Convertible carry out container and bowl

Abstract

A food container is configured to temporarily store food such as from a restaurant or self-service food station, enclose the food for transportation, and then convert to a convenient bowl for eating the food directly from the food container. Once the food is received in a volume of the food container defined by a number of sidewalls, the food container is enclosed by folding foldable wings attached to the tops of the sidewalls. When it is time to consume the food item, a detachment feature located within the sidewalls is engaged to remove the foldable wings and provide convenient access to the food item. The detachment feature includes design features to allow for easy removal without compromising the structural integrity of the container during use and transport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food container, comprising:
 a food compartment comprising:
 a bottom surface; and 
 a plurality of sidewalls that extend from the bottom surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls is fixed to at least one of another of the plurality of sidewalls to provide a volume for receiving a food item; 
   a plurality of foldable wings, wherein each of the foldable wings is connected to one of the plurality of sidewalls at a base of the foldable wing;   a plurality of creases, wherein each respective crease of the plurality of creases is located at a respective base of each foldable wing, and wherein each of the foldable wings is configured to fold inwardly from the respective crease at the respective base of the foldable wing; and   a detachment feature located on a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the detachment feature is located below a first crease of the plurality of creases that connects the first sidewall to a first foldable wing of the plurality of foldable wings, and wherein the detachment feature is configured to selectively separate the first foldable wing and a portion of the first sidewall from the food container.   
     
     
         2 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls further comprise a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, wherein the plurality of foldable wings further comprise a second foldable wing connected to the second sidewall at a second crease of the plurality of creases, a third foldable wing connected to the third sidewall at a third crease of the plurality of creases, and a fourth foldable wing connected to the fourth sidewall at a fourth crease of the plurality of creases. 
     
     
         3 . The food container of  claim 2 , wherein the detachment feature comprises a first detachment feature, further comprising:
 a second detachment feature located on the second sidewall, wherein the second detachment feature is located below the second crease, and wherein the second detachment feature is configured to selectively separate the second foldable wing and a portion of the second sidewall from the food container.   
     
     
         4 . The food container of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third detachment feature located on the third sidewall, wherein the third detachment feature is located below the third crease, and wherein the third detachment feature is configured to selectively separate the third foldable wing and a portion of the third sidewall from the food container; and   a fourth detachment feature located on the fourth sidewall, wherein the fourth detachment feature is located below the fourth crease, and wherein the fourth detachment feature is configured to selectively separate the fourth foldable wing and a portion of the fourth sidewall from the food container.   
     
     
         5 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the detachment feature extends along an entire length of the first sidewall below the first crease to two opposite ends of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The food container of  claim 5 , wherein the detachment feature forms a curved shape extending between the two opposite ends of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The food container of  claim 6 , wherein the curved shape has a maximum radius of curvature at a midpoint between the two opposite ends of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The food container of  claim 5 , wherein the detachment feature forms a polygon extending between the two opposite ends of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The food container of  claim 5 , wherein the detachment feature forms a sine wave extending between the two opposite ends of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the detachment feature comprises perforations within the first sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The food container of  claim 10 , wherein the perforations are at about 8 teeth per inch throughout the detachment feature. 
     
     
         12 . The food container of  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the perforations have a first teeth per inch and a second portion of the perforations have a second teeth per inch. 
     
     
         13 . The food container of  claim 12 , wherein the first teeth per inch is greater than the second teeth per inch. 
     
     
         14 . The food container of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the perforations is located at each of two sides of the detachment feature and the second portion of the perforation is located between the first portion of the perforations. 
     
     
         15 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the detachment feature comprises a tear strip or a zipper tear. 
     
     
         16 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of structural ribs within the first sidewall, wherein each structural rib of the plurality of structural ribs intersects a respective location of the detachment feature. 
     
     
         17 . The food container of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of structural ribs comprise three structural ribs, wherein a first structural rib intersects a midpoint of the detachment feature, a second structural rib is located at a first distance on a first side of the first structural rib, and a third structural rib is located at the first distance on a second opposite side of the first structural rib. 
     
     
         18 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of detachment guides within the first sidewall, wherein each detachment guide of the plurality of detachment guides intersects a respective location of the detachment feature. 
     
     
         19 . The food container of  claim 18 , wherein each detachment guide of the plurality of detachment guides is oriented perpendicular to the first crease. 
     
     
         20 . The food container of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of detachment guides are configured to form a handle within the first sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a first connecting tab at a first end of the first sidewall connecting the first sidewall to a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls and a second connecting tab at a second end of the first sidewall connecting the first sidewall to a third sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the first connecting tab covers and attaches to a first portion of the first sidewall at the first end and the second connecting tab covers and attaches to a second portion of the first sidewall at the second end, and wherein the detachment feature extends adjacent to a first upper surface of the first connecting tab and adjacent to a second upper surface of the second connecting tab. 
     
     
         22 . A method for converting an enclosed food container into a bowl, comprising:
 releasing a first foldable wing of a plurality of foldable wings of a food container, wherein the food container includes a food compartment comprising a bottom surface and a plurality of sidewalls that extend from the bottom surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls is fixed to at least one of another of the plurality of sidewalls to provide a volume for receiving a food item, wherein each of the foldable wings is connected to one of the plurality of sidewalls at a base of the foldable wing at a respective crease of a plurality of creases, wherein each respective crease of the plurality of creases is located at a respective base of each foldable wing, and wherein each of the foldable wings is configured to fold inwardly from the respective crease at the respective base of the foldable wing; and   engaging a detachment feature located on a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls to selectively separate the first foldable wing and a portion of the first sidewall from the food container, wherein the detachment feature is located below a first crease of the plurality of creases that connects the first sidewall to a first foldable wing of the plurality of foldable wings.   
     
     
         23 . A food container, comprising:
 a food compartment comprising:
 a bottom surface; and 
 a plurality of sidewalls that extend from the bottom surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls is fixed to at least one of another of the plurality of sidewalls to provide a volume for receiving a food item; 
   a plurality of foldable wings, wherein each of the foldable wings is connected to one of the plurality of sidewalls at a base of the foldable wing;   a plurality of creases, wherein each respective crease of the plurality of creases is located at a respective base of each foldable wing, and wherein each of the foldable wings is configured to fold inwardly from the respective crease at the respective base of the foldable wing; and   a detachment feature located on a first foldable wing of the plurality of foldable wings, wherein the detachment feature is located above a first crease of the plurality of creases that connects a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls to the first foldable wing, and wherein the detachment feature is configured to selectively separate a portion of the first foldable wing from the food container.