Heat-retaining food carton

Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Thermally insulated

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C229S185100, C229S902000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06196448

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cartons made of foldable material and, in particular, to corrugated blanks and boxes for hot food products such as pizza, breadsticks, and other hot foods.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the restaurant and pizza industries, each year millions of orders of “side items” are packaged for delivery and carry-out. Examples of such products include breadsticks, chicken wings, and fried foods like onion rings, fried mozzarella sticks, and french fried potatoes.
Most companies have three main objectives in packaging these foods. First, they want to retain the product's heat or, more precisely, they want to reduce transfer of heat from the food product through the panels of the carton. Second, they want to prevent the product from becoming soggy as a result of water condensation forming on the inner surfaces of the carton. (Water condensation derives from steam released by the hot food.) Third, they want a carton that will accomplish the first two objectives in a cost-effective manner.
Companies have found ways of achieving either of the first two objectives individually but have had difficulty achieving both simultaneously. For example, to accomplish the heat retention objective, companies can use a high-insulating styrofoam-type carton. However, this results in condensation forming inside the carton which, in turn, creates a soggy food product. Conversely, companies can resolve the condensation problem by using a conventional-style carton made of corrugated paperboard, but this type of carton tends to result in delivery of “cold” food due to rapid dissipation or loss of heat from the food product through the walls, cover, and bottom panel of the carton. So there has remained a problem in the restaurant and pizza industries of how to retain the heat of hot carry-out foods while also avoiding condensation build-up inside the carton.
In addition, companies also desire packaging that is cost-effective or uses no more material than is absolutely necessary to accomplish the first two objectives. A way of reducing material in a fold-up style of corrugated box is to eliminate the front flap on the cover panel. However, in virtually all styles of fold-up corrugated boxes a cover front flap is required for maintaining the cover in a closed position. However, if a means could be provided for achieving cover closure without a cover front flap or any other material-consuming flap, it would be highly desirable.
Prior art pertaining to heat-retaining corrugated boxes is virtually non-existent. However, a pertinent box is disclosed by Tinsley U.S. Pat. No. 1,649,088 granted Nov. 15, 1927.
Prior art pertaining to fold-up corrugated boxes having no cover front flap is also minimal. However, a box having a pertinent cover closure retention means is disclosed by Speese et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,466 granted Jul. 13, 1999.
However, neither of these prior art references discloses a carton that (a) eliminates condensation and also provides a substantial reduction in heat loss through the walls and cover panel of the carton and (b) provides for retention of the cover in closed position without use of a cover front flap.
In conclusion, it would be highly desirable to provide a paperboard carton that eliminates condensation and simultaneously provides for reduced heat loss. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide a means for securing cover closure without use of a cover front flap. Such a box would solve the above-described problems associated with hot food packaging and achieve the above-described three objectives. In turn, this would enable restaurant and pizzeria companies to provide enhanced-quality products. My invention enables all of that to be done.
OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, the main object of my invention is a cost-effective carton that provides enhanced heat retention while avoiding condensation build-up. The advantage of this carton is enhanced quality of delivery and carry-out foods.
A secondary object of my invention is a corrugated carton that provides a means of retaining the carton's cover in closed position without use of a cover front flap. The advantage of this is material and cost savings.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, related drawings, and appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a box is created that incorporates one or both of the following structures:
(a) a heat-retention structure comprising a unitary plurality of hingedly connected heat-retention panels disposed inside the box, or interior to the bottom panel, walls, and/or cover panel of the box;
(b) a cover closure retention means for a cover panel that has no front flap, the cover closure retention means comprising a cover side flap disposed in a flap-receiving slit in a fold line joining a front corner flap to a side wall.
A complete understanding of the invention can be obtained from the detailed description that follows.


REFERENCES:
patent: 564592 (1896-07-01), Craw
patent: 579105 (1897-03-01), Brown
patent: 618468 (1899-01-01), Knobeloch
patent: 690575 (1902-01-01), Herre
patent: 1566505 (1925-12-01), Pinkerton
patent: 1649088 (1927-11-01), Tinsley
patent: 1908841 (1933-05-01), Hawks
patent: 2620116 (1952-12-01), McDonough
patent: 4530459 (1985-07-01), Maroszek
patent: 4809908 (1989-03-01), Keefe et al.
patent: 4957237 (1990-09-01), Madonna et al.
patent: 5223121 (1993-06-01), Dickie et al.
patent: 5269457 (1993-12-01), De La Fuente
patent: 5615796 (1997-04-01), Rench
patent: 5921466 (1999-07-01), Speese et al.

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