Quality maintaining pizza/food take-out box

Abstract

A pizza box having a plurality of ribs, which are selectively moveable between a first stored position and a second upright position is provided. The ribs are coupled to at least one actuating strip, which enables the ribs to be simultaneously shifted from the first stored position to the second upright position. The ribs and the actuating strip are formed from the same piece of cardboard. The actuating strip may be configured to interlock with the box or with an actuating strip from another plurality of ribs to maintain the ribs in the second upright position.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A pizza box, having a top and a bottom, and adapted to house a pizza while maintaining a portion of the pizza off of the bottom of the pizza box, said pizza box comprising: 
 a plurality of ribs, secured to said bottom, selectively moveable between a storage position and a support position, said storage position being substantially flat relative to said bottom and said support position being substantially perpendicular relative to said bottom;    a connector coupled to at least two of said plurality of ribs, wherein said connector is configured to simultaneously move said at least two ribs between said storage position and said support position.    
     
     
         2 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said connector is further configured to mate with said pizza box to maintain said at least two ribs in said support position.  
     
     
         3 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 another connector coupled to at least two others of said plurality of ribs, wherein said connector is configured to simultaneously move said at least two other ribs between said storage position and said support position.  
 
     
     
         4 . The pizza box according to  claim 3  wherein said connector and said another connector are configured to mate with each other to maintain said at least two ribs and said at least two other ribs in said support position.  
     
     
         5 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said at least two ribs are integral with said connector.  
     
     
         6 . The pizza box according to  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a third connector coupled to a third set of at least two of said plurality of ribs, wherein said third connector is configured to simultaneously move said third set of ribs between said storage position and said support position, and  
 a fourth connector coupled to a fourth set of at least two of said plurality of ribs, wherein said fourth connector is configured to simultaneously move said fourth set of ribs between said storage position and said support position,  
 said third and fourth connectors being configured to mate with each other to maintain said third and fourth sets of ribs in said support position.  
 
     
     
         7 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said plurality of ribs having a hole therein.  
     
     
         8 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said box has a pair of opposed spaced apart walls and each of said ribs include elongated continuous support strips extending substantially between said opposed walls.  
     
     
         9 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said box has a pair of opposed spaced apart walls and each of said ribs include elongated continuous support strips extending substantially half way between said opposed walls.  
     
     
         10 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said box has a pair of opposed spaced apart walls and a second pair of opposed spaced apart walls juxtaposed to said first pair, a plurality of said ribs include elongated continuous support strips extending substantially between one of said pair of opposed walls and one of said second pair of opposed walls.  
     
     
         11 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of ribs includes a base portion and a support portion, said support portion having a bottom edge, wherein each of said plurality of ribs are coupled to said bottom by said base portion and said support portion is coupled to said base portion by less than the entire bottom edge.  
     
     
         12 . The pizza box according to  claim 11  wherein said at least two ribs are integral with said connector and said base portions are integral with said support portions.  
     
     
         13 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of ribs are secured in spaced parallel alignment and configured in said support position to support a heated food within said box in a portion spaced apart from said bottom while minimizing a surface area contacting said supported food.  
     
     
         14 . The pizza box according to  claim 1  wherein said connector is coupled to at least three of said plurality of ribs, and said connector is configured to simultaneously move said at least three ribs between said storage position and said support position.  
     
     
         15 . A method of supporting a pizza in a pizza box comprising: 
 connecting a plurality of ribs to a bottom of the box; wherein at least two of said plurality of ribs are coupled a common connector; and,    simultaneously moving said at least two of the ribs with said common connector from a substantially flat position relative to said bottom to a substantially perpendicular position relative to said bottom.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising mating said common connector with said box.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising: 
 connecting another plurality of ribs to the bottom of the box; wherein at least two of said another plurality of ribs are coupled another common connector;  
 simultaneously moving said at least two of the another plurality of ribs with said another common connector from a substantially flat position relative to said bottom to a substantially perpendicular position relative to said bottom; and,  
 mating said common connector with said another common connector.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising cutting at least one hole in at least one of said plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising cutting at least one hole in at least one of said plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising supporting a pizza on said plurality of ribs while said ribs are in said substantially perpendicular position.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus for supporting a pizza in a pizza box having a bottom, said apparatus comprising: 
 a blank of material cut into: 
 a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs having a top edge a bottom edge and two side edges,  
 a connector connected to a portion of said side edge of each of said plurality of ribs; and,  
 a plurality of bases respectively connected to a portion of the plurality of ribs and configured to be coupled to said pizza box;  
 wherein said connector is configured to simultaneously move said plurality of ribs from a substantially flat position relative to said bottom to a substantially perpendicular position relative to said bottom when said plurality of bases are coupled to said pizza box.  
   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21  further comprising: 
 said connector being configured to mate with said pizza box when said plurality of ribs are in said substantially perpendicular position.  
 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a second blank of material substantially identical to said blank of material, wherein said connectors of said blank and second blank are configured to mate with each other when said plurality of ribs are in said substantially perpendicular position.  
 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus for supporting a pizza in a delivery box having a top a bottom and a plurality of walls, said apparatus comprising: 
 coupling means for coupling said apparatus to said box;    support means coupled to a portion of said coupling means, configured to move between a first substantially flat position relative to said bottom and a second substantially perpendicular position relative to said bottom, for supporting said pizza; and,    connector means coupled to a portion of said support means, for selectively moving said support means between said first and second positions and for maintaining said support means in said second position.