WO1996015703A1

WO1996015703A1 - Composite food holder, particularly for pizza or food whose gastronomic qualities can be altered by temperature and humidity variations

Info

Publication number: WO1996015703A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/004553
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sandro Rocchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-23
Filing date: 1995-11-20
Publication date: 1996-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1997-05-23
Also published as: IT1282046B1; ITPD940202A0; EP0740517A1; ITPD940202A1

Abstract

Composite food holder, particularly for pizza or food whose gastronomic qualities can be altered by temperature and humidity variations, which is characterized in that it comprises a supporting frame (11) that is shaped so as to support a plate (12) or the like for resting the pizza or food. The supporting frame (11) has a thermally insulated bottom (16) and the resting surface (17) of the resting plate (12) is undulated in radial directions so as to form channels (19) that are adapted for the removal of the steam produced by the pizza or food, thus avoiding condensation.

Description

COMPOSITE FOOD HOLDER, PARTICULARLY FOR PIZZA OR FOOD WHOSE

GASTRONOMIC QUALITIES CAN BE ALTERED BY TEMPERATURE AND

HUMIDITY VARIATIONS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a composite food holder, particularly for pizza or food whose gastronomic qualities can be altered by temperature and humidity variations.

Background Art It is known that many types of food are sensitive, in relation to their gastronomic qualities, to temperature changes and to the entirely natural and unavoidable mechanisms that cause them to lose steam.

An exemplary case of these kinds of food is the pizza, which is traditionally served on plates that have a larger- than-normal diameter and are adapted for the size of the pizza.

However, said plates differ from normal shallow plates only for their size. it is known that a pizza has its ideal gastronomic qualities when it is served hot, and it must therefore be eaten quickly.

If this does not occur, or if the pizza is kept waiting for any reason before being served, the steam that it emits, especially in the underlying part, tends to condense on the bottom of the plate or of the pizza itself. This condensation wets the pizza, producing the effect that is common to all pizzas that are not eaten quickly and become apparent in a gummy consistency of the dough. This gu my consistency of the dough increases as the pizza cools down and makes it practically uneatable. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a food holder that maintains the temperature and humidity variations of pizza or of food types that are particularly sensitive to them, within acceptable limits.

In relation to the above aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a food holder that does not hinder normal eating of the meal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a food holder that can be easily handled by operators in public concerns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a food holder that has a pleasant aesthetic aspect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide food holders whose costs are adapted also for average- income families.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a food holder that can be produced with conventional technologies and is absolutely safe in use. This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a composite food holder, particularly for pizza or food whose gastronomic qualities can be altered by temperature and humidity variations, characterized in that it comprises a supporting frame that is shaped so as to support a plate or the like for resting said pizza or said food, said supporting frame having a thermally insulated bottom, the resting surface of said resting plate being undulated in radial directions so as to form channels that are adapted to remove the steam produced by said pizza or said food, thus avoiding condensation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of two embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non- limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is an axonometric view of a composite food holder, according to the invention, in a first embodiment; figure 2 is an exploded view of the composite food holder of figure 1; figure 3 is a diametrical sectional view of the food holder of figure 1; figure 4 is a sectional perspective view of a second embodiment of the food holder. Ways of carrying out the Invention With particular reference to figures 1 to 3 , a composite food holder according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in a first embodiment.

The food holder 10 comprises a supporting frame 11 made of wood that is substantially annular and, in this case, circular; said supporting frame is shaped so as to support a plate 12 in edge regions thereof.

The plate 12 also has, at its lower surface, two concentric circular raised portions 13 and 14: the raised portion 13 has a diameter that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the supporting frame 11, whereas the raised portion 14 has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said supporting frame 11. The raised portions 13 and 14 therefore form, in this manner, retainers and references for positioning the plate 12 with respect to the frame 11.

A handle 15 furthermore protrudes from the supporting frame 11 and facilitates transport of the food holder 10.

A panel 16 is connected to the supporting frame 11 at its lower part so as to close its bottom by interference; said panel is in this case substantially disk-like, and is made of insulating material such as foamed polystyrene or other equivalent material.

The resting surface 17 of the plate 12 is undulated, in this case by virtue of radial raised portions 18 that extend therefrom, so as to form channels 19 that are adapted for removing the steam produced by the pizza or by other kinds of food.

With reference now to figure 4, in a second embodiment the food holder, now designated by the reference numeral 110, comprises a disk-like element 116 made of thermally insulating material that has, on its upper face, concentric annular slots 116a in which corresponding raised portions 113, which extend in a downward region from an overlying plate 112, are inserted by gently pressing.

The plate 112 can conveniently have, on its upper face for resting the food, undulations or raised portions 118 that have the same function as said raised portions 18 of the first embodiment.

In practice, it has been observed that the intended aim and objects have been achieved, and in particular it is noted that the food holder according to the invention significantly reduces heat loss, at least for the part related to the resting surface; furthermore, the undulated surface of the plate and the channels thus formed allow the steam to flow outward, avoiding the condensation that causes the degradation of the gastronomic characteristics of food.

It is also noted that said food holder causes no bulk or discomfort in eating the food, and also facilitates transport, especially in the case of public concerns.

The great constructive simplicity of the holder should also be noted; in the less valuable models, it can also be used by average-income families.

It should also be noted that the structure allows the rotation of the plate 12 with respect to the supporting frame 11. Another of the advantages provided by the present invention is complete safety and lack of risks for the user as well as for the operator.

The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; for example, the frame can be made of other materials, depending on the aesthetic requirements; furthermore, the insulation of its bottom can be provided by connecting the panel to the frame in other per se known manners. All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The materials, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.

Claims

1. Composite food holder, particularly for pizza or food whose gastronomic qualities can be altered by temperature and humidity variations, characterized in that it comprises a supporting frame (11) that is shaped so as to support a resting plate (12,112) for resting said pizza or said food, said supporting frame (11) having a thermally insulated bottom (16,116), the resting surface (17) of said resting plate (12,112) being undulated in radial directions so as to form channels (19) that are adapted for the removal of the steam produced by said pizza or said food, thus avoiding condensation.

2. Composite food holder according to claim 1 , characterized in that said resting surface (17) is undulated due to radial raised portions (18,118) that protrude therefrom.

3. Composite food holder according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting frame (11) is annular and is shaped so as to support said plate (12,112) or the like in edge regions thereof.

4. Composite food holder according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting frame has a panel (16) that is connected thereto at its bottom so as to close said bottom, said panel (16) being made of a thermally insulating material such as foamed polystyrene or other equivalent material.

5. Composite food holder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame (11) is made of wood.

6. Composite food holder, characterized in that it comprises a disk-like element (116) made of thermally insulating material, on the upper face of which there are concentric annular slots (116a) in which corresponding raised portions (113), which extend downward from an overlying plate, are inserted.

7. Food holder according to claim 6, characterized in that said plate (112) has undulations or raised portions (118) on its upper food resting face.