Pizza pan

Abstract

An apparatus for at least one of supporting and containing a preselected food product to be at least one of baked, cut and served. The apparatus comprises a first member having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, such first member having a plurality of projections extending upwardly. There is a second member having a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size for engagement with the first member. The second member has a plurality of apertures formed therein for permitting the plurality of projections to extend therethrough when the second member is placed on top of the first member. There are also a plurality of grooves disposed adjacent an upper surface of the second member extending from an outer edge of the second member to an axially opposed outer edge of the second member for enabling a cutting means to pass completely through such preselected food product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one member of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another member of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the member of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the member shown in FIG. 1 showing a different arrangement of the grooves disposed on the surface of the member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for at least one of supporting and containing a preselected food product to be at least one of baked, cut and served, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first member having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, said first member having a plurality of projections extending upwardly;(b) a second member having a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size for engagement with said first member, said second member having a plurality of apertures formed therein for permitting said plurality of projections to extend therethrough when said second member is placed on top of said first member; and (c) a means disposed adjacent an upper surface of said second member extending from an outer edge of said second member to an axially opposed outer edge of said second member for enabling a cutting means to pass completely through such preselected food product.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said means includes a plurality of elongated grooves extending from an outer edge of said second member to an axially opposed outer edge of said second member and from an upper surface thereof to a first predetermined depth, said plurality of said elongated grooves enabling a cutting means to pass completely through such preselected food product.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said preselected food product is pizza.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said projections have an upper surface for engaging a bottom portion of a pizza crust and thereby preventing such pizza from moving while being cut.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined shape and said second predetermined shape are similar.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said first predetermined shape and said second predetermined shape are substantially circular.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said second member further includes handles disposed on diametrically opposite portions of said second member.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first member further includes a means disposed on a bottom surface of said first member to prevent said apparatus from moving when such preselected food product is being cut.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said means disposed on said bottom surface of said first member to prevent said apparatus from moving when such preselected food product is being cut includes a nonslip surface.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first member is made of one of metal, plastic, ceramic, fluorocarbon, clay, paper, stone, silicone, glass and combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said first member is made of plastic.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said plastic is injection molded.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second member is made of one of metal, plastic, ceramic, fluorocarbon, clay, paper, stone, silicone, glass and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said second member is made of metal.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein such pizza is baked on said second member.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said second member having such pizza baked thereon is placed on said first member so that such pizza can be cut easily into slices.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein apparatus has an alignment means for aligning said second member on said first member.

18. The apparatus, according to claim 17, wherein said alignment means includes diametrically opposed openings on a ridge member disposed on a surface of said first member, said diametrically opposed openings for receiving said handle members of said second member so as to properly align said second member with said first member.