Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Packaged or wrapped product – Having consumer oriented diverse utility
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-10-09
Bhat, Nina (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Packaged or wrapped product
Having consumer oriented diverse utility
C426S115000, C426S394000, C206S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299918
ABSTRACT:
The strongest cross reference would have to be the common, disposable paper or styrofoam plate. However, the plate at the heart of this invention is specifically designed with pizza in mind so that, instead of the plate being round, it is shaped like a pizza wedge and has special characteristics built in that will help you eat a slice of pizza.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to pizza, specifically with regards to a new way to handle pizza slices during consumption. This special plate is shaped like a wedge of pizza, and is inserted under the slice of pizza at the pie, and then, a specially designed flap folds over the crust.
Also, this plate may have a crease along the center lengthwise, if needed, to allow for the slice to be folded lengthwise as it is being picked up in order to keep the slice of pizza from flopping.
In one embodiment, the plate bottom can be bent and folded away, as the pizza gets consumed. The bottom of the plate is designed with a perforation or a pull-string along the crease at center lengthwise and so the bottom tears in half to facilitate it's being folded away. Also, tin is embedded into the plate to make it so that the plate stays folded as it is so desired.
In another embodiment, the plate bottom has cross-wise perforations about every two inches, which allows for the plate to be torn away bit by bit as the pizza gets consumed.
For either embodiment, the idea, is to enable the pizza-lover to enjoy this fun food, in a manner that generally would keep his hands from contacting the pizza, and in those environments that are normally not conducive to sitting at a table with utensils, such as concerts, fairs, sports events, etc. etc.
2. Description of Prior Art
Generally, only conventional methods, such as, plates, utensils, foldtop boxes, are being used.
With regards to larger pizza pies, where the pie gets cut up and served as wedge-shaped slices, this pizza server makes for a novel way of handling and eating this style of pizza. It makes for a neater way of eating this fun food and will be a hit at parties and concerts where plates and utensils would be cumbersome.
This pizza server can also be used with personal pan style pizzas that are round and small enough to handle and crusted all around the entire circumference, even though the shapes don't match.
Also, from an advertising and good-will generating point of view, it would be utilized in the same fashion as items such as calenders, keychains, etc., in that a pizza parlour would imprint his/her logo and messages on the pizza server and then give them out.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are to provide a way to eat pizza slices that would keep the hands from getting dirty and/or from being burned by handling the hot pizza.
This can be made of disposable material from a group comprising of corrugated cardboard, or styrofoam or heavy paper.
Pizza by the slice venders would be able to dispense this fun food in a neater and more comfortable fashion.
Also, this invention provides another medium for advertising, and generating good will by giving them out to customers.
Furthermore, a handy sleeve (optional) may be used to cover the pizza and the server so that the pizza could remain warm for longer periods. A liner in the sleeve and on the plate absorbs excess grease out of the pizza, and the sleeve helps to keep the pizza warmer, longer, by minimizing air contact.
Also, the sleeve provides a means to stack the individual slices one atop another for simpler handling. The sleeve may be boxlike or envelope like.
The pizza server creates such a situation that lends itself well for the use of a sleeve and thanks to this combination, makes for all of the aforementioned advantages.
This invention may also prove helpful for other types of food by simply modifying the shape to suit the food, such as stuffed pitas, sub sandwiches, anything where people could eat the food without getting their hands dirty.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5118033 (1992-06-01), Kula
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patent: 5381905 (1995-01-01), Mallmamm et al.
patent: 5476214 (1995-12-01), Fisk, Jr.
patent: 5526569 (1996-06-01), Ancona
patent: 5605231 (1997-02-01), Borsboom et al.
patent: 5788145 (1998-08-01), Grahahm et al.
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