Abstract:
A bread product having a length greater than a width thereof and a longitudinal slice along a length thereof. The slice defines two halves of the bread product. The bread product includes a groove extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of at least one of the halves, and is for receiving a food product therein.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed to baked bread products, specifically soft rolls or buns. More specifically, the present invention is directed to improved hot dog or frankfurter buns. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Soft-crusted hot dog or frankfurter buns are well known in the art. These are typically available, prepackaged, for retail purchase by the consumer. The buns are oblong in shape and are generally sold with a slice extending longitudinally along the bun such that the bun is easily opened to receive a hot dog and condiments between the two halves. 
         [0006]    The longitudinal slice in a conventional hot dog bun provides smooth opposing surfaces inside the bun when the bun is opened. When a hot dog and condiments are placed in the bun, the bun has a tendency to break apart, particularly when over-filled, so that the two halves separate, thereby making the hot dog more difficult to eat. Even when the bun remains in one piece, the condiments added to the hot dog often exceed the confines of the bun, or fall out of the bun altogether when the hot dog is being eaten. What is needed, therefore, is a bun adapted to receive a hot dog or other food item, as well as condiments, in defined areas of the bun, such that the bun resists breaking apart and over-filling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides bread product having a length greater than a width thereof and a longitudinal slice along a length thereof. The slice defines two halves of the bread product. The bread product includes a groove extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of at least one of the halves, and is for receiving a food product therein. 
         [0008]    One aspect of the invention provides two grooves, one extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of each half, for receiving food products therein. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the grooves in the bread product define a generally circular cross-section within the bread product when said first and second halves of the bread product are substantially closed. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the grooves define a generally rectangular cross-section within the bread product when said first and second halves of the bread product are substantially closed. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the grooves define a generally diamond-shaped cross-section within the bread product when the first and second halves of the bread product are substantially closed. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the grooves define a generally L-shaped cross-section within the bread product when the first and second halves of the bread product are substantially closed. 
         [0013]    Yet another aspect of the present invention provides that the grooves extends along an entire longitudinal length of the bread product. 
         [0014]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that at least one of the grooves is sized and shaped to receive a hot dog therein. 
         [0015]    Still another aspect of the present invention provides that at least one of the grooves is sized and shaped to receive a bratwurst therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an open bun of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a top view of one half of a bun of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a bun of the present invention, the bun having a meat product included therein. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an open bun product of the present invention, one half of the bun having a meat product included therein, the other half of the bun having a condiment included therein. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a bun of the present invention, the bun having a groove in only one half of the bun. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a bun of the present invention, the bun having groove in both halves of the bun. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a bun of the present invention, the bun having groove in both halves of the bun. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Definitions: 
         [0024]    As used herein, the term “food product” refers to any edible food, including but not limited to meats, vegetables, fruits, candies, condiments, seasonings, and the like. 
         [0025]    Turning to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the numeral  10  refers generally to a hot dog bun constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Bun  10  includes bread  12 , first groove  14 , and second groove  16 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , bread  12  is open, with the interior of two halves of bread  12  exposed and shown in the figure. First groove  14  runs longitudinally along a length of an interior of a first half of bread  12 , whereas second groove  16  runs longitudinally along a length of an interior of a second half of bread  12 . Grooves  14  and  16  may be of any suitable length, width, or depth, and these may vary depending upon the uses for which bun  10  is intended. For example, while  FIG. 1  is directed to an exemplary bun  10  of the present invention adapted for use with a hot dog, other buns may be constructed in accordance with the present invention for use with bratwurst, sausages, or other food products. 
         [0027]    Use of bun  10  is straightforward. It is contemplated that, in a retail setting, buns  10  will be provided with a longitudinal slice similar to that provided with conventional hot dog buns. When a consumer wishes to use a bun  10  for a hot dog, the consumer opens bun  10  along the longitudinal slice, exposing grooves  14  and  16  contained therein. The consumer then places the hot dog in one of grooves  14  or  16 , and places desired condiments such as ketchup, mustard, relish, cheese, onions, chili, and the like in the other of grooves  14  or  16 . Meat products, condiments, or any other foods included in bun  10  may be referred to generally as food products. Bun  10  can then be closed once again, with the hot dog and condiments remaining securely enclosed within their respective grooves  14  or  16 . The finished food product, including bun  10 , a hot dog, and desired condiments, can be consumed easily and without mess, as the various components of the food product are held firmly within bun  10 . 
         [0028]    With respect to bun  10 , grooves  14  and  16  may be of substantially the same size and shape. Thus, in bun  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 , a hot dog may be placed in either groove  14  or  16 , and condiments may be placed in the other groove  14  or  16 . It is contemplated, however, that grooves  14  and  16  may be provided such that each of the grooves has a different size or shape. Variations of the size and shape of grooves  14  and  16  are considered well within the scope of the present invention. Exemplary variations in the grooves of the present invention are described in more detail below. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  provides an illustration of a top view of a single half of bun  10  of the present invention, and depicts one half of bread  12  with groove  14  shown therein. Groove  14  may be adapted to receive a hot dog or other food product, or a variety of condiments. For purposes of the present invention, which groove, either  14  or  16 , receives a food product, and which receives condiments is immaterial. When grooves  14  and  16  are of substantially the same size and shape, it is contemplated that either may just as readily receive a hot dog or other food product. When grooves  14  and  16  are of substantially different sizes or shapes, the size and shape of the food product, such as a hot dog, used with the bun may dictate which groove is best able to receive the food product. Either of grooves  14  and  16  may receive a food product, or both may receive food products. Similarly, one may receive a food product and another left empty. The novel structure of bun  10  is the important feature of the present invention, and bun  10  is not limited by a particular use thereof. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  provides a cross-sectional view of bun  10  of  FIG. 1 , the cross-sectional view showing a hot dog  18  situated within bread  12 . Grooves  14  and  16  conform roughly to the shape of the hot dog. Although condiments are not shown in  FIG. 3 , it is contemplated that condiments present in bun  10  of  FIG. 3  would take up the space surrounding hot dog  18 , either to the left or right thereof as shown in the figure, depending on whether the condiments were contained within groove  14  or groove  16 . 
         [0031]    Another aspect of the present invention provides bun  110 , shown in  FIG. 4 . Bun  110  is shown in a top view, with the bun opened to expose the interior thereof. It is again contemplated that bun  110  would be provided to a consumer with a slice cut in the bun, as typically found in hot dog buns sold at retail, for ease of opening by the consumer. Bun  110  includes bread  112 , which opens into two halves. A first half of bread  112  includes a longitudinal groove  114  that runs the entire length of bread  112 . Likewise, a second half of bread  112  includes a longitudinal groove  116  that runs the entire length of bread  112 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  are hot dog  118  and condiments  120 . Hot dog  118  is situated in groove  116  such that a portion of hot dog  18  extends beyond the edge of bread  112  on both sides. Condiment  120 , which may be any suitable condiment such as, for example, ketchup or mustard, is shown occupying groove  114 . It is contemplated that any food product or condiment may occupy either groove  114  or groove  116 , and that it is not necessary that any food product extend beyond the edge of bread  112 . As with bun  10 , the novel structure of bun  110 , having grooves extending across the entire length thereof, form the important aspect of the invention. Bun  110  is not limited to any particular use. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  provides one alternative configuration of groove for use in a bun of the present invention. In the bun shown in  FIG. 5 , bread  12  is separated into two halves, as with the bun configurations described above. In the bun shown in  FIG. 5 , however, only one half of the bun includes a groove  14 . As shown in the figure, groove  14  is in the right half of bread  12  from the perspective of one viewing the figure, and groove  14  has the general shape of half a square or rectangle. It is contemplated, however, that the groove may be present on either side of bread  12 , and that any suitable size or shape of groove  14  may be utilized. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  provides another alternative configuration of grooves for use in conjunction with a bun of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , bread  12  includes two grooves  14  and  16 , both of which have the general shape of a polygon. The polygon maybe roughly rectangular, as shown in the figure, square-shaped, or utilize any other suitable shape. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  provides yet another alternative configuration of grooves for use in conjunction with a bun of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the grooves  14  and  16  in bread  12  give a generally diamond shape to the grooves when bread  12  is viewed in cross-section, as in the figure. It is noted again, however, that any suitable size, shape, or configuration of grooves may be used in conjunction with a bun of the present invention. 
         [0035]    Further, the number and placement of grooves in a bun of the present invention may vary. For example, multiple longitudinal grooves may be formed in a single half of bread  12  of a bun of the present invention. Two grooves may be provided, for example, in parallel along a portion of the longitudinal length of a half of bread  12 . Grooves  14  and  16  also need not be parallel to a top or bottom of bun  12 , but may be provided at an angle. For example, a groove may run from near the top of a front of bun  10  to near the bottom of a rear of bun  10 . Multiple variations on the size, placement, angle, or shape of grooves  14  and  16  will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, and it is contemplated that these are well within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0036]    The manufacture of buns, such as hot dog buns, is well known in the art, and varied techniques for such manufacture are known to those of skill in the art. It is contemplated that one of skill in the art will be able to manufacture the novel bun of the present invention without undue experimentation upon reading this disclosure. Methods of manufacture may include mechanical methods of creating the various grooves described above after a bun has been baked, or using a baking process by which the buns are baked with the necessary grooves fully formed during baking. The present invention is not limited to any specific method of making the bun. 
         [0037]    The detailed description set forth above is provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. The invention described and claimed herein, however, is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments disclosed because these embodiments are intended to be illustrative of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Various modifications of the invention that do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. For example, either of buns  10  or  110  may be provided with a groove only in one side of bread  12  and  112 , respectively. The opposing side of bread  12  or  112  may be smooth or flat, generally the same structure as a standard hot dog bun. These and other modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.