Food serving utensil

Abstract

A novel multipurpose food serving utensil for cutting, lifting, slicing, serving, passing and holding slices of food product such as pizza, pie or cake, as well as providing support for the lid of a food product container during delivery or storage. The utensil may include a breakaway portion that can accommodate a redeemable coupon. When the breakaway portion is removed, the remaining utensil can be used as an ice scraper.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a multipurpose food serving utensil. This application claims benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/476,305, filed Jun. 6, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many food products today are packaged in cardboard or similar containers for delivery or storage. One problem encountered with these packages is that a support is needed to keep the lid from collapsing onto the food product. Otherwise, in the case of pizza, for example, cheese and toppings can stick on the inside of the lid. Consumers also need a simple way to cut, lift, serve and/or hold individual servings of food product. Many retailers also want to provide something useful for their customers to use and at the same time, do some advertising to increase sales. Redeemable coupons are used to encourage further sales.

Several devices have been used in the past to solve one or more of these problems but a need still exists to accomplish all of these tasks by a single device and in a manner that prevents damage to the food product. The present invention provides a solution to these problems through a novel multipurpose food serving utensil for cutting, lifting, slicing, serving, passing and holding slices of food product such as pizza, pie or cake, as well as providing reliable support for the lid of a food product container during delivery or storage. The utensil may include a breakaway portion that can accommodate a redeemable coupon. When the breakaway portion is removed, the remaining utensil, which may also include a logo or other advertising indicia, can be used as an ice scraper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention provides a food product utensil comprising a serving portion having first and second edges, and distal and proximal ends, and an upstanding portion having upper and lower ends, and a curved lip portion along the upper end, said upstanding portion extending upwardly away from the proximal end of the serving portion along at least 50% of said proximal end. The utensil may also include at least one of said edges of the serving portion which is serrated in at least two different serration patterns along a portion of its length. In another embodiment the serving portion may include advertising indicia thereon. The utensil may also include a line of weakness extending across the width of the serving portion so that said serving portion may be severed along said line of weakness, and further wherein said line of weakness defines first and second portions of said serving portion, said first portion extending from the distal end to the line of weakness and the second portion extending from the proximal end to the line of weakness. The utensil may have a serving portion that also includes visible indicia indicating that the second portion can be used as an ice scraper, or that the first portion of the serving portion includes advertising indicia thereon. In another embodiment of the utensil, said curved lip portion may extend along the entire upper end of the upstanding portion. The utensil may also include said curved lip portion with an aperture extending there through. In another embodiment of the utensil the upstanding portion includes advertising indicia thereon.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of packaging food product for transport or storage comprising providing a container, the container having a base portion and a closeable lid, providing a food serving utensil having a serving portion having first and second edges, and distal and proximal ends, and an upstanding portion having upper and lower ends, and a curved lip portion along the upper end, said upstanding portion extending upwardly away from the proximal end of the serving portion, placing the food product on the base portion of the container, inserting said food serving utensil through said food product such that said serving portion is positioned on said base portion of the container and underneath said food product, and closing said lid of the container whereby a central region of the lid is supported by said curved lip portion of the serving utensil during transport or storage.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides a method of utilizing a food service utensil for scraping ice from a windshield, comprising (a) receiving a packaged food product comprising a container having a base portion and a closeable lid, a food product positioned on the base portion of the container, and a food serving utensil having a serving portion having distal and proximal ends, and an upstanding portion having upper and lower ends and a curved lip portion along said upper end of the upstanding portion, said upstanding portion extending upwardly away from the proximal end of the serving portion, wherein said serving portion has a line of weakness extending across its width, and further wherein said line of weakness defines first and second portions of said serving portion, said first portion extending from the distal end to the line of weakness and said second portion extending from the proximal end to the line of weakness, wherein said serving portion of the food service utensil is positioned between said food product and the base portion of the container such that a central region of the lid is supported by said curved lip portion of the serving utensil; (b) removing said food service utensil from the container; (c) severing said serving portion of the food service utensil along said line of weakness; and (d) scraping ice from a windshield using said second portion of the serving portion of the food service utensil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper front perspective view of a food serving utensil;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the food serving utensil of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the food serving utensil of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the food serving utensil of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portions of the serving portion taken at view 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the food serving utensil of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the food serving utensil in combination with a food product and a food product container.

The embodiments set forth in the drawing are illustrative in nature and are not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features of the drawing and the invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a multipurpose food serving utensil. The food serving utensil provides a handy utensil for lifting, cutting, slicing, serving, passing and holding food product such as pizza, pie, cake and the like, and also providing support for the cover portion of a food product container to prevent the lid from collapsing onto the food product during storage or delivery. The utensil is preferably constructed of a rigid plastic suitable for use with food products and can be molded.

One embodiment of the food serving utensil is shown in FIG. 1. This multipurpose food serving utensil 10 has a serving portion 20 and an upstanding portion 40. The serving portion has a size and shape adequate for lifting, serving, passing and/or holding portions of food product such as pizza, pie, cake or the like. The serving portion may even be used to hold portions of food product as a plate for eating the food product without touching the food during consumption. The utensil of the present invention is especially useful for use in conjunction with pizza. Thus, the serving portion may be wedge-shaped, similar to a slice of pizza, and the overall size of the serving portion may vary depending on the size of the pizza or food product with which it will be used.

The serving portion has distal and proximal ends, 22 and 21 respectively, and first and second edges, 24 and 23 respectively, extending between the distal and proximal ends. At least one of the edges may be serrated along at least a portion of the edge. In one embodiment, the serrated edge 24 may have at least two different serration patterns allowing for cutting different consistencies of food product such as one to cut the bread on the bottom of a pizza and the other for cutting the crust. In the embodiment shown, a first serrated portion 26 extends from proximal end 21 to approximately the mid-point of the server portion and a second serrated portion 25 extends from the distal end 22 to the first serrated portion 26. In this embodiment, the serrations of the first serrated portion 26 are dimensionally smaller than the serrations of the second serrated portion such that the first serrated portion is better suited for cutting the thick outer edge of a pizza. Of course the serration patterns comprising the first and second serrated portions may differ from one another in a variety of ways—e.g., different serrations shapes, different levels of sharpness, and the like. Also, more than two serration patterns may be provided and each serration pattern may extend along any portion of an edge of the serving portion 20.

While both the first and second edges of the serving portion may be serrated, in the exemplary embodiment shown, first edge 24 is serrated while second edge 23 is a smooth tapered cutting edge that may be used, for example, to sever or slice a remaining food product. While the serving portion 20 of the utensil 10 is shown as primarily wedge-shaped, other shapes may also be used. The outer perimeter of the top surface of the serving portion tapers downwardly toward the edge from a line 27 which is parallel to and spaced inwardly with respect to that edge to create a sharp edge for cutting or slicing. The distal end 22 of the serving portion 20 has a tip 28 that is rounded for safety. The proximal end 21 is curved, and the upstanding portion 40 and curved lip portion 41 are similarly curved along their respective lengths.

The upstanding portion 40, having upper and lower ends, 43 and 42 respectively, extends upwardly away from the proximal end 21 of the serving portion 20 along at least 50%, or even at least 70%, of the length of the proximal end L (see FIG. 3) of the serving portion. The upstanding portion 40 has a curved lip portion 41 along its upper end to aid in gripping and strengthening the upstanding portion. The curved lip portion 41 extends rearwardly away from the proximal end 21 of the serving portion 20 approximately ¼″ to 1″. In one embodiment, the upstanding portion 40 will not extend along the entire length of the proximal end L of the serving portion 20 because it would prevent cutting or slicing. Rather, the upstanding portion 40 will be sufficiently set back from each edge of the serving portion so that it will not touch the food product when the utensil is used to cut a food product. Although one embodiment shows the upstanding portion 40 at a 90-degree angle to the serving portion 20, this is not required. The length of the upper end and the length of the lower end of the upstanding portion 40 may be varied such that embodiments are also contemplated where the upper end 43 and lower end 42 are not the same length so that the sidewalls 44 of the upstanding portion 40 taper from the upper end 43 to the lower end 42. In one embodiment, the curved lip portion 41 extends across the entire length of the upper edge 43 of the upstanding portion 40.

The curved lip portion 41 at the top of the upstanding portion 40 makes the utensil 10 easy to grasp and maneuver when using the utensil. One problem with prior art spatulas and food servers is that the heat from a pizza can weaken the spatula handle to the extent that it can easily tip down into the top of the food product when minimal off center force is applied to the lid 61 of the food product container 60. Also, an off center force during storage or transport to the lid 61 of the food product container 60 where the lid touches the spatula handle can force the handle down into the food product, or if the spatula is very stiff, then the force can lift the food product up and into the under side of the lid. When this occurs, the spatula becomes messy to use and/or the food product is damaged.

The present invention solves all of these problems by eliminating the need for a handle to create a moment arm through which the downward force would act. The curved lip portion 41 eliminates the need for a handle as found in prior art spatulas and thus, there is no handle to easily tip down into the food product when the curved lip portion 41 is supporting the lid 61. The curved lip portion 41 also adds strength and stability to the upstanding portion 40. The upstanding portion 40 is substantially wider than the upstanding portion in prior art spatulas thereby providing a broader and more stable support for the lid 61 of a food product container 60 when food product 70 is stored or transported. Since the curved lip portion 41 is very short in comparison to the handle in a prior art spatula, significantly more force is required to tip the utensil, if at all, sufficient to lift the food product 70 up against the bottom side of the lid 61 and damaging the pizza or other food product. Supporting the lid 61 by the curved lip portion 41 means either holding the lid 61 away from the food product 70, or if a downward force is applied against the lid 61, then the curved lip portion will prevent contact by the lid 61 against the food product 70. The utensil 10 may also include a hole or aperture 45 extending through the curved lip portion 41 to accommodate hanging the utensil 10 during storage.

As FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also illustrate, the utensil 10 is a great advertising and promotional tool. Food vendors can dispense the utensil 10 with a package of food product like pizza, pie, cake or the like, and could imprint a logo, redeemable coupon or other advertising message, 31 and 32, for generating advertising goodwill on the serving portion 20 as well as on the upstanding portion 40. Food vendors may also generate advertising revenue through use of a redeemable coupon 32 on the breakaway or second portion 30 of the utensil. The utensil 10 provides for advertising and generating goodwill long after the food product is sold and the utensil dispensed since the utensil can be used again and again for serving food product, or as a handy ice scraper after the breakaway portion 30 is removed.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the food serving utensil of FIG. 1, illustrating a line of weakness 33 extending across the width of the serving portion 20 so that the serving portion 20 can be severed along the line of weakness 33 to create first and second portions of the serving portion, 30 and 29 respectively. The first portion 30 extends from the distal end 22 of the serving portion 20 to the line of weakness 33, and the second portion 29 extends from the proximal end 21 to the line of weakness 33. One example of a line of weakness 33 is a groove formed in the bottom surface of the serving portion. Other examples of a line of weakness may include an intermittent groove or a perforation. The serving portion 20 can include visible advertising indicia 31 such as a customizable advertisement, logo or redeemable coupon 32 on either the top or bottom surface, or both. The upstanding portion 40 can likewise include indicia of advertising 31 on either or both sides. In one embodiment, the first portion 30 can breakaway and may include a redeemable coupon 32. The serving portion 20 may also include visible indicia 34 indicating that the second portion can be used as an ice scraper or the like.

FIG. 7 illustrates the food serving utensil 10 in combination with a food product 70 and a food product container 60. The food product container 60 has a base portion 62, sidewalls 63, and a closeable lid 61. The food product 70 is prepared and cut into serving size portions 71, as for example, in a typical delivery pizza. After placing the food product 70 into the container 60, the tip 28 of the utensil serving portion is then inserted through a radial cut 72 in the food product near the center of the food product until the entire serving portion 20 is pushed underneath the food product 70. The serving portion may also be slipped under the food product 70 from the side and moved to the center along one of the radial cuts 72.

The specific illustrations and embodiments described herein are exemplary only in nature and are not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Further embodiments and examples will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this specification and are within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A food serving utensil comprising:

a serving portion having first and second edges, and distal and proximal ends; and

an upstanding portion having upper and lower ends, and a curved lip portion along the upper end, said upstanding portion extending upwardly away from the proximal end of the serving portion along at least 50% of said proximal end.

2. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said edges of the serving portion is serrated in at least two different serration patterns along a portion of its length.

3. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein the serving portion includes advertising indicia thereon.

4. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein the serving portion has a line of weakness extending across the width of the serving portion so that said serving portion may be severed along said line of weakness, and further wherein said line of weakness defines first and second portions of said serving portion, said first portion extending from the distal end to the line of weakness and the second portion extending from the proximal end to the line of weakness.

5. A food serving utensil as in claim 4, wherein the serving portion includes visible indicia indicating that the second portion can be used as an ice scraper.

6. A food serving utensil as in claim 4, wherein said first portion of the serving portion includes advertising indicia thereon.

7. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein said curved lip portion extends along the entire upper end of the upstanding portion.

8. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein said curved lip portion includes an aperture extending there through.

9. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein the upstanding portion includes advertising indicia thereon.

10. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein the upper end of said upstanding portion is longer than the lower end.

11. A food serving utensil as in claim 1, wherein said serving portion is wedge-shaped, and further wherein said proximal end of said serving portion, said upstanding portion, and said curved lip portion are curved along their respective lengths.

12. A method of packaging a food product for transport or storage comprising:

providing a container, the container having a base portion and a closeable lid;

providing a food serving utensil having a serving portion having first and second edges, and distal and proximal ends, and an upstanding portion having upper and lower ends, and a curved lip portion along the upper end, said upstanding portion extending upwardly away from the proximal end of the serving portion;

placing the food product on the base portion of the container;

inserting said food serving utensil through said food product such that said serving portion is positioned on said base portion of the container and underneath said food product; and

closing said lid of the container whereby a central region of the lid is supported by said curved lip portion of the serving utensil during transport or storage.

13. A method of utilizing a food serving utensil for scraping ice from a windshield, comprising:

(a) receiving a packaged food product comprising a container having a base portion and a closeable lid, a food product positioned on the base portion of the container, and a food serving utensil having a serving portion having distal and proximal ends, and an upstanding portion having upper and lower ends and a curved lip portion along said upper end of the upstanding portion, said upstanding portion extending upwardly away from the proximal end of the serving portion, wherein said serving portion has a line of weakness extending across its width, and further wherein said line of weakness defines first and second portions of said serving portion, said first portion extending from the distal end to the line of weakness and said second portion extending from the proximal end to the line of weakness, wherein said serving portion of the food serving utensil is positioned between said food product and the base portion of the container such that a central region of the lid is supported by said curved lip portion of the serving utensil;

(b) removing said food serving utensil from the container;

(c) severing said serving portion of the food service utensil along said line of weakness; and

(d) scraping ice from a windshield using said second portion of the serving portion of the food serving utensil.