Convertible Pizza Box

Abstract

A container for pizza formable into a smaller, space saving box useful as, for example, refrigerator containers for pizza slices. Also disclosed are easily environmentally friendly disposable pizza boxes.

1 . A box useful for pizza, the box comprising:
 a first portion having a perimeter defined by opposing longitudinal side edges, a front edge and a back edge;   a second portion having a perimeter defined by opposing longitudinal side edges, a front edge and a back edge, the second portion being hingedly coupled to the first portion;   a pair of side walls each hingedly coupled to one of the opposing longitudinal side edges of the first portion, wherein each side wall comprises one or more tearable score line defining a removable segment of said side wall;   a front end wall hingedly coupled to a front edge of one of the first portion and the second portion;   a back end wall hingedly coupled to a back edge of one of the first portion and the second portion; and   a transverse score line on the first portion and extending substantially between the opposing longitudinal side edges of the first portion, and   wherein each side wall comprises said one or more tearable score line defining a removable, substantially non-triangular side wall segment and a non-removable substantially triangular side wall segment.   
     
     
         2 . The box of  claim 1  being, in an unfolded state, a one piece blank. 
     
     
         3 . The box of  claim 1  wherein the transverse score line is offset from a centerline of the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The box of  claim 1  wherein each of the side walls of the first portion includes a removable segment. 
     
     
         5 . The box of  claim 1  wherein each of said non-removable substantially triangular side wall segments has an edge coextensive along at least a portion of one of the opposing longitudinal side edges of the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The box of  claim 1  wherein, when the second portion is separated from the first portion, the one or more removable side wall segment of each side wall is removed and the first portion is folded along the transverse score line, the first portion defines a container having a tapering depth. 
     
     
         7 . The box of  claim 1  which comprises recycled materials. 
     
     
         8 . The box of  claim 1  wherein the second portion includes second portion score lines to facilitate breaking the second portion into a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         9 . The box of  claim 8  wherein at least two of the second portion score lines cross each other at substantially right angles. 
     
     
         10 . The box of  claim 8  wherein each of the plurality of segments is substantially equal in size. 
     
     
         11 . A space saving box for pizza comprising:
 a substantially flat first portion having a perimeter defined by opposing longitudinal side edges,   a front edge and a back edge;   a pair of side walls each coupled to one of the opposing longitudinal side edges of the first portion, each of the side walls having two substantially triangular segments,   a front end wall coupled to the front edge of the first portion, and   a substantially continuously flat second portion having a front edge and a back edge, said back edge defined by a creased transverse score line hingingly coupling said second portion to the back edge of the first portion; wherein when said box is in a closed position the front edge of said second portion contacts the front end wall of the first portion defining a substantially enclosed interior space of tapering depth for containing one or more pizza slice.   
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 11  wherein the transverse score line is offset from a centerline of the portion. 
     
     
         13 . A method for transporting pizza and storing leftover pizza comprising,
 placing a pizza within a box useful for pizza, the box comprising: a first portion having a perimeter defined by opposing longitudinal side edges, a front edge and a back edge; a second portion having a perimeter defined by opposing longitudinal side edges, a front edge and a back edge, the second portion being hingedly coupled to the first portion; a pair of side walls each hingedly coupled to one of the opposing longitudinal side edges of the first portion, each of the side walls including one or more score line defining a removable segment that is not substantially triangular, and a non-removable substantially triangular segment; a front end wall hingedly coupled to the front edge of one of the first portion and the second portion; a back end wall hingedly coupled to the back edge of the first portion and the second portion; and a transverse score line extending across the first portion, the transverse score line located between and spaced apart from the front edge of the first portion and the back edge of the first portion, and extending substantially between the opposing longitudinal side edges of the first portion; the box being structured such that when the second portion is separated from the first portion, the removable segment of each side wall removed, and the separated first portion is creased along the transverse score line, the first portion, in an assembled condition, defines a container having an outer front wall, a hinge opposing the outer front wall and defined by the creased transverse score line, and a substantially tapering depth that decreases from the outer front wall to the creased transverse score line, and   placing leftover pizza slices within the container so assembled for storage and later consumption.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said box is, in an unfolded state, a one piece blank. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the transverse scoreline of said box is offset from a centerline of the first portion. 
     
     
         16 . The box of  claim 14  wherein each of the side walls of the first portion includes at least one side wall score line to facilitate removal of the removable segment. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the container is sized to fit on a shelf of a refrigerator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the container is shaped to allow one container to be stably stacked on top of another while occupying substantially the same shelf area as a single container.