Pizza delivery bags and methods
AssigneePizza Hut, Inc.
InventorsRobert Forrester, Homero Ortegon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delivery bag for pizza or other products includes upper, lower, rear, and first and second side panels and a closure flap. The panels and flap are made from a substantially flexible insulating panel material and have interior and exterior surfaces. The panel material is capable of conveying moisture from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The delivery bag also includes one or more pockets fixed to interior surfaces of the panels. A modular heating element is disposed in each pocket. The delivery bag as described advantageously maintains temperatures of pizzas therein, yet allows relative humidity to decline over a specified period of time, thereby preventing e.g. pizza crusts from becoming soggy. Corresponding methods provide similar advantages.
Claims38
A portable container for transporting food, the portable container comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure having an openable section, the openable section being movable from an open position, in which food can be placed into the enclosure for transport and in which food can be removed from the enclosure, and a closed position;
- at least one pocket connected to the enclosure;
- and
- at least one modular heating element disposed within the at least one pocket, the at least one modular heating element being readily removable from the pocket for use in a different, generally identical portable container, the at least one modular heating element providing thermal energy to food disposed within the enclosure;
- wherein the container comprises a plurality of pockets connected to the enclosure, at least one modular heating element being disposed within each of the plurality of pockets, the modular heating elements being readily removable from the respective pockets.
A method of transporting food, the method comprising:
- providing an enclosure, the enclosure having an openable section, the openable section being movable from an open position, in which food can be placed into the enclosure for transport and in which food can be removed from the enclosure, and a closed position;
- moving the openable section to the open position;
- placing food within the enclosure for transport;
- providing at least one pocket connected to the enclosure, the pocket opening away from the openable section of the enclosure;
- moving the openable section to the closed position;
- and
- transporting food in the enclosure.
A portable container for transporting food, the portable container comprising:
- means for enclosing food, the means for enclosing comprising means for opening such that food can be placed within the means for enclosing and can be removed from the means for enclosing;
- and
- means for accommodating modular means for heating;
- the means for accommodating being connected to the means for enclosing, the means for accommodating being constructed such that modular means for heating is readily removable from the means for accommodating for use in a different, generally identical portable container, the means for accommodating comprising at least two distinct pockets within the means for enclosing.
A portable container for delivering food, the portable container comprising:
- an upper panel, a lower panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a closing flap, wherein said rear panel, said first side panel and said second side panel all extend between said upper panel and said lower panel, further wherein at least said upper panel, said lower panel, said rear panel, said first side panel, and said second side panel all comprise a substantially flexible and moisture-permeable insulating panel material and all define interior and exterior surfaces;
- and
- a first pocket defining a first pocket opening and disposed proximate the interior surface of at least one of the upper, lower, rear, and first and second side panels, wherein the first pocket opens toward the rear panel.
A portable container for delivering food, the portable container comprising:
- an upper panel, a lower panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a closing flap, wherein said rear panel, said first side panel and said second side panel all extend between said upper panel and said lower panel, further wherein at least said upper panel, said lower panel, said rear panel, said first side panel, and said second side panel all comprise a substantially flexible and moisture-permeable insulating panel material and all define interior and exterior surfaces;
- a first pocket defining a first pocket opening and disposed proximate the interior surface of at least one of the upper, lower, rear, and first and second side panels;
- and
- a second pocket, the second pocket defining a second pocket opening, the first pocket disposed proximate the interior surface of the lower panel, the second pocket disposed proximate the interior surface of the upper panel.
A method of maintaining a pizza at a desired temperature and moisture content during delivery, comprising:
- providing a portable container, the container including an upper panel, a lower panel, a rear panel, first and second side panels, a closing flap, a pocket and a modular heater, said rear and first and second side panels extending between the upper panel and the lower panel, the flap extending from the lower panel, the upper, lower, rear, first and second side panels and flap including a substantially flexible insulating panel material including interior and exterior surfaces, the panel material capable of allowing moisture to pass from an interior of the container to an exterior of the container, the pocket defining a pocket opening and disposed proximate the interior surface of one of the upper, lower, rear, and side panels, the modular heater disposed in the pocket, the pocket opening facing the rear panel;
- placing the pizza in the container;
- closing the flap;
- providing electricity to the modular heater;
- and
- maintaining a desired temperature and moisture content within the portable container.
A method of transporting food, the method comprising:
- providing an enclosure, the enclosure having an openable section, the openable section being movable from an open position, in which food can be placed into the enclosure for transport and in which food can be removed from the enclosure, and a closed position;
- providing two distinct pockets within the enclosure;
- moving the openable section to the open position;
- placing food for transport within the enclosure between the pockets;
- moving the openable section to the closed position;
- and
- transporting food in the enclosure.
A portable container for transporting food, the portable container comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure having an openable section, the openable section being movable from an open position, in which food can be placed into the enclosure for transport and in which food can be removed from the enclosure, and a closed position;
- and
- at least two distinct pockets within the enclosure.
A portable container for transporting food, the portable container comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure having an openable section, the openable section being movable from an open position, in which food can be placed into the enclosure for transport and in which food can be removed from the enclosure, and a closed position;
- and
- at least one pocket within the enclosure, the at least one pocket opening away from the openable section of the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.