Pizza box

Abstract

A folded pizza box is formed from a lay flat blank for retaining, transporting and serving hot pizza. The blank includes an arrangement of end panels, side panels and lid panels foldable relative to a bottom panel such that, in the erected box, the lid panels overlap and are interlocked with the end panels by frictionally engaged detents. The side panels slant upwardly and inwardly from the bottom panel to add rigidity and save material for the carton. The end panels flare upwardly and outwardly from the bottom panel to prevent shifting of stacked boxes. The lid panels each have less width than the bottom panel and do not extend completely across the width of a box erected from the blank.

1 . A pizza box having length and width dimensions and comprising: 
 a substantially flat and rectangular bottom panel having opposite end edges and opposite side edges;    a pair of opposed end panels foldably connected to opposite end edges of the bottom panel;    a pair of opposed side panels foldably connected to opposite side edges of the bottom panel;    a lid panel foldably connected at one edge to each of said side panels and having an opposite free edge, said lid panels each having a width substantially less than the width of the box but wide enough to overlap at their free edges when the lid panels are in closed position; and    cooperating detent means on the lid panels and end panels to lock the lid panels in closed position.    
   
   
       2 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said detent means comprises:    projections on an upper edge of each end panel, said projections extending above the lid panels when the lid panels are in their closed position;    slots formed in the projections substantially coplanar with the lid panels; and    laterally projecting locking tabs projecting outwardly from opposite side edges of the lid panels in positions to extend through the slots.    
   
   
       3 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a latching tab projects into each slot; and    a bendable tab is formed in an adjacent edge of each lid panel in position to cooperate with the latching tab to latch the lid panels closed.    
   
   
       4 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the free edge of each lid panel is stepped or offset at its center, defining a wider leading edge and a recessed edge, said edges being connected by an angled shoulder and arranged so that the wider leading edge of one lid panel is opposed to the recessed edge of the opposite lip panel and said angled shoulders are in substantial alignment with one another; and    the leading edge of one lid panel overlapping with the recessed edge of the opposite lid panel when the lid panels are in closed position.    
   
   
       5 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 a latching tab projects into each slot; and    a bendable tab is formed in an adjacent edge of each lid panel in position to cooperate with the latching tab to latch the lid panels closed.    
   
   
       6 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said detent means comprises: 
 at least one locking tab projecting upwardly from an upper edge of each end panel; and    a slot formed in a side edge of each lid panel in position to receive the locking tab when the lid panel is in closed position.    
   
   
       7 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said lid panels have a width greater than the length dimension of the box so that the lid panels overhang the end walls of the box.    
   
   
       8 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 there are two locking tabs projecting upwardly from each end panel; and    the lid panels each have a slot in opposite side edges thereof in positions to receive the locking tabs on the end panels.    
   
   
       9 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 there is only one locking tab projecting upwardly from each end panel, and only one slot in each lid panel in positions to receive the respective locking tabs, said locking tabs and corresponding slots being located on opposite ends of the box and on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the box.    
   
   
       10 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the detent means comprises: 
 a flap depending from each of the opposite side edges of each lid panel;    at least one generally V-shaped notch in a lower edge of each flap; and    at least one generally V-shaped notch in an upper edge of each end panel in positions to engage with said at least one notch in the flaps when the lid panels are in closed position, said flaps having a portion lying against an outer surface of the associated end panel and a portion lying against an inner surface of the associated end panel to frictionally hold the lid panels closed.    
   
   
       11 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 each flap has only one generally V-shaped notch, positioned closer to the free edge of the associated lid panel than to the side wall to which the lid panel is foldably connected.    
   
   
       12 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the flaps have an end adjacent to but spaced from the free edge of each lid panel, whereby the free edge extends beyond the flap so that when the lid panels are in closed position and the free edges thereof overlap, the flaps do not interfere with closing of the lid panels.    
   
   
       13 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 opposite side edges of the end panels angle inwardly toward an upper edge thereof; and    the side panels are inwardly inclined toward an upper edge thereof.    
   
   
       14 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the dimensions of the bottom panel are such that the bottom of an upper box fits between the projections of a lower box when the boxes are stacked on top of one another.    
   
   
       15 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the dimensions of the bottom panel are such that the bottom of an upper box fits between the locking tabs of a lower box when the boxes are stacked on top of one another.    
   
   
       16 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the dimensions of the bottom panel are such that the bottom of an upper box fits between the projections of a lower box when the boxes are stacked on top of one another.    
   
   
       17 . A pizza box as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the dimensions of the bottom panel are such that the bottom of an upper box fits between the projections of a lower box when the boxes are stacked on top of one another.    
   
   
       18 . A method of packaging a pizza baked in an oven, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flat blank comprising a substantially rectangular bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels foldably connected to opposite side edges of the bottom panel, a pair of opposed lid panels foldably connected to the side panels, a pair of opposed end panels foldably connected to opposite end edges of the bottom panel, and cooperating detent means on the lid panels and end panels to lock the lid panels in closed position;    removing a pizza from the oven and placing it directly onto the bottom panel;    slicing the pizza on the bottom panel; and    folding the side and end panels and the lid panels to enclose the pizza.    
   
   
       19 . A foldable blank for making a pizza box, said blank comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular bottom panel having length and width dimensions;    a pair of opposed end panels foldably connected to opposite end edges of the bottom panel;    a pair of opposed side panels foldably connected to opposite side edges of the bottom panel;    a pair of opposed lid panels, each foldably connected to a respective opposite side panel and having a free outer edge and opposite side edges, said lid panels each having a width substantially less than the width of the bottom panel; and    cooperating detent means on the lid panels and the end panels to lock the lid panels in closed position.