. As shown in fig. 6, two opposing

corners

138A, 138B may be folded to form two folded corners to accommodate the contour of the sidewalls 120A, 120B. As the sides of the rear wall 120R are tapered by the

side walls

120A, 120B, a front portion 130F of the cover 130 that is wider than the rear wall 120R can include folded

corners

138A, 138B, and when the front portion 130F is folded into the folded position, the folded

corners

138A, 138B can be folded away from the rear wall 120R so that the front portion 130F can be adjacent the rear wall 120R. The folded

corners

138A, 138B may be folded along fold lines 138FA, 138 FB. The fold lines 138FA, 138FB may extend from the side edges 130SA, 130SB to the free edges at angles complementary to the angles of the tapered

side walls

120A, 120B. The fold lines 138FA, 138FB can extend across the lid flap 132. The aperture 136A may be disposed along each of the fold lines 138FA, 138FB such that when the folded

corners

138A, 138B are folded when the front portion 130F is in the folded position, the aperture 136A may be disposed at about the intersection between the rear wall 120R and the

side walls

120A, 120B.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an example of a food tray 100 with a close-up view of the locking mechanism 136. As shown in fig. 7, when the side flaps 140A, 140B are folded into the folded position, the tabs 136P of the side flaps 140A, 140B may be slit into the apertures 136A on the cover 130 to lock the side flaps 140A, 140B into the folded position. Thus, the cover flap 132 may also be locked in the folded position. By locking the cover 130 and

side flaps

140A, 140B in the folded position, the front portion 130F and

side flaps

140A, 140B may not be easily unfolded.

Referring to fig. 6, the cover 130 may include a slot 130S such that in the folded position, the slot 130S may be adapted to receive an article 10 (e.g., a napkin) therein (as shown in fig. 1). The slit 130S may be disposed along the folding line 130L. The slit 130S may be curved such that a portion of the front portion 130F is formed on the rear portion 130B. Referring to fig. 1, when the cover 130 is folded, a cut 131C may be formed on the front portion 130F, and an extension 131E may be formed on the rear portion 130B to form a pocket 131 on the cover 130. As previously described, the front portion 130F may extend higher than the wall 120 of the food tray 100. In this manner, the formed pouch 131 may be capable of receiving relatively large items, such as napkins 10, as shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of an example of a food tray 200. Bottom panel 210 of food tray 200 may be any shape, such as square, circular, so long as top edge 220T of wall 220 has a regular quadrilateral shape, such as square, rectangular. As shown in fig. 8, the lid 230 may extend from the wall 120 and fold along a fold line 230L. The lid 230 may include a holder 250 adapted to hold a vessel, such as a spoon, fork, pair of chopsticks. The retainer 250 may be formed on the front 230F of the cover 230. The retainer 250 may be a pair of slits extending in a direction parallel to the side edges 130SA, 130SB of the cover 230. The retainer 250 may be a slot extending in a direction parallel to the free edge 230D or any other equivalent design for holding a vessel.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of an example of a food tray 300. As previously described, the bottom plate 310 of the food tray 300 may be circular. Further, the wall 320 may be higher than the front 330F of the cover 330. In other words, the length of the front portion 330F of the cover 330 may depend on the size of the opening 302 rather than the height of the wall 320. In this example, the front 330F of the cover 330 may extend into the food tray 300, but may not reach the bottom plate 310.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the food tray 300 of fig. 9. At least one of the side flaps 340B may include a recess 342 adapted to receive a container, such as a cup, dish, for example. Each side flap 340A, 340B may include a plurality of cut lines and fold lines to allow the side flap 340A, 340B to be folded to form a useful section. For example, in fig. 10, side flaps 340B may be folded to form a recess 342 for holding a container (not shown in fig. 10). Although the described features are shown in this example, the features may be applicable to other examples in this specification.

The skilled person will appreciate that features described in one example may not be limited to that example and may be combined with any of the other examples.

The present invention relates to a convertible food tray substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Claims

1. A convertible food tray adapted to be converted into a food box, the food tray comprising:

a floor, a wall extending from and surrounding the floor; wherein an opening of the food tray is formed around the wall of the bottom panel; wherein the walls include a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, a pair of side walls extending between the front wall and the rear wall; wherein the food tray further comprises a pair of side flaps, each side flap being pivotally attached to one of the side walls, the pair of side flaps being adapted to be folded into the food tray into a folded position to form the pair of side walls;

A cover pivotally connected to the wall; wherein the cover is connected to the rear wall; wherein the lid includes a fold line thereon; wherein the lid is foldable along the fold line to a folded position and into the food tray onto the rear wall to form the rear wall of the food tray; wherein, in the folded position, the lid forms the wall of the food tray; wherein the lid is expandable to cover the opening of the food tray to form the food box; wherein the pair of side flaps in the folded position are adapted to engage the lid to retain the pair of side flaps and the lid in the folded position.

2. The convertible food tray of claim 1 wherein the lid is connected to the wall along a hinge axis, the fold line being parallel to the hinge axis.

3. The convertible food tray of claim 1 wherein the lid is divided into a front and a back by the fold line, the back being connected to the wall, and the front being foldable into the tray to form the wall.

4. The convertible food tray of claim 3 wherein the front portion includes a retainer adapted to retain a utensil.

5. The convertible food tray of claim 3 further comprising a locking mechanism adapted to lock the front portion in the folded position.

6. The convertible food tray of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises: a connecting edge connected to the wall, a free edge opposite the connecting edge, a pair of side edges extending from the free edge to the connecting edge, a pair of holes respectively disposed adjacent the pair of side edges, the side flaps each including a tab projecting therefrom forming a pair of tabs, wherein the pair of tabs are respectively adapted to engage the pair of holes.

7. The convertible food tray of claim 1 wherein at least one of the side flaps comprises a recess adapted to receive a container.

8. The convertible food tray of claim 1 wherein the lid includes a slot adapted to receive an accessory therein in the folded position.

9. The convertible food tray of claim 8 wherein the slits are disposed along the fold line.