Patent Abstract:
The present invention comprises a tortilla housing and support apparatus, configured to be manipulated so that the housing performs as a tortilla support device that provides vertical support to at least one tortilla. The tortilla housing and support apparatus is initially used as a tortilla-packaging box, such as tortilla boxes currently in use at supermarkets for housing tortillas. The tortilla housing has a configuration so that it may be manipulated from serving as packaging so that it performs as a tortilla support device.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/438,735, entitled “Collapsible Tortilla Support Apparatus,” filed on May 15, 2003 and assigned to the same assignee as this application. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This application generally relates to food packaging configured to be manipulated so that the packaging performs as a dinning support apparatus for transporting and supporting in an upright position tacos, tortillas, fajita wraps, gorditas, chalupas and the like.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Mexican food, particularly those dishes that utilize tacos and tortillas, has become very popular in the United States. The Mexican foods market, including the fast food, dine-in/sit down restaurant and the home production and consumption segments, has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Many individuals enjoy the fast food and restaurant version of Mexican taco and tortilla-based dishes, while many others prefer to construct their taco and tortilla-based dishes at home using fresh ingredients. However, the nature of many popular taco and tortilla dishes present several undesirable problems for taco and tortilla preparers and consumers.  
         [0004]     One such problem encountered in preparation of tacos and tortillas is that, since taco shells have a rounded base and tortillas revert to a flat disc shape when not held in hand, it is very difficult to support taco shells and tortillas in an upright or manageably stable position while filling the taco and tortilla, respectively, with the desired ingredients, such as meat, beans, vegetables, and/or salsa, etc. Unfortunately, the taco and tortilla builder&#39;s effort often results in a mess wherein many of the taco ingredients end up outside the taco shell or in unmanageable proportions on tortillas during the construction process. There is therefore a need for a taco shell and tortilla support device, which will support tacos and tortillas in a position to reduce waste and mess and simplify the taco and tortilla filling process.  
         [0005]     Moreover, following preparation of tacos and tortillas, tacos are presented on their side on a plate. This can lead to much of the taco filling falling out of the taco shell onto the plate. When tortillas are presented on a plate, they lay open and are presented as a mound of ingredients that tend to distribute all over the tortilla, thus causing the loss of tortilla fillings when the consumer picks up the tortilla filled with ingredients. Tacos and tortillas are currently transported and supported by plates, papers or an apparatus such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,224. When paper or plates are used as transport or support devices, they yield the undesirable need for action by the food consumer to replace or redistribute the taco and tortilla fillings in the tortilla shell. Further, the presentation of tacos and tortillas on paper or plates is not the most aesthetically pleasing method and could subtract from the entire eating experience.  
         [0006]     Another problem that is occurring in the Mexican foods market, including the fast food, dine-in/sit down restaurant and the home production and consumption segments, is that there is substantial waste occurring as a result of the inefficient use of packaging and support materials. In the fast food, dine-in/sit down restaurant segment, tacos and tortillas are packaged and provided to the customer wrapped in paper. The paper is then discarded and the tacos and/or tortillas are supported and presented on a plate. In the home production and consumption segment, taco and tortilla kits are sold in boxes filled with taco and/or tortilla shells and fillings, including meat seasoning. In this environment the box used as packaging is discarded. The tacos and tortillas are then prepared and presented on their side on paper or a standard dinner plate. There is a need for taco and tortilla packaging that can serve as initial packaging and as the transport and support apparatus in the fast food, dine-in/sit down restaurant and the home production and consumption segments. The packaging needed would prevent waste associated with having separate packaging and support apparatuses.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tortilla packaging and support apparatus. The present invention provides a solution to many problems, such as those discussed above, currently faced in the industry.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a tortilla support apparatus comprised of a collapsible, generally rectangular box having a base wall, a top wall, and an intermediate wall disposed between the base wall and the top wall. The apparatus further includes a sidewall assembly that is integrally coupled to the base wall and top wall, respectively. The collapsible tortilla support apparatus top wall includes tortilla-receiving apertures and the intermediate wall positioned below and substantially parallel to the top wall also includes tortilla-receiving openings. The tortilla receiving apertures of the top wall and intermediate wall are aligned so as to create tortilla-receiving chambers within the collapsible tortilla support apparatus. The base wall of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus also serves as the base wall of the tortilla-receiving chambers. The tortilla receiving apertures within the intermediate wall provide additional support and stabilization to tortillas positioned within the tortilla receiving chambers. The collapsible tortilla support apparatus is configured such that the side wall assembly, which is hingedly connected to the base wall and top wall provides for the expansion of the collapsible support apparatus to an upright tortilla support position and the collapsing of the tortilla support apparatus to a generally flat storage position.  
         [0009]     These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a prospective view of a tortilla support apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a prospective view of the tortilla support apparatus disclosed in  FIG. 1  collapsed into its flat storage position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a prospective view of an alternative embodiment of a tortilla support apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a prospective view of the tortilla support apparatus disclosed in  FIG. 3  illustrating the apparatus in its flat storage position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a prospective view of an alternative embodiment of a popup collapsible tortilla support apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a prospective view of the tortilla support apparatus disclosed in  FIG. 5  illustrating movement of its sidewalls and support flaps into position which allow it to be collapsed into a flat storage position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a prospective view of a popup tortilla support apparatus of the present invention with the advertising placard mounted thereon;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a prospective view of the popup tortilla support apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 7  shown without the advertising placard; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a prospective view of the popup tortilla support apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 8  shown in its collapsed storage position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The present invention is an improved tortilla support apparatus that is configured such that it may be manipulated from a flat storage position to a support position where it performs as a tortilla support apparatus that provides vertical support to tortillas. As used herein, the definition of the term “tortilla” refers to and comprises hard unshaped shells, soft taco shells, fajitas wraps, gorditas, chalupas and any other edible soft or hard shell food support device resembling hard and soft shell tacos, fajitas, gorditas, chalupas and wraps. In the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, the tortilla support apparatus is configured such it may be collapsed from a generally rectangular configuration to it becomes flat. In its rectangular configuration, the tortilla support apparatus provides support to tortillas in an upright position, allowing the tortilla ingredients to be added and supported without spilling. The support apparatus includes a base wall, top wall and intermediate support wall. The base wall is the bottom of the support apparatus and supports the tortillas when positioned in the apparatus. The top wall is positioned above and generally perpendicular to the base wall. The top wall has tortilla-receiving openings formed therein, which receive tortillas position on the apparatus. The intermediate wall of the apparatus is positioned between and generally parallel to the base wall and the top wall and has tortilla-receiving openings formed therein. The intermediate wall tortilla-receiving apertures are directly below the tortilla-receiving openings formed in the top wall and provide enhanced support and stabilization for tortillas. The intermediate wall and top wall tortilla-receiving openings act in concert to create a tortilla-receiving chambers. The use of the intermediate wall and top wall and their respective tortilla-receiving apertures creates tortilla receiving chambers that provide additional middle range support on the body of a tortilla when positioned in such devices.  
         [0020]     Embodiments of the tortilla support apparatus of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 9 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  100  includes first and second sidewalls  106  and  114 , third and fourth side walls  108  and  112 , abase wall  150 , and a curved top wall  110 . The first and second sidewalls  106  and  114  and the third and fourth sidewalls  108  and  112  are hingedly connected to the base wall  150 . In the preferred embodiment, the hinged connection between the base wall  150  and the first side wall  106 , the second side wall  114 , the third side wall  108  and the fourth side wall  112  is accomplished by a fold or crease formed in the construction material of the tortilla support apparatus  100 . A first hinged crease  160  is positioned between the base wall  150  and the third sidewall  108 . A second hinged crease  162  is positioned between the third sidewall  108  and the top wall  110 . Hinged crease  160  provides the hinge assembly necessary to permit the top wall  110  and the side wall  108  to be pivoted from the flat storage position illustrated in  FIG. 2  to an upright position, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Upon the pivoting of first side wall  106  and second side wall  114  to a position at which the first and second side walls  106  and  114  are perpendicular to the base wall  150 , the intermediate wall  130  is folded up and over the base wall  150  so that the intermediate wall  130  and the base wall  150  are generally parallel. Intermediate wall  130  is folded along a third hinged crease  164  between the base wall  150  and the first intermediate wall support sidewall  168  and along a fourth hinged crease  166  between the intermediate wall  130  and the first intermediate wall support sidewall  168 . Upon folding of intermediate wall  130 , the first intermediate wall support sidewall  168  becomes generally perpendicular to the base wall  150  and the intermediate wall  130 . Second intermediate wall support sidewall  172  is also folded along hinged second intermediate hinged crease  170  so that the second intermediate wall support sidewall  172  is generally perpendicular to the intermediate wall  130 . Intermediate wall is above base wall  150  in a generally parallel position at a distance the equivalent of the height of first and second intermediate wall support sidewalls  168  and  172 . In manipulating the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  100  to its upright position, the first and second sidewall tabs  116  and  118  are slid through a first sidewall tab receiving slot  124  and a second side wall tab receiving slot  122 . In addition, first and second sidewall tabs  142  and  144  are slid through first and second top wall tab receiving slots  146  and  148 .  
         [0021]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , collapsible tortilla support apparatus top wall  110  includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c , and  120   d , each which have a length of approximately 5-7 inches and a width of approximately one inch, although the dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacturing of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c , and  120   d , are designed to receive a tortilla. The intermediate wall  130  also includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  140   a ,  140   b ,  140   c  and  140   d , each of which has a length of approximately one half inch shorter than the length of the tortilla receiving apertures of top wall  110 , and a width of approximately one fourth of an inch shorter than the width of the tortilla receiving apertures of the top wall  110 . It is to be understood that these dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacture of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  140   a ,  140   b ,  140   c  and  140   d  are designed to receive a tortilla and the aperture edges engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide medium range stabilization support to the center of the tortilla as the edges of the top wall tortilla receiving apertures  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c , and  120   d  engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide tortilla edge support to the top of the tortilla and thereby support the tortilla within the tortilla receiving chambers in a generally upright position.  
         [0022]     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrates that the top wall  110  is curved to provide additional support for the tortilla supported therein. The top wall is curved in the present embodiment by way of bending the top wall  110  along a first top wall crease  152 , a second top wall crease  154 , a third top wall crease  156  and a fourth top wall crease  158 . The intermediate wall  130  also includes intermediate wall support side walls  168  and  170  formed by folding intermediate wall  130  along a first intermediate wall crease  166  and a second intermediate wall crease  170 . Intermediate wall  130  is positioned at a distance from bottom wall  150  that is the equivalent of the height of first and second intermediate wall support sidewalls  168  and  172 . In addition, there is a crease  164  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  along which the first intermediate wall support side wall  168  is folded and is hingedly connected to the base wall  150 . The base wall  150  also includes a crease  160  between the base wall  150  and the third sidewall  108 . The third sidewall  108  further includes a folding crease, which provides the hinged attachment between the third sidewall  108  and the top wall  110 .  
         [0023]     Another embodiment of the tortilla support apparatus is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As illustrated, the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  300  includes a first side wall  306 , a second side wall  314 , a third side wall  308 , a fourth side wall  312 , a base wall  350 , and a top wall  310 . The first, second, third and fourth side walls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314  are hingedly connected to top wall  310 . The first sidewall  306  is hingedly connected to the top wall  310  via a hinged crease  362 . The second sidewall  314  is hingedly connected to the top wall  310  via a hinged crease  356 . The third sidewall  308  is hingedly connected to the top wall  310  via a hinged crease  364 . The fourth sidewall  312  is hingedly connected to the top wall  310  via a hinged crease  356 . In the preferred embodiment, the hinged crease connections between the top wall  310  and the sidewalls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314  is accomplished by a fold or a crease formed in the construction material of the tortilla support apparatus  300 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates the collapsible support apparatus  300  in its upright position. In its upright position, the sidewalls and top walls have been folded along hinged creases in order to stabilize the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  300  in its upright position. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a first top wall crease  352  is formed between the top wall  310  and third sidewall  308 . A second top wall crease  356  is formed between the top wall  310  and a second sidewall  314 . A third top wall crease  362  is formed between top wall  310  and a first sidewall  306 . A fourth top wall crease  364  is formed between top wall  310  and a fourth sidewall  312 .  
         [0025]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , top wall  310  is generally parallel with intermediate wall  330  and bottom wall  350  and the distance separating top wall  310  from bottom wall  350  is the equivalent of the height of sidewalls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314 . The top wall creases which allow hinged movement of the side walls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314  in association with the top wall  310  also provides the hinged assembly necessary to allow the side walls and top wall  310  to be manipulated from the upright position illustrated in  FIG. 3  to the flat storage position illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0026]     Following the pivoting of the first, second and third side walls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314 , to positions at which the first, second, third and fourth side walls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314  are generally perpendicular to the top wall  310  and base wall  350 , the intermediate wall  130  is folded up and over the base wall  350  so that the intermediate wall  330  and the base wall  350  are generally parallel. The intermediate wall  330  is folded along a hinged crease  364  between the base wall  350  and the first intermediate wall support sidewall  368  and along a fourth hinge crease  366  between the intermediate wall  330  and the first intermediate wall support sidewall  368 . Upon folding of intermediate wall  330 , the first intermediate wall support sidewall  368  becomes generally perpendicular to the base wall  350  and the intermediate wall  330 . Second intermediate wall support sidewall  372  is generally perpendicular to the intermediate wall  330 . Intermediate wall is above base wall  350  in a generally parallel position at a distance the equivalent of the height of the first and second intermediate wall support sidewalls  368  and  372 . In manipulating the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  300  to its upright position, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first and second top wall tabs  342  and  344  are slid through a first top wall tab receiving slot  346  and a second top wall receiving aperture  348 .  
         [0027]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , collapsible tortilla support apparatus top wall  310  includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c  and  320   d . Each of the tortilla receiving apertures has a length of approximately 5-7 inches and a width of approximately one inch, although the dimension may be modified as desired by the manufacturing of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   d  are designed to receive a tortilla. The intermediate wall  330  also includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c , and  340   d , each of which has a length of approximately one half inch short of any length of the tortilla receiving apertures of top wall  310 , and a width of approximately one fourth of an inch shorter than the width of the tortilla receiving apertures of the top wall  310 . It is to be understood that these dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacture of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c  and  340   d  are designed to receive a tortilla and the aperture edges engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide medium range stabilization support to the center of the tortilla as the edges of the top wall tortilla receiving apertures  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c  and  320   d  engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide edge support toward the top of the tortilla. It is the medium range support of the tortilla receiving apertures  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c  and  340   d  which provide the stabilization needed in collapsible tortilla support apparatuses.  
         [0028]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the sidewalls  306 ,  308 ,  312  and  314  include sidewall support tabs. First sidewall  306  has first side wall support tabs  307   a  and  307   b . Second sidewall  314  has second sidewall support tab  315   a . Third sidewall  308  has third sidewall support tab  309   a . Fourth sidewall  312  has fourth side wall support tabs  311   a  and  311   b . Sidewall support tabs  307   a  and  307   b ,  309   a ,  311   a ,  311   b , and  315   a  are engaged as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to stabilize the tortilla support apparatus  300  in its upright position. The intermediate wall  330  also includes intermediate support walls  368  and  372 . Intermediate support wall  368  is formed by folding intermediate wall  330  along a first intermediate wall crease  366  which is between the base wall  330  and first intermediate wall support  368 . The second intermediate wall support sidewall  372  is formed by folding intermediate wall  330  along an intermediate wall crease  370 . Upon folding intermediate wall  330  along the first and second intermediate wall creases  366  and  370 , intermediate wall  330  is positioned at a distance from bottom wall  350  that is equivalent to the height of the first and second intermediate wall support side walls  368  and  372 . In addition, there is a crease  364  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  along which the first intermediate wall support side wall  368  is folded and is hingedly connected to the base wall  350 . The base wall  350  also includes a crease  360  between the base wall  350  and the first sidewall  306 .  
         [0029]     Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The embodiment illustrated is generally a popup box shaped tortilla support apparatus  500  having tortilla receiving apertures  520   a - d  formed in the top wall of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  500 , including an intermediate wall support system positioned within the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  500 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the embodiment of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  500  includes a top wall  510 , a side wall assembly comprised of four side walls, a first side wall  512 , a second side wall  518 , a third side wall  522  and a fourth side wall  528 . The first, second, third and fourth side walls  512 ,  518 ,  522  and  528  are hingedly connected to the top wall  510 . In the preferred embodiment, the hinged connection between the top wall and the first, second, third and fourth side walls  512 ,  518 ,  522  and  528  is accomplished by a fold or crease formed in the construction material of the tortilla support apparatus. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a first hinged crease  562  is positioned between the top wall  510  and first sidewall  512 . A second hinged crease  564  is positioned between the top wall  510  and the second sidewall  518 . A third hinged crease  566  is positioned between the third sidewall  522  and the top wall  510 . A fourth hinged crease  568  is positioned between the fourth sidewall  528  and top wall  510 . Hinged creases  562 ,  564  and  568  provide the hinged assembly necessary to permit the top wall and the sidewalls to be pivoted from the upright position illustrated in  FIG. 5  to the flat storage position illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Upon pivoting to the upright position of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  500 , the sidewalls  512 ,  518 ,  522  and  528  are perpendicular to the top wall  510 , the intermediate wall  530  and the base wall  550 . The intermediate wall  530  also includes intermediate wall support sidewalls that support the intermediate wall and positions the intermediate wall substantially parallel to the base wall  550  when the collapsible tortilla support apparatus is in its upright position. The intermediate wall  530  includes intermediate wall tortilla receiving apertures  540   a ,  540   b ,  540   c ,  540   d.    
         [0030]     When the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  500  is collapsed, the second and fourth side walls  564  are pivoted along hinged creases  564  and  568  and provide the ability for the tortilla support apparatus  500  to be pivoted along hinged creases  562  and  566  into a flat storage position as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Second and fourth sidewalls  518  and  528  have second sidewall support flap  534  and a third side wall support flap  531  attached hereto. The support flaps  534  and  531  engage the base wall of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  500  to stabilize the apparatus in an upright storage position.  
         [0031]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , collapsible tortilla support apparatus top wall  510  includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  520   a ,  520   b ,  520   c  and  520   d , each having a length of approximately 5-7 inches and a width of approximately one inch, although the dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacturing of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  520   a ,  520   b ,  520   c  and  520   d , are designed to receive a tortilla. The intermediate wall  530  also includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  540   a ,  540   b ,  540   c  and  540   d , each of which has a length of approximately one half inch shorter than the length of the tortilla receiving apertures of top wall  510 , and a width of approximately one fourth of an inch shorter than the width of the tortilla receiving apertures of the top wall  510 . It is to be understood that these dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacturer of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  540   a ,  540   b ,  540   c  and  540   d  are designed to receive a tortilla and the aperture edges engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide medium range stabilization support to the center of the tortilla as the edges of the apertures of the top wall  520   a ,  520   b ,  520   c  and  520   d  engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide the tortilla edge support to the top of the tortilla and thereby support the tortilla within the tortilla receiving chambers in a generally upright position.  
         [0032]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9 , another embodiment of the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  700  is shown to include first and second sidewalls  712  and  722 , a base wall  750 , and a top wall  710 . The first and second sidewalls  712  and  722  are hingedly connected to the top wall  710  and base wall  750 . In the preferred embodiment, the hinged connection between the base wall  750  and the first sidewall  712 , and the second side wall  722  is accomplished by a fold or crease formed in the construction material of the tortilla support apparatus  700 . A first hinged top wall crease  714  is positioned between the top wall  710  and the first sidewall  712 . A second hinged crease  716  is positioned between the first sidewall  712  and the base wall  750 . A third hinged top wall crease  718  is positioned between the top wall  710  and the second sidewall  722 . A fourth hinged crease  716  is positioned between the second sidewall  722  and the base wall  750 . Hinged creases  714 ,  716 ,  718  and  724  provides the hinge assembly necessary to permit the top wall  710  and the first and second sidewalls  712  and  722  to be pivoted from the upright position illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  to the flat storage position illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0033]     As illustrated, the collapsible tortilla support apparatus top wall  710  includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  720   a ,  720   b ,  720   c , and  720   d , each which have a length of approximately 5-7 inches and a width of approximately one inch, although the dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacturing of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  720   a ,  720   b ,  720   c , and  720   d , are designed to receive a tortilla. The intermediate wall  730  also includes a plurality of tortilla receiving apertures  740   a ,  740   b ,  740   c  and  740   d , each of which has a length of approximately one half inch shorter than the length of the tortilla receiving apertures of top wall  710 , and a width of approximately one fourth of an inch shorter than the width of the tortilla receiving apertures of the top wall  710 . It is to be understood that these dimensions may be modified as desired by the manufacture of the present invention. The tortilla receiving apertures  740   a ,  740   b ,  740   c  and  740   d  are designed to receive a tortilla and the aperture edges engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide medium range stabilization support to the center of the tortilla as the edges of the top wall tortilla receiving apertures  720   a ,  720   b ,  720   c , and  720   d  engage the external surface of the tortilla and provide tortilla edge support to the top of the tortilla and thereby support the tortilla within the tortilla receiving chambers in a generally upright position.  
         [0034]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the tortilla receiving apertures  740   a ,  740   b ,  740   c  and  740   d  of the intermediate wall  730  are directly underneath tortilla receiving apertures  720   a ,  720   b ,  720   c , and  720   d  of the top wall, thereby creating two levels of edge support and tortilla receiving chambers. Upon the pivoting of first and second sidewalls  712  and  722  up to a flat storage position at which first and second sidewalls  712  and  722  are parallel to the base wall  750  and top wall  710 , the intermediate wall  730  and the respective tortilla receiving apertures  740   a ,  740   b ,  740   c  and  740   d  are shifted over so that the apertures are no longer directly underneath the top wall tortilla receiving apertures  720   a ,  720   b ,  720   c , and  720   d  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . This embodiment is a collapsible pop-up because it is manipulated into its upright position with no support other than the hinged creases  714 ,  716 ,  718  and  724 .  
         [0035]     When the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  700  pops up from its resting position, a first intermediate wall support sidewall  726  becomes generally perpendicular to the top wall  710 , the base wall  150  and the intermediate wall  730 . Second intermediate wall support sidewall  728  is folded along a hinged crease so that the second intermediate wall support sidewall  728  is generally perpendicular to the intermediate wall  130  and parallel to the first side wall  712 . Intermediate wall  730  is above base wall  750  in a generally parallel position at a distance the equivalent of the height of first intermediate wall support sidewall  726 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7-9  as including an advertising placard  760 . The advertising placard  760  is mounted to on the second sidewall  722 . When collapsible tortilla support apparatus  700  I sin its generally flat storage position, the placard  760  also lays flat against the top wall  710 , or it could be folded in the opposite direction so long as the apparatus  700  lays flat. Upon the collapsible tortilla support apparatus  700  being expanded to its tortilla holder position as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the placard  760  extends upwards behind the tortillas being supported in the tortilla receiving apertures  720   a ,  720   b ,  720   c , and  720   d  and can be printed upon to display various types of advertising. The placard  760  thus can provide a simple and vivid means of advertising for a business using or distributing the present invention.  
         [0036]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8