IP Library Granted Patent US 9,446,889
Granted Patent B2
US 9,446,889 · App. 13/344,902 · Granted Sep 20, 2016

Reusable pizza pan set

Inventors: Susan Lopes (Mill Valley, CA); Jeffrey Saake (San Francisco, CA)
B65D51/1611B65D25/14B65D43/0222B65D2543/00092B65D2543/00277B65D2543/00407B65D2543/00527B65D2543/00537B65D2585/366Y02W30/807
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,446,889
App. No.
13/344,902
Granted
Sep 20, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reusable pizza container configured to enclose a hot pizza for temporary storage or transport and to prevent moisture from entering into the top, bottom or side surfaces of the pizza. The container has a lid, a removable Vapor Transport Mechanism, and a bottom. The lid facilitates convection heat flow and the flow of moisture along the interior sides of the lid. Raised radial ribs enable the lids to be stacked. The raised radial ribs in the lid have perforations to allow hot vapor to escape and minimize moisture within the enclosed area. The lid nests securely into the bottom to prevent dislodging of moisture during transport. The removable Vapor Transport Mechanism (VTM), a micromesh membrane that fits within the lid, allows vapor to pass upwards through the membrane but prevents moisture from dripping downwards onto the upper pizza surface. The bottom has an interior moat that collects the moisture that flows along the interior sides of the lid to prevent it from entering the sides of the pizza thereby preventing moisture from entering the bottom surface of the pizza. The bottom has raised circular domes to elevate the pizza above the surface and to prevent moisture from entering the bottom surface of the pizza.

Claims (10)

1. A reusable pizza container configured to hold a hot pizza, the pizza container comprising:

a circular bottom comprising: an exterior rim concentrically surrounding a central area; a plurality of raised domes spaced across the central area; and an interior moat concentrically surrounding the central area; and

a circular lid comprising: an exterior rim concentrically surrounding a top area, the rim being sized to fit over and nest with the exterior rim of the circular bottom; and a plurality of perforated raised ribs extending radially across the top area from a central portion of the top area toward the exterior rim;

wherein a Vapor Transport Mechanism is attached to an interior of the top area of the circular lid, the Vapor Transport Mechanism comprising: a circular frame that holds a micromesh membrane, wherein the micromesh is sized to allow vapor to pass upward though the membrane but prevents moisture from passing downward through the membrane.

2. The reusable pizza container of claim 1 , in which the circular frame comprises a resilient peripheral ring holding the micromesh membrane taut to allow vapor to pass upward through the membrane but prevents moisture from passing downward through the membrane.

3. The reusable pizza container of claim 1 , in which the internal moat of the circular bottom collects moisture from the lid.

4. The reusable pizza container of claim 1 , in which the circular bottom has an interior rim that allows the Vapor Transport Mechanism and circular lid to nest inside the concentric ring of the circular bottom.

5. The reusable pizza container of claim 1 , in which the Vapor Transport Mechanism prevents droplets of moisture adhering to the interior surface of the circular lid from dripping onto the pizza surface if said droplets of moisture are dislodged from the circular lid due to external shocks occurring during transportation.

6. The reusable pizza container of claim 1 , wherein the circular lid has interior sides that direct moisture to the interior moat of the circular bottom stopping said moisture from entering the periphery of the upper pizza surface to prevent sogginess.

7. The reusable pizza container of claim 1 , in which the plurality of raised ribs in the circular lid are perforated to allow moisture within the reusable pizza container to escape.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61430582 · Jan 7, 2011
Related Publication 20120175367A1 · Jul 12, 2012