blank for a box, a box folded from the blank and a box convertible into a serving tray

Abstract

This invention relates to a foldable blank 10 and a box 12 folded from the blank 10 . The box 12 defines a cavity 14 for receiving two pizzas 16 and 18 , one stacked on top of the other. The box 12 comprises a base portion 20 on which a first pizza 16 is receivable, a stacking portion 22 hingedly coupled to the base portion 20 and locatable within the cavity 14 for receiving a second pizza 18 , and a lid portion 24 also hingedly coupled to the base portion 20 for opening and closing the cavity 14 . The arrangement is such that the lid portion 24 and stacking portion 22 are removable from the base portion 20 so that the base portion 20 is adapted to provide a first serving tray 26 for serving the first pizza 16 and the stacking portion 22 provides a second serving tray 28 for serving the second pizza 18.

1 . A single-piece blank foldable into a box defining a cavity for receiving at least two food products, the blank comprising a base portion on which a first food product is receivable, a stacking portion hingedly coupled to the base portion and locatable within the cavity of the box when the box is formed for receiving a second food product, and a lid portion also hingedly coupled to the base portion being openable and closable to open and close the cavity within the box when the box is formed. 
     
     
         2 . A blank according to  claim 1  wherein the arrangement is such that the blank includes various score lines, some being fold lines and some being tear lines, so that the lid and stacking portions are removable from the base portion so that the base portion is adapted to provide a first serving tray for serving the first food product and the stacking portion provides a second serving tray for serving the second food product. 
     
     
         3 . A blank according to  claim 2  wherein the base portion includes a substantially flat base panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and a pair of opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line, a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line and a rear wall extending from the rear edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         4 . A blank according to  claim 3  wherein the base panel defines first and second receiving formations in the form of a first pair of slots and a second slot respectively, for facilitating formation of the first serving tray. 
     
     
         5 . A blank according to  claim 4  wherein the stacking portion includes a stacking panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line, a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line and a rear wall extending from the rear edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         6 . A blank according to  claim 5  wherein the stacking portion is hingedly and removably connected to the base portion at a first tear line defined between the front wall of the stacking portion and the front wall of the base portion, so that the stacking portion is foldable into and out of the cavity and removable from the base portion. 
     
     
         7 . A blank according to  claim 6  wherein a hold tab is coupled to the front wall of the base portion and removably coupled to the stacking portion via the first tear line, so that when the stacking portion is removed from the base portion, the hold tab remains coupled to the front wall of the base portion. 
     
     
         8 . A blank according to  claim 7  wherein the hold tab includes a first connecting formation in the form of a first pair of tabs adapted to be received by the first receiving formation. 
     
     
         9 . A blank according to  claim 8  wherein the lid portion includes a lid panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line and a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         10 . A blank according to  claim 9  wherein the rear edge of the lid portion is hingedly coupled to the upper end of the rear wall of the base portion at a fold line, so that the lid portion is foldable to open and close the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . A blank according to  claim 10  wherein the lid portion defines a second tear line spaced from and parallel to the fold line where the lid portion is coupled to the base portion, so that a major part of the lid portion is removable from the box, so that the rear wall of the base portion includes an extended rear wall portion, so that the first serving tray is formed by folding the base portion. 
     
     
         12 . A blank according to  claim 11  wherein the extended rear wall portion includes a second connecting formation in the form of a second tab adapted to be received by the second receiving formation in the base panel. 
     
     
         13 . A box defining a cavity for receiving at least two food products, the box comprising a base portion on which a first food product is receivable, a stacking portion hingedly coupled to the base portion and located within the cavity for receiving a second food product, and a lid portion also hingedly coupled to the base portion being openable and closable to open and close the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . A box according to  claim 13  wherein the arrangement is such that the box includes various score lines, some being fold lines and some being tear lines, so that the lid and stacking portions are removable from the base portion so that the base portion is adapted to provide a first serving tray for serving the first food product and the stacking portion provides a second serving tray for serving the second food product. 
     
     
         15 . A box according to  claim 14  wherein the base portion includes a substantially flat base panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and a pair of opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line, a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line and a rear wall extending from the rear edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         16 . A box according to  claim 15  wherein the base panel defines first and second receiving formations in the form of a first pair of slots and a second slot respectively, for facilitating formation of the first serving tray. 
     
     
         17 . A box according to  claim 16  wherein the stacking portion includes a stacking panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line, a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line and a rear wall extending from the rear edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         18 . A box according to  claim 17  wherein the stacking portion is hingedly and removably connected to the base portion at a first tear line defined between the front wall of the stacking portion and the front wall of the base portion, so that the stacking portion is foldable into and out of the cavity and removable from the base portion. 
     
     
         19 . A box according to  claim 18  wherein a hold tab is coupled to the front wall of the base portion and removably coupled to the stacking portion via the first tear line, so that when the stacking portion is removed from the base portion, the hold tab remains coupled to the front wall of the base portion. 
     
     
         20 . A box according to  claim 19  wherein the hold tab includes a first connecting formation in the form of a first pair of tabs adapted to be received by the first receiving formation. 
     
     
         21 . A box according to  claim 20  wherein the lid portion includes a lid panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line and a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         22 . A box according to  claim 21  wherein the rear edge of the lid portion is hingedly coupled to the upper end of the rear wall of the base portion at a fold line, so that the lid portion is foldable to open and close the cavity. 
     
     
         23 . A box according to  claim 22  wherein the lid portion defines a second tear line spaced from and parallel to the fold line where the lid portion is coupled to the base portion, so that a major part of the lid portion is removable from the box, so that the rear wall of the base portion includes an extended rear wall portion, so that the first serving tray is formed by the base portion. 
     
     
         24 . A box according to  claim 23  wherein the extended rear wall portion includes a second connecting formation in the form of a second tab adapted to be received by the second receiving formation in the base panel. 
     
     
         25 . A box defining a cavity for receiving a food product, the box comprising a base portion on which the food product is receivable and a lid portion hingedly coupled to the base portion being openable and closable to open and close the cavity, the arrangement being such that the box includes various score lines, some being fold lines and some being tear lines, so that the lid is removable from the base portion and the base portion is adapted to be formed into a serving tray for serving the food product. 
     
     
         26 . A box according to  claim 25  wherein the base portion includes a substantially flat base panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and a pair of opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line, a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line and a rear wall extending from the rear edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         27 . A box according to  claim 26  wherein the base panel defines first and second receiving formations in the form of a first pair of slots and a second slot respectively, for facilitating formation of the first serving tray is formed. 
     
     
         28 . A box according to  claim 27  wherein the lid portion includes a lid panel having a perimeter defined by opposing side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; and opposing side walls extending from the respective side edges at a fold line and a front wall extending from the front edge at a fold line. 
     
     
         29 . A box according to  claim 28  wherein the rear edge of the lid portion is hingedly coupled to the upper end of the rear wall of the base portion at a fold line, so that the lid portion is foldable to open and close the cavity. 
     
     
         30 . A box according to  claim 29  wherein the lid portion defines a second tear line spaced from and parallel to the fold line where the lid portion is coupled to the base portion, so that a major part of the lid portion is removable from the box, so that the rear wall of the base portion includes an extended rear wall portion, so that the serving tray may be formed by the base portion. 
     
     
         31 . A box according to  claim 30  wherein the extended rear wall portion includes a second connecting formation in the form of a second tab adapted to be received by the second receiving formation in the base panel. 
     
     
         32 . A stacking portion hingedly coupled to a base portion of a food products box defining a cavity, the stacking portion being locatable within the cavity of the box while remaining attached to the base portion and the box thus being adapted to receive a first food product on the base portion and a second food product on the stacking portion.