Reconfigurable storage box and cutter

Abstract

A pizza storage container is reconfigurable to form at least one smaller pizza container, such as by folding along prefabricated fold lines. A lid support device, which may be used in combination with the reconfigurable pizza storage container or with a different storage container, serves as a cutting implement for separating pizza stored in the container.

1 . A pizza container comprising:
 a first portion on which an associated pizza can rest;   a cover for covering the pizza, the cover optionally comprising a second portion sized to engage the first portion and substantially close the pizza container;   wherein at least one of the first portion and second portion of the pizza container is configured for folding into a pizza box which is smaller than the pizza container.   
   
   
       2 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second portions comprises fold lines comprising at least one of score lines, creases, and perforations for folding the respective portion into the pizza box. 
   
   
       3 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second portions comprises two spaced fold lines that define an area between the fold lines, the area defining a side wall of the pizza box when the at least one of the first and second portions is folded along the fold lines. 
   
   
       4 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises the second portion which is sized to engage the first portion and substantially close the pizza container. 
   
   
       5 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second portions are each configured for folding into pizza boxes. 
   
   
       6 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the pizza boxes are substantially the same size, each having the capacity of approximately half of the original pizza container. 
   
   
       7 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes a transparent panel for viewing contents of the pizza container and of the pizza box formed therefrom. 
   
   
       8 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the second portion is made substantially entirely of transparent plastic. 
   
   
       9 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes concentric ridges for insulating warm pizza from the relatively cool ambient air. 
   
   
       10 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a packet comprising disposable plates secured to the second portion.   
   
   
       11 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second portions are each formed from a separate blank. 
   
   
       12 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second portions includes opposed side walls comprising opposed notches that aid in folding the at least one of the first and second portions into the pizza box. 
   
   
       13 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the top and bottom portions includes flaps formed from the material of the notches. 
   
   
       14 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the top and bottom portions is formed from a blank by folding without adhesive securement. 
   
   
       15 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the top and bottom portions comprises four side walls of substantially equal length. 
   
   
       16 . The pizza container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a thermally insulated bag that envelops the bottom portion, the bottom portion being configured for folding into the smaller pizza box. 
   
   
       17 . The pizza container of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid support device for spacing the cover from the associated pizza. 
   
   
       18 . The pizza container of  claim 17 , wherein the lid support device comprises a cutter for separating pizza slices. 
   
   
       19 . The pizza container of  claim 17 , wherein the top portion includes a retainer for retaining the lid support device. 
   
   
       20 . A lid support device comprising:
 a top member with a substantially planar surface; and   at least one leg configured for supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal orientation, a first of the at least one legs comprising a cutting edge for separating pizza slices.   
   
   
       21 . The lid support device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one leg comprises at least two legs. 
   
   
       22 . The lid support device of  claim 20 , wherein the first leg extends to a peripheral edge of the top member. 
   
   
       23 . The lid support device of  claim 20 , wherein the top member has a length which is greater than a width of the top member. 
   
   
       24 . The lid support device of  claim 20 , wherein the top member comprises opposed cutouts in a peripheral edge thereof. 
   
   
       25 . The lid support member of  claim 20 , wherein the cutting edge is curved. 
   
   
       26 . The lid support member of  claim 20 , wherein the cutting edge comprises a region for contacting an associated pizza container base portion and wherein the region is equally spaced from the top portion to a distal ends of at least one other of the legs. 
   
   
       27 . In combination, a pizza box and the lid support device of  claim 20  removably received within the pizza box. 
   
   
       28 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of the pizza box comprises fold lines configured for folding the at least the portion to form a smaller pizza box for storing leftover pizza. 
   
   
       29 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the pizza box includes a top portion, the top portion including a retaining member for releasably retaining the lid support member. 
   
   
       30 . In combination, a pizza container and a lid support device, the lid support device including a cutting edge for separating slices of pizza. 
   
   
       31 . The combination of  claim 30 , wherein the lid support device is removable from the container such that the container remains intact. 
   
   
       32 . The combination of  claim 30 , wherein the pizza container includes first and second portions and the support device includes a top member which cooperates with the pizza container to releasably attach the support device to the first portion of the pizza container and at least one leg which extends from the top member towards the second portion of the pizza container, the leg comprising the cutting edge. 
   
   
       33 . A modular system comprising pizza container of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of alternate top portions, each of the alternate top portions being reconfigurable to form a smaller pizza box. 
   
   
       34 . A method of storing leftover pizza comprising:
 separating a pizza box top portion from a pizza box bottom portion;   folding at least a first of the pizza box top portion and pizza box bottom portion along two prefabricated fold lines, to form a smaller pizza storage box;   transferring leftover pizza to the smaller pizza storage box.   
   
   
       35 . The method as set forth in  claim 34 , further comprising:
 folding a second of the pizza box top portion and pizza box bottom pizza box bottom along two pre-fabricated fold lines, to form a second smaller pizza storage box substantially the same size as the first smaller pizza storage box; and   storing a portion of the leftover pizza in the second smaller pizza storage pizza box.   
   
   
       36 . The method as set forth in  claim 34 , further including:
 viewing contents of the smaller pizza storage box through a transparent window in the smaller pizza storage box.