Collapsible/easily disposable food container

Abstract

Collapsible food containers of this invention comprise an upper and lower panel, each including a leading edge at a front portion of each panel, and a trailing edge at a rear portion of each panel. Each trailing edge is connected together by a rear panel interposed therebetween. Each panel further comprises side edges that are opposite one another and that extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge of each upper and lower panel. The container includes a first relief disposed along a surface of at least one of the upper or lower panels. The first relief extends along an axis running between opposed side edges to form a container first fold area to reduce the size of the container by approximately one half. The container can include a second relief that is disposed along a surface of at least one of the upper or lower panels. The second relief extends along an axis running perpendicular to the axis defining the first relief to form a second fold area to facilitate folding the container about the second fold area to reduce the size of the container by approximately one quarter.

1 . A collapsible food container comprising: 
 an upper and lower panel comprising: 
 a leading edge at a front portion of each panel;  
 a trailing edge at a rear portion of each panel, the trailing edge of each panel being connected together by a rear panel interposed therebetween;  
 side edges that are opposite one another and that extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge of each upper and lower panel;  
   a first relief disposed along a surface of at least one of the upper or lower panels and extending along an axis running between opposed side edges to form a first fold area, the first relief being positioned near a midpoint between the leading edge and trailing edge;    wherein the first relief facilitates folding the container about the first area to reduce the size of the container by approximately one half.    
   
   
       2 . The container as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a second relief disposed along a surface of at lest one of the upper or lower panels and extending along an axis running perpendicular to the axis defining the first relief to form a second fold area, the second relief being positioned near a midpoint between the opposed side edges, and wherein the second relief facilitates folding the container about the second fold area to reduce the size of the container by approximately one quarter.  
   
   
       3 . The container as recited in  claim 1  further comprising means for attaching adjacent portions of the container together when the container is folded two times about the first and second reliefs.  
   
   
       4 . The container as recited in  claim 3  wherein the attaching means is integral with the container.  
   
   
       5 . The container as recited in  claim 4  wherein the attaching means comprises a tongue in groove attachment, wherein opposed surfaces of the container are configured having a tongue member and a cooperating groove member.  
   
   
       6 . The container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the lower panel further comprises a front side panel attached to its leading edge, and side panels attached to its opposed side edges, wherein the front side panel and side panels project outwardly in a perpendicular manner from the lower panel to form a box structure and a terminal edge of the front side panel is engaged with the lower panel to maintain such structure, wherein the front side panel includes means for disengaging the front side panel from the lower panel.  
   
   
       7 . The container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first relief comprises perforations provided along an inside surface of the lower panel.  
   
   
       8 . The container as recited in  claim 7  wherein the first relief comprises perforations provided along an outside surface of the upper panel.  
   
   
       9 . The container as recited in  claim 2  wherein the second relief comprises perforations provided along an inside surface of the lower panel.  
   
   
       10 . The container as recited in  claim 9  wherein the second relief comprises perforations provided along an outside surface of the upper panel.  
   
   
       11 . A collapsible food container comprising: 
 an upper and lower panel each being formed from a single-piece blank comprising: 
 a leading edge at a front portion of each panel;  
 a trailing edge at a rear portion of each panel, the trailing edge of each panel being connected together by a rear panel interposed therebetween;  
 side edges that are opposite one another and that extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge of each upper and lower panel;  
   a first relief disposed along a surface of at least one of the upper or lower panels and extending along an axis defined between the opposed side edges to form a first fold area, the first relief being positioned near a midpoint between the leading edge and trailing edge, and    a second relief disposed along a surface of at least one of the upper or lower panels and extending along an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the first relief to form a second fold area, the second relief being positioned near a midpoint between the opposed side edges;    wherein the first relief facilitates folding the container about the first area to reduce the size of the container by approximately one half, and    and wherein the second relief facilitates folding the container about the second fold area to reduce the size of the container by approximately one quarter; and    means for attaching adjacent portions of the container together when the container is folded two times about the first and second reliefs.    
   
   
       12 . The container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the attaching means is integral with the container.  
   
   
       13 . The container as recited in  claim 12  wherein the attaching means comprises a tongue in groove attachment, wherein opposed surfaces of the container are configured having a tongue member and a cooperating groove member.  
   
   
       14 . The container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the lower panel further comprises a front side panel attached to its leading edge, and side panels attached to its opposed side edges, wherein the front side panel and side panels project outwardly in a perpendicular manner from the lower panel to form a box structure and a terminal edge of the front side panel is engaged with the lower panel to maintain such structure, wherein the front side panel includes means for disengaging the front side panel from the lower panel.  
   
   
       15 . The container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the first relief comprises perforations provided along an inside surface of the lower panel.  
   
   
       16 . The container as recited in  claim 15  wherein the first relief comprises perforations provided along an outside surface of the upper panel.  
   
   
       17 . The container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the second relief comprises perforations provided along an inside surface of the lower panel.  
   
   
       18 . The container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the second relief comprises perforations provided along an outside surface of the upper panel.  
   
   
       19 . A collapsible pizza container comprising: 
 an upper panel having an upper front side panel and two opposed upper side panels defining three upper panel edges that each project orthogonally therefrom;    a lower panel having a front side panel and two opposed side panels defining three lower panel edges that each project orthogonally therefrom;    a rear side panel interposed between and hingedly attached to a fourth edge of each upper and lower panel, the upper and lower panels each being formed from a single-piece blank and further comprising:    a first relief disposed along at least one of the upper and lower panel surfaces and extending along an axis running between the side panels, the first relief being positioned adjacent a midpoint between the front side panel and the rear side panel;    a second relief disposed along at least one of the upper and lower panel surfaces and extending along an axis perpendicular to the first relief, the second relief being positioned adjacent a midpoint between the side panels; and    wherein, when the container is in an assembled state, the upper and lower panels are positioned parallel to each other with the respective front side panels and respective two side panels of the upper and lower panels being positioned adjacent one another; and    wherein the first and second reliefs provide respective first and second fold areas to fold the container into one quarter of its assembled size.    
   
   
       20 . The container as recited in  claim 19  further comprising means for attaching folded sections of the container together when the container is folded into one quarter of its assembled size.  
   
   
       21 . The container as recited in  claim 20  wherein the attaching means is integral with one or both of the upper and lower panels.  
   
   
       22 . The container as recited in  claim 19  wherein the first relief is disposed along each of the upper and lower panels.  
   
   
       23 . The container as recited in  claim 22  wherein the first relief is disposed along an inside surface of the lower panel, and is disposed along an outside surface of the upper panel.  
   
   
       24 . The container as recited in  claim 19  wherein the second relief is disposed along each of the upper and lower panels.  
   
   
       25 . The container as recited in  claim 24  wherein the second relief is disposed along an inside surface of the lower panel, and is disposed along an outside surface of the upper panel  
   
   
       26 . A method for collapsing a food container including an upper panel having an upper front side panel and two opposed upper side panels defining three upper panel edges, the upper front side panel and two upper side panels being integral with the upper panel, a lower panel having a front side panel and two opposed side panels defining three lower panel edges, the lower front side panel and two lower side panels being integral with the lower panel lower, and a rear side panel interposed between and integral with a fourth edge of each upper and lower panel, the rear side panel connecting together and enabling movement of the upper and lower panels relative to one another, in an assembled state the upper and lower panels being positioned parallel to each other with the respective front side panels and respective two side panels of the upper and lower panels being positioned adjacent one another, the method comprising the steps of: 
 folding the assembled container in approximately half about a first relief disposed along at least one of the upper and lower panels, and placing the opposed container half sections close to one another; and    folding the container half sections in approximately half about a second relief disposed at least one of the upper and lower panels and positioned perpendicular to the first relief.    
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 26  further comprising the step of securing together finally folded container sections by an attachment means integral with the container.