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Comment by strgrd | Hacker News Reader

> For workers who want to take the café’s pizza back to their pods, Apple created (and patented) a container that lets air and moisture escape so the crust won’t get soggy.

Am I correct in saying that this is just a standard to-go box with holes in the bottom?

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Looks like the holes are in the top. Here's the patent: https://www.google.com/patents/US20120024859

"The lid further includes a second integrated top feature that includes apertures that allow an outflow of air"

Seriously, why patent something like this? Why not just give an improved pizza box design to everybody?

Because then you can use it as a bragging point.

Could be solely defensive. Maybe the food container biz is highly litigious.

Judging by a recent order with Deliveroo (when I was told I couldn't order chips/fries because they haven't figured out how to reliably deliver them), it's a licensing play.

you are talking about a company that tried to argue a "tap" is a "zero length swipe"

The lawyers did.

lawyers are apple employees, no?

Would that patent really hold? It's just a round box with 8 holes!

So now (well since 2012), if someone makes a box with holes, it's breaking patent law? I thought only software patents were ridiculous

I invented a box with 9 holes

It's a needlessly complex expensive design that only apply would want: https://www.google.com/patents/US20120024859

.... but it's Designed in California ....

Where all the best pizza is

Likely the application of the idea to pizzas is considered the differentiator. Most Chinese/Taiwanese restaurants that sell scallion pancakes [1] to go will toss them into a styrofoam hinged clamshell [2] or much more rarely, a cardstock one [3], grab a fork or knife, and deftly poke the clamshell 4-6 times. I've seen other restaurants in other cuisines do this as well to let out excess steam without letting too much heat escape, but not pizza yet, though apparently there are other solutions to the challenge [4].

[1] http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/04/extra-flaky-scall...

[2] http://www.nexdaysupply.ca/Yhlw08010000-foam-takeout.jpg

[3] http://www.foodbizsupply.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/s...

[4] https://www.wired.com/2014/01/huh-the-best-designed-pizza-bo...

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