Abstract:
The springform pan serving tray/pedestal is a food serving tray/pedestal that contains a recess in its top surface to secure and conceal the bottom of a springform pan. When a springform pan is used in preparing food, its bottom is typically left in place on the bottom of the food when the food is served for consumption. The food with the bottom of the springform pan still attached is then placed within this recess to secure and conceal the bottom of the springform pan while transporting, serving, and cutting the food.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/236,966 filed Oct. 4, 2015, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to the field of kitchen serveware. The present invention is more particularly directed to serveware used for foods prepared with a springform pan. 
         [0005]    With the typical use of a springform pan, one would create food that upon its completion would be cut and served for consumption. The problem lies with the actual serving of the food created, as typically the bottom of the springform pan is left in place while serving to prevent damage to the food that can occur when removal from the bottom of the springform pan is attempted. When left on the food, the bottom of the springform pan is then unsightly for presentation of the food when it is placed on a flat serving tray/pedestal. In addition, the bottom of the springform pan that is still attached to the food then slides around on the serving tray/pedestal. This is due to the bottom of the springform pan being metal and the chosen serving tray/pedestal often being a ceramic or glass material, which then provides for very little friction at the interface of these two materials. The result could be dropped food or frustrated individuals as they attempt to transport, serve, and cut the food on a very slippery and unstable surface. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The springform pan serving tray/pedestal is a food serving tray/pedestal containing a recess within the top surface of the serving tray/pedestal to secure and hide the bottom of the springform pan at the underside of the food. Food prepared using a springform pan (i.e. quiches, pizzas, cakes, tarts, etc.) can be placed for presentation and serving within the recess of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal while keeping the bottom of the springform pan in place on the bottom of the food. This recess keeps the food and the attached springform pan bottom secure and prevents them from sliding around on the serving tray/pedestal during transporting, serving, and cutting. Additionally, this recess keeps the unsightly bottom of the springform pan hidden from view. 
         [0007]    Existing serving tray/pedestals assume the food being served will be placed in direct contact with the tray/pedestal. They make no allowance for food prepared in springform pans where the bottom remains in place. On existing serving tray/pedestals, the unsightly bottom of the springform pan can be seen during presentation and it slides around on the surface of the tray/pedestal. The springform pan serving tray/pedestal solves both of these problems by providing a serving tray/pedestal with a recess specific for use with food prepared with a springform pan. 
         [0008]    Another feature of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal is an insert that can be used to fill the recess thereby creating a flush top surface over the entire springform pan serving tray/pedestal. This insert allows the springform pan serving tray/pedestal to be used with food items that do not contain a springform pan bottom or where a flatter serving surface is desired. 
         [0009]    Those who have created food using a springform pan will now be able to enjoy serving this food on a serving tray/pedestal that is specifically designed to conceal the bottom of the springform pan and prevent sliding of the food during transporting, serving, and cutting. The springform pan serving tray/pedestal would be used by anyone that wishes to serve food that has been prepared using a springform pan. This includes households, professional chefs, restaurants, bakeries, etc. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2  for the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  and is a cross sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2  for the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  and is a top view of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is directed to kitchen serveware. The present invention is further directed to a piece of serveware used for foods prepared with a springform pan. 
         [0013]    The present invention is a food serving tray/pedestal from which food (i.e. quiches, pizzas, cakes, tarts, etc.) created in a springform pan can be placed for presentation and serving while keeping the bottom of the springform pan in place on the bottom of the food. The unsightly and slippery bottom of the springform pan will be hidden from view and secured for transporting, serving, and cutting in the recess. 
         [0014]    Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like or corresponding aspects of the drawings. As shown in and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  is shown to have a recess  14  in its top surface into which a food item with the bottom of the springform pan still attached can be placed. Additionally, the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  is a secondary piece that fits within the recess  14  of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  to allow the recess  14  to be filled creating a flush surface with the decorative exposed edge  18 . More specifically, the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  allows for serving dishes and food items other than those where the springform pan bottom is left in place or for any reason where a flatter surface is desired for serving. 
         [0015]    The inventive subject matter comprises a recess  14  that differentiates the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  from other serving tray/pedestals currently on the market. The recess  14  is a depressed area in the top of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10 . The recess  14  is set inside the decorative exposed edge  18 . The recess  14  is shown to be circular in shape per  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but can be configured to fit different styles and shapes of springform pans (i.e. square, rectangular, etc.). The recess depth  16  forms the separation between the recess  14  and the decorative exposed edge  18 . The recess depth  16  is the depth of the recess  14  from the top of the decorative exposed edge  18 . The recess depth  16  will match the height of the bottom of the springform pan such that the bottom of the food item will be placed close to the top surface of the decorative exposed edge  18 . The recess depth  16  will also be such that the bottom of the springform pan is fully concealed from sight and will ensure that this bottom of the springform pan is not in the way when cutting the food. The recess depth  16  can be any dimension and will vary depending on the style of the springform pan for which it is designed. 
         [0016]    The decorative exposed edge  18  is a surface that both serves as the decorative edge of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  and as a surface to catch crumbs while cutting and serving the food. The decorative exposed edge  18  can vary in width depending on the desired look and size (diameter) of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10 . 
         [0017]    The pan release void  20  is at the perimeter of the recess  14  contained within and the full depth of the recess depth  16 . The bottom of the springform pan, along with the food item, can be removed from the recess  14  by use of the pan release void  20 . By placing one&#39;s finger within this pan release void  20 , one can grasp the bottom of the springform pan and remove it from the recess  14 . The pedestal  22  elevates the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  above the tabletop and is located on the bottom of the recess  14  and the decorative exposed edge  18 . The pedestal  22  can be any shape, style, height, and may contain any number of designs in order to serve as a decorative element for the present invention. In addition, the pedestal  22  could be omitted entirely just leaving the recess  14 , decorative exposed edge  18 , and the pan release void  20 . In this configuration the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  would resemble more of a traditional tray that would not elevate the dish. The pedestal bottom  24  of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  is located on the bottom of the pedestal  22  and is the surface that is placed on the table, counter, or other horizontal surface. 
         [0018]    The springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  fits within the recess  14  of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10 . As viewed in  FIG. 2 , the size of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  is smaller than the outline of the recess  14  by approximately one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of one (1) inch. As viewed in  FIG. 1 , the edge of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  26  matches the height of the recess depth  16  on the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10 . The top surface of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  28  is flush with the decorative exposed edge  18  when it is placed within the recess  14 . The springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  can also be removed by using the pan release void  20 . 
         [0019]    It is the intent that the materials from which the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  are made match the array of materials from which current serveware and dishware is fabricated. This could include ceramics, plastics, glass, metal, etc. The manufacturing processes for these materials would be the same as those currently used in the market. 
         [0020]    Those skilled in the art of manufacturing serveware such as the disclosed present invention can determine without undue experimentation, the appropriate dimensions, geometries, materials, and other features of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12 . Similarly, those skilled in the art will understand from the disclosure herein that various modifications to the components of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal  10  and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  without departing from the scope of the invention. More specifically, the present invention is not limited to any particular method of forming the recess  14 , the pan release void  20 , or the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  and the recess  14 , the pan release void  20 , and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert  12  could be made in varying depths, shapes, and angles.