Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting and surrounding a tray holding a circular dough base of a pizza so as to intercept and retain food particles and splatter as food ingredients are being deposited on the dough base. The apparatus includes multi-tiered platforms and upright walls of progressively greater diameter, to receive pizza trays bearing pizza dough of different nominal sizes. The platforms or walls or both have finger holes to enable ejection of an assembled pizza. The platforms and upright walls are rotatably mounted to a base, so that the pizza dough can be rotated as food ingredients are deposited thereon. Four or more tiers may be provided.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/186,559 for A PIZZA MAKING TOOL THAT SAVES TIME AND PREVENTS FOOD WASTE WHEN MAKING PIZZA filed Jun. 30, 2015 and which is included herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to food making apparatus, and more particularly, to a device for preventing loss of particulate and fluid food components being added to a solid base of a food such as an unbaked or partially baked pizza shell. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Preparing a pizza for baking entails adding diverse ingredients to a typically circular raw or partially baked dough base (i.e., shell). The ingredients typically include a tomato based sauce, at least one type of cheese, typically in comminuted form, such as shredded or crumbled, and various meat, seafood, fruit, and vegetable toppings. The toppings are also typically comminuted so as to enable a person to bite from the baked final pizza. 
         [0004]    These diverse ingredients may be dispensed manually, such as by sprinkling the ingredients by hand, or in large scale commercial operations, automatically, using equipment which typically drops food ingredients over the dough base. 
         [0005]    Because rapidly completed food ingredient applications are economically more productive and efficient, the step of adding the various ingredients may be expedited, whether performed manually or automatically. However, as the rate of application increases, the operation is susceptible to becoming increasingly messy, as ingredients may be dropped inaccurately. Automated equipment, if moving rapidly, may scatter dispensed food ingredients inaccurately. A certain amount of dispensed food ingredients may fall from the dough base, creating an objectionable mess. 
         [0006]    It would, therefore, be advantageous to provide an apparatus to improve dispensing of food ingredients onto pizza dough and other food products 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention addresses the above need by providing an apparatus suited to surrounding the circular dough base of a pizza so as to intercept and retain food particles and splatter. A stepped, multi-tiered form receives pizza dough placed on a pan. The form has vertical walls which intercept food particles and splatter that would otherwise be lost and create a mess in the working environment. The form is rotatably mounted to a base, so that the pizza dough can be rotated. This permits food dispensing to be performed from only one position, or from a limited number of positions above the dough base. By contrast, without the novel apparatus, a user would be obliged to move his or her hand over the entire dough base. Automated equipment faces a similar situation. Rotating the dough base and providing encircling vertical walls immediately surrounding the dough base eliminates most loss and waste of dispensed food ingredients. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational, schematic view of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan, schematic view of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective, cross-sectional, schematic view of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational, cross sectional, schematic, environmental view of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device of  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    The present invention provides an apparatus for supporting and rotating raw or partially baked pizza “shells of multiple predetermined diameters supported on trays and for controlling overflow of pizza sauce and other toppings onto an adjacent countertop. 
         [0014]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side elevational, schematic view of the pizza ingredient catch device in accordance with the invention, generally at reference number  100 . The tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device  102  is rotatively supported on a base  124  by an intervening bearing  150 . Bearing  150  is best seen in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0015]    Referring now also to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a top plan, schematic view of the upper portion  102  of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device of  FIG. 1 . Four support areas of increasing diameter  104 ,  114 .  128 .  140  are disposed to support pizza trays or the like, best seen in  FIG. 4 , of various, typically standard, diameters. A fifth “support area”  160  is typically not used to support a tray. Rather, “support area”  160  serves as a catch tray for overflowing food particles  10 , best seen in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0016]    A lower portion  170  of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device  102  serves as a bearing flange support. It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that the upper portion  102  of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device may be configured for non-standard diameters. It will be further recognized that fewer or more tiers than the four tiers chosen for purposes of disclosure are possible. Consequently, the invention is not considered limited to any particular diameters or any number of tiers. Rather, the invention is intended to include any diameters or number of tiers. 
         [0017]    A series of finger lift holes  126  are disposed at the outer perimeter of each support area  114 ,  128 ,  140 ,  160  that allow a user to lift a pizza tray vertically upward and out of pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device  102 . 
         [0018]    Referring now also to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a side perspective, cross-sectional, schematic view of the tiered pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Vertical walls  108 ,  120 ,  136 ,  146  and  162  associated with respective support areas  104 ,  114 ,  128 ,  140 ,  160  may readily be seen. In addition, the relationship of finger holes  126  to support areas  114 ,  128 ,  140 ,  160  and vertical walls  120 ,  136 ,  146 ,  162  are readily apparent. 
         [0019]    Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a side elevational, cross sectional, schematic, environmental view of the pizza tray support and pizza ingredient catch device, hereinafter “device”  100  of  FIGS. 1,2, and 3 . 
         [0020]    Device  100  clearly shows support areas  104 ,  114 ,  128 ,  140 ,  160  with associated vertical walls  108 ,  120 ,  136 ,  146 ,  162 . A pizza tray  14  is shown resting of support area  114 . A food base  12 , typically either raw or partially baked pizza dough, is disposed on an upper surface of pizza tray  14 . 
         [0021]    A dispensing device shown schematically at reference number  16  is shown dispensing food particles  10  that represent any type of food that might be dispensed onto food base  12 . These may include, but are not be limited to, oil, pizza sauce, meats, vegetables, cheese, etc. 
         [0022]    Note that upstanding vertical wall  120  associated with support area  114  prevents splatter (not shown) of food ingredients  10  being dispensed onto a food base  12 , typically pizza dough. 
         [0023]    None of food particles  10 , food base  12 , pizza tray  14  nor food dispenser  16  form any part of the invention and are only included to more clearly illustrate one intended use of the novel device  100 . 
         [0024]    A lowest portion of device  100  provides a contact surface and centering device  70  that rests in a hollow region inside bearing chase  150 . 
         [0025]    Device  100  typically comprises a combined, stepped support and splatter arresting wall  102  comprising a first tier horizontal support surface  104  having a first tier diameter  106  and a first tier vertical wall  108  projecting upwardly from a perimeter  110  of first tier horizontal support surface  104 . First tier vertical wall  108  includes a first upper edge  112 . 
         [0026]    Device  100  may comprise a second tier horizontal support surface  114  having a second tier diameter  116  greater than first tier diameter  106 , and a second tier vertical wall  120  projecting upwardly from a second tier perimeter  122  of second tier horizontal support surface  114 . Particle retaining device  100  may comprise a base  124  rotatably coupled to combined support and splatter arresting wall  102 . 
         [0027]    Although device  100  is not limited to pizza making, food base  12  is shown as pizza dough resting on a pan  14 . Particles  10  (e.g., pizza toppings) are shown being dispensed from a dispenser  16 , also forming no part of the present invention, although of course particles  10  could be dispensed by hand. Combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  may be rotated during dispensing of particles  10 , so that dispenser  16  need not be moved as much as would be required if combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  and food base  12  were stationary. 
         [0028]    Second tier vertical wall  120  prevents particles  10  from falling off food base  12 . This enables collection and subsequent use of food ingredients which might otherwise fall to a floor or otherwise be lost to use. 
         [0029]    Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the times to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item. 
         [0030]    Both first tier horizontal support surface  104  and second tier horizontal support surface  114  typically are circular in a top plan view. This accommodates traditional circular or round foods, allowing for close fit with second tier vertical wall  120 . 
         [0031]    First tier vertical wall  108  may have diameter  106  in a range of three to four inches, and second tier vertical wall  120  may have diameter  116  in a range of seven to eight inches. Dimensions are exemplary, and may be selected to accommodate commonly used tray  14  diameters. 
         [0032]    At least one finger hole  126  is disposed in at least one of second tier horizontal support surface  114  and second tier vertical wall  120 . Finger holes  126  enable pan  14  and food base  12  to be elevated above a horizontal supports surface (e.g., second tier horizontal support surface  114 , as illustrated) by inserting a finger or a slender object (neither shown and forming no part of the present invention) into finger hole  126 , then grasping pan  14  by hand from above, to remove the completed pizza for placement in an oven (not shown). 
         [0033]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upwardly and above refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change depending on how device  100  is held or used. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position. 
         [0034]    Device  100  may further comprise a third tier horizontal support surface  128  coupled to a second tier upper edge  130  of second tier vertical wall  120 . Third tier horizontal support surface  128  may include a third tier diameter  132  greater than second tier diameter  116  of second tier horizontal support surface  114 , and a third tier vertical wall  136  projecting upwardly from a third tier perimeter  138  of third tier horizontal support surface  128 . 
         [0035]    Third tier horizontal support surface  128  and third tier vertical wall  136  may be circular, to accommodate a circular tray, not shown. 
         [0036]    Third tier vertical wall  136  may typically have interior diameter  132  in a range of ten to eleven inches. 
         [0037]    Device  100  may also further comprise at least one finger hole  126  in at least one of third tier horizontal support surface  128  and third tier vertical wall  136 . 
         [0038]    Device  100  may further comprise a fourth tier horizontal support surface  140  coupled to a third tier upper edge  142  of third tier vertical wall  136 . Fourth tier horizontal support surface  140  may include a fourth tier diameter  144  greater than third tier diameter  132  of third tier horizontal support surface  128 , and a fourth tier vertical wall  146  projecting upwardly from a fourth tier upper edge  148 . 
         [0039]    Fourth tier horizontal support surface  140  and fourth tier vertical wall  146  may be circular. 
         [0040]    Fourth tier vertical wall  146  may have fourth tier diameter  144  in a range of twelve to thirteen inches. 
         [0041]    Device  100  may further comprise at least one finger hole  126  in at least one of fourth tier horizontal support surface  140  and fourth tier vertical wall  146 . 
         [0042]    Finally, device  100  may include a fifth tier “support surface”  160  that is not typically used to support a pizza tray. Rather “support surface”  160  is used as a catch area to collect spilled ingredients from a tray, not shown, supported in tier four support surface  140 . Spilled ingredients are retained thereupon by upstanding wall  162 . 
         [0043]    Device  100  may further comprise a bearing assembly  150  between combined, stepped support and splatter arresting wall  102  and base  124 . A central open region, not specifically identified, accepts and retains region  170  of combined, stepped support and splatter arresting wall  102 . The retention of region  70  centers combined, stepped support and splatter arresting wall  102  in/on bearing assembly  150 . Bearing assembly comprises bearings  152 . Bearings  152  may comprise ball bearings, roller bearings, or any other suitable bearing devices or materials Device  100  could be compared to a multi-tiered “lazy susan”, wherein ball or roller bearings or the like provide even, smooth rotation. However, if preferred, bearings  152  may comprise interfitting surfaces of combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  and base  150  (this option is not shown). 
         [0044]    Third tier horizontal support surface  128  and its associated third tier vertical wall  136 , and fourth tier horizontal support surface  140  and its associated fourth tier vertical wall  146  enable device  100  to accommodate most of the nominal pizza diameters currently in commercial use. Diameters and proportions shown and described herein are merely exemplary, and may be varied. For example, the largest tier of combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  may be dimensioned to receive pizza dough bases  12  of sixteen or eighteen inches or more. 
         [0045]    While pan  14  and food base  12  are shown resting on second tier horizontal support surface  114 , a pan  14  and food base  12  of different dimensions could of course be placed on other horizontal support surfaces of combined support and splatter arresting wall  102 . Thus, one combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  accommodates pizzas of different diameters. 
         [0046]    Therefore, it will be appreciated that where diameters are called out herein, diameters may be taken at interior or exterior surfaces of vertical walls (e.g., vertical wall  108 ), or even an innermost edge of a horizontal support surface (e.g., horizontal support surface  114 ), as long as diameters are compared to corresponding diameters of different tiers. Combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  may be fabricated from aluminum alloy or steel sheet metal, for example. Finger holes  126  may be stamped into combined support and splatter arresting wall  102 , and may impinge on both vertical walls (e.g., vertical wall  146 ) and may extend into associated horizontal support surfaces (e.g., horizontal support surface  140 ). 
         [0047]    Novel device  100  has been described in terms of use in preparing round pizzas, but of course may be used with other food items. For example, combined support and splatter arresting wall  102  may be made rectangular, to accommodate rectangular foods. Foods other than pizza may be prepared. Cakes requiring decorative sprinkles, chocolate chips, and other toppings may utilize device  100 . Any food product requiring application of particulate or fluent toppings (e.g., sauces, gravy, melted butter, etc.) may be prepared using device  100 . 
         [0048]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0049]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.