DISPOSABLE HOLDER FOR PIZZA SLICE

Abstract: A disposable pizza slice holder, of the kind used for supporting a slice of pizza for fast eating, is formed by an approximately triangular flat base body whose shorter side has a hinging flap section of trapezoidal shape provided with a lobbed section protruding from the central portion of its free edge. In an alternative embodiment, the said rear flap section is provided with an extension wall which is hinged by means of parallel folding lines, to the base body and to the flap portion, so as to shape-up a rear lodging side, through the flipping of the upper flap toward the said base body having a back vertical wall whose height is determined by the width of the said extension wall, to back up and encase the enlarged rim of the supported pizza slice, and there are two lateral ear sections protruding from laterally hinged walls having a triangular shape, the said ear sections having a profiled inner edge to allow its upper section to slide into two parallel receiving slots, provided along the said lower extension wall of the hinged flap section.

Description: Background of the invention This patent application refers to a disposable pizza holder to be used when eating a slice of pizza, which is designed to hold a slice of pizza in such a way that the user's hand does not touch the pizza slice that is being eaten, whilst he may exert an easy grip thereon to prevent its sliding off. It is known as prior art the Brazilian utility model BR-U- 6900534, filed on April 6, 1989, which discloses a pizza holder having an approximately triangular main body, made of flexible material, two symmetric lateral flaps and a rear wall. As can be seen from figs. 1 and 2 enclosed hereto, which are respectively a view from above of the holder showing the prior art in a disassembled view, and the rear view of the same pizza support duly assembled and ready to use, where the dotted lines A show the folds to be made for assemblage of said holder, the lateral flaps B are formed by folding of the base itself C, and the rear wall D is formed by the adjustment or realing of the two extensions E on the rear part of the holder. To hold a slice of pizza placed on the triangular base, the user will secure it in position by pressure exerted by the user's hand over the lateral flaps of the holder, so that a clipping action will be exerted on the borders of the pizza slice, and displacing the portion of the frontal triangular base toward the rear flap for exposure of the pizza slice. The said known kind of support is not very efficient because of the fact that in order to retain the pizza slice on the holder, the user is required to firmly press its lateral flaps with his fingers, which may become uncomfortable in case the user is holding a large slice of pizza, thus requiring to exert a continous lateral pressure. It is also known as prior art US-A-3.391.782 granted on July 9, 1968 which discloses a convertible sandwich package formed from an unitary blank of foldable sheet material having a central panel, and a pair of side webs with locking togues at their extremities. The patent discloses also a convertible top panel having a pull tab extending from said central panel. Brief description of the invention It is the object of the invention to provide a holder for pizza slice of the kind that is capable of overcoming the inconveniences of the prior art, specifically providing a holder which is easy to be used and which does prevent any direct contact of the user's fingers with the slice of pizza which is being eaten. To this end, the holder of this invention is formed by an approximately triangular flat base body having one side shorter than the other two, two lateral walls having a triangular shape and being laterally hinged to the base body and two ear sections protruding laterally from the lateral walls and each having a profiled edge. The holder further comprises: an extension wall hinged to the shorter side of the base body by means of a first fold line, a flap section of trapezoidal shape hinged to the extension wall by means of a second fold line parallel to the first fold line, and a lobed section protruding from the central portion of the side of the flap section opposite to the second fold line, whereby the profile edge allows the upper section of the ear sections to slide into two aligned receiving slots provided in the extension wall parallel to the folding lines, and whereby the extension wall is to be used as a vertical rear lodging side to back up and encase the enlarged rim of the pizza slice through the folding of flap section up and toward the base body. The holder of the invention is made of flexible and disposable material, as for example, paper sheet with a cellophane coating, or a paper sheet with a polymeric material coating, or in any way, a flexible material having an impermeable working surface. Detailed description of the invention The invention will be better disclosed in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a top view of the prior art holder, in the unfolded condition; figure 2 is a rear view of the holder of figure 1, in the assembled shape; figure 3 is a top view of the holder of this invention in the extended unfolded position; figure 4 is a perspective view of the holder of figure 3; and figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the holder of figure 3. According to figures 3 to 5 of the drawings, the pizza holder 1 has an approximate triangular flat base body 2, whose shorter side 2' is hinged to an extension wall 6 by means of a first fold line 3''. Said extension wall 6 is also hinged to the flap section 3 of trapezoidal shape, by means of a second fold line 3‴. The flat base body 2 also comprises two lateral walls 7 having a triangular shape and being laterally hinged to the base body 2 and two ear sections 8 protruding laterally from the lateral walls 7 and each having a profiled edge 8'. The extension wall 6 does provide a wall onto which the pizza slice rim 5' will back up while the combination of said extension wall 7 with the flap section 3 and with the lateral walls 7, 8 will provide an encasing to improve the holding action resulting from the pressure externally exerted by the user. The said lateral walls 7 are also provided with flipping fastening means 8 whose inner side is outlined with a curved path to forming a profiled edge 8' and a upper section 9 to allow insertion of the upper section into the straight slots 10 foreseen along the said extension wall 6 after their right-angled tilting over the outer side of the said intermediate wall 6 after assembling the flap portion 2 as shown in figure 5.

Claims: A holder for pizza slice, of the kind used for supporting a slice of pizza for fast food, comprising a triangular flat base body (2) having one side shorted than the other two, two lateral walls (7) having a triangular shape and being laterally hinged to the base body (2) and two ear sections (8) protruding laterally from the lateral (7) walls and each having a profiled edge (8'), characterised in that the holder further comprises: an extension wall (6) hinged to the shorter side of the base body (2) by means of a first fold line (3''), a flap section (3) of trapezoidal shape hinged to the extension wall (6) by means of a second fold line (3‴) parallel to the first fold line (3''), and a lobed section (4) protruding from the central portion of the side of the flap section (3) opposite to the second fold line (3‴), whereby the profile edge (8') allows the upper section (9) of the ear sections (8) to slide into two aligned receiving slots (10) provided in the extension wall (6) parallel to the folding lines (3', and 3‴), and whereby the extension wall (6) is to be used as a vertical rear lodging side to back up and encase the enlarged rim of the pizza slice through the folding of flap section (3) up and toward the base body (2).

Inventors: IRIGOITE, FABIO, SCHMITT MALLMANN, BRENO
Applicants: GRUPOUTIL DESENVOLVIMENTO DE PRODUTOS DE UTILIDADE LTDA.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A47G21
IPC codes: A47G21