Foodstuff Holder, Blank for Same and Serving Method

Abstract

A foodstuff holder has first and second sidewalls of triangular area facing one another in an aligned manner at positions spaced apart from one another. A rear wall interconnects the first and second sidewalls along a respective rear side of the aligned triangular areas, and a bottom wall interconnects the first and second sidewalls along a respective bottom side of the aligned triangular areas. The bottom wall and the bottom side are longer than the rear wall and the rear side respectively giving the holder a shape suitable for a triangular piece of pizza folded in half along its length. A lip formed on the bottom wall at an end thereof opposite the rear wall on a face of the bottom wall facing into the open space prevents leakage from the holder. The holder may be formed from a foldable blank and used in methods of food preparation or service.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/302,266, filed Feb. 8, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to holder for one-handed carrying of a foodstuff article consumable from the holder, a blank for producing such a holder and a method of serving foodstuff using such holders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known to serve pizza by the slice in on-the-go or public seating environments as opposed to an eat-in restaurant environment where the consumer is seated and provided with a restaurant-supplied plate which is subsequently washed and re-used. In these contexts, a difficulty is often faced in addressing of the problem of how to service a pizza slice in a way that is convenient for the customer to carry away and consume the slice in a cleanly manner. Some servers will rely only on the provision of one or more napkins to the customer, leaving it up to the consumer to determine how to hold and eat the slice without any dripping or mess. Others may provide disposable paper plates, which are not tailored to the size or shape of a slice of pizza, will typically require handling with both hands of the consumer and require the consumer to manually grip the slice of pizza with their hands to lift it from or manipulate it around the plate for consumption therefrom, leaving the hands greasy or otherwise soiled by the contact with the food being consumed. Napkins can be used to facilitate indirect gripping of the plate-supported slice, but may bleed through, requiring the user to carry a notable supply of multiple napkins in addition to the paper plate on which the slice is carried.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,521 teaches a disposable pizza slice holder forming a triangular base on which the slice can sit and a foldable end flap for bending around the crust end of the slice for indirect manual dripping thereof to retain the slice on the holder. The base is flexible so that the pointed end opposite the crust-gripping end can be bent back under the slice as the pizza is consumed to project the bitten end of the slice out from over this now folded over portion of the base. However, any grease, cheese, toppings or other remnants sitting atop the flexible holder will fall therefrom under this bending back of the base the user, potentially spilling onto the user's face or clothing. Also, the holder appears to require two hands to use, one for gripping the pizza and the other for folding back and retaining the pointed end of the holder as one eats.

Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of foodstuff holders suitable for consumable support of a pizza slice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a foodstuff holder comprising:

first and second sidewalls facing one another at positions spaced apart from one another, a perimeter of each of the sidewalls closing around a triangular area on a face of the sidewall and the triangular areas on the two side walls being equal and aligned with one another across open space between the side walls;

a rear wall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls along a respective rear side of the aligned triangular areas; and

a bottom wall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls along a respective bottom side of the aligned triangular areas.

Preferably the bottom wall and the bottom side are longer than the rear wall and the rear side respectively

Preferably there is provided a lip formed on the bottom wall at an end thereof opposite the rear wall on a face of the bottom wall facing into the open space between the aligned triangular areas of the side walls.

The lip preferably comprises a folded-over end portion of the bottom wall.

The rear and bottom walls are preferably disposed at a right angle with one another.

Preferably a side of the triangular areas along which the open space between the side walls is unobstructed is longer than the rear and bottom sides of the triangular areas.

Preferably the walls are made of paperstock.

Preferably the walls of formed of a single piece of paperstock folded to define the walls.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of serving foodstuff, the method comprising:

(a) selecting a foodstuff article to be consumed by a consumer; and

(b) obtaining a foodstuff holder according to the first aspect of the invention; and

(c) placing the selected foodstuff article into the open space between the sidewalls of a foodstuff holder through an open side of the foodstuff holder at which the open space between the sidewalls is left unobstructed between the rear and bottom walls.

Preferably the foodstuff article is a slice of pizza, and step (b) comprises folding the slice of pizza in half along a longitudinal axis thereof and placing the slice of pizza into the open space of the foodstuff holder to seat a folded side of the slice of pizza on the bottom wall of the foodstuff holder with a crust end of the slice of pizza adjacent the rear wall of the foodstuff holder.

Preferably step (c) is performed after step (a) and prior to providing the foodstuff article to the consumer. Alternatively, steps (b) and (c) may take place before step (a). That is, foodstuff articles may be pre-placed in holders before ordering or selection by a consumer.

Preferably the method, prior to step (c), includes creating the foodstuff holder from a blank.

Preferably the method includes folding the blank to define the walls of the foodstuff holder.

Preferably creating the foodstuff holder from the blank comprises forming the rear wall of the foodstuff holder by fastening together first and second rear wall portions of the blank fixed to the first and second sidewalls respectively.

Preferably forming the rear wall comprises fastening the first and second rear wall portions together by engaging a tab on the first rear wall portion of the blank with a slot on the second rear wall portion of the blank.

Preferably the rear wall of the foodstuff holder further comprises a third rear wall portion fixed to the bottom wall of the blank and folded relative thereto.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for forming a foodstuff holder, the blank comprising:

a first sidewall section having a first face including a first triangular area and having first and second fold lines extending along a first and second sides of the first triangular area and a first outer edge extending along a longest third side of the first triangular area;

a middle section connected to the first sidewall section along the first fold line;

a second sidewall section having a second face including a second triangular area and having a third fold line extending along a first side of the second triangular area and a second outer edge extending along a longest second side of the second triangular area, the third fold line being disposed across the middle section from first fold line and the second sidewall section and the middle section being interconnected along the third fold line such that the first and second sidewall sections are disposed on opposite sides of the middle section connected therebetween; and

an additional wall section connected to the first sidewall section along the second fold line thereof.

Preferably the first side of the first triangular area is longer than the second side of the first triangular area and shorter than the third side of the first triangular area, and the first side of the second triangular area is shorter than the second side of the second triangular area and longer than a third side of the second triangular area. In this instance, preferably there is provided a retaining lip fold line extending across the middle section proximate an end thereof opposite the second fold line.

Preferably there is provided a fourth fold line extending along the third side of the second triangular area, and a second additional wall section connects to the second sidewall section along the fourth fold line.

Preferably the additional wall section comprises a slot therein extending along the second fold line and the second additional wall section comprises a tab projecting away from the fourth fold line and extending therealong, the tab being shaped for hooked engagement with the slot.

Preferably there is provided a third additional wall section connected to the middle section along a fifth fold line extending between the first fold line and the third fold line at the ends thereof from the second and fourth fold lines extend.

Preferably the first and third fold lines are parallel and each other fold line is at a right angle to the first and third fold lines.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for forming a foodstuff holder, the blank comprising:

a first sidewall section having a first face including a first triangular area, a first outer edge extending along a longest side of the first triangular area, a first base side fold line extending along a second longest side of the first triangular area, and a first rear wall fold line extending along a shortest side of the first triangular area;

a bottom base section connected to the first sidewall section along the first base side fold line thereof;

a second sidewall section having a second face including a second triangular area, a second outer edge extending along a longest side of the second triangular area, a second base side fold line extending along a second longest side of the first triangular area, the second sidewall section and the bottom base section being interconnected along the second base side fold line, which is disposed opposite the first base side fold line across the bottom base section such that the first and second sidewall sections are disposed on opposite side of the bottom base section therebetween; and

a rear wall section connected to the first sidewall section along the first rear wall fold line.

Preferably there is provided a second rear wall fold line extending along a shortest side of the second triangular area and a second rear wall section connected to the second sidewall section along the second rear wall fold line.

Preferably the first rear wall section comprises a slot therein extending along the rear wall fold line and the second rear wall section comprises a tab projecting away from the second rear wall fold line and extending therealong, the tab being shaped for hooked engagement with the slot.

Preferably there is provided a third rear wall section connected to the bottom base section along a third rear wall fold line extending between the bottom side fold lines at the ends thereof from which the first and second rear wall fold lines extend.

Preferably each rear wall fold line is at a right angle to the first and second base side fold lines.

Preferably there is provided a retaining lip fold line extending across the bottom section between the first and second sidewall sections proximate an end of the bottom base section opposite the first and second rear wall fold lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a blank for forming a foodstuff holder.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the foodstuff holder.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the foodstuff holder.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the foodstuff holder.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the foodstuff holder.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the foodstuff holder.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the foodstuff holder.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative isometric view of the foodstuff holder in an exemplary use carrying a folded slice of pizza for consumption from the holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a paperstock blank or pattern designed to be folded into a disposable foodstuff holder shown in FIGS. 2 through 7 for use in serving of a foodstuff article in a manner in which the foodstuff can be comfortably carried in one hand for consumption from the holder without direct contact between the consumer's hands the article of food. As demonstrated by FIG. 8, the illustrated holder has a generally triangular shape particularly well suited for accommodating a wedge-shaped slice of pizza having been folded in half along its lengthwise or longitudinal axis, this lengthwise axis corresponding to a radial axis of the pizza from which the slice was cut. The folded slice of pizza rests on a base defined by the flat bottom wall of the holder between substantially triangular side walls of the holder so that the slice and holder can be easily gripped by a conformable light squeezing or pinching of these sidewalls toward one another the between the thumb and one or more fingers of one hand. Direct contact with the pizza slice itself is not required, thereby keeping the user's hands clean during use of the holder. A rear end of the holder, corresponding to the taller end of each substantially triangular side wall, is closed off by a rear wall to prevent sliding of the pizza slice off the base at this end. The shorter front end of the holder is open to allow the pointed end of the pizza slice to project a short distance therefrom for biting by the consumer. When the slice is consumed down to, or initially has, a length insufficient to project from the holder with the crust end of the slice against the rear wall, the slice is easily repositioned by a slight release of the squeezing pressure applied by the hand carrying the holder to allow the slice to slide short distance forward to situate narrower end of the slice outwardly past the front end of the holder for taking a bite therefrom. With the slice so repositioned, the tighter squeezing of the holder can then be re-applied to keep the slice in this position accessible for biting. The holder thus facilitates convenient and comfortable one-handed transport or consumption of a slice of pizza with no or minimal mess.

The structure of the holder 10 will now be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. Two identical side walls 12 are vertically oriented at spaced apart positions and are each shaped in the form of a truncated right-angle triangle. A free top edge 12a of each side wall 12 forms the longest side thereof corresponding to the hypotenuse of its truncated triangular shape. A bottom edge 12b each side wall 12 is horizontal in the illustrated orientation of the holder and defines a second longest side of the truncated triangular wall. A vertical rear edge 12c of each side wall 12 interconnects the bottom and top edges and is the third longest side of the truncated triangular shape, forming a right-angle with the bottom edge 12b at one end thereof. The top edge 12a of the side wall 12 slopes obliquely downward from the top end of the rear edge 12c. A final fourth edge 12d of the sidewall at the front end thereof opposite the rear wall forms the truncation of the sidewalls truncated triangular shape, and is the shortest side of the wall and is situated a short distance toward the rear edge 12c from where imaginary axes extending the bottom and top edges 12b, 12a would intersect (i.e. at what would be the third point of the side walls shape if not truncated from a truly triangular form).

A rectangular bottom wall 14 of the holder 10 interconnects the two side walls 12 over the full length of their bottom edges 12b, spacing the two sidewalls apart in positions parallel to one another. The bottom wall defines a base of the holder on which the pizza slice is to sit, and is in a horizontal plane in the illustrated orientation of the holder. A rectangular rear wall structure 16 having a width equal to that of the rectangular bottom wall 14 interconnects the two side walls 12 over the full length of their vertical rear edges 12c. With the sidewalls 12 being identical in shape and size, parallel to one another and interconnected by perpendicular bottom and rear walls each perpendicular to the parallel side walls, the facing-together planar faces of the opposing side walls align with one another both horizontally and vertically across the open space left between them. The open space defined between the side walls within the aligned perimeter boundaries thereof is left unobstructed along the full length of the top edges 12a of the sidewalls 12 and along the short front edges 12d of the side walls 12.

A lip 18 is formed on the top face of the bottom wall 14 at the front end thereof by the doubling of the thickness of the bottom wall 14 at this end by the folding over of the respective end of the material from which the bottom walls is formed.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a blank or pattern 30 from which the illustrated holder 10 is formed is shown. The blank 30 is a sheet of paper stock shaped to define a first sidewall section 32 having a right-angled triangular shape having three unequal sides, a bottom base section 34 of rectangular shape elongated in one direction and a second sidewall section 36 of the same right-angled triangular shape as the first sidewall section 32, but oriented such that the two sidewall sections are mirrored across the rectangular bottom base section 34. A longest side or hypotenuse 32a of the first triangular sidewall section is the only side thereof corresponding to an outer edge of the sheet, just as a longest side or hypotenuse 36a of the second triangular sidewall section is the only side thereof corresponding to an outer edge of the sheet. A second longest side of each triangular sidewall section 32, 36 is defined by a respective base side fold line 32b, 36b that also defines a respective one of the two longer sides of the rectangular bottom base section 34. A shortest side of each triangular sidewall section 32, 26 is defined by a respective rear wall fold line 32c, 36c that extends from the respective base side fold line 32b, 36b to the respective hypotenuse edge 32a, 36a in a direction perpendicular to the respective base side fold line 32b, 36b at an end thereof opposite the intersection thereof with the respective hypotenuse edge 32a, 36a.

A retaining lip fold line 38 extends perpendicularly across the two parallel base side fold lines 32b, 36b at a short distance therealong from an outer edge 34a of the blank that defines a respective one of the two ends of the rectangular bottom base section 34 and interconnects the two hypotenuse edges 32a, 36a where they meet the respective base side fold lines 32b, 36b. A third rear wall fold line 34b defines the other of the two shorter ends of the rectangular base section 34, and linearly interconnects the parallel first and second rear wall fold lines 32c, 36c of the triangular side wall sections 32, 26. The three aligned rear wall fold lines 32c, 36c, 34b thus define a single linear fold line crossing perpendicularly through the parallel base side fold lines 32b, 36b.

A first rear wall section 40 is integral with the first side wall section 32 over the full length of the first rear wall fold line 32c, and has an elongated rectangular shape of a length defined by this first rear wall fold line 32c defining one side of this rectangular section 40. A width of the first rear wall section 40 is equal, or approximately equal, to that of the base section 34. A linearly extending slot 41 is formed in the first rear wall section and extends parallel to the first rear wall fold line 32c at a distance outward therefrom.

A second rear wall section 42 is integral with the second side wall section 36 over the full length of the second rear wall fold line 36c. The second rear wall section tapers moving perpendicularly away from the second rear wall fold line 36c so as to form a trapezoidal shape. At the shorter one of the two parallel sides of this trapezoidal shape, the second rear wall section features a tab 44 projecting outward from this side of the trapezoid. The tab features a stem portion 44a projecting a first distance from the short side of the trapezoid and having a uniform width measured along the short side of the trapezoid over this first distance. At the end of the stem portion 44a furthest from the trapezoidal portion of this rear wall section 42, the tab then widens from the stem, projecting outward to opposite sides thereof, and then at a short distance from the stem 44a then tapers in a trapezoidal manner to define an outer end of the tab also defining the outer end of the second rear wall section. The distance spanned by the second rear wall section from the second rear wall fold line 36c is less than the width of the first rear wall section, with the perpendicular distance of the stem 44a of the tab 44 from the second rear wall fold line 36c equaling the perpendicular distance of the slot 41 from the first rear wall fold line 32c. A distance along the second rear wall fold line 36c from the hypotenuse-defining outer edge 36a of the second sidewall section 36 to a central axis of the tab 44 equals a distance along the first rear wall fold line 32c from the hypotenuse-defining outer edge 32a of the first sidewall section 36 to a central point along the slot 41.

Finally, the blank is completed by a third rear wall section 46 disposed between the first and second rear wall sections 40, 42. The third rear wall section 46 is integral with the rectangular base section 34 at the third rear wall fold line 34b over the entire length of this fold line, except for a slit or cut 48 left between adjacent and parallel sides of the first and third rear wall sections 40, 46. The third rear wall section has a first rectangular portion projecting from the base section 34 and then a generally triangular portion tapering away from the rectangular portion with a rounded tip defining a distal or apex end of the third rear wall section furthest from the base section 34. A perpendicular distance from the third rear wall fold line 34b to the distal end of the third rear wall portion is equal to or less than a perpendicular distance from the side of the first rear wall section 40 adjacent the third rear wall section 46 to the end of the slot 41 nearest thereto.

The foodstuff holder 10 of FIGS. 2 to 7 is formed from the blank of FIG. 1 as follows. First, the blank is folded through one hundred and eighty degrees along retaining lip fold line 38 to move the outer edge 34a of the rectangular base section at a position overlying the base section 34 at a position inward from the retaining lip fold line 38. This doubling over of the base section 34 at the front end thereof forms the lip 18 of the holder 10. The folding along the retaining lip fold line 38 also folds the smallest-angle corner of each triangular sidewall section back over the remainder of the section, this fold defining the truncated portion of the final holder's otherwise triangular sidewall shape. Next, the blank is folded along each base side fold line 32b, 36b through ninety degrees to move each side wall section 32, 34 to an upstanding position projecting perpendicularly from the plane of the rectangular base section 34 to the same side thereof against which the retaining lip portion was folded.

Next the blank is folded along the first rear wall fold line 32c through ninety degrees to move the first rear wall section 40 into a position projecting perpendicularly from the first sidewall section 32 toward the second sidewall section 36 that now opposes the first sidewall section across the empty space above the bottom base section 34. Then the blank is folded along the third rear wall fold line 34b through ninety degrees to move the third rear wall section 46 into an upstanding position projecting perpendicularly upward from the plane of the rectangular base section 34 to rest against the outer face of the first rear wall section 40 below the slot 41 therein. Finally, the blank is folded along the second rear wall fold line 36c through ninety degrees to move the second rear wall section 46 into a position projecting perpendicularly from the second sidewall section 36 toward the first sidewall section 32 opposing the second sidewall section across the empty space above the bottom base section 34 so as to rest the larger trapezoidal portion of the second rear wall section 42 generally against the outer faces of the first and third rear wall sections 40, 46.

During movement of the second rear wall section 42 into this folded position, the head of the tab 44 carried at the distal end of the stem 44a thereof is worked through the slot 41 in the first rear wall section 40 so that the head of the tab 44 lies on the inner side of the first rear wall section 40 facing into the empty space between the sidewalls of the now complete holder. A dimension of the head of the tab measured parallel to the second rear wall fold line 36c has a maximum value where it first projects laterally outward from both sides of the stem 44a, and this value exceeds the length of the slot 41. However, as the width of the slot exceeds the thickness of the blank, the tab head can be flexed out of a normal flat or planar condition to take on a slight curve to reduce the straight line distance between the ends of the overhanging portions of the tab head that project outward from the tab stem to a length less than that of the slot 41 without increasing the tab's degree of curvature beyond that which will fit through the width of the slot 41. Accordingly, the head of the tab is manipulated to fit through the slot 41 and the released, at which time the head returns to a substantially planar condition in which the overhanging portions of the tab head will catch or hook against the inner face of the first rear wall section just beyond each end of the slot, thereby preventing inadvertent withdrawal of the tab head back through the slot 41 during use of the hodler.

With the first and second rear wall section 40, 42 engaged together by the tab 44 and slot 41 and being integral with the first and second sidewall sections respectively, the sidewalls of the holder are prevented from moving apart, and thus remain upstanding on opposite sides of the rectangular base or bottom wall. The third rear wall section 46 is also secured in place by this engagement of the tab and slot as a result of being sandwiched between the first and second rear wall sections.

The rear wall 16 of the holder is thus defined by three parts. The first rear wall section 40 substantially spans the full rectangular area between the side walls 12 of the holder at the rear edges 12c thereof and provides a seal at the vertical corner between itself and the first side wall section as a result of its integral connection therewith along rear wall fold line 32c. The second rear wall section 42 not only holds the first rear wall section 40 in place by means of the tab 44, but by folding behind the first rear wall section from the second sidewall section also seals off the gap left between the first rear wall section 40 and the second side wall section at the vertical corner therebetween. The third rear wall section 46 provides a similar function, folding behind the first rear wall section from the bottom wall section to seal off the gap between the first rear wall section 40 and the bottom wall section at the horizontal corner therebetween. Therefore, not only does the extent of the overlapping folded rear wall sections across the space between the triangular side walls prevent the pizza slice of FIG. 8 from sliding out the rear end of the holder 10, but the sealed corner edges around the sides and bottom of the rear wall also prevent any grease or other liquid or flowable material from leaking through the rear end of the holder, getting on the user's hand and dripping from the container.

The retaining lip 18 formed by the doubling of the bottom wall thickness at the front end also performs a drip preventing function, as the raised edge provided by this folded over portion of the blank at a location inward from the resulting front end of the holder obstructs fluid flow toward the front end of the holder from the slightly lower top surface of the remainder of the bottom wall.

The illustrated and described holder can be used to serve a slice of pizza at any vendor, restaurant, bar, other establishment or other environment in which pizza is offered to by the slice. In one example, a patron places an order for a slice of pizza, and the server lifts a wedge-shaped slice of pizza remaining from pizza pie having been cut into such wedge-shaped slices, folds the slice of pizza in half along a central longitudinal axis thereof dissecting the angle between the sides of the slice that converge from a crust or rim end thereof, and places the folded slice into the empty space between the side walls of the holder to sit the fold in the pizza crust atop the bottom wall of the holder with the crust or rim end of the slice adjacent the rear wall of the holder, as shown in FIG. 8. The combined pizza slice and holder are then served to the patron who may consume the pizza slice from the holder or pass the combined holder and slice onto another recipient without physically touching the pizza or any interior surface of the holder that the pizza slice may contact during use of the holder in the manner described herein. Before use, each holder may be folded into its final configuration from the blank on an as-needed basis (i.e. only once a corresponding slice has been ordered), or multiple holders may be prepared as a batch for subsequent use as orders come in. The person preparing the holders from the blanks may or may not be the same person taking the order from the customer or serving the pizza.

In a self-serve example where the customer retrieves their own selected slice of pizza, the customer may place the selected slice into the holder. The holder may be assembled from the blank by the customer or by an employee of the establishment, in which case it may be preferable to have the holders assembled in batches for a supply of holders readily selectable by customers. The holders are not limited to use by persons, companies or organizations selling pizza, and may be employed by anyone serving or consuming pizza by the slice. For example, disposable holders may be useful at parties, community events or other gatherings where pizza is to be consumed. Furthermore, while use of paper stock blacks for assembling the holders is preferred to provide a disposable holder made of recyclable materials, other materials and construction methods may be employed. For example, holders of similar structure may be produced for re-usable applications, as opposed to disposable contexts. For example, holders could be produced from plastic or metal and sold to the public or to restaurants, bars, eateries, diners, other establishments in the final ready-for-use form with the intention of being washable and re-usable.

A retaining lip intended to prevent dripping at the open front end of the holder may, when included, have an alternate form, even where the walls of the holder are produced from a blank of foldable flexible material. A holder produced from a foldable blank may have fully triangular walls, as opposed to the illustrated walls of truncated triangular shape, where no folded retaining lip is to be formed in the manner detailed herein. Also, a holder in which the flat face surfaces of the side walls each include a triangular area within the perimeter edges thereof can be well suited to the described pizza carrying intention even if the overall outer shape of the wall is not that of a triangle or four-sided truncated triangle. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the holder could still be functional if the free top edges of the side walls were not linear or if the top rear corner of each side wall was also truncated or cut-away.

Referring to FIG. 1, the blank could feature as little as one rear wall section, for example a single rear wall section having a first portion of the same dimensions as the illustrate first section rear wall section, and a second portion connected to the first along a fold line parallel to the first rear wall fold line, the second portion carrying a tab engagable with a slot in the second sidewall section. Furthermore, alternate fastening means other than tab and slot engagement may be employed, for example using adhesive deposits concealed with peel-away covers to expose to the adhesive just prior to assembly of the holder to stick walls or wall sections together. As opposed to the illustrated configuration using the rear wall section as the integrally formed middle section interconnecting the sidewalls across it in a mirrored-configuration, the side walls could alternatively be connected by an integral rear wall between them, with the engagement together in their final form instead being performed by fastening together of bottom wall sections during assembly. However, keeping the bottom wall as a single panel integrally joined with both side walls minimizes spillage, as the bottom wall is where any fluids will tend to drip and pool, and also provides for an easily formed retaining lip using the folding arrangement described herein. Sealing between panels at non-integral edges thereof may be achieved in ways other than the described multi-section folding at the rear wall, for example using tape to secure walls in place and create fluid-tight seals at corner edges, but the described overlapping of folded sections makes for easier and quicker assembly without need for any additional materials beyond the blank itself.

in addition, although described primarily in terms of serving and consuming wedge-shaped pizza slices, the holder may be employed for serving and consumption of other foodstuff articles, including sandwiches, pitas, tacos, burritos, fajitas, etc. Also, whereas pizza by the slice is generally served hot, the holder may be used equally as well in serving food that has not been freshly baked, cooked or re-heated, even foods that are refrigerated or frozen. For example, a foodstuff article may be placed within a holder, which is then wrapped, bagged or otherwise sealed and then refrigerated or frozen.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A foodstuff holder comprising:

first and second sidewalls facing one another at positions spaced apart from one another, a perimeter of each of the sidewalls closing around a triangular area on a face of the sidewall and the triangular areas on the two side walls being equal and aligned with one another across open space between the side walls;

a rear wall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls along a respective rear side of the aligned triangular areas; and

a bottom wall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls along a respective bottom side of the aligned triangular areas.

2. The foodstuff holder of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall and the bottom side are longer than the rear wall and the rear side respectively.

3. The foodstuff holder of claim 1 comprising a lip formed on the bottom wall at an end thereof opposite the rear wall on a face of the bottom wall facing into the open space between the aligned triangular areas of the side walls.

4. The foodstuff holder of claim 3 wherein the lip comprises a folded-over end portion of the bottom wall.

5. The foodstuff holder of claim 1 wherein the rear and bottom walls are disposed at a right angle with one another.

6. The foodstuff holder of claim 1 wherein a side of the triangular areas along which the open space between the side walls is unobstructed is longer than the rear and bottom sides of the triangular areas.

7. A method of serving foodstuff, the method comprising:

(a) selecting a foodstuff article to be consumed by a consumer; and

(b) obtaining a foodstuff holder comprising: first and second sidewalls facing one another at positions spaced apart from one another, a perimeter of each of the sidewalls closing around a triangular area on a face of the sidewall and the triangular areas on the two side walls being equal and aligned with one another across open space between the side walls; a rear wall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls along a respective rear side of the aligned triangular areas; and a bottom wall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls along a respective bottom side of the aligned triangular areas; and

(c) placing the selected foodstuff article into the open space between the sidewalls of the foodstuff holder through an open side of the foodstuff holder at which the open space between the sidewalls is left unobstructed between the rear and bottom walls;

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the foodstuff article is a slice of pizza, and step (c) comprises folding the slice of pizza in half along a longitudinal axis thereof and placing the slice of pizza into the open space of the foodstuff holder to seat a folded side of the slice of pizza on the bottom wall of the foodstuff holder with a crust end of the slice of pizza adjacent the rear wall of the foodstuff holder.

9. The method of claim 7 comprising, prior to step (c), creating the foodstuff holder from a blank, including folding the blank to define the walls of the foodstuff holder.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein creating the foodstuff holder from the blank comprises forming the rear wall of the foodstuff holder by fastening together first and second rear wall portions of the blank fixed to the first and second sidewalls respectively.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein forming the rear wall comprises fastening the first and second rear wall portions together by engaging a tab on the first rear wall portion of the blank with a slot on the second rear wall portion of the blank.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the rear wall of the foodstuff holder further comprises a third rear wall portion fixed to the bottom wall of the blank and folded relative thereto.

13. A blank for forming a foodstuff holder, the blank comprising:

a first sidewall section having a first face including a first triangular area and having first and second fold lines extending along a first and second sides of the first triangular area and a first outer edge extending along a longest third side of the first triangular area;

a middle section connected to the first sidewall section along the first fold line;

a second sidewall section having a second face including a second triangular area and having a third fold line extending along a first side of the second triangular area and a second outer edge extending along a longest second side of the second triangular area, the third fold line being disposed across the middle section from first fold line and the second sidewall section and the middle section being interconnected along the third fold line such that the first and second sidewall sections are disposed on opposite sides of the middle section connected therebetween; and

an additional wall section connected to the first sidewall section along the second fold line thereof.

14. The blank according to claim 13 wherein the first side of the first triangular area is longer than the second side of the first triangular area and shorter than the third side of the first triangular area, and the first side of the second triangular area is shorter than the second side of the second triangular area and longer than a third side of the second triangular area.

15. The blank according to claim 14 having a retaining lip fold line extending across the middle section proximate an end thereof opposite the second fold line.

16. The blank according to claim 13 having a fourth fold line extending along the third side of the second triangular area and a second additional wall section connected to the second sidewall section along the fourth fold line.

17. The blank according to claim 16 wherein the additional wall section has a slot therein extending along the second fold line and the second additional wall section comprises a tab projecting away from the fourth fold line and extending therealong, the tab being shaped for hooked engagement with the slot.

18. The blank according to claim 16 comprising a third additional wall section connected to the middle section along a fifth fold line extending between the first fold line and the third fold line at the ends thereof from the second and fourth fold lines extend.

19. The blank according to claim 13 wherein the first and third fold lines are parallel.

20. The blank according to claim 13 wherein the first and third fold lines are parallel and each other fold line is at a right angle to the first and third fold lines.