Oh, patents! Zume Pizza box

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Zume Pizza Inc., pizza box was awarded the US design patent USD806575S1, titled  Food container.  Recently, the US utility patent application US20180215523A1,  titled Container for transport and storage of food products, was also filed for the Zume Pizza Inc., pizza box.

 As a reminder the difference between a utility patent and a design patent is the following:

a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171) [MPEP Chapt. 1502.01; [R-07.2015]].

The US utility patent discloses a 100% compostable, stackable and sturdy container that is used to insulate the pie, and alternatively to cook it. The container comprises a base plate and a cooperating cover. Measured against square traditional cardboard pizza boxes, the Zume Pizza Inc., pizza box addresses at least two pervasive problems of the prior art. First, the difficulty of stacking cardboard boxes in a way that prevents the cover from contacting the top of the pizza, without inserting some sort of pedestal at the center of the pie. Second, the sogginess of the pizza crust in flush contact with the base of the cardboard box, which traps all the moisture and creates condensation. 

In response to this problematic situation of the prior art, the Zume Pizza Inc.; pizza box invention comprises a domed cover, sturdy enough to stack boxes, and a rimmed base plate with a plurality of radial channels or grooves, delineating a plurality of portions (i.e. slices), each containing a sector well. Such a configuration of the base plate serves a variety of purposes. For example, the base plate configuration prevents full contact of the pizza crust with the plate, allows air to circulate beneath the crust thus providing additional insulation, alternatively allows for liquids and juices to collect and to travel away from the crust, serves as a guide for cutting or slicing the pizza into equal portions (8 in particular), adds rigidity to the base plate, and enables the base plate to be easily folded (along the channels), when it is time to compost it. 

The abstract of the US utility patent is included below, together with patent Figure 1B, showing the separated domed top cover and divided bottom plate with wells.  

Systems and methods for providing compostable food containers which preserve the quality of a food product for an extended duration of time, and which optionally allow for cooking of the food product therein. In some implementations, the food containers are sturdy, stackable, insulating, and require minimal or no manual labor to assemble. In some implementations, the food container includes a base and a cover which cooperate to form a closed chamber for supporting, protecting, insulating and optionally cooking a food product, such as a pizza. The base and cover may each be formed of a single layer of material including, but not limited to, molded sugarcane fiber (“bagasse”), molded wood fiber, molded bamboo fiber, molded paper or plastic. [Abstract US20180215523A1]

References

MPEP Chapt. 1502.01 – Definition of a Design [R-07.2015]

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Zume Pizza Inc.

https://zumepizza.com/