Food holding containers

Abstract

A liner box for transporting at least one tray. The liner box includes a base and a plurality of walls that are integrally connected with and extend upwardly from the base. The plurality of walls includes a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall. Each of the first and second walls includes a generally vertical opening for grasping and lifting at least one tray from the liner box by a user's fingers or hands.

1 . A liner box for transporting at least one tray comprising a base, and a plurality of walls integrally connected with and extending upwardly from the base, the plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall, wherein the first wall and second wall each include a generally vertical opening for grasping and lifting at least one tray from the liner box by a user's fingers or hands.  
   
   
       2 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the liner box is for transporting at least two trays and the generally vertical openings extend near a top of the liner box such that a user may grasp an uppermost tray in the liner box.  
   
   
       3 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the liner box is for transporting at least two trays and the generally vertical openings extend near the base of the liner box such that a user may grasp a bottommost tray in the liner box.  
   
   
       4 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the liner box includes a top edge located farthest from the base and a bottom edge located nearest the base, the opposing vertical openings extend substantially from the bottom edge of the liner box to the top edge of the liner box.  
   
   
       5 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls each include a single, generally vertical opening.  
   
   
       6 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls each include a plurality of generally vertical openings.  
   
   
       7 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the plurality of walls are constructed of cardboard.  
   
   
       8 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the connection of each of the plurality of walls occurs at a respective corner, each of the corners includes a gusset.  
   
   
       9 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the generally vertical openings are substantially vertical openings.  
   
   
       10 . The liner box of  claim 1 , wherein the generally vertical openings are vertical openings.  
   
   
       11 . A system for transporting items comprising: 
 a liner box comprising a base and four walls integrally connected and extending upwardly from the base, each of the four walls having a bottom edge located nearest the base and a top edge located farthest from the base, at least two opposing walls including a generally vertical opening;    a tray for insertion into the liner box, the tray including a lip; and    a cover box for covering the tray and liner box, wherein each of the generally vertical openings extends from near the bottom edge of the liner box to the top edge of the liner box, such that the tray may be grasped and lifted out of the liner box by a user's fingers or hands.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lip of the tray does not include any indentations.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the generally vertical openings is a substantially vertical slot.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the generally vertical openings is a vertical slot.  
   
   
       15 . A method for forming a liner box for transporting at least one tray, the method comprising: 
 providing a base;    providing a plurality of walls integrally connected with and extending upwardly from the base, the plurality of walls includes a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall; and    creating a generally vertical opening within the first wall and the second wall, the generally vertical openings adapted for grasping and lifting at least one tray from the liner box by a user's fingers or hands.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the liner box is adapted to transport at least two trays, and wherein creating a generally vertical opening further comprises extending the opening near the base, such that the fingers or hands of a user could grasp and lift a bottommost tray.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the liner box is adapted to transport at least two trays, and wherein creating a generally vertical opening further comprises extending the opening near a top edge of the liner box, such that a user could grasp an uppermost tray.  
   
   
       18 . A method of using a liner box comprising: 
 providing a liner box having a base and a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall;    providing a generally vertical opening within each of the first and second walls;    providing at least one tray in the liner box;    grasping at least one tray in the liner box through the generally vertical openings via a user's fingers or hand; and    lifting at least one tray out of the liner box via the user's fingers or hands.